Harris v. Grafton Correctional Inst. , 2010 Ohio 5217 ( 2010 )

[Cite as Harris v. Grafton Correctional Inst., 2010-Ohio-5217.]
Court of Claims of Ohio
The Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street, Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263
www.cco.state.oh.us
KERMIT HARRIS
Plaintiff
v.
GRAFTON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
Defendant
Case No. 2009-07563-AD
Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert
MEMORANDUM DECISION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff, Kermit Harris, an inmate formerly incarcerated at defendant,
Grafton Correctional Institution (GCI), filed this action alleging GCI personnel wrongfully
collected $170.18 from his inmate account to pay for outstanding court costs he owed.
Plaintiff explained he received a check in the amount of $6,700.00 on November 24,
2008 “from a law suit that was settled.” A check in the amount of $6,700.00 was
deposited in plaintiff’s inmate account. Plaintiff pointed out he was required “to pay a
$350.00 filing fee to file the law suit” that subsequently generated the settlement.
Plaintiff noted he owed a balance of $170.18 or $175.18 on the $350.00 filing fee when
the settlement amount was deposited in his inmate account. According to plaintiff, the
$170.18 or $175.18 he owed was automatically deducted from his inmate account and
forwarded at the time his settlement check was received. On that same day, according
to plaintiff, he authorized a withdrawal from his inmate account to satisfy the balance he
owed on the court filing fee. Plaintiff asserted the GCI cashier’s office then forwarded
an additional $175.18 to pay for the court filing fee that had already been paid in full.
Essentially, plaintiff maintained the filing fee balance was paid twice. Consequently,
plaintiff filed this complaint seeking to recover $195.18, an amount representing the
$170.18 wrongfully collected and the $25.00 filing fee cost. The filing fee was paid.
Plaintiff submitted a copy of his inmate account transaction reflecting all deposits and
withdrawals made to his inmate account from November 1, 2008 to January 1, 2009.
{¶ 2} Defendant denied any liability in this matter. Defendant acknowledged “an
error was made” in calculating the amount plaintiff owed for the court filing fee.
However, defendant explained “[t]he error was corrected and the Plaintiff’s personal
account balance is accurate.” Defendant acknowledged plaintiff authorized a
withdrawal from his GCI inmate account on November 24, 2008 to pay for his court filing
fee and a check in the amount of $175.18 was drafted on that same day. Defendant
noted the check was subsequently voided on November 24, 2008 and plaintiff’s inmate
account was not affected. Defendant insisted $175.18 was not collected from plaintiff’s
account. Defendant contended the balance owed for the court filing fee was collected
one time and one time only. Defendant maintained “the error in Plaintiff’s account was
corrected” without any double collection attempts. Defendant submitted a copy of
plaintiff’s inmate account activity from the dates November 1, 2008 to December 5,
2008. The submitted account statement clearly shows $175.18 was deducted from
plaintiff’s account on November 24, 2008 and credited to the account on November 24,
2008.
{¶ 3} Plaintiff filed a response insisting defendant wrongfully collected $170.18
to pay for outstanding court costs, which were not owed and never corrected any
accounting error. Plaintiff insisted his account was never credited in the amount
wrongfully collected. Plaintiff essentially argued his inmate account balance should
have reflected on November 24, 2008 an amount of $6,724.83 instead of $6,554.65.
The $6,554.65 balance was created after the initial payment of court filing fee costs
owed was collected by defendant.
{¶ 4} The facts of the present action show plaintiff’s claim is solely based on the
alleged wrongful collection of funds to presumedly pay a filing fee balance owed. Since
this particular action is for the recovery of an alleged wrongful collection, the claim is
grounded solely in equity. Ohio Hosp. Assn. v. Ohio Dept. of Human Servs. (1991), 62
Ohio St. 3d 97, 579 N.E. 2d 695. “[T]he reimbursement of monies withheld pursuant to
an invalid administrative rule is equitable relief, not money damages . . .” Ohio Hosp.
Assn. at 150. “Thus, for restitution to lie in equity, the action generally must seek not to
impose personal liability on the defendant, but to restore to the plaintiff particular funds
or property in the defendant’s possession.” Great-West Life & Annuity Ins. Co. v.
Knudson (2002), 534 U.S. 204, at 214, 122 S. Ct. 708, 151 L. Ed. 2d 635.
