Malloy hearing begins

 A lengthy Tuolumne County Superior Court hearing regarding a pair of permanent restraining-order requests, seeking to block Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District Trustee Mike Malloy from interacting freely with some district employees, was continued Thursday.

Malloy, 59, of Groveland, is currently bound by a temporary restraining order forbidding him from contacting or harassing former district finance administrative assistant Lisa Rico and Interim District Superintendent Mike King.
 

Malloy is restrained from going onto the Tenaya Elementary School campus unless for scheduled board meetings. He also cannot call the district office, Commissioner Kim Knowles said Thursday. If Malloy wants to contact the district, he must e-mail the district office secretary only, Knowles said.

Rico sought a restraining order July 2, 2009, against Malloy. Rico said she received a threatening e-mail and, later, flowers from Malloy who allegedly requested her to not tell anyone, court documents said.

The second restraining order request was lodged in November by the district. The order originally covered all district staff and was granted Nov. 16 by the Tuolumne County Superior Court. It arose from a complaint by King, who reported to authorities that Malloy entered his office Nov.10, yelled at him and assumed a “threatening posture” as he was talking about budget issues with board Trustee Gloria Marler.

Malloy, who was elected to the board in May’s recall election, denies the incident occurred.

The hearings were to be held separately and Rico’s case went up first Thursday. However, attorneys didn’t finish questioning witnesses.

Rico and Marler testified as did former Groveland resident Edie Lazzeroni. The small courtroom was packed with Groveland residents including the board and at least two district teachers.

Rico testified that while Malloy has not contacted her since the temporary restraining order was granted, she still fears for her safety, which is why she is pursuing the permanent order.

“I feel he will retaliate against me,” Rico said.

Marler and Lazzeroni testified to Malloy’s reputation and role on the school board.

The hearings will continue May 5 in Department 5 of the Tuolumne County Superior Court.