Court Opinion

ID: 9929415
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-02 16:12:54.273462+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:19:06.331968
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Hogan v. Ohio Adult Parole Authority, 2024-Ohio-307.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                  TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Tremain Hogan,                                        :

                Plaintiff-Appellant,                  :                 No. 23AP-471
                                                                     (C.P.C. No. 23CV-2394)
v.                                                    :
                                                                 (ACCELERATED CALENDAR)
[Ohio] Adult Parole Authority,                        :

                Defendant-Appellee.                   :

                                           D E C I S I O N

                                   Rendered on January 30, 2024

                On brief: Tremain Hogan, pro se.

                On brief: Dave Yost, Attorney General, D. Chadd McKitrick,
                and Salvatore Messina, for appellee.

                  APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
JAMISON, J.
        {¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Tremain Hogan, appeals the July 11, 2023 decision and
entry of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, granting in part and denying in part
a motion to dismiss filed by defendant-appellee, Ohio Adult Parole Authority (“APA”).
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
        {¶ 2} Hogan was arrested by his parole officer for a curfew violation and was
housed at a correctional institution for a parole revocation hearing.
        {¶ 3} On April 6, 2023, Hogan filed a complaint against the APA seeking a
declaration that he was illegally housed in a correctional institution while awaiting
disposition of a revocation hearing. The complaint also alleges constitutional violations.
        {¶ 4} On May 10, 2023, the APA filed a motion to dismiss separately addressing
the illegal confinement and constitutional violation issues.
No. 23AP-471                                                                                 2

       {¶ 5} On July 11, 2023, the trial court granted APA’s motion to dismiss on the illegal
confinement issues, but denied the motion to dismiss regarding the constitutional issues.
       {¶ 6} On August 2, 2023, Hogan filed a notice of appeal.
       {¶ 7} On November 14, 2023, the trial court stayed the case pending this appeal.
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
       {¶ 8} Appellant assigns the following sole assignment of error:
                The lower court errored when it dismissed in Part the
                Declaratory Judgment pursuant to civil rule B(6) For failure
                to state a claim to which relief can be Granted.

(Sic passim.)
III. LEGAL ANALYSIS
       {¶ 9} As a preliminary matter, before we reach the merits of this appeal, we first
must determine whether the trial court decision and entry under review dated July 11, 2023
is a final, appealable order. The jurisdiction of this court is limited to “the review of final
orders, judgments and decrees.” Corbitt v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 10th Dist. No.
03AP-897, 2004-Ohio-1011, ¶ 5. Whether the decision and entry is final is a threshold
jurisdictional issue for this court.
       {¶ 10} An order of the trial court is considered a final, appealable order if it meets
the requirements of R.C. 2505.02 and, if applicable, Civ.R. 54(B). Tonti Homes Corp. v.
Siculan, 10th Dist. No. 22AP-162, 2022-Ohio-3067, ¶ 7, citing Oakley v. Ohio State Univ.
Wexner Med. Ctr., 10th Dist. No. 18AP-843, 2019-Ohio-3557, ¶ 10.
       {¶ 11} An appellate court engages in a two-step analysis to determine if an order is
final and appealable. First, we “must determine whether the order fits within one of the
categories set forth in R.C. 2505.02(B).” Ohio Farmers Ins. Co. v. Bd. of Cty. Commrs.,
10th Dist. No. 10AP-164, 2011-Ohio-2942, ¶ 18.            Second, if the order meets the
requirements of R.C. 2505.02, we must then determine if Civ.R. 54(B) applies and the order
contains the certification that no just reason for delay exists. Trico Land Co., L.L.C. v.
Kenoil Producing, L.L.C., 5th Dist. No. 13CA008, 2013-Ohio-2065, ¶ 17.
       {¶ 12} To constitute a final order, an order has to fit into one of the categories set
forth in R.C. 2505.02(B), which provides in pertinent part:
No. 23AP-471                                                                                 3

                An order is a final order that may be reviewed, affirmed,
                modified, or reversed, with or without retrial, when it is one
                of the following:

                (1) An order that affects a substantial right in an action that in
                effect determines the action and prevents a judgment;

                (2) An order that affects a substantial right made in a special
                proceeding or upon a summary application in an action after
                judgment;

                ***

                (4) An order that grants or denies a provisional remedy and to
                which both of the following apply:

                (a) The order in effect determines the action with respect to
                the provisional remedy and prevents a judgment in the action
                in favor of the appealing party with respect to the provisional
                remedy.

                (b) The appealing party would not be afforded a meaningful
                or effective remedy by an appeal following final judgment as
                to all proceedings, issues, claims, and parties in the action.

       {¶ 13} Civ.R. 54(B) applies when multiple claims for relief are involved and the trial
court enters judgment on fewer than all the claims. To constitute a final order, the trial
court is required to make “an express determination that there is no just reason for delay.”
Civ.R. 54(B).
       {¶ 14} Hogan argues two claims in his complaint: one, the APA illegally housed him
in a prison; and two, he was subject to constitutional violations while being held.
       {¶ 15} The trial court determined that Hogan was appropriately housed during the
revocation process. However, the court did not address the constitutional violations and
found “the APA’s motion to dismiss as to the alleged constitutional violations is not well
taken, and this portion of the APA’s motion is hereby DENIED. * * * This matter shall
proceed accordingly.” (Emphasis sic.) (July 11, 2023 Decision and Entry at 4.) The trial
court did not include the certification that there was no just reason for delay.
       {¶ 16} In cases where not all the claims are adjudicated, “if the effect of the judgment
as to some of the claims is to render moot the remaining claims or parties, then compliance
with Civ.R. 54(B) is not required to make the judgment final and appealable.” Gen. Acc.
No. 23AP-471                                                                              4

Ins. Co. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 44 Ohio St.3d 17, 21 (1989). That is not the case here. Even
if Hogan was legally confined, he may have been subject to unconstitutional treatment.
Judgment in favor of the APA on the illegal confinement claims does not necessarily render
Hogan’s constitutional claims moot. The requirements of R.C. 2505.02(B) are not met.
       {¶ 17} Because our jurisdiction is limited to review final, appealable orders, “where
a judgment does not meet the requirements of R.C. 2505.02 and Civ.R. 54(B), the appeal
must be dismissed.” Newcomer v. Nationwide Ins. Ent., 10th Dist. No. 02AP-873, 2003-
Ohio-960, ¶ 11.
       {¶ 18} We find, therefore, Hogan’s claim of constitutional violations remains
pending, and that there is no final, appealable order in this case.
IV. CONCLUSION
       {¶ 19} This court lacks jurisdiction over this appeal; accordingly, Hogan’s appeal is
hereby dismissed.
                                                                         Appeal dismissed.
                      BEATTY BLUNT and EDELSTEIN, JJ., concur.
                                     _____________