Court Opinion

ID: 3154490
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-13 15:23:49.704042+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:15.886559
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal
revision before publication in the Vermont Reports. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter
of Decisions by email at: JUD.Reporter@vermont.gov or by mail at: Vermont Supreme Court,
109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801, of any errors in order that corrections may
be made before this opinion goes to press.

                                          2015 VT 136

                                          No. 2015-075

Jennifer Weinstein                                              Supreme Court

                                                                On Appeal from
   v.                                                           Superior Court, Bennington Unit,
                                                                Civil Division
Jeanmarie Leonard and Carol Sayour
                                                                September Term, 2015
   v.

Lloyd J. Weinstein and The Weinstein Group, P.C.

John P. Wesley, J.

Lloyd J. Weinstein of The Weinstein Group, PC, Woodbury, New York, for Plaintiffs-Appellees/
 Third-Party Defendants.

Christopher D. Roy of Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, Burlington, for Defendants-Appellants/
 Third-Party Plaintiffs.

PRESENT: Dooley, Skoglund, Robinson and Eaton, JJ., and Morse, J. (Ret.),
         Specially Assigned

        ¶ 1.   DOOLEY, J.           Defendants-counterclaimants Jeanmarie Leonard and Carol

Sayour appeal from the Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment on their counterclaims in

favor of plaintiff Jennifer Weinstein and third-party defendants, Lloyd Weinstein, plaintiff’s

husband, and his law firm, The Weinstein Group, P.C. Defendants claim on appeal that there are

disputed material facts to justify a jury trial on their counterclaims of breach of contract, tortious

invasion of privacy, and abuse of process, and that their reading of the allegedly breached

contract is, at a minimum, a reasonable one precluding summary judgment. We affirm.
       ¶ 2.    Construing the facts in the light most favorable to defendants, the genesis of this

case is an application for a permit to construct a barn made by defendants in May 2012.

Defendants, as well as plaintiff and her husband, are residents of the Rocking Stone Farm

Subdivision in Manchester, Vermont. Defendants own Lot #10 of the subdivision and plaintiff

solely owns Lot #9. On May 29, 2012, defendants received a zoning permit from Manchester’s

zoning administrator allowing them to construct a barn on Lot #10.    Pursuant to the Declaration

for Rocking Stone Farm (the “Declaration”), defendants received a waiver from the

Homeowner’s Association (the “Association”), through the president and principal Tommy

Harmon, permitting them to erect the barn. Plaintiff appealed the permit to the Manchester

Development Review Board (the “DRB”) on June 12, 2012. The DRB affirmed the grant of the

permit on August 6.

       ¶ 3.    On August 25, defendant Leonard and her husband were walking along Lot #10

with a landscape contractor when plaintiff began yelling at them from her upstairs window.

Plaintiff then left her home and entered Lot #10, accompanied by a “very large dog.” Despite

being asked to leave, she physically confronted the Leonards, who eventually left the lot.

       ¶ 4.    Two days later, plaintiff filed an appeal of the DRB’s decision to the

Environmental Division of the Superior Court. Plaintiff, a trained attorney, initially represented

herself, but Mr. Weinstein and his law firm, The Weinstein Group, P.C., entered an appearance

as counsel for her on December 18. In November and December, both the Association and

counsel for defendants advised plaintiff by letter that her opposition to the barn permit

constituted a violation of the Non-Interference Clause of the Declaration, which provides that

each owner of a lot in Rocking Stone Farm agrees “not [to] take any action to contest or interfere

with any development in the Community so long as such development is consistent with the

Land Use Approvals.”

       ¶ 5.    On February 4, 2013, the Environmental Division rendered judgment in favor of

defendants. Plaintiff appealed that decision to this Court on February 13. On March 15, Plaintiff
                                                 2
also filed suit against defendants in superior court with a ten-count complaint, alleging, among

other things, that the Declaration had been breached by defendants’ construction of the barn.

