Opinion
Nos. 83-1101 and 83-1417
Decided October 10, 1984.
Courts — Jurisdiction — Identical claims filed in both Court of Claims and court of common pleas — Writ of Procedendo issued, when.
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Franklin County.
IN PROCEDENDO.
These actions arise out of a claim asserted by Larry L. Edwards, alleging the wrongful death of his wife as the result of negligent medical treatment by Dr. William A. Wallace, D.D.S., the Ohio State University Hospital, and several other doctors involved in her care.
On December 8, 1980, Edwards filed two actions setting forth identical claims against the Ohio State University and several doctors, including Wallace — one in the Court of Claims and one in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County which was assigned to Judge Dale C. Crawford. The Court of Claims dismissed all defendants except the Ohio State University. The court of common pleas dismissed all defendants except Dr. Wallace and Dr. G.L. Racey.
On May 20, 1982, the Court of Claims entered an order staying all proceedings in that court pending the outcome of the action in common pleas court. Dr. Wallace then filed an action in procedendo in the court of appeals seeking the issuance of a writ to compel Judge George E. Tyack of the Court of Claims to proceed to trial. The court of appeals allowed the writ and the cause is now before this court upon an appeal as of right. Execution of the writ has been stayed pending appeal.
After the appeal was taken to this court in case No. 83-1101, Judge Crawford, respondent in case No. 83-1417, issued an indefinite stay in the court of common pleas action pending resolution of the action in the Court of Claims. Relator, Edwards, then brought this original action in procedendo to compel Judge Crawford to proceed to trial.
We have consolidated these cases for determination.
Messrs. Lane, Alton Horst, Mr. Jack R. Alton and Mr. Theodore M. Munsell, for appellee in case No. 83-1101.
Mr. Anthony J. Celebrezze, Jr., attorney general, and Mr. David E. Northrop, for appellant in case No. 83-1101.
Charles Roger Andrews Co., L.P.A., and Mr. Charles R. Andrews, for relator in case No. 83-1417. Mr. Michael Miller, prosecuting attorney, and Mr. Craig B. Paynter, for respondent in case No. 83-1417.
Messrs. Lane, Alton Horst, Mr. Jack R. Alton and Mr. Theodore M. Munsell, urging denial of the writ for amicus curiae, Dr. William A. Wallace, in case No. 83-1417.
In case No. 83-1101, Judge Tyack argues that the court of appeals erroneously allowed the writ to compel him to proceed to trial in the Court of Claims. We agree with Judge Tyack's arguments challenging the basis for that decision. First, the court of appeals erroneously determined that the stay issued in the Court of Claims deprived Dr. Wallace of raising potential collateral estoppel or res judicata defenses. These defenses require an identity of parties and an identity of issues. State, ex rel. Westchester, v. Bacon (1980), 61 Ohio St.2d 42 [15 O.O.3d 53]. The parties are not the same in the two underlying actions and a finding that the hospital was negligent in one action would not necessarily preclude a finding that Wallace was also negligent in the other.
The court of appeals also concluded that by dismissing Wallace as a party to the Court of Claims action, Wallace was precluded from asserting potential third-party claims against the hospital. This is also erroneous. Had Wallace chosen to do so, he could have asserted a third-party claim against the hospital in the common pleas court proceeding, and the entire action could have been removed to the Court of Claims under R.C. 2743.03(E). No third-party claim was asserted.
On the other hand, we find Judge Tyack's arguments in support of the stay to be equally unpersuasive. He contends that the Court of Claims proceeding must be stayed pending the outcome of the common pleas court action in order to comply with the collateral recovery rule of R.C. 2743.02(D). That section provides:
"Recoveries against the state shall be reduced by the aggregate of insurance proceeds, disability award, or other collateral recovery received by the claimant."
A judgment against Wallace or Racey in the common pleas court proceeding arising from their negligence is not necessarily a collateral source of recovery for damages alleged to be caused by the hospital. Even if the rule would apply in this situation, its enforcement does not require a delay of the trial. Rather, the case could proceed to trial and the amount of any judgment would be held subject to reduction upon the outcome in the other proceeding.
Judge Tyack and Judge Crawford, in case No. 83-1417, charge that the issuance of the writ of procedendo interferes with their right to control their dockets. "Procedendo is a high prerogative writ of an extraordinary nature. It is an order from a court of superior jurisdiction to proceed to judgment * * *." State, ex rel. Ratliff, v. Marshall (1972), 30 Ohio St.2d 101, 102 [59 O.O.2d 114], "It does not lie to control or interfere with ordinary court procedure or process." State, ex rel. St. Sava, v. Riley (1973), 36 Ohio St.2d 171, 174 [65 O.O.2d 395]. We also recognize that the determination of whether to issue a stay of proceedings generally rests within the court's discretion and will not be disturbed absent a showing of an abuse of discretion. State, ex rel. Buck, v. McCabe (1942), 140 Ohio St. 535, 537 [24 O.O. 552]; State, ex rel. Smith, v. Friedman (1970), 22 Ohio St.2d 25, 26 [50 O.O.2d 41].
However, we find that the situation in the case at bar presents such an abuse of discretion because both the Court of Claims and the court of common pleas have issued stays of proceedings, thereby precluding Edwards from litigating his wrongful death claim. We cannot agree that the interests of Judge Tyack and Judge Crawford in preserving their right to control their dockets is paramount to Edwards' interest in having his claims litigated without undue delay.
For this reason only, we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals in case No. 83-1101, and allow the writ in case No. 83-1417.
Judgment affirmed in case No. 83-1101.
Writ allowed in case No. 83-1417.
CELEBREZZE, C.J., W. BROWN, SWEENEY, LOCHER, C. BROWN and J.P. CELEBREZZE, JJ., concur.
HOLMES, J., concurs in judgment only.