Pilcher v. Stribling

Georgia's stalking statute, O.C.G.A. § 16-5-90 applied to a fire chief who engaged in incidents of verbal abuse, employment threats, belittling behavior and physical assaults.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Terry Pilcher appeals from the trial court’s entry of a permanent restraining order enjoining him from contact with the appellees, Jason Stribling and Carl Morrow, as well as certain named protected parties. At the relevant time, Pilcher was the fire chief for the City of Loganville Fire Department. Stribling and Morrow, along with the protected parties,1 Rex Wamer, Anthony Logan, James D. Davis, and Kenneth Durden, were all fire department employees and Pilcher’s subordinates. In March, 2004, Stribling and Morrow each filed separate verified petitions for stalking/temporary protective orders against Pilcher. On March 16, 2004, the trial court granted a Stalking Ex Parte Temporary Protective Order to Stribling, and the next day granted Morrow’s petition, adding the protected parties to Morrow’s order.

The evidentiary hearing in this matter was held on April 19, 2005.2 Both Stribling and Morrow, as well as the protected parties and other witnesses, testified to various incidents of physical assault and repeated verbal abuse by Pilcher directed toward these and other employees of the fire department. The incidents of verbal abuse included cursing, threatening employees’ jobs, and belittling employees’ intelligence, personal life, weight, sexual inexperience or financial situation. Witnesses testified that these incidents involved most of Pilcher’s employees and went beyond the typical interchange and banter among firemen. In one incident, Pilcher threatened a firefighter’s job, and used two of his fingers on the edge of a garbage can to indicate that the firefighter was “going over that edge.” All of these incidents occurred during working hours, and all but one3 of the incidents of physical assault occurred during the course of basketball games mandated as part of the employees’ physical training requirement.

Pilcher v. Stribling

Georgia's stalking statute, O.C.G.A. § 16-5-90 applied to a fire chief who engaged in incidents of verbal abuse, employment threats, belittling behavior and physical assaults.

Share with Email

Thank you for sharing!

Trending Stories

More From ALM

Subscribe to Daily Report