Arnold v. Medal CA2/7

Filed 1/11/24 Arnold v. Medal CA2/7 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 SEVEN

ROLAND ARNOLD, B323743

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BQ048027) v.

ERICK JASON MEDAL,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Christine Byrd, Judge. Affirmed. Erick Jason Medal, in pro. per., for Defendant and Appellant. Roland Arnold, in pro. per., for Plaintiff and Respondent. _________________________

Roland Arnold sought a domestic violence restraining order against Erick Jason Medal, whom Arnold once dated, alleging that Medal persistently harassed him for a decade. The trial court issued a restraining order and later renewed the restraining order. Medal moved to terminate or modify the restraining order, and the trial court denied Medal’s motion. On appeal, Medal contends the trial court applied an incorrect legal standard in denying his motion. We affirm. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On March 9, 2015, Arnold filed a request for a domestic violence restraining order against Medal. In a declaration in support of his request, Arnold stated that he and Medal had dated on and off for several years until 2005. After they broke up Medal subjected Arnold to 10 years of threats and abuse online and by telephone, including by making threats against Arnold and Arnold’s family, and engaging in “constant intimidation and surveillance.” In 2014, Arnold obtained a restraining order against Medal. After the first restraining order expired, in March 2015, Medal again approached Arnold and harassed him outside his apartment. This caused Arnold to believe he needed a restraining order to protect himself. The trial court issued a temporary restraining order on March 9, 2015, and on March 30, 2015, it issued a one-year restraining order pursuant to the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, Family Code section 6200 et seq. The March 30 order required, among other things, that Medal stay at least 100 yards away from Arnold and Arnold’s home and refrain from harassing, threatening, following, stalking, keeping under surveillance,