Roake v. Delman

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: January 11, 2018
• Docket: 93456-8
• Status: Published

Opinion

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I DATE JAN 1 1 GHiEF JUSTICE SUSAN L. CARLSON SUPREME COURT CLERK

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

MEGAN ROAKE, No. 93456-8 Respondent,

V. En Banc

MAXWELL DELMAN,

Petitioner. Filed JAN 1 1

JOHNSON,J.—This case involves interpretation of chapter 7.90 RCW,the

Sexual Assault Protection Order(SAPO)Act(SAPO Act). The statute establishes

a special proceeding for a victim of sexual assault to obtain a civil protection order.

The procedure for a SAPO is as follows: A victim of sexual assault files a petition

with the court. RCW 7.90.040(1). Under the statute, the petition contains two

requirements:(1) an allegation of"the existence of nonconsensual sexual conduct

or nonconsensual sexual penetration" and (2) an affidavit "stating the specific

statements or actions made at the same time ofthe sexual assault or subsequently

thereafter, which give rise to a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts." RCW

7.90.020(1). Based on the filing of the petition, a temporary protection order may

be granted. RCW 7.90.050. The statute authorizes the issuance of a temporary Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8

order, ex parte, without prior notice to a respondent. RCW 7.90.110. The court

must then order a full hearing to be held within 14 days. RCW 7.90.050.

In this case, the commissioner granted the petitioner's, Megan Roake's,

temporary SAPO,and it was served. The respondent. Maxwell Delman,filed a

motion to dismiss, challenging both the assertion of nonconsensual assault and the

claim ofreasonable fear offuture dangerous conduct. At the later hearing, the trial

court dismissed the petition, holding that Roake's petition was legally insufficient

because the petition failed to allege a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts.

Roake appealed the dismissal, and the Court of Appeals reversed and remanded.

The Court of Appeals held that the final order statute, RCW 7.90.090, does not

require proof of a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts. Roake v. Delman, 194

Wn. App. 442, 377 P.3d 258 (2016), review granted, 187 Wn.2d 1008, 386 P.3d

1098 (2017). It further held that the SAPO Act provides no basis for considering

the validity ofthe temporary order in determining whether to grant a final

protection order. We reverse. We hold that RCW 7.90.130(2)(e) provides the

procedure and opportunity to contest the sufficiency and validity of the petition

and temporary order, and that the trial court correctly held that Roake's petition

was legally insufficient under RCW 7.90.020(1). Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8

Facts and Procedural History

In May 2014, Roake and Delman, both freshmen at the University of

Washington(UW), met at a party. After the party, Roake and Delman returned to

Roake's dorm, where Roake alleges a sexual assault occurred.

In September 2014, when Roake returned to school for classes, she reported

the incident to the Seattle Police Department(SPD). SPD investigated the claim,

did not file charges, and closed the case. Roake then reported the incident to the

university student conduct office, which issued a no contact order.^ During the next

several months, Roake occasionally saw Delman on campus and twice went to

parties hosted by a student group she knew he belonged to. Delman never spoke to

Roake, phoned her, or came to her residence hall or classes.

In January 2015, Roake petitioned for a SAPO,seeking to restrain Delman

from having any contact with her at her residence or workplace or on the UW

campus. In her petition, she alleged that Delman had committed an act of

nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration. Roake asserted

that she had encountered Delman several times on campus, that she did not know

Delman prior to the night ofthe alleged sexual assault, and that she did "not know

what he [was] capable of." Clerk's Papers(CP)at 4. The court granted an ex parte

^ Delman complied with this order, which is not before us. Roake V. Delman,No. 93456-8

temporary protection order and scheduled a full hearing on whether to issue a final order for two weeks later.

The ex parte order was served on Delman, who responded by filing

pleadings asserting that the sexual acts were consensual, and that since the incident

eight months earlier, he had not tried to contact Roake and had complied with the

university's protection order. Also, he argued that because the temporary order

failed to specify the time or locations of Roake's classes or activities on campus,

and because Roake had not provided that information, it was impossible for him to

avoid inadvertent contact with her.

In response, Roake filed affidavits of friends who attested to her good

character, repeated her statements about Delman's alleged assault and how it had

/ affected her, and stated that they believed her. At the February 15, 2015, hearing,

Roake began to testify, but because Delman had not received the declarations on

which she was relying, the hearing was continued. Shortly before the next hearing

date, Delman filed a motion to dismiss Roake's petition generally, and specifically

under CR 12(c).^ He filed declarations of his family and friends attesting to his

good character and disputing Roake's claims of assault.

^ "Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. After the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings. If, on a motion for judgment on the pleadings, matters outside the pleadings are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in rule 56, and all parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion by rule 56." CR 12(c). Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8

At the hearing, Delman challenged the ex parte temporary protection order

arguing that it should not have issued because the petition and affidavits Roake submitted, and the transcript of the ex parte hearing, did not establish the existence

of a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts, as the statute required, and that the

petition should be dismissed. His attorney argued that Delman's 10 months of

avoiding contact with Roake and complying with the university's no contact order

made a final protection order unnecessary. Roake responded that her statement in

her petition that she "did not know what Delman was capable of was sufficient to

demonstrate her reasonable fear of future dangerous acts under the act, and that she

did not have to prove the existence of acts giving rise to reasonable fear of future

dangerous acts to support issuance of a final SAPO. No other assertions or

statements, threats, or subsequent actions by Delman were asserted.

The trial court granted the motion to dismiss, holding that the petition failed

to establish Roake had any reasonable fear of future dangerous acts from Delman,

and that oh that same basis, the temporary order that was issued was invalid. The

trial court entered an order of dismissal. Roake appealed the dismissal, and the

Court of Appeals reversed.

The Court of Appeals, in its statutory interpretation analysis, determined that

the SAPO petition has two elements:"(1) an allegation that a sexual assault

occurred and (2)the specific statements or actions, other than the assault itself. Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8

that cause the petitioner to reasonably fear future dangerous acts from the

respondent." Roake, 194 Wn. App. at 450(emphasis added). It noted that while

Roake's petition failed to establish the reasonable fear element, any initial pleading

requirements of a SAPO petition do not control the determination of whether to

grant a final protection order. Roake, 194 Wn. App. at 456("[T]he SAPO Act

provides no basis for considering the validity of the temporary order in

determining whether to grant a final protection order.") It held that to obtain a final

protection order under RCW 7.90.090, the petitioner is not required to prove the

existence of statements or acts giving rise to a reasonable fear offuture dangerous

acts. The Court of Appeals noted the inconsistency in the statutes but dismissed

this by focusing on the language ofthe final order statute, RCW 7.90.090, which,

under that section's language (read in isolation from the petition statute, RCW

7.90.020), does not reference "a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts."^ It also

^ RCW 7.90.020(1) states,"A petition for relief shall allege the existence of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath stating the specific statements or actions made at the same time of the sexual assault or subsequently thereafter, which give rise to a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts, for which relief is sought. Petitioner and respondent shall disclose the existence of any other litigation or of any other restraining, protection, or no-contact orders between the parties." Roake v. Delman,No. 93456-8

held that procedurally, Delman's motion was not properly before the trial court.'^ Delman then sought discretionary review, which we granted.

Analysis

The Court of Appeals addressed three statutory issues:(1)if or when a

respondent may challenge the validity of a petition or ex parte temporary order,(2)

what a SAPO petition requires before a court issues an ex parte temporary order,

and (3) what the final order statute requires before a court issues a final protection

order.

