Marriage of Bonamarte v. Bonamarte

This is an appeal from an Eighteenth Judicial District Court, Gallatin County, decision in a dissolution action. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

The dispositive issue on appeal is whether the petitioner was properly allowed to testify by telephone, over the objection of the respondent, at the hearing on the merits.

The petitioner, Judith Spillane (fZk/a Judith Bonamarte — Judith) and the respondent, Mark Bonamarte, (Mark) were married on April 29, 1990, in New Jersey but separated in June of 1991 when Judith obtained a temporary restraining order alleging physical and emotional abuse and…