Court Opinion

ID: 4696074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-16 16:13:18.169859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:38.644688
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State ex rel. Ware v. Kurt, 2021-Ohio-2025.]

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

STATE OF OHIO EX REL. KIMANI
WARE
                                                        C.A. No.    29622
        Relator

        v.
                                                        ORIGINAL ACTION IN
SANDRA KURT, SUMMIT COUNTY                              MANDAMUS
CLERK OF COURTS

        Respondent

Dated: June 16, 2021

        PER CURIAM.

        {¶1}      Relator, Kimani Ware, filed a petition for a writ of mandamus to compel Summit

County Clerk of Court Sandra Kurt to respond to his public records request. Ms. Kurt filed an

answer and moved for summary judgment. Mr. Ware also moved for summary judgment. Ms.

Kurt attached evidence to her motion for summary judgment showing that, after receipt of Mr.

Ware’s petition, she responded to the public records request.

        {¶2}      According to Mr. Ware’s complaint, in January 2019, he mailed an envelope

containing ten public records requests to the Summit County Clerk of Court’s Office. He

requested numerous documents including information related to employees, grand jury reports,

oaths of office, Clerk’s Office policies, budget information, dockets for a specific judge, and a

transcript from a specific case.

        {¶3}      In December 2019, after not receiving a response to his request, Mr. Ware filed

this mandamus action pursuant to R.C. 149.43. Ms. Kurt filed an answer and a motion for
                                                                                     C.A. No. 29622
                                                                                         Page 2 of 8

summary judgment. According to the motion for summary judgment, about one month after this

action was filed, an assistant Summit County Prosecutor sent a letter to Mr. Ware indicating that

she became aware of his public records requests because they were attached to the petition. She

also provided documents responsive to many of his requests and explained why she was unable

to respond to others.

       {¶4}    In her motion for summary judgment, Ms. Kurt argued the matter was moot

because she responded to Mr. Ware’s request. She also argued that she timely responded to the

request as soon as she was aware of it, and that her office had responded to several other requests

from Mr. Ware after January 2019. Mr. Ware also moved for summary judgment. He argued

that he was entitled to statutory damages of $1,000 per request because of Ms. Kurt’s delay in

responding to his requests.

       {¶5}    This Court initially dismissed this action because, according to a review of the

docket, Mr. Ware had not complied with the mandatory requirements of R.C. 2969.25. Mr. Ware

moved to vacate that judgment and provided a time-stamped copy of the missing document.

Upon review, we granted his motion to vacate, deemed the document he attached to be timely

filed, and reactivated the case. This matter is now before the Court for decision.

       {¶6}    Ms. Kurt moved for summary judgment on Mr. Ware’s claim. To prevail on a

motion for summary judgment, the moving party must be able to point to evidentiary materials

that show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and that the moving party is entitled

to judgment as a matter of law. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292-293 (1996). Once a

moving party satisfies its burden of supporting its motion for summary judgment with sufficient

and acceptable evidence pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), Civ.R. 56(E) provides that the non-moving

party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the moving party’s pleadings. Rather,
                                                                                       C.A. No. 29622
                                                                                           Page 3 of 8

the non-moving party has a reciprocal burden of responding by setting forth specific facts,

demonstrating that a “genuine triable issue” exists to be litigated. State ex rel. Zimmerman v.

Tompkins, 75 Ohio St.3d 447, 449 (1996).

                              Public Records and Mandamus Relief

       {¶7}    Mr. Ware filed his complaint seeking relief pursuant to R.C. 149.43. The Ohio

Supreme Court “has stated in numerous cases since the promulgation of Sup.R. 44 through 47

[that] a court must first address the threshold issue whether the petitioner has sought the requested

documents through the correct vehicle, either R.C. 149.43 or Sup.R. 44 through 47.” State ex

rel. Parisi v. Dayton Bar Assn. Certified Grievance Committee, 159 Ohio St.3d 211, 2019-Ohio-

5157. According to the Supreme Court, the “vehicle used dictates not only the documents that

are available to the relator and the manner in which they are available but also the remedies

available to the relator should the relator be successful.” Id.