Before resolving the statutory issues, it is necessary to understand the

procedural posture under which the trial court based its order of dismissal. As

noted earlier, this action was instituted when Roake filed a petition for a SAPO.

Delman appeared and filed a motion to dismiss. The motion included a general

request for dismissal and, more specifically, dismissal under CR 12(c). Both sides

filed declarations, although nothing from the trial court's order indicates whether

they were considered. In our review of the declarations, Roake does not assert that

Delman violated the university's protection order. There are no allegations that

threats, actions, or incidents occurred after the initial incident. The trial court, after

reviewing the pleadings and perhaps considering the declarations to determine

It held that the motion was not a CR 12 motion because it relied on matters outside the pleadings and it was not a motion for summary judgment because it was not "filed and served not later than 28 calendar days before the hearing." CR 56(c). Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8

whether later incidents or facts were necessary to rule on the motion, dismissed the

petition, providing in the denial order,"The petitioner failed to establish that she

had any reasonable fear of future dangerous acts from the respondent and therefore

the temporary order was invalid." CP at 98. That constitutes the basis ofthe trial

court's decision.^

On appeal, the Court of Appeals held that the trial court's denial rested on an

incorrect interpretation ofthe SAPO Act because the SAPO Act provides no basis

for considering the validity ofthe temporary order. Roake and amicus Legal Voice

argue that this is appropriate because the statutes are unambiguous, and because

Delman had notice and the opportunity to be heard. We disagree.

Essentially, as Delman argues, a commissioner could enter a temporary

order even where a petition fails to allege a statutorily required element, and no

procedure exists for a respondent to challenge the deficiency in the petition

because the requirements for the issuance of a final order differ from those needed

initially. In the briefing before us, Delman argues that the Court of Appeals'

interpretation implicates Delman's due process right to challenge a deficient SAPO

petition.^ See CONST, art. I, § 3.

^ Because the trial eourt dismissed on this basis, it did not reach or resolve the issue raised concerning the claim of sexual assault, which the Court of Appeals remanded for resolution.

® Procedural due process imposes constraints on governmental decisions that deprive individuals of'"liberty"' or '"property."' Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 332,96 S. Ct. 893,

8 Roake V. Delman,No. 93456-8

We disagree with the Court of Appeals that the SAPO Act provides no basis

for considering the validity ofthe temporary order. If a respondent alleges a

meritorious defense to the sufficiency of a temporary SAPO,under the statute he

or she may petition the court to reopen the order under RCW 7.90.130, which

states;

(2) A sexual assault protection order shall further state the following:

(e)For ex parte temporary sexual assault protection orders, that the respondent may petition the court, to reopen the order if he or she did not receive actual prior notice ofthe hearing and if the respondent alleges that he or she had a meritorious defense to the order or that the order or its remedy is not authorized by this chapter.

(Emphasis added.)

Here, Delman effectively did that by filing the motion to dismiss. Based on

the motion, the trial court heard argument on the motion on the date the final

hearing was scheduled. This was proper procedure established under RCW

7.90.130, which provides that a respondent may petition the court to reopen the ex

47 L. Ed. 2d 18 (1976)."The fundamental requirement of due process is the opportunity to be heard 'at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.'" Mathews,424 U.S. at 333 (quoting Armstrong v. Mama,380 U.S. 545, 552, 85 S. Ct. 1187, 14 L. Ed. 2d 62(1965))."Due process is a flexible concept in which varying situations can demand differing levels of procedural protection." Gourley v. Gourley, 15^8 Wn.2d 460, 467, 145 P.3d 1185 (2006)(plurality opinion) (citing Mathews,424 U.S. at 334). In evaluating the process due in a particular situation, we consider(1)the private interest impacted by the government action,(2)the risk of an erroneous deprivation of such interest through the procedures used, and the probable value, if any, of additional or substitute procedural safeguards, and (3)the government interest, including the additional burden that added procedural safeguards would entail. Mathews,424 U.S. at 335. Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8

parte temporary order where the respondent alleges that he or she had a meritorious

defense to the order. Delman argued that Roake's petition was legally insufficient,

which is such meritorious defense.

Reviewing the trial court's denial order discloses the procedural posture

supporting the decision. While the order reflects that the court hearing is pursuant

to the petitioner's request, as mentioned, Delman had filed a motion to dismiss,

asserting the allegations ofthe petition were legally insufficient. The trial court

denial order expressly provided,"For a temporary sexual assault protection order,

reasons for denial ofthe order are: The Petitioner failed to establish that she had

any reasonable fear of future dangerous acts from the Respondent and therefore the

temporary order was invalid." CP at 98.

Furthermore, although the denial order appears to be a preprinted form

order, no indication appears on that order that the trial court considered testimony

or other supplemental declarations in resolving any disputed facts, nor did the trial

court enter any findings offact as would typically be included to resolve disputed

facts. The denial order can be characterized only as granting the motion to dismiss.

The Court of Appeals misunderstood the procedural posture and focused its

analysis on RCW 7.90.090(l)(a), which establishes the requirements necessary for

issuance of a final protection order. That statute provides:

Ifthe court finds by a preponderance ofthe evidence that the petitioner has been a victim of nonconsensual sexual conduct or

10 Roake v. Delman,No. 93456-8

nonconsensual sexual penetration by the respondent, the court shall issue a sexual assault protection order; provided that the petitioner must also satisfy the requirements of RCW 7.90.110 for ex parte temporary orders or RCW 7.90.120 for final orders.

The Court of Appeals held that under this section, no express requirement exists

that a petitioner establish (or reestablish) specific statements or actions that give

rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts. While this conclusion may be

supportable, it misses the point. As established earlier, the trial court denial order

in granting the motion to dismiss the petition did not reach or resolve any issues

required for issuance of a final order.

Moreover, the statutory analysis, from a practical standpoint, will always

focus on what issues are in dispute. Where, as here, a respondent brings a

challenge to the sufficiency of the initial petition, either under RCW 7.90.130 or by

way of a motion to dismiss as filed here, a trial court resolves that claim on the

pleadings. In a different situation where a respondent disputes the claim of sexual

assault, the trial court will conduct a further fact finding hearing and resolve that

issue based on the testimony or evidence submitted. That further hearing will

necessarily depend on how the issue is presented procedurally and what, if

anything, is contested by a respondent, and will proceed to resolve the claims at

issue.

11 Roake v. Delman,No. 93456-8

We reverse the Court of Appeals and reinstate the trial court's dismissal.

WE CONCUR:

12 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

No. 93456-8

GORDON McCLOUD, J. (concurring)—I agree with the lead opinion that

ROW 7.90.020(1) requires a petitioner seeking a sexual assault protection order to

allege and prove, with specific statements or actions, a reasonable fear of future

dangerous acts by the alleged attacker. That statute makes such allegations and proof

mandatory prerequisites to the issuance of a temporary protection order. I write

separately to explain why that is so, and why that statute also makes such allegations

and proof mandatory prerequisites to issuance of a final protection order.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Megan Roake and Maxwell Delman, who were both students at the University

of Washington(UW),met at a party on May 9,2014,and exchanged phone numbers.

Clerk's Papers(CP)at 4. Around 1:00 a.m. that night, Roake invited Delman to her

dormitory, where they proceeded to a private bathroom. Roake and Delman agree

that they engaged in consensual kissing, but they dispute whether subsequent sexual

acts were consensual. Roake states that Delman digitally penetrated her, bit her and

slammed her head into the wall during oral sex, attempted to penetrate her with his 1 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

penis, and disregarded her order to stop and her act of pushing him away. Roake states there was a significant amount of blood on the floor and on her clothing as a result.

