Marriage of Feldman & Dubin CA1/5

BACKGROUND

Mother and Father married in October 2002. They have two sons, one born in 2003 and one born in 2006. The parties agree their marriage was characterized by ongoing conflict, although they largely blame each other. On June 22, 2010, Father filed a petition for dissolution of marriage (Petition). Earlier that month, during the evening of June 9, Mother and Father engaged in an argument that ultimately resulted in Father striking Mother in the buttocks with a wooden clothes hanger, which resulted in a bruise. On the evening of June 11, following another conflict, Father called the police after Mother left their home with their children. The

1 police ended up arresting Father after Mother showed them the bruise caused by the hanger. An emergency protective order was issued, directing Father to stay away from and not contact Mother and the children until June 18. Mother declined to cooperate with any criminal proceeding against Father. Father spent the night in jail, but no charges against him were filed. In his Petition, Father requested joint legal and physical custody. In July 2010, Mother obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO), directing him to stay away from her…