Russell v. Warden, Lebanon Corr. Inst.

2018 Ohio 3011

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 30, 2018
• Docket: CA2017-12-176
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Russell v. Warden, Lebanon Corr. Inst., 2018-Ohio-3011.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

WARREN COUNTY

CHRISTOPHER M. RUSSELL, :

Plaintiff-Appellant, : CASE NO. CA2017-12-176

: OPINION - vs - 7/30/2018 :

WARDEN, LEBANON CORRECTIONAL : INSTITUTION, : Defendant-Appellee. :

CIVIL APPEAL FROM WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Case No. 17 CV 90106

Christopher M. Russell, #A646718, North Central Correctional, P.O. Box 1812, Marion, Ohio 43302, plaintiff-appellant, pro se

Michael DeWine, Ohio Attorney General, Jared S. Yee, 30 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, for defendant-appellee

RINGLAND, J.

{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Christopher Russell, appeals the decision of the Warren

County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his complaint for failure to state a claim under

Civ. R. 12(B)(6). For the reasons detailed below, we affirm.

{¶ 2} In 2011, Russell was convicted, after a jury trial, of rape, gross sexual Warren CA2017-12-176

imposition, pandering obscenity involving a minor, and sexual battery, and sentenced to

consecutive prison terms totaling 75 years. Russell's conviction was affirmed on appeal.

State v. Russell, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2011-CA-10, 2012-Ohio-4316. Russell did not appeal to

the Ohio Supreme Court.

{¶ 3} Since that time, Russell has appealed various matters in federal and state

courts. Russell v. Turner, 6th Cir. No. 16-3415, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 23620 (Oct. 28,

2016); Russell v. Warden N. Cent. Corr. Inst., 6th Cir. No. 17-3251, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS

18058 (July 31, 2017); State v. Russell, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2016-CA-48, 2017-Ohio-7198.1

{¶ 4} On August 7, 2017, Russell filed a complaint styled as a "Motion for Declaratory

Judgment" with the Warren County Court of Common Pleas. Russell named the Warden of

the Lebanon Correctional Institution (LCI) as the defendant and alleged that LCI's library

policy caused him harm "by operating in a matter inconsistent with the required lawful and

meaningful access to courts codified in State policy and Constitutional principles."

{¶ 5} Russell's complaint alleged that LCI's library policy, which he describes as a

"closed service with passes issued mainly once-per-month for one shift (3 to 4 hours)," bars

his access to the courts and harms his efforts to overturn his conviction. As a result, Russell

seeks declaratory judgment regarding the constitutionality of the library's operation.

{¶ 6} LCI moved for dismissal under Civ.R. 12(B)(6). The trial court granted LCI's

motion to dismiss after concluding that Russell failed to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted.2 Russell now appeals, raising four assignments of error for review.

{¶ 7} Assignment of Error No. 1:

1. The cases cited are a mere sampling of Russell's actions, as he alleges that he has filed 14 civil cases in the previous five years.

2. Though Russell claims otherwise, the trial court addressed his claims on the merits and reference to the statute of limitations was a superfluous reference to other federal claims.

-2- Warren CA2017-12-176

{¶ 8} THE TRIAL COURT CONSTRUED THE ACTION UNDER 42 U.S.C. SECTION

1983 INSTEAD OF O.R.C. SECTION 2721.

{¶ 9} Assignment of Error No. 2:

{¶ 10} TRIAL COURT IMPROPERLY DISMISSED THE ISSUE UNDER O.R.C.

SECTION 2721 USING CIV. R. 12(B)(6).

{¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 3:

{¶ 12} TRIAL COURT MADE NO EFFORT TO UNERSTAND [sic] THE RIGHTS OF

A PRISONER UNDER BOUNDS V. SMITH AND MISUSED STATE V. DAY.

{¶ 13} Assignment of Error No. 4:

{¶ 14} TRIAL COURT USED THE INCORRECT STATUTE TO DETERMINE THE

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

{¶ 15} Russell's four assignments of error will be addressed together. Russell argues

the trial court erred by dismissing his complaint for failure to state a claim under Civ. R.

