N.P. v. T.N. , 2018 Ohio 2647 ( 2018 )

[Cite as N.P. v. T.N., 2018-Ohio-2647.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 106314
N.P.
PETITIONER-APPELLEE
and CROSS-APPELLANT
vs.
T.N., ET AL.
RESPONDENTS-APPELLANTS
and CROSS-APPELLEES
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-16-865207
BEFORE: S. Gallagher, J., Boyle, P.J., and Jones, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: July 5, 2018
[Cite as N.P. v. T.N., 2018-Ohio-2647.]
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS
Robert Smith
Law Offices of Robert Smith, III, L.L.C.
3751 Prospect Avenue East, Third Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Patrick M. Farrell
600 East Granger Road, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn Heights, Ohio 44131
John T. Forristal
P.O. Box 16832
Rocky River, Ohio 44116
Also listed:
D.H., pro se
20503 Ridgewood Avenue
Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44122
[Cite as N.P. v. T.N., 2018-Ohio-2647.]
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J.:
{¶1} Respondents-appellants, T.N. and M.N. (the “Respondents”), appeal the decision
of the trial court to issue civil stalking protection orders against them. Petitioner-appellee, N.P.,
filed a cross-appeal from the decision of the trial court that found her in contempt of court and
fined her $500 for violating paragraphs 6 and 7 of the additional conditions stated in a September
30, 2015 civil stalking protection order that had been issued against her. Upon review, we
affirm the trial court’s decisions.
Background
{¶2} N.P. and the Respondents are next-door neighbors, who reside in Warrensville
Heights, Ohio. They have had a contentious history as neighbors dating back to 2011. The
record reflects that each side has engaged in less than civil conduct toward the other.
{¶3} In September 2015, the Respondents were granted a civil stalking protection order
with additional conditions in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CV-15-850821. In relevant part, the additional
conditions under the protection order limited N.P.’s operation of her outdoor fireplace, precluded
N.P. from trespassing on the Respondents’ property, required N.P. to remove all published media
related to the protected persons and from publishing any additional media of the protected
persons, precluded N.P. from photographing or videotaping any of the protected persons or the
Respondents’ property, and precluded N.P. from communicating with any guests or invitees at
the Respondents’ residence.
{¶4} In June 2016, the Respondents filed a motion to show cause that requested the court
hold N.P. in contempt for violating the protection order and conditions. The next day, N.P. filed
three petitions for civil stalking protection orders against the Respondents and D.H., who is
another neighbor, in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CV-16-865207. Thereafter, the two cases were
consolidated.
{¶5} Following proceedings in the matter, the trial court permitted N.P. to amend her
petitions; the parties conducted discovery, and the trial court ruled on various motions. A full
hearing was concluded on August 29, 2017.
{¶6} The testimony at the hearing revealed that the Respondents had placed security
cameras to monitor N.P.’s property “24/7” and to capture any activity outside N.P.’s home,
including in her driveway and yard.1 N.P. complained that the Respondents’ voyeurism invades
her privacy. The Respondents’ trial counsel maintained that the cameras are a way of
monitoring conduct that “potentially violates the [protection] order[.]” Evidence also
established that the Respondents made numerous calls to the Warrensville Heights police
department, fire department, the EPA, and other agencies to report activities they felt N.P. was
engaging in on her property. The Respondents admitted to having called in excess of 20 times
from April through September 2015, and conceded that they still call the police whenever they
believe there is a problem. However, they were unable to show any resulting citations were
issued, and many of their claims were unfounded. There also was evidence of the Respondents
disregarding property lines.
{¶7} N.P.’s daughter testified to the difficulties of being watched by the neighbors’
cameras. She observed that the Respondents’ actions have caused N.P. to become “emotionally
1
We refer to N.P.’s property only in the context that she resided on the property. N.P. is a renter in the
home, which is owned by her aunt, and she resides in the home with her husband. Her husband’s friend also was
residing in the home, and occasionally N.P.’s daughter resides in the home.
distraught.” N.P. testified that the menacing and intrusion was such that she “can’t go outside
and be at peace without police showing up or cameras moving, watching me and my family.”
She testified that “it’s more than just mental distress * * * it’s just overbearing” and also
indicated “[i]t is depressing, it is mentally draining.”
{¶8} As to the claim that N.P. was in contempt, N.P. conceded she was using a WiFi
network name that contained the Respondents’ street number and identified them as police
callers. She testified “that’s my WiFi — it’s my WiFi name[.]” When asked if the network
was still up, she responded “possibly.” She also testified she had been using a video camera on
the side of her window that captured her driveway, part of her yard, and part of the Respondents’
property. She only recently had taken the camera down.
