Bernard Taruc v. Ricky Thai

**Worker Wins Appeal for Domestic Violence Protection Order** This case involved Bernard Taruc, who sought a domestic violence protection order against his employer, Ricky Thai. A trial court initially denied Taruc's request for protection, even though it found that domestic violence had occurred in the workplace. The appeals court reversed this decision, ruling that the trial court made a legal error. The appeals court explained that when a court finds domestic violence has happened, the law requires it to automatically issue a protection order. The trial court had incorrectly added extra steps to analyze risk factors, when the statute didn't allow for this additional analysis. The case was sent back to the trial court with instructions to issue the protection order. This ruling matters for workers because it clarifies that domestic violence protection orders must be granted when violence is proven, without judges adding unnecessary hurdles. Workers facing violence from employers, coworkers, or others in their workplace can seek legal protection through domestic violence restraining orders. The decision strengthens workers' ability to obtain court-ordered protection from workplace violence and harassment, ensuring that legal safeguards work as intended without judicial interference.