On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Julia Rielinger filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Ohio seeking both a writ of mandamus and a writ of prohibition against the Cleveland Municipal Court, presided over by Administrative and Presiding Judge Scott J. Mona, and the Eighth District Court of Appeals, overseen by Administrative and Presiding Judge Eileen Gallagher. Rielinger, representing herself, alleges that the lower courts made unlawful decisions in an eviction case that severely harmed her.
In her petition, Rielinger requests the Supreme Court to compel the Eighth District Court of Appeals, under Judge Gallagher, to reopen her appeal and to prohibit the Cleveland Municipal Court, under Judge Mona, from further proceedings in what she claims is a void eviction matter. She argues that the Supreme Court is the only court capable of intervening to ensure justice, protect public interest, and prevent further harm to herself and others.
The case stems from an eviction action in Cleveland Municipal Court, case number 2025-CVG-009765, where Rielinger and her former company were named. Rielinger claims that the Eighth District Court of Appeals improperly dismissed her appeal based on a pending vexatious-litigator declaration, despite her having filed for leave within thirty days.
Rielinger further asserts that she consistently paid rent and bond as required by R.C. 1923.14(A), but the Municipal Court still issued an eviction order. She alleges that before the move-out date, the landlord changed the locks and entered the premises without notice or consent, resulting in approximately $90,000 in damage to furniture and other losses exceeding $110,000.
The petition also details allegations of perjury and fraud on the court by the landlord and their attorney, with the court allegedly denying sanctions. Rielinger claims the premises were rat-infested and flood-damaged, and the landlord failed to meet obligations under R.C. 5321.04 and the lease agreement. She states that the city issued multiple citations to the landlord for these issues, with plans to shut down the building for infestation treatment.
Rielinger contends that the court has no jurisdiction over her because she is not a resident of Ohio and has not been an agent or owner of Sara Mellott Real Estate Dev LLC since 2023. She claims the landlord owes her hundreds of thousands, if not millions and that the landlord has collected over $200,000 from the business account of Sara Mellott Real Estate Dev LLC when they were only supposed to collect $52,200.
Supporting documentation included in the filing references a report from Blessed Assistance Services LLC, detailing a rat infestation at the Rockwell building in Cleveland, with specific mention of a Hot Pot restaurant contributing to the problem. The report, dated December 16, 2024, recommends drastic measures, including shutting down the building for two days each month for a year to combat the rat epidemic. An addendum to the report, dated September 20, 2025, reiterates the severity of the rat problem and alleges that the landlord has been retaliating against tenants who reported code violations.
Rielinger is seeking a writ of mandamus to reopen her appeal, a writ of prohibition to prevent enforcement of eviction orders, a declaration that all lower-court orders entered without jurisdiction are void, an accounting hearing for rent over-collection and property damage, a stay of all lower-court actions, and a referral to the Disciplinary Counsel for investigation of judicial misconduct.
