Court Opinion

ID: 4529480
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-28 18:12:12.237018+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:26:51.936125
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State ex rel. Nyamusevya v. Hawkins, 2020-Ohio-2690.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                  TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State ex rel. Leonard Nyamusevya,                     :

                Relator,                              :

v.                                                    :              No. 19AP-199

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas                 :           (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Honorable Judge Daniel R. Hawkins,
                                                      :
                Respondent.
                                                      :

                                         D E C I S I O N

                                     Rendered on April 28, 2020

                On brief: Leonard Nyamusevya, pro se.

                On brief: Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Bryan B.
                Lee, for respondent.

                            IN MANDAMUS/PROHIBITION
                    ON OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION
DORRIAN, J.
        {¶ 1} In this original action, relator, Leonard Nyamusevya, requests a writ of
mandamus to compel respondent, the Honorable Daniel R. Hawkins, a judge of the
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, to rule and dispose of certain motions in a
foreclosure action brought by CitiMortgage, Inc. ("CitiMortgage") against relator's
residential property. Relator also seeks a writ of prohibition, contending the court lacked
jurisdiction to proceed with the foreclosure action because certain defects in the
documentation underlying the complaint establish that CitiMortgage lacked standing as a
proper plaintiff to bring the action.
No. 19AP-199                                                                                2

          {¶ 2} Pursuant to Civ.R. 53 and Loc.R. 13(M) of the Tenth District Court of Appeals,
this matter was referred to a magistrate who issued a decision, including findings of fact
and conclusions of law, which is appended hereto. The magistrate recommends this court
grant respondent's motion and dismiss this action.
          {¶ 3} On February 6, 2020, relator filed objections to the magistrate's decision. On
February 10, 2020, relator filed an addendum to the objections he filed on February 6,
2020. Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b)(ii) states that "[a]n objection to a magistrate's decision shall be
specific and state with particularity all grounds for objection." Relator does not clearly set
out his objections in either his 21-page objections filed February 6, 2020, or his 25-page
addendum to the objections filed February 10, 2020. Rather, buried in his February 6,
2020 objections, relator challenges certain of the magistrate's findings of fact. In addition,
generally, in paragraph 19, relator states the magistrate "knew and should have known and
should not have disregarded" certain facts. More specifically, relator objects as noted below.
          {¶ 4} This court has stated that when a court enters judgment " 'without expressly
determining a pending motion, the motion impliedly is denied.' " Jacobs v. Jones, 10th
Dist. No. 10AP-930, 2011-Ohio-3313, ¶ 31, quoting Polivka v. Cox, 10th Dist. No. 02AP-
1364, 2003-Ohio-4371, ¶ 23. In considering relator's specific objections, we take into
consideration our decision in relator's prior appeal to this court: CitiMortgage, Inc. v.
Nyamusevya, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-464, 2016-Ohio-5588, as well as the fact that he has
another appeal currently pending in this court: CitiMortgage, Inc. v. Nyamusevya, 10th
Dist. No. 18AP-949.1 Both appeals arose out of Franklin C.P. No. 10CVE09-13480, which
is also the subject of this original action.
          {¶ 5} In paragraph 41, relator states that the magistrate's finding of fact No. 1 is
wrong because CitiMortgage was never the successor through the assignment and merger
of the original lender Capitol Mortgage Services, Inc. In CitiMortgage, Inc., 2016-Ohio-
5588, at ¶ 2-3, we found:
                  On June 26, 2002, appellant executed a first mortgage on
                  certain real property located 2064 Worcester Court, Columbus,
                  Ohio ("mortgage"), as security for a promissory note ("note") to
                  Capitol Mortgage Services, Inc. ("Capitol") in the amount of
                  $136,700. Capitol subsequently assigned the mortgage and
                  endorsed the note to ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc.

1   Case No. 18AP-949 was submitted to this court on March 25, 2020.
No. 19AP-199                                                                                   3

               ("ABN"). The Franklin County Recorder duly recorded the
               mortgage on July 5, 2002. Citi subsequently acquired ABN by
               way of merger.

               When appellant defaulted on payment, Citi commenced a
               foreclosure action against appellant on September 14, 2010 in
               the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The caption of
               the complaint identifies plaintiff as "CitiMortgage, Inc.
               successor by merger to ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc."
               (Compl. at 1.) The complaint seeks a judgment on the note in
               the amount of $98,452.56, plus interest at 6.25 percent per
               annum from May 1, 2010, plus court costs, advances, and other
               allowable charges. Citi also named the Franklin County
               Treasurer as a defendant.

