Court Opinion

ID: 2736114
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-23 18:05:14.712596+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:30:11.664830
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Dept. of Youth Servs. v. Mahaffey, 2014-Ohio-4172.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                   TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Department of Youth Services,               :
Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility,
                                            :                      No. 14AP-389
               Appellant-Appellant,                             (C.P.C. No. 13CV-11860)
                                            :                          and
v.                                                                 No. 14AP-396
                                            :                   (C.P.C. No. 13CV-12251)
Tim Mahaffey,
                                            :                  (REGULAR CALENDAR)
               Appellee-Appellee.
                                            :

                                         D E C I S I O N

                                  Rendered on September 23, 2014

                 Michael DeWine, Attorney General, Robert E. Fekete and
                 Amanda L. Scheeser, for appellant.

                 Spater & Davis-Williams, LLC, and C. Raphael Davis-
                 Williams, for appellee.

                  APPEALS from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

CONNOR, J.
        {¶ 1} In this consolidated appeal, appellant, Department of Youth Services,
Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility ("DYS"), appeals from a judgment of the Franklin
County Court of Common Pleas affirming an order of the State Personnel Board of Review
("SPBR") in favor of appellee, Tim Mahaffey ("appellee").
A. Facts and Procedural History
        {¶ 2} DYS employed appellee as an Operations Administrator ("OA") in its
Circleville Juvenile Corrections Facility ("CJCF") from August 27, 1990 until May 1, 2012,
when DYS removed appellee from his position. As an OA, appellee was third in command
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                              2

at CJCF, behind Superintendent, Ron Edwards and Deputy Superintendent, Karla
Stallworth.
      {¶ 3}   The actions that precipitated appellee's removal began on February 24,
2012, when Youth Specialists, Michael Person and Dwayne Costa, transported a youth
offender ("Youth") from CJCF to the New Philadelphia Municipal Court to face charges
unrelated to those that had resulted in his commitment to DYS. As a result of the
proceedings in New Philadelphia, the municipal court judge dismissed the case against
the Youth and expressed the desire to release the Youth from custody. Costa informed the
judge that he required CJCF authorization in order to release the Youth. Costa then
contacted the CJCF Operations Office and explained the situation to Operations Manager,
Elizabeth Zinn-Watson. Zinn-Watson instructed Costa to hold the Youth until she could
reach Edwards by telephone for advice. The record shows that Zinn-Watson was not
aware that DYS was holding the Youth on another unrelated matter.
      {¶ 4} When Zinn-Watson's efforts to contact Edwards by telephone were
unsuccessful, she reached appellee, who was her direct supervisor. Zinn-Watson testified
at appellee's disciplinary hearing that when she informed appellee of the situation, he
advised that "there's no reason for [the Youth] to come back here * * * if the judge is
dropping that charge, then [the Youth] can be released." (Tr. 135.) According to Zinn-
Watson, appellee did not ask her any questions before authorizing the Youth's release.
Operations Manager, Tom Sanders, who was in the Operations office when appellee took
the phone call from Zinn-Watson, largely corroborated Zinn-Watson's account of the
telephone conversation.
      {¶ 5} The decision to release the Youth in New Philadelphia was an error. Not
only was DYS obligated to hold the Youth on the other charges, the Youth was released
without journalized parole rules and without adult supervision. Upon learning of the error
from Edwards, DYS Bureau Chief of Facility Operations, Amy Lynn Ast, contacted the
appropriate juvenile court judge who subsequently issued a bench warrant authorizing
DYS to take the Youth back into custody.
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                               3

