State ex rel. Hoffman v. Eyster

[Cite as State ex rel. Hoffman v. Eyster, 2012-Ohio-597.] COURT OF APPEALS KNOX COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT : JUDGES: STATE OF OHIO, EX REL. : Patricia A. Delaney, P.J. MATTHEW J. HOFFMAN : William B. Hoffman, J. : Julie A. Edwards, J. Relator : : Case No. 11CA24 -vs- : : : OPINION JUDGE OTHO EYSTER Respondent CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Writ of Mandamus and Procedendo JUDGMENT: Denied DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: February 10, 2012 APPEARANCES: For Relator For Respondent MATTHEW J. HOFFMAN NO APPEARANCE #A645571 Toledo Correctional Institution 2001 East Central Avenue Toledo, Ohio 43608 [Cite as State ex rel. Hoffman v. Eyster, 2012-Ohio-597.] Edwards, J. {¶1} Relator, Matthew J. Hoffman, has filed a “Petition for Writ of Mandamus and of Procedendo” requesting a writ be issued which would require Respondent to rule on two outstanding motions filed with the trial court. {¶2} For a writ of mandamus to issue, the relator must have a clear legal right to the relief prayed for, the respondents must be under a clear legal duty to perform the requested act, and relator must have no plain and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. State, ex rel. Berger, v. McMonagle (1983), 6 Ohio St.3d 28, 6 OBR 50, 451 N.E.2d 225. {¶3} A writ of procedendo has “the limited purpose of [requiring] a lower court to go forward ‘when a court has either refused to render a judgment or has unnecessarily delayed proceeding to judgment.’ State ex rel. Miley v. Parrott (1996), 77 Ohio St.3d 64, 65, 671 N.E.2d 24.” State ex rel. Lemons v. Kontos 2009 WL 4756269, 2 (Ohio App. 11 Dist.). {¶4} The Supreme Court has held, “Neither procedendo nor mandamus will compel the performance of a duty that has already been performed. State ex rel. Grove v. Nadel (1998), 84 Ohio St.3d 252, 253, 703 N.E.2d 304, 305.” State ex rel. Kreps v. Christiansen (2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 313, 318, 725 N.E.2d 663, 668. Knox County App. Case No. 11CA24 3 {¶5} Subsequent to the filing of the instant petition, Respondent ruled on the two outstanding motions filed by Relator in the trial court. For this reason, we find the petition has become moot. {¶6} For this reason, the request for the issuance of a writ of mandamus and/or procedendo is denied. By: Edwards, J. Delaney, P.J. and Hoffman, J. concur ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ JUDGES JAE/ads0113 [Cite as State ex rel. Hoffman v. Eyster, 2012-Ohio-597.] IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR KNOX COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT STATE OF OHIO, EX REL. : MATTHEW J. HOFFMAN : : Relator : : : -vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY : JUDGE OTHO EYSTER : : Respondent : CASE NO. 11CA24 For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the Complaint is denied. Costs waived. _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ JUDGES