State ex rel. Lemley v. Mills

2013 Ohio 3886

Opinion

[Cite as State ex rel. Lemley v. Mills, 2013-Ohio-3886.]

COURT OF APPEALS MORROW COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO, EX REL., JUDGES: ROGER W. LEMLEY Hon. John W. Wise, P. J. Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. Relator Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.

-vs- Case No. 2013 CA 0005

VANESSA MILLS

Respondent OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Writ of Mandamus

JUDGMENT: Dismissed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 9, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Relator For Respondent

ROGER W. LEMLEY CHARLES S. HOWLAND PRO SE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Post Office Box 5398 60 East High Street Mansfield, Ohio 44901 Mt. Gilead, Ohio 43338 Morrow County, Case No. 2013 CA 0005 2

Wise, P. J.

{¶1} Relator, Roger W. Lemley, has filed a complaint for writ of mandamus

against Respondent, Vanessa Mills, who is the clerk of the Morrow County Court of

Common Pleas.

{¶2} This cause of action arises out of public records requests made by Relator

to Respondent for a copy of “Judgment Entry of Appellate case No. 2006CA0004 in the

Fifth District Court of Appeals.”

{¶3} Respondent has filed a motion to dismiss stating that the requested record

has been provided to Relator. Relator has not responded to the motion to dismiss.

{¶4} “Mandamus is the appropriate remedy to compel compliance with R.C.

149.43, Ohio's Public Records Act.” State ex rel. Physicians Commt. for Responsible

Medicine v. Ohio State Univ. Bd. of Trustees, 108 Ohio St.3d 288, 2006-Ohio-903, 843

N.E.2d 174, ¶ 6; R.C. 149.43(C).

{¶5} The Supreme Court has held, “In general, providing the requested records

to the relator in a public-records mandamus case renders the mandamus claim moot.”

State ex rel. Toledo Blade Co. v. Toledo–Lucas Cty. Port Auth., 121 Ohio St.3d 537,

2009–Ohio–1767, 905 N.E.2d 1221, ¶ 14. Morrow County, Case No. 2013 CA 0005 3

{¶6} Because Relator has been provided the requested records, the instant

complaint is moot. For this reason, the motion to dismiss is granted.

By: Wise, P. J.

Delaney, J., and

Baldwin, J., concur.

/s/ John W. Wise___________________ HON. JOHN W. WISE

/s/ Patricia A. Delaney_ _____________ HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

/s/ Craig R. Baldwin ______________ HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN

JWW/d 0820 Morrow County, Case No. 2013 CA 0005 4

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR MORROW COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO, EX REL., : ROGER W. LEMLEY : : Relator : : -vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY : VANESSA MILLS : : Respondent : Case No. 2013 CA 0005

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the instant

complaint is moot. For this reason, the motion to dismiss is granted.

Costs waived.

/s/ Patricia A. Delaney_______________ HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

/s/ Craig R. Baldwin_________________ HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN