[Cite as State v. Johnson, 2015-Ohio-214.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2014-G-3223
- vs - :
CINSEREE JOHNSON, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal from the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 12 C
000142.
Judgment: Appeal dismissed.
James R. Flaiz, Geauga County Prosecutor, Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street,
Suite 3A, Chardon, OH 44024 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
Cinseree Johnson, pro se, 12450 Merritt Road, Chardon, OH 44024 (Defendant-
Appellant).
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.
{¶1} This appeal is from two judgments issued in a criminal action before the
Geauga County Court of Common Pleas. In the first judgment, dated July 8, 2014, the
trial court appointed counsel to represent appellant, Cinseree Johnson, in all remaining
proceedings in the criminal case; however, the court also denied her request to appoint
counsel to represent in certain pending appellate proceedings. In the second judgment,
dated July 22, 2014, the court granted the state’s motion to strike from the record three
pro se motions appellant filed notwithstanding the appointment of trial counsel.
{¶2} Although not cited by the state in its submissions in this appeal, appellant
has previously been designated a vexatious litigator under Ohio law. See Johnson v.
Gallagher, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93009, 2009-Ohio-5385, ¶2, citing Johnson v. Pyle,
Athens County Court of Common Pleas Nos. 08CI303 and 08CI305. As a result of this
designation, institution of legal proceedings is governed by R.C. 2323.52. In relation to
new appellate proceedings, the statute provides, in pertinent part:
{¶3} “(D)(3) A person who is subject to an order entered pursuant to division
(D)(1) of this section may not institute legal proceedings in a court of appeals, continue
any legal proceedings that the vexatious litigator has instituted in a court of appeals
prior to entry of the order, or make any application, other than the application for leave
to proceed allowed by division (F)(2) of this section, in any legal proceedings instituted
by the vexatious litigator * * * in a court of appeals without first obtaining leave of the
court appeals to proceed pursuant to division (F)(2) of this section.
{¶4} “* * *
{¶5} “(F)(2) A person who is subject to an order entered pursuant to division
(D)(1) of this section and who seeks to institute or continue any legal proceeding in a
court of appeals or to make an application, other than an application for leave to
proceed under division (F)(2) of this section, in any legal proceedings in a court of
appeals shall file an application for leave to proceed in the court of appeals in which the
legal proceedings would be instituted or are pending. The court of appeals shall not
grant a person found to be a vexatious litigator leave for the institution or continuance
of, or the making of an application in, legal proceedings in the court of appeals unless
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the court of appeals is satisfied that the proceedings or application are not an abuse of
process of the court and that there are reasonable grounds for the proceedings or
application.
{¶6} “* * *
{¶7} “(I) Whenever it appears by suggestion of the parties or otherwise that a
person found to be a vexatious litigator under this section has instituted, continued, or
made an application in legal proceedings without obtaining to proceed from the
appropriate court of common pleas or court of appeals to do so under division (F) of this
section, the court in which the legal proceedings are pending shall dismiss the
proceedings or application of the vexatious litigator.”
{¶8} In light of the use of the word “shall” in the foregoing provisions, an
application for leave to proceed is mandatory before a vexatious litigator can go forward
with any type of legal proceeding in a court of appeals. Marin v. Trumbull Cty. Probate
Ct., 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2012-T-0016, 2012-Ohio-2011, ¶19-20. If the required
application for leave is not filed, dismissal is mandatory. The Huntington National Bank
v. Lomaz, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2005-P-0075, 2006-Ohio-3880, ¶14.
{¶9} Appellant has not filed an application for leave to proceed. On this basis
alone, dismissal of this appeal is warranted.
{¶10} When the appeal was filed, the trial court had not issued a sentencing
judgment in the underlying criminal action. As a result, the two judgments appellant
appealed were interlocutory orders not subject to an immediate appeal. However, while
the appeal was pending, the trial court issued its sentencing judgment on December 8,
2014. In some instances, the issuance of that judgment in the trial proceeding can have
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the effect of rendering an existing appeal from an interlocutory order “premature” for
purposes of determining whether it is properly before the appellate court. Under App.R.
4(C), the existing appeal is deemed to have been filed immediately after the issuance of
the sentencing judgment, and the appeal proceeds even though it was taken from a
non-final order. But, given that appellant has not applied for leave to proceed under
R.C. 2323.52(F)(2), it is not necessary to decide if App.R. 4(C) is applicable to this
appeal. Even if appellant has otherwise satisfied all other requirements under the Rules
of Appellate Procedure, she is not entitled to go forward unless she has been granted
leave pursuant to a proper application.
{¶11} As a designated vexatious litigator, appellant has failed to comply with the
mandated statutory requirement for instituting a new appellate proceeding. Accordingly,
the appeal is hereby dismissed in its entirety.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J., concurs,
COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J., dissents with a Dissenting Opinion.
____________________
COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J., dissents with a Dissenting Opinion.
{¶12} The following eight cases have been filed by Cinseree Johnson and are
currently pending in this court: Johnson v. Geauga County Court of Common Pleas,
11th Dist. Geauga No. 2014-G-3206 (writ of prohibition); Johnson v. Summit County
Court of Common Pleas, Psycho Diagnostic Clinic, et al., 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2014-
G-3207 (writ of prohibition); State v. Johnson, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2014-G-3215
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(delayed appeal and notice of voluntary dismissal); State v. Johnson, 11th Dist. Geauga
No. 2014-G-3219 (appeal); State v. Johnson, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2014-G-3223
(appeal); State v. Johnson, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2014-G-3229 (appeal); State v.
Johnson, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2014-G-3230 (appeal); and, State v. Johnson, 11th
Dist. Geauga No. 2014-G-3231 (appeal). All relate to the same underlying criminal
action, State v. Johnson, Geauga C.P. No. 12C000142. Ms. Johnson requests various,
and often conflicting, relief from this court. All were filed before the trial court sentenced
her.
{¶13} The majority denies the petitions for writs finding Ms. Johnson cannot
meet the standards for obtaining leave to file the petitions. It dismisses the appeals
because appellant is a vexatious litigator, and has not sought leave of this court to
appeal. R.C. 2323.52(D)(3).
{¶14} I am aware that the courts of Ohio have held that once a person is
designated a vexatious litigator, he or she must seek leave of court to pursue any action
in a court of appeals, even in the criminal setting. See, e.g., Baumgartner v. Duffey,
121 Ohio St.3d 356, 2009-Ohio-1218, ¶3. I respectfully question this position. The
vexatious litigator statute, by its terms, is directed at people who “habitually,
persistently, and without reasonable grounds [engage] in vexatious conduct in a civil
action or actions.” (Emphasis added.) R.C. 2323.52(A)(3). I agree the restrictions
placed on vexatious litigators are not reserved simply for civil actions, by the plain
language of the statute. See, e.g., R.C. 2323.52(D)(3). However, “[i]t is a cardinal rule
of statutory construction that a statute should not be interpreted to yield an absurd
result.” Mishr v. Poland Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 76 Ohio St.3d 238, 240 (1996). I do not
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see how applying the restrictions of the vexatious litigator statute to criminal
proceedings, instituted by the state against an individual, forwards the obvious purpose
of the statute, which is to prevent frivolous civil actions.
{¶15} As the majority notes the trial court filed its judgment entry of sentence
December 8, 2014. This is a final appealable order. Consequently, I would dismiss the
petitions for writs as moot, accept the various appeals as prematurely filed under App.R.
4, and consolidate them for disposition. I would further appoint appellant counsel for
purposes of appeal.
{¶16} I respectfully dissent.
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