P.P. v. S.P.

The defendant, S.P., appeals from the issuance of an abuse prevention order entered pursuant to G. L. c. 209A. The plaintiff, P.P., obtained a fourteen-day ex parte order on June 6, 2017. Following an evidentiary hearing, a judge in the District Court extended the order for one year. S.P. appeals from that order claiming, inter alia, that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that P.P. possessed a legitimate fear of imminent serious physical harm. We agree.

1. Background. P.P. and S.P. were married with one child when the relationship finally and fully disintegrated in 2017. While…