After this single encounter between Roake and Delman, classes ended and Roake returned home for the summer. She and Delman had no further contact during

this time. Roake did not report the event to campus authorities or to the police. Over

the summer, Roake began attending counseling sessions, including EMDR (eye

movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy, several times per week. She

asserts that EMDR therapy helped her recall the event.

In September 2014, Roake returned to campus for fall classes. At this point,

she reported the May 9th incident to the Seattle Police Department. The police

conducted a one-month investigation. As a result, they declined to prosecute. Roake

then reported the incident to the UW's office of Community Standards and Student

Conduct (CSSC). CP at 35-36. The CSSC began an investigation process into the

May 2014 incident. Roake obtained a no-contact order against Delman from this campus office.

After the CSSC no-contact order issued, Roake occasionally saw Delman in

passing on campus. According to declarations that Roake filed, she twice attended parties hosted by a student group that she knew Delman belonged to, and once she Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

chose not to leave when she saw him at that party. According to those same

declarations, Roake stated that Delman did not attempt to contact her, instead, he acted like he did not recognize her. Both parties agree Delman has complied with the CSSC no-contact order. And it is also undisputed on this record that Roake's

friends began following Delman to his own campus activities, not the other way around, and that at least once Roake's friend engaged Delman in a conversation at a

party while Roake was present.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On January 14, 2015, Roake filed a petition for a SAPO (sexual assault

protection order) against Delman in connection with the May 2014 incident. CP at 1-5. Roake stated that she sought the SAPO because "I have reported the incident to

UW authorities and a no[]-contact order was entered but since the holidays, I have

encountered the respondent several times on campus. We also have mutual friends

and can end up in the same places and similar areas on campus." CP at 4. Roake

sought to restrain Delman from having any contact with her at her residence, at her workplace, or on the UW campus. In her petition, she stated that Delman had committed a single act of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual

penetration. CP at 3. The petition—filed on a form—also contained the standard form language: that that act "g[a]ve rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

acts." Id. Roake then described the alleged assault itself as the specific conduct that

caused her to fear Delman. Instead of describing "specific" facts that could support

an allegation of reasonable fear of future harm (as RCW 7.90.020(1) requires), her statement, contained within the petition itself, stated that she knew Delman only

from that night eight months earlier and that she did ''not know what he was capable

of." CP at 4(emphasis added).

On January 14, 2015, a King County court commissioner issued an ex parte

temporary SAPO restraining Delman from contacting Roake, and set a later date for

a full hearing on the final order.

Delman did not receive notice of the ex parte temporary SAPO hearing and

thus did not appear. Report of Proceedings (RP)(Jan. 14, 2015) at 4-11. He was

served with the petition and temporary SAPO in the middle of a class the next day,

January 15, 2015. CP at 12.

Delman then filed a response, stating that since the May 2014 incident eight

months earlier, he had not attempted to contact Roake and he had fully complied

with the CSSC no-contact order. He also sought clarification of Roake's campus

schedule and activities, along with identities oftheir mutual friends, so that he could

better comply with the temporary order, since that order did not specify the time or

location of Roake's classes. Roake refused to provide this information. Delman Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

stated it was therefore impossible for him to avoid inadvertent contact with Roake.

CP at 10. Delman also argued that Roake's claims were insufficient to support a

final protection order. CP at 11.

Roake responded with material to support her petition for a final protection

order. She filed declarations from several friends who attested to her good character,

explained that Roake had a reputation for not allowing sexual activity "below [the]

waist," relayed their eyewitness impressions of Roake (but not of the disputed acts)

from the night of May 9, 2014, restated what Roake had told them about what

happened on that night, gave their impressions of how the encounter appeared to

affect Roake, and stated that they believed her. CP at 17. Some of the declarations

also stated that Roake had recalled additional details about her encounter with

Delman only after engaging in EMDR therapy, and that the therapy allowed Roake

to understand the encounter with Delman had been a nonconsensual assault.

At the hearing on whether to issue the final SAPO order, on February 15,

2015, Delman's counsel realized that it had not received the declarations on which

Roake was relying. The judge therefore granted his motion to continue the hearing

five days, until February 20, 2015.

Delman then moved to dismiss. CP at 33-70. He argued that the petition

failed to allege, and Roake failed to prove, what the statute requires: "specific Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

statements or actions made at the same time of the sexual assault or subsequently

thereafter, which give rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts, for which relief is sought." RCW 7.90.020(1); CP at 33-43. Delman pointed to the eight months that had passed since the initial encounter, during which time he had avoided contact with Roake and complied with the university's no-contact order, which he

believed undercut Roake's claim of reasonable fear of future harm. CP at 42-43.

Delman added that he was transferring to an out-of-state school and was moving at

the end of the month which made Roake's fear of future harm even more

unreasonable. CP at 43. Lastly, Delman argued that Roake's fear was unreasonable

because the sexual acts were consensual. CP at 2. Delman filed several declarations

from family, friends, and others, attesting to his good character and reliability. CP at 44-68. Delman challenged Roake's recalled memories of nonconsent as not

credible because they were retrieved through questionable EMDR therapy. CP at

40-41. For these reasons, Delman argued that the ex parte temporary order should

not have been issued and that a final protective order should not be issued in its place

because Roake's petition, attached affidavit, and transcript of the ex parte hearing

all failed to establish "reasonable fear" of dangerousness, as required by the SAPO

statute. Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

Roake responded that the assault alone, coupled with her fear of Delman based on her not knowing him, not knowing what he was capable of, and knowing

they went to the same school and periodically inadvertently crossed paths was sufficient to establish a reasonable fear of dangerous acts. RP (Feb. 20, 2015) at 65-

66. She argued that the SAPO statute did not require her to prove the existence of additional acts giving rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts to support

the final SAPO.

The trial court agreed with Delman that Roake had to allege and prove a

reasonable fear of future dangerous acts. It found that Roake did not present

"statements or actions . . . which give rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous

acts" as ROW 7.90.020(1)required, and granted Delman's motion to dismiss without

holding a full factual hearing on the request for a final protection order. Id. at 78-

79. It denied Roake's petition and terminated the temporary SAPO.'Id.\ CP at 97-

99.

The Court of Appeals reversed. Roake v. Delman, 194 Wn. App. 442, 377

P.3d 258, review granted, 187 Wn.2d 1008, 386 P.3d 1098 (2017). It ruled that the

SAPO statute required Roake to allege both a sexual assault and "specific statements

'The trial court dismissed Roake's petition before the burden shifted to Delman to argue against the sexual assault allegation. The briefs therefore emphasize the "reasonable fear" requirement rather than Delman's refutation ofthe sexual assault allegation. Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

or actions" giving rise to a "reasonable fear of future dangerous acts." But it also held that that the SAPO statute did not require Roake to actually prove those latter

allegations; she had to only allege them. Id. at 451-52. That court also held that the trial court lacked the authority to dismiss Roake's petition as a matter oflaw because

the parties had submitted declarations on Delman's motion to dismiss and the judge failed to exclude other extrinsic documents from its consideration, thus converting

his CR 12(c) motion into a CR 56 motion for summary judgment, which was not

permitted in this context. Id. at 455-56.

I. RCW 7.90.020(1) Requires a Petitioner Seeking a Temporary or Final SAPO To Allege and Prove a Reasonable Fear of Future Dangerous Acts by the Alleged Attacker

A. The Language ofthe Statute Creating the SAPO Remedy Requires an Allegation ofReasonable Fear ofFuture Dangerous Acts

The SAPO statute requires a petitioner to allege the existence of both (1) a

sexual assault and (2) "specific statements or actions . . . which give rise to a

reasonable fear of future dangerous acts." RCW 7.90.020(1). This is clear from

RCW 7.90.020(1), which states in part:

A petition or relief shall allege the existence of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath stating the specific statements or actions made at the same time of the sexual assault or subsequently Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

thereafter, which give rise to a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts, for which relief is sought.