Defendants filed counterclaims against plaintiff for trespass, civil assault, breach of contract,

tortious invasion of privacy, as well as abuse of process and third-party claims against Mr.

Weinstein and his law firm for abuse of process and breach of contract.

       ¶ 6.   Although counsel for plaintiffs had told Mr. Weinstein that their counsel had been

authorized to accept process, defendants were served personally in their homes on or about

March 26. Mr. Weinstein also sent letters directly to Mr. Harmon and defendants the night

before oral argument in this Court in the zoning appeal, despite knowing they were represented

by counsel. On September 13, this Court affirmed the decision of the Environmental Decision

upholding the zoning permit. Following the Court’s decision, Ms. Weinstein raised no more

objections to the Town’s issuance of the permit.

       ¶ 7.   In November 2014, with a jury trial scheduled for January 2015 in the remaining

civil suit, plaintiff and Mr. Weinstein and The Weinstein Group, P.C., filed for summary

judgment regarding the counterclaims and third-party claims asserted by defendants.          On

December 24, plaintiff filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss all remaining claims she had

asserted against defendants. Finally, on January 12, 2015 the Superior Court partially granted

the summary judgment motions, dismissing all but the civil assault and trespass claims against

plaintiff and dismissing all claims against Mr. Weinstein and his law firm. Defendants then

voluntarily withdrew their remaining two claims against plaintiff and appealed the grant of

summary judgment to this Court.

       ¶ 8.   Summary judgment decisions are reviewed de novo. “Summary judgment will be

granted when, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there is

no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law.” Glassford v. Dufresne & Associates, P.C., 2015 VT 77 ¶10, ___ Vt. ___, ___

A.3d ____.
                                                   3
          ¶ 9.    Defendants’ main claim is that plaintiff’s efforts to stop the issuance of the

permit to build the barn through the Manchester DRB and the courts were a violation of the non-

interference clause contained in § 14.2 of the Declaration. The full section containing the clause

states:

                  Section 14.2 Acknowledgments. Each owner acknowledges and
                  agrees that such Owner will not take any action to contest or
                  interfere with any development of the Community so long as such
                  development is consistent with the Land Use Approvals. Each
                  Owner hereby waives any right it may have to object to any
                  Condominium Project to be developed on the Condominium
                  Projects Lot so long as such Condominium Project is in
                  conformance with the terms, conditions and restrictions of the
                  Land Use Approvals. Each Owner further acknowledges and
                  agrees that such Owner has not relied upon any representations or
                  assurances regarding the development of the community, except
                  for those statements set forth in this Declaration.

The term “community” is defined in § 2.8 of the Declaration as “the planned community formed

under this Declaration, including the entirety of the Property, together with all buildings,

improvements, amenities, facilities and infrastructure located on or appertaining to the Property

now and in the future, together with all the easements and rights benefitting the Property. . . .”

The term “Land Use Approvals” is defined in § 2.24 as “the federal, state and municipal

approvals for the development of the Community listed in Exhibit B of this Declaration, as

amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.” Exhibit B describes the 15

permits obtained for the overall development between 1976 and 2006.

          ¶ 10.   Defendants argue that under § 14.2 plaintiff’s appearance before the Manchester

DRB in opposition to their barn development proposal, as well as her appeals to the

environmental division and to this Court, were actions “to contest or interfere with any

development of the Community” that was consistent with the overall land use approvals. They

further argue that the bringing of this civil suit was a violation of § 14.2. Thus, they argue that

these actions violated § 14.2, and such a violation was a breach of contract, and that Mr.

Weinstein and his law firms are liable for the breach as agents of plaintiff. They make the
                                              4
additional argument that if this Court finds the language of § 14.2 ambiguous as applied to the

circumstances in this case, summary judgment was inappropriate, and they have the right to offer

extraneous evidence on the meaning of the provision.

