Ziegler v. Burton Carol Mgt., L.L.C.

[Cite as Ziegler v. Burton Carol Mgt., L.L.C., 2014-Ohio-4740.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LAKE COUNTY, OHIO
IRM ZIEGLER, : MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellant, :
CASE NO. 2014-L-022
- vs - :
BURTON CAROL MANAGEMENT, LLC, :
Defendant-Appellee. :
Civil Appeal from the Mentor Municipal Court, Case No. 13 RES 1.
Judgment: Appeal dismissed.
Irm Ziegler, pro se, P.O. Box 601, Grand River, OH 44045 (Plaintiff-Appellant).
Michael D. Linn and James J. Costello, Powers Friedman Linn P.L.L., Four Commerce
Park, #180, 23240 Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44122 (For Defendant-
Appellee).
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.
{¶1} This appeal is from the Mentor Municipal Court. Appellant Irm Ziegler
appeals the trial court’s judgment ordering the release of funds held in escrow for
appellee Burton Carol Management, LLC (“Burton”). For the following reasons, we
dismiss this appeal as moot.
{¶2} In the trial court, Ziegler filed an application to deposit her rent with the
clerk alleging that Burton was improperly charging Ziegler for expenses, that Burton
refused to repair certain problems in Ziegler’s rental unit despite her repeated requests,
and that Ziegler believed that Burton was going to unlawfully retaliate against her for
some unspecified reason. The funds were ultimately deposited with the clerk. Shortly
thereafter, Burton filed an application for release of the escrowed funds alleging that
Ziegler’s claims were without merit. After a hearing, the magistrate found in favor of
Burton and recommended release of all funds. The trial court adopted the magistrate’s
findings and ordered the release of all funds. Thereafter, Ziegler filed a motion for a
preliminary injunction. Afterward, the clerk released all funds held in escrow. This
appeal followed.
{¶3} We will not address the merits of Ziegler’s appeal because her appeal is
moot. If there is a satisfaction of judgment, the appeal must be dismissed because the
issues raised in the appeal have become moot. Hagood v. Gail, 105 Ohio App.3d 780,
785, 664 N.E.2d 1373, (11th Dist. 1995) citing Blodgett v. Blodgett, 49 Ohio St.3d 243,
245, 551 N.E.2d 1249 (1990). When funds in escrow are released in a rent deposit
case, the judgment has been satisfied. Slovak v. University Off-Campus Hous., 4th
Dist. Athens No. 99 CA 50, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 2262, *3 (May 19, 2000).
{¶4} Here, all of the funds held in escrow less court costs retained by the clerk
were released prior to appeal. Therefore, the judgment has been satisfied and the
appeal is moot. Consequently, we dismiss.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J., concurs,
COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J., concurs in judgment only.
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