State ex rel. Reigert v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio

[Cite as State ex rel. Reigert v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 2025-Ohio-5868.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

State ex rel. John Reigert, :

Relator-appellant, : No. 25AP-356

(C.P.C. No. 24CV-8484)

v. :

(REGULAR CALENDAR)

State Medical Board of Ohio, :

Respondent-appellee. :

D E C I S I O N

Rendered on December 31, 2025

On brief: John Reigert, pro se.

Argued: John Reigert.

On brief: Dave Yost, Attorney General, Iris Jin, and

Katherine J. Bockbrader, for appellee.

Argued: Katherine J. Bockbrader.

APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

MENTEL, J.

{¶ 1} Relator-appellant, John Reigert, pro se, appeals from a March 28, 2025

decision and entry, in relevant part, granting the motion to dismiss of respondent-appellee,

State Medical Board of Ohio (“Board”). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

I. Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} On November 5, 2024, Reigert filed a writ of mandamus against the Board.

According to the complaint, non-party, Dr. Mark Barcelo, diagnosed his daughter, Lori

Anne Reigert, with melanoma cancer in December 2015. (Nov. 5, 2024 Compl. at 2.)

Ms. Reigert passed away on March 27, 2016. (Compl. at 2.) Four years after Ms. Reigert’s

passing, another pathologist, Dr. Boris Bastian, reported to Reigert that his daughter died

from “untreated, clear cell sarcoma cancer and not from any type of melanoma cancer.”

No. 25AP-356 2

(Compl. at 3.) According to Reigert, a second pathologist, Dr. Rajiv Dhir, confirmed the

alternative diagnosis. (Compl. at 3.) Reigert contends there is “medically certain evidence”

that Dr. Barcelo departed from the minimum standard of care. (Compl. at 3.) According

to Reigert, he filed a complaint for medical malpractice against the physician but later

voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit. Reigert, on behalf of his daughter, then filed a complaint

with the Board regarding Dr. Barcelo’s diagnosis seeking an investigation into her medical

care. Reigert noted that the “medically certain evidence of Barcelo’s failed standard of care

. . . were included in complaint 2020-8005.” (Compl. at 3.) Six months after Reigert filed

the complaint, the Board notified him that the investigation was closed. (Compl. at 3.)

Upon Reigert’s request to reopen the complaint against Dr. Barcelo, the Board, by letter

dated February 23, 2021, wrote: “the entire file and the additional information that you sent

to the Board were reexamined; and it was again determined that the case should, in fact, be

closed because there was not sufficient basis to support formal disciplinary action by this

agency.” (Appellant’s Ex. L.)

{¶ 3} On June 18, 2024, Reigert filed a writ of mandamus in the Franklin County

Court of Common Pleas to “ ‘investigate the evidence’ of complaint case 2020-8005, as

required by RC4731.22(F)(1) with the expectation that in concurrence with the medically

certain evidence of the complaint, find probable cause that Barcelo violated 4731.22(B)(6)

and formally discipline him as mandated by RC4731.39.” (Sic passim.) Reigert v. State

Med. Bd., Franklin C.P. No. 24CV-4787 (June 18, 2024 Compl. at 15.). After the Board filed

various motions to dismiss, Reigert, pursuant to Civ.R. 41(A), voluntarily dismissed the

complaint without prejudice. (Aug. 27, 2024 Relator Voluntary Dismissal Without

Prejudice.)

{¶ 4} In his refiled mandamus action, Reigert alleges that the Board failed to

investigate, pursuant to its duty under R.C. 4731.22(F)(1), his complaint against

Dr. Barcelo. (Nov. 5, 2024 Compl. at 1.) Reigert alleges that if the Board had met its

obligations to investigate, it would have found, based on “medically certain evidence,” that

Dr. Barcelo departed from the minimum standard of care in violation of R.C. 4731.22(B)(6).

(Compl. at 4.) Reigert’s mandamus action sought “to order the Board to investigate the

evidence of complaint case 2020-8005.” (Compl. at 15.)

