Court Opinion

ID: 4674646
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-05 20:11:04.871583+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:21.713442
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Evans v. Ohio Atty. Gen., 2021-Ohio-1146.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      SCIOTO COUNTY

William H. Evans, Jr.,                                :   Case No. 20CA3927

        Plaintiff-Appellant,                          :

v.                                                    :   DECISION AND
                                                          JUDGMENT ENTRY
Ohio Attorney General, et al.,                        :

        Defendants-Appellees.                         :   RELEASED 3/26/2021

______________________________________________________________________
                            APPEARANCES:

William H. Evans, Jr., Youngstown, Ohio, pro se.

Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General, and Julie M. Pfeiffer and Heather L. Buchanan,
Assistant Attorneys General, Columbus, Ohio, for appellee Ohio Attorney General Dave
Yost.

Richard A. Williams and Susan S.R. Petro, Williams & Schoenberger Co., L.L.C.,
Columbus, Ohio, for appellees Scioto County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Marty
Donini.

Lawrence E. Barbiere and Katherine L. Barbiere, Schroeder, Maundrell, Barbiere &
Powers, Mason, Ohio, for appellees City of Portsmouth Police Department and
Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Ware.
______________________________________________________________________
Hess, J.

        {¶1}     William H. Evans, Jr., appeals from a judgment of the Scioto County

Common Pleas Court dismissing his complaint against the Ohio Attorney General, the

Scioto County Sheriff’s Department, the Scioto County Sheriff, the Portsmouth Police

Department, and the Portsmouth Police Chief (collectively, the “Appellees”). In his first

and second assignments of error, Evans contends that the trial court erred in holding

that he failed to state claims against the Appellees under R.C. 2307.60 and 42 U.S.C.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                     2

1983. After construing all factual allegations in the complaint, along with all reasonable

inferences to be drawn therefrom in favor of Evans, we find that he can prove no set of

facts in support of a claim related to either statute that would entitle him to relief. In his

third assignment of error, Evans contends that the trial court erred in holding that the

Appellees have “no duty to investigate or apprehend offenders.” However, the court

made no such holding, and contrary to what Evans suggests, his complaint did not state

a claim for relief under R.C. 1347.10 or R.C. 2913.49(J) in the form of an injunction

compelling the Appellees to investigate crimes Evans alleged had occurred, apprehend

any offender, or correct records relating to Evans.           Accordingly, we overrule the

assignments of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                         I. FACTS

       {¶2}   On April 6, 2018, Evans filed a complaint against then Ohio Attorney

General Mike DeWine, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Department, Scioto County Sheriff

Marty Donini, the Portsmouth Police Department, Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Ware,

the Scioto Voice newspaper, and its editor/publisher Debbie Haney Allard. Evans

asserted that he was bringing the action against them “jointly and severally, personally

and officially,” pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983, 42 U.S.C. 1985, R.C. 2307.60(A)(1), R.C.

2721.01 et seq., and the common law. He alleged that the March 29, 2018 issue of the

Scioto Voice “listed the Public Records of Scioto County Jail Bookings” for March 12-18,

2018, stated he was from Otway and had been arrested for domestic violence, and

included his supposed booking photograph from the arrest. Evans alleged the article

was false because the photograph was over 30 years old, he has never lived in Otway,

and he has been incarcerated for the “alleged” murder of a member of the Haney family
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                   3

since 2004. The complaint stated: “Plaintiff cannot discern at this present time whether

any of this is [intentional], although there is reason to suspect that it is, based upon

other past events of records tampering, etc., to Evans’s demise, by Scioto County

Officials.” (Brackets sic.) Evans alleged that the situation was “especially suspect”

because Allard is a member of the Haney family, and two of the murder victim’s

brothers “used to work at” the sheriff’s department. Evans asserted that “the above

mentioned events” violated R.C. 2913.42(A)(1) and R.C. 2913.49(A); that his rights

under the First, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution

had been violated; and that he had been placed in a false light which “could lead to a

false arrest, or an entire array of problems criminally, or financially, or both.” The

complaint stated:    “Evans hereby disputes the information and demands that these

Government entities investigate it all, and correct/delete the inaccuracies, as set forth in

this Complaint * * *.”