RCW 7.90.020 appears at the beginning ofthe chapter devoted to SAPOs,ch.

7.90 RCW. It is not a section that applies only to ex parte temporary restraining

orders; it is the section that defines the action and hence applies to both temporary

and final orders. And in defining the action, RCW 7.90.020(1) contains both the

sexual assault prerequisite and the future dangerous acts prerequisite. It explicitly

applies to any "petition for a sexual assault protection order," which includes both temporary and final SAPOs. RCW 7.90.020.

To be sure, the SAPO chapter's other subsections—^particularly RCW

7.90.090—create some confusion. The reason is that despite the unambiguous

language of RCW 7.90.020 requiring such proof, another portion of the SAPO

chapter, RCW 7.90.090, discussing the proof needed to obtain a temporary or final

protection order lacks the language about "specific statements or actions .. . which

give rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts."

But other language in RCW 7.90.090(1)(a) cross-references that "future

danger[ousness]" requirement. RCW 7.90.090(l)(a) provides:

Ifthe court finds by a preponderance ofthe evidence that the petitioner has been a victim of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by the respondent, the court shall issue a sexual assault protection order; provided that the petitioner must also satisfy Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

the requirements ofRCW 7.90.110for ex parte temporary orders and RCW 7.90.120forfinal orders.

(Emphasis added.) The cross-referenced statute, RCW 7.90.110(1), states: An ex parte temporary sexual assault protection order shall issue if the petitioner satisfies the requirements of this subsection by a preponderance ofthe evidence. The petition shall establish that: (a) The petitioner has been a victim of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by the respondent; and (b) There is good cause to grant the remedy, regardless of the lack of prior service of process or of notice upon the respondent, because the harm which that remedy is intended to prevent would be likely to occur if the respondent were given any prior notice, or greater notice than was actually given, of the petitioner's efforts to obtain judicial relief. (Emphasis added.)

That cross-reference to RCW 7.90.110(1) clarifies that the "petition" must

"establish" a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts to obtain a SAPO.

Specifically, RCW 7.90.110(1) contains two prerequisites to issuance of a SAPO,

just as RCW 7.90.020, creating the cause of action, does. The first prerequisite, in

RCW 7.90.110(l)(a), is a sexual assault. But the second prerequisite, in subsection

(b),is "good cause"to take the drastic step ofissuing an ex parte order without notice

to the respondent because "the harm which that remedy is intended to prevent would

^ The cross-referenced statute, RCW 7.90.120, provides no separate or additional requirements, it just guarantees a "full hearing" with respondent present absent circumstances not applicable here. RCW 7.90.120(l)(a). 10 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

be likely to occur" if prior notice were given. What is the "harm ... that remedy is

intended to prevent"? It must certainly be the harm identified in RCW 7.90.020(1)

defining the cause of action, that is, ""future dangerous acts" that the complainant

"reasonabl\y\ fear[s]." (Emphasis added.)

I say that for five reasons, discussed infra.

B. The Language ofthe Temporary SAPO Statute Specifically Cross- References the Statute Creating the SAPO Remedy with Its Prerequisites to Relief

First, as noted above, the language "harm . . . that remedy is intended to

prevent," RCW 7.90.110(l)(b), must be a cross-reference to something. And the

most logical harm for it to cross-reference is the harm specifically identified in RCW

7.90.020,the statute creating and defining the SAPO claim. It would make no sense

for the harm referenced to be a broad, general statement intended to capture all the

harm identified in the legislative history, rather than the harm the statute specifically

captures and the judge must specifically determine.

C. The Legislature DeclaredIts Intent ThatSAPO Is To Protect against Future Harms, Not Remedy Past Ones Second, the harm described in the legislative declaration beginning this

chapter is another reason. RCW 7.90.005. Because the "fundamental objective of

statutory construction is to ascertain and to carry out the Legislature's intent," the

"preamble or statement ofintent can be crucial to interpretation of a statute." Towle

11 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

V. Dep't of Fish & Wildlife, 94 Wn. App. 196, 207, 971 P.2d 591 (1999). The legislative declaration in RCW 7.90.005 states:

Sexual assault is the most heinous crime against another person short of murder. Sexual assault inflicts humiliation, degradation, and terror on victims. According to the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation], a woman is raped every six minutes in the United States. Rape is recognized as the most underreported crime; estimates suggest that only one in seven rapes is reported to authorities. Victims who do not report the crime still desire safety andprotectionfromfuture interactions with the offender. Some cases in which the rape is reported are not prosecuted. In these situations, the victim should be able to seek a civil remedy requiring that the offender stay awayfrom the victim. It is the intent of the legislature that the sexual assault protection order created by this chapter be a remedy for victims who do not qualify for a domestic violence order of protection.

(Emphasis added.) This RCW 7.90.005 shows a legislative intent to prevent future

harm to petitioners who need that "protection," not to provide compensation or

impose punishment for past acts. This analysis is supported by RCW 7.90.090(5),

which provides that "[mjonetary damages are not recoverable as a remedy."

D. The Statutory Language Requiring "Reasonable Fear of Future Dangerous Acts" Was Specifically Added by Amendment

Third, as Delman notes,"[T]he Legislature rejected the version of the SAPO

Act initially proposed by amicus[Legal Voice], which lacked the language requiring

a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts. Compare [SUBSTITUTE H.B.] 2576 § 5[,

59th Leg., Reg. Sess.]([Wash.] 2006), with Laws of 2006, ch. 138 § 5." Resp't's

12 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

Answer to Amicus Curiae Br. at 8; Pet. for Review at 18-19. This prior proposed but

rejected version ofthe statute required only an allegation ofa sexual assault and "the specific facts and circumstances from which reliefis sought." H.B.2576,at 3-4,59th Leg., Reg. Sess.(Wash. 2006).

The legislature must have added the "reasonable fear" language for a reason.

The clearest reason is to limit prospective relief for sexual assault victims to cases

where there is a real need to prevent future interaction with a respondent who poses

a demonstrable likelihood of danger—not to allow prospective relief of the sort

offered by this injunctive-type remedy any time a sexual assault is alleged and proved. See S.B. Rep. ON Substitute H.B. 2576, at 2, 59th Leg., Reg. Sess.(Wash. 2006)("The amended bill requires that the petitioner for a sexual assault protection

order must set forth, in the affidavit, the statements or actions made that gave rise to

a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts, for which the order is sought."); accord

Pet. for Review at 17-18; Resp't's Answer to Amicus Curiae Br. at 8-12.

E. The Statutory Requirement of Future Harm Is Unique among Protection Order Statutes

Fourth, this additional future harm requirement is unique. The SAPO statute

is the only Washington protective order statute that requires it. Compare RCW

7.90.020(1), with RCW 26.50.030(1)(domestic violence protection order petition

must "allege the existence of domestic violence, and shall be accompanied by an 13 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

affidavit made under oath stating the specific facts and circumstances from which

relief is sought"), and RCW 7.92.050(1) (stalking protection order petition shall

"alleg[e] that the person has been the victim of stalking conduct committed by the

respondent"), awJRCW 10.14.040(1)(petition for antiharassment protection order

shall "allege the existence of harassment and shall be accompanied by an affidavit

made under oath stating the specific facts and circumstances from which relief is

sought").

