State ex rel. Lessam v. Saffold

2017 Ohio 7485

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 6, 2017
• Docket: 105828
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State ex rel. Lessam v. Saffold, 2017-Ohio-7485.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 105828

STATE OF OHIO, EX REL. JENNIFER LESSAM

RELATOR

vs.

JUDGE SHIRLEY SAFFOLD RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT: WRIT DENIED

Writ of Procedendo Motion No. 508156 Order No. 509079

RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2017 FOR RELATOR

Jennifer Lessam Inmate No. W-096247 Northeast Reintegration Center 2675 E. 30th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44115

ATTORNEYS FOR RESPONDENT

Michael C. O’Malley Cuyahoga County Prosecutor By: James E. Moss Assistant County Prosecutor The Justice Center 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J.:

{¶1} On May 25, 2017, the relator, Jennifer Lessam, commenced this

procedendo action against the respondent, Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold, to compel the

judge to rule on a motion for correction of jail-time credit, which Lessam filed on March

22, 2017, in the underlying case, State v. Lessam, Cuyahoga C.P. No. CR-15-599391-A.

On June 21, 2017, the respondent moved for summary judgment on the grounds of

mootness and pleading defects. Attached to the dispositive motion was a copy of a June

20, 2017 journal entry that granted Lessam’s motion in part and granted her 22 days of

jail-time credit. Lessam never filed a response. The June 20, 2017 entry establishes

that the respondent judge has proceeded to judgment on the subject motion and that this

writ action is moot.

{¶2} Relator also did not comply with R.C. 2969.25(C), which requires that an

inmate file a certified statement from the prison cashier setting forth the balance in the

inmate’s private account for each of the preceding six months. This also is sufficient

reason to deny the mandamus, deny indigency status, and assess costs against the relator.

State ex rel. Pamer v. Collier, 108 Ohio St.3d 492, 2006-Ohio-1507, 844 N.E.2d 842;

State ex rel. Hunter v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 88 Ohio St.3d 176,

2000-Ohio-285, 724 N.E.2d 420; and Hazel v. Knab, 130 Ohio St.3d 22,

2011-Ohio-4608, 955 N.E.2d 378 — the defect may not be cured by subsequent filings. {¶3} Accordingly, this court grants the respondent’s motion for summary

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

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

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

{¶4} Writ denied.

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, A.J., CONCURS; MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J., CONCURS IN PART, DISSENTS IN PART, AND WOULD WAIVE COSTS.