Accordingly, we overrule this objection.
       {¶ 6} In paragraph 46, relator states that the magistrate's finding of fact No. 2 is
"futile and irrelevant" because this court reversed the trial court's decision in part in a prior
appeal. In CitiMortgage, Inc., 2016-Ohio-5588, at ¶ 6, we found "on July 10, 2013, the trial
court issued a decision granting Citi's motion for summary judgment." Accordingly, we
overrule this objection.
       {¶ 7} In paragraph 47, relator states the magistrate's finding of fact No. 5 is now
"futile and irrelevant" because CitiMortgage lacked valid preliminary and final judicial
reports and is permanently barred to pursue disclosure. In paragraph 48, relator states the
magistrate's finding of fact No. 7 is "erroneous and futile and irrelevant" because the trial
court lacked jurisdiction. In CitiMortgage, Inc., 2016-Ohio-5588, at ¶ 23-24, we found:
               Our review of the evidence reveals that ABN had the right to
               enforce the note prior to the 2007 merger either by virtue of the
               special indorsement from Capitol or as the possessor of the
               note indorsed in blank. See former R.C. 1301.01(T)(1)(a) and
               (b) (repealed), now R.C. 1301.201(B)(21)(a). It is also without
               question that Citi became the successor to ABN's interest in the
               note on September 1, 2007, by virtue of the merger. Citi alleged
               in the complaint that it was the holder of the note and
               subsequently produced a "true and accurate" copy of the note
               indorsed in blank by ABN. Schneider averred that a "true and
               accurate" copy of the note is contained in Citi's collateral file.
               Thus, the evidence produced by Citi established that it was
               entitled to enforce the note at the time it filed the complaint.
               The fact that Citi earlier produced an unauthenticated copy of
               the note bearing only the special indorsement from Capitol to
No. 19AP-199                                                                            4

               ABN does not give rise to a factual issue whether Citi had an
               interest in the note when it filed the complaint. Appellants
               produced no evidence in response to Citi's motion for summary
               judgment to support the allegation that ABN was not a holder
               of the note at the time of the merger or that Citi was not a holder
               of the note at the time it filed the complaint. Appellant's
               assertions to the contrary are pure speculation.

               Because there were no genuine issues of fact with regard to
               Citi's right to enforce the mortgage and the note at the time it
               filed the complaint, Citi had standing to commence the
               foreclosure action against appellant.

Accordingly, we overrule these objections.
       {¶ 8} In paragraph 49, relator seems to argue that the magistrate's finding of fact
No. 14 was incomplete because the magistrate should have taken additional judicial notice
of relator's former spouse's bankruptcy case.         On January 7, 2020, the magistrate
reactivated this matter, stating:
               The magistrate entered an order on May 3, 2019 staying all
               proceedings in this original action, reflecting a suggestion of
               bankruptcy filed by relator. The magistrate now sua sponte
               notes that relator's bankruptcy proceedings culminated in an
               order of discharge entered by the United States Bankruptcy
               Court for the Southern District of Ohio on November 21, 2019.

               While relator has appealed from the bankruptcy court's orders,
               the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. 362 terminates upon
               discharge of the debtor. The F.R.B.P. 8007 stay pending
               appeal, unlike the 11 U.S.C. 362 stay, is not automatic. The
               bankruptcy appellate panel has not entered a stay pending
               appeal.

               The magistrate therefore REACTIVATES this original action.
               Respondent filed a motion to dismiss on May 1, 2019, which is
               still pending. Relator will file a response on or before
               January 23, 2020.

(Emphasis sic.) (Jan. 7, 2020 Magistrate's Order.) Furthermore, relator's former spouse is
not a party to this original action. Accordingly, we overrule this objection.
       {¶ 9} Finally, it is significant to note, in numerous places in his objections and
addendum, relator states he preserves in this court "for appeal" certain alleged facts or
arguments.
No. 19AP-199                                                                              5

       {¶ 10} A common criteria which must be met in order to grant a request for a writ of
mandamus and a writ of prohibition is that there is no adequate remedy in the ordinary
course of law. See State ex rel. Berger v. McMonagle, 6 Ohio St. 3d 28 (1983), and State ex
rel. Elder v. Camplese, 144 Ohio St. 3d 89, 2015-Ohio-3628. Regarding the request for writ
of mandamus, here, as the magistrate has detailed, relator already pursued his remedies
which exist in the ordinary course of law. The trial court has entered final judgment in
Franklin C.P. No. 10CVE09-13480 and, therefore, disposed of the motions on which relator
sought to compel ruling by way of mandamus. Furthermore, relator has appealed the trial
court's judgment.
       {¶ 11} Regarding the request for prohibition, here again, relator already pursued his
remedies which exist in the ordinary course of law. Relator pursued his prior appeal in this
court. We decided relator's prior appeal and, therefore, have already ruled and implicitly
determined the trial court had jurisdiction over the case. Accordingly, there exist adequate
remedies in the ordinary course of law and the criteria for mandamus and prohibition are
not met.
       {¶ 12} Upon review of the magistrate's decision, an independent review of the
record, and due consideration of relator's objections, we find the magistrate has properly
determined the pertinent facts and applied the appropriate law. We therefore overrule
relator's objections to the magistrate's decision and adopt the magistrate's decision as our
own, including the findings of fact and conclusions of law contained therein. Accordingly,
respondent's motion to dismiss is granted, and relator's complaint for a writ of mandamus
and writ of prohibition is dismissed.
                                                                   Objections overruled;
                                                        motion granted; action dismissed.
                      BRUNNER and BEATTY BLUNT, JJ., concur.
No. 19AP-199                                                                          6

                                       APPENDIX
                          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                              TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

The State ex rel. Leonard Nyamusevya,          :

               Relator,                        :

v.                                             :                 No. 19AP-199

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas:         :              (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Honorable Judge Daniel R. Hawkins,
                                               :
               Respondent.
                                               :

                          MAGISTRATE'S DECISION

                               Rendered on January 24, 2020

               Leonard Nyamusevya, pro se.

               Ron O'Brien, Prosecuting Attorney, and Bryan B. Lee, for
               respondent.

                        IN MANDAMUS AND PROHIBITION
                     ON RESPONDENT'S MOTION TO DISMISS
       {¶ 13} Relator, Leonard Nyamusevya, filed this original action seeking a writ of
mandamus to compel respondent, the Honorable Daniel R. Hawkins, judge of the Franklin
County Court of Common Pleas, to rule and dispose of certain pending motions in a
foreclosure action brought by CitiMortgage, Inc. ("CitiMortgage") against relator's
residential property. Relator also seeks a writ of prohibition, contending the court of
common pleas lacked jurisdiction to proceed with the foreclosure action because certain
defects in the documentation underlying the complaint establish that CitiMortgage lacked
standing as a proper plaintiff to bring the action.
Findings of Fact:
No. 19AP-199                                                                               7

       {¶ 14} 1. Alleging default, CitiMortgage, as the successor through assignment and
merger of the original lender, commenced a foreclosure action on September 14, 2010 in
the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas under case No. 10CVE-09-13480.
       {¶ 15} 2. On July 10, 2013, the court of common pleas rendered a decision granting
CitiMortgage's motion for summary judgment.
       {¶ 16} 3. Relator unsuccessfully attempted to remove the matter to federal district
court. CitiMortgage, Inc. v. Nyamusevya, S.D.Ohio No. 2:13-CV-680, 2014 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 39605 (Mar. 21, 2014), reconsideration denied, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27062
(March 5, 2015).
       {¶ 17} 4. On May 20, 2014, the court of common pleas entered its final judgment of
foreclosure.
       {¶ 18} 5. Relator filed an appeal to this court, asserting that CitiMortgage lacked
standing to prosecute the foreclosure action, that the court of common pleas had incorrectly
calculated the amount owing on the mortgage loan, and that the court had incorrectly ruled
on evidentiary issues. This court affirmed the finding of default and right to foreclose, but
reversed in part on the basis that relator had created a genuine issue of material fact
regarding the correct amount owed on the mortgage loan at the time of default.
CitiMortgage., Inc. v. Nyamusevya, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-464, 2016-Ohio-5588,
jurisdictional motion overruled, 149 Ohio St. 3d 1407, 2017-Ohio-2822. In affirming most
aspects of the court of common pleas' judgment, the decision on appeal specifically held
that CitiMortgage had standing to pursue foreclosure. Id. at ¶ 23-24.
       {¶ 19} 6. After remand, the court of common pleas resumed proceedings on the
basis of this court's affirmance of partial summary judgment. The court of common pleas
made certain evidentiary rulings, which relator attempted to appeal to this court. This court
dismissed that appeal for lack of a final appealable order.          CitiMortgage, Inc. v.
Nyamusevya, 10th Dist. No. 18AP-148 (Mar. 14, 2018)(Journal Entry of Dismissal).
       {¶ 20} 7. On November 5, 2018, the remaining issues in the foreclosure action
proceeded to a jury trial. The court of common pleas granted a directed verdict in favor of
CitiMortgage based upon the unrebutted evidence of sums owed under the mortgage loan.
(Relator vacated the courtroom at the outset of trial after advising the court that it lacked
No. 19AP-199                                                                               8

jurisdiction to proceed, and therefore presented no evidence.) The court of common pleas
entered judgment accordingly on November 15, 2018.
       {¶ 21} 8. Relator filed his notice of appeal from the court of common pleas' final
judgment on December 12, 2018 receiving appellate case No. 18AP-949. That case remains
pending before this court.
       {¶ 22} 9. Relator filed the present complaint in mandamus and prohibition on
April 5, 2019, followed by an amended complaint on April 8, 2019.
       {¶ 23} 10. On May 1, 2019, the magistrate denied relator's motion for stay of trial
court proceedings, finding it duplicative in light of a similar motion for stay in relator's
companion appeal to this court.
       {¶ 24} 11. Respondent filed his motion to dismiss on May 1, 2019.
       {¶ 25} 12. Also on May 1, 2019, relator filed a petition in federal bankruptcy court
for the Southern District of Ohio. Relator filed corresponding suggestions of bankruptcy in
this mandamus action on May 2, 2019, and in his companion appeal on May 3, 2019.
       {¶ 26} 13. The magistrate entered an order on May 3, 2019 staying all proceedings
in this original action. The court entered a similar order in relator's companion appeal case
No. 18AP-949.
       {¶ 27} 14. The magistrate took judicial notice that the bankruptcy court entered an
order on November 21, 2019 granting discharge under section 727 of the bankruptcy code,
thereby terminating the automatic bankruptcy stay under 11 U.S.C. 362. Bankr.S.D.Ohio
No. 2:19-bk-52868 (Nov. 21, 2019 order). The magistrate further noted the F.R.B.P. 8007
stay pending bankruptcy appeal, unlike the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. 362, is not
automatic, and that the bankruptcy appellate panel had not entered a stay pending appeal.
The magistrate accordingly determined there was no impediment to proceeding with this
original action. The magistrate entered an order on January 7, 2020 reactivating the
matter. That order granted relator until January 23, 2020 to file a response to respondent's
pending May 1, 2019 motion to dismiss the action.
       {¶ 28} 15. The court entered a similar reactivation order in appeal case No. 18AP-
949.
No. 19AP-199                                                                                9

       {¶ 29} 16. The original action is now before the magistrate on respondent's May 1,
2019 motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and relator's January 23, 2020 response
thereto.
Discussion and Conclusions of Law:
       {¶ 30} A Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss a complaint in mandamus or prohibition
tests the sufficiency of the complaint on its face. State ex rel. Boggs v. Springfield Local
School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 72 Ohio St. 3d 94 (1995). In reviewing the complaint on such
grounds, this court will take all material allegations as admitted and construe all reasonable
inferences in favor of relator as the nonmoving party. Id. "In order for a court to dismiss a
complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, 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, Inc., 42 Ohio St. 2d 242 (1975),
syllabus.
       {¶ 31} Respondent's motion to dismiss first asserts that relator's complaint fails on
its face to state a claim for a writ of mandamus. In order for this court to issue a writ of
mandamus, relator mush show a clear legal right to the relief sought, a clear legal duty for
the respondent to perform the requested act, and the absence of a plain and adequate
remedy for relator in the ordinary course of the law. State ex rel. Berger v. McMonagle, 6
Ohio St. 3d 28, 29 (1983).
       {¶ 32} Relator seeks a writ compelling the court of common pleas to rule on certain
pending motions. Although procedendo is the more appropriate remedy, "mandamus will
lie when a trial court has refused to render, or unduly delayed rendering, a judgment." State
ex rel. Reynolds v. Basinger, 99 Ohio St. 3d 303, 2003-Ohio-3631, ¶ 5. However, "neither
procedendo nor mandamus will compel the performance of a duty that has already been
performed." State ex rel. Kreps v. Christiansen, 88 Ohio St. 3d 313, 318 (2000), citing State
ex rel. Grove v. Nadel, 84 Ohio St. 3d 252, 253 (1998).
       {¶ 33} When assessing whether relator's complaint states a claim for a writ, the
magistrate may take judicial notice of the pleadings and orders in related cases when these
are not subject to reasonable dispute, at least in so far as they affect the present original
action. Evid.R. 201(B); State ex rel. Ohio Republican Party v. Fitzgerald, 145 Ohio St.3d
No. 19AP-199                                                                                 10

