FILED: February 18, 1998
JUDE HANZO,
Respondent,
v.
PAUL dePARRIE,
Appellant,
and
STATE OF OREGON,
Intervenor.
Appeal from Circuit Court, Multnomah County.
Thomas L. Moultrie, Judge.
Submitted on record and briefs August 29, 1997.
Paul deParrie filed the briefs pro se.
Katherine A. McDowell, Deborah K. Smith and Stoel Rives LLP filed the brief for respondent.
Hardy Myers, Attorney General, Virginia L. Linder, Solicitor General, and Robert M. Atkinson, Assistant Attorney General, filed the brief for intervenor.
Norman L. Lindstedt, Lindstedt & Buono, P.C., and Walter M. Weber, Of Counsel, New Hope, Kentucky, filed the brief for Amicus Catholics United for Life.
Before De Muniz, Presiding Judge, Deits, Chief Judge, and Haselton, Judge.
HASELTON, J.
Judgment on petitioner's complaint for issuance of stalking protective order and award of attorney fees reversed; judgment dismissing respondent's counterclaims affirmed.
Deits, C.J., concurring.
HASELTON, J.
Respondent Paul deParrie appeals from the judgment in this action under ORS 30.866, the civil stalking statute, in which petitioner Jude Hanzo sought and obtained a permanent stalking protective order (SPO) against deParrie.(1) We conclude, on de novo review, that petitioner failed to prove that respondent, on two or more occasions, engaged in conduct constituting "a threat or something that does not differ meaningfully from one." State v. Rangel, 146 Or App 571, 577, 934 P2d 1128, rev allowed 325 Or 367 (1997). Accordingly, we reverse the judgment granting the SPO.
At all material times, petitioner was the executive director of All Women's Health Services, a Portland health center that provides gynecological health care and counseling services, including performing abortions. In 1985, the clinic was the target of a mail bomb.
Respondent is a leader of Advocates for Life Ministries, a group that opposes abortion, and is also the editor of Life Advocate magazine. At various times, Life Advocate magazine has editorialized that the use of "godly force" is "morally justified" in defense of "innocent life." In addition, on two occasions, respondent signed declarations or manifestos of support for anti-abortionist activists who killed abortion providers. In 1993, respondent and 28 other activists signed the following statement concerning Michael Griffin, who shot and killed Dr. David Gunn in Pensacola, Florida:
"We, the undersigned, declare the justice of taking all godly action necessary to defend innocent human life including the use of force. We proclaim that whatever force is legitimate to defend the life of a born child is legitimate to defend the life of an unborn child."We assert that if Michael Griffin did in fact kill David Gunn, his use of lethal force was justifiable provided it was carried out for the purpose of defending the lives of unborn children. Therefore, he ought to be acquitted of the charges against him."
The primary sponsor of that declaration was a group called "Defensive Action," whose director, Paul Hill, also signed the statement. In July 1994, Hill shot and killed Dr. John Britton and James Barrett, Britton's escort, and wounded Barrett's wife at another clinic in Pensacola. Respondent and 30 others subsequently signed a declaration that reiterated the earlier declaration and stated that Hill's "actions are morally justified if they were necessary for the purpose of defending innocent human life."
In 1994, respondent described Shelley Shannon, who had attempted to kill Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas abortion provider, as "a hero."(2) In January 1995, respondent publicly stated that John Salvi was "morally justified" in killing two receptionists at a Boston abortion clinic.
There is no evidence that respondent himself has ever engaged in violent activity against abortion providers. Nor is there any evidence that he has ever directed others to engage in violent activities. Respondent has twice been arrested for trespass in connection with protests at abortion clinics, but the record does not disclose that he was convicted in either instance.
Although the record does not say so explicitly, it appears that, for some time before the spring of 1995, respondent had organized and participated in anti-abortion protests at the All Women's Health Services clinic. None of that activity, however, was directed to petitioner at her home.
In April 1995, that changed. Respondent and others initiated a so-called "S.H.A.M.E." ("Stigmatize, Harangue, Agitate, Mortify, and Expose") campaign that centered on petitioner's home. Although the parties vehemently disagree about the specific purpose of that campaign--i.e., whether it was intended to "coerce" and "terrorize" petitioner or merely to cause her to "reconsider" and "repent"--no one disputes that the S.H.A.M.E. campaign was generally calculated to bring anti-abortion efforts "home" to petitioner's personal life and personal space.(3)
Conduct and communications allegedly associated with the S.H.A.M.E. campaign gave rise to petitioner's stalking complaint. Specifically:
"Let her know that you think she should not kill children for a living.
