The Los Angeles Dodgers are nearly seven weeks into being without Trevor Bauer, who was placed on administrative leave July 2 due to allegations of sexual assault.
That began three days after a San Diego woman obtained an ex parte restraining order against Bauer due to allegations of misconduct during two encounters. The Pasadena Police Department launched an investigation into the matter, and so did Major League Baseball.
Those remain ongoing as Bauer and his accuser were in court this week for a hearing that spanned four days. An L.A. Superior Court judge resided over the session to determine whether the temporary restraining order against Bauer should be extended or done away with.
According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Bauer’s restraining order was dissolved due to a belief he no longer is a threat to the woman moving forward:
L.A. Superior Court judge Dianna Gould-Saltman has ruled to dissolve the temporary restraining order obtained against Trevor Bauer, stating that he does not pose a threat to the woman and that her injuries were not the result of anything she verbally objected to.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) August 19, 2021
Gould-Saltman admitted "injuries as shown in the photographs are terrible," but said: "If she set limits and he exceeded them, this case would've been clear. But she set limits without considering all the consequences and respondent did not exceed limits that the petitioner set."
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) August 19, 2021
The ruling by L.A. Superior Court judge Dianna Gould-Saltman does not bring any sort of conclusion to the separate investigations being carried out by MLB and law enforcement. Furthermore, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred still has the authority to levy a suspension even if criminal charges are never filed against Bauer.
His administrative leave, which has been extended five times since beginning in July, is due to expire at the end of day on Friday. Like with other extensions, the Players Association would need to agree to Bauer remaining on paid leave.
Ohio woman obtained restraining order against Bauer
Last year, an Ohio woman obtained a temporary order of protection against because of incidents in 2017 and 2018. The allegations were similar to what Bauer faced in his California civil case, and drew a response as he denounced the claims.
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