*1 S.E.2d 817 STATE West
Hillary THORNE. C.
No. 16465. Appeals
Supreme Court Virginia. April 1985.
Submitted July
Decided Opinion Aug.
Dissenting
former of University, President Marshall just resigned. had who He referred to Dr. Hayes hog,” as “the head and stated that piggies get “rest the of the little would it.” Bailey, Affairs, Dr. Nell of Dean Student Stolze, George Huntington, appel- A. for bigot, testified that was she called “a a lant. pig.” secretary, racist Her Phyllis Cald- well, testified the defendant “referred Gen., Asst. Lopez, Atty. Andrew Charles- Hayes, barbecued, Dr. who has been and ton, appellee. for they’re the drippings, going fry the BROTHERTON, piggies little who have been left behind.” Justice: Although these and other ex- witnesses Thorne, Hillary the appellant, is a civil calls, plained they text four rights and activist former Marshall Univer- receiving testified numerous calls of a sity appeals He judgment student. similar Mr. nature from Thorne. County, Circuit Court Cabell guilty phone found him of making calls Mr. Thorne indicted aby was Cabell harass, with the in violation of County grand in jury September, 61-8-16(a)(4) (1984). Code unlawfully making repeated phone § calls to persons University at Marshall problems between Mr. Thorne and one-day jury intent to harass. At a trial on University Marshall are not of recent ori- 1, 1983, December the State called five gin. Thorne, In Mr. an activist witnesses who testified to the facts. above Africa, against apartheid in South sued Mr. Thorne in testified his own defense. University Marshall allowing for not him conclusion, At the jury trial’s found Mr. library access to its because his activi- guilty. appeals Thorne He now to this gave ties. An out-of-court settlement Mr. Court, (1) citing principal three errors: damages library. Thorne and access to 61-8-16(a)(4) (1984), dealing W.Va.Code § suit, After the law Mr. Thorne enrolled in harassing phone with is overbroad Marshall student. per- as a His academic unconstitutional; (2) the court poor. formance was He received “C” in jury’s should have directed verdict at one course and flunked remainder evidence; the conclusion of the State discipline classes. His record was (3) that judge the trial should have recused equally poor, reports with several of dis- himself. rupting report classes and a of a scuffle viewing with another student over the of a I. program. light per-
television In of his formance, Thorne, suspended Marshall Mr. Freedom of is one our and when he in tried enroll classes the liberties, most socie cherished a free semester, next he was denied admission. ty strongly it must be defended. Never semester, He again following tried theless, orderly society must be there again Eventually, without success. speech. some limits to free achieve To suspension impetus series order, legislature may properly limit phone gave calls to Marshall that rise to falsely shouting certain such as activities this ease. theater,1 announcing fire a crowded sailing phone military transports
Each
call started out
date of
or the
civil
and,
manner.
troops,2
some
each number and location of
unpleasant.
relevance,
turned
greater
One of Mr. Thorne’s
others over a
telephone.3
subjects
Hayes,
favorite
was Dr. Robert
47, 52,
See
Schenck v. United
cases
in n. 6
cited
infra.
247, 249,
(1919).
2. See Near v. U.S. 75 L.Ed. does not the statute Because challenge the does Mr. Thorne speech, we find prohibit communicative regulate this area. power legislature’s not overbroad. proscription is that its 61- Instead, suggests that W.Va.Code § other agreement with prohibits conclusion (1984) 8-16(a)(4) is overbroad issue.5 addressed this that have governmen courts beyond the conduct *3 harassment.4 It preventing tal interest to greater is of concern This case great impor true that because is a University is State Marshall us because power to speech, the State’s free tance of peti right to first amendment agency. The not, exercised be so regulate “must extends, of for redress government tion end, unduly to in attaining permissible agencies. course, petitioning government freedom.” Cantwell fringe protected rights, is right, as all first amendment 296, 304, Connecticut, 60 S.Ct. 310 U.S. v. A protected by the courts. very jealously (1940). 