
Earlier that day, Paul requested a court order to protect her from Mortensen, stating he had repeatedly been abusive and controlling, and that four instances of domestic violence had occurred. Paul’s lawyer, Eric Swinyard, explained that Mortensen intentionally provokes Taylor, and when she responds, he blames her. He described Mortensen as skilled at pushing people’s buttons, and believes the child is safe as long as they remain separated. The filing included details of an alleged incident on February 23, where Mortensen supposedly slammed Paul’s head against the dashboard of his truck during a fight. Mortensen claims Paul threw a drink at him, and his lawyer, Michael McDonald, expressed concern about Paul’s temper and ability to control herself. Paul supported her request with photos of her injuries and copies of text messages sent after the incident. Mortensen had previously filed a similar protective order against Paul on March 19.