Court Opinion

ID: 4685800
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-05-11 19:15:15.089866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:04:30.402741
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Jackson v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 2021-Ohio-1642.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                  TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Theodore Jackson,                                     :

                Plaintiff-Appellant,                  :
                                                                          No. 20AP-233
v.                                                    :              (Ct. of Cl. No. 2019-0645JD)

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation                     :        (ACCELERATED CALENDAR)
and Correction,
                                                      :
                Defendant-Appellee.
                                                      :

                                         D E C I S I O N

                                      Rendered on May 11, 2021

                On    brief: Theodore             Jackson,       pro       se.    Argued:
                Theodore Jackson.

                On brief: David Yost, Attorney General, and Stacy Hannan,
                for appellee. Argued: Stacy Hannan.

                             APPEAL from the Court of Claims of Ohio
MENTEL, J.
          {¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Theodore Jackson, appeals from a judgment of the Court
of Claims of Ohio granting the motion for summary judgment of defendant-appellee, Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction ("ODRC"). For the following reasons, we
affirm.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
          {¶ 2} Appellant has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1978. Relevant to
this appeal, appellant was admitted into the custody of appellee on October 23, 2006 under
No. 20AP-233                                                                                                 2

inmate number A513-9151 after being convicted of two counts of drug possession, felonies
of the fifth degree. Appellant was sentenced to serve two concurrent nine-month sentences.
        {¶ 3} On August 31, 2007, appellant was restored to parole on inmate number
A399-526.2 On May 9, 2008, appellant was declared a parole violator and restored to parole
on December 10, 2008. According to Debra Warren, Correctional Records Sentence
Computation Auditor for the Bureau of Sentence Computation, "[s]ince the maximum
portion of an inmate's sentence is running while he is on parole, if he is declared a parole
violator then the maximum term stops running while he is at large. In Mr. Jackson's case,
each time he was declared a parole violator, ODRC added each day at large to his maximum
sentence expiration date." (Aff. of Warren at ¶ 12.) Consequently, 215 days of lost time were
added to appellant's maximum stated term. On June 16, 2009, appellant was again declared
a parole violator and was restored to parole on December 13, 2009. As a result, an
additional 180 days of lost time were added to appellant's maximum sentence expiration
date.
        {¶ 4} On July 15, 2010, appellant was admitted to the custody of appellee and
assigned inmate number A590-406 for a one-year term of incarceration for attempted
escape, a felony of the third degree. As a result of his new felony conviction, appellant's
inmate files were aggregated.
        {¶ 5} Warren explains:
                 When an inmate is released on parole, commits a new crime,
                 and returns to ODRC custody, he is issued a new inmate
                 number because of the new conviction(s) and sentence(s).
                 Since the inmate's parole time is still running at the time of his
                 reincarceration, ODRC aggregates, or combines, the inmates[']
                 files by bringing the indefinite term(s) that he is still serving
                 forward onto the file of the new number. The inmate must then
                 serve the sentence on the new number before he can be
                 released to parole again. If a new sentence is ordered to be
                 served concurrent with his prior parole sentence then an
                 inmate's maximum sentence expiration date will not change. If

1 According to Debra Warren, Correctional Records Sentence Computation Auditor for the Bureau of Sentence

Computation, appellee assigns inmate numbers when they are admitted to custody. (Nov. 22, 2019 Aff. of
Debra Warren at ¶ 4.) These inmate numbers are used for internal organizational purposes.
2 As explained by Warren, "Mr. Jackson's files were aggregated, but his parole was not revoked prior to serving

his nine-month concurrent sentences. Mr. Jackson's file was therefore de-aggregated, and his inmate number
A513-915 was released since the expiration of the stated term connected to that number expired." (Aff. Of
Warren at ¶ 10.)
No. 20AP-233                                                                                        3

               a new sentence is ordered to be served consecutive to his prior
               parole sentence, then that time must be added to the inmate's
               maximum sentence expiration date. For Mr. Jackson, that
               means that the indefinite term of his prior conviction was
               brought forward and combined with his new number/file each
               time he was convicted and sentenced while on parole.