1213, 1218 We 900, 903, 84 L.Ed. right petition have the citizen must infringement not, however, find undue do forcefully petition it government and to in this case. danger of any be repeatedly without crime. Because ing guilty of a pro is not found Prohibiting harassment right, be it would importance harassment is not hibiting speech, because altar of the easy martyr, on the very not Harassment protected speech. amendment, em government those first communication, although may it take the phone, only ployees who have to answer prohibits speech. The statute form of govern to a say phone calls intent made with the telephone calls In so agency prohibited. cannot intent ment be Phone calls made harass. however, doing the doing, we would be prohibited. to communicate A Virginia a disservice. case, of West Harassment, pro thus is not State in this legitimate government busi great deal of accomplished merely because tected “ people If phone. ness is done over has never been using telephone. ‘[I]t repeated make calls for were allowed to abridgment of freedom of deemed harassing government em purpose of of con sole press to make a course speech or phone for up tie ployees, this would merely the conduct illegal because duct government initiated, evidenced, wish to reach their or carried those who part inwas tie It would also legitimate business. language, spoken, either by means of out ” doing from Louisiana, up government staff written, valuable printed.’ v. Cox 480, does not 563, 476, jobs. The first amendment 559, 13 their 85 S.Ct. 379 U.S. interrupting a 487, protect someone quoting Gibo L.Ed.2d 491-92 See, e.g., Adderley Co., government function. 336 U.S. Empire Storage & Ice ney v. 242, 39, 47-48, 834, Florida, 87 684, 691, 385 U.S. S.Ct. 490, 502, L.Ed. v. 69 93 970, 789, 968, Smith, 61-8-16(a)(4) (1984) Misc.2d 392 N.Y.S.2d 89 Code § 4. 393, 920, denied, any person 54 provides: be unlawful cert. 98 “It shall Zeit, (1977); Or.App. means or abuse another with intent to harass v. 22 State telephone repeated 480, 1130, (1975); Crelly, to: ... [M]ake v. P.2d 1131 State 539 ensues, calls, during with which conversation 455, (S.D.1981). Similar stat N.W.2d 457 313 any person the called num- to harass states be struck down in some utes have been ber_” wording unacceptability of the cause of the 394, People, v. 189 Colo. statute. See Bolles upheld statutes states have 5. Several other 80, 398-99, (1975) (“annoy or P.2d 83 541 proscribed phone calls made with the Klick, overbroad); People Ill.2d 66 alarm” City Donley Moun "intent to harass.” See 329, 858, 860-61, 269, 275, 362 N.E.2d 5 Ill.Dec. 603, Brook, (Ala.Crim.App. So.2d 613 tain 429 overbroad); ("intent (1977) annoy" 331-32 722, 725, 1982); Ariz.App. Hagen, State 862, Moore, Wash.App. City Everett Elder, 750, (1976); 382 So.2d P.2d 687, 617, (“alarms (1984) seriously P.2d 618-20 State, (Fla.1980); Constantino v. 691-93 Dronso, overbroad); annoys” State v. 90 Wis.2d 710, 713, 595, 598, 243 Ga. 114-16, (1979) ("in 713-14 279 N.W.2d L.Ed.2d overbroad). wording annoy” Meunier, tent (1979); So.2d State v. statutes, however, distinguish (La.1978); Md.App. each of these Caldwell v. 537-38 61-8-16(a)(4) People § able from W.Va.Code 337 A.2d (1966) (state 155-56 recuse accepting himself. Instead of may prohibit jail offer, on county judge’s demonstrations appellant withdrew his premises). and, judge motion that the recuse himself therefore, any syl. pt. waived error. See Again, it must be stressed that the Thomas, 157 W.Va. requires statute intent to harass. If a citi S.E.2d 445 legitimate communication, zen intends part There no error on the of the may call and call repeatedly without fear of reversal, trial court which mandates a prosecution. Under this statute he judgment of the hereby trial court is af- totally even call one time purpose for the firmed. Nevertheless, of harassment. there is a legitimate inquiry where ends and Affirmed. *4 begins. harassment There comes a one repeatedly public
where cannot call a MILLER, Justice, Chief dissenting: servant and fry threaten to him in oil. My difficulty plurality opinion1 is that it has internal inconsistencies which
II. I am particularly unable resolve when applied to the facts of this case. On the appellant The also contends that the initially one hand it trial announces that the court should have directed a verdict in “legislature may properly his limit certain favor at the end of the State’s case. [speech] activities such disagree. as ... We Phyllis witnesses Cald telephone,” (Plurality others over a op. and at Hensley well Steve each testified to 453), and then concludes in the receiving call. text with one Tina Harness testified “Again, this statement: it must be receiving stressed two calls. Dr. Nell Bailey requires that the statute intent to received harass. numerous calls. The State’s wit If a citizen intends nesses testified to communica- threatened and tion, may he call and repeatedly call insulted. Even Mr. with- Thorne admitted that out prosecution. fear of may he Under this statute have made references to barbecu totally even call one time ing hogs frying the pigs the little in the fat purpose (Plurality of harassment.” op. at Viewing left behind. the evidence in the 455). light most the favorable to we hold
that there was sufficient evidence to allow particular subsection that is the sub- go jury. case to to a ject of this case “It states: shall be unlaw-
ful
any person
with intent to harass or
III.
abuse
repeated
another ...
to ...
