Henderson v. Synenberg ( 2014 )

[Cite as Henderson v. Synenberg, 2014-Ohio-4089.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 100910
TROY HENDERSON
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT
vs.
JOAN SYNENBERG, ET AL.
DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-13-803591
BEFORE: Stewart, J., Blackmon, P.J., and McCormack, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 18, 2014
FOR APPELLANT
Troy Henderson, pro se
11040 Clark Road
Chardon, OH 44024
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Timothy J. McGinty
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Brendan R. Doyle
Assistant County Prosecutor
The Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 8th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
MELODY J. STEWART, J.:
{¶1} In 2012, the grand jury returned an indictment charging plaintiff-appellant
Troy Henderson with counts of grand theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, and
tampering with records. At the same time, Henderson and the mother of his child were
engaged in a child custody dispute in the juvenile division of the court of common pleas.
Henderson claimed that the judge who presided over the criminal case,
defendant-appellee Joan Synenberg, revoked his bond, detained him in jail, ordered him
to undergo a psychiatric examination, and then placed him under supervised release “due
to civil matters from the juvenile custody case.” After Henderson was acquitted of all
criminal charges, he brought this complaint against Judge Synenberg, Cuyahoga County,
and probation officer Catrina Lockhart, alleging that their actions interfered with his civil
rights and adversely affected his ability to present his case before the juvenile division.
The court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint. Henderson appeals
setting forth seven assignments of error, see appendix, that challenge the trial court’s
decision to dismiss his complaint and to stay discovery pending a ruling on the motion to
dismiss. We affirm the decision of the trial court.
I
{¶2} In Henderson’s first two assignments of error, he asserts that the trial court
abused its discretion and committed reversible error in granting the appellees’ motion to
dismiss because it did not relate to the proper amended complaint. He asserts also that
he provided sufficient claims.
{¶3} Henderson filed a complaint and two amended complaints. The defendants
filed a motion to dismiss both the complaint and the first amended complaint, but did not
renew their motion to dismiss in response to the second amended complaint. Henderson
argues that the defendants’ failure to renew the motion to dismiss for the second amended
complaint deprived the court of subject matter jurisdiction to rule on the motion to
dismiss.
{¶4} Henderson filed his complaint on March 22, 2013. The defendants obtained
leave to plead until June 17, 2013. On June 12, 2013, Henderson filed his first amended
complaint, but the defendants claimed that they were not served with the amended
complaint until June 26, 2013. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint
on June 17, 2013, and on July 10, 2013, they filed a motion to dismiss the amended
complaint. On that same day, July 10, 2013, and after the defendants filed their motion
to dismiss the amended complaint, Henderson filed his second amended complaint.
{¶5} Civ.R. 15(A) states that “[a] party may amend its pleading once as a matter of
course within twenty-eight days after serving it or, if the pleading is one to which a
responsive pleading is required, within twenty-eight days after service of a responsive
pleading or twenty-eight days after service of a motion under Civ.R. 12(B), (E), or (F),
whichever is earlier.”
{¶6} When Henderson amended his complaint on June 12, 2013, he did so under
the version of Civ.R. 15 that was then in effect (the current version of Civ.R. 15 took
effect July 1, 2013). That version of the rule allowed him to amend his complaint once
as a matter of course and without leave of court as long as no responsive pleading had
been filed. Sony Electronics, Inc. v. Grass Valley Group, Inc., 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos.
C-010133 and C-010423, 2002-Ohio-1614. The defendants had yet to plead, so the
amended complaint was effective.
{¶7} But having once amended his complaint, Henderson could not do so a second
time without first obtaining leave of court or the opposing party’s written consent. He
received neither, so his second amended complaint, filed July 10, 2013, was out of rule.
Nevertheless, the court’s judgment entry dismissing the action referred only to the July
10, 2013 amended complaint and the defendants’ second motion to dismiss the June 12,
2013 amended complaint. It does not appear, however, that the court considered in any
way that Henderson filed an amended complaint on June 12, 2013, and that the
defendants’ second motion to dismiss referred to that complaint and not to the July 10,
2013 complaint.
{¶8} With the court having based its dismissal on the July 10, 2013 second
amended complaint, we have to treat its ruling on that complaint as an implied grant of
leave to file the second amended complaint. Although the second amended complaint
was filed on the same day as the defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint,
the timestamp shows that it was filed after the motion to dismiss the amended complaint.
