[Cite as Henderson v. Clerk of Courts, 2014-Ohio-2533.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 100465
PAUL S. HENDERSON
RELATOR
vs.
CLERK OF COURTS
RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT:
WRIT DENIED
Writ of Mandamus
Motion No. 469331
Order No. 475121
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2014
FOR RELATOR
Paul S. Henderson, pro se
Inmate No. 573-468
940 Marion-Williamsport Road
Marion Correctional Institution
Marion, Ohio 43302-0057
ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENT
Robin M. Wilson
Cuyahoga County Department of Law
310 Lakeside Avenue, 7th Floor
Courthouse Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
BETH WHITMORE, P.J.:
{¶1} On September 30, 2013, the relator, Paul Henderson, commenced this
mandamus action against the respondent, Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts, to compel
the clerk to file an affidavit and complaint to commence an action against numerous
defendants, including common pleas and appellate court judges, Cuyahoga County Jail
staff, Marion Correctional Institution staff, and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office
staff. On October 25, 2013, the respondent, clerk of courts, moved to dismiss on the
grounds of mootness. Attached to the dispositive motion was a certified copy of Mr.
Henderson’s complaint showing that it had been filed with the clerk of courts on October
11, 2013. Because the clerk has filed the affidavit and complaint, as Mr. Henderson
sought in his petition for writ of mandamus, this mandamus action is moot and dismissed.
{¶2} Before addressing Mr. Henderson’s petition, we must first consider his
“NOTICE OF LEAVE pursuant to App.R. 5” that he filed on November 5, 2013. In his
notice, he attempts to amend his complaint for writ of mandamus pursuant to App.R. 5
(titled “Appeals by Leave of Court in Criminal Cases”). The appellate rules, however,
have no application in a court of appeals when its original jurisdiction has been invoked.
App.R. 1 (“These rules govern procedure in appeals to courts of appeals from the trial
courts of record in Ohio.”). Mr. Henderson filed a motion not prescribed for a court
having original jurisdiction and, accordingly, the motion is denied. State ex rel. Pajestka
v. Faulhaber, 50 Ohio St.2d 41, 42, 362 N.E.2d 263 (1977).
{¶3} Turning now to his petition for writ of mandamus, for the writ “to issue, a
relator must demonstrate that (1) the relator has a clear legal right to the relief prayed for,
(2) respondent is under a corresponding clear legal duty to perform the requested acts, and
(3) relator has no plain and adequate legal remedy.” State ex rel. Serv. Emp. Internatl.
Union, Dist. 925 v. State Emp. Relations Bd., 81 Ohio St.3d 173, 176, 689 N.E.2d 962
(1998). The Ohio Supreme Court has held that “mandamus will [not] compel the
performance of a duty that has already been performed.” State ex rel. Grove v. Nadel,
84 Ohio St.3d 252, 253, 703 N.E.2d 304 (1998).
{¶4} Mr. Henderson sought a writ of mandamus to order the clerk of courts to
file his affidavit and complaint. This court may consider evidence outside the petition to
determine that an action is moot. State ex rel. Nelson v. Russo, 89 Ohio St.3d 227, 228,
729 N.E.2d 1181 (2000). According to the certified copy of the affidavit and complaint
attached to the clerk’s motion to dismiss, the clerk filed the affidavit and complaint on
October 11, 2013. Paul S. Henderson v. State of Ohio, et al., Cuyahoga CP No. CV
13-815381 (filed October 11, 2013). Mr. Henderson did not respond to the clerk’s
motion to dismiss to dispute that she had filed his affidavit and complaint. As
demonstrated by the certified copy attached to the motion to dismiss, the clerk of courts
has filed Mr. Henderson’s documents and, accordingly, this matter is moot.
{¶5} Further, we find that Mr. Henderson’s complaint for a writ of mandamus is
defective. R.C. 2969.25 sets forth specific filing requirements for inmates who file a
civil action against a government entity or government employee. The clerk of courts is
a government entity and Mr. Henderson, incarcerated in the Marion Correctional
Institution, is an inmate. R.C. 2969.21(C) and (D). Mr. Henderson has failed to
comply with R.C. 2969.25(C), which requires a statement that: (1) sets forth the balance
in his inmate account for the preceding six months, as certified by the institutional
cashier; and (2) a statement that sets forth all other cash and things of value as owned by
the inmate. A case must be dismissed if the inmate fails to comply with the mandatory
requirements of R.C. 2969.25 in the commencement of the action. State ex rel. Graham
v. Findlay Mun. Court, 106 Ohio St.3d 63, 2005-Ohio-3671, ¶ 6 (“The requirements of
R.C. 2969.25 are mandatory, and failure to comply with them subjects an inmate’s action
to dismissal.”).
{¶6} Accordingly, this court grants the clerk’s motion to dismiss and denies the
petition for a writ of mandamus. Costs assessed to Mr. Henderson. The court directs
the clerk of court to serve all parties with notice of this judgment and the date of entry
upon the journal as required by Civ.R. 58(B).
{¶7} Writ denied.
_________________________________________
BETH WHITMORE, PRESIDING JUDGE
CARLA MOORE, J., and
EVE BELFANCE, J., CONCUR