Collins v. Bazan, A02A0539.

Decision Date13 June 2002
Docket NumberNo. A02A0539.,A02A0539.
Citation256 Ga. App. 164,568 S.E.2d 72
PartiesCOLLINS v. BAZAN.
CourtGeorgia Court of Appeals

OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE

Lohmeier & Lohmeier, Gregory J. Lohmeier, Decatur, for appellant.

Spruell, Taylor & Associates, Melinda D. Taylor, Atlanta, for appellee.

MILLER, Judge.

The trial court entered a permanent protective order under OCGA § 16-5-94(d) that in part prohibited an alleged stalker from publishing or discussing with any person his former girlfriend's private medical condition. We hold that the statute does not authorize such a prohibition and therefore reverse that portion of the order. The remainder of the order is affirmed.

Following a breakup with Jeani Bazan, Michael Collins repeatedly contacted her over her objection, leading to a consent temporary protective order that in part prohibited such contact and further prohibited him from publishing or discussing a private medical condition of Bazan with any person. Before the TPO expired, Bazan moved to have Collins held in contempt and further asked that the TPO be converted into a permanent protective order. Following a hearing, the trial court held Collins in contempt and, over objection, entered a permanent protective order that incorporated the terms of the TPO, specifically including the prohibition against publishing or discussing Bazan's medical condition with others. Challenging only that specific prohibition, Collins on appeal argues that the prohibition violates constitutional principles concerning freedom of speech and overbroadness and further is not authorized by the controlling statute, OCGA § 16-5-94(d).

1. In the trial court, Collins failed to raise any constitutional objections to the proposed order. "Constitutional issues not raised below are not preserved for appeal. [Cits.]" Norman v. State, 197 Ga.App. 333, 334(3), 398 S.E.2d 395 (1990); see Shaw v. State, 225 Ga.App. 193, 194(2), 483 S.E.2d 646 (1997); Johnson v. Hames Contracting, 208 Ga.App. 664, 666(3), 431 S.E.2d 455 (1993).

2. Collins's objection below that the prohibition exceeded the scope of the statute was well founded. The statute authorizing the permanent protective order is OCGA § 16-5-94(d), which provides in pertinent part: "The court may grant a protective order or approve a consent agreement to bring about a cessation of conduct constituting stalking. Orders or agreements may: (1) Direct a party to refrain from such conduct; [and] (2) Order a party to refrain from harassing or interfering with the other...."

Subsection (d)(1) allows a court to prohibit a party from stalking the other party. Stalking is defined as when a party "follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place or places without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating the other person." OCGA § 16-5-90(a)(1). Publishing or discussing a person's medical condition with others obviously does not constitute following, placing under surveillance, or contacting that person.

The question therefore is whether the court's power in subsection (d)(2) to prohibit a party from "harassing or interfering" with the other party authorizes a prohibition against publishing or discussing the...

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8 cases
  • Chan v. Ellis, S14A1652.
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • March 27, 2015
    ...a particular person does not mean necessarily that it is directed to that person. This principle is reflected in Collins v. Bazan, 256 Ga.App. 164, 568 S.E.2d 72 (2002), and Marks v. State, 306 Ga.App. 824, 703 S.E.2d 379 (2010), two cases in which our Court of Appeals addressed questions a......
  • Kace Investments, LP v. Hull, No. A03A1012
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • September 19, 2003
    ...Supremacy Clause and federal postal regulation arguments since they were not raised nor ruled upon below. See Collins v. Bazan, 256 Ga. App. 164, 165(1), 568 S.E.2d 72 (2002) ("Constitutional issues not raised below are not preserved for appeal.") (citations and punctuation Moreover, even i......
  • Bruno v. Light
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • February 28, 2018
    ...‘harassing or interfering’ with the other party authorized a prohibition against [residing in one's own home]." Collins v. Bazan , 256 Ga. App. 164, 165 (2), 568 S.E.2d 72 (2002). We hold that it does not. In Johnson v. State , 264 Ga. 590, 449 S.E.2d 94 (1994), the Supreme Court of Georgia......
  • Garnsey v. Buice., A10A1339.
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • October 22, 2010
    ...lawsuit, and victim did not testify that appellant's other behavior caused him to fear for his safety). 11. See DeLouis, supra. 12. 256 Ga.App. 164, 568 S.E.2d 72 (2002). 13. Id. at 165(1), 568 S.E.2d 72. 14. Id. at 165–166(2), 568 S.E.2d 72. 15. See id. at 165(1), 568 S.E.2djobs, and belit......
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1 books & journal articles
  • Local Government Law - R. Perry Sentell, Jr.
    • United States
    • Mercer University School of Law Mercer Law Reviews No. 55-1, September 2003
    • Invalid date
    ...collision." Id. at 160, 568 S.E.2d at 69. 306. Id. 307. Id. at 162, 568 S.E.2d at 71. 308. Id. at 163, 568 S.E.2d at 71. 309. Id., 568 S.E.2d at 72. 310. For treatment of the personal liability of local government officers or employees, see R. Perry Sentell, Jr., Georgia Local Government Of......

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