"Write her at the above home address or call her at her office." During the ensuing picketing, respondent and the others stood on the public street and
sidewalk in front of respondent's home displaying a large sign that read "FREE PAUL
HILL! JAIL ABORTIONISTS!" and other signs bearing anti-abortion slogans, none of
which advocated violence against abortion providers.(5) The picketing activity was
peaceful and involved no direct interaction between petitioner and respondent or the
other participants. There is no evidence that respondent or the others trespassed on
Hanzo's property or, for that matter, even engaged in shouting or chanting.
"IF YOU'RE AN ABORTIONIST WE WILL BE VISITING YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD SOON!" The reverse side of the flyer showed a picture of the April 22, 1995 picket at petitioner's
residence, with the caption, "An AFLM picket in front of abortionist Jude Hanzo's
house," and the following text:
"We plan to continue these activities as a public service so that
patients, colleagues, neighbors, and friends of these abortionists will know
that this person kills children for a living.
"Inside is a list of those already picketed and addresses and phone
numbers where they might be contacted. Please use whatever influence
you have to convince them to practice real medicine in keeping with their
Oath.
"COMING SOON TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!" "Pray that she will repent of her child-killing. Write her at the above
address or call her at her clinic * * * or home * * * to let her know that you
think her abortion practice is wrong." As with the April 1995 picket, respondent gave the police prior notice of the January
1996 residential picket, a police officer was present throughout and, as with the April
1995 picket, the January 1996 picket was peaceful and conducted entirely on public
streets and sidewalks. The protestors carried a large sign bearing petitioner's photograph,
with the words "ABORTIONIST" above and "Hanzo" below. They also carried other
signs of various sizes and types, which included pictures of aborted fetuses with such
captions as "Freedom of Choice?" and "Stop Abortion Now." Respondent himself
carried a sign with a picture of an aborted fetus and the single word "Abortion."
However, the January 1996 demonstration differed from the April 1995
demonstration in one material respect. Unlike the earlier demonstration, in which there
was no direct interaction between petitioner and respondent or any of the protestors, the
January demonstration involved interaction--and, indeed, confrontation.
The videotape of the January 1996 demonstration, see ___ Or App at ___ n
5 (slip op at 6, n 5), shows the protestors standing uneventfully on the sidewalk for
approximately 40 minutes. At that point, respondent announced that the group would
conduct a "Jericho walk," which consisted of walking around the block carrying their
signs. When only one or two of the protestors remained on the sidewalk in front of her
home, petitioner emerged from her front door and ran, cutting across the lawn, pursuing
the other protestors who were moving away from her home. A few seconds later, two
other women, carrying coffee mugs, emerged from the house and walked across the lawn
to join petitioner. The women, including petitioner, positioned themselves behind the
bulk of the picketers, walking beside some of the picketers in the street and on the
parking strip.
The groups exchanged comments, with the women in petitioner's group
initiating the interaction by telling the protestors that they were "invading private space."
The women told the protestors to "get out of this neighborhood; we don't want you here"
and "be gone." One of the women taunted the protestors for hiding their faces behind
their signs. The protestors responded with statements such as, "You kill babies," "You're
a murderer," "You're rotten to the core," and "You women are a disgrace."
During that exchange, which lasted several minutes, petitioner took
photographs of the protestors. The demeanor of both groups was somewhat
confrontational; it was by no means a matter of one group engaging in aggressive
conduct, while the other group cowered. The only person who appeared afraid was one
of the protestors, a woman who left the group and walked out into the street toward the
uniformed police officer, who was observing the protest from the other side of the street.
Petitioner followed that woman, who appeared intimitated when petitioner approached
and took her photograph.
Throughout the exchange, respondent stood several yards behind both
groups, videotaping the scene and making no remarks. As petitioner and her companions
turned back and walked towards her home, they said to respondent: "Here's Mr. Terrorist
himself." "Jesus, Paul, go on a diet. You're disgusting." "American Coalition for Life
Activists? How embarrassing; they can't show their face." One of petitioner's
companions said to respondent, "Nobody's going to believe you're healthy or even sane.
All they have to do is look at you." Respondent did not answer.
Petitioner and the other women with her then returned to her home and
stood on her front walk. Respondent rejoined a couple of the protestors who had
remained behind and were speaking with an unidentified woman. When the woman
commented, "It is not reasonable to expect a human being, an adult person, to never have
sex," respondent replied, "Yeah, you can't expect an adult to have self-control after all.
Only kids can have it." The women in petitioner's group then remarked: "You oughta
talk about self-control." "Yeah, really." "I've seen you in action * * * and it's pretty
sickening."
A minute later, the remainder of the protestors returned from their walk,
and petitioner and her companions went back inside the house. The protestors gathered
for a prayer, which was conducted quietly. As they were praying, several of petitioner's
companions left the house and slowly walked away. The demonstration ended shortly
thereafter.
