Stevenson v. Stevenson

Melody Stevenson (plaintiff) filed a complaint charging her husband, Robert Stevenson (defendant) with violating the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA). Evidence at the hearing established that Robert violated the PDVA by committing various criminal acts during a brutal attack in which Melody suffered a fractured skull, a concussion, four broken ribs, a punctured lung, and facial injuries. Melody testified that she feared Robert, he had assaulted her previously, and she was afraid he would take their son and leave the area. A final restraining order was entered prohibiting further violence, barring Robert from having any contact or communication with Melody, requiring Robert to undergo substance-abuse and psychological evaluations, and restricting Robert to supervised visitation. Four months later, Melody requested that the court dissolve the final restraining order on the condition that Robert commit no further violence. Melody claimed she had reconsidered the relationship and wanted Robert to be involved with their son. Risk-assessment, substance-abuse, and psychological evaluations of Robert were submitted to the court. The evaluations recommended psychotherapy and substance-abuse treatment and expressed concern about Robert’s need for control and threats he would do anything to gain custody of his son.