(Aff. of Warren at ¶ 6.)
       {¶ 6} On November 16, 2010, the Adult Parole Authority ("APA" or "parole board")
moved to revoke appellant's parole based on obtaining a new conviction while on parole.
On November 23, 2010, the parole board revoked appellant's parole and continued his
sentence until the expiration of his stated term on A590-406. As a result, appellant's parole
was revoked, and his inmate files were aggregated with his prior cases. It was later
discovered that the parole board minutes and PVR/Kellogg Screening document include a
typographical error stating appellant's parole was revoked on inmate number A513-915
instead of the correct number, A399-526. In 2013, the APA amended the minutes to correct
the typographical error. (Am. Special Minutes and DPV/Kellogg Document, Ex. B-4.)
According to Jamie O'Toole-Billingsley, Executive Assistant for the Ohio Parole Board, the
inmate numbers are used for internal organization and identification and have no
consequences outside appellee's administrative functioning. On February 4, 2019,
appellant was paroled. Based on appellant's time as a parole violator, appellee added each
day at large to the maximum sentence expiration date, which is now August 27, 2039.3
       {¶ 7} On May 21, 2019, appellant filed a complaint alleging causes of action for a
civil rights claim (Count 1), false imprisonment (Count 2), negligent infliction of emotional
distress (Count 3), negligence (Count 4), and "malicious prosecution and/or abuse of
process" (Count 5). Appellant's causes of action for a civil rights claim, negligent infliction
of emotional distress, negligence, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process were alleged
to arise under 42 U.S.C. 1983. Appellee filed an answer on June 18, 2019. The parties
engaged in several rounds of discovery. Relevant to this appeal, on September 23, 2019,
appellant filed a motion for requests for admissions to be deemed admitted and motion to
compel discovery of detailed minutes. Appellant stated appellee had not responded
honestly in its denial of several requests for admissions. On October 1, 2019, appellee

3The maximum sentence expiration date reflects additional time from previous cases not recited in this
opinion.
No. 20AP-233                                                                                 4

opposed the motion stating the responses to the requests for admission were consistent
with Civ.R. 36. On October 24, 2019, the magistrate denied appellant's motions.
       {¶ 8} On December 6, 2019, appellee filed a motion for summary judgment on all
claims. On December 31, 2019, appellant filed a memorandum contra to appellee's motion
for summary judgment contending that there is a genuine issue of material fact that
appellant was falsely imprisoned. A reply brief was filed on January 9, 2020.
       {¶ 9} On December 31, 2019, appellant also filed a motion for leave to file a motion
for summary judgment and a motion for summary judgment requesting the court allow
him to file beyond the December 6, 2019 dispositive motion deadline. Appellant argued
that he should be allowed to file beyond the deadline because he was waiting on outstanding
discovery from appellee. On January 16, 2020, appellee filed a memorandum in opposition
to appellant's motion for leave.
       {¶ 10} On March 10, 2020, the trial court denied appellant's request for leave to file
a motion for summary judgment beyond the dispositive motion deadline and granted
appellee's motion for summary judgment in its entirety. The trial court concluded that
appellant's false imprisonment claim should be dismissed as he was incarcerated pursuant
to a facially valid sentencing order. Regarding the remaining causes of action, the trial court
stated that appellant's claims for negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence,
malicious prosecution, and abuse of process were based on the decision by the parole board
to revoke appellant's parole, and it lacked jurisdiction to review such a decision.
       {¶ 11} Appellant filed a timely appeal.
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
       {¶ 12} Appellant assigns the following as trial court error:
              [I.] THE OHIO COURT OF CLAIMS ERRED WHEN IT
              FOUND TRUTHFUL APPELLEE-DEFENDANT'S GENERAL
              DENIALS MADE IN BAD FAITH TO APPELLANT-
              PLAINTFF'S REQUEST FOR ADMISSIONS WERE
              SUFFICIENT UNDER CIV. R. 36.
              [II.] THE COURT OF CLAIMS ERRED WHEN IT DENIED
              APPELLANT-PLAINTIFF MOTION FOR LEAVE AND
              MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT WHERE HE'D
              OBTAINED INTERROGATORY EVIDENCE LATE.
              [III.] THE OHIO COURT OF CLAIMS ERRED WHEN IT
              DETERMINED APPELLELLEE -DEFENDANT THE OHIO
No. 20AP-233                                                                                5

                DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION & CORRECTION
                IMPRISONED APPELLANT-PLAINTIFF ON A PAPER THAT
                WAS FACIALLY VOID.
(Sic passim.)
III. LEGAL ANALYSIS
   A. Appellant's First Assignment of Error
       {¶ 13} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by
accepting that appellee's responses to the requests for admissions were sufficient under
Civ.R. 36. We disagree.
       {¶ 14} The trial court is given wide latitude in discovery matters. "The admission or
exclusion of relevant evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court." State v.
Sage, 31 Ohio St.3d 173, 180 (1987). We review the trial court's ruling of discovery matters
under an abuse of discretion analysis. State v. McKelton, 148 Ohio St.3d 261, 2016-Ohio-
5735, ¶ 52, citing State ex rel. Duncan v. Middlefield, 120 Ohio St.3d 313, 2008-Ohio-6200,
¶ 27. Abuse of discretion is more than an error of law but suggests that the trial court's
ruling was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. State ex rel. Dreamer v. Mason, 115
Ohio St.3d 190, 2007-Ohio-4789, ¶ 18, citing State ex rel. Worrell v. Ohio Police & Fire
Pension Fund, 112 Ohio St.3d 116, 2006-Ohio-6513, ¶ 10. "A decision is unreasonable if
there is no sound reasoning process that would support that decision. It is not enough that
the reviewing court, were it deciding the issue de novo, would not have found that reasoning
process to be persuasive, perhaps in view of countervailing reasoning processes that would
support a contrary result." (Emphasis sic.) AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community
Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157, 161 (1990).
       {¶ 15} Civ.R. 36(A) states in relevant part:
                A party may serve upon any other party a written request for
                the admission, for purposes of the pending action only, of the
                truth of any matters within the scope of Civ.R. 26(B) set forth
                in the request, that relate to statements or opinions of fact or of
                the application of law to fact, including the genuineness of any
                documents described in the request. * * * The request may,
                without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after
                commencement of the action and upon any other party with or
                after service of the summons and complaint upon that party.
                ***
No. 20AP-233                                                                              6

             (1) Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be
             separately set forth. * * * The matter is admitted unless, within
             a period designated in the request, not less than twenty-eight
             days after service of the request or within such shorter or longer
             time as the court may allow, the party to whom the request is
             directed serves upon the party requesting the admission a
             written answer or objection addressed to the matter, signed by
             the party or by the party's attorney.

             (2) If objection is made, the reasons therefor shall be stated.
             The answer shall specifically deny the matter or set forth in
             detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully
             admit or deny the matter. A denial shall fairly meet the
             substance of the requested admission, and when good faith
             requires that a party qualify his or her answer, or deny only a
             part of the matter of which an admission is requested, the party
             shall specify so much of it as is true and qualify or deny the
             remainder. An answering party may not give lack of
             information or knowledge as a reason for failure to admit or
             deny unless the party states that the party has made reasonable
             inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable
             by the party is insufficient to enable the party to admit or deny.
             A party who considers that a matter of which an admission has
             been requested presents a genuine issue for trial may not, on
             that ground alone, object to the request; the party may, subject
             to the provisions of Civ.R. 37(C), deny the matter or set forth
             reasons why the party cannot admit or deny it.

      {¶ 16} After a careful review of the record, we find the trial court did not abuse its
discretion determining that appellee's responses to appellant's requests for admission
complied with Civ.R. 36. In its response, appellee asserted a series of general objections
then proceeded to answer each of appellant's requests for admissions as follows:
             3. Admit no Ohio Parole Board minutes were issued prior to
             expiration of 1 yr. sentence in Cuyahoga County case no. CR-
             09-527856-A?

             RESPONSE: Deny.

             ***

             5. Admit that Defendant, via its agents, representatives, and/or
             otherwise, wrongfully confined Plaintiff intentionally without
             lawful privilege and against his consent within a limited area in
             prison from 1/30/2011 through 02/02/2019?
No. 20AP-233                                                                                 7

              RESPONSE: Deny.