On March 26, 1996, petitioner filed a stalking complaint in Multnomah
County Circuit Court seeking an SPO against respondent pursuant to ORS 30.866(1),(8) as
well as attorney fees and costs pursuant to ORS 30.866(4)(c).(9) Petitioner alleged that
each of the six incidents just described constituted an "unwanted contact" that had
"alarm[ed] or coerce[d]" her, and she sought to enjoin respondent from contacting her in
nine of the eleven ways described in ORS 163.730(3).(10) See ORS 163.730 (definitions in
ORS 163.730 apply to ORS 30.866). Petitioner asserted that, given respondent's
consistent declarations in support of those who have committed violence against abortion
providers, as well as a nationwide escalation of violence against abortion providers and,
particularly, those who have been "targeted" by certain anti-abortion groups, it was
objectively reasonable for her to have been alarmed by respondent's alleged conduct.
Respondent, appearing pro se, filed an answer, which included
counterclaims for "infliction of emotional distress" and for deprivation of civil rights
under 42 USC § 1983. Respondent also filed a variety of pretrial motions, all of which
were denied.(11)
In May 1996, following a two-day hearing, the trial court issued a
permanent SPO. The trial court found that respondent had organized and led the April
1995 and January 1996 demonstrations outside petitioner's home, and it identified those
demonstrations as the "predicate contacts" upon which it based its ruling. The court
further found that those demonstrations were part of a "S.H.A.M.E. campaign" directed
against petitioner and that those contacts were calculated to alarm or coerce petitioner
into ceasing her abortion-related employment. Finally, the court found that, given "the
intensity of the contacts and their potentially violent and confrontational nature," it was
objectively reasonable for petitioner to feel alarmed or coerced and that she was in fact
alarmed or coerced. In addition to issuing the SPO, the court awarded petitioner attorney
fees pursuant to ORS 30.866(4)(c).(12)
On appeal, respondent raises twelve assignments of error, many of which
pertain to rulings on pretrial motions and some of which broadly challenge the
constitutionality of the anti-stalking statutes on their face and as applied to the facts of
this case. In particular, respondent's eleventh assignment of error asserts broadly, albeit
somewhat inartfully, that issuance of a permanent SPO on the basis of the "contacts"
alleged and proved here offends the free expression protections of both the Oregon
Constitution and the United States Constitution. As amplified below, we agree and
reverse on that basis. Accordingly, we do not consider respondent's other assignments of
error.
Before addressing the substance of respondent's eleventh assignment of
error, we must clarify our standard of review on questions of fact underlying the issuance
of SPOs. ORS 30.866 does not specify any standard of review, and we have never
previously resolved that question.
The classification of a claim, for standard of review purposes, depends
upon "the essential nature of the case, including the nature of the relief sought." State
Farm Fire v. Sevier, 272 Or 278, 299, 537 P2d 88 (1975). When a claim arises from a
statute, we examine the statute to determine whether the legislature intended the claim to
be legal or equitable in nature. See Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v. Tualatin Tire &
Auto, 322 Or 406, 414-19, 908 P2d 300 (1995), mod on other grounds 325 Or 46, 932
P2d 1141 (1997). Legislative and judicial treatment of claims arising under analogous
statutes is pertinent to that inquiry.
Here, two cases involving the Family Abuse Protection Act (FAPA), ORS
107.700 to ORS 107.732, are particularly enlightening as to the proper standard of
review of civil SPOs issued pursuant to ORS 30.866. Similarities between the two
statutory schemes, in structure--and, to a large extent, in purpose--are apparent. In State
ex rel Hathaway v. Hart, 300 Or 231, 241-42, 708 P2d 1137 (1985), the Supreme Court
concluded that a defendant in a criminal contempt proceeding for violating a restraining
order under FAPA is not entitled to a trial by jury, because a FAPA "restraining order is
analogous to traditional injunctions preventing spouses from harassing each other during
a pending divorce suit." In Strother and Strother, 130 Or App 624, 629, 883 P2d 249
(1994), rev den 320 Or 508 (1995), we concluded that, given Hathaway's analysis,
FAPA restraining orders are "decrees in a suit in equity" and, thus, subject to de novo
review under former ORS 19.125(3).(13)
SPOs issued under ORS 30.866 provide relief similar to that provided by
FAPA orders, i.e., injunctive relief preventing one party from engaging in conduct with
respect to another party. Both are intended to forestall potentially violent interaction.
Given those similarities, we conclude that, as with FAPA orders, our review of SPOs
issued pursuant to ORS 30.866 is de novo.(14)
Proceeding to the merits, respondent asserts generally that the issuance of
the SPO in the circumstances presented here was unconstitutional. Respondent's
fundamental argument, as we understand it, is that the "contacts" upon which the
issuance of the SPO was premised involved constitutionally protected expression. That
argument is not framed explicitly in the terms of our analysis of the anti-stalking statutes
in State v. Rangel, 146 Or App 571, 934 P2d 1128, rev allowed 325 Or 367 (1997), and
Delgado v. Souders, 146 Or App 580, 934 P2d 1132, rev allowed 326 Or 43 (1997),
which were decided after the issuance of the SPO in this case. However, the ultimate
success of that argument depends on our analysis in those two cases and, particularly, in
Rangel.
In Rangel, we sustained ORS 163.732, which describes the crime of
stalking, against a facial overbreadth challenge. Our analysis implicated two statutes,
ORS 163.730 and ORS 163.732. ORS 163.730, which applies equally to civil and
criminal stalking proceedings, provides, in part:
"(1) 'Alarm' means to cause apprehension or fear resulting from the
perception of danger.
"(2) 'Coerce' means to restrain, compel or dominate by force or
threat.
"(3) 'Contact' includes but is not limited to:
"(a) Coming into the visual or physical presence of the other person;
"(b) Following the other person;
"(c) Waiting outside the home, property, place of work or school of
the other person or of a member of that person's family or household;
"(d) Sending or making written communications in any form to the
other person;
"(e) Speaking with the other person by any means;
"(f) Communicating with the other person through a third person;
"(g) Committing a crime against the other person;
"(h) Communicating with a third person who has some relationship
to the other person with the intent of affecting the third person's
relationship with the other person;
"(i) Communicating with business entities with the intent of
affecting some right or interest of the other person;
"(j) Damaging the other person's home, property, place of work or
school; or
"(k) Delivering directly or through a third person any object to the
home, property, place of work or school of the other person.
"* * * * *
"(7) 'Repeated' means two or more times."
ORS 163.732 provides, in part:
"(1) A person commits the crime of stalking if:
"(a) The person knowingly alarms or coerces another person or a
member of that person's immediate family or household by engaging in
repeated and unwanted contact with the other person;
"(b) It is objectively reasonable for a person in the victim's situation
to have been alarmed or coerced by the contact; and
"(c) The repeated and unwanted contact causes the victim reasonable
apprehension regarding the personal safety of the victim or a member of the
victim's immediate family or household." In Rangel, in sustaining ORS 163.732, we applied the same sort of
"narrowing construction" that the Supreme Court employed in sustaining the harassment
statute, now codified as ORS 166.065(1)(c), in State v. Moyle, 299 Or 691, 705 P2d 740
(1985):
"[T]he term 'knowing,' as used in this statute, is subsumed in the meaning
of 'intentional.' ORS 163.732 requires that the victim's alarm be
objectively reasonable and that its focus be on the victim's personal safety
or that of someone personally close to the victim. We agree with the state's
suggestion that the requisite subjective and objective conditions for the
application of the stalking statute could not exist if the actor had not
communicated the intent and did not have the ability to cause the harm that
the victim reasonably fears. Here, as in Moyle, the need to show the actor's
intent and ability to carry out the feared harm may be found in or implied
from the statute, even though, here as there, 'the statute, as written, requires'
proof of neither.
"Further, if the threatened harm to personal safety is itself intended
by the actor, it is highly unlikely that the alarm that the communication of
the threat engenders would not also be intended. Therefore, analogously to
the court's implication in Moyle that the threatened harm must be intended
under a statute that specified only the victim's alarm must be intentionally
caused, we interpret the stalking statute to require proof that the alarm as
well as the threatened act must be intended by the speaker." Rangel, 146
Or App at 577-78 (emphasis supplied). In Delgado, we affirmed the issuance of a civil SPO under ORS 30.866.
There, the respondent, who had no acquaintance with the petitioner, had repeatedly, and
for no apparent reason, appeared outside the building where the petitioner lived and put
himself in close proximity to the petitioner on sidewalks, in a library, and in other public
places. Delgado, 146 Or App at 582. In sustaining the SPO, we considered a variety of
constitutional challenges to ORS 30.866(1) and to ORS 163.730 as incorporated into the
civil stalking statute. ORS 30.866(1) provides:
"(a) The person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly engages in
repeated and unwanted contact with the other person or a member of that
person's immediate family or household thereby alarming or coercing the
other person;
"(b) It is objectively reasonable for a person in the victim's situation
to have been alarmed or coerced by the contact; and
"(c) The repeated and unwanted contact causes the victim reasonable
apprehension regarding the personal safety of the victim or a member of the
victim's immediate family or household." We rejected the respondent's argument that various terms in ORS 30.866--i.e., "contact,"
"alarm," and "personal safety"--were impermissibly vague. Further, and of particular
importance to this case, we held that, because none of the alleged predicate "contacts" in
Delgado involved expression, it was unnecessary to address whether ORS 30.866
otherwise impermissibly restrained protected expression:
Thus, in Delgado, we explicitly reserved the question of whether our construction of the
criminal stalking statute in Rangel, as predicated on Moyle, applied equally to ORS
30.866.
