State v. Holloway

[Cite as State v. Holloway, 2021-Ohio-1843.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
WOOD COUNTY
State of Ohio Court of Appeals No. WD-20-021
Appellant Trial Court No. 2017CR0076
v.
Travis Shantell-Duane Holloway DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellee Decided: May 28, 2021
*****
Paul A. Dobson, Wood County Prosecuting Attorney, David T. Harold
and James A. Hoppenjans, Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, for appellant.
Edward J. Stechschulte, for appellant.
*****
OSOWIK, J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from the judgment of the Wood County Court of Common
Pleas, which granted the motion to return seized property by appellee, Travis Shantell-
Duane Holloway. For the reasons set forth below, this court affirms, in part, and
reverses, in part, the judgment of the trial court.
I. Background
{¶ 2} On February 16, 2017, a Wood County Grand Jury indicted appellee for
trafficking in cocaine, a second-degree felony violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(1) and
(C)(4)(e). Appellant, state of Ohio, alleged that on January 31, 2017, appellee and other
codefendants illegally offered cocaine for sale. On March 17, 2017, appellee entered a
plea of not guilty. Discovery ensued between the parties, and on April 13, 2017,
appellant moved pursuant to Crim.R. 48 to dismiss the charge against appellee without
prejudice “due to evidentiary reasons.” The trial court immediately granted dismissal.
{¶ 3} Then on December 19, 2019, appellee filed a pro se “Motion to Return
Property and Proceeds Seized in Case Dismissed by State.” Appellee argued he was
entitled to the return of “all of the items of property, and money” seized by officers from
the village of Bradner police department, located in Wood County, Ohio, in the now-
dismissed criminal case. The trial court heard the motion on January 24, 2020. At the
hearing appellant argued the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the motion because the
underlying case was dismissed. Appellant also raised res judicata by informing the trial
court that five months earlier the Bowling Green Municipal Court ordered the disposal of
the disputed property. Bowling Green Municipal Court has territorial jurisdiction over
the village of Bradner, and the Bradner police department applied to that municipal court
for authorization to dispose of the property seized on January 31, 2017, among many
other investigations. Appellant also argued the Bradner police department sent appellee
written notice prior to the trial court’s disposal order in compliance with R.C.
2.
2981.11(C). Appellee responded that he did not receive the notice. There was evidence
appellee was notified by mail, and no indication the letter was returned as undeliverable.
The trial court took the matter under advisement.
{¶ 4} As journalized on February 11, 2020, the trial court made a number of
findings and granted appellee’s motion. Appellant admitted at the hearing that the
Bradner police department seized appellee’s cell phone and cash as part of the arrest and
investigation of appellee on January 31, 2017. Appellant further admitted, “it had
dismissed the charges from that incident and had no intention of filing any further
charges.” The trial court determined it had jurisdiction over “a motion filed in a
dismissed criminal case, with a request to return seized property.” The trial court further
determined it had jurisdiction because “the property had not been disposed of pursuant to
any other order.” The Bradner police department’s application to the Bowling Green
Municipal Court was made pursuant to R.C. 2981.12, and the municipal court’s
August 15, 2019 order attached the police report that listed the “cell phone and money
requested by the Defendant.” The trial court then determined that appellee’s property “is
not subject to the * * * order” because that property “is neither unclaimed nor forfeited”
as required by R.C. 2981.12 nor “forfeited as contraband, proceeds or an instrumentality”
as required by R.C. 2981.13. The trial court then ordered “the Village of Bradner Police
Department return to the Defendant $1,323.00 (sic.) in cash and a Silver and Black LG
cell phone with black protection case and blue protection skin as described in pages 11
3.
and 12 of Bradner Report number 17-2030-0, both of which were seized on January 31,
2017 from Defendant.”
{¶ 5} Appellant appealed the trial court’s judgment entry pursuant to R.C.
2945.67(A) on March 3, 2020. Then on March 6, 2020, appellant sought a motion to stay
execution of judgment pending appeal pursuant to App.R. 7 and Civ.R. 62 and attached a
number of documents from the municipal court’s property-disposal proceeding.
