State ex rel. Chapman v. Porterfield
State ex rel. Chapman v. Porterfield
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
This is an original action in mandamus wherein the petitioner alleges that he is incarcerated in the Franklin County jail under a detainer order issued by or under the control or authority of the defendant; that §§5119.01 and 5119.10 R. C., requires the defendant to make and prescribe rules and regulations for the control and performance of all duties imposed upon the Department of Mental Hygiene and Correction; that said
To this petition a demurrer has been filed on the ground that the petition fails to state sufficient facts to show a cause of action. The defendant urges, and we think properly so, that the prayer of the petition is so vague and indefinite as to be virtually incomprehensible and incapable of enforcement by any writ of mandamus. It does not appear to us that it is necessary for the Director to promulgate any rules or regulations in order to protect the constitutional and legal rights of this petitioner. If his constitutional and legal rights are being invaded by way of trespass he must, perforce, have an adequate remedy at law against those who have perpetrated the invasion.
The petitioner also fails to suggest what specific rules or regulations should be promulgated by the Director and if a writ of mandamus were capable of being issued in this case it should be of sufficient definiteness as to apprise the defendant of precisely what the court will require him to do. The vague generalities requested by the defendant could lead to the adoption by the Director of rules and regulations which were merely a restatement of the statutory laws.
It further appears that the petitioner has failed to allege that he has been in any way affected by the alleged failure of the Director to promulgate the rules and regulations which he claims are mandatory. It is alleged that he is incarcerated by virtue of a detainer issued under the authority of the Director, but he does not allege that either his incarceration or the detainer pursuant to which he was incarcerated was the result of the failure of the Director to prescribe any rules or regulations in that regard.
It is stated in State, ex rel. Skilton v. Miller, 164 Oh St 163, in the syllabus:
“1. A relator, in order to maintain an action in mandamus, must have a beneficial interest in the act sought to be compelled.
“2. If no legal right of a person can be affected by the failure of a public official to act in any given matter, such person does not have a beneficial interest such as will permit him to maintain an action in mandamus to require such official to so act.”
It is our conclusion that the petition fails to state a cause of action and the demurrer is sustained.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.