We now reach and decide that issue. All of the alleged "contacts" in this
case involved expression. The proper construction of the statute, in turn, drives our
assessment of respondent's "as applied" argument.
ORS 30.866(1) does not differ materially from ORS 163.732(1) with
respect to the critical elements addressed in Rangel. The two statutes provide,
respectively, as follows:
"(a) The person knowingly alarms or coerces another person or a
member of that person's immediate family or household by engaging in
repeated and unwanted contact with the other person[.]" ORS 163.732(1)
(emphasis supplied). In addition, ORS 30.866(1) (b) and (c), which require that the complainant's alarm or
coercion be both subjectively experienced and objectively reasonable, are identical to
ORS 163.732(1)(b) and (c). Further, although the remedies afforded by the civil and
criminal stalking schemes differ somewhat, both implicate the coercive use of
governmental authority, including criminal sanctions, to restrain conduct involving
expression. See, e.g., ORS 163.750(1) (defining crime of "violating a court's stalking
protective order" as including violation of order issued under ORS 30.866). Given those
material similarities, we conclude that our construction of ORS 163.732(1) in Rangel
applies equally to ORS 30.866(1).
Thus, just as a criminal stalking prosecution can, constitutionally, be
predicated on unwanted "contact" involving expression, so too can the issuance of a civil
SPO under ORS 30.866. In both cases, however, the constitutionality of the statute's
application depends on whether the statutory requisites distilled in Rangel have been
satisfied: The underlying expression must represent "a threat or something that does not
differ meaningfully from one"; the complainant must actually experience "fear or
apprehension of a danger to personal safety"; and that alarm must be objectively
reasonable. Rangel, 146 Or App at 577-78.
We begin with the requirement of a "threat or something that does not
differ meaningfully from one." The civil and criminal stalking statutes do not define a
"threat." Nor in Rangel did we. However, in two recent decisions, which also involved
the construction of criminal statutes that did not include a definition of "threat" or
"threaten," we employed the following dictionary definition of "threat":
See State v. Hall, 149 Or App 358, 364-65 n 4, 942 P2d 882, mod on other grounds 149
Or App 757, 944 P2d 1000 (1997), rev allowed ___ Or ___ (1998) (construing ORS
164.395(1), which prohibits robbery in the third degree); State v. Chakerian, 135 Or App
368, 376-77, 900 P2d 511 (1995), aff'd 325 Or 370, 958 P2d 756 (1997) (construing
"anti-rioting" statute, ORS 166.015).(15)
As noted, Rangel was predicated on Moyle. Although Moyle itself did not
explicitly define "threat" or "threaten," it did describe certain attributes of constitutionally
proscribable "threats." In Rangel, 146 Or App at 576-77, we quoted that description:
Consistently with Rangel and Moyle, we conclude that, at least where predicate
"contacts" involve expression, a civil SPO can constitutionally issue only if that
expression or other associated conduct so unambiguously, unequivocally, and
specifically communicated the respondent's determination to cause harm that an
objectively reasonable person in the petitioner's situation would fear for his or her
personal safety, or for the safety of a member of his or her immediate family or
household.
The contacts that petitioner pleaded and proved here did not meet that
requirement.(16) We begin with the two incidents that the trial court characterized as "the
predicate contacts"--the April 1995 and January 1996 demonstrations at petitioner's
home. Viewed in isolation, there was nothing "unambiguously" or
"unequivocally" threatening about respondent's conduct during the April 1995
demonstration. As noted previously, see ___ Or App at ___ (slip op at 5-6), that
demonstration was peaceful and was conducted entirely on public sidewalks and streets.
The demonstration lasted for less than an hour and involved only a handful of protestors;
there was no physical interaction between petitioner and any of the demonstrators,
including respondent. The signs respondent and the others carried, and the pamphlets
they distributed, did not urge violence against abortion providers. The only conduct that
even alluded to such violence was the distribution of the "Free Paul Hill! Jail
Abortionists!" bumper stickers and the display of a sign bearing the same legend.
Whatever message of endorsement may have been conveyed by "Free Paul Hill," it is
equally apparent that the sign and bumper stickers urged that abortion providers be
"jail[ed]," not assaulted or killed.
