State ex rel. El v. Butler

2012 Ohio 3969

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 29, 2012
• Docket: 98419
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State ex rel. El v. Butler, 2012-Ohio-3969.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 98419

S/O EX REL., AMUN HONDO EL, a.k.a. MARIO HERRING RELATOR

vs.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS JUDGE ANNETTE BUTLER, ET AL. RESPONDENTS

JUDGMENT: WRIT DENIED

Writ of Mandamus Motion No. 456581 Order No. 457606

RELEASE DATE: August 29, 2012 FOR RELATOR

Amun Hondo El C/O Mario Herring #593-580 Belmont Correctional Institution P.O. Box 540 68518 Bannock Road St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950

ATTORNEYS FOR RESPONDENTS

William D. Mason Cuyahoga County Prosecutor James E. Moss Assistant County Prosecutor 8th Floor Justice Center 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J.:

{¶1} On May 31, 2012, the relator, Amun Hondo El, a.k.a. Mario Herring,

commenced this mandamus action against the respondents, Judge Annette G. Butler and

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Norm Schroth.1 The relator seeks to compel Schroth to

respond to his motions to release property and to compel both of the respondents “to lift

the hold on relator’s seized property to wit motor vehicle and send the court order to

relator so that he can obtain his seized property from the county impound lot.”

(Complaint — demand for judgment.) On July 5, 2012, the respondents moved for

summary judgment on the grounds of mootness. The relator did not file a response. For

the following reasons, this court grants the respondents’ motion for summary judgment.

{¶2} The relator alleges that the police seized his motor vehicle on February 6,

2008. In the underlying case, State v. Herring, Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-508614, in

November 2010, the relator pleaded guilty to attempted tampering with evidence, assault

of a police officer, and trafficking, and the trial court sentenced him to two years in prison.

1 The relator originally named former Judge Timothy McGinty as a respondent. However, Judge Butler has succeeded to Judge McGinty’s position, and this court previously ordered her substitution as a respondent. See App.R. 29(C)(1). On March 9, 2011, the relator filed a demand for the release of his motor vehicle. In

early April 2011, the trial court referred the matter to Schroth for a response. When

nothing else was done, the relator commenced this mandamus action.

{¶3} On June 26, 2012, Schroth filed a response in the underlying case, a certified

copy of which is attached to the motion for summary judgment. This response states that

the state of Ohio did not oppose the release of the automobile. Indeed, on January 27,

2011, the Cleveland Police released the vehicle, and it was available or pick up. Police

policy is to store the vehicle for 21 days while awaiting retrieval. When the car was not

retrieved within that period, the car was destroyed on March 25, 2011. In a July 3, 2012

journal entry, a certified copy of which is attached to the summary judgment motion, Judge

Butler denied the relator’s motion for release of his motor vehicle; she noted that the

vehicle was destroyed and no longer exists.

{¶4} The requisites for mandamus are well established: (1) the relator must have a

clear legal right to the requested relief, (2) the respondent must have a clear legal duty to

perform the requested relief, and (3) there must be no adequate remedy at law.

Additionally, although mandamus may be used to compel a court to exercise judgment or

to discharge a function, it may not control judicial discretion, even if that discretion is

grossly abused. State ex rel. Ney v. Niehaus, 33 Ohio St.3d 118, 515 N.E.2d 914 (1987).

Moreover, mandamus will not issue to compel a vain act. State ex rel. Cotton v. Ghee,

84 Ohio St.3d 54, 1998-Ohio-679, 701 N.E.2d 989.

{¶5} In the present case, the respondents have fulfilled their duties. Schroth responded to the relator’s motion, and the judge ruled on that motion. To the extent that

the relator sought to compel the judge to grant his motion, mandamus would not lie.

Such a ruling would control judicial discretion, and mandamus may not issue for that

purpose. Furthermore, because the car was destroyed, issuing a mandamus to release the

car would be a vain act. Accordingly, this mandamus action is moot.

{¶6} Additionally, under Loc.App.R. 45, a relator must support his complaint

with an affidavit specifying the details of the claim. R.C. 2969.25 requires prisoners to

attach affidavits listing lawsuits they have filed for the last five years and to attach poverty

affidavits with a prison cashier’s statement. The relator in this case tried to submit those

affidavits, but they were not notarized. Thus, they are ineffective, and the court denies

the writ on the grounds of procedural deficiencies. Chari v. Vore, 91 Ohio St.3d 323,

2001-Ohio-49, 744 N.E.2d 763.

{¶7} Accordingly, this court grants the respondents’ motion for summary

judgment and denies the application for a writ of mandamus. Relator to pay costs. This

court directs the clerk of court to serve all parties notice of this judgment and its date of

entry upon the journal as required by Civ.R. 58(B).

{¶8} Writ denied.

MARY EILEEN KILBANE, JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., and KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR