Domestic Relations-Order of Protection-Sufficiency of Evidence

Staff Report//April 22, 2026//

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Defendant appealed the entry of an order of protection in favor of plaintiff, arguing that the trial court erred in adjourning the initial hearing during the cross-examination of plaintiff and contending that there was insufficient evidence to prove defendant committed the predicate act of harassment.

Where defendant did not contest the adjournment of the hearing, he failed to preserve his argument, and the record contained sufficient evidence to find that defendant had harassed plaintiff, including evidence of defendant’s repeated phone calls which plaintiff testified caused her severe emotional distress.

Judgment is affirmed.

M.J.R. v. E.R (MLW No. 84645/Case No. WD87974 – 17 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Chapman, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Clay County, O’Hara, J. (Nina McDonnell, Clayton for appellant) (Kenneth Jamison, Gladstone and Eric Sokol, Kearney for respondent)