{¶9} The trial court found N.P. in contempt of court and fined her $500 for violating
paragraphs 6 and 7 of the additional conditions of the September 30, 2015 civil stalking
protection order, which required N.P. to refrain from publishing media related to the
Respondents and precluded her from photographing them in any manner.
{¶10} The trial court denied N.P.’s petition for a civil stalking protection order as to
respondent D.H. The court issued civil stalking protection orders against Respondents. In part,
the court ordered the Respondents to angle the currently installed east-facing camera or to
otherwise place a guard on the camera so as to prevent the camera from viewing the property
occupied by N.P. on the east side of her home.
{¶11} The Respondents filed an appeal, and N.P. filed a cross-appeal. The matter is now
before us for review.
Assignments of Error
{¶12} Under their first and second assignments of error, the Respondents claim the trial
court erred by permitting N.P. to proceed with her petitions for civil stalking protection orders
and by allowing her to file amended petitions. The record reflects that the trial court denied the
Respondents’ motion to strike the amended petitions.
{¶13} The Respondents claim that the petitions and amended petitions were filed in
retaliation to the motion to show cause filed against N.P. They further assert that the allegations
failed to establish they engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused physical harm or mental
distress pursuant to R.C. 2903.211(A)(1), and that the evidence and testimony presented failed to
show any conduct that created “an immediate and present danger” for purposes of granting the
requested relief under R.C. 2903.214. Essentially, the Respondents do not believe N.P. should
have been permitted to pursue her petitions and that their conduct did not warrant the issuance of
civil stalking protection orders.
{¶14} The record reflects that N.P.’s petitions and amended petitions were filed pursuant
to R.C. 2903.214 and properly alleged that the Respondents had engaged in a violation of R.C.
2903.11, menacing by stalking, against her. N.P. set forth sufficient claims and attached to each
petition a detailed description of the nature and extent of the pattern of conduct alleged to have
caused her to believe that the Respondents would cause her physical harm or mental distress.
Although the alleged conduct dated back to 2011, the timeline attached to the amended petitions
was replete with alleged conduct occurring in 2015 and 2016, which included, among others,
allegations of stalking by means of video camera, trespassing, and calling the police with regard
to unfounded allegations. The alleged conduct included recent events occurring from June 24,
2016, to October 31, 2016, when the amended petitions were filed.
[Cite as N.P. v. T.N., 2018-Ohio-2647.]
{¶15} We find no error in the trial court’s decision to deny the motion to strike and to
proceed with the merits of the action. The first and second assignments of error are overruled.
{¶16} Under their third assignment of error, the Respondents claim the trial court abused
its discretion by permitting the parties to engage in a full range of discovery under the Ohio Rules
of Civil Procedure. The Respondents cite no authority in support of their argument.
{¶17} R.C. 2903.214 allows a victim of menacing by stalking to seek a civil protection
order. The statute is civil in nature and provides that “the court shall proceed as in a normal
civil action and grant a full hearing on the matter” and that “[a]ny proceeding under this section
shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure * * *.” R.C. 2903.214(D)(3)
and (G). We find no abuse of discretion by the trial court and overrule the third assignment of
error.
{¶18} Under their fourth assignment of error, the Respondents claim the trial court erred
by failing to exclude evidence of conduct occurring in August 2015 relating to the Respondents’
crossing the property line. The record reflects that no objection was raised at the hearing.
Regardless, we find the Respondents have failed to demonstrate any abuse of discretion or
reversible error occurred by the trial court’s inclusion of this testimony.
{¶19} Under their fifth assignment of error, the Respondents challenge the trial court’s
decision to issue the civil stalking protection orders against them. They argue that the claimed
constant reporting of N.P. to law enforcement officials and constant surveillance of N.P. by video
camera was not unlawful and did not constitute a “pattern of conduct” that could reasonably
cause mental distress under R.C. 2903.211. They further challenge the credibility of N.P.’s
testimony regarding “mental distress.”
{¶20} R.C. 2903.214 governs a petition for a protection order to protect a victim of
menacing by stalking, in violation of R.C. 2903.211. The petitioner for a civil stalking
protection order must show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the respondent’s conduct
violates the menacing-by-stalking statute. Cipriani v. Ehlert, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 103767,
2016-Ohio-5840, ¶ 6. We review the decision to grant a civil protection order for an abuse of
discretion. Williams v. Flannery, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101880, 2015-Ohio-2040, ¶ 6.
