Patole v. Marksberry

Memorandum Decision

ORME, Judge:

T1 Sachin Patole appeals the trial court's denial of his request for a protective order against his father-in-law, Mark Marksberry. Because we determine that the court plainly erred by finding insufficient evidence of abuse and by incorrectly narrowing the definition of cohabitant found in the Cohbabitant Abuse Act (the CAA), we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

T2 Patole sought a restraining order against Marksberry based on several alleged incidents of abuse. Marksberry was not represented by counsel at the evidentiary hearing on the petition, and he…