92, 2015-Ohio-5056, ¶ 18; State ex rel. Womack v. Marsh, 128 Ohio St. 3d 303, 2011-Ohio-
229, ¶ 8.
       {¶ 34} Relator's motions that allegedly were not ruled upon by the court of common
pleas are not entirely easy to identify based upon the complaint. Most appear related to
pre-trial evidentiary issues or jurisdictional issues raised by relator. Ordinarily, any
pending motions a trial court does not expressly dispose of in its final judgment will be
deemed to have been implicitly overruled. Maust v. Palmer, 94 Ohio App. 3d 764 (10th
Dist.1994). Here, the court of common pleas, by entering final judgment, has ruled on
pending pre-judgment motions and there is no further relief to be granted by a writ. The
action has become moot in that respect, and must be dismissed. State ex rel. Eichenberger
v. Jamison, 10th Dist. No. 19AP-98, 2019-Ohio-2622, ¶ 9. Moreover, if error occurred in
such rulings, relator's pending appeal before this court from that final judgment of the court
of common pleas demonstrates that relator has an adequate remedy at law that precludes
mandamus. For the foregoing reasons, the magistrate concludes that relator's complaint
fails on its face to state a claim for a writ of mandamus, and must be dismissed.
       {¶ 35} Turning to relator's claim for a writ of prohibition, which is based upon an
alleged lack of jurisdiction in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for the
underlying foreclosure action, the magistrate concludes that this also fails on the face of the
complaint.
       {¶ 36} The writ of prohibition is an extraordinary judicial writ issuing out of a court
of superior jurisdiction and directed to an inferior tribunal, commanding the lower court to
cease abusing or usurping judicial functions. State ex rel. Jones v. Suster, 84 Ohio St. 3d 70
(1998). The principal function of the writ of prohibition is to restrain a lower court from
exceeding its jurisdiction. Id. As such, the petition for the writ "tests and determines 'solely
and only' the subject matter jurisdiction of the inferior tribunal." State ex rel. Eaton Corp.
v. Lancaster, 40 Ohio St. 3d 404, 409 (1988). In order for the writ of prohibition to issue,
the relator must prove that (1) the lower tribunal is about to exercise judicial authority, (2)
the exercise of authority is not authorized by law, and (3) the relator has no other adequate
remedy in the ordinary course of law if a writ of prohibition is denied. State ex rel. Elder v.
Camplese, 144 Ohio St. 3d 89, 2015-Ohio-3628.
No. 19AP-199                                                                                  11

       {¶ 37} As set forth above in the findings of fact, this court has already ruled upon the
jurisdiction of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas when disposing of relator's
prior direct appeal. Relator cannot demonstrate a clear legal right to a writ of prohibition,
because the jurisdiction of the court of common pleas in the foreclosure action has already
been addressed by this court, and that disposition establishes the law of the case for all
related litigation. State ex rel. Dannaher v. Crawford, 78 Ohio St. 3d 391, 394 (1997) (Writs
of prohibition and mandamus are only appropriate to require lower courts to comply with,
rather than proceed contrary to, the mandate of a superior court.). The magistrate
therefore concludes that relator's complaint fails on its face to set forth a claim for a writ of
prohibition and must be dismissed.
       {¶ 38} In summary, it is the magistrate's decision that relator's complaint does not
state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and respondent's motion to dismiss is
granted.

                                                /S/ MAGISTRATE
                                                MARTIN L. DAVIS

                               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).