### J - S55019 - 18

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 JOSEPH J. COTELLESE III IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellant v. LISA M. COTELLESE Appellee No. 777 EDA 2018

Appeal from the Order Entered January 26 , 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Domestic Relations at No: 2017 DR 1807 PACSES No. 684116808 JOSEPH J. COTELLESE III IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellant v. LISA M. COTELLESE Appellee No. 778 EDA 2018

Appeal from the Order Entered January 26 , 2018 In the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County Domestic Relations at No: 2012 DR 00320 PACSES No. 201113141 BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE, JJ., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 30 , 2018

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Appellant, Joseph J. Cotellese III (“Husband”) , appeals 1 

### from the trial court’s January 26, 2018 support order. We affirm. The trial court recited the pertinent facts and procedural history in its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion:

The parties have a long history of support litigation over the last six (6) years. On March 22, 2012, Lisa M. Cotellese [(“Wi fe”)] filed a complaint for spousal and child support against [Husband] for the parties’ children [(“Children”)]. After appearing at a conference on May 4, 2012, an interim order was en tered into the record setting [Husband’s] monthly child support paymen ts[.] [...] On August 16, 2017, [Husband] filed [a] petition for modification seeking a decrease in the monthly child support payments due to an alleged change in his employment status. On September 14, 2017, the parties consented to terminate the existing support or der. The September 14, 2017 order recognized an overpayment in the total amount of [$4,642.24], representing [$4,365.24] in total case balance overpayment and [$270.00] which [Wife] owed [Husband] for her health insurance contribution. [Husband] thereaft er filed his “petition to collect support overpayment in terminated case[.]” [Husband’s] petition w as followed by [Wife’s] filing of a new petition for child support. [...] A hearing was held on January 25, 2018. The court heard testimony from [Wife], [Hu sband], and Kathleen Murray, the HR generalist from [Husband’s] former employer. The court recited on the record that as established at the December 7, 2017 conference, [Husband’s] net monthly income was determined by the officer to be [$5,035.52] based o n his gross monthly income

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### Husband filed his appeal more than thirty days after entry of the order, but the docket fails to reflect that Husband received notice of the entry of the order pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 236. Rule 108(b) of the Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that the date of entry of an order for purposes of appeal is the date on which the local clerk sends the Rule 236 notice. Pa.R.A.P. 108(b). We will therefore treat this appeal as timely.

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of [$6,500.00]. The court also placed on the record the finding at the conference that [Wife’s] net monthly income was [$4,100.00] based on annual gross income of [$67,000.00]. The parties also stipulated that they have equal p hysical custody of the Children[,] and Wife pays the Children’s health insurance at a monthly cost of [$94.90]. [Husband] testified at the hearing that he was employed with AWeber until August 15, 2017 w hen his employment terminated. [Husband] further t estified that his biweekly paycheck was [$6,388.47]. [Husband] agreed that his gross annual income for 2017 was [$166,000.00]. [Husband] testified that following his termination from AWeber he worked eight (8) hours per week as a consultant for a company called LUXTECH which he obtained, through a firm called Trajectify. [Husband] testified he is a 1099 employee for the consulting job, receiving monthly gross income of [$5,200.00] per the consulting agreement with Trajectify. [Husband] stated that per t he consulting agreement, Trajectify would receive twenty percent (20%) and he received eight percent (80%) of the consulting client payments and that such agreement would terminate twelve (12) months from November 2017. [Husband] testified that he receive d additional income in the amount of [$99.00] in 2017 from working with clients on his own side project known as ‘Sharey,’ an online marketing tool for social media marketing. [Husband] testified that as of the time of the hearing, he was working with Tr ajectify contracts for two (2) clients, LUXTECH and Club OS, and was also working with this second client through Sharey. [Husband] further explained to the court how Sharey was developed and how it works. The record before this court established that [H usband] started his Sharey project prior to his employment termination with AWeber and that [Husband] had to shut down Sharey for a period of time at the request of AWeber. Trial Court Opinion, 5/2/18 at 1 - 5 (record citations and some capitalization omit ted). The trial court assigned Husband an earning capacity of $82,091.15, concluding that Husband was capable of working more than eight hours per week , and that Husband was making insufficient efforts to obtain full - time

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employment . The trial court als o ordered Husband’s $4,642.24 overpayment to Wife to be liquidated in accord with Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.19(g)(1). 2 

### “The amount of a support order is largely within the discretion of the trial court, whose judgment should not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion.” Portugal v. Portugal , 798 A.2d 246, 249 (Pa. Super. 2002). A parent’s child support duty is absolute, and the goal is to promote the children’s best interests. Samii v. Samii , 847 A.2d 691, 694 (Pa. Super. 2004). Further,

( 1 ) Voluntary Reduction of Income. When either party voluntarily assumes a lower paying job, quits a job, leaves employment, changes occupations or changes employment status to pursue an education, or is fired for cause, there generally will be no effect on the support obligation. [...] (4) Earning Capacity. If the trier of fact determines that a party to a support action has willfully failed to obtain or maintain appropriate employment, the trier of fact may impute to that par ty an income equal to the part y’ s earning capacity. Age, education, training, health, work experience, earnings history and child care responsibilities are factors which shall be considered in determining earning capacity. In order for an earning capacity to

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### That Rule provides:

If there is an overpayment in an amount in excess of two months of the monthly support obligation and a charging order remains in effect, after notice to the parties as set forth below, the domestic relations section shall reduce the charging order by 20% or an amount sufficient to retire the overpayment by the time the charging order is terminated. Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.19 (g)(1).