        {¶ 6} Following an internal investigation of the incident and a pre-disciplinary
hearing, DYS asked appellee to sign a last-chance agreement in lieu of removal.1 When
appellee refused to sign the agreement, DYS removed him from his position. The stated
reasons for the removal were: (1) failure to follow policies and procedure; (2) performance
related violations of R.C. 124.34; and (3) failure to follow work assignment or the exercise
of poor judgment in carrying out an assignment. None of the other DYS employees who
were involved in the incident received discipline.
        {¶ 7} Appellee appealed his dismissal to SPBR pursuant to R.C. 124.34. In his
administrative appeal, appellee contended that DYS treated him unfairly in comparison to
the other similarly situated DYS employees involved in the incident. In its response to
appellee's disparate treatment argument, DYS moved for a dismissal of appellee's appeal
on the grounds that appellee served in the unclassified civil service and that SPBR did not
have jurisdiction of his appeal. Thereafter, on October 3, 2012, DYS submitted a request
for a "duties hearing" to determine whether appellee's duties as OA placed him in the
unclassified civil service even though DYS designated his position as classified.
        {¶ 8}    In denying the DYS's request for a duties hearing, SPBR stated: "After a
review of the record, to date, it appears that this matter should first proceed to hearing on
the merits and, as efficacious, to a subsequent hearing on the issue of whether [appellee]
may have served in the unclassified service pursuant to R.C. 124.11(A)(9)." (October 9,
2012 procedural order.) An administrative law judge ("ALJ") subsequently conducted a
two-day evidentiary hearing on the merits of appellee's removal. On March 4, 2013, the
ALJ issued a "Report & Recommendation," wherein the ALJ found that appellee was
guilty of a serious neglect of duty that resulted in the unauthorized release of a juvenile
offender, and that DYS was justified in removing appellee from his position. In the
alternative, the ALJ recommended that SPBR remand the matter for a hearing to
determine whether appellee served in the classified or unclassified civil service.
        {¶ 9} Appellee filed objections to the "Report & Recommendation" with SPBR. On
July 10, 2013, SPBR held an oral hearing on the objections. On August 2, 2013, SPBR

1 "As used in this section, 'last chance agreement' means an agreement signed by both an appointing
authority and an officer or employee of the appointing authority that describes the type of behavior or
circumstances that, if it occurs, will automatically lead to removal of the officer or employee without the
right of appeal to the state personnel board of review or the appropriate commission." R.C. 124.34(E)
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                  4

modified appellee's punishment to a 30-day suspension followed by reinstatement. On
August 8, 2013, DYS filed a motion for reconsideration wherein DYS argued that SPBR
erred by comparing appellee to the other DYS employees involved in the incident. As an
alternative to affirming appellee's removal, DYS requested a "duties hearing" for the
purpose of determining whether appellee's duties placed him in the classified or
unclassified civil service.
          {¶ 10} On August 23, 2013, SPBR issued a "Procedural order/Supplementation of
the Record" wherein SPBR requested the parties submit additional evidence and
argument regarding SPBR jurisdiction. On October 17, 2013, SPBR issued a final order
modifying appellee's punishment to a 60-day suspension followed by reinstatement. The
order requires reinstatement "60 days following the effective date of * * * removal." SPBR
also found that appellee served in the classified civil service.
          {¶ 11} SPBR issued a "Corrected" final order on October 29, 2013, wherein SPBR
shortened the length of appellee's suspension from 60-days to 30-days, "consistent with
the language contained within the Board's requisite final order issued in this matter." On
November 7, 2013, DYS filed a timely appeal to the Franklin County Court of Common
Pleas from the final order issued by SPBR on October 17, 2013. On January 9, 2014, DYS
filed a separate appeal from the "Corrected" final order of October 29, 2013.              The
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas consolidated the two administrative appeals,
and, on April 22, 2014, the court issued a "Decision to Affirm." On May 13, 2014, DYS
filed a timely notice of appeal to this court from each of the two consolidated cases. On
June 4, 2014, we consolidated the two appeals "for purposes of record filing, briefing and
oral argument."2
B. Assignments of Error
          {¶ 12} DYS assigns the following errors:
                  [I.] Whether the Court of Common Pleas erred in failing to
                  apply the precedents of this Court and the Ohio Supreme
                  Court when it affirmed the State Personnel Board of Review's
                  order finding that Tim Mahaffey was similarly situated to his
                  subordinates for the purpose of disparate treatment and/or
                  selective application of the rules.

2   On June 6, 2014, we stayed execution of judgment during the pendency of this appeal.
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                               5

              [II.] Whether the Court of Common Pleas erred as a matter of
              law in finding that the Department of Youth Services waived
              jurisdiction and/or that the State Personnel Board of Review
              made a proper jurisdictional finding.

