State ex rel. Studgions v. Saffold

[Cite as State ex rel. Studgions v. Saffold, 2012-Ohio-1380.] Court of Appeals of Ohio EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION No. 97751 STATE OF OHIO, EX REL., JAMIL STUDGIONS RELATOR vs. JUDGE SHIRLEY S. STRICKLAND SAFFOLD, ET. AL. RESPONDENTS JUDGMENT: WRIT DENIED Writ of Mandamus Motion Nos. 451612 and 451974 Order No. 453400 RELEASE DATE: March 27, 2012 FOR RELATOR Jamil Studgions, pro se Inmate No. 573-653 Mansfield Correctional Institution P. O. Box 788 Mansfield, OH 44901 ATTORNEYS FOR RESPONDENTS FOR JUDGE SHIRLEY STRICKLAND SAFFOLD, ET AL., William D. Mason Cuyahoga County Prosecutor By: James E. Moss Assistant County Prosecutor Justice Center, 9th Floor 1200 Ontario Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 FOR WARDEN TERRY TIBBALS Mike DeWine Ohio Attorney General By: Caitlyn Nestleroth Assistant Attorney General Crim. Justice Sect., Corr. Unit 150 East Gay Street, 16th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J.: {¶1} Jamil Studgions has filed a complaint for a writ of mandamus. Studgions seeks an order from this court, which requires Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold to conduct a re-sentencing hearing in State v. Studgions, Cuyahoga Cty. C.P. No. CR-523188, based upon the appellate decision as rendered by this court in State v. Studgions, 8th Dist. No. 94153, 2010-Ohio-5480. In Studgions, this court held that his convictions for the offenses of felonious assault and kidnapping were allied offenses of similar import, which required merger upon re-sentencing. In addition, Studgions seeks an order from this court, that requires the Warden of the Mansfield Correctional Institution, Terry Tibbals, to convey him to the Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas for re-sentencing. Studgions request for mandamus, however is moot.1 {¶2} Attached to Judge Saffold’s “notice of judicial action,” as filed on March 13, 2012, is a copy of a journal entry that demonstrates Studgions has been Judge Saffold has filed a motion for summary judgment, while Warden Tibbals has 1 filed a motion to dismiss the compliant for a writ of mandamus. Pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6), Warden Tibbal’s motion to dismiss, as filed on February 3, 2012, is converted into a Civ.R. 56(C) motion for summary judgment. State ex rel. Boggs v. Springfield Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 72 Ohio St.3d 94, 647 N.E.2d 788 (1995); State ex rel. Baran v. Fuerst, 55 Ohio St.3d 94, 563 N.E.2d 713 (1990). re-sentenced with regard to the issue of allied offenses. Thus, Studgions’ request for mandamus is moot. State ex rel. Jerninghan v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 74 Ohio St.3d 278, 1996-Ohio-117, 658 N.E.2d 723; State ex rel. Gantt v. Coleman (1983), 6 Ohio St.3d 5, 450 N.E.2d 1163. In addition, Studgions possesses an adequate remedy at law through a direct appeal of the judgment of re-sentencing, which prevents this court from issuing a writ of mandamus. State ex rel. Toma v. Corrigan, 92 Ohio St.3d 589, 2001-Ohio-1289, 752 N.E.2d 281; Brooks v. Gaul, 89 Ohio St.3d 202, 729 N.E.2d 752 (2000); Fraiberg v. Cuyahoga Cty Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Div., 76 Ohio St.3d 374, 667 N.E.2d 1189 (1996). {¶3} Accordingly, we grant the motions for summary judgment as filed by Judge Saffold and Warden Tibbals. Costs to Judge Saffold. It is further ordered that the Clerk of the Eighth District Court of Appeals serve notice of this judgment upon all parties as required by Civ.R. 58(B). Writ denied. EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, JUDGE PATRICIA A. BLACKMON, A.J., and MARY J. BOYLE, J.