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be assessed, the trier of fact must state the reasons for the assessment in writing or on the record. Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16 - 2 (d)(4). Instantly, the trial court found that Husband failed to seek full time employment after his termination from AWeber. Trial Court Opinion, 5/2/18, at 9 - 10 . Instead, he worked approximately eight hours per week as a consultant. Father testified that he had been reaching out to his network, but that he had not met with any recruiters or sent out any resumes in an attempt to procure full time employme nt. N.T. Hearing, 1/25/18, at 51 - 52. The trial court reasoned: It is this court’s determination from examining the record, assessing the witness(es) and considering the evidence and testimony presented that [Husband] possesses the availability, necessary physical health conditions, work experience, intelligence, menta l ability, job skills and employment history to secure employment more suitable to an earning capacity as assessed by this court, and not the lower amount he currently derives from his eight (8) hours per week consulting work. [Husband] has not shown any effort to actively secure full - time employment. [Husband] admitted he did not complete any job applications, did not have any job interviews and was not working with any headhunters. Trial Court Opinion, 5/2/18, at 11. Furthermore, the record indicates that the trial court chose to liquidate Husband’s overpayment pursuant to 1910.19 (g)(1) because a charging order is presently in effect, despite the termination of a prior support order. We have reviewed the parties’ briefs, the applicable law, the reco rd, and the trial court’s opinion. We conclude that the trial court’s May 2, 2018 opinion

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accurately addresses Husband’s assertions of error. We affirm the order based on the reasoning set forth in the trial court’s opinion, and we direct that a copy of that opinion be filed along with this memorandum. Order affirmed. Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date: 11/30/18Circulated 10/31/2018 04:14 PM



### IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F B U C K S C O U NT Y , P ENN S YL V AN I A D O M E S T I C R E L A T I O N S S E C T I O N L I S A M . C O T E L L E S E



### v . J O S E P H 

## J . C O T E L L E S E , II I J O S E P H 

## J . C O T E L L E S E , II I

v . 

### L I S A M . C O T E L L E S E N o . 2 0 12 - D R - 0 0 3 2 0 P A C S E S : 2 0 1 1 13 1 4 1 77 8 E D A 2 0 1 8 C O N S O L I D A T E D N o . 2 0 1 7 - D R - 0 1 8 0 7 P A C S E S : 6 8 4 11 6 8 0 8 7 77 E D A 2 0 1 8 C O N S O L I D A T E D

O P IN I O N Ap p e ll an t , J o s e p h ]. C o t e ll e s e , II I ( " F a th e r " ) , a p p e a l s t o P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt fr o m th e S u p p o rt O r d e r s e n t e r e d b y th i s C o urt o n J anu ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 e s t a b li s hi n g m o n th l y p ay m e n t s fo r th e s u p p o rt o f th e p arti e s ' tw o 

### ( 2 ) c h il dr e n . A f t e r r e v i e w o f th e s e m a tt e r s , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt c o n s o li d a t e d th e a

p p e a l s . P ur s u an t t o P e nn s y l v an i a R ul e o f Ap p e ll a t e P r o c e d

ur e 1 9 2 5 ( a ) , w e n o w fil e thi s O p i n i o n i n th e a

b o v e - c a p ti o n e d m a tt e r s i n s u

p p o rt o f th e C o urt ' s ru l i n g . I. 

### B A C K G R O U

N D T h e p arti e s h av e a l o n g h i s t o r y o f s u p p ort li ti g ati o n o v e r th e l a s t s i x ( 6 ) y e ar s . O n M ar c h 2 2 , 2 0 1 2 , L i s a M . C o t e ll e s e ( " M o th e r " ) fil e d a C o mp l ain t fo r S p o u s a l an d C hil d S u p p o rt a g a in s t J o s e p h J . C o t e ll e s e ( " F ath e r " ) fo r th e p arti e s ' c h il dr e n A. C. ( d a t e o f b irth : N o v e mb e r 1 , 2 0 0 3 ) ( " C h il d 1 " ) an d 

### A. C. ( d a t e o f b irth : Jun e 2 , 2 0 0 6 ) ( " C h i l d 2 " ) ( h e r e i n a ft e r c o ll e c t i v el y " C h il dr e n " ) . A ft e r a p p e ar i n gfo r a c o n fe r e n c e o n M ay 4 , 2 0 1 2 , an I n t e ri m O r d e r w a s e n t e r e d i n to th e r e c o r d s e ttin g F a th e r ' s

m o n th l y C h il d S u

p p o rt p ay m e n t s a t O n e T h o u s an d 

### S i x H un dr e d E i g h t e e n D o ll ar s ( $ 1 , 6 1 8 . 0 0 ) . T h e O r d e r al s o i n di c at e d th a t a s o f th e d a t e o f th e h e ar i n g , F a th e r o w e d T h r e e T h o u s an d F o ur H un dr e d F o rty - N i n e D o ll ar s an d T w el v e C e n t s ( $ 3 , 4 4 9 . 1 2 ) i n ar r e ar s w h i c h w a s " d

u e i n fu ll I M .M E D I A T E L Y. " In o r d e r t o s ati s fy th e m o n th l y p ay m e n t s , mu lt i p l e w a g e a tt a c h m e n t s w e r e i s s u e d t o F a th e r ' s th e n e mp l o y e r . 