       {¶3}   Evans also alleged that he had obtained a “law enforcement printout” from

the U.S. Marshals Service which contained the following statement about him:

“WARNING: APPROACH WITH CAUTION.” Evans alleged that this “label” originated in

the Portsmouth Police Department, which gave it to the Bureau of Criminal Identification

and Investigation (“BCI&I”), which disseminated it to law enforcement agencies

nationwide. He alleged that there were never “[legitimate] grounds to label him in such

a way” and that it “could lead one to believe the very worst” when dealing with him and

“get him shot and killed” by police. (Brackets sic.) He asserted that the “label violates

law, for the exact same reasons that the events described above with the Newspaper

situation.” The complaint stated that Evans “hereby demands that the Portsmouth
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                               4

Police, Scioto Co. Sheriff, and the Attorney General investigate this inaccurate label,

and delete it entirely from Evans’s law enforcement files nationwide, just in the same

way that they have caused it to go nationwide.” The complaint also demanded that all

of Evans’s government records “be investigated, and corrected.” Evans requested a

declaratory judgment “holding all the above to be a violation of State and Federal law,”

an injunction to “cause correction of all the above complaint,” and compensatory and

punitive damages.

       {¶4}   Sheriff Donini and the sheriff’s department filed an answer to the

complaint. Chief Ware and the police department moved to dismiss the complaint as to

them under Civ.R. 12(B)(6). The Scioto Voice and Allard filed an answer and a cross-

claim against the sheriff’s department for indemnification if they were found liable on

any claims. The attorney general moved to dismiss the complaint as to him under

Civ.R. 12(B)(6). Later, the sheriff and sheriff’s department moved for judgment on the

pleadings under Civ.R. 12(C).

       {¶5}   The trial court granted the motions. The court dismissed the complaint as

to the sheriff, sheriff’s department, police chief, and police department finding that

“[u]pon review of the complaint, it is unclear what plaintiff is demanding against” them

and that the “only allegation” against them “is a request for this Court to order an

investigation.”   The court also dismissed the complaint as to the attorney general,

finding that it did “not raise a cause of action” or “set forth any claims” against the

attorney general.    Subsequently, Evans voluntarily dismissed his claims against the

Scioto Voice and Allard.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                      5

                              II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

       {¶6}   Evans presents three assignments of error:

       Error One: Trial court erred in holding Evans failed to state a claim under
       O.R.C. §2307.60 (civil action for criminal acts).

       Error Two: Trial court erred in holding that Evans failed to state a claim
       pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983.

       Error Three: Trial court erred in holding that the defendants has [sic] no
       duty to investigate or apprehend offenders.

                                  III. LAW AND ANALYSIS

       {¶7}   An appellate court reviews de novo a trial court’s decision to dismiss a

complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be

granted.   Evans v. Shapiro, 4th Dist. Ross No. 18CA3670, 2019-Ohio-3209, ¶ 19

(“Shapiro”). Such a motion “ ‘tests the sufficiency of the complaint.’ ” Id. at ¶ 17,

quoting Volbers-Klarich v. Middletown Mgt., Inc., 125 Ohio St.3d 494, 2010-Ohio-2057,

929 N.E.2d 434, ¶ 11.        “When a trial court considers a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to

dismiss, it must review only the complaint, accepting all factual allegations contained in

the complaint as true and making all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving

party.” Id. “A trial court may dismiss a complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6) for failure to

state a claim if it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in

support of the claims that would entitle the plaintiff to the relief sought.” Id. at ¶ 17.

