Evans v. Supreme Court of Ohio

2002 Ohio 3518, 773 N.E.2d 621, 119 Ohio Misc. 2d 34
CourtOhio Court of Claims
DecidedJune 10, 2002
DocketNo. 2001-10344
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 2002 Ohio 3518 (Evans v. Supreme Court of Ohio) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Evans v. Supreme Court of Ohio, 2002 Ohio 3518, 773 N.E.2d 621, 119 Ohio Misc. 2d 34 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2002).

Opinion

Fred J. Shoemaker, Judge.

{¶ 1} The case is now before the court for a non-oral hearing on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. Initially, the court notes that there are a number of additional pending motions that must be addressed. Accordingly, the court ORDERS the following:

[36]*36{¶ 2} 1. Plaintiffs March 13, 2002 motion for an immunity determination is DENIED as moot in light of this court’s March 15, and April 4, 2002 orders. Moreover, the issues in this case concern judicial immunity. A determination of judicial immunity does not mandate a separate hearing, such as may be required in cases involving civil immunity pursuant to R.C. 2743.02(F) and 9.86;

{¶ 3} 2. Plaintiffs April 8, 2002 motion for reconsideration is DENIED;

{¶ 4} 3. Plaintiffs April 8, 2002 motion for production of documents pursuant to stipulation of authenticity is DENIED;

{¶ 5} 4. Defendants’ April 10, 2002 motion to quash subpoena duces tecum of Judge Yarbrough is GRANTED in part, as to the request for production of documents and DENIED as moot in part, in light of the deposition that was taken in this court on April 11, 2002;

{¶ 6} 5. Plaintiffs April 22, 2002 request for judicial notice of a stipulation made to the original transcript of the December 22, 2000 proceeding is GRANTED;

{¶ 7} 6. Plaintiffs April 22, 2002 request for immediate production of Judge Yarbrough’s oath of office and May 20, 2002 motion to compel Judge Yarbrough’s oath of office are DENIED in light of defendants’ May 20, 2002 response to plaintiffs request for the production of documents;

{¶ 8} 7. Plaintiffs May 20, 2002 motion for leave to supplement his motion for summary judgment is DENIED;

{¶ 9} 8. Plaintiffs May 24, 2002 motion for recusal is DENIED. The court previously denied such request by entry of Judge J. Warren Bettis dated January 16, 2002.

{¶ 10} With respect to the cross-motions for summary judgment, the court notes that plaintiffs complaint asserts the following causes of action against defendants: (1) abuse of process; (2) malicious prosecution; (3) negligence; (4) denial of civil rights; (5) wrongful incarceration; and (6) invasion of privacy. The allegations stem from a December 22, 2000 ruling by retired Judge Stephen A. Yarbrough during a judicial proceeding in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations. Specifically, the judge found plaintiff in contempt of court and sentenced him to ten days in jail. Judge Yarbrough was sitting by temporary assignment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

{¶ 11} Plaintiff alleges that defendants were negligent in making the assignment because there had been previous complaints about Judge Yarbrough. Plaintiff further claims that Judge Yarbrough did not have the authority to act as judge because he had not renewed his oath of office before accepting the [37]*37assignment. Defendants argue that plaintiffs claims should be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and because Chief Justice Moyer’s actions in assigning Judge Yarbrough are protected by the doctrine of judicial immunity.

{¶ 12} At the outset, the court finds that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over both plaintiffs constitutional claims and plaintiffs claims of civil rights violations that are premised upon Section 1988, Title 42, U.S.Code. See Graham v. Ohio Bd. of Bar Examiners (1994), 98 Ohio App.3d 620, 649 N.E.2d 282; Burkey v. S. Ohio Correctional Facility (1988), 38 Ohio App.3d 170, 528 N.E.2d 607. Therefore, those portions of plaintiffs case are DISMISSED.

{¶ 13} With respect to plaintiffs remaining claims, the court relies on the standard for review set forth in Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 662 N.E.2d 264. That case provides:

{¶ 14} “[A] party seeking summary judgment, on the ground that the non-moving party cannot prove its case, bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the basis for the motion, and identifying those portions of the record which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact on the essential elements) of the nonmoving party’s claims. The moving party cannot discharge its initial burden under Civ.R. 56 simply by making a conclusory assertion that the nonmoving party has no evidence to prove its case. Rather, the moving party must be able to specifically point to some evidence of the type listed in Civ.R. 56(C) which affirmatively demonstrates that the nonmoving party has no evidence to support the nonmoving party’s claims.”

{¶ 15} Here, both parties are seeking summary judgment on all claims set forth in the complaint. Thus, both parties must submit some evidence of the type listed in Civ.R. 56(C). That rule states, in part, as follows:

{¶ 16} “* * * Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in the action, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. No evidence or stipulation may be considered except as stated in this rule. A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears from the evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or stipulation, that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that party being entitled to have the evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party’s favor. * * * ” See, also, Williams v. First United Church of Christ (1974), 37 Ohio St.2d 150, 66 O.O.2d 311, 309 N.E.2d 924; Temple v. Wean United, Inc. (1977), 50 Ohio St.2d 317, 4 O.O.3d 466, 364 N.E.2d 267.

[38]*38{¶ 17} In support of his claims, plaintiff has submitted numerous exhibits, including a letter that he received from Ohio Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick, dated April 24, 2001. In the letter, Justice Robie Resnick states that she took no part in the assignment of Judge Yarbrough but that she was aware of numerous complaints about him. Although the letter does not qualify as an affidavit or any type of evidence listed in Civ.R. 56(C), the parties have stipulated that it may be considered in ruling on the cross-motions for summary judgment. Additionally, the court will consider the April 11, 2002 deposition testimony of Judge Yarbrough.

{¶ 18} As stated previously, the issues in this case concern the doctrine of judicial immunity, that is, whether Chief Justice Moyer, acting for the Supreme Court of Ohio, is protected by such doctrine in regard to his appointment of Judge Yarbrough to hear plaintiffs domestic relations case. An ancillary issue is whether Judge Yarbrough is protected by the same doctrine for his actions in hearing and determining plaintiffs domestic relations case.

{¶ 19} This court addressed the doctrine of judicial immunity in its April 4, 2002 entry. In that entry, this court stated:

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Bluebook (online)
2002 Ohio 3518, 773 N.E.2d 621, 119 Ohio Misc. 2d 34, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/evans-v-supreme-court-of-ohio-ohioctcl-2002.