### O n Jun e 1 5 , 2 0 1 2 , th e p arti e s a p p e ar e d 

### fo r a h e ari n g b e fo r e th e H o n o r a b l e A l an 

### M . R u b e n s t e i n . Ju d g e R

u b e n s t e i n s i g n e d a fi n a l O r d e r s e tt in g F ath e r ' s m o n th l y p ay m e n t s 

### fo r th e s u p p o rt o f M o th e r an d th e C h i l dr e n a t 

### T w o T h o u s an d 

### S i x H un dr e d F o rty - T h r e e D o ll ar s ( $ 2 , 6 4 3 . 0 0 ) , a ll o c at e d a t O n e T h o u s an d F o ur H un dr e d S e v e n ty - Fi v e D o ll ar s ( $ 1 , 4 7 5 . 0 0 ) fo r C h i l d S u p p o rt an d O n e T h o u s an d O n e H un dr e d S ix ty - E i g h t D o ll ar s ( $ 1 , 1 6 8 . 0 0 ) fo r S p o u s a l S u p p o rt. O n S e p t e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 2 , M o th e r p e ti ti o n e d th e C o urt fo r a m o di fi c a ti o n o f th e e xi s tin g S u p p o rt O r d e r r e qu e s ti n g an i n c r e a s e i n th e m o n th l y p ay m e n t s b a s e d o n h e r n e w e mp l o y m e n t a t a s a l ary l e s s th an th e e arn i n g c a p a c i ty p r e v i o u s l y a s s i g n e d t o h e r s e v e r a l m o n th s e ar li e r . T h e p arti e s a p p e ar e d fo r a s e c o n d h e ar i n g o n J anu ar y 2 2 , 2 0 1 3 an d r e a c h e d an a g r e e m e n t w hi c h w a s e n t e r e d a s an O r d e r o f C o urt . A c c o r d in g t o th e J anu ar y 2 2 , 2 0 1 3 O r d e r , F a th e r w a s t o p ay m o n th l y C h il d an d S p o u s a l S u

p p o rt i n th e am o un t o f T w o T h o u s an d F i v e H un dr e d S e v e n ty - N i n e D o llar s ( $ 2 , 5 7 9 . 0 0 ) . S e v e r a l m o n th s l a t e r , F a th e r fil e d a P e ti ti o n fo r M o di fi c ati o n o f th a t O r d e r o n M ay 7 , 2 0 1 3 . I n th e P e ti ti o n , F a th e r r e qu e s t e d a d e c r e a s e d u e t o c ir c um s t an c e s r e s ul ti n g i n a r e d u c ti o n o f h i s i n c o m e . 

### In th e Jun e 

### 2 5 , 2 0 13 O r d e r , th e C o urt e n t e r e d th e th ir d S u p p o rt O r d e r 

### in thi s c a s e fi n d i n g F a th e r ' s m o n th l y n e t i n c o m e h a d d e c r e a s e d t o T w o T h o u s an d T w o H un dr e d S e v e n ty - E i g h t D o ll ar s an d 

### F i f ty T hr e e C e n t s 

### ( $ 2 , 2 7 8 . 5 3 ) an d th e r e fo r e a r e d u c ti o n 

### in C h il d an d S p o u s a l S u p p o rt t o th e am o un t o f F i v e H un dr e d N in e ty - F o ur D o ll ar s ( $ 5 9 4 . 0 0 ) w a s o r d e r e d . F a th e r w a s furth e r o r d e r e d t o p ay th e p r i o r arr e ar s o f T w o T h o u s an d S i x H un dr e d S e v e n ty D o ll ar s an d T w e n ty - T w o C e n t s ( $ 2 , 6 7 0 . 2 2 ) i m m e dia t e l y . 

### 2

### S e v e ra l m o n th s l a t e r , o n S e p t e mb e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 3 , M o th e r fil e d a P e ti ti o n fo r M o di fi c ati o n

r e qu e s ti n g r e in s t a t e m e n t o f S p o u s a l S u p p o rt an d s e e k i n g an i n c r e a s e i n th e m o n th l y C h il d S u p p o rt p ay m e n t s d

u e t o F a th e r ' s imp r o v e d e mp l o y m e n t s t atu s . A m o d i fi e d O r d e r w a s e n t e r e d o n O c t o b e r 3 0 , 2 0 13 a s s e s s in g F ath e r ' s m o n th l y n e t i n c o m e a t E i g h t T h o u s an d T w o H un dr e d S ix ty D o ll ar s an d T h irt e e n C e n t s ( $ 8 , 2 6 0 . 1 3 ) , an d o r d e rin g F ath e r t o p ay m o n thl y C h il d an d S p o u s a l S u p p o rt i n th e am o un t o f T w o T h o u s an d N in e H un dr e d F o urt e e n D o ll ar s ( $ 2 , 9 1 4 . 0 0 ) an d arr e ar s s e t a t Thr e e T h o u s an d F i f

t e e n D o ll ar s an d E i g h ty - F i v e C e n t s ( $ 3 , 0 1 5 . 8 5 ) t o b e p ai d imm e di a t e l y . O n F e b ru ary 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 , th e C o urt h el d i t s th ir d h e ar in g i n l e s s th an a y e ar an d i s s u e d a fi n a l O r d e r s e tti n g F ath e r ' s m o n th l y C h il d an d S p o u s a l S u p p o rt p ay m e n t s a t T w o T h o u s an d S ix H un dr e d F o rty - N i n e D o ll ar s ( $ 2 , 6 4 9 . 0 0 ) an d t o p ay m o n th l y arr e ar s a t th e r a t e o f t e n p e r c e n t ( 1 0 % ) , o r T w o H un dr e d S ix ty - F i v e ( $ 2 6 5 . 0 0 ) . S ub s e qu e n tl y , o n Ap r il 2 1 , 2 0 1 6 , th e C o urt i s s u e d an O r d e r in c r e a s in g th e m o n th l y arr e ar s p ay m e n t t o F i v e H un dr e d T h irty D o ll ar s ( $ 5 3 0 . 0 0 ) an d o n J anu ary 1 7 , 2 0 1 7 , th e C o urt i s s u e d an O r d e r t e rm i n atin g S p o u s a l S u p p o rt p e r th e P r o p e rty S e ttl e m e n t A g r e e m e n t s i g n e d b y 

