Jason Thomas Armstrong v. Lacie Rebecca Ann Chance

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court held that the superior court had subject matter jurisdiction to hear a domestic violence protective-order petition filed by an Alaska resident, even though the alleged abuse occurred elsewhere and the respondent had never been in Alaska. It nevertheless held that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over the out-of-state respondent because the long-term order imposed affirmative obligations and substantial restrictions despite his complete lack of Alaska contacts. The long-term protective order was therefore vacated without reaching the sufficiency of the factual findings.