       ¶ 11.   We begin with the argument that Ms. Weinstein’s appearance in the development

review procedure was a violation of § 14.2. In essence, defendants argue that § 14.2 is a form of

exculpatory waiver agreement under which plaintiff waived her right to participate in municipal

development review proceedings and any judicial review of such proceedings.           Exculpatory

agreements are generally disfavored. Provoncha v. Vermont Motocross Ass’n, Inc., 2009 VT 29,

¶ 12, 185 Vt. 473, 974 A.2d 1261. They are subject to “close judicial scrutiny” and must meet

“higher standards for clarity” than other contracts. Id.; see also Colgan v. Agway, 150 Vt. 373,

375, 553 A.2d 143, 145 (1988) (“a greater degree of clarity is necessary to make the exculpatory

clause effective”).    They are to be strictly construed “against the party relying” on them.

Thompson v. Hi Tech Motor Sports, 2008 VT 15, ¶ 17, 183 Vt. 218, 945 A.2d 368. In addition

to imposing clarity and specification requirements on the drafting of exculpatory clauses, we

have also found exculpatory clauses ineffective if they violate public policy. Dalury v. S-K-I,

Ltd., 164 Vt. 329, 332, 670 A.2d 795, 797 (1995). Exculpatory clauses will be upheld only if

they are “freely and fairly made . . . between parties who are in an equal bargaining position and

. . . there is no social interest with which [they] interfere.” Id. (citation omitted). The public

interest is determined through consideration of the “totality of circumstances of any given case

against the backdrop of current societal expectations.” Id. at 334, A.2d at 798.

       ¶ 12.   We need not get beyond the disclosure and specificity standards to rule that we

will not enforce § 14.2 in the manner sought by defendants. The waiver language is contained in

an Article titled “DISCLOSURES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS” in a section entitled

Acknowledgements. It is on page 34 of a 39 page document. Although the record does not show

the details of the drafting and effect of the Declaration, it is undisputed that it was prepared by

                                                5
the developer, Rocking Stone Farm, LLC, and each purchaser of a lot in the development must

accept its terms. Thus, it is a form of contract of adhesion.

       ¶ 13.   The applicable language of § 14.2 does not use the term “waiver”, although the

following sentence does explicitly use that term. The language does not state that owners have

waived all rights to raise objections to land use development that directly affects them in

municipal, state, or judicial proceedings which are intended for that purpose. Other provisions in

the document purport to create waivers and state so explicitly. See Declaration § 6.13 (waiver of

homestead exemption).

       ¶ 14.   There is nothing else in the Declaration that gives notice that a waiver of the

scope and type urged by defendants can be found in § 14.2 or in the Declaration generally. The

declaration contains a separate design review process, conducted by a design review committee

along with design and use standards.         Defendants argue that the design review process

determines compliance with local regulatory standards, but that is an overstatement of the design

review committee’s function.      Instead, the committee reviews a development proposal for

compatibility with the design and use standards as well as the regulatory permits that were issued

to authorize the development as a whole. Design and Use Standards I(A). In fact, a separate

section of the Declaration, labeled “Governmental Requirements,” provides:

                Compliance with the Association’s design review process is not a
               substitute for compliance with the Land Use Approvals, the Town
               of Manchester’s building, zoning and subdivision regulations, and
               other applicable land use and environmental laws and regulations.
               Each owner is responsible for obtaining all permits and approvals
               required to commence construction.

Declaration, § 7.6. There is no indication that the Association is involved in any way in the

process of obtaining local regulatory approval.

                                                  6
          ¶ 15.   We recognize there are differences between the contractual waiver imposed here

and the contractual waivers imposed in earlier cases, which involved waiver of tort liability.1 If

anything, the differences persuade us to be more cautious here in looking at the scope of the

waiver asserted. The waiver asserted may not forfeit substantive rights but it would prohibit

participation in the process to vindicate those rights.         It would mean the giving up of

fundamental rights. Free access to the courts is “an essential right” recognized in Chapter I,

Article 4 of the Vermont Constitution. Jacobsen v. Garzo, 149 Vt. 205, 209, 542 A.2d 265, 268

(1988).