### th e p arti e s o n D e c e mb e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 . O n Au g u s t 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 , F ath e r fil e d an o th er P e ti ti o n fo r M o di fi c ati o n s e e ki n g a d e c r e a s e in th e m o n thl y C h il d S u

p p o rt p ay m e n t s d

u e t o an a ll e g e d c h an g e in h i s e mp l o y m e n t s t atu s . O n S e p t e mb e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 , th e p arti e s c o n s e n t e d t o t e rm i n a t e th e e x i s ti n g S u p p o rt O r d e r . T h e S e p t e mb e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 O r d e r r e c o g n i z e d an o v e r p ay m e n t 

### i n th e t o t a l am o un t o f F o ur T h o u s an d S i x H un dr e d F o rty - T w o D o ll ar s an d T w e n ty - F o ur C e n t s ( $ 4 , 6 4 2 . 2 4 ) , r e p r e s e n tin g F o ur T h o u s an d T h r e e H un dr e d S i x ty - Fi v e D o ll ar s an d T w e n ty - F o ur C e n t s ( $ 4 , 3 6 5 . 2 4 ) in t o t a l c a s e b a l an c e o v e r p ay m e n t an d T w o H un dr e d S e v e n ty - S e v e n D o ll ar s ( $ 2 7 0 . 0 0 ) w hi c h M o th e r o w e d F ath e r fo r h e r h e a lth i n s ur an c e c o n tr i b uti o n . F a th e r th e r e a f

t e r fi l e d hi s " P e ti ti o n t o C o ll e c t S u p p o rt O v e r

p ay m e n t 

### in T e rmi n a t e d C a s e " an d a n e w

3d o c k e t numb e r o f 2 0 17 - D R - 0 18 0 7 w a s i s s u e d fo r th a t P e ti ti o n . F a th e r ' s c a s e fo r o v e r p ay m e n t c o ll e c ti o n w a s c o n s o li d a t e d w i th th e o r i g i n a l d o c k e t numb e r 2 0 1 2 - D R - 0 0 3 2 0 . F a th e r ' s p e ti ti o n w a s fo ll o w e d b y M o th e r ' s fi li n g o f a n e w P e ti ti o n fo r C h il d S u p p o rt . A r e v i e w co n fe r e n c e w a s h e l d o n D e c e mb e r 7 , 2 0 1 7 b e fo r e th e a s s i g n e d D o m e s ti c R el ati o n s O ffi c e r w i th b o th p arti e s p r e s e n t an d r e p r e s e n t e d 

### b y l e g a l c o un s e l. � -\n a g r e e m e n t c o u l d n o t b e r e a c h e d b a s e d o n th e i n c o m e in fo rm ati o n p r o v i d e d an d th e m a tt e r w a s th e r e a f t e r s c h e d u l e d fo r a h e ar i n g b e fo r e th i s C o urt o n 

### j anu ar

y 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 . F o ll o w in g th a t c o n fe r e n c e , M o th er fil e d a P e ti ti o n t o R e in s t a t e th e 

### C hil d S u p p o rt O r d e r a g ain s t F a th e r un d e r d o c k e t numb e r 2 0 1 2 - D R - 0 0 3 2 0 . A h e ar i n g w a s h e l d o n J anu ar y 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e C o urt h e ar d t e s tim o ny fr o m M o th e r , F a th e r , an d K a th l e e n M ur l e y , th e H R g e n e r a li s t fr o m F ath e r ' s fo rm e r e mp l o y e r , A W e b e r S y s t e m s , I n c . 

### ( " A W e b e r " ) . T h e C o urt r e c i t e d o n th e r e c o r d th a t a s e s t a b l i s h e d a t th e D e c e mb e r 

### 7 , 2 0 1 7 c o n f e r e n c e , F ath e r ' s n e t m o n th l y i n c o m e w a s d e t e rm i n e d b y th e o f fi c e r t o b e F i v e T h o u s an d Th irty - F i v e D o ll ar s an d F i f ty - T w o C e n t s ( $ 5 , 0 3 5 .5 2 ) b a s e d o n h i s g ro s s m o n th l y i n c o m e o f S ix T h o u s an d F i v e H un dr e d D o ll ar s ( $ 6 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 ) . T h e C o urt a l s o p l a c e d o n th e r e c o r d th e fi n di n g a t th e co n fe r e n c e th a t M o th e r ' s n e t m o n th l y i n c o m e w a s d e t e rm i n e d b y th e o ffi c e r t o b e F o ur T h o u s an d O n e H un dr e d D o ll ar s ( $ 4 , 1 0 0 . 0 0 ) b a s e d annu a l g ro s s in c o m e o f S i x ty - S e v e n T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 6 7 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) fr o m h e r c urr e n t e mp l o y e r , R e fr i g e rati o n A ir C o n di ti o n i n g , a s th e p arti e s s ti p u la t e d (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 2 4 ) . T h e p arti e s a l s o s ti p u l a t e d th e y h av e e qu a l p hy s i c a l c u s t o dy o f th e C h il dr e n a s 