Petitioner asserts, however, that neither the April 1995 demonstration nor
the January 1996 demonstration, which we consider below, can, or should, be viewed in
the abstract. She points, particularly, to: (1) the contemporaneous proliferation and
escalation of violence against abortion providers, specifically including those who were
"targeted" by certain anti-abortion groups; and (2) respondent's declarations of support
for, and acquaintance with, persons who committed such violence.(17)
We reject petitioner's "contextual overlay" arguments for two related
reasons. First, even if the declarations that respondent signed are reasonably read as
advocating violence against abortion providers, that advocacy is abstract advocacy.(18)
Nothing in the stalking statutes, as construed in Rangel, suggests that such advocacy
alone, or even when coupled with manifestly nonviolent protest activity, can constitute
an actionable "unwanted contact." Second, in a related sense, if petitioner were correct,
then any contact between petitioner and respondent would, necessarily be an actionable
"unwanted contact." That is, any contact--from saying "hello" to petitioner in a grocery
store to peaceful picketing at her clinic--would be transmuted into an actionable
"unwanted contact" by virtue of respondent's generic and constitutionally protected
statements. Respondent's endorsement of the "defense of life" manifestos would,
effectively, preclude him from engaging in any picketing/protest activity directed, not
just against petitioner and her clinic, but against any abortion provider. ORS 30.866
does not, and cannot, yield that result.
In so holding, we emphasize that this is not a case in which respondent
previously engaged in violence against persons in petitioner's position or had incited
others to do so. Rather, as noted, there is no evidence that respondent has acted violently
towards abortion providers--or indeed, towards anyone--or that he has directed anyone
else to act violently.
We appreciate the practical consequences of our holding for petitioner and
others in similar positions. It is unpleasant to be picketed at one's home--or even at one's
office. But that is the essence of picketing. It is, no doubt, upsetting to be denounced as
a "murderer" merely for assisting others to exercise their constitutional rights. But
respondent, too, is entitled to exercise his constitutional rights, so long as his conduct is
not unlawful.
Our assessment of the second demonstration, in January 1996, is similar.
Again, that demonstration was peaceful; it did not involve any trespass or other unlawful
activity. Because respondent had given prior notice to the Portland Police Bureau, a
uniformed officer was present and visible. The signs the demonstrators carried and the
pamphlets they distributed did not advocate violence against abortion providers. The
only interpersonal contact between petitioner and respondent and the other demonstrators
was contact that petitioner herself initiated, when she and some other women pursued the
protestors as they were moving away from her house. The ensuing colloquy between the
two groups did not involve any threats of violence. See ___ Or App at ___ (slip op at 9-11). We conclude that, given the totality of those circumstances, the second
demonstration was not an actionable "unwanted contact" for purposes of ORS 30.866.
Although the trial court based its issuance of the SPO exclusively on the
two demonstrations and did not consider the four other alleged "contacts," it is necessary
on de novo review for us to consider the other four incidents. We conclude that none of
those incidents constituted an actionable "unwanted contact." With respect to the
delivery of the Life Advocate magazine to petitioner's residence, there is no evidence that
respondent was personally responsible for that delivery. In all events, nothing in that
publication--and, particularly, respondent's commentary--advocated violence against
abortion providers, much less in such a way as to constitute an "unequivocal" and
"unambiguous" threat against petitioner. The same is true of the postcard depicting the
fetus on the cross, which simply bore the biblical quotation "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do" and the handwritten notation "Please stop killing kids."
The fifth alleged "contact," the mailing of the flyer in June 1995, was
insufficient for many of the same reasons. Nothing in that mailing espoused violence--and, indeed, the flyer stated that Advocates for Life Ministries "is committed to the
regular exposure of abortionists through peaceful, non-violent activism." The message
of the flyer was one of persuasion, not violence: "Please use whatever influence you
have to convince [abortion providers] to practice real medicine in keeping with their
Oath."
The final alleged "contact," respondent's June 1995 call to petitioner's
unlisted home telephone number, was brief and did not involve any mention of abortion
or violence. That call consisted entirely of respondent calling, petitioner asking him how
he had obtained the unlisted number, respondent answering, and petitioner then telling
respondent never to call again and hanging up. Respondent did not call again. We agree
with petitioner that, although the content of the call was ostensibly neutral, respondent's
reasons for making the call were hardly innocuous--that is, that he wanted petitioner to
know that even her private phone number was not private, that she had "no place to hide"
from respondent's anti-abortion efforts. Although such harassment was, no doubt,
upsetting, it did not unambiguously and unequivocally communicate a determination to
injure petitioner unless she ceased her abortion-related activity.
We thus conclude that none of the six alleged contacts satisfied the
requisites for issuance of an SPO under ORS 30.866. Accordingly, the trial court erred
in granting the SPO and in awarding petitioner attorney fees pursuant to ORS
30.866(4)(c).
