Stouffer v. Jones CA4/1

Filed 5/18/23 Stouffer v. Jones CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

LAURENCE EUGENE STOUFFER, D078980

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2021-00010103- CU-PT-CTL) TAMIKA JONES,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Anthony J. Campagna, Judge. Affirmed. Tamika Jones, in pro. per., for Defendant and Appellant. Laurence Eugene Stouffer, in pro. per., for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Tamika Jones appeals from an elder abuse restraining order (Order) prohibiting her from contacting Laurence Eugene Stouffer. In a one- paragraph argument lacking citations to the record, Jones contends the Order is not supported by substantial evidence. Self-represented on appeal, she also complains that her trial attorney ignored her request to disqualify the judge, who she claims had a “personal relationship” with Stouffer.

We affirm the Order. It is supported by substantial evidence, and any disagreements between Jones and her trial lawyer are not grounds for reversal.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1

Stouffer, who is about 76-years-old, met Jones (25 years his junior) at a grocery store, and in late 2020 they lived together in his home. In March 2021, Stouffer filed a request for an elder abuse restraining order against Jones. His accompanying declaration stated that Jones “has become abusive” and was “intimidating” him to “leave [his] own home.” He maintained that despite his repeated requests that she leave, Jones had taken a house key without permission, and the stress was affecting his health. Stouffer stated the situation was “horrible” and he was “concerned” for his safety. Stouffer’s adult son also submitted a declaration. He observed Jones yell at his father in a “mean and aggressive” manner. He believed she was attempting to “oust” his father from his own home. As is not uncommon in these cases, Jones’s version was very different. She maintained that Stouffer wanted her to stay as long as she wanted. Jones claimed that she was the victim of Stouffer’s abuse, which began when she rebuffed his crude and offensive sexual advances.