Opinion ID: 2570311
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence of domestic violence

Text: With respect to this factor, the superior court stated: There have been documented instances of domestic violence between the parents. The biggest concern are those instances reported by the Father to his counselor, that involved a variety of physical assaults committed by him against the Mother. This factor does favor the Mother. However, the Father's involvement in individual counseling to address some of his anger issues is a positive. It therefore reduces the weight the court will afford to this factor[.] Bernard contends that the court should not have found that this factor favors Patricia because Patricia herself allegedly engaged in domestic violence. Bernard testified that Patricia threw small objects at him such as small toys and magazines, and twice hit him with more dangerous objects (a hard-cover book and a cutting board). By contrast, Bernard testified at trial that he slapped and hit [Patricia] on top of the head and his counselor testified that he had admitted to physically abusing Patricia on multiple occasions. The superior court was entitled to find that this factor favored Patricia because Bernard's assaults were the biggest concern with regard to this factor.