              6. Admit that the Defendant without authority ordered the
              Plaintiff to serve 2,924 after one-year sentence terminated?

              RESPONSE: Deny

              7. Admit if plaintiff's parole was not revoked via Ohio Parole
              Board minutes via R.C. 2967.15 he must be release[d] under
              terms of original parole?

              RESPONSE: Deny.

              8. Admit for a parole to be revoked the Ohio Parole Board must
              issue Official Minutes see R.C. 2967.01(L)?

              RESPONSE: Deny.

(Jul. 22, 2019 Def. Responses to Request for Admissions and Request for Production of
Documents.)
       {¶ 17} Here, appellee did not assert that it cannot truthfully respond to the questions
but denied the substance of appellant's requests for admissions. Appellant points to nothing
in the record to indicate that appellee's responses were not in good faith or an unqualified
admission or denial. As such, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying
appellant's motion for requests for admissions 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 to be deemed admitted.
       {¶ 18} Regarding appellant's motion to compel, we find the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in deeming the motion moot as appellee had responded to the discovery
requests at issue. Moreover, we also agree with the trial court that appellant failed to confer
with appellee before filing a motion to compel in contravention of Civ.R. 37(A)(1).
       {¶ 19} Accordingly, we overrule appellant's first assignment of error.
   B. Appellant's Second Assignment of Error
       {¶ 20} In his second assignment of error, appellant alleges the trial court erred when
it denied his motion for leave and motion for summary judgment. For the reasons that
follow, we disagree.
       {¶ 21} Pursuant to Civ.R. 6(B):
              When by these rules or by a notice given thereunder or by order
              of court an act is required or allowed to be done at or within a
              specified time, the court for cause shown may at any time in its
              discretion (1) with or without motion or notice order the period
No. 20AP-233                                                                                                     8

                 enlarged if request therefor is made before the expiration of the
                 period originally prescribed or as extended by a previous order,
                 or (2) upon motion made after the expiration of the specified
                 period permit the act to be done where the failure to act was the
                 result of excusable neglect[.]

        {¶ 22} It is well-settled law that Civ.R. 6(B) provides the trial court broad discretion
concerning procedural matters. Williams v. Am. Homes 4 Rent Mgt. Holdings, LLC, 10th
Dist. No. 18AP-627, 2019-Ohio-3740, ¶ 27, citing State ex rel. Lindenschmidt v. Bd. of
Commrs., 72 Ohio St.3d 464, 465 (1995). We review a trial court's Civ.R. 6(B) ruling under
an abuse of discretion standard. Id.
        {¶ 23} In the instant case, the trial court set the dispositive motion deadline for
December 6, 2019. (Jul. 18, 2019 Scheduling Order.) On December 31, 2019, appellant filed
a motion for leave to file a motion for summary judgment and a motion for summary
judgment. The record indicates appellant filed his first set of interrogatories on November
7, 2019; third requests for admission on November 9, 2019; second set of interrogatories
on November 12, 2019; and requests for production of documents and videotapes on
November 18, 2019. Appellee provided responses to appellant's interrogatories, requests
for production, and requests for admissions within the required 28-day period after service.
Civ.R. 33, 34, and 36. While the discovery deadline was set for November 22, 2019,
appellant provided no explanation for failing to request an extension of the dispositive
motion deadline or why he waited until so late in the case schedule to request discovery.4
As the trial court is given broad discretion under Civ.R. 6(B), we find the denial of motion
for leave to file a motion for summary judgment reasonable and not an abuse of discretion.
        {¶ 24} As such, we overrule appellant's second assignment of error.
    C. Appellant's Third Assignment of Error
        {¶ 25} In his final assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred when it
imprisoned him on what he alleges was a facially void document. As the substance of
appellant's arguments appear to focus on the trial court's decision to grant appellee's