According to the record, the trial court has yet to rule on appellant’s motion, and the
merits of this appeal could be rendered moot if the February 11, 2020 judgment were
fully executed. Hagood v. Gail, 105 Ohio App.3d 780, 790, 664 N.E.2d 1373 (11th
Dist.1995).
{¶ 6} Appellant filed this appeal setting forth three assignments of error:
I. The trial court did not have jurisdiction or authority to order the
return of property where the subject property was previously disposed of by
order of the municipal court.
II. The trial court could not sit as a de facto appellate court by
reviewing and effectively vacating the order of the municipal court.
III. The trial court could not render factual findings on disputed
factual issues without holding an evidentiary hearing.
II. Jurisdiction
{¶ 7} In support of its first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court
lacked jurisdiction to vacate a valid order rendered by the Bowling Green Municipal
4.
Court. Appellant argues the trial court’s order compelling appellant to return the seized
property after the municipal court had already ordered the disposal of the same seized
property was barred by res judicata. Appellant further argues appellee’s proper recourse
was to appeal the municipal court’s order.
{¶ 8} In response, appellee argues the trial court had jurisdiction over the lawfully
seized property. Appellee argues the municipal court’s order allegedly disposing of the
seized property pursuant to R.C. 2981.12 was void. Appellee further argues appellant
waived the affirmative defense of res judicata by failing to raise it before the trial court.
A. Standard of Review
{¶ 9} “‘Jurisdiction’ means ‘the court’s statutory or constitutional power to
adjudicate the case.’ The term encompasses jurisdiction over the subject matter and over
the person. * * * ‘If a court acts without jurisdiction, then any proclamation by that court
is void.’” (Citations omitted.) Pratts v. Hurley, 102 Ohio St.3d 81, 2004-Ohio-1980, 806
N.E.2d 992, ¶ 11. Subject-matter jurisdiction, which goes to the power of the trial court
to adjudicate the merits of a case, may be challenged at any time. Id. We review de novo
the question of law whether a trial court had subject-matter jurisdiction. Cirino v. Ohio
Bur. of Workers’ Comp., 153 Ohio St.3d 333, 2018-Ohio-2665, 106 N.E.3d 41, ¶ 17. Our
de novo review gives no deference to the trial court. Sullivan v. Sullivan, 6th Dist. Lucas
No. L-09-1022, 2010-Ohio-3064, ¶ 14.
5.
B. Common Pleas Court
{¶ 10} The Ohio Supreme Court “has long held that the common pleas court is a
court of general jurisdiction, with subject-matter jurisdiction that extends to ‘all matters
at law and in equity that are not denied to it.’” (Citations omitted.) Bank of Am., N.A. v.
Kuchta, 141 Ohio St.3d 75, 2014-Ohio-4275, 21 N.E.3d 1040, ¶ 20; Ohio Constitution,
Article IV, Section 4(B). “A court’s subject matter jurisdiction is determined without
regard to the rights of the individual parties involved in a particular case.” Id. at ¶ 18.
C. Motion for Return of Seized Property
{¶ 11} Appellee’s pro se “Motion to Return Property and Proceeds Seized in Case
Dismissed by State” states in its entirety that he “respectfully requests this Honorable
Court to order the return and release [of] all of the items of property, and money that
were seized by detectives in the above captioned case. This case was dismissed by the
State of Ohio * * * on April 13, 2017.” We review appellee’s motion in three ways.
1. Replevin
{¶ 12} The Ohio Supreme Court guides us that a civil action in replevin is “[t]he
proper action to reclaim possession of property based on an unlawful seizure or
detention.” State ex rel. Johnson v. Kral, 153 Ohio St.3d 231, 2018-Ohio-2382, 103
N.E.3d 814, ¶ 5, quoting State ex rel. Jividen v. Toledo Police Dept., 112 Ohio App.3d
458, 459, 679 N.E.2d 34 (6th Dist.1996); State ex rel. Blandin v. Beck, 114 Ohio St.3d
455, 2007-Ohio-4562, 872 N.E.2d 1232, ¶ 18; State ex rel. Harris v. Toledo, 74 Ohio
St.3d 36, 38, 656 N.E.2d 334 (1995). “A writ of replevin enforces a legal right of
6.
immediate possession of specific property, which is granted to one who has a right to that
immediate possession against another who is holding the property wrongfully or
unlawfully.” Jividen at 459.