C. Standard of Review
       {¶ 13} In an administrative appeal, pursuant to R.C. 119.12, the trial court reviews
the agency's order to determine whether it is supported by reliable, probative and
substantial evidence and is in accordance with the law. To some extent, this standard of
review permits the court of common pleas to substitute its judgment for that of the
administrative agency. The court must, however, "give due deference to the
administrative resolution of evidentiary conflicts." Univ. of Cincinnati v. Conrad, 63 Ohio
St.2d 108, 111 (1980).
       {¶ 14} Ordinarily, on appeal to this court, the standard of review is more limited.
Pons v. Ohio State Med. Bd., 66 Ohio St. 3d 619, 621 (1993). Unlike the court of common
pleas, a court of appeals does not determine the weight of the evidence. Rossford
Exempted Village School Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. State Bd. of Edn., 63 Ohio St. 3d 705, 707
(1992). In reviewing the court of common pleas' determination that the agency's order is
or is not supported by the requisite quantum of evidence, the appellate court's role is
limited to determining whether the court of common pleas abused its discretion. Hartzog
v. Ohio State Univ., 27 Ohio App. 3d 214, 216 (10th Dist.1985).
       {¶ 15} However, in reviewing purely legal questions, an appellate court has de
novo review. Big Bob's, Inc. v. Ohio Liquor Control Comm., 151 Ohio App. 3d 498, 2003-
Ohio-418, ¶ 15 (10th Dist.). Indeed, when considering the question whether the SPBR's
order is in accordance with the law, our review is plenary. Glasstetter v. Rehab. Servs.
Comm., 10th Dist. No. 13AP-932, 2014-Ohio-3014, citing Weiss v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio,
1oth Dist. No. 13AP-281, 2013-Ohio-4215, ¶ 15.
D. Legal Analysis

       {¶ 16} Because we believe that the jurisdictional issue raised in the second
assignment of error is dispositive of this appeal, we shall consider it first.
       {¶ 17} R.C. 124.03 provides in relevant part:
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                               6

              (A) The state personnel board of review shall exercise the
              following powers and perform the following duties:

              (1) Hear appeals, as provided by law, of employees in the
              classified state service from final decisions of appointing
              authorities or the director of administrative services relative
              to * * * discharge.

(Emphasis added.)

       {¶ 18} SPBR has the statutory authority to hear and determine appeals of only
those employees who serve in the classified state service. Kingsley v. Ohio State Personnel
Bd. of Review, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-875, 2011-Ohio-2227, ¶ 25. SPBR does not have
jurisdiction to hear appeals of employees who are unclassified. Id. An unclassified
employee is appointed at the discretion of the appointing authority and serves at the
pleasure of such authority. State ex rel. Hunter v. Summit Cty. Human Resource Comm.,
81 Ohio St. 3d 450, 453 (1998). "In particular, R.C. 124.11(A) identifies thirty-two
positions that are in the 'unclassified service.' " Malhotra v. Montgomery Cty. Juvenile
Ct., 2d Dist. No. 25943, 2014-Ohio-1861, ¶ 8. DYS argues that appellee's duties place him
within the unclassified civil service pursuant to R.C. 124.11(A)(9), which reads, in
pertinent part, as follows:
              (A) The unclassified service shall comprise the following
              positions, which shall not be included in the classified service,
              and which shall be exempt from all examinations required by
              this chapter:

              ***

              (9) The deputies and assistants of state agencies authorized to
              act for and on behalf of the agency, or holding a fiduciary or
              administrative relation to that agency.

(Emphasis added.)

       {¶ 19} The test for determining whether a public employee serves in the classified
or unclassified civil service pursuant to R.C. 124.11(A)(9) requires an examination of the
duties actually delegated to and performed by the employee. State ex rel. Barley v. Ohio
Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 132 Ohio St. 3d 505, 2012-Ohio-3329, ¶ 22, citing In re
Termination of Emp. of Pratt, 40 Ohio St. 2d 107, 113-14 (1974). In Barley, the Supreme
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                7