12(B)(6). There is no merit to Russell's argument.

{¶ 16} Civ.R. 12(B)(6) authorizes the dismissal of a complaint if it fails to state a claim

upon which relief can be granted. Ebbing v. Stewart, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2016-05-085,

2016-Ohio-7645, ¶ 11. In order to prevail on a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion, "it must appear

beyond doubt from the complaint that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts entitling relief."

Marchetti v. Blankenburg, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2010-09-232, 2011-Ohio-2212, ¶ 9. In

ruling on a motion pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6), a court must presume that all factual

allegations in the complaint are true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the

nonmoving party. Mitchell v. Lawson Milk Co., 40 Ohio St.3d 190, 192 (1988). "A trial court's

order granting a motion to dismiss pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6) is subject to de novo review on

appeal." BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. v. Kolenich, 194 Ohio App.3d 777, 2011-Ohio-

3345, ¶ 35 (12th Dist.). -3- Warren CA2017-12-176

{¶ 17} "The essential elements for declaratory relief are (1) a real controversy exists

between the parties, (2) the controversy is justiciable in character, and (3) speedy relief is

necessary to preserve the rights of the parties." Harris v. Ohio Adult Parole Auth., 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 06AP-374, 2007-Ohio-142, ¶ 11. A court may dismiss a complaint for

declaratory judgment without addressing the merits if there is no justiciable issue between

the parties or a grant of declaratory judgment will not terminate the controversy. Id.

{¶ 18} In this case, Russell filed a complaint against the Warden of LCI, alleging that

he was deprived of effective use of the prison library in violation of his constitutional rights.

Citing Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 97 S.Ct. 1491 (1977), Russell claims that the limitation

on his use of the prison library violated his constitutional rights and therefore caused an 11-

month delay in the filing of his criminal appeal. However, contrary to Russell's suggestion

otherwise, "Bounds did not hold that there is a right of access to a law library; it held that

there is a right of access to the courts." State ex rel. Carter v. Schotten, 70 Ohio St.3d 89,

92-93 (1994); Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 351, 116 S.Ct. 2174 (Bounds "did not create an

abstract, freestanding right to a law library or legal assistance").

{¶ 19} Following review, we find the trial court appropriately dismissed Russell's

complaint. In order for a justiciable question to exist, "[t]he danger or dilemma of the plaintiff

must be present, not contingent on the happening of hypothetical future events * * * and the

threat to his position must be actual and genuine and not merely possible or remote."

Schreyer v. Preble Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2012-12-018, 2013-Ohio-

3087, ¶ 13, citing Mid-American Fire & Cas. Co. v. Heasley, 113 Ohio St.3d 133, 2007-Ohio-

1248, ¶ 9.

{¶ 20} In his brief before this court, Russell admits that he is no longer an inmate at

LCI and therefore any relief would be prospective and based on speculation that he would be

returned to LCI. Accordingly, Russell's complaint for declaratory judgment is moot. Id. -4- Warren CA2017-12-176

("actions become moot when resolution of the issues presented is purely academic and will

have no practical effect on the legal relations between the parties").

{¶ 21} Furthermore, we agree with the trial court's resolution of this matter. Russell

can prove no set of facts entitling him to relief. See Lewis v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. &

Correction, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 93AP-1033, 1993 Ohio App. LEXIS 6031 (Dec. 16, 1993).

As correctly noted by the trial court, Russell admits to having access to LCI's prison library at

the time of his incarceration. Though Russell, an incarcerated inmate, may have wished to

spend a longer amount of time in the prison library, he was not constitutionally entitled to

unrestricted access of the library. See State v. Day, 72 Ohio App.3d 82, 86 (4th Dist.1991)

(defendant was not denied meaningful access to research material). As a result, Russell's

four assignments of error are overruled.

{¶ 22} Judgment affirmed.

S. POWELL, P.J., and PIPER, J., concur.

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