Cheryl Miller’s Latest Squabble: Parking and Barking

Cheryl Miller has again found herself at the center of a dispute--this time at home.

Miller, who replaced Marianne Stanley as USC women’s basketball coach this season amid controversy, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday to try to solve a dispute with her Hollywood neighbor, Dino Sanchez, about two matters--parking and dogs barking.

Miller filed a request for a restraining order against Sanchez last month to prevent him from continuing to park in a way that, she claims, blocks entering and exiting from her driveway.

Sanchez responded with a request for a restraining order against Miller, saying her claim about parking was made in retaliation for letters he has sent to the L.A. Dept. of Animal Regulation about what he says is incessant barking by her three dogs.

Each also claims to have received threatening phone calls from the other.

Commissioner William Allen issued an injunction Thursday restraining each party from annoying or harassing the other. Further, Allen ordered that Sanchez must make reasonable attempts not to interfere with Miller’s access to her driveway.

Miller said: “I don’t have a problem with anybody (else) in the neighborhood, and for this to go on, I think it’s unfortunate.”

Sanchez said the barking of Miller’s three dogs is unbearable.

The next step is for the Dept. of Animal Regulation to schedule a hearing, during which a city-appointed examiner will take further steps to resolve the problem.

But Sanchez, 57, does not expect it will be easy, saying: “This is a basketball game to her, a game. She thinks she can intimidate me.”

Stanley filed a gender-equity suit against the university after a contract dispute last summer. USC allowed Stanley’s contract to expire. Many women’s basketball coaches supported Stanley in her fight against USC and have criticized Miller for taking the job.