An elder abuse restraining order granted to Waldport Beachcomber Days secretary TiAnne Rios over public comments made about her by Waldport city manager Dann Cutter was dismissed Wednesday in Lincoln County circuit court.
Rios had asked for and was granted a five-day extension to hire an attorney prior to a scheduled Sept. 12 hearing to hear arguments on the restraining order issued in mid-August. Her lawyer, Kayla Steindorf, then submitted a motion to dismiss the restraining order before a rescheduled hearing Friday.
“Upon stipulation of the parties … petitioner TiAnne Rios dismisses the above-captioned action in its entirety with prejudice and with no award of attorney fees, costs, or disbursements to any party,” the motion to dismiss said.
Rios, 68, sought the restraining order against Cutter on Aug. 13 after she said the city manager’s statements online and in public meetings constituted elder abuse. Judge Pro Tem Joseph Allison granted the order the same day. The judge’s order restrained Cutter “from abusing, intimidating, molesting, interfering with, or menacing” Rios and knowingly being within 150 feet of her.
Allison amended the order Sept. 3 to allow Cutter to work at city hall, attend public meetings and not be required to leave if Rios showed up.
Cutter told the Lincoln Chronicle on Friday that Rios made a settlement offer “which denied the city’s ability to speak freely about her questionable actions” and the city rejected it.
“The city council then made it very clear we expected to prevail and would seek legal fees,” he said, and “Rios then agreed to drop the order.”
Rios told the Chronicle that Cutter’s interpretation of her offer was incorrect. “Real harm is being done here,” Rios said, adding in a text message that her attorney was writing a statement and planning to hold a news conference.
In a related development, Tania Vera of Seal Rock on Thursday asked a Lincoln County circuit court judge to extend a stalking protective order against Rios until Oct. 15 and then dismiss it because she planned to move. A hearing on the order was scheduled Friday. A judge issued the order Aug. 20 after Vera contended Rios began harassing her in June 2024 when she was kicked her out of the Waldport Wednesday Market, continued to threaten her, attacked her on a local Facebook page and culminated in June with a confrontation at the Moose Lodge.
So, all that hassle, that disruption of city business and stress to the city manager and council and … it gets dropped? I suspected it wouldn’t get a final approval; judges normally grant protective orders initially to protect the filer but many ultimately don’t become permanent. This one was never going to become permanent. And the fact she dropped it, no matter what song and dance her attorney comes up with, means it didn’t have any merit — or any merit worth fighting for. What a shame. Waldport City Council, hold up your heads. But do keep Dann off social media and rein him in some on his public persona. As a long time city manager, I know better. He should know better. While many times there are things we want to say, but we have to hold our tongues. Part of the job, Dann. Good luck Waldport!
Indeed. And make sure you back up telephone or in person conversations with an email recapping that conversation with a received and opened receipt request.
I learned that in the corporate business world. It saved my reputation a time or two and put the other person in the light of truth.