Mr. Hockey faces off with spying neighbors

Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Hockey legend Gordie Howe says he's being checked by his neighbors -- 17,000 times a day -- and he's tired of it.

Howe, who has been the subject of a residential association dispute for more than a year, this week won a temporary restraining order barring the neighbor from spying on his home with a surveillance camera.

The order came after the former Detroit Red Wings star and his wife, Colleen, on Tuesday filed an eight-count stalking lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court claiming Lionel and Karen Dorfman, a retired couple in their 70s, have engaged in unlawful eavesdropping and invasion of privacy for more than a year.

The lawsuit alleged the Dorfmans have had a camera trained on the Howes' home that takes one photograph every five seconds -- more than 17,000 videotaped photos a day -- and are using them for "publishing the irrelevant, harassing, private and personal information to neighbors, township officials and others."

The Dorfmans said their interest stems from their belief the Howes have used the address for business purposes since 2006 in violation of homeowner association rules and township law.

"I can't believe Gordie Howe wants all of this to come out," said Dorfman, a retired urologist. "It's going to be hard to say anything negative about Mr. Hockey, but maybe it's the only way to resolve our problem."

Dorfman said there is a constant flow of vehicles at Howe's home, many parking on the narrow private road directly across from Dorfman's driveway.

Howe's attorney, Roger A. Smith, said Howe has been involved in fund-raising and charitable organizations, including signing and autograph sessions, for years and keeps photos, hockey sticks and other memorabilia to promote such activities.

Howe also has a Web site offering information on autographed merchandise and appearances, but "he's not operating a business out of his home," said Smith, who described Howe as "a celebrity and a business himself, wherever he is."

The lawsuit alleges the Dorfmans' "window peeping and repeated harassment" violates township ordinances and has caused severe mental anguish to Howe because it prompted sensitive information to be published within the community about his wife, Colleen, who requires around-the-clock nursing care.

"Everyone knows he's a great hockey player and this shows he is a great husband, providing a caring, safe environment for his wife," said Smith. "That's really what this is over: They don't like caregivers parking their cars there to provide care for Colleen."

The Howes met with the association a year ago and denied rules violations but according to the lawsuit, the Dorfmans then became "increasingly consumed with a continued campaign " against Howe.

Early this year, the Dorfmans contacted township officials with their concerns and on Feb. 5, the Howes received a letter stating they had violated a township ordinance by listing their home address on their corporate Web site. After the Howes dropped the address, the Dorfmans continued to pursue their belief the Howes were doing business there.

On June 26, Smith met with a township attorney and was provided photos of the Howe home taken back to August 2006. Smith was told the Dorfmans had a camera aimed at the Howe residence 24 hours a day.

Dorfman insists he was encouraged -- by both the 42-home association and the township -- to record "evidence" against Howe. Neither the township's attorney nor association officers could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Oakland Circuit Judge Edward Sosnick issued the temporary order Tuesday that bans further photographing, videotaping or audio recording of the Howes or premises and also orders the Dorfmans to preserve and not destroy any video or audio records already made of the Howes, their family or friends.

You can reach Mike Martindale at (248) 647-7226 or mmartindale@detnews.com.