The Amarillo Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court's decision to appoint a father as joint managing conservator because the trial court found no credible evidence of family violence even though the father admitted backhanding one stepson, spanking another with a spark plug wire, jerking his daughter's arm and threatening to spank her by taking off his belt, hitting the filing cabinet with it and telling the daughter that he would "give her a reason to cry."In the Interest of B.R.P., No. 11-07-00255-CV (Tex. App. - Amarillo May 14, 2009).

Courtesy of Verner & Brumley, P.C. Dallas, Texas

Tags: family violence, spanking, backhanding