Pandey v. Piqua Bd. of Zoning Appeals

[Cite as Pandey v. Piqua Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 2023-Ohio-1302.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MIAMI COUNTY
NAWAL K. PANDEY :
:
Appellant : C.A. No. 2022-CA-24
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 21 CV 00178
:
CITY OF PIQUA BOARD OF ZONING : (Civil Appeal from Common Pleas
APPEALS, et al. : Court)
:
Appellees :
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OPINION
Rendered on April 21, 2023
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FRANK J. PATRIZIO, Attorney for Appellee
ANITA A. LAMBERT, Attorney for Appellant
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HUFFMAN, J.
{¶ 1} Nawal K. Pandey appeals from the trial court’s order granting summary
judgment in favor of the City of Piqua Board of Zoning Appeals, Wayde Davis, and the
Piqua City Commission. For the following reasons, the judgment of the trial court is
affirmed.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
{¶ 2} Pandey was a mortgage holder on real property located at 5580 N. County
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Road 25A in Piqua, Ohio, which included a vacant gas station building. In May 2017, the
City of Piqua condemned the subject property and sent written notice of a code violation
to the owner of record, Premium Petroleum. On March 25, 2021, the City of Piqua issued
Pandey and Premium Petroleum an order to raze or repair the property. After the order
was unaddressed, on April 29, 2021, the City of Piqua sent Pandey and other interested
parties a demolition notice to remove the building from the property. Pandey appealed
the demolition notice to the City of Piqua Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
{¶ 3} On May 25, 2021, the Piqua BZA held a hearing on Pandey’s appeal of the
demolition order. Pandey appeared at the hearing and testified that he was aware that
the property was condemned and asked questions about the BZA’s procedures. The BZA
unanimously voted to deny Pandey’s appeal and affirmed the demolition order.
{¶ 4} Pandey, through counsel, Edd Wright, filed a complaint for injunctive relief
against the Piqua BZA, Wayde Davis, and the Piqua City Commission in the trial court on
June 24, 2021, requesting an order to prevent the City of Piqua from demolishing the
building. Pandey did not file an administrative appeal from the decision of the Piqua BZA.
{¶ 5} On or around October 4, 2021, Pandey’s retained counsel advised him that
counsel was closing his law practice and moving to California. Wright asked Pandey to
pick up his file and provided no further contact information. Wright was later indicted for
theft from a client and probate estate and was subsequently convicted, incarcerated, and
permanently disbarred.
{¶ 6} Pandey obtained new counsel, who filed a notice of substitution of counsel
on November 24, 2021. Following the filing of cross-motions for summary judgment, the
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trial court entered summary judgment in favor of the Piqua BZA, Wayde Davis, and the
Piqua City Commission and against Pandey. The trial court found that it lacked subject
matter jurisdiction on the matter of Pandey’s complaint for injunction, as Pandey’s failure
to file an administrative appeal of the Piqua BZA’s decision was fatal. Pandey now
appeals that decision.
II. Arguments and Analysis
{¶ 7} Pandey’s sole assignment of error states as follows:
TRIAL COUNSEL PROVIDED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
COUNSEL PURSUANT TO STRICKLAND V. WASHINGTON 466 U.S. 668686, 104 S. CT. 2052 (1984) AND STATE V. BRADLEY 42 OHIO ST.3D
136, 538 N.E.2D 373 (1989) BY FAILING TO SEEK AN ADMINISTRATIVE
APPEAL AND INSTEAD FILING FOR A CIVIL INJUNCTION.
{¶ 8} In essence, Pandey asserts that the right to effective assistance of counsel
applies in a civil action related to an administrative determination, and thus the summary
judgment granted by the trial court must be reversed. Pandey argues that he was entitled
to Sixth Amendment protection against ineffective assistance of counsel in an action
defending himself against the police power of a local municipality. Specifically, Pandey
asserts that courts have found that the standard for ineffective assistance of counsel
applies outside the realm of criminal cases and has been applied in cases where the
State of Ohio is seeking to involuntarily sever the rights of parents from their children.
