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State v. McClelland
278 Or. App. 138
Coos Cty. Cir. Ct., O.R.
2016
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Background

  • Defendant convicted of misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and interfering with a peace officer after attacking the victim, causing shoulder dislocation, broken nose, and a torn ACL requiring knee surgery.
  • State sought $55,490.69 in restitution comprising medical expenses and lost wages; the largest item was a $27,677.50 hospital bill for the knee surgery.
  • At the restitution hearing defendant objected that the hospital bill alone did not prove the charges were "reasonable" as required by ORS 31.710(2)(a) (incorporated into criminal restitution law).
  • The trial court overruled the objection, concluding the surgery and charges were reasonable based on the bill and "common sense," and included the full hospital charge in restitution.
  • On appeal defendant challenged the inclusion of the $27,677.50 hospital bill (preserved) and several smaller medical charges (unpreserved), asking the court to review the latter as error apparent.
  • The Court of Appeals found the trial court erred regarding the hospital bill and remanded for resentencing; it did not reach the unpreserved challenges.

Issues

Issue Plaintiff's Argument Defendant's Argument Held
Whether a hospital bill alone proves the "reasonableness" of medical charges for restitution under ORS 31.710(2)(a) State: Restitution requires evidence of "nature and amount" and a bill may suffice; criminal restitution need not meet civil proof formalities. Defendant: The statute requires "reasonable charges" and a bill by itself does not establish reasonableness; additional testimony or evidence is needed. Court: Bill alone is insufficient; trial court erred including $27,677.50 without evidence of reasonableness. Remanded for resentencing.
Whether the court should consider defendant's unpreserved objections to smaller medical items as plain error under ORAP 5.45(1) State: (implicit) objections unpreserved; trial court's restitution findings stand for items not objected to below. Defendant: Asks appellate discretion to review unpreserved assignments as error apparent on the record. Court: Did not reach these unpreserved assignments because case remanded on preserved issue.

Key Cases Cited

  • State v. Ramos, 358 Or 581 (2016) (criminal restitution incorporates civil "economic damages" concepts but need not mirror civil relief)
  • State v. Labar, 259 Or App 334 (2013) (retail price evidence can support restitution for stolen pharmaceuticals)
  • White v. Jubitz Corp., 219 Or App 62 (2008) (medical bills alone do not establish reasonableness; testimony or other evidence required)
  • Tuohy v. Columbia Steel Co., 61 Or 527 (1912) (common-law rule requiring proof of reasonableness of medical expenses beyond bills)
  • State v. Noble, 231 Or App 185 (2009) (restitution evidence may be the evidence presented at trial but must be adequate)
  • State v. Pumphrey, 266 Or App 729 (2014) (three prerequisites for restitution: criminal act, economic damages, causation)
Read the full case

Case Details

Case Name: State v. McClelland
Court Name: Coos County Circuit Court, Oregon
Date Published: May 4, 2016
Citation: 278 Or. App. 138
Docket Number: 13CR1432; A157254
Court Abbreviation: Coos Cty. Cir. Ct., O.R.