Judgment on petitioner's complaint for issuance of stalking protective order
and award of attorney fees reversed; judgment dismissing respondent's counterclaims
affirmed.
DEITS, C. J., concurring.
I agree with the majority's implicit conclusion that petitioner experienced
no subjective alarm or apprehension as a result of respondent's contacts. Because that
conclusion is independently dispositive of the appeal, I would not reach and I express no
view regarding many of the other issues that the majority decides.
It is unnecessary to the decision of this case to resolve the questions of
whether any alarm that the contacts could have caused, but did not, would have been
"objectively reasonable," ORS 30.866(1)(b), or whether the contacts entailed a
constitutionally proscribable "threat." See State v. Rangel, 146 Or App 571, 934 P2d
1128, rev allowed 325 Or 367 (1997). I note in particular that I would not reach and,
accordingly, do not join in the majority's disposition of petitioner's argument that
respondent's alleged earlier declarations of support for violent acts against abortion
providers may have bearing on the answers to those questions.
I concur in the result.
1. In civil stalking proceedings, the party applying for relief is denominated
the "petitioner" and the party against whom relief is sought is the "respondent."
Obviously, that nomenclature can be confusing in an appeal like this, where the
"respondent" below is the appellant and the "petitioner" below is the respondent.
Nevertheless, for consistency and in accordance with our own rules governing
designation of parties in briefs, ORAP 5.15, all references to "respondent" are to deParrie
and all references to "petitioner" are to Hanzo.
Return to previous location.
2. Respondent was personally acquainted with Shannon, formerly an Oregon
resident. They jointly participated in picketing of Oregon clinics in the late 1980s and
early 1990s.
In the fall of 1994, based, in part, on respondent's association with
Shannon, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office suspended a concealed weapons permit
that respondent had obtained in 1992.
Return to previous location.
"[Petitioner] lives comfortably in her home in your neighborhood because
she makes good money as an abortionist who kills children.
"All of these have had their grisly trade revealed to their neighbors
and friends by Advocates for Life Ministries pickets and leafleting.
Advocates is committed to the regular exposure of abortionists through
peaceful, non-violent activism.
"Advocates For Life Ministries has exposed one abortionist a month
for the last six months through home picketing, leafleting and other
activities protected under the First Amendment.
"Hanzo is a notorious Portland child-killer who directs two Oregon
abortuaries and resides in your neighborhood. She is also one of the
abortionists involved in suing local activists to prevent them from
conducting legal pickets and engaging in free speech debate on the issue.
"As used in ORS 30.866 and 163.730 to 163.750, unless the context
requires otherwise:
"Although, unlike [the harassment statute at issue in Moyle], the stalking
statute does not expressly require that a 'threat' be made to the victim, a
combination of provisions in ORS 163.730 and ORS 163.732 makes it
clear that a threat or its equivalent must have been made in order for the
crime of stalking to be found: ORS 163.730(1) defines 'alarm' as meaning
'to cause apprehension or fear resulting from the perception of danger';
ORS 163.730(2) defines 'coerce' as entailing 'force or threat'; and ORS
163.732(1)(c) requires that the victim's apprehension must relate to his or
her personal safety or that of a family or household member. Considered
together with the requirements of ORS 163.732(1) [(b) and (c)], that the
alarm be subjectively experienced and objectively reasonable, these
provisions demonstrate that, at least where the alleged activity is carried out
in whole or in part by communicative means, proof of stalking requires the
establishment of a threat or something that does not differ meaningfully
from one: For the victim to have an objectively reasonable fear or
apprehension of a danger to personal safety, the communication giving
rise to the fear must reasonably be perceivable as threatening.
"A person may bring a civil action in a circuit court for a court's
stalking protective order * * * against a person, if:
"[Souders] contends that the statute cannot be invoked against him
'without [evidence of a] genuine and imminent threat of violence which is
necessary to remove the accused's actions from constitutional [speech]
protection.' We held in Rangel that ORS 163.732, the criminal analog of
ORS 30.866, could survive under the constitutional speech provisions only
if construed in such a manner that the actor's expression giving rise to the
victim's apprehension for safety must be accompanied by the intent and
ability to commit the threatened harm. That conclusion may be equally
applicible to the civil stalking statute but it is unnecessary to decide that
question here." 146 Or App at 585-86 (emphasis supplied).
"(a) The person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly engages in
repeated and unwanted contact with the other person or a member of that
person's immediate family or household thereby alarming or coercing the
other person[.]" ORS 30.866(1) (emphasis supplied).
"1: an indication of something impending and usu[ally] undesirable or
unpleasant * * * a: an expression of an intention to inflict evil, injury, or
damage on another usu[ally] as retribution or punishment for something
done or left undone * * * b: expression of an intention to inflict loss or
harm on another by illegal means and [especially] by means involving
coercion or duress of the person threatened[.]" Webster's Third New
International Dictionary 2382 (unabridged 1993).
