Antifa restraining order against Berkeley student dismissed
The restraining order filed by a California Antifa group against Berkeley College Republicans President Troy Worden was dismissed in a local court last week.
According to Worden’s press release, the temporary restraining order filed by Yvette Felarca, the Berkeley leader of By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), was the fifth order filed by the organization that has been dismissed this year.
“I feel vindicated by the termination of the temporary restraining order placed on me by Yvette Felarca of By Any Means Necessary and the dismissal of the permanent restraining she was pursuing just this week," Worden told Campus Reform.
"Felarca's frivolous legal actions were meant to intimidate me and hinder my political activism, but also prevented me from going to class on occasion,” he continued. “I can now go on with my main purpose at UC Berkeley which is to get an education and exercise my free speech rights without interference."
[RELATED: Berkeley CR prez fights ‘frivolous’ Antifa restraining order]
The dismissal in the Alameda County Superior Court on Thursday marks the latest victory for Worden in a lengthy legal battle against Felarca and her activist organization.
The Antifa leader filed a temporary restraining order in early September, claiming that Worden is responsible for harassment, stalking, and threatening behavior. However, instead of pursuing a permanent restraining against the student, Felarca decided to dismiss the case.
"Yvette Felarca and three other national leaders for By Any Means Necessary made specific statements under oath about the things that Troy Worden had said and done," Worden’s attorney Mark Meuser said in a press release.
"Opposing counsel had just seen the video evidence that we were prepared to show the court on Thursday and realized that there were several hours of video that directly contradicted what was testified to on the stand,” he added. “Felarca had no choice but to dismiss the civil harassment petition."
[RELATED: Antifa leader arrested after scuffle in Berkeley]
Felarca’s attorney Ronald Cruz told The Daily Californian that the decision to dismiss the case stemmed from lack of repeat incidents since the filing of the temporary restraining order on September 7.
“From our standpoint, we had achieved our goals,” Cruz told the publication. “If the stalking behavior resumed, we would see him in court again, but there hasn’t been any repeat incidents since we filed the action and we’re happy with that result.”
Harmeet Dhillon, a managing partner of the law group that defended Worden, strongly condemned Felarca for her history of “filing and dismissing utterly frivolous cases against innocent targets” and pledged to keep the activist and her lawyers “accountable.”
“Felarca and her fellow travelers in BAMN/Antifa need to learn that the California courts are not their personal plaything to use and abuse at will by filing baseless and vexatious lawsuits,” he said. “She is on notice—stunts like this one will no longer go unchallenged in the courts by ordinary citizens. We will hold her, and her lawyers, accountable."
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