          ¶ 16.   The right to participate in municipal development proceedings is also

fundamental. If plaintiff did not participate in the DRB proceedings, she forfeited her right of

access to the courts for review of those proceedings. See 10 V.S.A. § 8504(b)(1); 24 V.S.A. §

4471(a).      As an adjoining landowner, she was entitled to personal notice of the DRB

proceedings. 24 V.S.A. §§ 4464(a)(1)(C), 4464(a)(2)(B). Further, as a person who owns or

occupies property in the immediate neighborhood of a property that is subject to a decision by

the DRB and who can demonstrate a physical or environmental impact on her interest from the

decision the DRB will make, plaintiff is an interested person. 24 V.S.A. § 4465(b)(3). Interested

persons have the right to appeal in municipal regulatory proceedings to the appropriate municipal

panel, here the DRB, id., § 4465(a), and from there to the environmental division, id., § 4471,

and thereafter to this Court, 10 V.S.A. § 8505(a).

          ¶ 17.   We must ensure that any waiver of the important rights to participate in a land use

adjudicatory proceeding, whether in an administrative process or before the courts, is done

knowingly and intentionally. In Colgan v. Agway, 150 Vt. 373, 533 A.2d 143 (1988), the

          1
         We reject one difference argued by defendants. They argue that the Declaration is an
agreement among landowners and not a contract imposed by a seller on a buyer in connection
with a sale. While the Declaration may evolve into an agreement among landowners, when
consummated, it was a contract connected with a sale of real property by a commercial
developer, to which the purchaser had to agree without change so it could be uniformly
implemented.
                                             7
plaintiff purchased a manure storage facility from the defendant. Three years after the purchase,

a wall of the facility collapsed. The plaintiff sued the defendant alleging breach of contract,

breach of warranty and negligence in the design, distribution and sale of the facility. The

defendant sought summary judgment on the negligence count, arguing that the warranty

language in the sales contract precluded “any other obligations or liability on the part of the

contractor” and applied to liability based on negligence. We rejected that argument, holding that

the standard is that “contractual language disclaiming tort liability [must] be clear enough that

the intent of both parties to relieve the defendant of the claimed liability be unmistakeable.”

Colgan, 150 Vt. at 375, 553 A.2d at 145. We noted that the most effective way to exclude

liability for negligence is “to provide explicitly” that such liability is excluded and required that

words conveying a similar import appear. Id. at 376, 553 A.2d at 146. We held that the wording

in the contract did not meet that standard. Id. at 377, 553 A.2d at 146. We also held that it was

ineffective because its location at the end of a paragraph describing the applicable warranty was

illogical. Id. We concluded with the observation that “plaintiff would have been unfairly

surprised were he to be informed that, by virtue of the contract, the defendant was protected from

any liability flowing from negligent design of the facility.” Id. at 378, 553 A.2d at 147. We

reached the same conclusion in Thompson v. Hi Tech Motor Sports, Inc., 2008 VT 15, ¶ 19,

because the language of the release in that case did not sufficiently convey that it excluded

liability based on the negligence of the defendant.

       ¶ 18.   For the same general reasons, we hold that a waiver of the right to bring related

civil litigation must meet the same standards.2 Plaintiff’s complaint alleged that defendants

violated the declaration in multiple ways, essentially alleging a breach of contract. Plaintiff’s

right of access to the courts for enforcement of the Declaration contract is an important right, just

       2
          Under the broad language of § 14.2 advocated by defendants, even the complaint to the
design review committee created by the Declaration would seem to be a breach of § 14.2, again
highlighting how broad their reading is.
                                               8
as her right to participate in the development review proceedings was an important right. We

must also conclude that waiver of this important right must be knowing and intentional.