{¶ 13} Appellee’s short motion filed in his criminal case is not a civil action in
replevin under R.C. 2737. R.C. 2737.02; McNabb v. Ottawa Cty. Commrs., 6th Dist.
Ottawa No. OT-17-036, 2019-Ohio-1487, ¶ 32. “Replevin is solely a statutory remedy in
Ohio. It is an action at law, not in equity and, therefore, a court cannot provide remedies
not specifically enumerated by statute. R.C. Chapter 2737, in clear and unambiguous
language, states that replevin is a prejudgment remedy that is available only if specific
procedures are followed.” Am. Rents v. Crawley, 77 Ohio App.3d 801, 804, 603 N.E.2d
1079 (10th Dist.1991).
{¶ 14} Even if we construe appellee’s motion as a civil action in replevin, pursuant
to R.C. 2737.03(A) through (G) his motion fails to meet his initial burden to include the
necessary affidavit with the required evidentiary support. In particular, appellee fails to
show how his alleged property was unlawfully seized or detained. “It is axiomatic that a
plaintiff in an action in replevin must prevail upon the strength of his own right to
possession and cannot prevail upon the weakness of the defendant’s right to possession.”
Atlantic Fin. Co. v. Fisher, 173 Ohio St. 387, 388-89, 183 N.E.2d 135 (1962).
{¶ 15} We find appellee’s motion in his criminal case does not constitute a civil
action in replevin. “Replevin, however, is not the exclusive method for seeking the return
of seized property.” State v. Castagnola, 9th Dist. Summit No. 29141, 2020-Ohio-1096,
7.
¶ 15, citing State v. White, 2d Dist. No. 2017-CA-28, 2018-Ohio-2573, ¶ 21; State v.
Housley, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2018-CA-4, 2018-Ohio-4140, ¶ 7, fn 3, citing White at ¶ 23.
2. Property Subject to Forfeiture
{¶ 16} Another method for seeking the return of seized property is through a
statutory forfeiture process. The trial court’s judgment entry specifically found that:
The property sought by Defendant is neither unclaimed nor forfeited.
* * * Further, even if it is claimed that the property was subject to R.C.
2981.13, that section only applies to “property ordered forfeited as
contraband, proceeds, or an instrumentality,” which equally does not apply
to the property requested by the Defendant in this case. Therefore, the
order of the Bowling Green Municipal Court has no application to the
property sought by Defendant in this case.
{¶ 17} We agree with the trial court that no formal criminal or civil forfeiture
proceedings are in the record. The indictment for trafficking in cocaine also did not
contain a forfeiture specification pursuant to R.C. 2941.1417 and 2981.04(A)(1). “We
have held that the Chapter 2981 forfeiture statutes must be strictly construed and
applied.” Erie Cty. Sheriff's Office v. Lacy, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-14-022, 2015-Ohio-72,
¶ 20. “[S]trict compliance with the statutory [forfeiture] requirements is necessary to
invoke the subject-matter jurisdiction of the trial court.” Id. at ¶ 22. No forfeiture
process is in the record.
8.
To pursue forfeiture of an offender’s property, Chapter 2981 creates
both a criminal process under R.C. 2981.04 and a civil process under R.C.
2981.05. R.C. 2981.03(F) allows the prosecutor to elect either process.
Where the commission of an offense has entitled a law-enforcement agency
to seize and hold “property subject to forfeiture,” [R.C. 2981.03(F)] also
mandates that if “a criminal forfeiture has not begun under section 2981.04
* * *, the prosecutor * * * shall commence a civil action to forfeit that
property under section 2981.05[.]”
State v. Brimacombe, 195 Ohio App.3d 524, 2011-Ohio-5032, 960 N.E.2d 1042, ¶ 34
(6th Dist.).