{¶21} In relevant part, R.C. 2903.11 defines menacing by stalking as follows: “No
person by engaging in a pattern of conduct shall knowingly cause another person to believe that
the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or cause mental distress to the other
person.” R.C. 2903.211(A)(1).
{¶22} “Pattern of conduct” is defined as “two or more actions or incidents closely related
in time, whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or
incidents.” R.C. 2903.211(D)(1). “‘[T]he temporal period within which the two or more
actions or incidents must occur * * * [is a] matter to be determined by the trier of fact on a
case-by-case basis.’” Elkins v. Manley, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 104393, 2016-Ohio-8307, ¶ 16,
quoting Ellet v. Falk, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-09-1313, 2010-Ohio-6219, ¶ 22.
{¶23} “Mental distress” is defined as any of the following:
(a) Any mental illness or condition that involves some temporary substantial
incapacity;
(b) Any mental illness or condition that would normally require psychiatric
treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services, whether or not
any person requested or received psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment,
or other mental health services.
R.C. 2903.211(D)(2). It is not required “that a person requested or received psychiatric
treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services in order to show that the
person was caused mental distress[.]” See R.C. 2903.211(E). Further, mental distress need not
be incapacitating or debilitating, and expert testimony is not required. Rufener v. Hutson, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97635, 2012-Ohio-5061, ¶ 17, citing Jenkins v. Jenkins, 10th Dist. Franklin
No. 06AP-652, 2007-Ohio-422, ¶ 19. Rather, the trial court “‘may rely on its knowledge and
experience in determining whether mental distress has been caused.’” Rufener at ¶ 17, quoting
State v. Wunsch, 162 Ohio App.3d 21, 2005-Ohio-3498, 832 N.E.2d 757, ¶ 18 (4th Dist.).
{¶24} Having reviewed the testimony presented in this matter, we find N.P. presented
competent, credible evidence that the Respondents knowingly engaged in a pattern of conduct
that caused N.P. mental distress. The evidence presented established that the Respondents have
continuously interfered with N.P. and her family’s privacy and enjoyment of their property by
constantly monitoring via video camera the activities on their property, continually reporting
unfounded activities to authorities, and disregarding property lines. Although the complained
behavior dated back to 2011, the record demonstrates recent activities upon which the trial court
could find two or more actions or incidents closely related in time. There was also evidence that
the Respondents’ conduct caused N.P. mental distress, and the trial court was free to assess the
credibility of the witnesses. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s determination to
find the Respondents engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused N.P. mental distress, and to
issue the civil stalking protection orders. The fifth assignment of error is overruled.
Cross-Assignment of Error
{¶25} In her cross-appeal, N.P. claims the trial court erred in finding she violated
paragraphs 6 and 7 of the additional conditions of the September 30, 2015 civil stalking
protection order issued against her. These paragraphs included the following conditions:
6. [N.P.] shall remove all published media related to the protected persons named
in this Order and refrain from publishing any additional media of the protected
persons named in this Order.
7. [N.P.] shall not photograph in any manner, including but not limited to any
videotape, digital, or audio recording, any of the protected persons named in this
Order or of the [Respondents’] property * * *, unless it is done to record a
violation of this Order.
{¶26} With regard to the violation of paragraph 6, there was evidence that N.P. was using
a WiFi network name that contained the Respondents’ street number and identified them as
police callers. N.P. claims there was no evidence she named the WiFi network, as opposed to
another family member, and that the name of a WiFi network is not published media. However,
the record reflects that N.P. testified “that’s my WiFi — it’s my WiFi name[.]” Furthermore, it
is commonly known that the public can view a private WiFi name on media devices.
{¶27} As to the violation of paragraph 7, N.P. claims there was no evidence that the
cameras on her home were installed, monitored, or maintained by her, and that there was no
evidence that the cameras were photographing the Respondents or their property. However,
N.P. testified that she had been using a video camera on the side of her window that captured her
driveway, part of her yard, and part of the Respondents’ property, and that she only recently had
taken the camera down.
{¶28} Our review reflects there was competent, credible evidence to support the trial
court’s finding that N.P. violated the subject conditions. N.P.’s cross-assignment of error is
overruled.
{¶29} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellants costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas
court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, JUDGE
MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., and
LARRY A. JONES, SR., J., CONCUR
[Cite as N.P. v. T.N., 2018-Ohio-2647.]