Court Opinion

ID: 4319897
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-11 21:33:33.007787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:59.077295
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State ex rel. T.P. v. Franklin Cty. Children Servs., 2018-Ohio-4129.]

                               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                    TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

The State ex rel.                                        :
T.P.,
                                                         :
                 Relator,
                                                         :
v.                                                                               No. 18AP-163
                                                         :
Franklin County Children Services et al.,                                    (REGULAR CALENDAR)
                                                         :
                 Respondents.
                                                         :

                                             D E C I S I ON

                                      Rendered on October 11, 2018

                 T.P., pro se.

                 Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Arthur J. Marziale,
                 Jr., for respondent.

                                      IN MANDAMUS
                            ON RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS

TYACK, J.
         {¶ 1} T.P. filed this action in mandamus seeking a writ to compel that he be granted
a jury trial and other relief in his proceedings in the Franklin County juvenile court.
Franklin County Children Services ("FCCS") filed a motion to dismiss alleging that T.P.
does not have a right to the requested relief so his petition fails to state a claim on which
relief can be granted. T.P. responded with a document alleging that he does have such a
right.
         {¶ 2} In accord with Loc.R. 13(M) of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, the case
was referred to a magistrate to conduct appropriate proceedings. The magistrate reviewed
the documents filed and prepared a magistrate's decision, appended hereto, which contains
No. 18AP-163                                                                            2

detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The magistrate recommended that we deny
the request for a writ because T.P. has an adequate remedy at law.
      {¶ 3} No party has filed objections to the magistrate's decision.
      {¶ 4} Upon review of the magistrate's decision, we find no error of fact or law on
the face of the document. We, therefore, adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law
in the magistrate's decision and deny the request for a writ of mandamus.
                                                              Writ of mandamus denied.
                          KLATT and BRUNNER, JJ., concur.
No. 18AP-163                                                                         3

                                  APPENDIX

                          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

The State ex rel.                             :
T.P.,
                                              :
              Relator,
                                              :
v.                                                             No. 18AP-163
                                              :
Franklin County Children Services et al.,                   (REGULAR CALENDAR)
                                              :
              Respondents.
                                              :

                           MAGISTRATE'S DECISION

                                Rendered on July 13, 2018

              T.P., pro se.

              Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Arthur J. Marziale,
              Jr., for respondent.

                                   IN MANDAMUS
                         ON RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS

       {¶ 5} In this original action, relator, T.P., acting pro se, requests a writ of
mandamus ordering that various actions be taken relating to an action pending in the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch,
in case No. 14JU-4087, in which relator is a party.
Findings of Fact:
       {¶ 6} 1. On March 8, 2018, relator, acting pro se, filed this mandamus action
against several named respondents including Franklin County Children Services ("FCCS").
       {¶ 7} 2. In his complaint, relator alleges that, in case No. 14JU-4087, he was
determined to be the biological father of MN and MS who are the children of T.L., their
No. 18AP-163                                                                                    4

mother. Relator also alleges that a third child, K.L., is the brother of MN and MS. However,
K.L. is not alleged to be relator's biological child. Relator alleges that he "has assisted in the
rearing of [K.L.], his non biological son since he was 18 months of age or thereabouts."
       {¶ 8} 3. According to the complaint:
               Relator provided, cared for and reared the three children up
               to the evening Relator was ordered, by an uniformed officer of
               the Columbus Police Department, under the threat of being
               arrested, and in violation of his rights and protections under
               the provisions of the 4th and 14th Amendments, to surrender
               [MN] and [MS] to the four or five FCCPS employees that
               accompanied him.

       {¶ 9} 4. Apparently, MN and MS are currently in the custody of foster care
providers.
       {¶ 10} 5. According to the complaint, an "emergency hearing" was held on
November 8, 2017 before a juvenile court magistrate.
       {¶ 11} 6. In the complaint, among the relief sought:
               Command * * * the Family Court to grant biological father,
               [T.P.] temporary custody of [MN] and [MS], his biological
               children, a period of six weeks, (42) days, or until home study
               is completed, as they should have done, immediately, when
               the DNA results were received by them from Children's
               Services.

               ***

               Order that the third child, [K.L.], the brother of [MS] and [MN],
               also be placed temporarily in custody of Relator along with the
               Twins, to alleviate any psychological problems resulting from
               being separated from his siblings.