{¶ 18} This court has previously determined that the state does not exercise any
jurisdiction over seized property where there is no evidence in the record of the state
instituting a timely civil or criminal forfeiture proceeding. State v. McCoy, 6th Dist.
Wood No. WD-00-028, 2001 WL 42210, *2 (Jan. 19, 2001) (construing former R.C.
2933.43(C)); Brimacombe at ¶ 66.
{¶ 19} We find appellee’s motion was not in response to either a civil or criminal
forfeiture proceeding. Appellee argues that the municipal court’s judgment is not a valid
judgment on the merits because the Bradner police department is not a political
subdivision capable of initiating a Chapter 2981 forfeiture proceeding, citing In re
Forfeiture of Property of Louis, 2d Dist. No. 23621, 187 Ohio App.3d 504, 2010-Ohio-
1792, 932 N.E.2d 924, ¶ 37. We would agree, if the record showed the Bradner police
9.
department initiated either a civil or criminal forfeiture proceeding. Since the record does
not show such forfeiture proceedings, it is not relevant if the Bradner police department is
not a political subdivision. Because we find appellee’s motion is not part of any criminal
or civil forfeiture proceeding, the Chapter 2981 statutory mandates regarding forfeiture
proceedings do not apply.
3. Postdismissal Motion
{¶ 20} A third avenue of review is as a postdismissal motion.
{¶ 21} “[C]ourts routinely address postconviction motions for the return of seized
property, including in criminal cases after the charges have been dismissed.” Flores v.
Kelsey, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-18-065, 2018-Ohio-3886, ¶ 4; White, 2d Dist. No.
2017-CA-28, 2018-Ohio-2573, 115 N.E.3d 878, at ¶ 22; Castagnola, 9th Dist. Summit
No. 29141, 2020-Ohio-1096, at ¶ 16, citing State v. Harris, 10th Dist. Franklin No.
99AP-684, 2000 WL 249161, *2-3 (Mar. 7, 2000); State v. Bolton, 2d Dist. No. 27154,
2017-Ohio-7263, 97 N.E.3d 37, ¶ 17, citing State v. Harris, 132 Ohio St.3d 318, 2012-
Ohio-1908, 972 N.E.2d 509, ¶ 33 and R.C. 2981.03(F); State v. Williams, 12th Dist.
Warren No. CA2017-07-106, 2018-Ohio-226, ¶ 15.
{¶ 22} One type of postdismissal motion is pursuant to R.C. 2981.03(A)(4), which
states, “A person aggrieved by an alleged unlawful seizure of property may seek relief
from the seizure by filing a motion in the appropriate court that shows the person’s
interest in the property, states why the seizure was unlawful, and requests the property’s
return.” However, appellee’s “Motion to Return Property and Proceeds Seized in Case
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Dismissed by State” does not comply with the foregoing requirements. For example, his
motion is silent as to how the seizure of his alleged cell phone and cash by law
enforcement was unlawful at the time he was arrested for trafficking in cocaine. White at
¶ 19.
{¶ 23} Since there is no evidence in the record that the property seized by the
Bradner police department was done unlawfully, we are left to impermissibly speculate
that appellee alleged ownership over lawfully seized property that became unlawfully
detained after the trial court’s dismissal of the criminal case against him. No speculation
is required, however, because the trial court’s dismissal of the criminal case was without
prejudice, and R.C. 2981.11(A)(1) authorized the continued custody of the lawfully
seized property. See State v. Rivera, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-13-1170, 2014-Ohio-742, ¶ 9;
State v. Bolton, 2d Dist. No. 27463, 2017-Ohio-8903, 100 N.E.3d 1275, ¶ 17; City of
Cleveland v. Primm, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104963, 2017-Ohio-7242, ¶ 8.
{¶ 24} Another type of postdismissal motion is pursuant to R.C. 2981.11(A)(1).
“‘Any property that has been * * * lawfully seized * * * and that is in the custody of a
law enforcement agency shall be kept safely by the agency, pending the time it no longer
is needed as evidence or for another lawful purpose, and shall be disposed of pursuant to
sections 2981.12 and 2981.13 of the Revised Code.’” Rivera at ¶ 5, quoting R.C.
