[Cite as State ex rel. Pryor v. Werren, 2017-Ohio-7665.]
COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO, ex rel. JUDGES:
NC LaFONSE PRYOR Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
Hon. John W. Wise, J.
Relator Hon. Earle E. Wise, J.
-vs-
JUDGE CURT WERREN, CANTON Case No. 2017 CA 00029
MUNICIPAL COURT, et al.
Respondents OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Writ of Quo Warranto
JUDGMENT: Dismissed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 18, 2017
APPEARANCES:
For Relator For Respondents
NC LaFONSE PRYOR JOHN D. FERRERO
PRO SE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
STARK COUNTY JAIL RONALD MARK CALDWELL
4500 Atlantic Boulevard, NE ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR
Canton, Ohio 44705 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 510
Canton, Ohio 44702
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00029 2
Wise, John, J.
{¶1} Petitioner, NC LaFonse Pryor, has filed a Petition for Writ of Quo Warranto
against Respondents Judges Curt Werren and Taryn L. Heath. Respondents have filed
a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
{¶2} Petitioner generally argues Respondents lack jurisdiction over his case due
to an excessive bond and violation of various constitutional rights.
{¶3} For a writ of quo warranto to issue, “a relator must establish (1) that the
office is being unlawfully held and exercised by respondent, and (2) that relator is entitled
to the office.” State ex rel. Paluf v. Feneli (1994), 69 Ohio St.3d 138, 141, 630 N.E.2d
708.
{¶4} The Ohio Supreme Court has held, “‘[A]n action in quo warranto may be
brought by an individual as a private citizen only when he personally is claiming title to a
public office.’ ” State ex rel. Coyne v. Todia (1989), 45 Ohio St.3d 232, 238, 543 N.E.2d
1271, quoting State ex rel. Annable v. Stokes (1970), 24 Ohio St.2d 32, 32-33, 53 O.O.2d
18, 262 N.E.2d 863.
{¶5} “[D]ismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can
be granted is appropriate if the complaint is frivolous or the claimant obviously cannot
prevail on the facts alleged in the complaint. State ex rel. Bruggeman v. Ingraham (1999),
87 Ohio St.3d 230, 231, 718 N.E.2d 1285, 1287.” State ex rel. Kreps v. Christiansen
(2000), 88 Ohio St.3d 313, 316, 725 N.E.2d 663, 667.
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00029 3
{¶6} Petitioner does not aver in his Petition that he is entitled to the offices held
by Respondents. For this reason, we find the petition lacks merit and dismiss the petition
for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
By: Wise, John, J.
Gwin, P. J., and
Wise, Earle, Jr., J., concur.
JWW/d 0830
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00029 4