In Matter of C.C., 07ap-993 (6-10-2008)

2008 Ohio 2803
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 10, 2008
DocketNo. 07AP-993.
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 2008 Ohio 2803 (In Matter of C.C., 07ap-993 (6-10-2008)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Matter of C.C., 07ap-993 (6-10-2008), 2008 Ohio 2803 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008).

Opinions

OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant, C.C., appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch, adjudging him a delinquent minor.1 Because the juvenile court's adjudging appellant a delinquent minor *Page 2 as to one offense (offense 1) is not plain error, we affirm in part the juvenile court's judgment. However, because the juvenile court's judgment as to the remaining offenses (offenses 2 and 3) fails to constitute a final order, we dismiss the appeal as to these two offenses.

{¶ 2} By a delinquency complaint filed on September 4, 2007, Anthony Cupp, the complainant, asserted that C.C. committed two theft offenses and one offense of attempted theft. In offense 1 of the complaint, Mr. Cupp alleged that on or about August 31, 2007, C.C. committed theft by knowingly exerting control of Mr. Cupp's 1998 Chevy work van without Mr. Cupp's consent, in violation of R.C. 2913.02, a felony of the fourth degree. In offense 2, Mr. Cupp alleged that on or about August 31, 2007, C.C. committed theft by knowingly exerting control of $6,000 from Mr. Cupp without consent, in violation of R.C. 2913.02, a felony of the fourth degree. And, in offense 3, Mr. Cupp alleged that, on or about August 31, 2007, C.C. committed the offense of attempted theft by punching and peeling the steering column of Mr. Cupp's Cadillac and damaging the car's dashboard, in violation of R.C. 2913.02, a felony of the fifth degree.2

{¶ 3} After the delinquency complaint was filed, a warrant for the arrest of C.C. was issued. Following C.C.'s arrest, a magistrate ordered him to be held in detention because the magistrate found that he was at risk to abscond and, because the magistrate also found that his parents were unwilling, or unable, to provide supervision of him. *Page 3

{¶ 4} After a bench trial, a magistrate adjudged appellant a delinquent minor by proof beyond a reasonable doubt as to all charges in the delinquency complaint. With regard to offense 1, the magistrate committed appellant to the legal custody of the Ohio Department of Youth Services for an indefinite term of institutionalization in a secure facility for a minimum period of six months and a maximum period not to exceed C.C.'s attainment of 21 years of age. The magistrate further ordered C.C. to pay $300 in restitution by completing 60 hours of community service within six months after his release on parole. As to offenses 2 and 3, the magistrate held these matters "open until parole is complete."

{¶ 5} Finding no error of law or other defect on the face of the magistrate's decision, the juvenile court approved the magistrate's decision and adopted it as its own on the same day that the magistrate issued her decision. Appellant did not file objections to the magistrate's decision.

{¶ 6} From the juvenile court's judgment, C.C. now appeals. Appellant assigns a single error for our consideration:

There was insufficient evidence to support Appellant's delinquency adjudications and the verdicts were against the manifest weight of the evidence.

{¶ 7} At the outset, we sua sponte consider whether subject-matter jurisdiction of this appeal properly lies. See Mogavero v. Lombardo (Sept. 25, 2001), Franklin App. No. 01AP-98, citing State ex rel. Whitev. Cuyahoga Metro. Hous. Auth. (1997), 79 Ohio St.3d 543, 544 (observing that whether subject-matter jurisdiction properly lies may be raised sua sponte by an appellate court). *Page 4

{¶ 8} "Appellate courts have jurisdiction to review the final orders or judgments of lower courts within their appellate districts."Mogavero, supra, citing Section 3(B)(2), Article IV, Ohio Constitution; see, also, Gehm v. Timberline Post Frame, 112 Ohio St.3d 514,2007-Ohio-607, at ¶ 13. Absent a final order, an appellate court has no jurisdiction to review a matter, General Acc. Ins. Co. v. Ins. Co. of N.Am. (1989), 44 Ohio St.3d 17, 20, and such a matter must be dismissed.Renner's Welding and Fabrication, Inc. v. Chrysler Motor Corp. (1996),117 Ohio App.3d 61, 64; Mogavero, supra; McClary v. M/I SchottensteinHomes, Inc., Franklin App. No. 03AP-777, 2004-Ohio-7047, at ¶ 15;Elkins v. Access-Able, Inc., Franklin App. No. 04AP-101, 2004-Ohio-4101, at ¶ 15.

{¶ 9} "Generally, the question of whether an order is final and appealable turns on the effect which the order has on the pending action rather than the name attached to it, or its general nature." In reMurray (1990), 52 Ohio St.3d 155, 157, citing Harvey v. Cincinnati CivilServ. Comm. (1985), 27 Ohio App.3d 304, 305; Systems Construction, Inc.v. Worthington Forest, Ltd. (1975), 46 Ohio App.2d 95, 96. "It is rudimentary that a finding of delinquency by a juvenile court, unaccompanied by any disposition thereof, is not a final appealable order." In re Sekulich (1981), 65 Ohio St.2d 13, 14, citing In reWhittington (1969), 17 Ohio App.2d 164; In re Bolden (1973),37 Ohio App.2d 7; see, also, In the Matter of Short (Oct. 30, 1981), Lawrence App. No. 1568.

{¶ 10} Here, although the magistrate adjudged appellant as a delinquent minor as to all three offenses that were charged against him, the magistrate held "open until parole is complete" the case as to offenses 2 and 3. By "hold[ing] these matters open until parole is complete" as to offenses 2 and 3, the magistrate contemplated further action, thereby leaving issues unresolved. See State ex rel. Keith v.McMonagle, *Page 5 103 Ohio St.3d 430, 2004-Ohio-5580, at ¶ 4, quoting Bell v. Horton (2001),142 Ohio App.3d 694, 696, 75; Chef Italiano Corp. v. Kent State Univ. (1989),44 Ohio St.3d 86, 89 (stating that "`[a] judgment that leaves issues unresolved and contemplates that further action must be taken is not a final appealable order'"). By leaving issues unresolved, the magistrate in essence rendered a decision that was interlocutory in character.

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2008 Ohio 2803, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-matter-of-cc-07ap-993-6-10-2008-ohioctapp-2008.