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holding that the trial court erred in granting an injunction against stalking where the evidence did not demonstrate that a reasonable person in the petitioner's position would have suffered substantial emotional distress
Summary of this case from Sinopoli v. ClarkOpinion
No. 2D10–398.
2011-08-31
Micah JONES, Appellant,v.Lawrence A. JACKSON, Appellee.
Jean Marie Henne of Jean M. Henne, P.A., Winter Haven, for Appellant.No Appearance for Appellee.
Jean Marie Henne of Jean M. Henne, P.A., Winter Haven, for Appellant.No Appearance for Appellee.
Micah Jones appeals an order granting Lawrence Jackson an injunction for protection against repeat violence. Mr. Jones argues that his actions did not constitute repeat violence under section 784.046, Florida Statutes (2009), because there was no competent, substantial evidence that his actions amounted to stalking. We agree and reverse.
Section 784.046 provides injunctive relief from repeat violence for “two incidents of violence or stalking.” Willful, malicious, and repeated harassment constitutes stalking. § 784.048(2). Mr. Jackson testified
that he received threatening phone calls and text messages from Mr. Jones. However, these particular threats would not have caused a reasonable person substantial emotional distress. See § 784.048(1)(a) (defining “harassment” as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such person and serves no legitimate purpose”); Slack v. Kling, 959 So.2d 425, 426 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007) (utilizing the reasonable person standard to determine whether the petitioner suffered substantial emotional distress). In fact, the only evidence about Mr. Jackson's emotional response was that he “was calm” after receiving one of the threats. His testimony supports our conclusion that the threats would not have caused a reasonable person in Mr. Jackson's shoes to suffer substantial emotional distress. Therefore, Mr. Jones's direct threats did not amount to harassment.
Mr. Jackson also testified that Mr. Jones made statements to third parties suggesting he would do violence to Mr. Jackson. Indirect contact can constitute harassment. See, e.g., Seitz v. State, 867 So.2d 421, 422–23 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (publicizing of victim's pharmaceutical records caused emotional distress and constituted harassment). But, like the direct threats in this case, these statements would not have caused a reasonable person in Mr. Jones's place to suffer substantial emotional distress.
In summary, Mr. Jackson's testimony failed to establish harassment because a reasonable person would not have suffered emotional distress from Mr. Jones's threats or statements. Without harassment there was no proof of stalking, and without stalking there was no proof of “repeat violence.” Therefore, the trial court erred in granting the injunction for protection against repeat violence.
Reversed.
WHATLEY, J., Concurs.
ALTENBERND, J., Concurs with opinion.
ALTENBERND, Judge, Concurring.
Without question it would be a very good idea for these two men to leave one another alone. It helps to understand that, at the time of this hearing, Mr. Jones was living with Mr. Jackson's “soon-to-be ex-wife.” Their disagreements seem to have arisen primarily when Mr. Jackson was trying to talk with his wife on the telephone about their child.
The two men's versions of events are diametrically opposed, and it appears that the woman in the middle does not want to take sides. The order on appeal is a form order in which the trial court grants the injunction without findings of fact. The trial judge made no findings of fact on the record, although it is obvious that he believed Mr. Jackson and did not believe Mr. Jones. Overall, the testimony suggests that Mr. Jackson is tired of Mr. Jones' profanity and the idle verbal threats, but he does not actually fear that Mr. Jones is planning to act on the threats.
Our standard of review in this case is a little unusual because we are assessing whether there was competent, substantial evidence to support a finding of fact on an issue involving both “reasonableness” and “substantial” distress. Especially in the context of jury trials, we are trained that issues of reasonableness are generally a matter for the jury to decide. However, after several readings of the record, I am convinced that the evidence is insufficient to support a finding that Mr. Jones created circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional
distress. I do not believe that we are reweighing the evidence.
I fully appreciate why trial courts use a standardized form when entering the appealable order in these cases. I can also appreciate why a trial judge would hesitate to make findings on the record when those findings might simply aggravate a party with anger management issues. Nevertheless, this case is an example of an injunction that would have been easier for the appellate court to review if there had been findings of fact.
It might occasionally be helpful if the circuit courts had the power to enter an order requiring adults to act like grownups. But a permanent injunction for protection against repeat violence cannot be used simply to compel civility and common decency.