2981.11(A)(1). Although R.C. 2981.11(A)(1) is part of the law of forfeiture, it is
applicable to any property lawfully seized and held prior to its final disposition. State v.
Bates, 6th Dist. Williams No. WM-11-007, 2012-Ohio-1397, ¶ 14. “Thus, even in the
11.
absence of a forfeiture proceeding, a court may permit the state to retain lawfully-seized
property ‘[i]f, during consideration of a motion for return of property, the court properly
finds that seized property is being held for evidence or as part of an ongoing
investigation[.]’” State v. Germany, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130777, 2014-Ohio-3202,
¶ 11, quoting Bates at ¶ 15.
{¶ 25} In its August 15, 2019 judgment entry, the municipal court merely stated,
“The application is granted and within 14 days hereafter, you shall dispose of the
property as stated in the application and make your return, all in accordance with Ohio
law.” The Bradner police department’s application to the municipal court sought “to
dispose of the property on the attached list * * * that is related to property turned in as
evidence. * * * Some articles of evidence belong to victims/owners and officers will
attempt to locate the legitimate owner of the property and return it. If such return is
unsuccessful, [the police department] will cause the disposition of the items pursuant to
R.C. §2981.12.” The property list, involving many other criminal investigations,
itemizes $1,320 in cash seized from appellee, but does not clearly identify which cell
phone was seized from him, although the trial court reasoned that one of three cell phones
seized in the underlying cocaine trafficking investigation was appellee’s.
{¶ 26} We disagree, however, with the trial court that R.C. 2981.12 does not apply
to appellee’s motion. R.C. 2981.12 authorizes the disposal of the “unclaimed property”
lawfully seized by, and in the custody of, a law enforcement agency. “Law enforcement
agency” need not be a political subdivision, and the Bradner police department meets the
12.
definition of a “law enforcement agency” for purposes of R.C. 2981.11(A). R.C.
2981.01(B)(7); Rivera at ¶ 4-6; see Dayton Police Dept. v. Grigsby, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 23362, 2010-Ohio-2504, ¶ 4 and 10; see also Dayton Police Dept. v.
Thomas, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23289, 2010-Ohio-1506, ¶ 15.
{¶ 27} In particular, “[u]nclaimed or forfeited property that is not described in
[R.C 2981.12(A)] or [R.C. 2981.11(A)(2)], with court approval, may be used by the law
enforcement agency in possession of it. If it is not used by the agency, it may be sold
without appraisal at a public auction to the highest bidder for cash or disposed of in
another manner that the court considers proper.” R.C. 2981.12(B). On August 15, 2019,
the municipal court ordered the disposal, “in accordance with Ohio law,” of the litany of
unclaimed or forfeited property presented in the Bradner police department’s lengthy
application.
{¶ 28} “Unclaimed property” is not defined by R.C. 2981, nor by its predecessor
R.C. 2933.41 to 2933.44. See Brimacombe, 195 Ohio App.3d 524, 2011-Ohio-5032, 960
N.E.2d 1042, at ¶ 33. However, the Fourth District Court of Appeals attempted to define
that term under former R.C. 2933.41(D)1 by rejecting the simplistic definition that
“unclaimed property” means no conceivable claim to the property has been made.
1
Former R.C. 2933.41(D) read, “Unclaimed or forfeited property in the custody of a law
enforcement agency, other than contraband that is subject to the provisions of [R.C.
2913.34 or 2933.43], other than property forfeited under [R.C. 2923.44 to 2923.47 or
2925.41 to 2925.45], and other than property that has been lawfully seized in relation to a
violation of [R.C. 2923.32], shall be disposed of on application to and order of any court
13.
To interpret R.C. 2933.41(D) [now see R.C. 2981.12(A) and (B)] as
appellant would have us would prevent property from being disposed of
any time a person makes a claim no matter how frivolous the claim is. “It
is an axiom of judicial interpretation that statutes be construed to avoid
unreasonable or absurd consequences.” A reasonable interpretation of
“unclaimed” property is property to which no valid claim has been made.
Therefore, the court below did not abuse its discretion when it applied R.C.
2933.41(D) even though appellant had made a claim.
