Skiver v. Raeck CA4/2 ( 2024 )

Filed 10/9/24 Skiver v. Raeck CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for
publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
LAUREN SKIVER,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E081741
v. (Super.Ct.No. CVPS2301610)
JOSEPH RAECK, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Arthur C. Hester,
Temporary Judge. (Pursuant to Cal. Const., art VI, §21.) Reversed with directions.
Joseph Raeck, in pro. per. for Defendant and Appellant.
Palmer Kazanjian Wohl Hodson, Christopher F. Wohl, Hallie R. Spaulding,
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, and H. Mae G. Alberto for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
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Plaintiff and respondent Lauren Skiver (Skiver) petitioned for a civil harassment
restraining order protecting her from defendant and appellant Joseph Raeck (Raeck).
(Code Civ. Proc., § 527.6, subd. (a)(1).) Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial
court granted the restraining order through June 7, 2026. Raeck raises three issues on
appeal. First, Raeck contends the trial court erred by not permitting him to cross-
examine Skiver’s witnesses. Second, Raeck asserts Skiver should have testified at the
evidentiary hearing. Third, Raeck contends the trial court erred by admitting hearsay.
We reverse with directions.
FACTS
Skiver and Raeck are former employees of SunLine Transit Agency (SunLine).
Anthony Garcia (Garcia) is another former SunLine employee against whom Skiver
sought a restraining order. Skiver’s petitions against Raeck and Garcia were heard at
the same time in the trial court.
Raeck and Garcia posted videos on social media with fake images of violence
against current and former SunLine employees. One video showed SunLine employees,
including Skiver, “being punched in the face by the [‘B]reaking [B]ad[’] character
Walter White.” Raeck and Garcia also posted a video of a SunLine employee being
followed on his/her commute home.
At the start of the evidentiary hearing, the trial court announced that Skiver’s
attorney would present evidence, and after Skiver’s attorney “presented [her] side of the
case,” then Raeck could “address the Court.” As Skiver’s attorney finished his direct
examinations of Skiver’s first, second, and fourth witnesses, each time the trial court
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said, “Next witness, please.” The trial court never invited Raeck to cross-examine
Skiver’s witnesses. When Skiver rested, Garcia asked, “Your Honor, are we allowed to
cross-examine?” The trial court responded, “You’ll address the Court.” Garcia and
Raeck presented argument and documents to the court; they did not call witnesses.
DISCUSSION
A. CROSS-EXAMINATION
Raeck contends the trial court erred by not permitting him to cross-examine
Skiver’s witnesses.
“Courts have long recognized the importance of cross-examination and its crucial
relationship to the ability to defend against accusations, deeming it a due process right
that is fundamental to a fair proceeding. [Citations.] ‘Because it relates to the
fundamental fairness of the proceedings, cross-examination is said to represent an
“absolute right” not merely a privilege.’ ” (CSV Hospitality Management LLC v. Lucas
(2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 117, 125 (CSV).)
“Even though the proceeding for obtaining a civil harassment restraining order is
not intended to be a full trial on the merits, the hearing ‘provides the only forum the
defendant in a harassment proceeding will have to present his or her case.’ [Citation.]
Thus, the defendant’s due process rights are infringed when the defendant’s right to
present evidence and cross-examine witnesses is unduly limited.” (North Coast Village
Condominium Association v. Phillips (2023) 94 Cal.App.5th 866, 886.)
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Garcia asked if he and Raeck could cross-examine Skiver’s witnesses, and the
trial court denied them any opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. The absolute denial
of cross-examination was an error.1
Skiver contends Raeck forfeited the cross-examination issue due to a lack of
record citations, relevant legal authority, and legal analysis in his appellant’s opening
brief. Raeck cited to the reporter’s transcript index, which lists only the direct
examination of witnesses—no cross-examination is listed. Raeck cited to Manufactured
Home Communities, Inc. v. County of San Luis Obispo (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 705,
711, which provides, “In ‘almost every setting where important decisions turn on
questions of fact, due process requires an opportunity to confront and cross-examine
adverse witnesses.’ ” Lastly, Raeck contended, “[T]he lower court’s egregious refusal
to permit me to cross-examine [Skiver’s witnesses] during the evidentiary hearing
egregiously violated [due process]. By constraining my ability to challenge [Skiver’s]
assertions and scrutinize the veracity of [her witnesses’] testimony, the court effectively
deprived me of a critical mechanism for defending myself against baseless accusations.”
In sum, Raeck provided the basic information needed for an appellate argument.
Therefore, we reject Skiver’s assertion that Raeck forfeited the contention.
1 We are not concluding that all proceedings for civil harassment restraining
orders must involve oral testimony, rather than declarations. (Schraer v. Berkeley
Property Owners’ Assn. (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 719, 733, fn. 6.) To be clear, we are
holding that when a trial court permits one side in a harassment proceeding to present
oral testimony, then the trial court may not entirely prevent the opposing party from
cross-examining the witness(es) who testified in court. (Ibid.)
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“ ‘Not every instance in which a cross-examiner’s question is disallowed will
[the] defendant’s right to a fair hearing be abridged, since the matter may be too
unimportant [citations], or there may be no prejudice [citation], or the question may
involve issues which can be brought up at a more appropriate time [citation]. However,
where the subject of cross-examination concerns the matter at issue there can be no
doubt that the refusal to permit such question[ing] results in a denial of a fair hearing.’ ”
(McCarthy v. Mobile Cranes, Inc. (1962) 199 Cal.App.2d 500, 507.)
When arguing in the trial court, Garcia asserted that Skiver sought the restraining
order as “a form of retaliation” for past workplace disagreements, such as Garcia
advocating for better working conditions. Raeck joined in Garcia’s arguments. If
cross-examination had been permitted, Garcia and/or Raeck could have asked Skiver’s
witnesses if they had motives to lie when testifying, e.g., retaliatory motives. Thus,
cross-examination would have concerned the matter at issue. As a result, the error
requires reversal. (CSV, supra, 84 Cal.App.5th 125 [“Because we cannot know what
[the witnesses] would have said on cross-examination, or the effect such testimony
might have had on the trial court’s decision, [so] the error requires reversal”].)
Skiver contends the error was harmless because Raeck “was provided ample
opportunity to be heard by the court and present contradictory evidence at the hearing.”
Contrary to Skiver’s position, opportunities to provide direct evidence and argument are
not substitutes for cross-examination. Indeed, “[t]he importance of cross-examination
cannot be doubted: ‘Cross-examination is the principal means by which the
believability of a witness and the truth of his testimony are tested.’ ” (In re Brenda M.
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(2008) 160 Cal.App.4th 772, 777.) For example, “ ‘the cross-examiner has traditionally
been allowed to impeach, i.e., discredit, the witness.’ ” (Ibid.) We have no means of
knowing what relevant information, if any, Raeck would have produced if given the
opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. Therefore, the error is prejudicial.
B. REMAINING ISSUES
Because we are reversing and ordering a new hearing, Raeck’s remaining
contentions have been rendered moot. (Schoshinski v. City of Los Angeles (2017) 9
Cal.App.5th 780, 791 [issue is moot when no further relief can be provided].)
Therefore, we will not address the merits of whether the trial court erred by admitting
hearsay and proceeding without Skiver’s testimony.
DISPOSITION
The order granting the restraining order is reversed. The trial court is directed to
hold a new evidentiary hearing within 30 days of the issuance of the remittitur. (Hall v.
Superior Court (1955) 45 Cal.2d 377, 381 [“ ‘[A]n unqualified reversal remands the
cause for a new trial . . . and places the parties in the trial court in the same position as if
the cause had never been tried, with the exception that the opinion of the court on
appeal must be followed so far as applicable’ ”]; Heinfelt v. Arth (1935) 4 Cal.App.2d
381, 383 [same rule].) The trial court shall notify the parties of the scheduled hearing.
The restraining order shall remain effective until the conclusion of the new hearing or
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30 days after issuance of the remittitur if no hearing takes place.2 If a hearing occurs,
and the trial court again grants the restraining order, it may issue a permanent
restraining order through June 7, 2026, or for a lesser period. (In re Marriage of D.S.
and A.S. (2023) 87 Cal.App.5th 926, 937-938.) If the trial court denies the petition for a
restraining order, or if no hearing takes place, then the trial court shall issue an order
terminating the three-year restraining order. Raeck is awarded his costs on appeal.
(Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.278(a)(1).)
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
MILLER
J.
We concur:
RAMIREZ
P. J.
FIELDS
J.
2 The trial court “partially granted and partially denied” Skiver’s request for a
temporary restraining order. We do not order that the temporary restraining order be
reinstated pending a new hearing because it is unclear if the temporary restraining order
afforded protections similar to the three-year restraining order.
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