       {¶ 12} 7. On April 5, 2018, respondent FCCS moved for dismissal of this action. In
support, respondent appended to its motion as exhibit A, a juvenile court document
captioned "Pretrial Summary and Judgment Entry on Motion/Complaint for Permanent
Custody/Planned Permanent Living Arrangement." The document presents a juvenile
court entry scheduling the matter for trial June 11 through 12, 2018.
       {¶ 13} 8. In its memorandum in support of its motion to dismiss, respondent
asserts that, through this original action, relator "seeks an order of mandamus for the
No. 18AP-163                                                                               5

purpose of compelling a specific outcome in the underlying juvenile court matter."
According to respondent, "[relator] seeks an order from this court compelling the juvenile
court to rule in his favor." Respondent further argues:
                In the instant case, the underlying case referenced by Relator
                has not yet been fully disposed of by the Juvenile Court.
                However, when the case is finally decided, Relator will have
                an adequate remedy by way of appeal.

                Respondent concludes:
                Here, the "RELIEF SOUGHT" section of Relator's complaint
                is more or less a series of instructions that he seeks from this
                Court, simply directing the Juvenile Court to rule in his favor.
                That is clearly an improper use of the writ of mandamus.
                Relator must allow the underlying court proceeding go to a
                final, appealable order and then perfect an appeal. That is his
                proper, and only, legal remedy. Respondent FCCS owes him
                no clear legal duty and he has an adequate remedy at law.
                Therefore, Relator's complaint fails to state a claim against
                Respondent FCCS and the complaint should be dismissed.

(Emphasis sic.)

         {¶ 14} 9. On May 18, 2018, relator filed a memorandum contra respondent's
motion to dismiss. In his memorandum contra, relator agrees that a trial was scheduled
for June 11, 2018.
         {¶ 15} 10. On May 29, 2018, respondent filed a reply in support of its motion to
dismiss.
         {¶ 16} 11. On June 21, 2018, relator filed another memorandum contra
respondent's motion to dismiss.       Relator's June 21, 2018 filing is out of rule.     See
Loc.R. 13(E).
         {¶ 17} 12. This matter is currently before this magistrate on respondent's motion to
dismiss.
Conclusions of Law:
         {¶ 18} Because relator has a plain and adequate remedy at law by way of an appeal
of a final judgment of the juvenile court in case No. 14JU-4087, it is the magistrate's
decision that this court grant respondent's motion to dismiss, as more fully explained
below.
No. 18AP-163                                                                               6

       {¶ 19} It is well-settled that, in order for a writ of mandamus to issue, the relator
must demonstrate: (1) that he has a clear legal right to the relief requested, (2) that the
respondent is under a clear legal duty to perform the act, and (3) that relator has no plain
and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law.             State ex rel. Berger v.
McMonagle, 6 Ohio St.3d 28 (1983).
       {¶ 20} A Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss tests the sufficiency of a complaint. State
ex rel. Boggs v. Springfield Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 72 Ohio St.3d 94 (1995), citing
State ex rel. Hanson v. Guernsey Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 65 Ohio St.3d 545 (1992).
       {¶ 21} In reviewing the complaint, the court must take all of the material allegations
as admitted and construe all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party. Id.
       {¶ 22} " 'A complaint in mandamus states a claim if it alleges the existence of the
legal duty and the want of an adequate remedy at law with sufficient particularity so that
the respondent is given reasonable notice of the claim asserted.' " Hanson at 548, quoting
State ex rel. Alford v. Willoughby, 58 Ohio St.2d 221, 223-24 (1979).
       {¶ 23} "In order for a court to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim upon
which relief can be granted (Civ.R. 12(B)(6)), it must appear beyond doubt from the
complaint that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts entitling him to recovery." O'Brien v.
Univ. Community Tenants Union, 42 Ohio St.2d 242 (1975), syllabus.
       {¶ 24} Based on the undisputed facts of this action, it is clear beyond doubt that
relator has a plain and adequate remedy at law that bars relief in this mandamus action.
       {¶ 25} Accordingly, it is the magistrate's decision that this court grant respondent's
motion to dismiss.
                                          /S/ MAGISTRATE
                                          KENNETH W. MACKE

                              NOTICE TO THE PARTIES

              Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(a)(iii) provides that a party shall not assign as
              error on appeal the court's adoption of any factual finding or
              legal conclusion, whether or not specifically designated as a
              finding of fact or conclusion of law under Civ.R.
              53(D)(3)(a)(ii), unless the party timely and specifically objects
              to that factual finding or legal conclusion as required by Civ.R.
              53(D)(3)(b).