Dingess v. Hull, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 1734, 1989 WL 62868, *2 (June 2, 1989), quoting
State ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co. v. Wells, 18 Ohio St.3d 382, 384, 481 N.E.2d 632(1985). We agree. Despite appellee’s current claim, the municipal court did not have a
valid claim before it from appellee when it ordered the disposal of seized property
pursuant to R.C. 2981.12.
{¶ 29} For the foregoing reasons we find the trial court had subject-matter
jurisdiction over appellee’s postdismissal motion for return of seized property.
of record that has territorial jurisdiction over the political subdivision in which the law
enforcement agency has jurisdiction to engage in law enforcement activities, as follows:
* * *.”
14.
4. Res Judicata
{¶ 30} Appellant argues that the doctrine of res judicata applies to the trial court’s
ruling on appellee’s motion. We agree, but that doctrine does not deny the trial court’s
subject-matter jurisdiction, as appellant argues.
{¶ 31} The Ohio Supreme Court instructs us that the doctrine of res judicata “is an
affirmative defense that does not implicate a court’s subject-matter jurisdiction.” Lycan
v. Cleveland, 146 Ohio St.3d 29, 2016-Ohio-422, 51 N.E.3d 593, ¶ 30. Res judicata does
not divest the second tribunal of jurisdiction to decide the validity of that affirmative
defense. Whitehall ex rel. Wolfe v. Ohio Civ. Rights Comm., 74 Ohio St.3d 120, 122, 656
N.E.2d 684 (1995); State ex rel. Lipinski v. Cuyahoga Cty. Court of Common Pleas,
Prob. Div., 74 Ohio St.3d 19, 21, 655 N.E.2d 1303 (1995).
In Ohio, “[t]he doctrine of res judicata encompasses the two related
concepts of claim preclusion, also known as res judicata or estoppel by
judgment, and issue preclusion, also known as collateral estoppel.” “Claim
preclusion prevents subsequent actions, by the same parties or their privies,
based upon any claim arising out of a transaction that was the subject
matter of a previous action,” whereas issue preclusion, or collateral
estoppel, “precludes the relitigation, in a second action, of an issue that had
been actually and necessarily litigated and determined in a prior action that
was based on a different cause of action.” (Citations omitted.)
15.
State ex rel. Nickoli v. Erie MetroParks, 124 Ohio St.3d 449, 2010-Ohio-606,
923 N.E.2d 588, ¶ 21. Either claim preclusion or issue preclusion invokes the doctrine
of res judicata. Grava v. Parkman Twp., 73 Ohio St.3d 379, 381, 653 N.E.2d 226 (1995).
{¶ 32} If the affirmative defense of res judicata is not timely raised, the party has
waived it. Jim’s Steak House, Inc. v. City of Cleveland, 81 Ohio St.3d 18, 21, 688 N.E.2d
506 (1998). At the January 24, 2020 hearing on appellee’s motion, appellant raised the
issues of subject-matter jurisdiction and issue preclusion as a result of the municipal
court’s 2019 final judgment, and the trial court took the entire matter under advisement.
{¶ 33} We find that appellant’s first assignment of error raises the res judicata
doctrine through issue preclusion: that the trial court’s order relitigated the issue of the
disposal of appellee’s property lawfully seized by a law enforcement agency that had
been actually and necessarily litigated and determined in the prior municipal court action.
“A judgment, in order to preclude either party from relitigating an issue, must be
preclusive upon both. A prior judgment estops a party, or a person in privity with him,
from subsequently relitigating the identical issue raised in the prior action.” Goodson v.
