Huntington Natl. Bank v. Lomaz, Unpublished Decision (7-28-2006)
Huntington Natl. Bank v. Lomaz, Unpublished Decision (7-28-2006)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} This appeal arises from an action for foreclosure based on a judgment lien and mortgage filed by appellee, The Huntington National Bank, October 22, 2001, against a certain property in Portage County, Ohio. Mr. Lomaz and Pacific Financial (a corporation controlled by him) were named as defendants in that action, and have vigorously opposed the foreclosure. Finally, May 17, 2005, the trial court issued its decree of foreclosure. A sheriff's sale was scheduled for September 12, 2005.
{¶ 3} September 2, 2005, Mr. Lomaz and Pacific Financial filed a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B)(4). Hearing was held September 8, 2005, the trial court denying the motion that day. September 9, 2005, this appeal was filed, along with a motion for emergency stay of the sheriff's sale, which this court granted. Following status conference, this court granted, by a judgment entry dated September 21, 2005, a stay of the sheriff's sale during the pendency of the appeal.
{¶ 4} April 4, 2005, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, speaking through Judge Gaughan, issued an order finding Mr. Lomaz to be a "vexatious litigator." As defined by R.C.
{¶ 5} The Northern District's order requires Mr. Lomaz, any business entity controlled by him — including Pacific Financial — whether acting either pro se or through counsel, to obtain leave of that court before (amongst many other things) instituting actions in any Ohio court of appeals.
{¶ 6} Huntington brought the Northern District's order to the attention of this court immediately upon the filing of the motion to stay the sheriff's sale. In our September 21, 2005 entry granting that motion, we found as follows:
{¶ 7} "[u]nder its third argument, Appellee argues that this Court should not render a final decision on the stay motion because: (1) a federal district court has found Appellant Lomaz to be a vexatious litigator under R.C.
{¶ 8} R.C.
{¶ 9} "[a] person who is subject to an order entered pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section may not institute legal proceedings in a court of appeals, * * * or make any application, other than the application for leave to proceed allowed by division (F)(2) of this section, * * * without first obtaining leave of the court of appeals to proceed pursuant to division (F)(2) of this section." (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 10} R.C.
{¶ 11} "[a] person who is subject to an order entered pursuant to division (D)(1) of this section and who seeks to institute or continue any legal proceedings in a court of appeals or to make an application, other than an application for leave to proceed under division (F)(2) of this section, in any legal proceedings in a court of appeals shall file an application for leave to proceed in the court of appeals in which the legal proceedings would be instituted or are pending. * * *" (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 12} R.C.
{¶ 13} "[w]henever it appears by suggestion of the parties or otherwise that a person found to be a vexatious litigator * * * has instituted, continued, or made an application in legal proceedings without obtaining leave to proceed from the appropriate * * * court of appeals * * * the court * * * shall dismiss the proceedings or application of the vexatious litigator." (Emphasis added.)
{¶ 14} The use of the word "shall" in R.C.
{¶ 15} An application for leave to proceed filed by a vexatious litigator in a court of appeals tolls, until the court grants or denies the application, "* * * an applicable period of limitations within which the legal proceedings or application generally must be instituted or made." R.C.
{¶ 16} The thirty-day time requirement of App.R. 4(A) is jurisdictional. In re Taylor, 11th Dist. Nos. 2006-L-076 and 2006-L-077,
{¶ 17} The appeal is dismissed. The stay of execution of the sale of the land subject of this matter, filed by this court September 21, 2005, is lifted. The Portage County Clerk of Courts is ordered to pay to appellee, The Huntington National Bank, the full amount of the supersedeas bond posted by appellants, Larry D. Lomaz and Pacific Financial Services, Inc., in this matter, including any interest accrued.
Rice, J., concurs, Grendell, J., concurs in judgment only.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.