Manuel Q. v. Bowman CA2/1

Filed 8/22/25 Manuel Q. v. Bowman CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

MANUEL Q., B341106

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. 24WHRO01418) v.

KANDIS BOWMAN,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Maria Puente-Porras, Judge. Reversed. Decker Law, James Decker and Chris Jones, for Defendant and Appellant. No Appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Kandis Bowman appeals the issuance of a restraining order against her pursuant to the Domestic Violence Prevention Act (DVPA; Fam. Code, § 6200 et seq.).1 Bowman argues the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to allow her to testify in opposition to the restraining order request. We agree the evidentiary hearing was improperly one-sided and reverse. BACKGROUND On July 3, 2024, Manuel Q.2 filed a request for a domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) against Bowman, his former girlfriend, based on her allegedly abusive behavior. The trial court issued a temporary restraining order that same day and set a hearing on the issuance of a permanent restraining order for July 24, 2024. On July 15, 2024, Bowman’s counsel filed a response to the DVRO request. The response included a sworn declaration from Bowman disputing Manuel’s claims of abuse along with attached exhibits in support of her position. The July 24, 2024 hearing occurred during a ransomware attack that made it impossible for the trial court to view the electronic case file containing the parties’ pleadings. The trial court kept the temporary restraining order in place, continued the hearing on the issuance of a permanent order to September 4, 2024, and ordered the parties to exchange witness lists, exhibit lists, and exhibits pertinent to the hearing no later than August 23, 2024. Bowman timely filed and served a witness list