McDonough Power Equip., Inc., 2 Ohio St.3d 193, 443 N.E.2d 978 (1983), paragraph
one of the syllabus. The privity requirement means, “collateral estoppel can only be
applied against parties who have had a proper ‘full and fair’ opportunity to litigate their
claims.” (Citation omitted.) Id. at 198. We “look * * * to the substance of the cause to
determine the real parties in interest.” Id. at 200. The burden is on the party asserting
res judicata. Id. at 198. This court has previously recognized that, “‘[a] valid, final
16.
judgment rendered upon the merits bars all subsequent actions based upon any claim
arising out of the transaction or occurrence that was the subject matter of the previous
action.’” Woodley v. Anderson, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-99-1093, 2000 WL 426190, *3
(Apr. 21, 2000), quoting Grava at syllabus. The doctrine “prevents parties or their
privies from re-litigating facts, issues, or legal theories in a subsequent suit that were or
might have been litigated in a prior suit.” Id.{¶ 34} We find that despite the trial court’s subject-matter jurisdiction over
appellee’s motion for return of seized property pursuant to R.C. 2981.11, the doctrine of
res judicata precluded appellant and appellee from relitigating the issue of the disposal
(or return) of appellee’s alleged property, which was the identical issue determined by the
municipal court on August 15, 2019.
{¶ 35} Both appellant, before the trial court, and the Bradner police department,
before the municipal court, are “law enforcement agencies” under R.C. 2981, and
appellee is the same person, in both the municipal and trial courts, alleging return of his
property lawfully seized by a law enforcement agency. The lawfully seized property is
the identical property in both the municipal and trial court matters, and that property was
sought to be disposed of pursuant to R.C. 2981.11 in both courts. R.C. 2981.11(A)(1)
authorized the lawfully seized property in the custody of a law enforcement agency to be
disposed of pursuant to either R.C. 2981.12 or 2981.13. The Bradner police department
sought disposal of the lawfully seized property pursuant to R.C. 2981.12.
17.
{¶ 36} R.C. 2981.11(B) requires a law enforcement agency, like the Bradner
police department, to have a written internal control policy regarding the property in its
custody, and the record includes the Bradner police department’s policy on
“Inventory/Evidence” that complies the R.C. 2981.11(B) requirements. R.C. 2981.11(C)
requires a law enforcement agency, like the Bradner police department, with custody of
property to be disposed of pursuant to R.C. 2981.12, “to make a reasonable effort to
locate persons entitled to possession of the property, to notify them of when and where it
may be claimed, and to return the property to them at the earliest possible time.” The
record includes the July 26, 2019 letter to appellee notifying him that two-and-one-half
years prior, he was arrested, and the case against him was subsequently dismissed, “and
property belonging to you is set for destruction and disposal.” The letter continued, “If
you wish to reclaim this property contact the Bradner Police Department at
419.288.2222, please bring photo identification. We ask that you contact us to set up an
appointment as soon as possible. If we fail to hear from you within one week the
property will be disposed of.” Appellee admitted at the January 24, 2020 hearing that at
no time since his criminal case was dismissed in 2017 did he contact the Bradner police
department for return of his property. The trial court was sympathetic to appellee’s
situation, “You know, Mr. Holloway, I understand your frustration. * * * [I]tems were
taken from you and the case was dismissed, so legitimately you believe that you should
have these items returned to you.” At that time, the trial court was not yet certain
regarding its subject-matter jurisdiction to order the return of the disputed items, “That
18.
[disposal] order was issued by the municipal court. Your, for lack of a better word, beef,
is with the Village of Bradner and maybe the Bowling Green Municipal Court, not this
Court.” The record before us does not show any contact by appellee to the Bowling
Green Municipal Court or to the Bradner police department.
{¶ 37} The record includes the August 13, 2019 disposal application made by the
Bradner police department to the Bowling Green Municipal Court and the August 15,
2019 judgment entry by the municipal court granting the application and ordering “within
14 days hereafter, you shall dispose of the property as stated in the application and make
your return, all in accordance with Ohio law.” The record shows that on August 20,
2019, the Bradner police department showed in its return that it had disposed of the
property as ordered.
{¶ 38} R.C. 2981.12(B) authorizes a law enforcement agency, like the Bradner
police department, to use unclaimed property, like appellee’s cash and cell phone, by
court order either by its own department or “it may be sold without appraisal at a public
auction to the highest bidder for cash or disposed of in another manner that the court
considered proper.” For example, the record contains evidence of a “GovDeals” auction
of a lot of cell phones, presumably including appellee’s. R.C. 2981.12(C) authorizes the
Bradner police department to place any moneys from the sale of property disposed of
pursuant the statute to be placed in the village of Bradner’s general revenue fund.