[m]ake
during which conversation
appellant’s
assignment
final
ensues, with
any person
intent to harass
at
judge
error is that the trial
should have
W.Va.Code,
the called number.”
61-8-
recused himself from the case. We dis
16(a)(4).
agree.
presiding
While it is true that the
judge,
Ferguson,
part-time
Alfred E.
was a
If
plurality
saying
that where a
employee
University
at Marshall
at
initially
intending legitimate
citizen
calls
trial,
time of
brought
prosecution
when this was
communication there can be no
his
Judge Ferguson
subsection,
attention
offered to
under this
I
join
then would
Battle,
"plurality"
1. I use the term
because with the
Owens-Illinois Glass Co. v.
151 W.Va.
disqualification
Neely,
Hammond,
Maynard
Justice
the Court is
Marshall could
recall
substance
‘ “They always
get
us
holler at
to
eight calls made over a three and one-half
already
education. And
I have
re-
now
period.
month
my
1-A and
ceived
draft classification as
got
report
my physical
I have
this
plurality emphasizes some of the
defendant,
Monday coming.
going.
I am not
If
by
such
language utilized
as
they
me carry
ever make
a rifle the first
referring
ex-president
to the
as “the head
my sights
man
is
get
I want
hog”
stating
that the rest of
little
’
706,
L.B.J.”
U.S. at
89 S.Ct. at
way
piggies
get
by
[394
it
of
barbe-
would
1401, 22 L.Ed.2d at
Court
language
666].
cued or fried. This
cannot be
summarily
agreed
reversed.
Court
sufficiently shocking
deemed
to be without
statement,
petitioner
that
protection.
First Amendment
In National
context,
very
taken in
was ‘a kind of
the Advancement
Col-
Association for
stating
polit-
crude
offensive method
Co.,
People
ored
v. Claiborne Hardware
ical
opposition
the President.’
[394
886, 927-28,
458
102
U.S.
S.Ct.
708,
1402,
U.S. at
been convicted as he was
present
Donley
case.3 In
City
speech.”
“communicative
Brook,
(Ala.Crim.
Mountain
receiver but
ensues,
to me where conversation
seems
speech
against any legitimate free
commu-
come
protection must
First Amendment
at 691.
nicative function.”
So.2d
making any
of what
play
analysis
into
vague
Challenges based
the void
event,
harassing
any
call. In
telephone
ness
were considered Constan
doctrine
charge in this case is
integral to the
State,
v.
243 Ga.
255 S.E.2d
tino
“repeated
must have made
the defendant
telephone
during which conversation
Meunier,
(1979),
S.Ct. 293
State
Thus,
W.Va.Code, 61-8-16(a)(4).
ensues.”
(La.1978),and
So.2d 535
Caldwell
con-
gravaman
just
physical
(1975),
Md.App.
