Nelson v. Mohr

[Cite as Nelson v. Mohr, 2013-Ohio-4506.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Carl A. Nelson, Sr. et al., :

Plaintiffs-Appellants, :

No. 13AP-130

v. : (C.P.C. No. 11CVH-12-15500)

Gary Mohr, Director, Ohio Department : (REGULAR CALENDAR)

of Rehabilitation and Correction et al.,

:

Defendants-Appellees.

:

D E C I S I O N

Rendered on October 10, 2013

Carl A. Nelson, Sr., Terry L. Larson, and Paul W. Nelson, pro

se.

Michael DeWine, Attorney General, and Thomas C. Miller, for

appellees.

APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.

BROWN, J.

{¶ 1} Carl A. Nelson, Sr., Terry L. Larson, and Paul W. Nelson, plaintiffs-

appellants, appeal the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in which

the court granted the motion for summary judgment filed by Gary Mohr, Cynthia

Mausser, Kathleen Kovach, Cathy Collins-Taylor, Ellen Venters, Jose A. Torres, Bobby

Bogan, Trayce Thalheimer, and R.F. Rauschenberg, defendants-appellees, and denied

appellants' motion for summary judgment.

{¶ 2} Appellants are inmates under the custody of the Ohio Department of

Rehabilitation and Correction ("ODRC") and housed at Grafton Correctional Institution.

Mohr is the Director of ODRC; Mausser is the Chairperson of the Ohio Parole Board

No. 13AP-130 2

("OPB"); and Kovach, Collins-Taylor, Venters, Torres, Bogan, Thalheimer, and

Rauschenberg are members of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority ("OAPA"). All three

appellants were denied parole in either 2010 or 2011. On December 14, 2011, appellants

filed a complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief. In the complaint,

appellants sought to enjoin appellees from using Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07(A)(1) and

(2) and OPB Policy No. 105-PBD-03 in their future parole hearings, from transferring

appellants to any other correctional facility while the case was pending, and from enacting

any future codes or policies under R.C. 5149.02 that would conflict with the legislative

intent of any statutes, including R.C. 2967.03, relating to parole release consideration

hearings. Appellants also sought declarations that Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 and OPB

Policy No. 105-PBD-03 violate the separation of powers doctrine of the United States and

Ohio Constitutions, Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 and OPB Policy No. 105-PBD-03 were

improperly promulgated, Mohr had failed to implement other Ohio Administrative Code

regulations and OPB policies that would regulate the OPB's discretion in parole hearings,

and Mausser, Venters, and Torres have deliberately violated the code of ethics for

attorneys.

{¶ 3} On November 20, 2012, appellants filed a motion for summary judgment.

In their motion for summary judgment, appellants argued that Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-

07 was improperly promulgated and generated from the wrong Revised Code section,

2967.13, and uses language not authorized by the correct Revised Code section, 2967.03.

Appellants asserted that Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07(A)(1) and (2) incorporate

terminology and criteria reserved exclusively for the judiciary when sentencing a criminal

defendant under R.C. 2929.12 and ignores the language of R.C. 2967.03, which does not

authorize the consideration of the serious nature of the crime, threat to public safety, and

future uncommitted crimes. On December 3, 2012, appellees filed a motion for summary

judgment.

{¶ 4} On January 29, 2013, the trial court denied appellants' motion for summary

judgment, granted appellees' motion for summary judgment, and dismissed appellants'

case. The trial court found that appellants lacked standing to bring their claims and that,

even if they had not lacked standing, their claims would have been without merit.

Appellants appeal the court's judgment, asserting the following assignments of error:

No. 13AP-130 3

[I.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS

DISCRETION BY DENYING APPELLANTS THEIR DAY IN

COURT IN VIOLATION OF ARTICLE I SECTION 16 OF THE

OHIO CONSTITUTION WHEN IT DENIED APPELLANTS'

MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTED

SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF APPELLEES ON

THE SOLE GROUND THAT APPELLANTS LACKED

STANDING.

[II.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS

DISCRETION BY DENYING APPELLANTS THEIR DAY IN

COURT TO REDRESS THE INJURIES COMMITTED UPON

THEM BY APPELLEES WHEN THE COURT FAILED TO

ISSUE A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT STATING

APPELLEES' OHIO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 5120:1-1-07 IS

IMPROPERLY PROMULGATED UNDER THE WRONG

OHIO REVISED CODE, TO WIT OHIO REVISED CODE

2967.13, INSTEAD OF UNDER THE CORRECT PAROLE

STATUTE, OHIO REVISED CODE 2967.03, IN VIOLATION

OF ARTICLE I SECTION 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION,

THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES

CONSTITUTION, AND CHAPTER 2721 ET SEQ., OF THE

OHIO REVISED CODE.

[III.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS

DISCRETION WHEN IT FAILED TO ISSUE A

DECLARATORY JUDGMENT STATING THAT THE USE OF

OAC 5120:1-1-07 IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE STATUTORY

PROVISIONS OF R.C. 2967.03 AND THUS ITS USE BY

APPELLEES DEPRIVE APPELLANTS OF THEIR

SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND PROPERTY

INTEREST RIGHTS TO A MEANINGFUL PAROLE

SUITABILITY HEARING IN VIOLATION OF ARTICLE I

SECTION 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, THE 14TH

AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION,

AND CHAPTER 2721 ET SEQ., OF THE OHIO REVISED

CODE.

[IV.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS

DISCRETION AND COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR WHEN IT

FAILED TO APPLY THE PROPER STANDARD OF REVIEW

IN GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF

APPELLEES.

{¶ 5} Although appellants argue in their first assignment of error that the trial

court erred when it found they lacked standing to bring their claims, even if we were to

No. 13AP-130 4

assume that appellants had standing, appellants' appeal would ultimately fail on the

merits, which they address in their second, third, and fourth assignments of error.

Therefore, because appellants' second, third, and fourth assignments of error are

dispositive of the matter, and any error as to standing would not prejudice appellants, we

will address these assignments of error first. See State ex rel. United Auto., Aerospace &

Agricultural Implement Workers of Am. v. Bur. of Workers' Comp., 108 Ohio St.3d 432,

2006-Ohio-1327, ¶ 60 (contentions concerning standing can be rendered moot by the

disposition of a case).

{¶ 6} Appellants argue in their second and third assignments of error that the

trial court erred when it failed to grant declaratory judgment on the basis that Ohio

Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 was improperly promulgated under the wrong R.C. section, and

the use of Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 violates the separation of powers provisions in the

Ohio and United States Constitutions. Appellants' argument under their fourth

assignment of error mirrors their arguments under their second and third assignments of

error.

{¶ 7} Summary judgment is appropriate when the moving party demonstrates

that: (1) there is no genuine issue of material fact, (2) the moving party is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law, and (3) reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion

when viewing the evidence most strongly in favor of the non-moving party, and that

conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party. Hudson v. Petrosurance, Inc., 127 Ohio

St.3d 54, 2010-Ohio-4505, ¶ 29; Sinnott v. Aqua-Chem, Inc., 116 Ohio St.3d 158, 2007-

Ohio-5584, ¶ 29. Appellate review of a trial court's ruling on a motion for summary

judgment is de novo. Hudson at ¶ 29. This means that an appellate court conducts an

independent review, without deference to the trial court's determination. Zurz v. 770 W.

Broad AGA, L.L.C., 192 Ohio App.3d 521, 2011-Ohio-832, ¶ 5 (10th Dist.); White v.

Westfall, 183 Ohio App.3d 807, 2009-Ohio-4490, ¶ 6 (10th Dist.).

{¶ 8} When seeking summary judgment on the ground that the non-moving party

cannot prove its case, the moving party bears the initial burden of informing the trial

court of the basis for the motion and identifying those portions of the record that

demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact on an essential element of the

non-moving party's claims. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 293 (1996). The moving

No. 13AP-130 5

party does not discharge this initial burden under Civ.R. 56 by simply making a

conclusory allegation that the non-moving party has no evidence to prove its case. Id.

Rather, the moving party must affirmatively demonstrate by affidavit or other evidence

allowed by Civ.R. 56(C) that the non-moving party has no evidence to support its claims.

Id. If the moving party meets its burden, then the non-moving party has a reciprocal

burden to set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Civ.R.

56(E); Id. If the non-moving party does not so respond, summary judgment, if

appropriate, shall be entered against the non-moving party. Id.

{¶ 9} An appellate court reviewing a declaratory judgment matter should apply a

de novo standard of review in regard to the trial court's determination of legal issues in

the case. Arnott v. Arnott, 132 Ohio St.3d 401, 2012-Ohio-3208, ¶ 1.

{¶ 10} In the present case, appellants argue in their second, third, and fourth

assignments of error that Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 is unreasonable and contrary to

law. They contend that it can be ascertained from the history of Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-

07 that it was improperly promulgated under R.C. 2967.13, entitled "Parole eligibility,"

instead of R.C. 2967.03, entitled "Pardon, commutation, medical release, or reprieve."

Appellants maintain they have a property interest right to receive a meaningful parole

hearing based upon R.C. 2967.03 and not have appellees usurp the authority of the

judicial branch by relying on the improperly promulgated Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 to

grant or deny parole. Appellants contend that the parole eligibility factors regarding the

serious nature of the crime, threat to public safety, and future uncommitted crimes are

factors mandated and considered solely by the sentencing court, pursuant to R.C. 2929.12

at the time of the original sentencing, and their consideration by the OPB violates the

principle of separation of powers.