       ¶ 19.   We hold that a contractual waiver of the right to participate in a municipal land

use permit proceeding, to seek and participate in judicial review of such a permit, and to enforce

the declaration in contract must meet at least the standards of Colgan. The waiver in this case

does not meet those standards.       The waiver does not explicitly reach municipal land use

proceedings, judicial review of municipal action, or contract litigation. Its scope in this regard is

not “unmistakable.” Colgan, 150 Vt. at 375, 553 A.2d at 145. Moreover, its placement under

an ambiguous title in a long detailed document does not give the purchaser fair notice of its

meaning.

       ¶ 20.   Because our holding is based on minimum standards of notice to the purchaser,

and not the precise meaning of the language, defendants’ secondary argument that summary

judgment is improper if the language is ambiguous is inapplicable. We hold that the waiver is

ineffective to accomplish what defendants assert. The trial court did not err in granting summary

judgment to plaintiff on defendants’ breach of contract claim.

       ¶ 21.   Defendants have also made a third-party claim against Mr. Weinstein, alleging

that he and his law firm engaged in conduct that induced and facilitated Ms. Weinstein’s

breaches of the Non-Interference Clause. Since we have held that defendants’ claim against

plaintiff cannot be sustained, it necessarily follows that the facilitation claim against Mr.

Weinstein and his law firm must also fail.3

       ¶ 22.   Defendants’ second argument on appeal is that the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment to plaintiff, Mr. Weinstein, and The Weinstein Group, P.C. as to their abuse

       3
           In their brief to this Court, defendants argue that Mr. Weinstein’s conduct constitutes
tortious interference with another’s performance under a contract. This position was “summarily
rejected” by the trial court on the grounds that it was never pled or previously alleged in any
court proceedings. We reject it also, both for the failure to raise it below and because it is settled
Vermont law that “a claim for tortious interference with contractual relations cannot be
predicated upon an allegedly improper filing of a lawsuit.” Jacobsen, 149 Vt. at 209, 542 A.2d at
268.
                                                  9
of process claim. A party alleging abuse of process must demonstrate “1) an illegal, improper, or

unauthorized use of a court process; 2) an ulterior motive or an ulterior purpose; and 3) resulting

damage to the plaintiff.” Jacobsen, 149 Vt. at 208, 542 A.2d at 268. Even if used to satisfy

malicious intentions, “the proper use of legal process . . . is not actionable.” Id. at 207, 542 A.2d

at 267. Filing a frivolous lawsuit therefore cannot itself be the predicate for a claim; the tort

requires that the “processes of the court have themselves been used improperly.” Nashef v.

AADCO Medical, Inc, 947 F. Supp. 2d 413, 421 (D. Vt. 2013) (citations omitted). Accord

Savino v. City of New York, 331 F.3d 63, 77 (2d Cir. 2003) (New York has “made clear that a

malicious motive alone . . . does not give rise to a cause of action for abuse of process”)

(quotation omitted); Doctor’s Assoc., Inc. v. Weible, 92 F.3d 108, 114 (2d Cir. 1996) (holding

that under Connecticut law, “no matter what misconduct by the tortfeasor occurs before the

commencement of suit, it is not, in itself, an abuse of process because there is not yet process to

abuse”); Bus. Publ’ns, Inc. v. Stephen, 666 A.2d 932, 933 (N.H. 1995) (“[T]he general rule is

that the initiation of vexatious civil proceedings known to be groundless is not abuse of

process.”(citation removed)(emphasis removed)).

       ¶ 23.   With respect to Ms. Weinstein, defendants allege that as a trained attorney,

plaintiff had an obligation to avoid “scorched-earth litigation” strategies of bringing meritless

claims before multiple tribunals, claims she “never intended to go to trial.” Recognizing their

claim is an “extraordinary” one, defendants argue that their abuse of process claim must be

submitted to a jury because plaintiff is both a lawyer and a lot owner subject to the Non-

Interference Clause, which, as an attorney, she must have been either aware of or “woefully

irresponsible” in ignoring. They suggest her legal maneuvers constitute a “bullying tactic”

intended to intimidate and impoverish defendants in order to gain private ends.

