State v. Comstock

113 N.E.3d 1122, 2018 Ohio 2125
CourtCourt of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga County
DecidedMay 25, 2018
DocketNos. 106444; 106446
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 113 N.E.3d 1122 (State v. Comstock) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Comstock, 113 N.E.3d 1122, 2018 Ohio 2125 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2018).

Opinion

LARRY A. JONES, SR., J.:

{¶ 1} On October 31, 2017, the relator, Jack El Turk, commenced Eighth District No. 106444, against the respondents, Judge Mark Comstock, Magistrate Robert Lazzaro, and the Berea Municipal Court, as a prohibition action to prevent them from adjudicating the underlying action, Subway Real Estate, L.L.C. v. El Turk, Berea M.C. No. 17CVG02090. El Turk also commenced Eighth District No. 106446 *1124against the same respondents as a mandamus action to compel them to certify the underlying case to common pleas court, because the counterclaims caused the entire case to exceed the monetary jurisdiction of the municipal court. This court consolidated the two writ actions and allowed Subway Real Estate, L.L.C. to intervene. This court issued an alternative writ ordering the respondents to transfer the underlying case to the common pleas court or to show cause why the writ should not issue. This order further provided that the respondents not adjudicate the merits of the underlying case until further order from this court. Rather than certify the underlying case, the respondents filed their briefs to show cause. The relator and the intervenor also filed briefs and evidence. Thus, this matter is ripe for determination. For the following reasons, this court grants the writ of mandamus and orders the respondents to certify the entire underlying case to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

{¶ 2} As gleaned from the filings, since approximately May 2007, El Turk has had a Subway franchise at 15007 Snow Road in Brookpark, within the territorial jurisdiction of the Berea Municipal Court. The franchise is through Doctor's Associates, Inc., but Subway Real Estate, L.L.C., is the landlord. Doctor's Associates obtained an arbitration award in Connecticut in January 2017, that El Turk had breached the franchise agreement by not following procedure. A Connecticut court affirmed the arbitration award. However, the parties had supposedly reached a settlement that would allow El Turk to sell his franchise, but Doctor's Associates found none of the buyers acceptable.

{¶ 3} On September 7, 2017, Subway Real Estate commenced the underlying forcible entry and detainer action based on breach of the franchise agreement. On September 26, 2017, El Turk filed a counterclaim/third-party complaint alleging over $25,000 in damages for claims of constructive eviction, tortious interference with contract, and civil conspiracy. El Turk also moved to certify the entire case to common pleas court.

{¶ 4} On October 11, 2017, the magistrate recommended that the court deny the motion to certify in part and grant in part, by retaining the case until the forcible entry and detainer action is resolved and then certifying the counterclaims and third-party claims to the common pleas court. The magistrate cited Swenson's Ice Cream Co. v. Cleveland Swenson's Inc., 1 OBR 324 (C.P.1982), and Colombo Ents., Inc. v. Fegan , 142 Ohio App.3d 551, 756 N.E.2d 211 (8th Dist.2001), as supporting authority. On October 19, 2017, the judge adopted the magistrate's report using the following language: "After review and counterclaim of Defendant filings, objection is overruled, eviction to proceed 11/8/17 at 7:30 AM prompt. Counterclaim and 3rd party complaint to be certified to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas." El Turk then commenced these writ actions.

{¶ 5} 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. State ex rel. Ney v. Niehaus , 33 Ohio St.3d 118, 515 N.E.2d 914 (1987). Mandamus is not a substitute for appeal. State ex rel. Daggett v. Gessaman , 34 Ohio St.2d 55, 295 N.E.2d 659 (1973) ; State ex rel. Pressley v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio , 11 Ohio St.2d 141, 228 N.E.2d 631 (1967), paragraph three of the syllabus. Moreover, mandamus is an extraordinary remedy that is to be exercised with caution and only when the right is clear. It should not issue in doubtful cases.

*1125State ex rel. Taylor v. Glasser , 50 Ohio St.2d 165, 364 N.E.2d 1 (1977).

{¶ 6} R.C. 1901.17 limits the municipal court's monetary jurisdiction to $15,000. R.C. 1901.22(E) and Civ.R. 13(J) provide that if a counterclaim claim exceeds the jurisdictional amount of the municipal court, the judge shall certify the proceedings to the court of common pleas. However, the municipal court is authorized to examine the new claims to determine whether they state authentic claims that exceed its monetary jurisdiction; it is not required to certify cases to the common pleas court based solely upon the amount stated in the demand. Lewallen v. Mentor Lagoons, Inc., 85 Ohio App.3d 91, 619 N.E.2d 98 (8th Dist.1993).

{¶ 7} If the counterclaims are authentic claims that exceed the court's monetary jurisdiction, then the claims should not be bifurcated, and the entire case, including the forcible entry and detainer claim, must be certified to the common pleas court, as required by the statute. State ex rel. Penn v. Swain, 21 Ohio App.3d 119, 486 N.E.2d 1187 (11th Dist.1984), is compelling.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
113 N.E.3d 1122, 2018 Ohio 2125, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-comstock-ohctapp8cuyahog-2018.