F.2d 449 938 U.S. quences accused other- to the 1023, 591, (1980); 66 485 L.Ed.2d vague wise render a or indefinite statute invalid_ 517, State, Md.App. 39 Von Lusch v. 387 [Wjhere the im- punishment Taravella, (1978); People A.2d 133 306 posed only knowingly for an act done (1984); 515, Mich.App. 350 780 doing N.W.2d purpose that which the 38, prohibits, 295 S.E.2d Camp, N.C.App. State 59 statute cannot be accused dismissed, 271, warning lack or appeal N.C. 299 said suffer from 5. Where no conversation People two other courts falls consequence, conduct becomes the dominant feature. (3). N.E.2d It was this communicating under See note N.W.2d 710 Klick, either (1977); type First Amendment 66 Ill.2d supra. W.Va.Code, 61-8-16(a)(2) invalidating State element language (1979). Under ensues, Dronso, 5 Ill.Dec. is minimal and these their statutes. concerns the conduct resulted 90 Wis.2d sections, As or in provides: less manifest. See State v. (Fla. which conversation any phone— or “Whoever— (1) In (D) 1980). foreign make material person the District of Columbia or in communication repeated at the called number.” portion [*] ensues, solely telephone of U.S.C. [*] Elder, by [*] means § So.2d 687 to harass 223(1)(D) interstate of tele- during knowledge that the act which he does is held that: strictly “Penal statutes must be against a violation of construed in law.” the State and favor of Syllabus defendant.” Point State v. language I believe that the with “intent Ball, 164 W.Va. S.E.2d 844 W.Va.Code, in to harass” as contained 61- Vandall, See also State v. 168 W.Va. 8-16(a)(4), keep this would section from (1982); Barnett, S.E.2d 177 when it kept unconstitutional W.Va. specific mind that initial this is an Cole, 160 W.Va. 238 S.E.2d that must Where be shown. the initial legitimate, purpose of the call then a violation is by Clearly, not shown summarized principles, under these the de- Elder, the court in State v. 382 So.2d at fendant’s criminal conviction cannot stand. 691: We'have earlier there is noted no dispute persons that the who addition, received the
“In be it must shown that when telephone calls that the testified calls be- telephone call was made it was the gan manner, annoy, abuse, impor- a civil even more caller’s intent but threaten tantly sought legitimate that the improper or harass. defendant intent must be motivating information. There is no evidence that factor the caller’s tele- phoning purpose initial person another and the call the calls was other must than legitimate. legitimate Consequently, serve a communicative or threshold proof (Emphasis specific informative function.” of a intent to harass was omitted). original; footnote absent. place any
To other during construction on this The calls were all made normal section prosecution would be to invite business hours and to four were different any type persistent telephone employees University. calls at Marshall Collec- persons objectives who tively, they could recall the substance Certainly, mind. eight phone I cannot conceive that calls made over a three and legislature right intended chill the period. They of our one-half month did not dis- complain neighbor agree citizens to ato about his that the purpose initial the calls barking dog inquire or his loud stereo and make was to as to the defendant’s status repeated student, courses, calls if he is rebuffed. as a eligibility Nor and the should he repeatedly calling damage be fearful of bicycle to his which occurred on campus. landlord about failure to correct It was after the defen- repairman conditions or to dant response merchant realized that no favorable inadequate repairs who has made forthcoming or has would be became un- sold A lethargic pleasant. defective merchandise.
bureaucracy
hardly
will
business
ever
suggest
Several cases
that these circum
respond
to one
call.7 Even if the
stances are
as a matter of
insufficient
law
intended,
legislature so
it could not do so to
In People
warrant a conviction.
v. Coo
*8
principles.
under First Amendment
Ill.App.3d 516,
per,
Certainly, a construction of the the court a narrow reversed conviction for statute required on First harassment because evidence grounds prove requi Amendment also because it is did not had the but defendant penal in a consistently annoy. statute. site intent to There the We defendant Although ty- higher voices concern over level of communicative freedom ing "up phone caller: who wish to reach for those government their business” and ability government, "The consonant with Constitution, up government "also tie staff solely valuable from off discourse shut 820), is, doing jobs,” (Plurality op. hearing protect their to words, others from in other analysis dependent upon showing misconceives the The traditional that sub- issue. protect privacy is that such stantial statutes are enacted to interests invaded in privacy essentially interests of receiver. Where calls untolerable manner.” Cohen v. 1780, 1786, working government California, during are made hours to 91 S.Ct. believe, is, employees, reh'g there I a diminished ex- pectation privacy consequence as a Finally, Darsey, home several calls to his brother’s United made States (E.D.Pa.1972), F.Supp. 311 the defendant wanting speak his His sis brother. mother-in-law who was divorced called his telephone and re ter-in-law answered the inquire on a number of occasions to about allow the to talk to his fused to defendant of his former wife whereabouts then made some brother. defendant During particularly the his son. welfare of remarks to-'the sister-in-law. abusive calls, he phone the course of some of the the State failed to court concluded that court con- became abusive. annoy defendant the intent to show the had calls cluded as a matter of law that his calls. at the time made the were not made with the intent to harass Likewise, Md. Caldwell the mother-in-law. A.2d the court App. reasons, foregoing respectfully For the I the state reversed conviction because I am state that dissent and authorized to to show with evidence the failed sufficient joins in this dissent. Justice McGRAW me intended the woman he defendant to harass calling give even he refused to though was name, called her was at work while she day, asking occasions her
on two the same
for a date. court noted that even
though the woman received the calls who by them, annoyed that alone is insuffi-
cient evidence to the defendant in- show that effect
tended when he called.