No. 25AP-356 3

{¶ 5} On December 10, 2024, the Board, pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(1) and (6), filed

a motion to dismiss for lack of standing and failure to state a claim upon which relief can

be granted. A series of motions and responsive filings followed. On December 20, 2024,

Reigert filed a combined memorandum in opposition and to dismiss the Board’s motion to

dismiss. On December 26, 2024, Reigert filed a motion for judicial in-camera review of the

record of the Board investigation. On December 31, 2024, Reigert filed a motion to dismiss

and revise the case schedule. The Board filed a memorandum in opposition to Reigert’s

motion to dismiss and a memorandum in opposition to Reigert’s motion for in-camera

review on January 7 and 9, 2025, respectively. The Board then filed a motion to stay

discovery and a response to Reigert’s motion to revise the case schedule on January 9,

2025. On January 13, 2025, Reigert filed a motion for remote hearing on the Board’s

motion to dismiss. Reigert filed what amounts to a reply brief on January 14, 2025.

{¶ 6} On March 28, 2025, the trial court granted the Board’s motion to dismiss.

The trial court first found that Reigert lacked standing to file a complaint for a writ of

mandamus in this case. The trial court alternatively found that the Board complied with its

statutory mandate under R.C. 4731.22(F)(1). Because a decision to reopen Reigert’s

complaint is discretionary, Reigert cannot demonstrate a clear legal right to mandamus.

Based on the trial court’s grant of the Board’s Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss Reigert’s

complaint for a writ of mandamus, it found the remaining motions were moot.

{¶ 7} Reigert filed a timely appeal.

II. Assignments of Error

{¶ 8} Reigert assigns the following three assignments of error for our review:

[1.] The trial court erred as a matter of law and abused its discretion (1) by

violating the Ohio Supreme Court’s instructions of 1/25 on Judicial Conduct

Rule 2.6A for pro se litigant due process and denying pro se Appellant’s

requests and motions for a hearing, (2) by violating Local Rule 33 in failing

to provide a viable, coherent court schedule for his mandamus action, and (3)

by violating CR 12(B)(6) in dismissing his complaint on 3/28/25 without

notice or opportunity to submit a critical, sworn witness affidavit.

[2.] The trial court erred and abused its discretion by dismissing pro se

Appellant’s complaint on 3/28/25 for failure to state a claim by wrongly

asserting (1) Appellant’s mandamus was for the court to usurp the Board’s

absolute discretion on physician discipline and (2) wrongly asserting that

Talwar gave the Board absolute discretion in complaint investigations.

No. 25AP-356 4

[3.] The trial court erred by dismissing Appellant’s complaint for lack of

standing. (1) The trial court erred when it agreed with Appellee and

contradicted Appellant’s assertion that the Medical Act requires public right

standing which the Ohio Supreme Court had recently denied for all public

agencies. (2) The trial court erred and abused its discretion by not addressing

Appellant’s assertion of statutory standing. (3) The trial court erred and

abused its discretion by dismissing pro se Appellant’s complaint for lack of

traditional standing.

(Emphasis in original.) (Sic passim.)

III. Analysis

{¶ 9} Reigert appeals from the trial court’s grant of the Board’s Civ.R. 12(B)(6)

motion to dismiss his complaint for a writ of mandamus ordering the Board to reopen its

investigation against Dr. Barcelo. For harmony of analysis, we will address Reigert’s three

assignments of error out of order.

A. Reigert’s Third Assignment of Error

1. Standing

{¶ 10} As a threshold matter, we must first address the issue of standing. Before an

Ohio court may consider the merits of a legal claim, the person or entity seeking relief must

demonstrate standing to sue. Collins v. State, 2025-Ohio-4347, ¶ 16 (10th Dist.), citing

Ohio Pyro, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Commerce, 2007-Ohio-5024, ¶ 27. “ ‘Standing’ is defined

as a party’s right to make a legal claim or seek judicial enforcement of a duty or right.”

(Internal quotation marks deleted.) State ex rel. Butler Twp. Bd. of Trustees v.

