McAlpine v. Multnomah County

883 P.2d 869, 131 Or. App. 136, 1994 Ore. App. LEXIS 1553
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedOctober 26, 1994
DocketC93-0353CV; CA A80998
StatusPublished
Cited by45 cases

This text of 883 P.2d 869 (McAlpine v. Multnomah County) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McAlpine v. Multnomah County, 883 P.2d 869, 131 Or. App. 136, 1994 Ore. App. LEXIS 1553 (Or. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

*138 LEESON, J.

Plaintiff appeals a judgment dismissing his complaint against defendants City of Portland and Regional Organized Crime Narcotics Agency for failure to state a claim. 1 We affirm.

In reviewing a dismissal for failure to state a claim, we are limited to the facts stated in the complaint. Erickson v. Christenson, 99 Or App 104, 106, 781 P2d 383 (1989), rev dismissed 311 Or 266 (1991). We accept as true the allegations in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from them. Glubka v. Long, 115 Or App 236, 238, 837 P2d 553 (1992). A pleading that contains an allegation of material fact as to each element of the claim for relief, even if vague, is sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss. Mazurek v. Rajnus, 253 Or 555, 557-58, 456 P2d 83 (1969); Erickson v. Christenson, supra, 99 Or App at 106.

Plaintiffs complaint alleges:

“Count One: Negligence
[1.]
“On or about August 22,1986, * * * Brian Charlesworth was paroled from Oregon State Penitentiary following a conviction for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Schedule II.
[2.]
“From at least August 19,1991, until October 26,1991, [defendants] conducted surveillance of Charlesworth as part of an ongoing drug investigation * * * [that] included following Charlesworth from the * * * County Courthouse [on two occasions after he had made court appearances].
[3.]
“At all material times there was in effect ORS 144.331, which stated that a sheriff, municipal police officer or other peace officer shall execute the order of arrest for any person which is issued by the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision.
[4.]
“At all material times, [defendants] knew or reasonably should have known that Charlesworth had a history of *139 violent behavior which included adult and juvenile convictions for Armed Robbery, Bank Robbery, Possession of a Gas Bomb, Assault in the First Degree, and Delivery of Controlled Substances, Schedule II.
[5.]
“On August 26,1991, the Oregon Board of Parole issued an order to arrest and detain Charlesworth.
[6.]
“From on or about August 26, 1991, [defendants] knew or reasonably should have known of the outstanding order from the Board of Parole to arrest and detain Charlesworth.
[7.]
“Due to the negligence of [defendants], and [their] failure to follow the directive of ORS 144.331, Charlesworth was allowed to remain at large after August 26, 1991 until October 26, 1991, when Charlesworth assaulted and seriously injured plaintiff.
[8.]
“On October 26, 1991, [plaintiff and his wife were passengers in a vehicle driven by his daughter. Charlesworth was in a car driving in the same general direction. Plaintiffs car slowed or stopped to make a turn and Charlesworth’s car skidded to a stop nearby. Charlesworth got out of his vehicle and approached plaintiffs car. Plaintiff began to get out of the car.] Charlesworth violently slammed plaintiffs head with the rear door crushing it between the door and door jamb. Charlesworth then pulled plaintiffs head up and punched him in the face, causing [plaintiff] to fall backward onto the hood of a nearby vehicle. * * *
[9.]
“The violent assault on [plaintiff] caused him serious and permanent physical, mental and emotional injury. * * *
[10.]
“[Plaintiffs injuries] were proximately caused by the negligence of [defendants] in one or more of the following particulars:
“A. In failing to effect the arrest of Charlesworth in accordance with ORS 144.331;
“B. In failing to follow their own policies and procedures to effect the arrest of Charlesworth as ordered by the Board of Parole;
*140 “C. In failing to ascertain the existence of the order for the arrest and detention of Charlesworth issued by the Board of Parole during the time that he was the subject of close surveillance and investigation.
“Count Two: Negligence Per Se
[11.]
“[Defendants’] actions were in violation of ORS 144.331, which actions were the cause of plaintiffs injuries.
[12.]
“Plaintiff was in the class of persons intended to be protected by the enactment of ORS 144.331 * * *.
[13.]
“The injuries that plaintiff suffered were within the area of risk intended to be avoided or prevented by the enactment of ORS 144.331 * * *.
“Count Three: Statutory Liability
[14.]
“In violation of ORS 144.331 * * *, defendant^] * * * failed to arrest Charlesworth after the Board of Parole issued its order to do so, although defendants] had a statutory duty to do so.
[15.]
“As a result of [defendants’] breach of [their] statutory duty, plaintiff suffered serious and permanent personal injuries * * *.”

Defendants moved to dismiss plaintiffs complaint pursuant to ORCP 21A(8). The trial court granted that motion on the grounds that there is no indication that the purpose of ORS 144.331(1) is to protect any particular class of persons and that defendants had no special relationship with plaintiff. The court then entered judgment for defendants. On appeal, plaintiff assigns error to the trial court’s dismissal of the complaint.

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Bluebook (online)
883 P.2d 869, 131 Or. App. 136, 1994 Ore. App. LEXIS 1553, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcalpine-v-multnomah-county-orctapp-1994.