Szymkowski v. Szymkowski

Violence among family or household members is the social ill for which G. L. c. 209A attempts a remedy.2 Turner v. Lewis, 434 Mass. 331, 334 (2001). We decide that the conduct described by the Probate Court judge as the basis of a c. 209A order against the defendant did not, within the meaning of the *285statute, involve the infliction of physical harm on his daughter — she was seven years old at the time of the c. 209A hearing — nor did the defendant place her in fear of imminent serious physical harm.* *3

Facts. We take the facts largely from those found by the Probate Court judge. Chapter 209A…