State ex rel. Thomson v. Summit Cty. Sheriff's Dept.

2026 Ohio 542

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 18, 2026
• Docket: 31788
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State ex rel. Thomson v. Summit Cty. Sheriff's Dept., 2026-Ohio-542.]

STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS )ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF SUMMIT )

STATE OF OHIO EX REL. JASEN E. THOMSON

Relator C.A. No. 31788

v.

SUMMIT COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT., ET AL. ORIGINAL ACTION IN PROHIBITION Respondents

Dated: February 18, 2026

PER CURIAM.

{¶1} Petitioner, Jasen E. Thomson, filed a complaint seeking a writ of prohibition

naming a long list of respondents: Summit County Sheriff’s Department, four named deputies,

and six John Doe deputies. The complaint seeks damages of $60,000,000 from the respondents.

Respondents moved to dismiss. For the following reasons, we dismiss this case sua sponte.

{¶2} Generally, for this Court to issue a writ of prohibition, the petitioner must establish

that: (1) respondent is about to exercise judicial power, (2) the exercise of that power is

unauthorized by law, and (3) the denial of the writ will result in injury for which no other adequate

remedy exists. State ex rel. Jones v. Garfield Hts. Mun. Court, 77 Ohio St.3d 447, 448 (1997).

Sua sponte dismissal of a petition, without notice, is appropriate only if the petition is frivolous or

the petitioner obviously cannot prevail on the facts alleged in the petition. See, e.g., State ex rel.

Duran v. Kelsey, 2005-Ohio-3674, ¶ 7. {¶3} Mr. Thomson obviously cannot prevail on the facts alleged in the petition. The

petition fails to allege any facts in support of the elements for a writ of prohibition. It does not

allege that any of the respondents are about to exercise judicial power, that the exercise of that

power is unauthorized by law, and that the denial of the writ will result in an injury for which no

other adequate remedy exists.

{¶4} The petition’s prayer for relief was not for a writ of prohibition to prevent the

exercise of judicial power. Instead, the petition sought millions of dollars in damages from the

Summit County Sheriff and numerous deputies. This relief is beyond the scope of this Court’s

jurisdiction. The Ohio Constitution grants this Court jurisdiction over prohibition actions, but not

to award money damages in conjunction with a writ. See, e.g., State ex rel. Maddox v. Lincoln

Hts., 2016-Ohio-5001, ¶ 10; Ohio Const., art. IV, § 3(B).

{¶5} The petition failed to identify any respondent who was about to exercise judicial

power. Although the petition referenced prior civil actions Mr. Thomson had filed, the judges who

presided over those cases were not named as respondents in this case. The petition also failed to

allege any facts to suggest that those judges were about to exercise judicial power.

{¶6} After a thorough review of the petition, this Court concludes that Mr. Thomson

cannot prevail on his petition for a writ of prohibition. Accordingly, sua sponte dismissal of the

petition is appropriate. Duran, 2005-Ohio-3674, ¶ 7.

{¶7} The case is dismissed. Costs of this action are taxed to Mr. Thomson. {¶8} The clerk of courts is hereby directed to serve upon all parties not in default notice

of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. See Civ.R. 58(B).

JILL FLAGG LANZINGER FOR THE COURT

SUTTON, J. STEVENSON, J. CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

JASEN E. THOMSON, Pro Se, Relator.

ELLIOT KOLKOVICH, Prosecuting Attorney, and JOHN CHRISTOPHER REECE and JENNIFER M. PIATT, Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for Respondents.