       {¶8}   Civ.R. 8(A) states: “A pleading that sets forth a claim for relief * * * shall

contain (1) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the party is entitled to

relief, and (2) a demand for judgment for the relief to which the party claims to be

entitled.” “ ‘Under the notice pleading requirements of Civ.R. 8(A)(1), the plaintiff need

only plead sufficient, operative facts to support recovery under [the plaintiff’s] claims.’ ”
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                   6

Shapiro at ¶ 18, quoting Henderson v. State, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101862, 2015-

Ohio-1742, ¶ 10. “ ‘Nevertheless, to constitute fair notice, the complaint must still allege

sufficient underlying facts that relate to and support the alleged claim, and may not

simply state legal conclusions.’ ” Id., quoting Henderson at ¶ 10. A complaint is not

“fatally defective” if it does not set forth each element of a cause of action “with

crystalline specificity.” Border City S. & L. Assn. v. Moan, 15 Ohio St.3d 65, 66, 472

N.E.2d 350 (1984). “However, the complaint must contain either direct allegations on

every material point necessary to sustain a recovery or contain allegations from which

an inference fairly may be drawn that evidence on these material points will be

introduced at trial.” Strahler v. Vessels, 4th Dist. Washington No. 11CA24, 2012-Ohio-

4170, ¶ 10. “In other words, if there is no hint in the pleadings of proof of a particular

point necessary to enable the pleader to prevail, the pleader has failed to provide the

notice required by the rule.” Id.

       {¶9}   “This court has characterized a motion for judgment on the pleadings as a

belated Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion and applied the same standards of review.” In re Evans

v. Evans-Sanford, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 20CA3901, 2020-Ohio-5315, ¶ 14. We review de

novo a trial court’s decision to grant a Civ.R. 12(C) motion for judgment on the

pleadings. Id. In considering the motion, “the court is restricted solely to the allegations

contained in the pleadings,” and “all material factual allegations in the complaint, along

with all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, must be construed in favor of the

nonmoving party.” Id. “A court may enter judgment on the pleadings ‘only if it appears

beyond doubt that the nonmoving party can prove no set of facts entitling it to relief.’ ”

Harris Farms, LLC v. Madison Twp. Trustees, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 17CA3817, 2018-
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                 7

Ohio-4123, ¶ 13, quoting Ohio Manufacturers' Assn. v. Ohioans for Drug Price Relief

Act, 147 Ohio St.3d 42, 2016-Ohio-3038, 59 N.E.3d 1274, ¶ 10.

                                    A. R.C. 2307.60

      {¶10} In the first assignment of error, Evans contends that the trial court erred in

holding that he failed to state a claim against the Appellees under R.C. 2307.60.

      {¶11} R.C. 2307.60(A)(1) states:

      Anyone injured in person or property by a criminal act has, and may
      recover full damages in, a civil action unless specifically excepted by law,
      may recover the costs of maintaining the civil action and attorney’s fees if
      authorized by any provision of the Rules of Civil Procedure or another
      section of the Revised Code or under the common law of this state, and
      may recover punitive or exemplary damages if authorized by section
      2315.21 or another section of the Revised Code.

This statute “creates a civil cause of action for damages resulting from any criminal act,

unless otherwise prohibited by law.” Jacobson v. Kaforey, 149 Ohio St.3d 398, 2016-

Ohio-8434, 75 N.E.3d 203, ¶ 13. An underlying criminal conviction is not required.

Buddenberg v. Weisdack, 161 Ohio St.3d 160, 2020-Ohio-3832, 161 N.E.3d 603, ¶ 1-2.

      {¶12} Initially, we address a jurisdictional matter. The attorney general asserts

that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over Evans’s claim for monetary damages against

the attorney general under R.C. 2307.60(A)(1) because the claim is one against the

State that is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Claims. The Tenth District

Court of Appeals has explained that “even though civil suits for damages against the

State must be brought in the Court of Claims,” “the Court of Claims does not have

jurisdiction to determine whether the State (or an agent or agency thereof) has

committed a crime to serve as a predicate for establishing liability in a civil action

brought pursuant to R.C. 2307.60.” Evans v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Correction, 10th
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                       8

Dist. Franklin No. 19AP-756, 2020-Ohio-1521, ¶ 11. However, “[n]othing * * * prevents

a litigant from first obtaining an entry or declaration from a court of competent

jurisdiction (such as the court of common pleas) to the effect that the State actor

committed a crime before filing against the State under R.C. 2307.60 in the Court of

Claims.” Id. at ¶ 11. Thus, while the trial court did not have jurisdiction to entertain a

civil suit for damages against the State under R.C. 2307.60, it could consider whether

Evans was entitled to a declaration that the attorney general committed a criminal act.

