On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Victoria E. Ullmann filed a complaint for writ of mandamus and prohibition in the Supreme Court of Ohio, targeting Judge Kristin Boggs of the 10th District Court of Appeals. The complaint stems from Ullmann’s ongoing legal battle regarding a declaratory judgment action she filed against the city of Columbus.
Ullmann, who is representing herself, alleges that Judge Boggs, acting in her capacity as Administrative Judge, failed to comply with the statutory requirements outlined in Ohio law. Specifically, Ullmann contends that the 10th District Court of Appeals lacked jurisdiction to hear her appeal due to the absence of a final appealable order from the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, where Judge Chris Brown had presided over her initial case.
In her complaint, Ullmann asserts that Judge Brown’s decision, which was made on summary judgment, did not fulfill the necessary legal criteria. She claims that Judge Brown ignored her request for an injunction and did not issue a declaration of rights as required under Ohio Revised Code § 2721.03. As a result, Ullmann argues, the appellate court’s decision in her case, identified as Ullmann v. City of Columbus, 23 AP 717, is void ab initio, meaning it is legally invalid from the outset.
The complaint further states that despite lacking jurisdiction, the 10th District Court of Appeals, under Judge Boggs’ leadership, proceeded to hear the case on its merits. Ullmann claims that Judge Boggs explicitly refused to adhere to the statutory requirements and failed to certify a conflict with other districts regarding jurisdictional issues that arose from her case.
Ullmann’s legal challenges began when the city of Columbus filed an environmental complaint against her in the Franklin County Environmental Court. She contended that the claims made against her were frivolous and subsequently filed a motion to dismiss. However, Judge Stephanie Mingo of the Environmental Court did not provide an appropriate ruling on that motion, leading Ullmann to file a complaint seeking a declaratory judgment as her only recourse.
In her appeal, Ullmann anticipated that the 10th District would remand her case back to the common pleas court due to the jurisdictional issues identified. Instead, her case was placed on the merits briefing docket. After extensive briefing, Judge Boggs and her panel declined to follow the provisions of R.C. 2721.03, further complicating Ullmann’s legal situation.
Ullmann’s complaint requests that the Supreme Court of Ohio issue a writ of prohibition and mandamus, compelling the 10th District to vacate its earlier decision and return the case to the common pleas court for the issuance of a final appealable order. She seeks clarity on her rights under the law, which she argues have not been adequately addressed due to the procedural missteps in the appellate process.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