### fi f ty/ fi f ty ( 5 0 / 5 0 ) , an d M o th e r p ay s th e C hil dr e n ' s h e a l th i n s uran c e a t a m o n th l y c o s t o f N i n e ty - F o ur D o ll ar s an d N in e ty C e n t s ( $ 9 4 . 9 0 ) 

### (N .T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 2 4 ) . F a th e r t e s ti fi e d a t th e h e ari n g th a t h e w a s e mp l o y e d w i th A. W e b e r un ti l Au gu s t 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 w h e n h i s e mp l o y m e n t t e rm i n a t e d (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 3 4 , 6 3 ) . F a th e r furth e r t e s ti fi e d th a t h i s b i - w e e kl y p ay c h e c k w a s S i x T h o u s an d T h r e e H un dr e d E ig h ty - E i g h t D o ll ar s an d F o rty - S e v e n C e n t s ( $ 6 , 3 8 8 .4 7 ) 4(N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 3 4 ) . F ath e r a g r e e d th a t hi s g r o s s annu al i n c o m e fo r 2 0 1 7 w a s O n e H un dr e d

S i x ty - S i x T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 1 6 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) 

### (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 3 4 ) . F a th e r t e s ti fi e d th a t 

### f o ll o w i n g hi s t e rm i n ati o n fr o m 

### A W e b e r h e w o rk e d e i g h t ( 8 ) h o ur s p e r w e e k a s a c o ns u lt an t fo r a c o mp any c a ll e d L U X T E C H w h ic h h e o b t a i n e d , th ro u g h a firm c a ll e d T r a j e c ti fy (N . T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 3 5 ) . F a th e r t e s ti fi e d h e i s a 10 9 9 e mp l o y e e fo r th e c o n s u l ti n g j o b , r e c e i v in g m o n thl y g r o s s i n c o m e o f F i v e T h o u s an d T w o H un dr e d D o ll ar s ( $ 5 , 2 0 0 . 0 0 ) p e r th e c o n s ul ti n g a g r e e m e n t w i th T r a j e c ti fy 

### (N .T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 3 5 , 3 7 ) . F a th e r s t a t e d th a t p e r th e c o n s u l ti n g a g r e e m e n t , T r a j e c ti fy w o u l d r e c e i v e tw e n ty p e r c e n t ( 2 0 % ) an d h e r e c e i v e d e i g h ty p e r c e n t ( 8 0 % ) o f th e c o n s u l ti n g c li e n t p ay m e n t s an d th a t s u c h a gr e e m e n t w o u l d t e rm i n a t e tw el v e ( 1 2 ) m o n th s fr o m N o v e mb e r 2 0 1 7 

### ( S e c N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 3 9 ) . F a th e r t e s ti fi e d th a t h e r e c e i v e d a d d i t i o n a l in c o m e in th e am o un t o f N i n e ty - N in e D o llar s ( $ 9 9 . 0 0 ) i n 2 0 1 7 fr o m w o rki n g w i th c li e n t s o n h i s o w n s i d e p r o j e c t kn o w n a s " S h ar e y " , an o n li n e m ark e ti n g t o o l fo r s o c i a l m e d i a m ark e ti n g (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 3 9 - 4 0 ) . F ath e r t e s ti fi e d th a t a s o f th e ti m e o f th e h e ar i n g , h e w a s w o rkin g un d e r T ra j e c ti fy c o n tr a c t s fo r tw o ( 2 ) c li e n t s , L U X T E C H an d C l ub O S , an d w a s a l s o w o rk i n g wi th hi s s e c o n d c li e n t thr o u g h S h ar e y (N . T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 4 0 - 4 2 ) . F a th e r furth e r e xp l a i n e d t o th e C o urt h o w S h ar e y w a s d e v el o p e d an d h o w 

### i t w o rk s (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , 4 3 - 4 4 ) . T h e r e c o r d b e fo r e th i s C o urt e s t a b li s h e d th a t F a th e r s t art e d h i s S h ar e y p ro j e c t p r i o r t o h i s e mp l o y m e n t t e rmin ati o n w i th A. W e b e r an d th a t F ath e r h a d t o s hu t d o w n S h ar e y fo r a p e r i o d o f ti m e a t th e r e qu e s t o f .i\ W e b e r (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 

### 6 3 ) . A t th e c o n cl u s i o n o f th e h e ar in g th e m a tt e r w a s t ak e n un d e r a dv i s e m e n t . T h i s C o urt i s s u e d i t s d e c i s i o n a s s e t fo rth i n th e j anu ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 C h il d S u p p o rt O r d e r w h i c h i s th e s ub j e c t o f th i s Ap p e a l. T h e O r d e r s t a t e d : F ath e r t o 

### p ay E i g h t H un dr e d F i f ty T w o D o ll ar s ( $ 8 5 2 . 0 0 ) p e r m o n th fo r th e s u p p o rt o f tw o ( 2 ) C h il dr e n . T h e C o urt a l s o o r d e r e d th a t C h il dr e n ' s h e a l th c ar e c o v e r a g e w o u l d



