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Man sues University for denying him appeal
James House, who was accused of stalking and banned from campus, alleges the University prevented his appeal
by Ben Brown
News Reporter |
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James House filed a lawsuit in Lane County Circuit Court on June 28th claiming the University general counsel's office denied him the opportunity to argue a trespass order placed against him after University employee Marisa Hastie claimed he was stalking her.
University General Counsel Melinda Grier said she hadn't heard anything about House's case, but said her office wouldn't place a trespass order against somebody without offering them a chance to appeal, which is required by state law.
University Department of Public Safety Interim Director Thomas Hicks, whose office issued the trespass order, said he never received a written notice of House's intent to appeal.
University spokeswoman Pauline Austin said trespass notices say the University can be contacted within 10 days of issue if the accused intends to appeal.
"He was given the same opportunity everyone else gets," said Austin. "He has to take action to make it happen."
Written notice of the trespass order was issued on Feb. 11th. House said accompanying the notice was a letter from Grier that said she believed Hastie's statements and the University would not pursue an appeal.
House said he had his lawyer, David C. Force, respond within two days of receiving the written notice with his intent to appeal. House said the letter from Grier is proof that the University violated his civil rights.
House also said he contacted Hicks in an effort to get a copy of the report used to issue the trespass notice. Hicks told him he would deliver House's request personally, House said. Seven weeks later a copy of the report had still not arrived and when he contacted department of public safety dispatcher Nancy Bowen she said it was the first she had ever heard of the request, House said.
House has requested a letter of explanation about why it took so long to get a copy of the DPS report; at present, no answer has been forthcoming, House said.
"They're daring me to sue them," he said.
House said he met Hastie, assistant director for fitness programs at the University's Physical Activity and Recreation Services, on an online personals site called Lavalife, and they were just friends. House said they pursued friendship for six months before Hastie retreated from the friendship without breaking off all contact, House said.
In January, House began to attend an aerobics class at the University Student Recreation Center which happened to be taught by Hastie, House said. She said he contacted her in writing before signing up for the class and asked her if it would be a problem if he were there, he said. He received no response, he said.
Hastie told DPS that House had been in her class the previous year and had continued to contact her even after she told him not to. Hastie told DPS that House joined the rec center to pursue contact with her, House said.
"They tried to accuse me of harassing and stalking her," said House, who denies all of Hastie's allegations.
House said Hastie claims they met when he took a class from her at the rec center during the 2003-04 school year and she never met him on Lavalife. House said he never signed up for any classes before January of this year.
"She's basically trying to make it look like I'm a student who tried to pursue a personal relationship," House said. "She's a pathological liar."
The rec center wouldn't release House's records showing he had or hadn't taken classes before January. The University Office of the Registrar Office said it didn't have that information because it dealt solely with the rec center.
House said he was not allowed to give a statement before the trespass notice was issued and that Hicks relied solely on Hastie's story. House said Hastie claims he called her repeatedly at work, after she had asked him not to, and that he was at the rec center solely to pursue a relationship. Those claims are false, he said.
Phone calls and e-mails to Hastie were not returned.
House said the case is likely to go to court around the end of the year but he hopes it will not be taken that far and that the University will settle.
"It's going to be difficult," said House. "They've caused me a lot of distress."
Further information on the case and its progress can be found at House's Web site www.oregonreform.com.
benbrown@dailyemerald.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
anonymous859
anonymous859
posted 8/04/04 @ 12:51 PM PST
James House scares me. His quotes seem very elusive, as if he isn't fully denying that he was following his victim around. It seems the lawsuit is just another way of keeping track and stalking the victim. (Continued…)
anonymous859
anonymous859
posted 8/30/04 @ 2:15 PM PST
I think House is innocent. After someone brought this article to my attention it is seems that only a fool would judge House at this point. At least without seeing the evidence it would be nothing but prejudice. (Continued…)
anonymous859
anonymous859
posted 2/08/05 @ 6:28 PM PST
It amuses me that Frank D. is so quick to call anyone who would judge Mr. House based on the news article a fool, but supports calling Mrs. Hastie a liar based on the same circumstances. (Continued…)
anonymous859
anonymous859
posted 3/02/05 @ 3:03 PM PST
The facts are what anyone needs to make an educated decision. Knowing more about this situation I must say this article does not present them very well. (Continued…)
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