State ex rel. McGraw v. Gorman

The statute from which Cleveland’s housing court derives its jurisdiction is R.C. 1901.181. That section reads in part as follows:

“(A) Subject to section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, if a municipal court has a housing division, the housing division has exclusive jurisdiction in any civil action to enforce any local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, or safety code, ordinance, or regulation applicable to premises used or intended for use as a place of human habitation, * * *.”1 (Emphasis added.)

Appellants essentially argue that the “exclusive jurisdiction” conferred on…