Coates v. Coates

Defendant James Coates appeals a Windham Family Court decision granting plaintiff Katherine Coates’ application for a final order for relief from abuse against defendant, arguing that plaintiff did not meet the burden of proof to prove abuse. We reverse.

The following evidence was presented at a hearing on plaintiff’s application. The parties were married in Florida and had a daughter in April 1993. A Florida family court order dissolved the marriage in May 1996. Plaintiff was awarded sole custody of daughter, pursuant to the court’s finding that shared parental responsibility would be…