The legislature thus clearly knows how to relieve a petitioner from the burden

of showing future dangerousness by specific statements or acts. But in this statute,

it did not relieve the petitioner of that burden—it placed that burden squarely on the

petitioner. This difference between the SAPO petition requirements and other

protection order petition requirements indicates an intent that SAPO petitioners

make an additional showing beyond an assault itself to obtain relief.

F. ItIs Absurd To Interpret the SAPO Language To Require Allegation ofan Element ofFuture Harm That Need Not Ever Be Proved Fifth, Roake's argument—adopted by the dissent—interprets the SAPO

statute to require an allegation of reasonable fear that need not ever be proved.

Dissent at 1. That is an absurd interpretation. I can think of no other claim where

the petitioner must allege the required grounds for relief, but need not ever prove

them. This court will avoid an absurd result even if it must disregard unambiguous

14 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

statutory language to do so. State v. McDougal, 120 Wn.2d 334, 351-52, 841 P.2d

1232(1992). In this case, we don't have to ignore anything to avoid an absurd result.

All we need to do is adhere to the plain language ofRCW 7.90.020(1), which creates

the SAPO claim and sets forth its prerequisites. It establishes two prerequisites. One

is the existence of a sexual assault. But the other is specific proof that petitioner

reasonably fears future dangerous acts by the alleged attacker.^ G. Conclusion as to Allegations and ProofNeeded To Obtain All SAPOs

I therefore concur in the lead opinion's holding that a petitioner seeking a

SAPO must allege and prove both a sexual assault and a reasonable fear of future

dangerous acts, through specific acts or statements, and not just allege or prove the

assault itself. And I agree with the lead opinion that Roake's petition lacks such

specific statements or actions supporting a reasonable fear of such future

dangerousness."^

^ Any other interpretation also risks violating due process clause protections, as the lead opinion acknowledges. CONST, art. I, § 12.

Roake filed her petition on a standard court form that instructs her to "describe" the sexual assault that gave rise to her fear. CP at 3. But that form does not instruct her to describe what the statute requires, i.e., the "specific statements or actions" that give rise to not just a general fear, but "a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts" by the attacker. RCW 7.90.020(1). The lack of clarity in the form is probably a reflection ofthe lack of clarity in the statute. RCW 7.90.020 makes both the existence of a sexual assault and the existence of a reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts prerequisites to SAPO relief. But as discussed above, it is not completely clear about what must be alleged, and what must be proved, to 15 Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

I note, however, that the lead opinion limits its holding to temporary SAPOs.

Lead opinion at 11. As the discussion above shows, however, the portion of the

SAPO act establishing these prerequisites to relief covers all SAPOs, not just

temporary ones. Ch. 7.90 RCW. It covers final SAPOs also. It is therefore

impossible to conclude, as the Court of Appeals did, that this statutory scheme

relieves the petitioner of the burden of actually proving these mandatory

prerequisites to SAPO relief to obtain a final SAPO.

II. Roake Failed To Establish That She Is Entitled to a SAPO

In her petition for a SAPO,Roake alleged no acts or statements separate from

the sexual assault itself. The proof she presented was a written statement in the

petition itself. That statement contains details about the alleged sexual assault. It

shows that that alleged assault occurred eight months earlier. It shows no threats or

purposeful contact by Delman since then. Instead, it indicates that such purposeful

conduct likely did not occur, even though it easily could have. CP at 4("We also

have mutual friends and can end up in same places and similar areas of campus.").

The petition lacks the statutorily required "specific statements or actions" that

caused petitioner "reasonable" fear of notjust happenstance meetings, but of"future

obtain each type of SAPO. I believe that the legislature requires petitioners to prove both the assault and the reasonable fear of future dangerous acts to obtain any type of SAPO, and that the form should clearly state that. 16 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

dangerous acts." RCW 7.90.020(1). In fact, the petition's statement says that she

did not know anything about what Delman might do in the future.

Roake's petition therefore lacks the mandatory prerequisite to SAPO relief of

"specific statements or actions" constituting "reasonable" fear of"future dangerous

acts." For that reason, she was not entitled to either a temporary or final SAPO.^

CONCLUSION

I would hold that RCW 7.90.020 requires a SAPO petitioner to allege and

prove not just a sexual assault, but also reasonable fear of future dangerous acts,

through specific statements or acts separate from the acts inherent in an assault, to

prevail. I would hold that these requirements apply to all SAPOs, temporary and

final.

I therefore concur.

^ The lead opinion like the trial court, assumes that issuance of a temporary SAPO is a prerequisite to issuance of a final SAPO. Lead opinion at 11. The dissent does not explicitly address that issue (because it finds the petition sufficient) but seems to assume that issuance of a temporary SAPO is not a prerequisite to issuance of a final SAPO. Dissent at 5. 1 would not reach that issue because 1 find the petition fails to satisfy the statutory prerequisites to both temporary and final SAPOs. 17 Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), No. 93456-8 (Gordon McCloud, J., concurring)

) L,

18 Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell)

STEPHENS, J. (dissenting)—Contrary to the lead opinion's interpretation,

RCW 7.90.020(1) does not require a petitioner seeking a sexual assault protection

order to explicitly allege or prove a fear of future dangerous acts by the alleged

attacker. Instead, it includes an affidavit requirement to assure that any allegation

of sexual assault is supported with substantive details. Id. (directing petitioners to

include "specific statements or actions," including any acts or words "which give

rise to a reasonable fear"). The lead opinion's interpretation transforms the

modifying phrase "which give rise" into an additional "statutorily required element."

Lead opinion at 8. In doing so, it creates unnecessary confusion as to the

requirements for temporary and permanent protection orders and ignores the reality Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

that experiencing a sexual assault is itself a reasonable basis for ongoing fear. I

respectfully dissent.

The purpose ofthe Sexual Assault Protection Order(SAPO)Act(SAPO Act),

chapter 7.90 RCW,is to provide a straightforward and accessible civil remedy for

sexual assault survivors. The SAPO Act recognizes that while sexual assault is "the

most heinous crime against another person short of murder," it often goes

unpunished. RCW 7.90.005. Rape is among the most underreported crimes and,

even when reported, not always prosecuted. See id. When a rape occurs but is not

prosecuted, a civil protection order is often the only remedy available to a survivor.

However, a survivor whose assault stems from a single encounter with the

perpetrator, outside the context of an ongoing relationship, may not qualify for

existing protection orders. See, e.g., RCW 26.050.010(2)-(3), (6) (restricting

domestic violence protection orders to those "in a dating relationship" or "household

members" with the perpetrator); RCW 7.92.020(3), .030(l)(c) (requiring stalking

protection order petitioners to allege a pattern of stalking conduct, rather than an

isolated incident). The SAPO fills this gap.^

^ "It is the intent ofthe legislature that the sexual assault protection order created by this chapter be a remedy for victims who do not qualify for a domestic violence order of protection." RCW 7.90.005.

-2- Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell),93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

The SAPO's role is clear: to protect survivors who report sexual assaults.

Specifically, "the victim should be able to seek a civil remedy requiring that the

offender stay away from the victim." RCW 7.90.005. To achieve this purpose, the

SAPO petition process must be straightforward and accessible to survivors, many of

whom seek judicial relief without legal assistance. See, e.g., RCW 7.90.180

(requiring the development ofinstructional brochures and a standard SAPO petition

form); Br. of Amicus Curiae Legal Voice at 15 (noting that the majority of SAPO

petitioners are pro se). To obtain a SAPO,the petitioner(1) must submit a petition

alleging that a sexual assault occurred that is supported by (2) a sworn affidavit

detailing the defendant's "specific statements or actions," and (3) appear at a

hearing. RCW 7.90.020(1),.050.

