Domestic Violence Cases in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County

• Lawrence v. Bordner – PA Appellate Court ruled that a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order may temporarily suspend a previously entered custody order if necessary to prevent abuse. McCance v. 
• McCance – Those persons entitled to file Protection from Abuse (PFA) complaints against their alleged abusers include persons who are family or household members including spouses, former spouses, persons living as spouses, parents and children, others persons related by blood or marriage, current or former sexual or intimate partners, and those who share biological parenthood. 
• Takosky v. Henning – PA Superior Court dismissed appeal of family court finding defendant in contempt of Protection from Abuse order when family court did not enter any sanctions or term of imprisonment against defendant. 
• Mescanti v. Mescanti – The PA Superior Court affirmed the entry of a Protection from Abuse Order when husband engaged in a repeated pattern of harassing and threatening the wife even though no physical abuse had taken place. 
• B.T.W., On Behalf of T.L., A Minor v. P.J.L. – The Pennsylvania Superior Court held that the trial court’s jurisdiction over the custodian of the minor child, a resident of Maryland, and over the subject matter of the protection from abuse (PFA) action is conferred by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), 23 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 5401-5482, despite commission of the abusive acts in a state other than Pennsylvania, because the controlling custody order is from Pennsylvania and because if abuse occurred a change of custody could be considered pursuant to the PFA statute.

NOTE: The cases listed are for informational purposes only and may have been amended or overturned by subsequently decided court cases.