Autovest, L.L.C. v. Strickland

Apr 13, 2015

2015-P-0022

Versions:

Randy T. Slovin, Slovin & Associates Co., L.P.A., 8150 Corporate Park Drive, #350, Cincinnati, OH 45242 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Anthony R. Strickland, pro se, 4475 Fulton Road, Cleveland, OH 44144 (Defendant-Appellant).

MEMORANDUM OPINION

COLLEEN MARY O‘TOOLE, J.

{¶1} On March 9, 2015, appellant, Anthony R. Strickland, pro se, filed a notice of appeal from a February 3, 2015 entry of the Portage County Court of Common Pleas.

{¶2} App.R. 3(A) expressly states that the only jurisdictional requirement for the filing of a valid appeal is to file a notice of appeal within the time allowed by App.R. 4. The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that the failure to comply with the time requirements of App.R. 4(A) is a jurisdictional defect, which is fatal to an appeal. In re H.F., 120 Ohio St.3d 499, 2008-Ohio-6810, ¶ 17, citing State ex rel. Pendell v. Adams Cty. Bd. of Elections, 40 Ohio St.3d 58, 60 (1988).

{¶3} App.R. 4(A)(1) states that, “[s]ubject to the provisions of App.R. 4(A)(3), a party who wishes to appeal from an order that is final upon its entry shall file the notice of appeal required by App.R. 3 within 30 days of that entry.” Further, “[i]n a civil case, if the clerk has not completed service of the order within the three-day period prescribed in Civ.R. 58(B), the 30-day periods referenced in App.R. 4(A)(1) and 4(A)(2) begin to run on the date when the clerk actually completes service.” App.R. 4(A)(3).

{¶4} Civ.R. 58(B) directs the clerk of courts to serve the parties with notice of the judgment within three days of entering the judgment upon the journal.

{¶5} The record in this case clearly shows that the order from which appellant wishes to appeal was entered on the court‘s docket and filed on February 3, 2015. Furthermore, on February 5, 2015, the clerk of courts noted on the appearance docket that copies of the entry were issued to the parties.

{¶6} Thus, service was made on appellant within the three day period required in Civ.R. 58(B), and the thirty day time period began to run on the date of entry of judgment, February 3, 2015. Accordingly, the deadline for appellant to file his notice of appeal was March 5, 2015, which was not a holiday or a weekend. This court is not empowered to extend the time deadline in civil cases. Pendell, supra, at 60; see also App.R. 14(B). Appellant untimely filed his notice of appeal on March 9, 2015.

{¶7} Based upon the foregoing, this appeal is dismissed, sua sponte, pursuant to App.R. 4(A).

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.,

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.,

concur.