[Cite as State ex rel. Person v. McCarty, 2020-Ohio-471.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE EX REL. MICHAEL PERSON
Relator C.A. No. 29662
v.
HONORABLE JUDGE ALISON ORIGINAL ACTION IN
MCCARTY MANDAMUS
Relator
Dated: February 12, 2020
PER CURIAM.
{¶1} Michael Person has filed a complaint asking this Court for a writ of
mandamus directed to Judge Alison McCarty, who presided over his criminal case,
seeking an order to vacate his sentence and hold a new sentencing hearing. Because Mr.
Person has not complied with the mandatory filing requirements of R.C. 2969.25, this
Court must dismiss this case.
{¶2} R.C. 2969.25 sets forth specific filing requirements for inmates who file a
civil action against a government employee or entity. The judge who is presiding over
Mr. Person’s case is a government employee; Mr. Person, incarcerated in the Northeast
Ohio Correctional Center, is an inmate. R.C. 2969.21(C) and (D). 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
C.A. No. 29662
Page 2 of 3
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.”).
{¶3} Mr. Person did not pay the cost deposit required by this Court’s Local
Rules. He also failed to comply with R.C. 2969.25(C), which sets forth specific
requirements for an inmate who seeks to proceed without paying the cost deposit. Mr.
Person filed a combined statement of his inmate account and affidavit of indigency. The
affidavit stated that Mr. Person did not have sufficient funds to pay the filing fee and other
costs of this action “in the Court of Claims of Ohio.”
{¶4} Mr. Person did not file a “statement that sets forth the balance in the inmate
account of the inmate for each of the preceding six months, as certified by the institutional
cashier” with his complaint. R.C. 2969.25(C)(1). Instead, he filed a statement that
reported totals for the prior six months. He also did not file a “statement that sets forth
all other cash and things of value owned by the inmate at that time.” R.C. 2969.25(C)(2).
Mr. Person’s affidavit of indigency merely stated he did not have sufficient funds to pay
the filing fee and costs for an action in the Court of Claims, but it did not set forth all
other cash and things of value he owned. Id.
{¶5} Because Mr. Person did not comply with the mandatory requirements of
R.C. 2969.25, the case is dismissed. Costs taxed to Mr. Person.
C.A. No. 29662
Page 3 of 3
{¶6} The clerk of courts is hereby directed to serve upon all parties not in default
notice of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. Civ.R. 58.
LYNNE S. CALLAHAN
FOR THE COURT
SCHAFER, J.
TEODOSIO, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
MICHAEL PERSON, Pro se, Petitioner.
SHERRI BEVAN WALSH, Prosecuting Attorney, and COLLEEN SIMS, Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney, for Respondent.