This means that the defendants’ motion to dismiss did not actually refer to the second
amended complaint. Nevertheless, the basis for the motion to dismiss remained the
same, and there was no substantive difference between the first and second amended
complaints. (Henderson deleted two paragraphs in his factual allegations, neither of
which had any bearing on his causes of action.) Given the irregularity in the way
Henderson amended his complaint a second time, we have no basis for finding the court
erred by dismissing the second amended complaint.
II
{¶9} We next consider Henderson’s assignments of error relating to the dismissal
of claims against Judge Synenberg. The court held that the claims against Judge
Synenberg were related to a criminal case involving Henderson that was properly pending
before her, rendering her immune from suit. Henderson maintains that the court erred by
finding that he failed to plead a cognizable claim for relief against her.
{¶10} A Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon
which relief can be granted tests the legal sufficiency of a claim. State ex rel. Hanson v.
Guernsey Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 65 Ohio St.3d 545, 548, 605 N.E.2d 378 (1992). When
deciding a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion, the court must take all of the factual allegations of the
complaint as true and decide whether the plaintiff has argued any set of facts that could
support a claim for relief. Mitchell v. Lawson Milk Co., 40 Ohio St.3d 190, 192, 532
N.E.2d 753 (1988); O’Brien v. Univ. Community Tenants Union, Inc., 42 Ohio St.2d 242,
245, 327 N.E.2d 753 (1975), syllabus.
{¶11} In Borkowski v. Abood, 117 Ohio St.3d 347, 2008-Ohio-857, 884 N.E.2d 7,
paragraph one of the syllabus states:
When a judge acts in an official judicial capacity and has personal and
subject-matter jurisdiction over a controversy, the judge is exempt from
civil liability even if the judge goes beyond, or exceeds, the judge’s
authority and acts in excess of jurisdiction. Civil liability attaches only if
the judge acts in an absence of all jurisdiction.
{¶12} Henderson alleged that Judge Synenberg interjected herself into the juvenile
division proceedings by detaining him, thus preventing him from representing himself in
the juvenile division. None of her actions, however, were done outside of her
jurisdiction as a judge of the court of common pleas presiding over criminal proceedings.
As alleged in the complaint, she ordered Henderson detained in a holding cell, ordered
him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, placed him under house arrest, and ordered him
to see a probation officer. Assuming for purposes of the motion to dismiss that these
actions were true, they were nonactionable because Judge Synenberg’s actions occurred
in her official capacity as a judge presiding over Henderson’s criminal case. That those
actions had collateral consequences to Henderson’s civil case does not detract from Judge
Synenberg’s authority to take them. She is thus immune from any liability with regard to
those actions.
III
{¶13} Regarding the claims against Cuyahoga County and probation officer
Lockhart, the court also found that these claims were not set out with specificity and that
Henderson failed to state any plausible claim for entitlement to relief. In addition, the
court found that the county, as a governmental entity, was immune from liability under
R.C. 2744.02 and that Lockhart, as a probation officer, had absolute immunity for actions
taken within the scope of her employment.
A
{¶14} There is a three-tiered analysis to determine whether a political subdivision
is entitled to immunity from civil liability pursuant to R.C. Chapter 2744. Hubbard v.
Canton City School Bd. of Edn., 97 Ohio St.3d 451, 2002-Ohio-6718, 780 N.E.2d 543, ¶
10. We first determine whether the entity claiming immunity is a political subdivision
and whether the alleged harm occurred in connection with a governmental or a propriety
function. If the political subdivision is entitled to immunity, we next consider whether
the plaintiff has shown that there are any exceptions to immunity under R.C. 2744.02(B).
If there are exceptions to immunity, we then consider whether the political subdivision
can assert one of the defenses to liability under R.C. 2744.03. Cater v. Cleveland, 83
Ohio St.3d 24, 28, 697 N.E.2d 610 (1998).
{¶15} There is no question that the county is a political subdivision. See R.C.