       {¶13} After construing all factual allegations in the complaint, along with all

reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom in favor of Evans, we find that he can

prove no set of facts in support of his claims related to R.C. 2307.60(A)(1) that would

entitle him to relief. The complaint alleged that two types of crimes had occurred—

tampering with records in violation of R.C. 2913.42(A)(1) and identity fraud in violation

of R.C. 2913.49(A). R.C. 2913.42(A)(1) states: “No person, knowing the person has no

privilege to do so, and with purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating

a fraud, shall * * * [f]alsify * * * any writing, * * * data, or record[.]” R.C. 2913.49(A) does

not set forth conduct that constitutes identity fraud but rather provides a non-exhaustive

list of what constitutes “personal identifying information” for purposes of the identity

fraud statute. R.C. 2913.49(B)-(E) set forth conduct that constitutes identity fraud. The

only provisions possibly relevant here are R.C. 2913.49(B) and (C), which state:

       (B) No person, without the express or implied consent of the other person,
       shall use, obtain, or possess any personal identifying information of
       another person with intent to do either of the following:

       (1) Hold the person out to be the other person;

       (2) Represent the other person’s personal identifying information as the
       person’s own personal identifying information.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                   9

       (C) No person shall create, obtain, possess, or use the personal
       identifying information of any person with the intent to aid or abet another
       person in violating division (B) of this section.

       {¶14} The complaint contains no factual allegations indicating that the

Appellees: (1) falsified any writing, data, or record related to Evans with purpose to

defraud or knowing that they were facilitating a fraud, (2) used, obtained, or possessed

Evans’s personal identifying information with intent to hold themselves out to be him or

represent his personal identifying information as their own, or (3) created, obtained,

possessed, or used Evans’s personal identifying information with the intent to aid or

abet another person in holding themselves out to be him or represent his personal

identifying information as their own.     Although the complaint gave reasons Evans

suspected a crime had occurred in connection with the newspaper article, we cannot

reasonably infer evidence on that material point would be introduced at a trial from

Evans’s vague and conclusory assertion that there have been “past events of records

tampering” to his “demise” by unnamed “Scioto County Officials” and the fact that the

editor/publisher of the Scioto Voice and two former employees of the sheriff’s

department were related to the person Evans was convicted of murdering over a

decade before the Scioto Voice published the newspaper article.

       {¶15} We note that in his argument in support of the third assignment of error,

Evans suggests that he stated a claim for relief under R.C. 2307.60(A)(1) for the

criminal act of dereliction of duty. R.C. 2921.44(A)(2) provides: “No law enforcement

officer shall negligently * * * [f]ail to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to

apprehend an offender, when it is in the law enforcement officer’s power to do so alone

or with available assistance.” However, the complaint did not allege a violation of R.C.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                   10

2921.44(A)(2) or contain factual allegations indicating that a law enforcement officer

was negligent in failing to prevent or halt any crime or apprehend an offender.

       {¶16} Because Evans failed to state a claim against the Appellees under R.C.

2307.60, we overrule the first assignment of error.

                                    B. 42 U.S.C. 1983

       {¶17} In the second assignment of error, Evans contends that the trial court

erred in holding that he failed to state a claim against the Appellees under 42 U.S.C.

1983. Evans asserts that he can sue the Appellees in their enforcement capacity for

prospective relief in the form of an injunction or declaratory judgment. He also asserts

that the attorney general, sheriff, and police chief are liable because they “obviously”

implicitly authorized, approved, or knowingly acquiesced in unconstitutional conduct.