Court of Ohio acknowledged the "longstanding precedent that the job title or position
classification used by the appointing authority is not dispositive on the issue whether a
public employee is in the classified or unclassified service." Id. at ¶ 22, citing In re
Termination of Emp. of Pratt; State ex rel. Emmons v. Guckenberger, 131 Ohio St. 466,
469 (1936). See also Olander v. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 134 Ohio App. 3d
723, 726 (10th Dist.1999).
       {¶ 20} DYS advanced its jurisdictional argument in the trial court as an alternative
grounds for relief in the event that the trial court accepted appellee's disparate treatment
claim. The trial court made the following determination in its decision with regard to the
jurisdictional issue:
              An additional issue raised by appellant in this appeal concerns
              appellant's request that this court remand this action back to
              the board for an additional hearing to consider whether
              appellee served in the unclassified service, a finding that
              would have precluded the board's jurisdiction to hear
              appellee's appeal. Appellee opposes that request and notes
              that appellant had a number of opportunities to raise this
              issue at the proper time. Indeed, appellant was invited by the
              board to submit to it additional evidence that the board
              should consider. Appellant failed to submit sufficient evidence
              and argument that would demonstrate improper
              classification. Accordingly, this court rejects the invitation to
              remand.

       {¶ 21} SPBR is an administrative body that derives its jurisdiction from R.C.
Chapter 124 and possesses only the authority conferred thereby.            Khalaq v. Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency, 10th Dist. No. 09AP-963, 2011-Ohio-1087, ¶ 15, citing
Ketron v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., 61 Ohio App. 3d 657, 659; Hansen v. State Personnel Bd.
of Review, 51 Ohio App. 2d 7, 13 (8th Dist.1977). "The authority conferred upon the SPBR
by the General Assembly may not be extended by a party's failure to raise an argument."
Id. at ¶ 16. "Indeed, the issue of [SPBR's] subject-matter jurisdiction may not be waived
and, instead, may be raised at any time." Id. Accordingly, there is no merit in appellee's
contention that DYS waived the right to argue that appellee served in the unclassified civil
service by failing to timely raise the issue with SPBR. Moreover, as noted above, DYS filed
a "Notice of Assertion of Unclassified Status" with SPBR on October 3, 2012. Therein,
DYS asserts that appellee "served as a fiduciary and/or administrative relation to the
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                8

agency under R.C. §124.11(A)(9)," and "requests a duties hearing to determine appellant's
classification at the time of his removal." Thus, the administrative record establishes that
DYS raised the jurisdictional issue more than five weeks before the ALJ conducted the
merits hearing.
       {¶ 22} The burden of proving the unclassified status of a public employee is set
forth in Ohio Adm.Code 124-7-04 as follows:
              When an employee has been adversely affected as an
              unclassified employee, the burden of proving the unclassified
              status of the employee is on the appointing authority. The
              board will take evidence of the employee's duties over a
              reasonable period of time, which is generally defined as at
              least two calendar years immediately prior to the adverse
              action, provided that the employee was in an active work
              status during that time period.

(Emphasis added.)

       {¶ 23} In denying DYS's motion for a duties hearing, SPBR stated: "After a review
of the record, to date, it appears that the matter should first proceed to hearing on the
merits and, as efficacious, to a subsequent hearing on the issue of whether [appellee] may
have served in the unclassified service pursuant to R.C. 124.11(A)(9)." (October 9, 2012
procedural order.) As a consequence of SPBR's October 9, 2012 procedural order, the
transcript of proceedings before the ALJ reveals very little in the way of testimony or
other probative evidence regarding appellee's duties. The bulk of the evidence was offered
to prove or disprove the specific facts and circumstances underlying appellee's discipline.
Appellee also offered evidence regarding the issue of disparate treatment under Ohio
Adm.Code 124-9-11.      Eliciting evidence of appellee's duties as OA during the relevant
time period, as would be required by R.C. 124. 11(A)(9) and Ohio Adm.Code 124-7-04,
was clearly not the focus of the evidentiary hearing before the ALJ nor was it the focus of
the initial appeal to SPBR.      Indeed, SPBR's procedural order of October 9, 2012,
essentially precluded DYS from producing evidence of appellee's duties when offered to
support its claim that appellee held an administrative or fiduciary relation to DYS.
Consequently, the administrative record contains evidence regarding appellee's duties
only to the extent that such evidence was probative of the other issues in the case.
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                9

