Starr v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas

2012 Ohio 2214

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 14, 2012
• Docket: 97759
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Starr v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 2012-Ohio-2214.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 97759

CHRISTOPHER S. STARR RELATOR

vs.

THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT: WRIT DENIED

Writ of Prohibition Motion Nos. 451312 and 451706 Order No. 454684

RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2012 FOR RELATOR

Christopher S. Starr, Pro Se 1374 East 25th Street Cleveland, OH 44114

ATTORNEYS FOR RESPONDENT

William D. Mason Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

BY: James E. Moss Assistant County Prosecutor The Justice Center, 8th Floor 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, OH 44113 MELODY J. STEWART, P.J.:

{¶1} Relator, Christopher Starr, was the defendant in State v. Starr, Cuyahoga C.P.

No. CR-554989 (Feb. 28, 2012). He requests that this court issue a writ of prohibition

against respondent court because he has not been permitted to represent himself and be

present at all proceedings and because the county jail does not provide materials needed

to process his case. He also complains that respondent has not ruled on his pro se

motions.

{¶2} The criteria for the issuance of a writ of prohibition are well-established.

In order to be entitled to a writ of prohibition, [relator] had to establish that (1) the [respondent] is about to exercise judicial or quasi-judicial power, (2) the exercise of such power is unauthorized by law, and (3) denial of the writ will cause injury to [relator] for which no other adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law exists. State ex rel. White v. Junkin (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 335, 336, 686 N.E.2d 267, 268.

State ex rel. Wright v. Ohio Bur. of Motor Vehicles, 87 Ohio St.3d 184, 185,

1999-Ohio-1041, 718 N.E.2d 908. If, however, the respondent court is patently and

unambiguously without jurisdiction, the relator need not demonstrate the lack of an

adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law. State ex rel. Sapp v. Franklin Cty.

Court of Appeals, 118 Ohio St.3d 368, 2008-Ohio-2637, 889 N.E.2d 500, ¶ 15.

{¶3} Respondent has filed a motion for summary judgment. In addition to

identifying several defects in the materials supporting relator’s complaint, respondent

argues that Starr is not entitled to relief in prohibition. We agree. {¶4} Initially, we note that a review of the docket in Case No. CR-554989 reflects

that Starr was indicted on three counts, pled guilty to one, and the other two were nolled.

The court of common pleas sentenced him to time served and ordered him released.

Case No. CR-554989 was, therefore, concluded and this action in prohibition is moot.

{¶5} This action also fails on the merits. Starr does not dispute that the court of

common pleas has jurisdiction over his criminal case. He also does not demonstrate that

an appeal from his criminal case would not have been an adequate remedy.

{¶6} To the extent that he complains regarding the lack of a ruling on several

motions, respondent has attached to the motion for summary judgment a copy of an entry

disposing of Starr’s pro se motions. Starr’s claim is, therefore, moot.

{¶7} To the extent that he complains regarding the conditions in the county jail, the

court of common pleas is clearly not the correct party.

{¶8} Finally, as identified in respondent’s motion for summary judgment, the

supporting materials accompanying the complaint are defective. He purports to submit

“affidavits” of indigency and verity but neither of these is notarized. Affidavits must be

notarized to comply with the requirement of Loc.App.R. 45(B)(1)(a) that the complaint

“must be supported by an affidavit from the plaintiff or relator specifying the details of

the claim.” Likewise, Starr has not included a notarized affidavit in response to the

requirement of R.C. 2969.25(A) that an “inmate shall file with the court an affidavit that

contains a description of each civil action or appeal of a civil action that the inmate has

filed in the previous five years in any state or federal court.” The absence of these notarized affidavits provides a basis for dismissal of this action. State ex rel. McGrath

v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 8th Dist. No. 89924, 2007-Ohio-4442.

{¶9} Starr also failed to comply with the requirement of R.C. 2969.25(C) that he

support his complaint with: “(1) A statement that sets forth the balance in the inmate

account of the inmate for each of the preceding six months, as certified by the

institutional cashier[.]” As a consequence, we deny Starr’s claim of indigency and order

him to pay costs. State ex rel. Tate v. Callahan, 8th Dist. No. 85615, 2005-Ohio-1202.

{¶10} Accordingly, respondent’s motion for summary judgment is granted.

Relator to pay costs. The court directs the clerk to serve notice of this judgment and

date of entry upon all parties pursuant to Civ.R. 58(B).

{¶11} Writ denied.

MELODY J. STEWART, PRESIDING JUDGE

KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., and KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR