The feeling of being harassed, stalked, or abused by somebody is something that you never want to experience. It can add a great deal of stress and anxiety to your life that you do not want or need. However, California law gives you one option to attempt to stop this difficult situation: restraining orders.
What is a restraining order?
Restraining orders are court orders that can protect you from somebody who is abusing, threatening, stalking, or harassing you. Depending on your situation, it will order this person to stop:
- Contacting, calling, or sending you any messages (text, e-mail, etc.);
- Attacking, striking, or battering you;
- Stalking you;
- Threatening you;
- Sexually assaulting you
- Harassing you; or
- Destroying your personal property.1
Celebrity Restraining Orders
Being in the public eye and having millions of adoring fans may have its perks: Unfortunately though, celebrities must also deal with the occasional fan who just does not know his or her boundaries. As you will see, restraining orders can get messy…
1. Alyson Hannigan
The popular actress from the “American Pie” film series was recently granted a temporary restraining order. According to Hannigan, alleged stalker John Hobbs was repeatedly threatening her and her family in online postings. The order, which was granted by a Los Angeles judge in early 2013, requires Hobbs to stay away from Hannigan and stop posting messages about her. The restraining order will be in effect for three years.2
2. Laurence Fishburne
“Morpheus” from the “Matrix” movie trilogy was also granted a temporary restraining order in early 2013. Mark Francisco, an alleged convict who claimed to own the actor’s home, has been ordered by a Los Angeles judge to stay 100 yards away from Laurence Fishburne and his wife and daughter. Francisco had allegedly gone to the Oscar-nominee’s house on January 1, 2013 and told his wife that they were living there illegally. He had also reportedly written several notes to them saying he would evict them. The Fishburnes have owned their home for over 10 years. This is also a three-year restraining order.3
3. Taylor Swift
The renowned singer filed for a restraining order in March of 2014 against an alleged stalker. 33-year-old Timothy Sweet had reportedly been claiming to be Swift’s husband on social media. He was also allegedly sending her letters and calling her numerous times throughout 2011. One of his messages read, “Dearest Taylor, I’ll kill anyone who gets in the way of our marriage.”4 Swift was granted a three-year restraining order, requiring Sweet to stay at least 100 yards away from her at all times.
4. Christina Perri
This singer/songwriter recently became fearful of a fan, whom she claimed abused her online. After several messages from fan Scott Brannan, reportedly saying things like “I just want to love you, that’s all, physically most of all,” Christina Perri filed for a restraining order. In April of 2014, it was granted, ordering Brannan to stay 300 feet away from Perri. They are currently awaiting the next hearing, which will determine how whether the restraining order will remain in effect.5
5. Camille Grammer
The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star reportedly obtained a three-year restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Dimitri Charalambopoulos. The order was granted following an alleged incident where Charalambopoulos slammed her head into furniture in a Houston hotel room. Recently, law enforcement reported that he violated this restraining order by going to Grammer’s house while she was out of town. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating the matter.6
6. Chris Brown and Rihanna
In 2009, after Chris Brown pleaded guilty to beating his then-girlfriend Rihanna, he was given a court order requiring him to stay at least 50 yards away from her at all times. By 2011 however, Rihanna consented to relaxing the order, only requiring him to stay 10 yards away. Today, the order is no longer in effect, and the two appear to be on good terms.7
7. The Game
Rapper The Game has been reportedly ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from his former fiancée. Tiffney Cambridge allegedly filed a report saying that things turned nasty following a domestic dispute. The restraining order also requires the rapper to cut all contact with Cambridge until a court hearing later in the month of April.8
8. Kat Von D
The tattoo artist-turned reality TV star has been provided legal protection against Michael Nunn. Nunn was allegedly harassing Kat over the Internet and even showing up at her Los Angeles home on occasion. The restraining order requires him to stay 100 yards away from her for the next three years.9
9. Nicole Richie
In 2009, Nicole Richie was involved in a car accident allegedly caused by paparazzi forcing her off of the road. By November of 2009, she was able to obtain a restraining order, which instructed paparazzi to remain 50 yards away from her.10
10. Eva Marcille
TV actress and “America’s Next Top Model” star Eva Marcille has allegedly obtained a restraining order against rapper Kevin McCall, following a domestic dispute. Eva claims that McCall kicked down 4 doors in their home and threatened to punch her. According to this order, he is required to stay 100 yards away from Eva until the next hearing set in May.11
11. Mark Zuckerberg
The Facebook co-founder obtained a restraining order against an alleged Stalker in 2011. 31-year-old Pradeep Manukonda, according to TMZ, has been leaving flowers and handwritten notes at Zuckerberg’s home and even showed up at the Facebook offices. A judge ordered Manukonda to stay at least 300 yards away from him, his sister, and then-girlfriend.12
12. Jack White and Karen Elson
The “White Stripes” front man was slapped with a restraining order by his estranged wife Karen Elson in 2013. The two had divorced in 2011 after six years of marriage, sources say. In July of 2013, Elson requested a protection order against her ex-husband because he had allegedly been sending her threatening e-mails. A Tennessee judge granted the order, and White was supposedly banned from making any contact with his wife unless it relates to the children.13
13. Terrence Howard and Michelle Ghent
In 2010, Michelle Howard filed court documents against the “Law and Order” star claiming that he was physically abusing her during their marriage. She claimed that he once “slugged (her) across (her) face and neck” and even threatened to throw her off a balcony. After filing for divorce in February of 2011, she was granted a temporary restraining order against Terrence Howard by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. By September of 2013, a judge granted Ghent a permanent restraining order against her ex-husband. It requires Howard to stay at least 300 yards away from Ghent until 2016.14
14. Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks obtained a permanent restraining order against a supposed stalker who had been allegedly targeting her family since 2006. In 2010, a judge ordered 39-year-old Marten Williams, Jr. to stay at least 100 yards away from Banks for the next three years. Williams has a history of mental illness according to reports, and believes to have killed George W. Bush.15
Call the Lawyers at Wallin & Klarich Today
We understand that dealing with a restraining order can be a very difficult experience and put a strain on you and your family. If you are attempting to obtain a restraining order or defending against one that has been filed against you, it is important to have an experienced California attorney guide you through your particular situation. Wallin & Klarich has successfully handled restraining order cases for over 30 years. We will do whatever it takes to help you move forward with your life.
With offices located in Orange County, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Torrance, Riverside, West Covina, Victorville, Ventura, San Diego and Sherman Oaks, one of our knowledgeable attorneys is available to help you no matter where you work or live.
Call us today at (888) 749-7428 for a free phone consultation or visit www.wkfamilylaw.com. We will get through this together.
1. http://www.courts.ca.gov/1260.htm↩
2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/13/alyson-hannigan-restraining-order_n_2682318.html↩
3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/08/laurence-fishburne-restraining-order_n_2430872.html↩
4. http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/taylor-swift-granted-restraining-order-against-man-claiming-to-be-her-husband-201463↩
5. http://www.celebritydirt.com/christina-perri-granted-restraining-order-against-fan/↩
6. http://www.lovebscott.com/news/camille-grammer-allegedly-hiding-ex-boyfriend-dimitri-charalambopuolos-violates-restraining-order↩
7. http://www.today.com/id/41722912/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/judge-eases-restraining-order-against-chris-brown/#.U0t3XeZdX4U↩
8. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/celebrities_gossip/20140411_WENN_The_Game_slapped_with_restraining_order___report.html↩
9. http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2012-12-04/kat-von-d-gets-restraining-order-against-crazed-fan/↩
10. http://www.examiner.com/article/nicole-richie-gets-restraining-order-against-paparazzi↩
11. http://www.tmz.com/2014/04/08/americas-next-top-model-eva-marcille-restraining-order-baby-daddy/↩
12. http://mashable.com/2011/02/08/mark-zuckerberg-stalker//↩
13. http://blog.seattlepi.com/people/2013/08/02/karen-elson-granted-restraining-order-against-jack-white/↩
14. http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00064290.html↩
15. http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/28/tyra-banks-stalker-restraining-order-marten-williams-george-bush-killer-michael-jackson↩