Montgomery Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 2010-Ohio-169, ¶ 19, quoting Ohio Pyro, Inc. at ¶ 27,

quoting Black’s Law Dictionary (8th Ed. 2004). When resolving a question of standing,

courts must “ ‘look[] to the rights of the individual parties to bring the action, as they must

assert a personal stake in the outcome of the action.’ ” In re T.S., 2019-Ohio-886, ¶ 4 (10th

Dist.), quoting Bank of Am., N.A. v. Kuchta, 2014-Ohio-4275, ¶ 23, citing Ohio Pyro, Inc.

at ¶ 27. The “ ‘Ohio Constitution expressly requires standing for cases filed in common

pleas court.’ ” Collins at ¶ 16, quoting ProgressOhio.org, Inc. v. JobsOhio, 2014-Ohio-2382,

¶ 11.

{¶ 11} To establish traditional standing, a litigant must demonstrate that they

suffered “(1) an injury (2) that is fairly traceable to the defendant’s allegedly unlawful

conduct and (3) is likely to be redressed by the requested relief.” Ohioans for Concealed

No. 25AP-356 5

Carry, Inc. v. Columbus, 2020-Ohio-6724, ¶ 12, citing Moore v. Middletown, 2012-Ohio-

3897, ¶ 22. More specifically, to establish an injury, the litigant must show that they

suffered “an invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized

and (b) actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical.” (Internal quotation marks

deleted and citations omitted.) Collins at ¶ 18. An injury must also be fairly traceable to a

defendant’s conduct when “the conduct complained of [is] causally connected to the

injury.” Bourke v. Carnahan, 2005-Ohio-5422, ¶ 10 (10th Dist.), citing Lujan v. Defenders

of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992). “Finally, it must be likely, as opposed to merely

speculative, that a favorable decision will redress the injury.” Collins at ¶ 18, citing Bourke

at ¶ 10, citing Lujan at 560-561. In certain cases, standing may also be expressly conferred

by statute. Campbell v. Donald A. Campbell 2001 Trust, 2021-Ohio-1731, ¶ 42 (8th Dist.),

citing Wooster v. Enviro-Tank Clean, Inc., 2015-Ohio-1876, ¶ 12 (9th Dist.).

{¶ 12} Standing is an essential requirement in mandamus actions. See, e.g., State

ex rel Ohio Stands Up!, Inc. v. DeWine, 2021-Ohio-4382, ¶ 5, 10. To demonstrate standing

in a mandamus action, the relator must be “beneficially interested” in the case. Id. at ¶ 7,

citing State ex rel. Spencer v. E. Liverpool Planning Comm., 1997-Ohio-77, ¶ 7. “[T]he

applicable test is whether [the] relators would be directly benefited or injured by a

judgment in the case.” State ex rel. Sinay v. Sodders, 1997-Ohio-344, ¶ 9.

{¶ 13} A writ of mandamus brought by a party that lacks standing must be

dismissed. State ex rel. Ames v. Portage Cty. Bd. of Revision, 2021-Ohio-4486, ¶ 10. A

litigant’s lack of standing is properly raised in a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss for failure

to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Cool v. Frenchko, 2022-Ohio-3747, ¶ 25

(10th Dist.), citing Cronin v. Governor of Ohio, 2022-Ohio-829, ¶ 11 (8th Dist.); see also

Wilkins v. Harrisburg, 2015-Ohio-5472, ¶ 38 (10th Dist.) (finding a “motion to dismiss for

lack of standing is properly brought pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6) for failure to state a claim

upon which relief can be granted”). For purposes of appellate review, whether a litigant has

standing is a question of law that we review de novo. Cool at ¶ 12, citing Ohio Concrete

Constr. Assn. v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., 2009-Ohio-2400, ¶ 9 (10th Dist.).

{¶ 14} Reigert has raised several grounds to establish standing, none of which are

persuasive. Reigert first claims standing under the public-right doctrine established under

State ex rel. Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers v. Sheward, 1999-Ohio-123, 86 Ohio St.3d

No. 25AP-356 6

451. The Sheward court established, at the time, an exception to the traditional standing

requirements “where the object of an action in mandamus and/or prohibition is to procure

the enforcement or protection of a public right, the relator need not show any legal or

special individual interest in the result, it being sufficient that relator is an Ohio citizen and,

as such, interested in the execution of the laws of this state.” Id. at ¶ 44. The parties do not

dispute that the Supreme Court of Ohio overruled Sheward and has held that “no[] future

litigant[] may rely on [the public-rights exception] to bypass our well-established standing

requirement.” State ex rel. Martens v. Findlay Mun. Court, 2024-Ohio-5667, ¶ 23. While

it is apparent that Reigert disputes the holding and reasoning in Martens, see appellant’s

brief at 26-27, we are bound by its precedent. Because the public-rights exception no longer

exists in this state, Reigert cannot rely on it to establish standing. Collins at ¶ 40, fn. 6.