{¶ 11} Appellants complaint can essentially be boiled down to the following two

arguments: (1) Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 was improperly promulgated under R.C.

2967.13 instead of R.C. 2967.03, and (2) appellees violated the separation of powers

provisions of the United States and Ohio Constitutions by utilizing Ohio Adm.Code

5120:1-1-07. R.C. 2967.03 provides in pertinent part:

The adult parole authority may exercise its functions and

duties in relation to the pardon, commutation of sentence, or

reprieve of a convict upon direction of the governor or upon

No. 13AP-130 6

its own initiative. It may exercise its functions and duties in

relation to the parole of a prisoner who is eligible for parole

upon the initiative of the head of the institution in which the

prisoner is confined or upon its own initiative. When a

prisoner becomes eligible for parole, the head of the

institution in which the prisoner is confined shall notify the

authority in the manner prescribed by the authority. The

authority may investigate and examine, or cause the

investigation and examination of, prisoners confined in state

correctional institutions concerning their conduct in the

institutions, their mental and moral qualities and

characteristics, their knowledge of a trade or profession, their

former means of livelihood, their family relationships, and

any other matters affecting their fitness to be at liberty

without being a threat to society.

The authority may * * * grant a parole to any prisoner for

whom parole is authorized, if in its judgment there is

reasonable ground to believe that granting a pardon,

commutation, or reprieve to the convict or paroling the

prisoner would further the interests of justice and be

consistent with the welfare and security of society.

{¶ 12} R.C. 2967.13 describes when prisoners serving a sentence of imprisonment

for life for an offense committed on or after July 1, 1996 become eligible for parole.

{¶ 13} Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 provides various factors that OPB must

consider when determining if a prisoner should be released on parole. The provision

provides that OPB may decide not to release a prisoner when: (1) there is substantial

reason to believe that the inmate will engage in further criminal conduct, (2) there is

substantial reason to believe that, due to the serious nature of the crime, the release of the

inmate into society would create undue risk to public safety or that, due to the serious

nature of the crime, the release of the inmate would not further the interest of justice nor

be consistent with the welfare and security of society, (3) there is substantial reason to

believe that the release of the inmate would not act as a deterrent to the inmate or to other

institutionalized inmates from violating institutional rules and regulations, and (4) there

is need for additional information upon which to make a release decision. Ohio Adm.Code

5120:1-1-07(A). Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07(B)(1) through (18) provides 17 specific

factors, plus an "any other factors" catch-all factor, that OPB must consider when

contemplating the release of an inmate.

No. 13AP-130 7

{¶ 14} The purpose of administrative rule-making is to facilitate the administrative

agency's placing into effect the policy declared by the General Assembly in the statutes to

be administered by the agency. In other words, administrative agency rules are an

administrative means for the accomplishment of a legislative end. Carroll v. Dept. of

Adm. Servs., 10 Ohio App.3d 108, 110 (10th Dist.1983). It is well-established that when by

statutory authority an administrative agency promulgates rules and regulations governing

its activities and procedures, such rules are valid and enforceable unless they are

unreasonable or in conflict with statutory enactments covering the same subject matter.

State ex rel. De Boe v. Indus. Comm., 161 Ohio St. 67 (1954). An administrative rule

cannot add or subtract from the legislative enactment. Cent. Ohio Joint Vocational School

Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. Admr., Bur. of Emp. Servs., 21 Ohio St.3d 5, 10 (1986). An

administrative rule also cannot exceed the rule-making authority delegated by the

General Assembly. Sterling Drug, Inc. v. Wickham, 63 Ohio St.2d 16, 19 (1980).

{¶ 15} In the present case, appellants point to no convincing evidence that Ohio

Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 was "improperly promulgated" under R.C. 2967.13 instead of R.C.

2967.03. Appellants rely on the history notations that follow the actual text of Ohio

Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 to support their contention that the rule was improperly

promulgated under R.C. 2967.13. Among other things, the notations indicate that the

"Rule Amplifies" R.C. 2967.13. Other code sections are also listed as amplifying the rule,

but R.C. 2967.03 is not among them. Appellees agree that R.C. 2967.03 is the statute that

gives it authority to exercise its parole functions and provides the factors that guide its

parole investigation, but suggest that, perhaps, the citation to R.C. 2967.13, instead of R.C.

2967.03, is a typographical error.

{¶ 16} Regardless, the history section following the actual text of the rule does not

support appellants' contention. The court in Arndt v. P & M Ltd., 11th Dist. No. 2007-P-

0038, 2008-Ohio-2316, ¶ 40, explained that this "history trail" is part of the

"supplemental information" required by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission's Rule

Drafting Manual. According to the Rule Drafting Manual, the "Rule Amplifies Line"

" 'cites the Revised Code section(s) that the rule expands upon, further details, or clarifies

(i.e., amplifies or implements).' " (Emphasis sic.) Id., quoting Rule Drafting Manual at 19.