       {¶ 24} DYS asserts in their brief that appellee was "essentially serving as the third
in-command at CJCF, supervising Operations Managers and Youth Specialists and
making high-level decisions related to the security, safety, custody and control of the
youth housed at CJCF." Appellee's testimony before the ALJ arguably supports this
assertion.   DYS also refers to appellee's employment with DYS as a "high-level
administrative position that required exceptional judgment." (Appellant's brief, 3.)
Appellee's testimony arguably supports this assertion as well. DYS further contends that
appellee "drafted institutional operational policy and procedures" for CJCF. (Appellant's
brief, 5.) Appellee testified about these policies in the proceedings before the ALJ and the
policies were admitted into evidence at the hearing. (Tr. 308.)
       {¶ 25} In its order of October 17, 2013, SPBR stated that "there is at least some
evidence in the record that [Mahaffey's] duties were actually more restricted than were
those of other OAs." (Emphasis sic.) SPBR does not, however, specify the evidence upon
which it relies. The board order also states that "the unrebutted suggestion in the
testimony presented at hearing that [Mahaffey's] duties were actually more restricted
than all the other OAs further militates against [DYS's] assertion that that [Mahaffey]
served as a fiduciary to the agency * * * and was imbued with a special trust and
confidence far above the average OA at the [DYS]." Again, the board does not identify the
specific testimony upon which it relies. Moreover, as noted above, the hearing before the
ALJ was held for the sole purpose of determining the merits of appellee's disciplinary
appeal, not appellee's duties.
       {¶ 26} The trial court nevertheless determined that SPBR gave DYS the
opportunity to produce evidence of appellee's duties but that DYS failed or refused to do
so. We disagree with the trial court's characterization of the SPBR proceedings.
       {¶ 27} SPBR issued its procedural order of August 23, 2013, for the purpose of
reconsidering whether it had jurisdiction of the appeal. The procedural order provides, in
relevant part, as follows:
              [DYS] is to file with this Board and with [Mahaffey's] counsel,
              on or before September 18, 2013 a list of all positions at the
              Department of Youth Services (DYS) assigned to Pay Range 13
              ([Mahaffey's] Pay Range at the time of his removal) with a
              focus on the period of time spanning the approximate four
              weeks falling prior to the effective date of [Mahaffey's]
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                 10

              removal. [DYS] is further to indicate whether each position on
              that list was, at that time, carried in the classified or,
              conversely, in the unclassified service. Additionally, with this
              filing, [DYS] is to list all DYS Operations Administrator (OA)
              positions that were carried on DYS' table of organization
              during that same approximate four week time period. [DYS] is
              to indicate how each of those OA positions was designed (i.e.
              classified or unclassified) during that time period. Finally,
              with its supplementation, [DYS] may file with this Board and
              with [Mahaffey's] counsel on or before September 18, 2013
              [DYS'] supplemental narrative and commentary concerning
              the supplementation ordered herein, with [DYS'] optional
              supplemental narrative and commentary not to exceed 20
              pages.

       {¶ 28} By its procedural order, SPBR asks DYS to provide a list of positions in
appellee's pay range and to indicate whether DYS considered those positions to be in the
classified or unclassified civil service. However, as noted above, the position classification
used by DYS is clearly not dispositive of the issue of whether a public employee is in the
classified or unclassified service. Barley. The August 23, 2013 order does not even use the
word "duties." Additionally, the order expressly confines the analysis to a four-week
period rather than a period of "at least two calendar years" as recommended in Ohio
Adm.Code 124-7-04. Although SPBR invites DYS to submit a supplemental narrative, it
restricts the narrative to the supplementation "permitted by the order."
       {¶ 29} When SPBR denied DYS's initial request for a duties hearing on October 9,
2012, SPBR stated: "After a review of the record, to date, it appears that this matter
should first proceed to hearing on the merits and, as efficacious, to a subsequent hearing
on the issue of whether [appellee] may have served in the unclassified service pursuant to
R.C. 124.11(A)(9)." Although SPBR's October 9, 2012 procedural order contemplated the
need to remand the case to the ALJ for the purpose of holding a duties hearing, SPBR
never ordered a remand. Rather, SPBR issued the procedural order of October 23, 2013,
in an effort to supplement the record. In our opinion, the supplementation ordered by
SPBR is a poor substitute for an evidentiary hearing. In fact, SPBR acknowledged the
deficiencies in the record in its order dated October 17, 2013, when it stated that
consideration of appellees duties "focused more on the performance of those duties vis a
vis the allegations [DYS] lodged against [Mahaffey]." (Emphasis sic.)
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                                               11

