Case ID: ohio-st-3d_64/html/0538-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Per Curiam.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The State ex rel. Russell, Appellant, v. Duncan, Appellee.
    [Cite as State ex rel. Russell v. Duncan (1992), 64 Ohio St.3d 538.]
    (No. 91-2175
    Submitted June 2, 1992
    Decided September 2, 1992.)
    
      James M. Russell, pro se.
    
    
      Chattman, Garfield, Friedlander & Paul and James L. Reed, for appellee.
   Per Curiam.

We affirm the judgment of the court of appeals. “Mandamus will not lie to enforce a private right against a private person.” State ex rel. Pressley v. Indus. Comm. (1967), 11 Ohio St.2d 141, 40 O.O.2d 141, 228 N.E.2d 631, paragraph eight of the syllabus. Nor will the writ issue when the relator has an adequate remedy at law. State ex rel. Westchester Estates, Inc. v. Bacon (1980), 61 Ohio St.2d 42, 15 O.O.3d 53, 399 N.E.2d 81.

The court of appeals correctly held that the relationship between the bank and appellant was that of debtor and creditor, a contractual undertaking. See Speroff v. First-Central Trust Co. (1948), 149 Ohio St. 415, 37 O.O. 98, 79 N.E.2d 119, paragraph one of the syllabus, and Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. First Natl. Bank (1980), 63 Ohio St.2d 220, 223, 17 O.O.3d 136, 138, 407 N.E.2d 519, 522. Therefore, appellant’s complaint does not state a cause of action against appellee as a private citizen or as a representative of the bank because an action for damages for breach of contract would be an adequate remedy at law.

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.

Judgment affirmed.

Moyer, C.J., Sweeney, Holmes, Douglas, Wright, H. Brown and Resnick, JJ., concur.