LEGAL FILE

Restraining Order Sought Against Vereen: A Los Angeles woman wants a restraining order to keep ex-boyfriend Ben Vereen away from her after he was charged with breaking into her apartment. Christine Rich’s lawyer, Rita J. Baird, says Vereen even continued his campaign against Rich after his arrest Thursday for allegedly leaving a barrage of threatening phone calls on her answering machine. Vereen and Rich “were in the process of breaking up a five-year, on-and-off romantic relationship,” Baird said, when Vereen, 43, allegedly pushed his way into Rich’s apartment, assaulted her and cursed her . Baird says Rich intends to press misdemeanor assault and vandalism charges against Vereen.