{¶ 15} Reigert next contends that he has standing under R.C. 4731.22(F)(1) and

2930.19. (Appellant’s Brief at 28.) As to the former, while R.C. 4731.22(F)(1) provides

“[a]ny person may report to the board . . . any information that the person may have that

appears to show a violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted under it,”

the statute is silent as to whether that confers standing to file a writ of mandamus in this

context. Courts may not “read the statutory silence as clearly expressing an intention to

abrogate the common-law requirements for standing.” Ohioans for Concealed Carry, Inc.,

2020-Ohio-6724, at ¶ 17, citing ProgressOhio.org, Inc., 2014-Ohio-2382, at ¶ 22. As to the

latter, we find that Reigert failed to raise a statutory standing argument regarding R.C.

2930.19 with the trial court. ProgressOhio.org, Inc. at ¶ 18 (finding that appellants waived

their standing argument under R.C. 2721.03 as they failed to raise a claim of standing under

the statute with the lower courts); State ex rel. E. Cleveland Fire Fighters’ Assn., Local 500,

IAFF v. Jenkins, 2002-Ohio-3527, ¶ 12. As such, Reigert has waived the statutory standing

argument under R.C. 2930.19 by not raising it with the trial court.

{¶ 16} Finally, Reigert cannot establish standing through traditional common-law

principles based on the alleged injury of emotional distress. Reigert acknowledges that the

cause of the emotional distress is primarily derived from the physician’s care and not from

the Board. See, e.g., appellant’s brief at 13 (arguing the physician “committed nothing less

than involuntary manslaughter”). However, to establish standing, the injury must be “fairly

traceable to the defendant’s conduct.” (Emphasis added.) Martens at ¶ 12. Any injury that

No. 25AP-356 7

Reigert does attribute to the Board is based on the denial of “retributive justice for [his

daughter’s] death.” (Appellant’s Brief at 14.) Reigert’s claimed injury is insufficient to

establish standing in this context as any alleged injury derived from the Board’s failure to

investigate the physician in order to mitigate the emotional distress is not concrete or

particularized. Collins at ¶ 18. Thus, the injury is far too vague and is not fairly traceable

to the Board. Finally, Reigert has not alleged facts that would show he would personally

benefit from the Board conducting further investigation. Reigert claims, “[i]t is instinctive

for a father to want revenge/retributive justice for his daughter’s negligent death.”

(Appellant’s Brief at 31.) However, given the matter has been examined on two separate

occasions, even if the Board reopened the case, the “retribut[ion]” sought is not a likely

outcome of such an investigation.

{¶ 17} Accordingly, Reigert cannot establish standing in this case.

B. Reigert’s Second Assignment of Error

1. Civ.R. 12(B)(6) Motion to Dismiss

{¶ 18} Arguendo, even if Reigert had standing, his original action was properly

dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under Civ.R. 12(B)(6).

{¶ 19} A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be

granted, pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6), is procedural and tests the sufficiency of the

complaint. Rudd v. Ohio State Hwy. Patrol, 2016-Ohio-8263, ¶ 11 (10th Dist.), citing State

ex rel. Hanson v. Guernsey Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 1992-Ohio-73, ¶ 9, citing Assn. for

Defense of Washington Local School Dist. v. Kiger, 42 Ohio St.3d 116, 117 (1989). “When

ruling on a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss, the trial court must presume all factual

allegations in the complaint are true, construe the complaint in a light most favorable to the

plaintiff, and make all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff.” Collins at ¶ 21, citing

Brown v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 2013-Ohio-4012, ¶ 6 (10th Dist.), citing Mitchell v.