### 5b e 

### p ro v i d e d b y 

### M o th e r . T h e O r d e r n o t e d th at 

### a ft e r c o n d u c ti n g 

### th e h e ari n g an d 

### b a s e d o n a ll t e s ti m o ny an d e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d , th e C o urt 

### d e t e rm i n e d F ath e r ' s annu a l e arn i n g c a p a c i ty b a s e d 

### o n hi s 

### p r i o r hi s t o r y an d th e 

### r e c o r d 

### in th e c a s e w a s E i g h ty - T w o T h o u s an d N i n e ty - O n e D o ll ar s an d 

### F i f t e e n C e n t s 

### ( $ 8 2 , 0 9 1. 1 5 ) . T h e O r d e r a l s o n o t e d th e C o urt' s c o n s i d e rati o n o f th e fa c t th a t b o th p arti e s c o n ti nu e t o e n j o y 

### a fi ft y 

### I fi f

t }' ( 5 0 / 5 0 ) 

### c u s t o dy ar

r an g e m e n t o f

th e C hil dr e n , an d 

### th a t th e p arti e s s h ar e c h i l d c ar e e xp e n s e s fo r C h il d 

### 2 . T h i s C o urt i s s u e d a s e p ara t e O r d e r o n J anu ary 

### 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 un d e r d o c k e t numb e r 

### 2 0 1 7 - D R - 0 1 8 0 7 th a t F a th e r ' s 

### P e ti ti o n fo r 

### R e c o v e r y o f O v e r

p ay m e n t i s 

### g r an t e d an d di s mi s s e d a s 

### s am e h a d b e e n c o n s i d e r e d 

### an d a d dr e s s e d an d o r d e r i n g th e c a s e t o cl o s e . O n 

### M ar c h 5 , 2 0 1 8 , 

### F a th e r fil e d h i s N o ti c e o f Ap p e a l t o th e S u p e r i o r C o urt a

p p e a li n g th e 

### J anu ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 C h il d S u p p o rt O r d e r. O n M ar c h 

### 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 , th i s C o urt o r d e r e d 

### F a th e r t o fil e a C o n c i s e 

### S t a t e m e n t o f E rr o r s w h i c h h e h a s d o n e . O n 

### M ar c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 8 , M o th e r fil e d a M o ti o n t o Q u a s h Ap p e a l , w h i c h w a s d e ni e d b y 

### th e S u p e r i o r C o urt o n Ap r il 2 0 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e C o urt 

### n O '\V fil e s th i s 

### O p i n i o n in
s u p p o rt o f 

### i t s r

uli n g . 

### II . S T A T E M E N T O F E RR O R S C O M P L AI N E D O F O N AP P E AL O n M ar c h 2 6 , 2 0 18 , th i s C o urt 

### i s s u e d an O r d e r p ur s u an t t o P a . R . A. P . 1 92 5 (b ) di r e c ti n g F a th e r t o fil e o f r e c o r d an d s e rv e 

### o n th e un d e r s i g n e d a C o n ci s e S t a t e m e n t o f E rro r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e al w i thi n tw e n ty - o n e 

### ( 2 1 ) d ay s 

### o f th e d a t e 

### o f thi s O r d e r . T h e O r d er a l s o 

### dir e c t e d th a t 

### " any i s s u e n o t p ro p e rl y in cl u d e d 

### in th e co n c i s e s ta t e m e n t s h a ll b e d e e m e d w a i v e d . " O n M ar c h 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 , F a th e r fil e d 

### a C o n ci s e S t at e m e n t o f E rr o r s C o mp l a i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l , s e t fo rth 

### v e r b a t i m h e r e i n : 1 . W h e th er th e tr i a l c o urt a b u s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n i n h o l di n g [ F a th e r ] t o an e ar n i n g c a p a c i ty , ra th e r th an u s i n g [ F a th e r ' s ] a c tu a l i n c o m e 

### t o d e t e rmi n e c hil d s u

p p o rt. 62 . W h e th e r th e tr i a l c o urt a b u s e d i t s di s c r e ti o n w h e n i t p r e cl u d e d fr o m e v i d e n c e t e s t i m o ny r e l ati n g t o [M o th e r ' s ] f in an c i a l c o n di ti o n an d a b ili ty t o r e p ay [ F a th e r ' s ] $ 4 , 6 4 2 . 2 4 o v e r p ay m e n t. 

### I II . D I S C U S S I O N T h e S u p e r i o r C o urt h a s c o n ti nu o u s l y h el d th a t th e s t an d ar d o f r e vi e w in c h i l d s u p p o rt c a s e s i s : T h e am o un t o f a s u p p o rt o r d e r i s l ar g el y w i th in th e d i s c r e ti o n o f th e tri a l c o urt , w h o s e j u d g m e n t s h o u l d n o t b e di s tur b e d o n a p p e a l a b s e n t a cl e ar a b u s e o f di s c r e ti o n . A n a b u s e o f d i s c r e ti o n i s n o t m e r e l y an e r r o r o f j u d g m e n t , b u t r a th e r a m i s a p p li c ati o n o f th e l aw o r an unr e a s o n ab l e e x e r c i s e o f j u d g m e n t . A fin di n g th a t th e tr i a l c o urt a b u s e d i t s di s c r e ti o n mu s t r e s t u p o n a s h o w i n g 

### b y cl e ar an d c o n v in c in g e v i d e n c e , an d th e tr i a l c o urt 

### w ill b e u p h el d o n any v al i d gr o un d . K e s s l e r v . H e l m i c k , 6 72 A. 2 d 1 3 8 0 , 1 3 8 2 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 96 ) ( c i t ati o n o rni tt e d ) .