       ¶ 24.   Defendants’ arguments must fail for two reasons. First, we cannot support the

proposition that plaintiff’s rights of access to municipal land use permitting proceedings and to

Vermont courts are any different from those of any other citizen by virtue of the fact she has
                                             10
legal training. Free and uninhibited access to the courts is “an important right of all citizens”

enshrined in the Vermont Constitution. Jacobsen, 149 Vt. at 208, 542 A.2d at 267. There is

simply no suggestion in the case law that that right is in any way circumscribed by a citizen’s

educational or professional background.

       ¶ 25.   Second, defendants have failed to identify any instance in which Ms. Weinstein

has abused specific municipal land use and court processes. Regardless of her motivations in

doing so, plaintiff used the legal system “for the purpose for which it is intended”: to clarify,

establish, and adjudicate the parties’ respective rights with respect to improvements on Lot #10.

See Restatement (Second) of Torts §682 cmt. b. (1965). In contrast to cases where abuse of

process has been found, plaintiff has not improperly used subpoenas, asked for an excessive

attachment, or used pleadings to coerce the surrendering of unrelated property, Doctor’s

Associates, 92 F.3d at 114, but instead, has observed procedural requirements by appealing a

zoning permit through the administrative, trial, and appellate systems. It is immaterial that

plaintiff withdrew her initial claims on the eve of trial. In fact, it is arguable that to do so

represented an appropriate use of court processes: the exercise of a right of withdrawal in order

to prevent unnecessary litigation of weak or frivolous claims.

       ¶ 26.   With respect to Mr. Weinstein and his law firm, defendants cite three specific

examples of independent wrongful conduct—in addition to Mr. Weinstein’s representation of

plaintiff in her aforementioned litigation strategies—as evidence of his liability for tortious abuse

of process. First, defendants claim that Mr. Weinstein sent a letter threatening legal action to

each of the defendants, even though he knew each was represented by counsel at the time.

Second, they allege he threatened legal action on behalf of plaintiff without her knowledge or

authorization. Finally, they claim that he engaged in target practice with handguns without

warning to other neighborhood residents the weekend before his and plaintiff’s depositions.

                                                 11
       ¶ 27.   Not a single one of these occurrences comes close to anything resembling a

coherent abuse of process claim,4 which, as discussed above, requires proof of improper use of

specific court processes, rather than a use of the legal system for improper purposes.      Nashef,
947 F. Supp. 2d at 421. None of the occurrences in any way involves a misapplication of court

processes; indeed, the target practice incident does not implicate the law. Evidence that Mr.

Weinstein threatened legal action against defendants without Ms. Weinstein’s knowledge stems

entirely from plaintiff’s answer of “No” to the question “Do you recall threatening to file a

lawsuit for tortious interference with the landscape?” during her deposition. We cannot conclude

that a negative answer to a question asking about plaintiff’s recollection is sufficient to raise a

jury question whether plaintiff authorized Mr. Weinstein’s letter. Lastly, as the trial court noted,

the appropriate consequence for Mr. Weinstein’s alleged violations of several Vermont Rules of

Professional Conduct in sending letters to represented parties would be an ethical complaint

under Rule 10 of Administrative Order 9 or a motion for relief under Vermont Rule of Civil

Procedure 11, not a claim for abuse of process. Defendants have done nothing more than allege,

as they term it, Mr. Weinstein’s “intimate, personal involvement in this emotional dispute

between neighbors.” While this conduct may be unprofessional, it is not actionable in tort.

Therefore, we find no error in the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to Ms. Weinstein, Mr.

Weinstein, and The Weinstein Group, P.C. on the abuse of process claim.