Lawson Milk Co., 40 Ohio St.3d 190, 192 (1988). When ruling on a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion

to dismiss, a trial court is restricted to the averments provided in the complaint and shall

not consider outside evidentiary materials. Morrissette v. DFS Servs., L.L.C., 2011-Ohio-

2369, ¶ 20 (10th Dist.), citing Hutchinson v. Beazer E., Inc., 2006-Ohio-6761, ¶ 14 (8th

Dist.). “A trial court properly dismisses a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which

relief can be granted when it appears beyond doubt from the complaint that the plaintiff

No. 25AP-356 8

can prove no set of facts entitling him or her to relief.” Collins at ¶ 22, citing Rudd at ¶ 11,

citing O’Brien v. Univ. Community Tenants Union, Inc., 42 Ohio St.2d 242 (1975), syllabus.

We review a trial court’s dismissal pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6) de novo. Cool at ¶ 13, citing

Dunlop v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 2017-Ohio-5531, ¶ 10 (10th Dist.).

{¶ 20} A party seeking a writ of mandamus must demonstrate (1) a clear legal right

to the relief requested, (2) the respondent has a clear legal duty to perform the requested

act, and (3) relator has no plain and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law.

State ex rel. Manpower of Dayton, Inc. v. Indus. Comm., 2016-Ohio-7741, ¶ 9, citing State

ex rel. General Motors Corp. v. Indus. Comm., 2008-Ohio-1593, ¶ 9.

{¶ 21} R.C. 4731.22(F)(1) provides, “[t]he board shall investigate evidence that

appears to show that a person has violated any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted

under it . . . Each complaint or allegation of a violation received by the board shall be

assigned a case number and shall be recorded by the board.” While R.C. 4731.22 does not

define “investigate,” we have previously interpreted the term consistent with its common,

everyday meaning. State ex rel. Zamborsky v. State Bd. of Embalmers & Funeral Dirs.,

2019-Ohio-4016, ¶ 15 (10th Dist.). “The ordinary meaning of ‘investigate’ is ‘to observe or

study closely: inquire into systematically: EXAMINE, SCRUTINIZE . . . specif[ically]: to

subject to an official probe.’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Id. at ¶ 15, quoting Webster’s Third

New International Dictionary (1966).

{¶ 22} Here, the Board assigned Reigert’s complaint a case number, 2020-8005,

and the matter was recorded by the Board. While Reigert takes issue with the Board’s

efforts, he acknowledged that the Board issued subpoenas and reviewed 300 pages of

medical records as part of its investigation. (Nov. 5, 2024 Compl. at 5.) Reigert also noted

that the “medically certain evidence of Barcelo’s failed standard of care, Exhibits A

[Dr. Barcelo’s pathology report], B [Journal of Oncology Letters], F [Dr. Boris Bastian

pathology report], H [Dr. Rajiv Dhir pathology report], I [Dr. Rajiv Dhir pathology report

of unresolved issues], were included in complaint 2020-8005.” (Emphasis deleted.)

(Compl. at 3.) The Board, after such an initial investigation, declined to bring disciplinary

action in the case. Upon Reigert’s request to reopen the complaint against Dr. Barcelo, the

Board, by letter dated February 23, 2021, wrote: “the entire file and the additional

information that you sent to the Board were reexamined; and it was again determined that

No. 25AP-356 9

the case should, in fact, be closed because there was not sufficient basis to support formal

disciplinary action by this agency.” (Appellant’s Ex. L.) As such, we agree with the trial

court that the Board complied with R.C. 4731.22(F)(1) to investigate the complaint.

Mandamus cannot lie to compel a performance of a duty that has already taken place. State

ex. rel. Fontanella v. Kontos, 2008-Ohio-1431, ¶ 6, citing State ex rel. Howard v. Doneghy,

2004-Ohio-3207, ¶ 6.

{¶ 23} Reigert is now seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the Board to reopen the

investigation into Dr. Barcelo’s care. It is well established, however, that a writ of

mandamus will not lie to compel the Board to perform a discretionary act. State ex rel.

Talwar v. State Med. Bd., 2004-Ohio-6410, ¶ 11; see also Westbrook v. Ohio Civ. Rights

Comm., 17 Ohio St.3d 215, 216 (1985) (finding the commission had discretion, not an

absolute duty, to issue a formal complaint after an investigation); State ex rel. Carlson v.

State Bd. of Pharmacy, 2018-Ohio-3102, ¶ 13, 15 (7th Dist.), citing State ex rel. Husted v.

