2005 Ohio 3473 | Ohio Ct. App. | 2005
{¶ 2} Plaintiff-appellant, Hayes Rowan ("Rowan"), appeals the common pleas court's decision granting defendant-appellee Ronald McLaughlin's ("McLaughlin") motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Finding no merit to the appeal, we affirm.
{¶ 3} First, we address Rowan's disregard of the appellate rules contained in his appellate brief. He has certified that his brief was not served on McLaughlin, urging this court to "grant the appeal, ex parte." App.R. 13(B) and 18(A) require that the parties serve their briefs on opposing parties or counsel. This court sua sponte ordered Rowan to serve McLaughlin a copy of his brief pursuant to App.R. 13(B). McLaughlin indicated at oral argument that he received Rowan's brief pursuant to our order. Rowan is admonished to comply with all applicable rules in future filings in this court. Failure to comply with the appellate rules may result in sanctions.
{¶ 4} McLaughlin is the guardian of Rowan's mother, Genevieve Rowan (the "ward"). In September 2004, Rowan filed an amended complaint against McLaughlin, purporting to allege various civil claims, including negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and slander, arising out of McLaughlin's fiduciary relationship with the ward. McLaughlin moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, arguing that the probate court had exclusive jurisdiction over the matter. The common pleas court agreed and granted the motion.
{¶ 5} Rowan appeals, raising one assignment of error. He claims that the trial court erred in dismissing the complaint because the probate court does not have jurisdiction to award money damages on his civil claims. He, therefore, maintains that the common pleas court should decide his claims. We disagree.
{¶ 6} We review a trial court's decision on a Civ.R. 12(B)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under a de novo standard of review. Kramer v. Installations Unlimited, Inc.,
{¶ 7} R.C.
{¶ 8} Further, R.C.
{¶ 9} Relying on Kindt v. Cleveland Trust Co. (1971),
"An action seeking monetary damages is within the probate court's plenary power at law and clearly affects the court's direction and control of the fiduciaries' conduct and affects the court's settlement of the fiduciaries' accounts. It must be remembered that the probate court's plenary power at law authorizes the probate court to exercise complete jurisdiction over the subject matter to the fullest extent required in a given case."
{¶ 10} Goff, supra. Further, the Ohio Supreme Court cited Goff with approval in State ex rel. Lewis v. Moser,
{¶ 11} Accordingly, because Rowan's claims pertained to McLaughlin's conduct in his capacity as a guardian, we agree with the common pleas court that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction. The probate court has exclusive jurisdiction over the claims pertaining to McLaughlin and the ward. Further, we find that Rowan's prayer for money damages does not divest the probate court of its jurisdiction over the matter.
{¶ 12} The sole assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Gallagher, J. and Corrigan, J. Concur.