PROTECTION ORDER PROCEEDINGS SEEM DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE. The petitioner can go to court, make statements without any additional proof and get a temporary order. It's that easy.  A respondent can reply similarly. But without proof, it becomes a swearing contest - which is risky.  It's easy to lose that contest. Courts respond to proof.   THE DANGER OF ASSUMPTIONS Lies that are obvious to a respondent, aren't always obvious to a judge.  They just aren't.   A judge may accept someone may be minimizing, distorting or outright lying.  But they won't necessarily take the respondent's word for it. This is when a