Judge Denies Restraining Order Sought by School Against Parent

A court commissioner refused Tuesday to grant a restraining order requested by the Pasadena school district against an Altadena parent, saying that the man posed no threat to school employees.

Pasadena Court Commissioner Martin Wegman denied the request to order John F. Laraway to stay away from its business manager, William S. Deeb.

“He is a gadfly and he has the right to be a gadfly,” said Wegman, noting that it would be unconstitutional to prevent people from being obnoxious to civil servants. A previous temporary restraining order was lifted.

Deeb told the court that Laraway, during an April 24 appointment to view documents in the district office, had become upset and said Deeb “should be taken out and shot.”

Laraway denied the statement, saying that he was upset when documents were not as he expected and parent Rene Amy was not allowed to assist him.

Wegman said Laraway’s action was a one-time event precipitated by a series of frustrations. The commissioner concluded, “If I had a nickel for every time I said I could kill you, I’d be a wealthy man.”