Bell v. Stanworth CA2/6

Filed 3/27/26 Bell v. Stanworth CA2/6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 SIX

CRAIG BELL, 2d Civ. No. B345254 (Super. Ct. No. Plaintiff and Appellant, 2024CUPT033426) (Ventura County) v.

DANIEL STANWORTH,

Defendant and Respondent.

Craig Bell appeals the trial court’s denial of his request for an elder abuse restraining order protecting him from Daniel Stanworth. We affirm. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY In November 2024, Bell, aged 71, requested an elder abuse restraining order protecting him from Stanworth, his next-door neighbor. Bell’s request followed an incident earlier that month, wherein Bell accused Stanworth of “confront[ing]” Bell while he walked his dog. In his request, Bell claimed Stanworth “got in [Bell’s] face,” “angrily yell[ed]” at Bell, bumped Bell’s chest, and grabbed Bell’s arm and threw him to the ground. Both parties called the police and provided statements to law enforcement.

Stanworth denied grabbing Bell, pushing him, or doing anything to cause his injuries. In his request, Bell asserted Stanworth frequently yelled at him, called him names, expressed desire for Bell to move away, and called Bell’s daughter a “half-breed Mexican.” He further asserted Stanworth previously “reached over the fence and tried to take a plant” from Bell’s yard. Bell asserted he was afraid of Stanworth because he was volatile and violent. Bell attributed a torn left rotator cuff to the incident, along with extreme arm and shoulder pain, a large left hip bruise, and pain in his hip, thigh, and knee. The trial court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) until the hearing on Bell’s request for a permanent restraining order. The court held an evidentiary hearing on Bell’s request in February 2025, where both parties testified and were cross- examined. There is no reporter’s transcript of this hearing, only a minute order. Stanworth disputed Bell’s version of events, and denied physically contacting Bell at all. Stanworth contended Bell appeared intoxicated at the time of the November 2024 event, and that any claimed injuries were preexisting or “caused by [Bell] getting tangled in his dog’s leash and falling to the ground.” Stanworth contended he had lived next door to Bell for nine years and had no prior negative incidents until September 2024, when Bell began to harass Stanworth by yelling statements over the fence, including “fuck you,” “you motherfuckers,” “this is war,” “we are going to make your life hell,” “we have money and you don’t,” “your kids are in[]breds,” “you better check your mailbox,” and “we’re gonna get you.” Stanworth speculated Bell’s actions were triggered by a code violation notice Bell received, which Bell thought Stanworth was responsible for.