       {¶8}    The Supreme Court adopted Sup.R. 44 through 47 to resolve public-records

requests for court records. Id. at ¶ 16. Following adoption of these rules, the Supreme Court has

held that the threshold question in public-records cases is whether the statute or Rules of

Superintendence apply to the request. Id. at ¶ 19. This Court must make this inquiry even if the

issue is not raised by the parties. Id. at ¶ 20. “If a party seeks to obtain judicial records through

means other than Sup.R. 44 through 47, the party is not entitled to a writ of mandamus, as the

Rules of Superintendence are the sole vehicle by which a party may seek to obtain such records.”

Id.

       {¶9}    The Supreme Court has explained the procedure to determine whether the statute

or Rules of Superintendence apply to the request:

       Generally, if the records requested are held by or were created for the judicial
       branch, then the party seeking to obtain the records must submit a request pursuant
                                                                                   C.A. No. 29622
                                                                                       Page 4 of 8

       to Sup.R. 44 through 47. See Sup.R. 44(B) (defining “court record” as including
       case documents and administrative documents); Sup.R. 44(C)(1) (defining “case
       document” generally as a document “submitted to a court or filed with a clerk of
       court in a judicial action or proceeding”); Sup.R. 44(G)(1) (defining
       “administrative document” generally as a document “created, received, or
       maintained by the court to record the administrative, fiscal, personnel, or
       management functions, polices, decisions, procedures, operations, organization,
       or other activities of the court”); Husband at ¶ 6.

Parisi at ¶ 21. If a party requests documents using the wrong vehicle, “the party is not entitled

to the requested records in that action.” Id.

                                  R.C. 149.43 or Sup.R. 44 – 47

       {¶10} We must determine whether R.C. 149.43, the vehicle Mr. Ware chose to enforce

his right to public records, applies to the records he requested. Upon review of his request, we

determine that the statute applies to only one of his requests.

       {¶11} Mr. Ware submitted multiple requests seeking a variety of documents, including,

for example:

       1. Calendars for the clerk of courts and one staff member for a two-week period
       in 2019;
       2. Employee time records for the clerk of courts and one staff member;
       3. Meeting notices for the clerk of courts office;
       4. Disposal of obsolete records forms for 2018;
       5. Performance evaluation of the clerk of courts and one staff member;
       6. Travel expense records of clerk of courts and one staff member;
       7. Oath of office for one clerk of courts staff member;
       8. 2018 grand jury reports recorded in the clerk of courts office;
       9. Summit County Sheriff oath recording in the clerk of courts office;
       10. Clerk of courts nepotism policy;
       11. Roster of clerk of courts employees;
       12. Personnel files of clerk of courts and one staff member;
       13. Grand jury schedule sheets for “December 1, 2019 [sic.] [t]hru January 14,
       2019”;
       14. Handbook/manual for employees of the clerk of courts office;
       15. Records retention schedule for 2016;
       16. Oath of office of Sandra Kurt;
       17. Clerk of courts public records policy; and
       18. Certificate of disposal form for destruction of clerk of courts employee
       personnel files and financial records.
                                                                                       C.A. No. 29622
                                                                                           Page 5 of 8

       {¶12} Mr. Ware made requests for almost 20 more documents similar to those outlined

above, from additional disposal certificates to requests for time records, grants received by the

clerk of courts, dockets for a specific judge, clerk of courts dress code policy, clerk of courts cash

handling policy, clerk of courts sick leave policy, and the oath of office for a specific judge that

is recorded in the clerk of courts’ office. Unlike all of the other requests, Mr. Ware, in Request

34, sought a transcript of an exhibit that was filed in his criminal appeal; this request will be

addressed separately below.

       {¶13} According to the Supreme Court, our first step must be to determine the proper

vehicle for the request. Parisi at ¶ 21. “Generally, if the records requested are held by or were

created for the judicial branch, then the party seeking to obtain the records must submit a request

pursuant to Sup.R. 44 through 47.” Id. Upon review of the list of documents Mr. Ware requested,

we conclude that the records, except for Request 34, fall within the scope of Sup.R. 44 through

47. The various requests for policies, schedules, manuals, and employee information for the

clerk of courts fall “squarely within the definition of administrative records in Sup.R. 44(G)(1).”

