Case Title: Powell v. Conway

Citation: 386 Pa. Super. 1, 562 A.2d 324

Docket Number: 

State: pennsylvania

Court: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Date: 1989-06-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
386 Pa. Superior Ct. 1 (1989) 562 A.2d 324 Bernardine Conway POWELL, Appellee, v. Cyril F. CONWAY, Appellant. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Argued December 8, 1988. Filed June 29, 1989. Reargument Denied August 23, 1989. *2 Richard H. Roesgen, Williamsport, for appellant. James D. Casale, Williamsport, for appellee. Before WIEAND, OLSZEWSKI and TAMILIA, JJ. OLSZEWSKI, Judge: This is an appeal from a trial court order directing appellant to pay child support. Appellant raises two issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in failing to dismiss appellee's complaint after a Florida court order disposed of appellee's claim for support pursuant to the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (URESA); and (2) whether an adult child who is estranged from her parent should be denied support from that parent for college expenses. We affirm. On December 18, 1986, appellee, on behalf of the parties' daughter, Jennifer, filed a complaint seeking support for tuition and other expenses incurred by Jennifer as a college student.[1] On March 6, 1987, appellant filed a preliminary objection, in the nature of a demurrer, claiming that the instant action was barred by a final judgment entered in the State of Florida. This final judgment provided for dismissal of a URESA support proceeding in Florida Circuit Court on the ground that Jennifer was emancipated, having *3 reached her 18th birthday and completed high school.[2] On June 19, 1987, appellant's preliminary objection was dismissed; and upon stipulation, the matter was submitted to a master without a hearing. The master filed his report, and ordered appellant to pay college expenses and arrearages. Exceptions were timely filed by appellant and, on January 13, 1988, a hearing de novo was held before the trial court. On February 3, 1988, the trial court issued an order directing appellant to pay $50 in support per week, retroactive to the date of the filing of the Pennsylvania complaint. The trial court further ordered that: Order at 2. This appeal followed. Appellant maintains that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss appellee's complaint because a prior Florida order barred the instant action for support. Appellant asserts that the trial court was required, pursuant to the Full Faith and Credit Clause, Article IV, Section 1, of the United States Constitution,[3] to give effect to the judgment of the Florida Circuit Court. In accordance with the full faith and credit clause, an out-of-state judgment is to be given the same recognition and res judicata effect as it would receive in the state in which it is rendered. Morris Lapidus Associates v. Airportels, Inc., 240 Pa.Super. 80, 82, 361 A.2d 660, 662 (1976) (allocatur denied). It is evident that Florida does not recognize a cause of action by an adult *4 child for payment of college expenses by either parent. In Kern v. Kern, 360 So. 2d 482 (Fla.App. 1978), the Florida District Court of Appeals was called upon to decide "whether a parent in a dissolution proceeding, absent an agreement, may be required to provide a college education for an adult child of the marriage under the terms of a child support decree." Id. 360 So. 2d at 483. The Florida court concluded, inter alia, that a parent owes no duty to an adult child to provide a college education. The court reasoned: Id. at 484-485 (footnotes omitted). Although there is no parental duty to provide a college education under Florida *5 law, it does not follow, however, that the Florida judgment bars the instant claim for college expenses. We are not compelled to recognize out-of-state judgments that contravene the public policy of this Commonwealth. See Myers v. Young, 285 Pa.Super. 254, 258, 427 A.2d 209, 212 (1981) (Virginia order suspending support and inconsistent with policy of Pennsylvania did not preclude entry of Pennsylvania support order). In Pennsylvania, an adult child, under certain circumstances, is entitled to receive financial assistance from either parent for his college expenses. See Commonwealth ex rel. Ulmer v. Sommerville, 200 Pa.Super. 640, 190 A.2d 182, 183 (1963); Milne v. Milne, 383 Pa.Super. 177, 556 A.2d 854 (1989). Thus, enforcement of the Florida judgment would directly contravene the public policy of this Commonwealth. In light of the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not err in rejecting appellant's argument. Appellant also maintains that the trial court erred in awarding support for college expenses to a child who has reached majority and is estranged from her parents. Appellant relies on this Court's decision in DeWalt v. DeWalt, 365 Pa.Super. 280, 529 A.2d 508 (1987). We agree with appellant that the DeWalt Court stated that an adult child should not be entitled to payment of college expenses by a parent whom he has shunned. We, however, note that the pertinent language in DeWalt is dicta and, therefore, not controlling. Nonetheless, we recognize that this Court, in its en banc decision in Milne v. Milne, supra, has directly addressed this issue of estrangement and we, accordingly, rely on its precedential value.[4] In Milne, this Court held that an adult child's willful estrangement from his or her parent is a factor to be considered by the trial court in determining whether a parent is excused from contributing to the child's college education. This Court stated: Id. 383 Pa.Super. at 197-198, 556 A.2d at 865. Applying the principles and rationale delineated supra, this Court found that the trial court erred in ordering Karen Milne to contribute to the costs of the college education of her son, Caleb Milne. The record clearly indicated that Caleb was estranged from his mother as a result of his own unilateral actions. This Court stated: Id. 383 Pa.Super. at 185, 556 A.2d at 859. These facts contrast greatly with those found by the trial court in the instant case: Opinion at 18-19. Unlike the circumstances in Milne, the instant case does not require consideration of Jennifer's interaction with her father "to reach a just result." Both Jennifer and her father are responsible for any estrangement between them. Consequently, we find no error by the trial court in failing to consider estrangement as a factor in *8 its determination.[5] Order affirmed. WIEAND, J., concurs in the result. [1] Jennifer's date of birth is April 28, 1968. Attached to the complaint is a signed authorization by Jennifer to file a petition on her behalf "for support as well as for payment of [her] college education." [2] While Jennifer was a minor, appellant filed a complaint in Florida under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act. On January 11, 1980, a URESA support order was entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County. [3] Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution provides in pertinent part: "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the . . . judicial Proceedings of every other State and the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such . . . Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof." [4] Milne, supra, was decided by this Court during the direct appeal of the instant case. It is well established that an intervening change in law must be applied to cases which are in the throes of appeal when the change occurs. Leland v. J.T. Baker Chemical Co., 282 Pa.Super. 573, 577, 423 A.2d 393, 396 (1980). [5] The trial court distinguished the case sub judice from DeWalt, supra. We note that we may affirm the decision of the trial court without regard to the grounds relied upon by the trial court. Grim v. Betz, 372 Pa.Super. 614, 618, 539 A.2d 1365, 1367 (1988).