2744.01(F). The governmental function at issue in Henderson’s complaint is less clear
— the court found that Henderson’s complaint made no specific allegations against
Cuyahoga County and broadly viewed his allegations as referencing its operation of a
court system and jail. The operation of a court system and jail is a governmental
function, see R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(f) and (h), so the claims made against the county relate
to governmental functions for which the county is immune from damages in a civil action.
{¶16} There are no exceptions to immunity under R.C. 2744.02(B) for the acts
alleged in the complaint, nor has Henderson argued that any exist. Exceptions to
immunity under that section exist for negligent operation of motor vehicles; negligence
with respect to a proprietary function; failure to keep roads in repair and free from
obstructions; negligent failure to keep public buildings and their grounds free of physical
defects; or that liability is expressly imposed by R.C. 2744.02(B)(5).
{¶17} The complaint alleged that the “defendants” engaged in malicious acts or
omissions or acted outside the scope of their official duties, but it made no specific
allegations that the county engaged in any acts that would qualify as exceptions to tort
immunity under R.C. 2744.03(B). The county thus remains immune from liability, and
the claims against it were properly dismissed.
B
{¶18} The court likewise did not err by holding that Lockhart was immune from
liability. The court correctly noted that a probation officer “is protected under the
umbrella of absolute immunity for actions taken within the scope of her employment.”
McCormick v. Carroll, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 83770, 2004-Ohio-5969, ¶ 20. The
claims made against Lockhart were conclusory and lacked specificity. But even
construing them as broadly as possible, the claims against Lockhart alleged that she
implemented a house arrest order and electronic monitoring; administered urine tests;
required Henderson’s attendance at meetings with the probation officer; and imposed
costs associated with supervised release. All of these actions fell within the duties of a
probation officer, so Lockhart remained immune from suit.
IV
{¶19} The last issue for discussion is Henderson’s argument that the court erred by
granting the defendants’ motion to stay discovery pending the resolution of their motions
to dismiss.
{¶20} We agree with the defendants that the court did not abuse its discretion by
staying discovery. Absolute immunity is not just immunity from damages; it is immunity
from suit. Mireles v. Waco, 502 U.S. 9, 112 S.Ct. 286, 116 L.Ed.2d 9 (1991). When a
defendant makes a facial challenge to the sufficiency of a claim, a motion to dismiss
based on a failure to state a claim should be resolved before discovery begins — doing so
spares the party asserting immunity from having to engage in the kind of litigation that is
to be avoided by the grant of immunity. The conclusory nature of Henderson’s
allegations coupled with the assertion of immunity were enough to justify the court’s
decision to stay discovery pending resolution of the motion to dismiss. No abuse of
discretion is shown.
{¶21} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellees recover of appellant their costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga
County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
_______________________________________
MELODY J. STEWART, JUDGE
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, P.J., and
TIM McCORMACK, J., CONCUR
APPENDIX
Assignments of Error
I. The Trial Court abused its discretion by granting Appellee[s’] motion to dismiss where
Appellee’s [sic] did not file a motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s second amended complaint.
II. The Trial Court committed reversible error and committed prejudicial error by
dismissing Appellant’s Second Amended Complaint where Appellant provided sufficient
claims governed by Civil Rule 8.
III. The Trial Court committed prejudicial error by granting Appellees’ motion to dismiss
pursuant to immunity where Appellant provided sufficient facts for exceptions to bypass
judicial and statutory immunities.
IV. The Trial Court deprived Appellant’s Constitutional due process rights by granting
Appellees’ motion to dismiss where Appellant averred facts to overcome a motion to
dismiss.
V. The Trial Court deprived Appellant of his due process and equal protection rights by
dismissing Appellant’s Second Amended Complaint where there was [sic] sufficient facts
against Defendant Synenberg with respect to subject matter, personal and criminal
jurisdiction issues, abuse of authority, acts and omissions in a wanton and reckless matter
and questionable official duties of a criminal judiciary during and prior to the criminal
trial court obtaining criminal law jurisdiction over State v. Henderson, Crim. Case No.
554594.
VI. The Trial Court deprived Appellant of his Constitutional Due Process and Equal
Protection Rights to discovery from opposing parties by granting Appellees’ motion to
stay on discovery.
VII. The trial court erred as a matter of law by dismissing the Appellant’s Second
Amended Complaint where Appellant averred Constitutional and Title 29 violations of
Ohio statutes.