State ex rel. Ventra v. Bozza

2014 Ohio 3732

Opinion

[Cite as State ex rel. Ventra v. Bozza, 2014-Ohio-3732.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 101499

STATE OF OHIO, EX REL. CHARLES W. VENTRA

RELATOR

vs.

JUDGE MARY KAYE BOZZA, ET AL. RESPONDENTS

JUDGMENT: WRIT DENIED

Writ of Mandamus Motion No. 477657 Order No. 477781

RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2014 FOR RELATOR

Charles W. Ventra, pro se Inmate No. 633-324 Mansfield Correctional Institution P.O. Box 8107 Mansfield, Ohio 44901

ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENTS

Michael E. Cicero 25 West Prospect Avenue Republic Building, Suite 1400 Cleveland, Ohio 44115 EILEEN T GALLAGHER, J.:

{¶1} Charles W. Ventra has filed a complaint for a writ of mandamus. Ventra

seeks an order from this court that requires Judge Mary Kaye Bozza to dismiss Lyndhurst

M. C. No. MH-12-10706 based upon the application of R.C. 2941.401 (prisoner may

request trial on pending charges). The request for a writ of mandamus is denied.

{¶2} Attached to Judge Bozza’s motion for summary judgment are two sworn

affidavits that establish (1) there exists no pending criminal actions in the Lyndhurst

Municipal Court that name Ventra as a defendant, and (2) the arrest warrant of Ventra

that was issued in connection with Mayfield Heights Police Department incident number

12-10706, was recalled on or about May 15, 2014, and was removed from “LEADS,”

based upon a request by a City of Mayfield Heights prosecutor. It must also be noted

that mandamus may not be employed to enforce the dismissal of a criminal proceeding

pursuant to R.C. 2941.401. Tisdale v. Eberlin, 114 Ohio St.3d 201, 2007-Ohio-3833,

870 N.E.2d 1191; State ex rel. Bowling v. Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton Cty., 24

Ohio St.2d 158, 265 N.E.2d 296 (1970); State v. Latham, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92284,

2009-Ohio-126. Thus, Ventra has failed to establish that he is entitled to a writ of

mandamus by his request to dismiss the pending criminal action pursuant to R.C.

2941.401. State ex rel. Jerninghan v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 74 Ohio

St.3d 278, 658 N.E.2d 723; State ex rel. Gantt v. Coleman, 6 Ohio St.3d 5, 450 N.E.2d

1163 (1983).

{¶3} Writ denied. {¶4} Accordingly, we grant Judge Bozza’s motion for summary judgment. Costs

to Judge Bozza. Costs waived. The court directs the clerk of courts to serve all parties

with notice of this judgment and the date of its entry upon the journal as required by

Civ.R. 58(B).

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, P.J., and MARY EILEEN KILBANE, J., CONCUR