" A n a b u s e o f d i s c r e ti o n r e quir e s p ro o f o f m o r e th an a m e r e e r ro r o f j u d g m e n t , b ut r a th e r e v i d e n c e th a t th e l aw w a s mi s a p p li e d o r o v e rr i d d e n , o r th a t th e j u d g m e n t w a s m an i fe s tl y unr e a s o n a b l e o r b a s e d o n b i a s , ill 

### w ill , p r e j u di c e , o r p arti a li ty . " Ke r s e y v . J e ff e r s o n , 7 9 1 A . 2 d 4 1 9 , 4 2 3 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 2 ) ( c i t ati o n s o m i tt e d ) . F ath e r i n i t i a ll y ar g u e s th a t th i s C o urt a b u s e d i t s di s c r e ti o n w h e n i t b a s e d F a th er ' s m o n th l y C hil d S u p p o rt p ay m e n t s o n h i s e arn i n g c a p a ci ty rath e r th an o n h i s a c t u a l i n c o m e . I t i s w e ll e s t a b li s h e d un d e r P e nn s y l v an i a l aw th a t " b o th p ar e n t s ar e e qu a ll y r e s p o n s i b l e fo r th e s u p p o rt o f th e ir c hil dr e n . " K .lah o l d v . K

ro h , 6 4 9 A . 2 d 7 0 1 , 7 0 3 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 4 ) . T h e S u

p e r i o r C o urt o f P e nn s y l v an i a h a s c o n tinu o u s l y n o t e d th a t " th e d uty t o s u p p o rt o n e ' s c h il d i s ab s o l ut e , an d th e p ur p o s e o f c h il d s u

p p o rt i s t o p r o m o t e th e c h il d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t s . " 

### S amii v . 

### S ami i , 8 4 7 A. 2 d 6 9 1 , 6 9 4 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 4 ) 

### (

q i t0 t i ng D e p p v . 

### H o ll an d , 6 3 6 A . 2 d 2 0 4 , 20 6 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 9 4 ) ) .

7

### T h e C o urt ro utin e l y e mp h a s i z e s i n s u p p o rt h e ari n g s th at i t h a s l o n g b e e n d e t ermin e d un d e r P e nn s y l v an i a l aw " [ tJh e d e t e rm i n ati o n o f a 

### p ar e n t' s a b ili ty t o p r o v i d e c h il d s u p p o rt i s b a s e d 

### u

p o n th e p ar e n t ' s e arn i n g c a

p a c i ty ra th e r 

### th an th e p ar e n t' s a c tu a l 

### e ar ni n g s . " L aw s y . L aw s , 

### 7 5 8 .A . Z d '1 2 2 6 , 1 2 2 9 ( P a . S u p e r. 20 0 0 ) . C h il d s u

p p o rt p ay m e n t s ar e aw ar d e d b a s e d o n g ui d e lin e s u s i n g th e p arti e s ' m o n th l y n e t in c o m e . P a . R . C. P . 1 9 1 0 . 1 6 - 2 . " W h e r e a p arty v o l un t ar il y a s s um e s a l o w e r p ay in g j o b , th e r e g e n e r a ll y w ill 

### b e n o e ff

e c t o n th e s u

p p o rt o b li g ati o n . " P a . R . C. P . 1 9 1 0 . 1 6 - 2 ( d ) ( 1 ) . If 

### a p arty " w ill fu ll y 

### fa il [ s ] t o o b t ai n o r m ain ta i n a p p r o p ri a t e e mp l o y m e n t , " s u p p o rt p ay m e n t s m ay b e s e t b a s e d u p o n th e p arty' s e ar

ni n g c a p a c i ty . P a . R . C. P . 1 9 1 0 . 1 6 - 2 ( d ) ( 4 ) . A n e arn i n g c a

p a ci ty i s th e am o un t a p arty c o u l d r e a li s t i c all y e arn un d e r th e c ir c um s t an c e s . H a s e lri g v . H a s el d g , 8 4 0 .r\ . Z d 3 3 8 , 3 4 0 

### (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 3 ) . 

### E arn i n g c a

p a ci ty i s th e am o un t a p e r s o n r e a li s ti c a ll y c o u l d e arn un d e r th e c ir c um s t an c e s , c o n s i d e r i n g h i s a g e , h e a l th , m e n t a l an d p hy s i c a l c o n di ti o n , tr a i n i n g , e arn in g s h i s t o r y an d c hil d c ar e r e s p o n s i b ili ti e s . S e !! 

### W o s k o b v . \Xi' o s k o b , 8 4 3 A. 2 d 

### 1 2 4 7 (P a . S u

p e r . 2 0 0 4 ) . 

### A m o n g th e fa c t o r s th at mu s t b e c o n s i d e r e d w h e n d e t e rm i ni n g a p arty ' s 

### e arn i n g c a

p a c i ty ar e a g e , e d

u c ati o n , tr a i n i n g , w o rk e xp e ri e n c e , h e a l th an d e ar ni n g h i s t o r

y. P a . R . C. P . 1 9 1 0 . 1 6 - 2 ( d ) ( 4 ) . A c o urt m ay a l s o co n s i d e r o th e r fa c t o r s , s u c h a s j o b s av a il a b l e w i th i n a c e rt a i n o c c u p ati o n an d th e e ff

o rt a p arty h a s e x e rt e d to 

### fi n d e mp l o y m e n t. I d . G e n e r a ll y , a p arty ' s e ar ni n g c a p a ci ty 

### w ill n o t b e a lt e r e d i f 

### h e o r s h e " v o l un t aril y a s s um e s a l o w e r p ay i n g j o b , qu i t s a j o b , l e av e s e mp l o y m e n t , c h an g e s o c c u p ati o n s o r c h an g e s e mp l o y m e n t s t at u s t o p ur s u e an e d

u c at i o n , o r i s fir e d fo r c au s e . " P a . R . C. P . 1 9 1 0 . 1 6 - 2 ( d ) ( 1 ) .



