State ex rel. Betts v. Bower

14 Ohio Law. Abs. 716
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 16, 1933
DocketNo 94
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 14 Ohio Law. Abs. 716 (State ex rel. Betts v. Bower) 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
State ex rel. Betts v. Bower, 14 Ohio Law. Abs. 716 (Ohio Ct. App. 1933).

Opinions

BARNES, J.

The above entitled cause is now being determined on appeal from the judgment, of the Court of Common Pleas of‘Madison County, Ohio.

In the court below judgment was rendered for the plaintiff and against the defendants.

While the cause is properly heard de novo in this court, yet by stipulation of counsel in open court it was agreed that the transcript of evidence and pleadings in the court below should constitute the record without the introduction of any other or further evidence.

[718]*718The prosecuting attorney, as counsel for defendants, trustees of the Madison County Children’s Home, flies the following pleadings in this court and in the following order:

(1st) Motion to suspend judgment of court below.

(2nd) General demurrer to amended petition of plaintiff.

(3rd) Amended answer. (Tendered).

The attorney general as counsel for the Civil Service Commission of Ohio filed in this court the following pleadings and in the order named:

(2nd) Answer to plaintiff’s amended petition.

The relator prays for injunction restraining the Civil Service Commission of Ohio from certifying payrolls and the County Auditor from issuing warrants to the defendants, Kilgore, as Superintendent and Matron of the Madison County Children’s Home, on the claimed ground that the appointment of the Kilgores was illegal.

Comprehensive and exhaustive briefs are presented by attorneys representing the respective parties.

Without waiving questions raised by motions and demurrer either filed in court below or originally in this court, the cause is also submitted on the merits.

From the evidence and admissions in the pleadings, we narrate the following findings of fact and all necessary to a complete understanding and determination of the many intricate legal questions involved.

The relator, Ed Betts, at the time of instituting his action was a taxpayer and resident of Madison County, Ohio and brought the action as such on behalf of himself and other taxpayers.

The relator did not make demand upon H. H. Crabbe, prosecuting attorney of Madison County, as is provided by §2922 GC.

C. C. Crabbe, a partner of the prosecuting attorney advised with the defendants, trustees of the Madison County Children’s Home, prepared and presented a communication to the defendant, Civil Service Commission of Ohio urging them to certify a second eligible list; personally appeared before the commission on behalf of the trustees and thereby lent his efforts in se-r curing a second certification by which the Kilgores were finally appointed superintendent and matron respectively.

Counsel for relator in the court below sought to present evidence as to activities on the part of the prosecuting attorney in the interests of the Kilgores but objection being interposed and sustained, we do not have the benefit of this proffered evidence. However, witness, Woosley, on page 29 of record answered “Yes” to a question that the prosecuting attorney did interest himself in getting a waiver from him.

We think the trial court was in error in ruling the answer out and therefore, we will consider this answer along with other evidence as it bears on the exception in §29.22 GC authorizing taxpayers suit “Where for any reason the prosecuting attorney cannot bring such action.” Prior to the alleged illegal acts Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Kilgore were named as provisional appointees in the position of superintendent and matron of the Madison County Children’s Home and are still so acting with the qualification that since September, 1932, it is claimed they held by appointment from a certification of the Civil Service Commission of Ohio. On July 7, 1932, a competitive civil service examination was duly held in London, Madison County, Ohio, for the position of superintendent and matron of said Children’s Home. Prior thereto no competitive examination had been held for these positions.

The following persons were successful and graded as follows:

Cl) Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Laird____83.19
(2) Mr. and Mrs. John Houston ...75.65
(3) Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Eagleton ...74.35
(4) _ Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Woosley .73.87
(5) Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Hodson ____73.85
(6) Mr. and Mrs. Silas Ruff .......72.27
(7) Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Kilgore.....71.92

Thereafter on August 20th, the Civil Service Commission duly certified to the said Children’s Home Trustees, Numbers 1, 2 and 3 as standing highest on the eligible list for appointment for superintendent and matron. On request Nos. 5 and 6 waived their position in favor of No. 7, the Kilgores.

The trustees declined to make the appointment from the certified list, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, but sought legal advice as to the ways and means to avoid so doing and thereafter with their counsel, C. C. Crabbe, had numerous audiences with the Commission. On September 2nd, Crabbe acting for the trustees prepared and presented to the Commission a communication signed by all the members of the board of trustees (Plaintiff’s Exhibit “E”) attaching thereto waivers of the Hodsons and the Ruffs, (Nos. 5 and 6), in favor of the Kilgores, (No. 7) and further stating the Lairds, (No. 1) and [719]*719Woosleys, (No. 4) had several small children and by reason thereof they would be unsuitable for appointment. It was urged that a separate eligible list be submitted separating those applicants who have families of small children from those who do not. Thereafter on September 9th, in conformity to such request the Commission certified a second list for appointment containing the names of the Houstons, No. 2, the Eagletons, No. 3 and the Kilgores, No. 7.

The Lairds, No. 1 and the Woosleys, No. 4 had families of small children and were eliminated.

Nos. 5 and 6 had waived in favor of the Kilgores, No. 7. Following the second certification the Kilgores were immediately appointed as superintendent and • matron. There is no provision in the Civil Service Law of Ohio, §§486-1 to 486-31 GC inclusive declaring applicants ineligible by reason of having families of small children. The rules and regulations of the Commission do not make any such inhibition.

The trustees in their request for certification, prior to the examination did not ask that the Commission promulgate a special order making ineligible applicants having small children. The advertisement for examination contained no such information.

The applicants in taking the examination were not interrogated as to whether or not they had children.

The following questions of law are involved:

(1) Under the facts of the case could the relator bring the action as a taxpayer without first making written demand on the prosecuting attorney of the county and have his refusal so to do?
(2) Can an action of this character be maintained by a taxpayer under any conditions?
(3) May the Civil Service Commission of Ohio be joined in the action in Madison County, Ohio?
(4) Was the appointment illegal?
(5) May the relator have relief through injunction?

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Bluebook (online)
14 Ohio Law. Abs. 716, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-betts-v-bower-ohioctapp-1933.