"The statute, as written, requires neither proof of a specific intent to
carry out the threat nor of any present ability to do so. However, the
elements--actual alarm and the reasonableness of the alarm under the
circumstances--have a similar purpose and effect. These elements limit the
reach of the statute to threats which are so unambiguous, unequivocal and
specific to the addressee that they convincingly express to the addressee the
intention that they will be carried out. [Moyle, 299 Or] at 703-04."
(Emphasis supplied.)
3. The "S.H.A.M.E." campaign was not directed solely against petitioner. Beginning at least as early as November 1994, respondent and other members of Advocates for Life Ministries picketed the homes of at least five other Portland area abortion providers. Other groups in the national anti-abortion movement have also staged home pickets.
Return to previous location.
4. Among the articles was a summary of the United States Supreme Court's decision in Madsen v. Women's Health Center, 512 US 753, 114 S Ct 2516, 129 L Ed 2d 593 (1994), pertaining to picketing and other protest activities at abortion clinics.
Return to previous location.
5. Respondent videotaped both the April 1995 demonstration and a subsequent demonstration, in January 1996. That videotape was received as an exhibit during the stalking proceeding. Much of our recitation of the details of those two demonstrations is based on our review of that videotape.
Return to previous location.
6. One of petitioner's witnesses testified that the FBI refers to such mailings as "hit lists," in that they signal that certain individuals have been "singled out for an escalated level of harassment, intimidation, stalking and other activities."
Return to previous location.
7. Petitioner testified that she sometimes called the Advocates for Life Ministries hotline because a recorded message would provide information about the S.H.A.M.E. campaign's forthcoming activities.
Return to previous location.
8. The text of ORS 30.866(1) is set out below. ___ Or App at ___ (slip opinion at 20).
Return to previous location.
9. ORS 30.866(4)(c) provides that a prevailing "plaintiff" may recover "[r]easonable attorney fees and costs."
Return to previous location.
10. Petitioner sought to restrain respondent from:
"a) Coming into the visual or physical presence of petitioner (ORS 163.730(3)(a));"b) Following petitioner (ORS 163.730(3)(b));
"c) Waiting outside petitioner's home or place of work (ORS 163.730(3)(c));
"d) Sending or making written communications in any form with petitioner (ORS 163.730(3)(d));
"e) Speaking with petitioner (ORS 163.730(3)(e));
"f) Committing a crime against petitioner (ORS 163.730(3)(g));
"h) Communicating with business entities with the intent of affecting petitioner's rights or interests (ORS 163.730(3)(i));
"i) Damaging petitioner's home, property or place of work (ORS 163.730(3)(j));
"j) Delivering directly or through a third person any object to petitioner's home, property or place of work (ORS 163.730(3)(k))."
Return to previous location.
11. Respondent assigns as error the rulings on those motions. However, given the nature of our disposition, we need not, and do not, address those assignments of error.
Return to previous location.
12. The trial court's judgment, from which this appeal was originally taken, did not adjudicate respondent's counterclaims. However, upon remand pursuant to former ORS 19.033(4) (now ORS 19.270(4)), the trial court entered an amended judgment dismissing the counterclaims. Respondent does not assign error to the dismissal of his counterclaims.
Return to previous location.
13. Former ORS 19.125(3) (now ORS 19.415(3)) states:
"Upon an appeal from a decree in a suit in equity, the Court of Appeals shall try the cause anew upon the record."
Return to previous location.
14. Under ORS 30.866(1) and (4), a petitioner in a civil stalking proceeding may also recover monetary damages. Because petitioner here did not seek damages, we need not consider what our standard of review would be in the event a petitioner sought or recovered such relief.
Return to previous location.
15. See also State v. Scott, 63 Or 444, 447, 128 P 441 (1912) (construing then-current version of theft by extortion statute).
Return to previous location.
16. Under ORS 30.866(1), a petitioner must prove "repeated" contacts. "Repeated" means "two or more times." ORS 163.730(7). As described below, we conclude that petitioner did not prove even a single actionable "contact" in this case.
Return to previous location.
17. Petitioner also introduced evidence that respondent owned firearms and that his concealed weapons permit had been revoked, in part because of his declarations in support of persons who had committed violence against abortion providers. Petitioner did not, however, introduce any evidence that she was aware of those facts at the time of either of the two demonstrations.
Return to previous location.
18. See, e.g., Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 US 444, 447, 89 S Ct 1827, 23 L Ed 2d 430 (1969) ("[T]he constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press do not permit a State to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.").
Return to previous location.
|
|

|
Created 02/18/98 Web authoring by Print Services |