{¶ 9} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), a movant is entitled to summary judgment when
the party demonstrates that (1) there is no issue as to any material fact; (2) the moving
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party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) reasonable minds can come to
only one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party.
Rhododendron Holdings, LLC v. Harris, 2021-Ohio-147, 166 N.E.3d 725, ¶ 22 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 10} “The burden of demonstrating that no genuine issues exist as to any
material fact falls upon the moving party requesting a summary judgment.” Harless v.
Willis Day Warehousing Co., Inc., 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66, 375 N.E.2d 46 (1978). Once the
moving party has satisfied its burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material
fact, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to set forth specific facts showing a genuine
issue for trial. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 293, 662 N.E.2d 264 (1996). The
nonmoving party cannot rely upon the mere allegations or denials in the pleadings but
must give specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Civ.R. 56(E); Accord
Geloff v. R.C. Hemm’s Glass Shops, Inc., 2021-Ohio-394, 167 N.E.3d 1095, ¶ 14 (2d
Dist.). When the standard is met, summary judgment must be awarded as a matter of
law.
{¶ 11} We consider an appeal from summary judgment under a de novo standard
of review. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co., 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105, 671 N.E.2d 241(1996);
Schroeder v. Henness, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2012-CA-18, 2013-Ohio-2767, ¶ 42. Unlike an
abuse of discretion standard, a de novo review requires an independent review of the trial
court’s decision without any deference to the trial court’s determination. Brown v. Scioto
Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 87 Ohio App.3d 704, 711, 622 N.E.2d 1153 (4th Dist.1993). Thus,
we apply the same standard as the trial court, viewing the facts of the case in a light most
favorable to the non-moving party. Civ.R. 56(C); Norris v. Ohio Std. Oil Co., 70 Ohio St.2d
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1, 2, 433 N.E.2d 615 (1982).
{¶ 12} The right to appeal from an administrative decision is not an inherent right,
but instead is one conferred by statute. Harrison v. Ohio State Med. Bd., 103 Ohio App.3d
317, 321, 659 N.E.2d 368 (10th Dist.1995). In general, every final order, adjudication, or
decision of any officer, tribunal, authority, board, bureau, commission, department, or
other division of any political subdivision of the state may be reviewed by the court of
common pleas of the county in which the principal office of the political subdivision is
located, as provided in Chapter 2505 of the Revised Code. R.C. 2506.01(A). To be
appealable under R.C. 2506.01, the administrative decision must be rendered in a quasi-
judicial proceeding, which includes requirements of notice, a hearing, and an opportunity
to introduce evidence. Lakota Local Sch. Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. Brickner, 108 Ohio App.3d
637, 671 N.E.2d 578 (6th Dist.1996). Where a statute confers a right to appeal, strict
adherence to the statutory conditions is essential. Holmes v. Union Gospel Press, 64
Ohio St.2d 187, 188, 414 N.E.2d 415 (1980).
{¶ 13} “The exhaustion of administrative remedies doctrine is a well-established
principle of Ohio law.” Duffield v. City of Barberton, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22342, 2005-
Ohio-1817, ¶ 12, citing Noernberg v. Brook Park, 63 Ohio St.2d 26, 29, 406 N.E.2d 1095(1980), citing State ex rel. Lieux v. Westlake, 154 Ohio St. 412, 415-16, 96 N.E.2d 414(1951). “The doctrine requires that a party exhaust available administrative remedies prior
to seeking court action in an administrative matter.” Id., citing Noernberg at 29-30.
{¶ 14} To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim under the Sixth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a party must prove that his attorney was ineffective
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under the standard test from Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052,
80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Under Strickland, a party must show that (1) counsel’s
performance “fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,” as determined by
“prevailing professional norms,” and (2) there is “a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”
Strickland at 694. When performing a Strickland analysis, courts “must indulge a strong
presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance.” Id. at 689.