{¶ 39} We find the record shows no irregularities in the municipal court’s
proceedings, and the law enforcement agency, the Bradner police department, fully
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complied with R.C. 2981.11. We find that the parties had a full and fair opportunity to
litigate the issue of the disposal or return of appellee’s alleged property, and the final
judgment of the municipal court barred appellee from relitigating the identical issue
before the trial court.
{¶ 40} We reviewed the record de novo and find the trial court had jurisdiction to
decide appellee’s “Motion to Return Property and Proceeds Seized in Case Dismissed by
State.” We further find the doctrine of issue preclusion was effectively raised at the
January 24, 2020 hearing and acted to bar the trial court from granting appellee’s motion
where the municipal court had validly ordered the disposal of the disputed seized
property in a final judgment.
{¶ 41} Appellant’s first assignment of error is well-taken, in part, and not well-
taken, in part.
III. Appellate Review
{¶ 42} In support of its second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court
lacked jurisdiction “to sit as a de facto appellate court to review and effectively vacate”
the municipal court’s determinations. Appellant argues the trial court erred when it
decided “to review the determination of a municipal court that shares territorial
jurisdiction with [it]” by “essentially adopting an appellate posture, reviewing whether
the subject property was unclaimed, as well as effectively vacating and reversing the
municipal court’s order for disposition of that property.” Appellant argues the trial
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court’s determination that the seized property was unclaimed and/or forfeited “is a matter
reserved for direct appeal.”
{¶ 43} In response, appellee argues the trial court’s “carefully crafted decision
found that it had jurisdiction to reach a decision on the subject property.” Appellee
argues the trial court had concurrent jurisdiction with the municipal court over the seized
property and was free to exercise its jurisdiction after determining “that the municipal
court judgment had not disposed of the subject property.”
There are various scenarios in which a court might have jurisdiction
over an issue that provides the court with the opportunity to declare the
judgment of any other court to be void. For instance, in a proper case, a
court may refuse to enforce the void judgment of another court or prevent a
party from executing upon the judgment. But a void judgment does not by
itself create a justiciable controversy that a court may seize upon and
resolve. To be subject to collateral attack, the judgment must be relevant to
the relief sought or to the enforcement of some right in a controversy
properly before the court. And the fact that a judgment might be void
certainly does not give every court the authority to directly reverse, vacate,
or modify that judgment. (Citations omitted.)
Lingo v. State, 138 Ohio St.3d 427, 2014-Ohio-1052, 7 N.E.3d 1188, ¶ 47.
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{¶ 44} Contrary to the trial court’s opinion, the decision of the municipal court
was not void. In light of our decision on appellant’s first assignment of error, we find
that appellant’s second assignment of error is well-taken.
IV. Evidentiary Hearing
{¶ 45} In support of its third assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court
could not develop the findings of facts necessary to support its order without an
evidentiary hearing. Appellant argues that “without factual development” the trial court
could not determine the seized property “was not unclaimed.”
{¶ 46} In response, appellee argues the trial court held a hearing on January 24,
2020. Appellee argues appellant attended the hearing and, in fact, presented evidence
when it supplied the trial court with the August 15, 2019 municipal court order.
{¶ 47} We find the trial court held a hearing on January 24, 2020, and the hearing
transcript is in the record. We previously determined that the record is devoid of any
evidence that the seizure of appellee’s alleged property was unlawful and that the issue
before the trial court for the return of seized property was barred by the doctrine of res
judicata per the prior, valid order of the municipal court.
{¶ 48} In light of our decision on appellant’s first assignment of error, we find that
appellant’s third assignment of error is not well-taken.
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V. Conclusion
{¶ 49} On consideration whereof, the judgment of the Wood County Court of
Common Pleas is affirmed, in part, and reversed, in part, and remanded for the sole
purpose of the trial court ruling on the appellant’s motion to stay, filed on March 6, 2020.
Appellant and appellee are ordered to equally pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to
App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed, in part,
and reversed, in part.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
_______________________________
Gene A. Zmuda, P.J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.
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