RCW 7.90.020(1) details the petition and affidavit requirements:

A petition for relief shall allege the existence of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath stating the specific statements or actions made at the same time of the sexual assault or subsequently thereafter, which give rise to a reasonable fear of future dangerous acts, for which relief is sought. Petitioner and respondent shall disclose the existence of any other litigation or of any other restraining, protection, or no-contact orders between the parties.

A SAPO petition is legally sufficient ifthe petitioner(1)alleges that "nonconsensual

sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration" occurred and (2)supports this

allegation with a sworn affidavit detailing the assault. RCW 7.90.020(1). These

-3- Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell),93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

streamlined requirements are in keeping with the Legislature's intent to make the

SAPO process accessible.^ Nevertheless, the SAPO Act balances the interests of

petitioners and respondents. Based on the petition alone, RCW 7.90.110(1)

authorizes the court to grant immediate relief in the form of an ex parte temporary

protection order (TPO)—^but a final SAPO requires notice and a hearing. RCW

7.90.050, .120(l)(a)(requiring a hearing no later than 14 days after issuance of a

TPO).

Following the hearing, RCW 7.90.090 authorizes the court to grant a final

SAPO. RCW 7.90.090(l)(a) states:

If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner has been a victim of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by the respondent,the court shall issue a sexual assault protection order; provided that the petitioner must also satisfy the requirements of RCW 7.90.110 for ex parte temporary orders or RCW 7.90.120 for final orders.

See also RCW 7.90.120 (detailing hearing notice requirements and SAPO duration

guidelines). Thus, a final SAPO is based on a single substantive finding: that the

respondent more likely than not sexually assaulted the petitioner. As the Court of

Appeals correctly noted, the burden of proof at the final order stage is distinct from

^ Although RCW 7.90.020(1)separately lists the petition and affidavit requirements, Washington courts have fiirther streamlined the petition process by combining both into a single, standardized form. See Wash. Courts, Petition for Sexual Assault Protection Order, Form SA 1.015 (June 2014), http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute &formID=65 [https://perma. cc/LM2C-DT2K].

-4- Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

the procedural requirements associated with filing a SAPO petition. See Roake v.

Delman, 194 Wn. App. 442, 451, 377 P.3d 258 (2016)("Notably, RCW 7.90.090

does not require that a petitioner prove each ofthe allegations that must be included

in a SAPO petition."), review granted, 187 Wn.2d 1008 (2017). With the

opportunity to consider evidence and testimony from both the petitioner and

respondent, at the hearing and final order stage the court is appropriately focused on

the single essential finding: whether a sexual assault occurred.

In this case, the trial court dismissed Roake's petition without determining

whether she was assaulted by Delman. Clerk's Papers(CP)at 98. Roake submitted

her initial petition, described her alleged sexual assault, and was granted a IPG. Id.

at 1-8. Before the court could conduct a full SAPO hearing, Delman moved to

dismiss. Id. at 33. Delman argued that Roake's petition and the initial TPO were

legally deficient because RCW 7.90.020(1) requires petitioners to allege sexual

assault and separately demonstrate their reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts. Id.

at 42. The trial court granted Delman's motion, stating that Roake "failed to

establish that she had any reasonable fear of future dangerous acts from the

Respondent and therefore the temporary order was invalid." Id. at 98. The Court of

Appeals and a plurality of this court similarly read RCW 7.90.020(1) as requiring

-5- Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

SAPO petitions to separately allege both sexual assault and reasonable fear. See

Roake, 194 Wn. App. at 453; lead opinion at 1, 8. They are mistaken.

RCW 7.90.020(1) states that a SAPO petition "shall be accompanied by an

affidavit made under oath stating the specific statements or actions made at the same

time ofthe sexual assault or subsequently thereafter, which give rise to a reasonable

fear offuture dangerous acts." The Court of Appeals and the lead opinion read this

language as requiring separate allegations of(1) sexual assault and (2) reasonable

fear. See Roake, 194 Wn.App. at 453;lead opinion at 8. This conclusion is incorrect

for two reasons. First, the statutory text does not require a petition to restate the

obvious—^that the petitioner is reasonably afraid ofthe attacker in light ofthe alleged

sexual assault.^ Second, even if RCW 7.90.020(1) required such an allegation, it

may be satisfied by describing "statements or actions" associated with the

underlying sexual assault."^

^ The SAPO Act's first paragraph sets forth the Legislative declaration that"[sjexual assault inflicts humiliation, degradation, and terror on victims." RCW 7.90.005(emphasis added). Because the SAPO Act recognizes that fear is a by-product of sexual assault, a SAPO petitioner whose affidavit describes his or her assault necessarily describes the "specific statements or actions ... which give rise to a reasonable fear." RCW 7.90.020(1). This interpretation is consistent with SAPO instructions listed on the Washington Courts' website, which focus on the importance of describing the assault in detail. See Wash. Courts, Instructions for Petition for Sexual Assault Protection Order, Form SAi- 1.015, at 3(Jrme 2010)("Describe any nonconsensual sexual conduct The more details you can provide, the more helpful it is to the judge."), http://www.courts.wa. gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=65 [https://perma. cc/MD63-YGAJ]. The instructions give three examples, each focused on improving a petition by adding

-6- Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

Nothing in RCW 7.90.020(1) requires an allegation of reasonable fear of

future dangerous acts as a separate statutory element. Instead, a careful reading of

the SAPO Act's operative language confirms that a legally sufficient petition needs

only two components:(1)an allegation ofsexual assault accompanied by(2)a sworn

affidavit describing the defendant's "specific statements or actions." RCW

7.90.020(1). Among the statements or actions petitioners should include are any

"which give rise to" reasonable fear of future harm. Id. The reasonable fear

language, in context, is an explanatory phrase modifying the "specific statements or

actions" that shall be alleged. It is not a separate substantive requirement. As a

modifying phrase, it relates back to the affidavit requirement, providing guidance as ,

to the kinds of"specific statements or actions" the petition must include. Id.

Interpreting RCW 7.90.020(l)'s reasonable fear language as providing

guidance to petitioners makes sense in the SAPO Act's procedural context.

Although a final SAPO requires notice and a hearing, courts determining whether to

grant an ex parte TPO must rely primarily on the SAPO petition and accompanying

affidavit. See, e.g., RCW 7.90.110(1). A robust petition thus serves the interest of

both petitioners and the courts. Such a petition is more credible, making it, from the

petitioner's perspective, more likely to succeed; it also provides a factual basis for

descriptive detail about the assault. Id. at 4. None of the examples mention separate allegations of"reasonable fear." Id.

-7- Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

the court to corroborate key facts and assess the consistency of any allegations.

Requiring the formality of a sworn affidavit further communicates the seriousness

of the proceeding to the petitioner, potentially protecting respondents against

frivolous accusations.

Perplexingly, the Court of Appeals acknowledged that "a survivor may

reasonably fear the person who assaulted her based on the assault alone" yet

interpreted RCW 7.90.020 as requiring the petitioner to cite "specific statements or

actions, other than the assault itself, that cause the petitioner to reasonably fear

future dangerous acts from the respondent." Roake, 194 Wn. App. at 449-50.

Understandably, the court cited no statutory language in support of the italicized

text, which appears to be in tension with the legislative declaration in RCW

7.90.005, discussed supra.^ Indeed, this approach invites absurd results: if the

assault itself cannot form the basis of a required showing, any petition based on a

single assault by an unknown assailant would be legally insufficient, though this is

exactly the type of assault the SAPO Act is meant to address. See RCW 7.90.005

(SAPOs are intended to "be a remedy for victims who do not qualify for a domestic

violence order of protection").