Evans maintains that he is entitled to damages “for the failures to investigate, intercede,

or correct.”

       {¶18} 42 U.S.C. 1983 states:

       Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation,
       custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia,
       subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or
       other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights,
       privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be
       liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper
       proceeding for redress * * * .

       {¶19} “To establish a Section 1983 claim, two elements are required: (1) the

conduct in controversy must be committed by a person acting under color of state law,

and (2) the conduct must deprive the plaintiff of rights, privileges or immunities secured

by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” Akbar-El v. Ohio Univ., 4th Dist. Ross

No. 94CA2049, 1995 WL 249829, *4 (Apr. 26, 1995). A person acts under color of state
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                 11

law when the person exercises power “ ‘possessed by virtue of state law and made

possible only because the wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of state law.’ ” West

v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49, 108 S.Ct. 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988), quoting United

States v. Classic, 313 U.S. 299, 326, 61 S.Ct. 1031, 85 L.Ed. 1368 (1941).

       {¶20} There is no respondeat superior or vicarious liability under Section 1983.

Gardner v. Evans, 920 F.3d 1038, 1051 (6th Cir.2019). “Rather, ‘[e]ach defendant’s

liability must be assessed individually based on [the defendant’s] own actions.’ ” (First

alteration in Gardner). Id., quoting Binay v. Bettendorf, 601 F.3d 640, 650 (6th

Cir.2010). “When suing an individual actor * * * for constitutional violations under §

1983, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the actor ‘directly participated’ in the alleged

misconduct, at least by encouraging, implicitly authorizing, approving or knowingly

acquiescing in the misconduct, if not carrying it out himself [or herself].”      Flagg v.

Detroit, 715 F.3d 165, 174 (6th Cir.2013), quoting Shehee v. Luttrell, 199 F.3d 295, 300

(6th Cir.1999).

       {¶21} For purposes of Section 1983, a “person” does not include a state or its

officials acting in their official capacities; however, “official-capacity actions for

prospective relief are not treated as actions against the State.” Will v. Michigan Dept. of

State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71, fn. 10, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 105 L.E.2d 45 (1989), quoting

Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 167, fn. 14, 105 S.Ct. 3099, 87 L.E.2d 114 (1985)

(”Graham”).   Municipalities and other local government units are persons to whom

Section 1983 applies. Monell v. Dept. of Social Servs. of the City of New York, 436 U.S.

658, 690, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.E.2d 611 (1978). If a government official is sued in an

official capacity, the claim is to be treated as a suit against the government entity for
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                 12

which the official is an agent. Graham at 165-166. “[A] governmental entity is liable

under § 1983 only when the entity itself is a ‘ “moving force” ’ behind the deprivation[.]”

Id. at 166, quoting Polk Cty. v. Dodson, 454 U.S. 312, 326, 102 S.Ct. 445, 70 L.Ed.2d

509 (1981), quoting Monell at 694. “[T]he entity’s ‘policy or custom’ must have played a

part in the violation of federal law.” Graham at 166, quoting Monell at 694. “[I]t is when

execution of a government’s policy or custom, whether made by its lawmakers or by

those whose edicts or acts may fairly be said to represent official policy, inflicts the

injury that the government as an entity is responsible under § 1983.” Monell at 694.

Thus to state a claim against a government entity under Section 1983, a complaint must

allege deprivation of a federal right pursuant to the entity’s policy or custom. See Ogle

v. Hocking Cty., 4th Dist. Hocking No. 11CA31, 2013-Ohio-597, ¶ 24.