4 Moreover, the trial court indicated that it reviewed appellant's motion for summary judgment and concluded

that the arguments asserted in the motion were identical to those asserted in his memorandum contra. After
careful review of the record, we agree with the trial court's characterization of appellant's filings. Accordingly,
we conclude appellant suffered no prejudice from the denial of his motion for leave to file a motion for
summary judgment.
No. 20AP-233                                                                               9

motion for summary judgment, we will interpret his assignment of error under such
standard.
       {¶ 26} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is appropriate when the
moving party establishes that: (1) there is no genuine issue of material fact, (2) the moving
party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) viewing the evidence most strongly
in favor of the nonmoving party, reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, which
is adverse to the nonmoving party. Sourial v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 10th Dist. No.
17AP-731, 2018-Ohio-2528, ¶ 19. "When seeking summary judgment on grounds that the
non-moving party cannot prove its case, the moving party bears the initial burden of
informing the trial court of the basis for the motion and identifying those portions of the
record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact on an essential
element of the non-moving party's claims." Lundeen v. Graff, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-32, 2015-
Ohio-4462, ¶ 11, citing Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 293 (1996). Once the moving
party meets its burden, the nonmoving party must set forth precise facts that demonstrate
a genuine issue of fact for trial. Id., citing Civ.R. 56(E); Dresher at 293. Summary judgment
"shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories,
written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if
any, timely filed in the action, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact
and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Civ.R. 56(C).
       {¶ 27} We review a trial court's ruling on a motion for summary judgment de novo.
Gabriel v. Ohio State Univ. Med. Ctr., 10th Dist. No. 14AP-870, 2015-Ohio-2661, ¶ 12,
citing Byrd v. Arbors E. Subacute & Rehab. Ctr., 10th Dist. No. 14AP-232, 2014-Ohio-3935,
¶ 5. De novo review requires the reviewing court to conduct an independent analysis
without deference to the trial court's decision. Gabriel at ¶ 12, citing Byrd at ¶ 5, citing
Maust v. Bank One Columbus, N.A., 83 Ohio App.3d 103, 107 (10th Dist.1992).
       {¶ 28} As an initial matter, it is clear from the complaint that appellant's false
imprisonment claim is premised on the parole board's revocation of his parole. "The mere
fact that claims in a complaint are couched in certain legal terms is insufficient to confer
jurisdiction upon a court." Guillory v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 07AP-
861, 2008-Ohio-2299, ¶ 11, citing State ex rel. Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. v. Henson, 102
Ohio St.3d 349, 2004-Ohio-3208, ¶ 19. As such, to determine jurisdiction we must look
No. 20AP-233                                                                                 10

beyond the language in the complaint and consider the underlying nature of the claims.
Guillory at ¶ 11. Here, appellant argues the parole board wrongfully revoked his parole
based on the typographical error. We have consistently held that the parole board's decision
to grant or revoke parole is an executive function regarding a high degree of official
judgment. Deavors v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 98AP-1105 (May 20,
1999). Generally, " 'the state cannot be sued in the Court of Claims for its legislative or
judicial functions, or the exercise of an executive function involving a high degree of official
discretion or judgment.' " McDougald v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 17AP-
776, 2018-Ohio-2315, ¶ 14, quoting Deavors, citing Reynolds v. State, 14 Ohio St.3d 68, 70
(1984). The Court of Claims has no jurisdiction to review a cause of action challenging the
parole board's decision to revoke parole. Duff v. Ohio Adult Parole Auth., 10th Dist. No.
16AP-851, 2017-Ohio-8895. A typographical error does not affect the authority of the APA
to revoke parole. As such, to the extent that appellant challenges the parole board's
authority or decision to revoke his parole, the Court of Claims lacks jurisdiction.
       {¶ 29} Regardless, even if we were to consider appellant's allegations as a claim for
false imprisonment, the cause of action must still be dismissed. "False imprisonment occurs
when a person intentionally confines another, without a lawful privilege and against that
person's consent, within a limited area for any appreciable time." Baker v. Dept. of Rehab.
& Corr., 10th Dist. No. 11AP-987, 2012-Ohio-1921, ¶ 12, citing Feliciano v. Krieger, 50 Ohio
St.2d 69, 71 (1977). To bring a meritorious claim for false imprisonment against the state,
an individual must be able to demonstrate: "(1) expiration of the lawful term of
confinement, (2) intentional confinement after the expiration, and (3) knowledge that the
privilege initially justifying the confinement no longer exists." Wash v. Ohio Adult Parole
Auth., 10th Dist. No. 19AP-830, 2020-Ohio-3385, ¶ 22. Pursuant to R.C. 2743.02, the state
may be held liable for false imprisonment of its prisoners. The state may not be held liable
on a claim "when the imprisonment is in accordance with an order of a court, unless it
appears that the order is void on its face." Fisk v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist.
No. 11AP-432, 2011-Ohio-5889, ¶ 12, citing McKinney v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th
Dist. No. 09AP-960, 2010-Ohio-2323, ¶ 9. "Thus, the state is immune from a common law
claim of false imprisonment when the plaintiff was incarcerated pursuant to a facially-valid
judgment or order, even if the facially-valid judgment or order is later determined to be
No. 20AP-233                                                                                 11