^ The Court of Appeals instead expressed concem that any other interpretation would render RCW 7.90.020(l)'s "specific statements and actions" language redundant. See Roake, 194 Wn. App. at 449. As discussed, this language is not redundant because it ensures SAPO petitions include details corroborating the sexual assault allegation.

-8- Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

Based on the record and the plain language ofRCW 7.90.020(1),I would hold

that Roake's SAPO petition was legally sufficient. Using the provided petition and

affidavit form, she alleged nonconsensual sexual conduct and penetration

perpetrated by Delman. See RCW 7.90.020(1); CP at 4. She also certified under

penalty ofpeijury that her allegations were true and correct, satisfying the affidavit's

"under oath" requirement. RCW 7.90.020(1). Finally, Roake described Delman's

"specific statements or actions made at the same time of the sexual assault," id.,

alleging that Delman forced his penis into her mouth, forced his fingers and tongue

into her vagina, and bit her genitals. CP at 4. With these two elements—-an

allegation of sexual assault and a signed declaration containing corroborating

details—Roake's SAPO petition was legally sufficient. See RCW 7.90.020(1). The

SAPO Act, at least at the petition stage, requires no more.^

Finding a SAPO petition to be legally sufficient does not guarantee that a

petitioner will receive a permanent protection order. At the hearing, the petitioner

must prove "by a preponderance ofthe evidence that the petitioner has been a victim

of nonconsensual sexual conduct or nonconsensual sexual penetration by the

^ Even if RCW 7.90.020(1) required Roake to demonstrate reasonable fear, a fair reading of the record shows she has done so. Roake's petition describes her assault in graphic detail, alleging that forced penetration and biting of her genitals left her underwear and skirt "soaked in blood" and a pool of blood "about the size of a basketball hoop" under the sink. CP at 4. It is absurd to suggest that Roake needs to allege anything further before her fear of Dehnan can be considered "reasonable."

-9- Roake (Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell),93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

respondent." RCW 7.90.090(l)(a). Roake's allegations, if substantiated, seem to

support issuance of a SAPO. Id.\ CP at 4. However, making such a finding is

properly the realm ofthe trial court.^

I would resolve only the question squarely before us and hold that the trial

court erred by rejecting Roake's petition for "fail[ing] to establish that she had any

reasonable fear of future dangerous acts from the Respondent." CP at 98. RCW

7.90.020(1) places no such burden on a petitioner, requiring only that a SAPO

petition allege that a sexual assault occurred and include specific details in the

accompanying affidavit describing what happened. Under a proper interpretation of

the statute's requirements, Roake's SAPO petition was legally sufficient.

I would affirm the Court of Appeals in result only, reversing the trial court's

improper dismissal of Roake's petition and remanding the case for fact-finding

under RCW 7.90.090.

As the lead opinion recognizes,it appears the trial court dismissed Roake's petition before it "considered testimony or other supplemental declarations in resolving any disputed facts, nor did the trial court enter any findings offact." Lead opinion at 10.

-10- Roake(Megan) v. Delman (Maxwell), 93456-8 (Stephens, J., dissenting)

(=>

)

-11- Roake v. Delman

No.93456-8

GonzAlez, J.(concurring in dissent)—share the concerns raised in Justice

Stephens's dissent. This case should be remanded for further proceedings.

Further, this case is our first opportunity to opine on the requirements of a sexual

assault protection order(SAPO)petition and I fear the primarily procedural

conclusions reached by the lead opinion may cause serious consequences for future

SAPO petitions. I therefore agree with the dissent.

Megan Roake made allegations in her SAPO petition about her fear of

Maxwell Delman, allegations that if proved true would entitle her to relief. Roake

alleges that Delman forced her to perform sexual acts. Clerk's Papers(CP)at 4

(Roake's graphic description of the sexual assault). Her petition says that both of

them are students at the University of Washington(UW)and, despite a university

no contact order, she "encountered [Delman] several times on campus" and said

she does "not know what he is capable of." Id. The lead opinion, without

explanation, agrees with the trial court that Roake "failed to establish that she had

any reasonable fear offuture dangerous acts" by Delman, id. at 98-99(Denial 1 Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

Order); lead opinion at 8, 10. And it is unclear what standard the lead opinion

applies to arrive at this conclusion when there was no hearing on a final order in

which Roake could prove her allegations are true. See Rodriguez v. Zavala, 188

Wn.2d 586, 598, 398 P.3d 1071 (2017)(reviewing decision to deny a protection

order after hearing for an abuse of discretion).

The lead opinion holds that no hearing on the final order was required in this

case because "a trial court resolves [the] claim on the pleadings." Lead opinion at

10. But, notably, the lead opinion fails to address the merits of Delman's motion

to dismiss Roake's SAPO petition under CR 12(c)(motion for judgment on the

pleadings).^ See id. at 4. Instead, the lead opinion says that legal insufficiency is a

ground to dismiss a SAPO,but fails to discuss why the facts alleged in Roake's

petition are legally insufficient to warrant a full hearing. See Halvorson v. Dahl,

89 Wn.2d 673, 674,574 P.2d 1190(1978)("a challenge to the legal sufficiency of

the plaintiffs allegations must be denied unless no state of facts which plaintiff

could prove, consistent with the complaint, would entitle the plaintiff to relief on

the claim"(emphasis added)). The lead opinion's decision will cause confusion if

it does not discuss the standard under which courts are to review CR 12(c)

dismissals of SAPO petitions.

^ "After the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings." CR 12(c). 2 Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

Standard of Review

We generally review CR 12(c) dismissals de novo. P.E. Sys., LLC v. CPI

Corp., 176 Wn.2d 198, 203, 289 P.3d 638(2012). The court is empowered to

depart from the general rules of civil proceedings because SAPO proceedings are

"special proceedings," but only to the extent SAPO proceedings are inconsistent

with the Civil Rules. CR 81(a)("Except where inconsistent with rules or statutes

applicable to special proceedings, these rules shall govern all civil proceedings.").^

Without more clarity, the lead opinion runs the risk of suggesting that this ruling

affects civil proceedings outside the confines of SAPO petitions.

"We treat a CR 12(c) motion . . . identically to a CR 12(b)(6) motion." P.E.

Sys., 176 Wn.2d at 203. Dismissal under either subsection is "appropriate only

when it appears beyond doubt" that the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts that

"would justify recovery." San Juan County v. No New Gas Tax, 160 Wn.2d 141,

164, 157 P.3d 831 (2007); Gorman v. Garlock, Inc., 155 Wn.2d 198, 215, 118 P.3d

311 (2005). We presume that the plaintiffs factual allegations are true and draw

all reasonable inferences from the factual allegations in the plaintiffs favor.