          {¶22} After construing all factual allegations in the complaint, along with all

reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom in favor of Evans, we find that he can

prove no set of facts in support of his Section 1983 claims that would entitle him to

relief.    The complaint does not contain factual allegations indicating any of the

government entity defendants had a policy or custom that deprived Evans of a federal

right. The complaint also does not contain any factual allegations indicating that former

Attorney General DeWine, Sheriff Donini, or Chief Ware carried out the conduct Evans

complains of related to the newspaper article or warning about Evans which supposedly

violated his constitutional rights. In addition, the complaint does not contain any factual

allegations indicating they encouraged, implicitly authorized, approved, or knowingly

acquiesced in that conduct. Nothing in the complaint suggests those individuals had

notice of the article or warning before Evans filed the complaint.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                13

      {¶23} Because Evans failed to state a claim against the Appellees under 42

U.S.C. 1983, we overrule the second assignment of error.

                    C. Duty to Investigate and Apprehend Offenders

      {¶24} In the third assignment of error, Evans asserts that the trial court erred in

holding that the Appellees have “no duty to investigate or apprehend offenders.” He

cites various legal authorities for the proposition that such a duty exists. Evans also

suggests his complaint stated a claim for relief under R.C. 1347.10 and R.C. 2913.49(J)

in the form of an injunction compelling the Appellees to investigate crimes Evans

alleged had occurred, apprehend any offender, and correct records relating to him.

      {¶25} The trial court did not hold that the Appellees have no duty to investigate

crime or apprehend offenders. Rather, implicit in the decisions dismissing the complaint

as to the Appellees is a finding that Evans failed to state a claim for which relief could

be granted in the form of an order compelling an investigation into the matters

complained of in the complaint and correction of records related to him. Contrary to

what Evans suggests, his complaint did not state a claim for such relief under R.C.

1347.10 or R.C. 2913.49(J).

      {¶26} R.C. 1347.10(B) provides that if a person or agency “violates or proposes

to violate any provision of this chapter * * * [a]n action for an injunction may be

prosecuted by the person who is the subject of the violation * * *.” R.C. 1347.09 sets

forth procedures a state or local agency must follow when a person disputes the

accuracy of personal information that pertains to the person and that is maintained by

the agency in a personal information system. R.C. 1347.09(A)(1) mandates that “within

a reasonable time after, but not later than ninety days after, receiving the request from
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                                    14

the disputant,” the agency shall “make a reasonable investigation,” notify the disputant

of the results and the action the agency plans to take with the respect to the disputed

information, and delete information it cannot verify or that it finds to be inaccurate.

Notably, R.C. 1347.04(A)(1)(a) exempts from the provisions of R.C. Chapter 1347 “[a]ny

state or local agency, or part of a state or local agency, that performs as its principal

function any activity relating to the enforcement of the criminal laws, including police

efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or to apprehend criminals.” Even if Evans

could overcome this exemption, the complaint does not contain any factual allegations

indicating that prior to filing the complaint, Evans requested an investigation under R.C.

1347.09(A)(1), and the Appellees violated or proposed to violate that provision.

       {¶27} The complaint also did not state a claim for injunctive relief under R.C.

2913.49(J). That provision states that a person who is injured in person or property by

identity theft in violation of R.C. 2913.49(B), (D), or (E) “who is the owner of the

identifying information involved in that violation” may “bring a civil action to enjoin or

restrain future acts that would constitute a violation of” R.C. 2913.49(B), (D), or (E).

R.C. 2913.49(J) does not allow the person to bring a civil action to compel government

entities or officials to investigate allegations of identity fraud or apprehend any offender.

       {¶28} Accordingly, we overrule the third assignment of error.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                          15

                                  IV. CONCLUSION

        {¶29} Having overruled the assignments of error, we affirm the trial court’s

judgment.      Based on the foregoing, it is unnecessary for us to address several

arguments advanced by the Appellees, such as that certain Appellees are immune from

liability or are not sui juris.

                                                            JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Scioto App. No. 20C3927                                                              16

                                   JUDGMENT ENTRY

         It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the
costs.

         The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

      It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Scioto
County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.

       Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of the date of
this entry.

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Abele, J. & Wilkin, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.

                                          For the Court

                                          BY: ________________________
                                              Michael D. Hess, Judge

                                 NOTICE TO COUNSEL

       Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing
with the clerk.