{¶ 15} The doctrine of ineffective assistance of counsel has not been extended
beyond criminal and permanent custody proceedings. Because “the permanent
termination of parental rights has been described as ‘the family law equivalent of the death
penalty,’” parents are entitled to the effective assistance of counsel in permanent custody
actions. In re S.A., 2d Dist. Clark No. 2007-CA-110, 2008-Ohio-2225, quoting In re
Hayes, 79 Ohio St.3d 46, 48, 679 N.E.2d 680 (1997)). “There is no constitutional or
statutory right to the effective assistance of counsel in a civil case.” Marshall v. Scalf,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88708, 2007-Ohio-3667, ¶ 26, citing Friedman v. Arizona , 912
F.2d 328, 333 (9th Cir.1990) and Glick v. Henderson, 855 F.2d 536, 541 (8th Cir.1988).
See also In re A.T., 2d. Dist. Montgomery Nos. 28332 & 28355, 2019-Ohio-3527, ¶ 68
(“The constitutional right to the effective assistance of counsel generally does not attach
in civil actions”), citing D.O.I.T., L.L.C. v. Bd. of Wright Dunbar Technology Academy, 2d
Dist. Montgomery No. 23250, 2011-Ohio-4538, ¶ 5, citing Wolford v. Wolford, 184 Ohio
App.3d 363, 2009-Ohio-5459, 920 N.E.2d 1052, ¶ 32 (4th Dist.) (“‘A complaint of
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ineffective assistance of counsel is not a proper ground on which to reverse the judgment
of a lower court in a civil case that does not result in incarceration * * *. ’ ”); Phillis v. Phillis,
164 Ohio App.3d 364, 2005-Ohio-6200, 842 N.E.2d 555, ¶ 53 (5th Dist.); Novello v.
Novello, 7th Dist. Noble No. 10 NO 378, 2011-Ohio-2973, ¶ 23 (“The Sixth Amendment
guarantees a defendant effective counsel in criminal prosecutions. There is no such
guarantee in civil actions.”). Accordingly, a litigant in a civil proceeding may not attack an
adverse judgment on the grounds of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. Thus, “[a]
complaint of ineffective assistance of counsel is not a proper ground on which to reverse
the judgment of a lower court in a civil case that does not result in incarceration * * * when
the attorney was employed by a civil litigant.” (Citation omitted.) D.O.I.T. at ¶ 5,
quoting Wolford at ¶ 32.
{¶ 16} In support of his argument, Pandey cites State ex rel. Heller v. Miller, 61
Ohio St.2d, 399 N.E.2d 66 (1980) and In re J.D., 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26588, 2015-
Ohio-4114, ¶ 80, apparently arguing that the right to effective assistance of counsel
applies in all cases where the state seeks to infringe on a protected liberty or property
interest. However, Heller and In re J.D. do not support Pandey’s proposition but, rather,
require that the State provide counsel for indigent parents at parental termination
proceedings. Heller at 68-69; In re J.D. at ¶ 79. We will not expand the Sixth Amendment
right to effective assistance of counsel to matters where the state seeks to infringe on a
property interest, as advocated by Pandey.
{¶ 17} The Piqua BZA conducted a hearing and issued its final order confirming
demolition of the subject property on May 25, 2021. Pandey was present at the hearing
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and had notice of the BZA’s decision. Pandey had the right to appeal the BZA’s decision
pursuant to R.C. 2506.01, but he did not file an administrative appeal as required before
filing his complaint for injunction. Pandey failed to exercise the statutory appeal remedy
available to him before filing his complaint for injunction and, thus, the trial court lacked
jurisdiction over Pandey’s complaint. Pandey’s failure to perfect an administrative appeal
precluded the injunctive relief that he sought.
{¶ 18} Pandey presented no evidence that he followed the process for appealing
an administrative decision pursuant to R.C. Chapters 2505 and 2506. We conclude that
the Piqua BZA, Wayde Davis, and the Piqua City Commission met their burden by
establishing that there were no genuine issues of material fact, thus entitling them to
summary judgment. As Pandey did not exhaust his administrative options before filing his
complaint for injunction, we conclude that summary judgment in favor of the Piqua BZA,
Wayde Davis, and the Piqua City Commission was correct.
{¶ 19} Pandey’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 20} The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
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WELBAUM, P.J. and EPLEY, J., concur.