Brunner, 2009-Ohio-4805, ¶ 20 (“mandamus cannot compel a public official to act in a

certain way on a discretionary matter”). “In other words, while the extraordinary remedy

of mandamus may be available to compel a public entity to perform a duty specifically

enjoined by law (i.e., exercise their discretion concerning a mandated duty), it does not

permit the courts to control that public entity’s discretion.” (Emphasis in original.)

Carlson at ¶ 13, citing Cleveland ex rel. Neelon v. Locher, 25 Ohio St.2d 49, 51 (1971).

Insofar as Reigert claims that the Board abused its discretion in failing to prosecute or

discipline the physician, R.C. 4731.22(B) requires the Board to “limit, revoke, or suspend a

license or certificate to practice or certificate to recommend, refuse to issue a license or

certificate, refuse to renew a license or certificate, refuse to reinstate a license or certificate,

or reprimand or place on probation the holder of a license or certificate” for certain

enumerated reasons. Nothing in this section prohibits the Board from deciding not to

discipline a physician. “It is within the board’s discretion to do so in allocating its resources

in a manner that will best protect patients.” Talwar at ¶ 11. Thus, Reigert cannot establish

that the Board has a clear legal duty to provide the requested relief to reopen the

investigation into the physician.

No. 25AP-356 10

{¶ 24} Because the factual allegations in the complaint demonstrate that an

investigation, as well as a review of the investigation, already took place, the trial court did

not err by granting the Board’s Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss.

C. Reigert’s First Assignment of Error

{¶ 25} Finally, Reigert argues that that the trial court erred by finding various

motions were moot. This court has long held that when a trial court has dismissed a

complaint for failure to state a claim under Civ.R. 12(B)(6), the remaining pending motions

become moot. Parker v. Mausser, 2018-Ohio-4296, ¶ 26 (10th Dist.), citing Wright v.

Ghee, 2002-Ohio-5487, ¶ 53 (10th Dist.), citing Budd v. Kinkela, 2002-Ohio-4311, ¶ 20

(10th Dist.). Because we find that the trial court did not err by granting the Board’s Civ.R.

12(B)(6) motion to dismiss, we agree with the trial court that the remaining motions at issue

are moot.

{¶ 26} Reigert also contends that the trial court violated Ohio Code of Judicial

Conduct Rule 2.6(A) by dismissing his motion for a hearing. As a general matter, this court

has found that a party is not entitled to a hearing on a motion to dismiss pursuant to Civ.R.

12(B)(6). See, e.g., Mariner Fin., L.L.C. v. Childs, 2021-Ohio-3935, ¶ 8 (10th Dist.), citing

Woods v. Riverside Methodist Hosp., 2012-Ohio-3139, ¶ 21 (10th Dist.). By its nature, a

Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss is limited to the complaint and any documents

appropriately attached. Mariner Fin., L.L.C. at ¶ 8. We agree with the trial court’s

determination in this regard. While Reigert alleges that the trial court did not make proper

accommodations for him as a pro se litigant, it is well established that “pro se litigants are

expected to possess knowledge of the law and legal procedures and, accordingly, are held

to the same standard as litigants who have legal representation.” JPMorgan Chase Bank,

N.A. v. Cloyes, 2021-Ohio-3316, ¶ 9 (10th Dist.), citing In re Application of Black Fork

Wind Energy, L.L.C., 2013-Ohio-5478, ¶ 22.

{¶ 27} Concerning Reigert’s specific contention that the trial court violated

Jud.Cond.R. 2.6(A), we have no authority to address his claim as “[t]he Supreme Court has

the exclusive jurisdiction to address claims of bias or violations of rules of judicial conduct.”

State v. Byers, 2025-Ohio-1511, ¶ 50 (10th Dist.), citing State v. Bastawros, 2024-Ohio-

2809, ¶ 21 (8th Dist.).

{¶ 28} Based on the foregoing, we overrule Reigert’s three assignments of error.

No. 25AP-356 11

IV. Conclusion

{¶ 29} Having overruled Reigert’s three assignments of error, we affirm the

judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

Judgment affirmed.

JAMISON, P.J., and DINGUS, J., concur.

_____________