Trujillo V. Nw. Tr. Servs., Inc., 183 Wn.2d 820, 830, 355 P.3d 1100(2015). We

may also consider hypothetical facts not included in the record. FutureSelect

^ Delman interprets CR 81 to say "civil rules do not apply to special proceedings," Resp't's Answer to Amicus Curiae Br. at 18, but CR 81(a) explicitly says that the statute must be inconsistent with the Civil Rules that would normally apply. 3 Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

Portfolio Mgmt., Inc. v. Tremont Grp. Holdings, Inc., 180 Wn.2d 954,962,331

P.3d 29(2014). Thus, Roake's statement that she would encounter Delman on

campus and that she did not know what he was capable of should carry great

weight.^

However, the lead opinion's deference to the denial order likely means it is

applying an abuse of discretion standard. Even though this action comes to us on a

motion to dismiss, the lead opinion does not treat Roake's factual allegations as

true because, presumably under CR 81(a), it roots the motion to dismiss in the

SAPO act. Ch. 7.90 RCW. "If a respondent alleges a meritorious defense to the

sufficiency of a temporary SAPO, under the statute he or she may petition the court

to reopen the order under RCW 7.90.130(2)(e).... Delman effectively did that by

filing the motion to dismiss." Lead opinion at 9. I understand this to mean that the

"motion to dismiss" was effectively mislabeled, but that it amounted to Delman

making an RCW 7.90.130(2)(e) challenge to the temporary order's validity. I

disagree with this approach, but if the lead opinion is going to adopt it, the "motion

to dismiss" must be consistent with the requirements of RCW 7.90.130(2)(e). Id.

^ It is unlikely that the lead opinion intends to heighten the CR 12(c) standard in SAPO petitions to require allegations that are plausible. Compare Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 173 L. Ed. 2d 868 (2009)("the tenet that a court must accept as true all ofthe allegations contained in a complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions ...[;] only a complaint that states a plausible elaim for relief survives a motion to dismiss") with McCurry v. Chevy Chase Bank, FSB, 169 Wn.2d 96, 101-02, 233 P.3d 861 (2010)(explicitly rejecting to heighten the standard for motions to dismiss to plausibility). Roake V. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

"Motion To Dismiss" and RCW 7.90.130(2)(e)

Even if the lead opinion is saying the "motion to dismiss" was actually an

RCW 7.90.130(2)(e) motion to "reopen the order" that the trial court granted, the

denial order was an abuse of discretion. An abuse of discretion is found when a

decision is based on untenable reasons, including relying on an incorrect standard.

Rodriguez, 188 Wn.2d at 598 (citing/« re Marriage ofLittlefield, 133 Wn.2d 39,

47,940 P.2d 1362(1997)). The language of RCW 7.90.130(2)(e) supports the

conclusion that the denial order was premature; therefore, Roake is entitled to a

full hearing if a temporary order is reopened.

We review questions of statutory interpretation de novo to give effect to the

legislature's intentions. Dep't ofEcology v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d

1, 9-10,43 P.3d 4(2002). When possible, we derive legislative intent solely from

the plain language enacted by the legislature, considering the text of the provision

itself, the context ofthe statute in which the provision is found, related provisions,

and the statutory scheme as a whole. Id/, State v. Ervin, 169 Wn.2d 815, 820, 239

P.3d354(2010).

A fair reading ofthe RCW 7.90.130(2)(e) shows that it provides only an

opportunity to reopen a temporary order. RCW 7.90.130(2)(e) explains:

(2) A sexual assault protection order shall further state the following:

(e)For ex parte temporary sexual assault protection orders, that the respondent may petition the court, to reopen the order if he or she did not Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

receive actual prior notice of the hearing and if the respondent alleges that he or she had a meritorious defense to the order or that the order or its remedy is not authorized by this chapter.

Thus, to reopen an order, the respondent needs to show both failure to "receive

actual prior notice ofthe hearing" and a "meritorious defense." RCW

7.90.130(2)(e). The phrase "meritorious defense" does not permit dismissal ofthe

temporary order; it relates to vacation ofthe temporary order so the respondent can

participate in a hearing for a temporary order. "Meritorious defense" is a term of

art used in the specific context of vacating default orders and judgments. See 14

Washington Practice, Civil Procedure § 9:26 (2d ed. 2009)("Factors

considered by court—^Meritorious defense"). And the phrase "reopen the order"

also suggests vacating the temporary protection order for further proceedings. See

CR 59(g)(reopening judgment); see also Black's Law Dictionary 1490(10th

ed. 2014)("reopen").

The Trial Court Abused its Discretion

In this case, a superior court commissioner issued a temporary SAPO

restricting Delman from contacting Roake. Delman claims he did not contest the

SAPO because he did not receive notice. See Br. of Resp't at 2-3. He moved to

reopen the temporary order and, at a hearing on the motion, argued that the

temporary order was invalid because there was no discussion of"fear" at the ex

parte hearing. Report ofProceedings (Feb. 20, 2015) at 55. While the lead Roake V. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

opinion holds that Delman had a meritorious defense—^legal insufficiency—and

the case should be dismissed on that basis, at most this provision permits vacating

the temporary order to provide Delman with an opportunity "to file a general

appearance and testify," RCW 7.90.110(2), before the court may impose a

temporary order.

Roake never had an opportunity to argue her allegations offear were true at

a hearing on the temporary order. And, even if a trial judge determines a

temporary order is not necessary without "reach[ing] or resolv[ing] any issues

required for issuance of a final order," lead opinion at 11, it is still necessary to

provide a hearing on the final order. Somehow,the lead opinion implies, this

"meritorious defense" to default judgment made the temporary order a prerequisite

of the final order. Id. at 9. Again, that would be highly unusual—^that requirement

is found nowhere in the SAPO act. The requirements for a final order say nothing

about the petitioner's fear of a respondent. RCW 7.90.090,.120.

In light of the fact that the lead opinion endorses the trial court's action, it

should also consider RCW 7.90.170(1), which actually explains when a court can

"terminate or modify the terms of an existing sexual assault protection order." The

trial court found that Roake did not establish "reasonable fear offuture dangerous

acts." CP at 98. In Delman's motion to dismiss, he argued he will no longer

interact with Roake on campus. See id. at 43("Delman is no longer a UW student. Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

[and] is enrolled in a college outside the State of Washington."). While he also

argued that 10 months had passed since the alleged sexual assault and that a SAPO

would damage his reputation, id. at 51, his relocation is the sole ground that gave

the trial court cause to terminate the SAPO under chapter 7.90 RCW. See

generally RCW 7.90.170(2)(b)(an order can be terminated "if the respondent

proves by a preponderance ofthe evidence ...[he or she] is not likely to engage in

or attempt to engage in physical or nonphysical contact with the persons protected

by the protection order")."^ Nonetheless, without the required hearing on the

motion under RCW 7.90.170(3) and a hearing on the final order, the denial order

was premature and thus an abuse of discretion.

Finally, the lead opinion says that "[i]n a different situation where a

respondent disputes the claim of sexual assault, the trial court will conduct a

further fact finding hearing and resolve the issue based on the testimony or

evidence submitted." Lead opinion at 11. It should be noted, however, that the

lead opinion does not expressly raise the dismissal standard to require plausible

fearfulness in the petition, and all evidence of legislative intent in the SAPO act is

This language was added by the legislature after the briefs were filed in this case, and it became effective July 23,2017. Laws OF 2017, ch. 233, § 3. The legislature included it to clarify how protection orders can be modified or terminated. Notably, to modify or terminate an order,"[t]he petitioner bears no burden of proving that he or she has a current reasonable fear of harm by the respondent." Id. The requirement that the petition "be accompanied by an affidavit" with statements or actions that gave "rise to a reasonable fear," RCW 7.90.020(1), should be considered in light of this amendment. 8 Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)

to the contrary. See, e.g., RCW 7.90.005 ("Sexual assault inflicts humiliation,

degradation, and terror on victims.").

The lead opinion determined the trial court did not abuse its discretion by

issuing a denial order dismissing Roake's petition. I agree with the dissent that

Roake's allegations were legally sufficient. Roake should have had an opportunity

to test the veracity of her allegations in a full hearing. I concur in dissent. Roake v. Delman, No. 93456-8 (Gonzalez, J., concurring in dissent)