{¶ 5} “Suit that seeks the return of specific funds wrongfully collected or held by
the state is brought in equity.” Santos v. Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, 101
Ohio St. 3d 74, 2004-Ohio-28 at paragraph one of the syllabus. R.C. 2743.03(A)(1) and
(2) states:
{¶ 6} “(A)(1) There is hereby created a court of claims. The court of claims is a
court of record and has exclusive, original jurisdiction of all civil actions against the state
permitted by the waiver of immunity contained in section 2743.02 of the Revised Code,
exclusive jurisdiction of the causes of action of all parties in civil actions that are
removed to the court of claims, and jurisdiction to hear appeals from the decisions of the
court of claims commissioners. The court shall have full equity powers in all actions
within its jurisdiction and may entertain and determine all counterclaims, cross-claims,
and third-party claims.
{¶ 7} “(2) If the claimant in a civil action as described in division (A)(1) of this
section also files a claim for a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, or other equitable
relief against the state that arises out of the same circumstances that gave rise to the
civil action described in division (A)(1) of this section, the court of claims has exclusive,
original jurisdiction to hear and determine that claim in that civil action. This division
does not affect, and shall not be construed as affecting, the original jurisdiction of
another court of this state to hear and determine a civil action in which the sole relief
that the claimant seeks against the state is a declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, or
other equitable relief.”
{¶ 8} Additionally, R.C. 2743.10(A) states in pertinent part:
{¶ 9} “Civil actions against the state for two thousand five hundred dollars or
less shall be determined administratively by the clerk of the court of claims . . .” R.C.
2743.10 does not confer equity jurisdiction at the Administrative Determination level of
this court. Administrative Determination actions are solely for money damages. Equity
jurisdiction in matters involving the state are reserved for judicial review. Although
plaintiff, in the instant claim, is seeking to recover funds he asserted were wrongfully
withheld, the funds sought for recovery represent a claim for equitable relief and not
money damages. Consequently, this court at the Administrative Determination level
has no jurisdiction over claims grounded in equity based on the wrongful collection of
funds from an inmate. See Flanagan v. Ohio Victims of Crime Fund, Ct. of Cl. No.
2003-08193-AD, 2004-Ohio-1842; also Blake v. Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ct. of
Cl. No. 2004-06089-AD, 2004-Ohio-5420; and Johnson v. Trumbull Corr. Inst., Ct. of Cl.
No. 2004-08375-AD, jud. aff. (5-05-05), 2005-Ohio-1241.
{¶ 10} In essence the jurisdiction of the entire Court of Claims is based upon the
type of relief sought, either money damages or equity. In Parsons v. Ohio Bur. of
Workers’ Compensation, Franklin App. No. 03AP-772, 2004-Ohio-4552, the 10th District
Court of Appeals further addressed the issue of jurisdiction on equitable relief claims
stating: “ . . . the Court of Claims’ jurisdiction is limited, in pertinent part, only to civil
actions against the state permitted by the waiver of immunity contained within R.C.
2743.02. Thus, if the state consented to suit upon a claim prior to the enactment of the
waiver contained in R.C. 2743.02, then the Court of Claims’ jurisdiction does not extend
to that claim. Knecht v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr. (1992), 78 Ohio App. 3d 360, 365;
Upjohn Co. v. Ohio Dept. of Human Services (1991), 77 Ohio App. 3d 827, 834. See,
also, R.C. 2743.02(A)(1) (‘To the extent that the state has previously consented to be
sued, this chapter has no applicability.’). The state consented to be sued for equitable
claims prior to the enactment of the Court of Claims Act. Racing Guild of Ohio, Local
304 v. State Racing Comm. (1986), 28 Ohio St. 3d 317, 320. Accordingly, we conclude
that the Court of Claims cannot exercise jurisdiction over Parsons’ equitable action” at
¶12. Concomitantly, the court cannot exercise jurisdiction over plaintiff’s equitable
action.
Court of Claims of Ohio
The Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street, Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263
www.cco.state.oh.us
KERMIT HARRIS
Plaintiff
v.
GRAFTON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
Defendant
Case No. 2009-07563-AD
Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert
ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION
For the reasons set forth in the memorandum decision filed concurrently
herewith, plaintiff’s case is DISMISSED with prejudice. Court costs are assessed
against plaintiff.
________________________________
DANIEL R. BORCHERT
Deputy Clerk
Entry cc:
Kermit Harris, #344-720 Gregory C. Trout, Chief Counsel
501 Thompson Road Department of Rehabilitation
Conneaut, Ohio 44030 and Correction
770 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43222
RDK/laa
5/27
Filed 6/28/10
Sent to S.C. reporter 10/22/10