       ¶ 28.   The third claim on appeal is raised only by defendant Leonard.5 Her claim is that

the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on defendant Leonard’s counterclaim for

       4
           Indeed, two of the examples defendants cite to support their abuse of process claim—
effecting service of process on the individual defendants rather than their attorney and the target
practice—actually formed the basis of their invasion of privacy claim against Mr. Weinstein and
his firm in the trial court.
       5
            Defendant has raised this claim against plaintiff, Mr. Weinstein and his law firm.
However her brief appeals only with respect to plaintiff. Therefore, we do not address the claim
with respect to Mr. Weinstein and his firm, notwithstanding the fact Mr. Weinstein defended
against it on behalf of himself and his law firm in his own brief.

                                                12
invasion of privacy against plaintiff. Because we find that defendant Leonard has not alleged

that plaintiff’s conduct was sufficiently substantial to satisfy the elements of this tort, we affirm.

        ¶ 29.   In order to succeed in a claim for intrusion upon seclusion, a plaintiff must show

an “intentional interference with [her] interest in solitude or seclusion, either as to [her] person or

as to [her] private affairs or concerns, of a kind that would be highly offensive to a reasonable

[person].” Hodgdon v. Mt. Mansfield Co., Ins., 160 Vt. 150, 162, 624 A.2d 1122, 1129 (1992)

(quotation omitted). The intrusion “must be substantial.” Id. See also Restatement (Second) of

Torts §652B cmt. d (1977) (holding that liability is incurred only when defendant’s conduct is

“repeated with such persistence and frequency as to amount to a course of hounding the

plaintiff”).

        ¶ 30.   Defendant Leonard has given only two specific examples of plaintiff’s

intentional offensive conduct. First, she alleges that on August 25, 2012, plaintiff “holler[ed]

obscenities and bizarre comments” at defendant and her husband as they walked across their

property. She then alleges that plaintiff approached defendant and her husband with a “very

large dog” and despite being asked to leave, “physically confront[ed]” the couple in a “strange

and threatening manner.” Second, she alleges that plaintiff has made repeated threats of legal

action, using her legal training to “intimidate and harass” defendant and forcing her to incur

“substantial legal costs” to protect her legal rights.

        ¶ 31.   Despite how irritating and frightening defendant may have found the dog incident,

a single encounter with plaintiff and her dog, even if combined with filings of civil claims or

threats to file such claims, does not rise to the level of “substantial . . . interference.” Hodgdon,
160 Vt. at 162, 624 A.2d at 1129. As stated above, there is no evidence plaintiff made illegal,

improper, or unwarranted use of court processes. See Pion v. Bean, 2003 VT 79, ¶ 34, 176 Vt. 1,

833 A.2d 1248 (upholding trial court’s conclusion that, absent evidence of false reporting or

“malicious plan,” legitimate complaints to authorities about suspected legal violations “should

not form the basis of an invasion of privacy claim”).
                                                 13
       ¶ 32.   Moreover, a handful of minor offenses are insufficient to constitute a tortious

intrusion upon seclusion. Compare Shahi v. Madden, 2008 VT 25, ¶ 24, 184 Vt. 320, 949 A.2d
1022 (upholding damages award for invasion of privacy where defendant attempted identity

theft, poisoned family dog, placed live bullets on plaintiffs’ yard, and keyed plaintiffs’ car) and

Pion, 2003 VT 79, ¶¶ 32-36 (evidence showed intentional and substantial intrusion where

plaintiffs called defendants highly offensive names, cut down their trees, filled in their

streambed, and filed weekly false complaints with health and police departments) with Vermont

Ins. Mgmt., Inc. v. Lumbermens’ Mut. Cas, Co., 171 Vt. 601, 604, 764 A.2d 1213, 1216 (2000)

(no invasion of privacy when defendant made inquiries of personal nature and leaned close to

coworker at her work station) and Denton v. Chittenden Bank, 163 Vt. 62, 69, 655 A.2d 703, 708

(1994) (employer’s inquiries about plaintiff’s health, even if “unusual and possibly rude,” and

repeated phone calls to plaintiff’s home, were not highly offensive).

       Affirmed.

                                               FOR THE COURT:

                                               Associate Justice

                                                14