Opinion
Case No. 13CA21
09-09-2013
SCOTT REYNOLDS Petitioner v. STATE OF OHIO Respondent
For Peitioner SCOTT L. REYONLDS, PRO SE Masison Correctional Institution #A668943 For Respondent JOSEPH D. SAKS Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Knox County Prosecutor's Office
JUDGES:
Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:
Writ of Procedendo JUDGMENT:
Dismissed APPEARANCES: For Peitioner SCOTT L. REYONLDS, PRO SE
Masison Correctional Institution
#A668943
For Respondent JOSEPH D. SAKS
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Knox County Prosecutor's Office
Hoffman, P.J.
{¶1} Petitioner Scott L. Reynolds has filed a "Writ of Procedendo." Petitioner requests the trial court be ordered to rule on a motion filed by Petitioner on March 13, 2013. Respondent has filed a motion to dismiss arguing the relief sought has already been obtained and arguing Petition has failed to meet the procedural requirements for a writ of mandamus.
{¶2} Initially, we find Petitioner has failed to name a proper respondent. Petitioner captioned the instant complaint as "State of Ohio v. Scott L. Reynolds." The State of Ohio is incorrectly listed as the Plaintiff. The State of Ohio is not the Plaintiff. Further, in a procedendo action, the State of Ohio is not a proper respondent.
{¶3} To be entitled to a writ of procedendo, "a relator must establish a clear legal right to require the court to proceed, a clear legal duty on the part of the court to proceed, and the lack of an adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law." Miley, supra, at 65, citing State ex rel. Sherrills v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas (1995), 72 Ohio St.3d 461, 462. The Supreme Court has noted, "The writ of procedendo is merely an order from a court of superior jurisdiction to one of inferior jurisdiction to proceed to judgment. It does not in any case attempt to control the inferior court as to what that judgment should be." State ex rel. Davey v. Owen, 133 Ohio St. 96, *106, 12 N.E.2d 144, * *149 (1937).
{¶4} The Supreme Court has held, "Neither procedendo nor mandamus will compel the performance of a duty that has already been performed. State ex rel. Grove v. Nadel (1998), 84 Ohio St.3d 252, 253, 703 N.E.2d 304, 305." State ex rel. Kreps v. Christiansen (2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 313, 318, 725 N.E.2d 663, 668.
{¶5} Respondent ruled on Petitioner's March 25, 2013 motion on July 23, 2013.
{¶6} Because Respondent has issued a ruling on Petitioner's motion, the request for a writ of procedendo has become moot.
{¶7} For these reasons, Respondent's Motion to Dismiss is granted. By: Hoffman, P.J. Farmer, J. and Delaney, J. concur
___________
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
___________
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
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HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
SCOTT REYNOLDS
Petitioner
-vs-
STATE OF OHIO
Respondent
JUDGMENT ENTRY
Case No. 13CA21
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion, Respondent's Motion to Dismiss is granted. Costs to Petitioner.
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HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
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HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
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HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY