[Cite as State ex rel. Brotherton v. Chief of Police, Cedar Point Police Dept., 2016-Ohio-656.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ERIE COUNTY
State of Ohio, ex rel. Brandon Brotherton Court of Appeals No. E-16-004
Relator
v.
Chief of Police, Cedar Point
Police Department DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Respondent Decided: February 22, 2016
*****
Brandon Brotherton, pro se.
*****
PIETRYKOWSKI, J.
{¶ 1} This matter is before the court on relator’s, Brandon Brotherton, January 19,
2016 petition for a writ of mandamus and accompanying request for a waiver of the filing
fee. In accordance with the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in State ex rel. Reeves v.
Chief of Police, Cedar Point Police Dept., 143 Ohio St.3d 368, 2015-Ohio-2909, 37
N.E.3d 1231, we sua sponte dismiss relator’s petition for failing to provide an affidavit
with the application for the writ of mandamus, and for failing to provide a sworn affidavit
of his inability to secure the costs of the action by prepayment.
{¶ 2} R.C. 2731.04 requires that “[a]pplication for the writ of mandamus must be
by petition, in the name of the state on the relation of the person applying, and verified by
affidavit.” (Emphasis added.) Relatedly, 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 7(A) requires a party
bringing a mandamus action to either deposit with the clerk $100 as security for the
payment of costs, or file with the clerk a “sworn affidavit of inability to secure costs by
such prepayment.”
{¶ 3} Pursuant to R.C. 2319.02, an affidavit is “a written declaration under oath,
made without notice to the adverse party.” Here, relator has included with his affidavit in
support of petition and his affidavit of indigency a “verification” pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
1746 that the statements in his affidavits are true and correct.1 28 U.S.C. 1746 provides,
Wherever, under any law of the United States or under any rule,
regulation, order, or requirement made pursuant to law, any matter is
required or permitted to be * * * established * * * by the sworn * * *
statement, oath, or affidavit, in writing of the person making the same * * *,
such matter may, with like force and effect, be * * * established * * * by
the unsworn * * * statement, in writing of such person which is subscribed
1
The language used by relator in his affidavits is “Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, all of the
above is true and correct.”
2.
by him, as true under penalty of perjury, and dated, in substantially the
following form:
***
(2) If executed within the United States * * *: “I declare (or certify,
verify, or state) under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and
correct. Executed on (date).
{¶ 4} However, the Ohio Supreme Court has expressly rejected the use of 28
U.S.C. 1746, and has insisted that “only a written declaration made under oath before a
proper officer qualifies as an ‘affidavit.’” Toledo Bar Assn. v. Neller, 102 Ohio St.3d
1234, 2004-Ohio-2895, 809 N.E.2d 1152, ¶ 24. Because relator’s filings constitute
unsworn statements not made under oath before a proper officer, we cannot accept them
as affidavits.
{¶ 5} Accordingly, because relator has not complied with the requirements of R.C.
2731.04 and 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 7(A), we hereby dismiss his petition for a writ of
mandamus at relator’s costs. The clerk is directed to serve upon the parties, within three
days, a copy of this decision in a manner prescribed by Civ.R. 5(B).
Writ denied.
3.
State ex rel. Brotherton v.
Chief of Police, Cedar
Point Police Dept.
C.A. No. E-16-004
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
_______________________________
James D. Jensen, P.J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/?source=6.
4.