Carol D. v. Wright CA1/2

BACKGROUND

Carol is 70 years old, retired, and has lived in the same 26-unit apartment complex in Berkeley for over 35 years. Wright is a healthcare worker who takes care of Frank C., another tenant in the apartment complex, six days a week. When he is working, Wright spends up to 12 hours a day with Frank in the apartment complex. In June 2020, Carol requested a restraining order against Wright pursuant to the Elder Abuse Act. She alleged Wright had yelled at her, banged on her door, threatened to break her fingers, called her a “bitch,” and that he made stabbing motions towards her with a screwdriver. She also alleged he had vandalized her property by pouring cat feces and urine in her car, spray-painting her property, destroying her garden, and leaving cigarette butts by her front door. In response, Wright claimed he had never harassed Carol and that it was she who harassed him. At an October 2020 hearing, several witnesses, including Carol and Wright testified. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court issued a one-year restraining order pursuant to the Elder Abuse Act. The restraining order required Wright to stay at least 100 yards away from Carol but allowed him to…