State ex rel. Perry v. Cleveland Hts. Mun. Clerk of Courts, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109916, 2020-

Ohio-5193, ¶ 7. The other records he requested fall under Sup.R. 44(B) as court records,

including case and administrative documents.

       {¶14} We conclude, as did the Eighth District in Perry, that it “is clear from the nature

of the documents requested that they fall under the provisions of the Rules of Superintendence

for access to court records. Therefore, [Mr. Ware’s] claims alleged in his complaint entirely

premised on the Public Records Act must fail.” Id. at ¶ 9. Summary judgment is granted to

Respondent as to all requests except Request 34.
                                                                                      C.A. No. 29622
                                                                                          Page 6 of 8

                                            Request 34

       {¶15} Mr. Ware’s Request 34 was for a transcript of the 911 tape from his criminal case.

This document falls under the statute and, therefore, mandamus relief pursuant to R.C. 149.43 is

the appropriate vehicle to challenge Respondent’s failure to provide it. R.C. 149.43(B)(8) limits

the right of inmates to access certain records. When a person is incarcerated, like Mr. Ware, and

that person requests public records from his case, the sentencing judge, or his successor, must

authorize the release of the records.

       A public office or person responsible for public records is not required to permit
       a person who is incarcerated pursuant to a criminal conviction * * * to inspect or
       to obtain a copy of any public record concerning a criminal investigation or
       prosecution * * *, unless the request to inspect or to obtain a copy of the record is
       for the purpose of acquiring information that is subject to release as a public record
       under this section and the judge who imposed the sentence * * * with respect to
       the person, or the judge’s successor in office, finds that the information sought in
       the public record is necessary to support what appears to be a justiciable claim of
       the person.

R.C. 149.43(B)(8).

       {¶16} This provision requires the sentencing court to first determine that the information

sought in the public record is necessary to support a justiciable claim. Ms. Kurt answered the

request for this document by noting that she did not have documents responsive to this request.

Even if she did, however, the docket and pleadings demonstrate that Mr. Ware is an inmate and

that he has not obtained a finding from his sentencing judge, or successor in office, under R.C.

149.43(B)(8). Because an inmate who seeks a public record related to his criminal case cannot

compel the production of the public record without a finding by the sentencing judge that the

record supports a valid claim, Ms. Kurt is entitled to summary judgment. State ex rel. Ware v.

Giavasis, Slip Opinion No. 2020-Ohio-5453.
                                                                                     C.A. No. 29622
                                                                                         Page 7 of 8

                                       Statutory Damages

       {¶17} Mr. Ware sought an award of statutory damages pursuant to R.C. 149.43. As

outlined above, the Rules of Superintendence, not R.C. 149.43, govern the procedure for all of

the requested documents except for Request 34. The Rules of Superintendence do not authorize

statutory damages under any circumstances. State ex rel. Harris v. Pureval, 155 Ohio St.3d 343,

2018-Ohio-4718, ¶ 11. Accordingly, Mr. Ware is not entitled to statutory damages for those

documents.

       {¶18} As to Request 34, which does fall under the statutory framework, Mr. Ware is not

entitled to damages. “A person requesting public records is entitled to an award of statutory

damages ‘if a court determines that the public office or the person responsible for [the] public

records failed to comply with an obligation in accordance with division (B) of this section.’ R.C.

149.43(C)(2).” State ex rel. McDougald v. Sehlmeyer, 162 Ohio St.3d 94, 2020-Ohio-3927.

Because Ms. Kurt did not fail to comply with an obligation in accordance with R.C. 149.43(B),

Mr. Ware is not entitled to statutory damages.

                                           Conclusion

       {¶19} Respondent’s motion for summary judgment is granted. Because it was the filing

of this action that prompted a response to Mr. Ware’s public records request, however, no costs

are taxed.

       {¶20} 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.

                                                     THOMAS A. TEODOSIO
                                                     FOR THE COURT
                                                                     C.A. No. 29622
                                                                         Page 8 of 8

CARR, J.
HENSAL, J.
CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

KIMANI WARE, Pro se, Relator.

SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and COLLEEN SIMS, Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney, for Respondent.