Magistrate

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The Parma Municipal Court employs Magistrates to conduct certain hearings. A Magistrate is a licensed attorney who has been practicing for several years. A Magistrate typically hears cases such as small claims, evictions, post-judgment execution, traffic and pre-trials for both civil and criminal cases.

Parma Municipal Court magistrates are:

  • Magistrate Edward J. Fink
  • Magistrate John L. Spellacy
  • Magistrate George Lonjak

In certain cases, such as small claims and evictions cases, the Magistrates will render a decision. In the event that you feel the Magistrate's decision is in error, you may file objections.

The Magistrate's Decision shall be deemed "filed" five (5) days after the date marked "filed" for the purpose of filing an objection, pursuant to Rule 53 (E)(3)(a) of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. An objection to the Magistrate's Decision along with a transcript must be filed within fourteen (14) days of the date the Magistrate's Decision is "filed". A deposit of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) is required to prepare the transcript for a Small Claim and a deposit of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) is required to prepare the transcript for an Eviction. Any additional cost must be paid before the transcript is released to you. Request for a transcript should be made within seven (7) days from the date the Magistrate's Decision is "filed". A $10.00 fee must be paid when the objection is filed.

Any pleading must be served upon the other side, and must also comply with local court rules and the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. If you have questions about these requirements, you should consult an attorney.