However, the "Rule Amplifies Line" does not constitute " 'the statement of the law

No. 13AP-130 8

expressed by the rule.' " Id. at ¶ 41, quoting Rule Drafting Manual at 14. Rather, it merely

provides " 'information about the statutes that prescribe the process for adopting the

rule.' " Id., quoting Rule Drafting Manual at 18. The statement of law expressed by a rule

" 'must be substantively complete in and of itself.' " Id., quoting Rule Drafting Manual at

14. Thus, the court in Arndt concluded that "[t]here is no authority of which this court is

aware that supports the defendants' assertion that provisions of the Ohio Administrative

Code are only applicable under the Revised Code Sections that they amplify." Id.

{¶ 17} Thus, Arndt recognized that the history trail merely provides additional

background information, the actual language of the rule itself is the only legally significant

part of the rule, and statutes and administrative rules are not exclusively linked to each

other. Appellants here cite no authority for the proposition that an allegedly incorrect

citation in the "Rule Amplifies Line" in the history trail in the supplemental information

section following an administrative rule renders the rule itself invalid. Therefore, we find

the fact that the "Rule Amplifies Line" in the present case lists R.C. 2967.13, instead of

2967.03, is inconsequential to appellants' argument. We also note that the history trail for

Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 also indicates the rule was "Promulgated Under" R.C. 111.15;

therefore, neither R.C. 2967.03 nor 2967.13 are even implicated. Thus, the "Promulgated

Under" line also provides no support for appellants' contention that the rule was

improperly promulgated under R.C. 2967.13.

{¶ 18} Appellants also cannot demonstrate that Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 is

unreasonable or in conflict with R.C. 2967.03. Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07 provides

various factors that OAPA must consider when determining if a prisoner should be

released on parole, including the serious nature of the crime, the threat to public safety,

and any future uncommitted crimes. These factors found in the rule do not conflict with

the language of R.C. 2967.03. R.C. 2967.03 provides that, in considering parole, OAPA

may investigate and examine prisoners concerning any matters affecting their fitness to

be at liberty without being a threat to society. R.C. 2967.03 has been construed as

"allow[ing] the board to consider any evidence it feels is pertinent to the question of

whether the prisoner is fit to be at liberty without harming others." State ex rel.

Thompson v. Clark, 7 Ohio App.3d 191, 192 (10th Dist.1982). See also Fugett v. Ghee,

10th Dist. No. 02AP-618, 2003-Ohio-1510, ¶ 17 (finding both the Ohio Revised Code and

No. 13AP-130 9

the Ohio Administrative Code give OAPA the authority to investigate and examine any

matters affecting appellant's ability to be at liberty without being a threat to society).

Thus, although R.C. 2967.03 contains no explicit language allowing OAPA to specifically

consider the serious nature of the crime, threat to public safety, and future uncommitted

crimes, the all-encompassing language of R.C. 2967.03 permits it to do so. Therefore,

there is no conflict between R.C. 2967.03 and Ohio Adm.Code 5120:1-1-07.

{¶ 19} Furthermore, appellants' argument that the serious nature of the prisoner's

crime and the prisoner's likelihood of committing future crimes are factors that can be

considered solely by the sentencing court, pursuant to R.C. 2929.12, when a defendant is

originally sentenced is similarly flawed. Appellants claim that permitting OAPA to execute

the "judicial function" of considering the serious nature of the prisoner's crime and the

likelihood of committing future crimes is a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.

However, as explained above, R.C. 2967.03 specifically allows OAPA to consider any

matters affecting a prisoner's fitness to be at liberty without being a threat to society,

which would include any factors that might also be listed under R.C. 2929.12. Appellants

present no authority for the proposition that OAPA and the trial court may not consider

the same factors in making their respective determinations.

{¶ 20} While we agree with appellants that an offender who is eligible for parole

must receive "meaningful consideration for parole" at his parole hearing, Layne v. Adult

Parole Auth., 97 Ohio St.3d 456, 2002-Ohio-6719, ¶ 27, the facts asserted by appellants in

their complaint do not raise any genuine issue of material fact demonstrating that

appellants were denied such meaningful consideration. Therefore, appellants' second,

third, and fourth assignments of error are overruled. Given our disposition on these

assignments of error, we need not address appellants' first assignment of error regarding

standing, as explained previously.

{¶ 21} Accordingly, appellants' first assignment of error is rendered moot,

appellants' second, third, and fourth assignments of error are overruled, and the

judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

KLATT, P.J., and SADLER, J., concur.

__________________