        {¶ 30} The trial court found that DYS failed to produce evidence that appellee
served in the unclassified civil service when SPBR offered DYS the opportunity to do so.
Our review of the record establishes that SPBR did not afford DYS a fair opportunity to
present relevant evidence in support of its contention that appellee held a fiduciary or
administrative relation to DYS.           And, even though SPBR never held an evidentiary
hearing to determine whether appellee served in the unclassified civil service, there was
evidence adduced at the merits hearing which would arguably support a finding that
appellee held an administrative or fiduciary relation to DYS. Inasmuch as DYS raised the
issue of appellee's employment status in proceedings before SPBR, and because evidence
admitted at the merits hearing gave rise to a genuine jurisdictional issue, it is our
determination that SPBR became obligated to hold a proper duties hearing. See Chubb v.
Bur. of Workers' Comp., 10th Dist. No. 96APE03-292 (Sept. 26, 1996) (where SPBR errs
in finding that an employee served in the unclassified civil service, as a matter of law, the
case will be remanded to SPBR for a hearing to determine whether the employee's actual
duties place her in the unclassified civil service pursuant to R.C. 124.11(A)(9).)3; Kyle v.
Ohio State Univ., 10th Dist. No. 13AP-603, 2014-Ohio-2143,¶ 24 (case remanded for
SPBR to determine "in the first instance * * * whether the employee voluntarily resigned
his position and therefore, whether SPBR has jurisdiction to further consider [the
employee's] claims"). See also Kingsley v. Ohio State Personnel Bd. of Rev., 10th Dist. No.
10AP-875, 2011-Ohio-2227, ¶ 46 (concurring opinion.)
        {¶ 31} The procedural order of October 9, 2012, anticipated a remand to the ALJ
for an evidentiary hearing on the disputed jurisdictional issue. The supplemental evidence
and narrative statement requested by SPBR in this case is not a reasonable substitute for
testimonial evidence regarding the duties actually delegated to and performed by
appellee. Thus, we agree with the trial court that the administrative record does not
contain sufficient evidence for the court to determine, with any degree of confidence,
whether appellee served in the classified or unclassified civil service.4 However, we do not

3Judgment affirmed in Chubb v. Ohio Bur. of Workers' Comp., 81 Ohio St. 3d 275 (1998).
4R.C. 119.12 limits the authority of the common pleas court in relevant part as follows: "Unless otherwise
provided by law, in the hearing of the appeal, the court is confined to the record as certified to it by the
agency. Unless otherwise provided by law, the court may grant a request for the admission of additional
evidence when satisfied that the additional evidence is newly discovered and could not with reasonable
diligence have been ascertained prior to the hearing before the agency."
Nos. 14AP-389 and 14AP-396                                                              12

agree with the trial court's conclusion that DYS had a fair opportunity to produce evidence
in support of its contention that appellee held an administrative or fiduciary relation to
DYS. The administrative record shows that SPBR never conducted an evidentiary hearing
for the purpose of determining the duties actually delegated to and performed by appellee
over a reasonable period of time. Under the circumstances, such a hearing was required in
order for SPBR to properly determine whether it had jurisdiction to determine the merits
of appellee's R.C. 124.34 appeal. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court erred, as a
matter of law, when it refused to remand the case to SPBR for a proper duties hearing,
and we sustain the second assignment of error.
       {¶ 32} Furthermore, absent sufficient evidence in the record to establish SPBR
jurisdiction, the trial court was without jurisdiction to consider the merits of appellee's
disciplinary appeal. For the same reasons, we are not in a position to determine whether
competent, credible evidence supports the board's decision to modify appellee's
punishment. Accordingly, the first assignment of error is rendered moot. See Bush v.
Licking Cty. Child Support Enforcement Agency, 10th Dist. No. 11AP-101, 2011-Ohio-
3999, ¶ 19.
E. Conclusion
       {¶ 33} Having rendered appellant's first assignment of error as moot, but having
sustained appellant's second assignment of error, we reverse the judgment of the Franklin
County Court of Common Pleas and remand the case for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion.
                                                     Judgment reversed; case remanded.

                        SADLER, P.J., and O'GRADY, J., concur.
                             _________________