Matter of Marriage of Fromdahl

The underlying issue in this dissolution case concerns the custody of the parties’ children. Father sought custody on the ground that mother suffered from a mental illness that caused her to believe that the children had been sexually abused, and that when she was under the influence of this delusion her functioning as a parent was impaired. The trial court excluded certain evidence proffered by mother to show that her perception that the children had been abused and her responses thereto were rational and appropriate. The trial court awarded custody to father. The Court of Appeals affirmed…