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