void." McKinney at ¶ 9, citing Bradley v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 07AP-
506, 2007-Ohio-7150, ¶ 11; Roberson v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 03AP-
538, 2003-Ohio-6473, ¶ 9; Likes v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 05AP-709,
2006-Ohio-231, ¶ 10.
       {¶ 30} Here, appellant does not dispute the validity of the sentencing entry imposing
a one-year term of incarceration following his conviction for attempted escape. There is also
no dispute that the APA has the authority to revoke appellant's parole for the new felony
offense or that appellant was on parole supervision when he was convicted of attempted
escape. As set forth in the record, appellant's maximum sentence expires in August 2039.
On November 23, 2010, appellant's parole was revoked resulting in the additional period
of incarceration beyond the one-year sentence for the new felony offense. The typographical
error in a sentencing entry does not affect the authority of the APA to revoke appellant's
parole for a new felony offense or validity of the parole revocation. As appellant's term of
incarceration was consistent with the time imposed for his revoked sentence as well as the
new felony conviction of attempted escape, there is no evidence that appellant was held
beyond the lawful term of confinement. As such, appellant was incarcerated on a facially
valid sentencing entry. Considering the evidence in a light most favorable to appellant,
there are no set of facts in this case that would entitle appellant to recover for false
imprisonment.
       {¶ 31} Appellant's constitutional causes of action under 42 U.S.C. 1983 also fail as
the trial court lacks jurisdiction over the claims. It is well-settled law that the Court of
Claims is a court of limited jurisdiction and has no subject-matter jurisdiction over causes
of action arising under 42 U.S.C. 1983 or potential violations of constitutional rights. Evans
v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 19AP-743, 2020-Ohio-3191, ¶ 10, citing
Cotten v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. No. 13AP-935, 2014-Ohio-2619, ¶ 18,
citing Guillory at ¶ 12 (writing it is "well established that the Court of Claims lacks subject-
matter jurisdiction over alleged violations of constitutional rights and claims arising under"
42 U.S.C. 1983). Accordingly, to the extent that appellant brings causes of action arising
under 42 U.S.C. 1983 against appellee, the Court of Claims lacks jurisdiction.
       {¶ 32} Moreover, even if we were to consider appellant's causes of action for
negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, and abuse of
No. 20AP-233                                                                              12

process under the common law, appellant's claims would still be dismissed. Appellant's
claims are premised on the belief that the APA erred in revoking his parole after the new
felony conviction. As set forth previously, using particular legal terms to couch claims in a
complaint does not confer jurisdiction upon the court. Guillory at ¶ 11, citing State ex rel.
Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. v. Henson, 102 Ohio St.3d 349, 2004-Ohio-3208, ¶ 19. A court
must determine jurisdiction based on the substance of the claims in the complaint. Guillory
at ¶ 11.
           {¶ 33} In the instant case, the substance of appellant's claims all relates to the
decision of the APA to revoke appellant's parole after he was convicted of attempted escape.
As such, the Court of Claims lacks jurisdiction to review the APA's decision to revoke
appellant's parole.
           {¶ 34} Accordingly, we overrule appellant's third assignment of error.
IV. CONCLUSION
           {¶ 35} Having overruled appellant's three assignments of error, we affirm the
judgment of the Court of Claims of Ohio.
                                                                         Judgment affirmed.
                             DORRIAN, P.J. and KLATT, J., concur.
                                       _____________