### " T h e fa c t - fi n d e r i s e n ti tl e d t o w e i g h th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d an d a s s e s s i t s c r e di b ili ty . " G r e e n v . G r e e n , 7 8 3 A . 2 d 7 8 8 , 7 9 0 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 1 ) . A ft e r e x am i n i n g th e r e c o r d an d e v a l u ati n g a ll t e s ti m o ny an d e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d t o th i s C o urt , th e C o urt p r o p e rl y b a s e d F a th e r ' s m o n th l y C hil d S u p p o rt p ay m e n t s o n an a s s e s s e d e arn i n g c a p a ci ty o f E i g h ty - T w o T h o u s an d N in e ty - O n e D o ll ar s an d F i ft e e n



### 8C e n t s ( $ 8 2 , 0 9 1. 1 5 ) . F a th er t e s ti fi e d h e w a s e mp l o y e d w i th A W e b e r un til Au g u s t 1 5 , 20 1 7 w h e n h i s

e mp l o y m e n t w a s t e rm i n at e d (N . T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 3 4 , 6 3 ) . I mp o rt an tl y , F ath e r t e s t i fi e d th a t hi s g ro s s w a g e s fo r 2 0 1 6 w e r e O n e H un dr e d S i x ty - F o ur T h o u s an d O n e H un dr e d E i g h ty - T h r e e D o ll ar s ( $ 1 6 4 , 1 8 3 . 0 0 ) (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 3 3 ) . F a th e r t e s ti fi e d th a t h i s b i - w e e k l y p ay fr o m A W e b e r i n 2 0 1 7 w a s S ix T h o u s an d T h r e e H un dr e d E i g h ty - E i g h t D o ll ar s an d F o r ty - S e v e n C e n t s ( $ 6 , 3 8 8 .4 7 ) r e s u l ti n g i n a 2 0 1 7 annu a l 

### p ay r a t e o f O n e H un dr e d S ix ty - S ix T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 1 6 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) 

### (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 3 4 ) . F a th e r w a s t e rm i n a t e d fr o m A. W e b e r o n A u g u s t 1 5 , 2 0 1 7 (N . T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , 

### p . 6 3 ) . F ath e r w a s s u b s e qu e n tl y d e n i e d un e mp l o y m e n t b e n e fit s (N . T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 3 5 ) . S in c e hi s t e rmi n ati o n o f e mp l o y m e n t w i th A ' W e b e r , F a th e r h a s b e e n w o rk i n g a s a c o n s u lt an t th r o u g h a c o n s u l ti n g firm c a ll e d T r a j e c ti fy (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 3 5 ) . F a th e r ' s c o n s u l ti n g w o rk c o m m e n c e d N o v e mb e r 1 , 2 0 1 7 , an d w a s b a s e d o n a th r e e - m o n th a gr e e m e n t , e n di n g j anu ary 2 0 1 8 (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 3 6 ) . T h e r e c o r d i s cl e ar th a t F a th e r w o rk s a p p ro x i m a t el y e i g h t ( 8 ) h o ur s w e e kl y i n h i s c urr e n t c a p a ci ty a s a c o n s u lt an t (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 5 0 - 5 1 ) . F a th e r t e s ti fi e d :



### B y 

### M s . F i n e m an : 

### Q S o b a s e d 0 11 y o ur t e s ti m o ny thu s far t o d ay , o th e r th an th e 2 0 h o ur s y o u s p e n t , i n th e l a s t w e e k o r tw o , o n thi s n e w p r o j e c t w ith C l u

b O S , y o ur c o n s u l ti n g c o n tr a c t s ar e g e n e r a ll y b e tw e e n e i g h t h o ur s p e r w e e k , an d th e n C l u

b O S , o n c e s o m e b o dy i s h ir e d , 

### w ill b e 3 0 m i nut e s p e r w e e k. I s th a t c o r

r e c t ? A O n c e s o m e b o dy ' s hir e d , c o rr e c t. (N . T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 5 0 - 5 1 ) . T h e r e c o r d a l s o e s t a

b li s h e d th a t F a th e r w a s n o t a c ti v el y s e e k i n g f u l l - tim e e mp l o y m e n t (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 5 1 ) . F ath e r s t a t e d :



### 9B y 

### M s . F i n e m an : Q A n d w h a t e f

fo rt s h av e y o u 

### m a d e t o 

### o b t a i n fu ll - tim e e tnp l o y m e n t ? A 

### W e ll , p art o f

w h a t I' m 

### d o i n g w i th T ra j e c ti fy an d , 

### y o u kn o w , I thi n k 

### i t s p e ak s t o th e w ay 

### th e a g r e e m e n t 

### w a s w r i tt e n , th a t 

### 1 2 m o n th s a f t e r th e p e r i o d I w o u l d b e n o l o n g e r 

### o b li g a t e d t o 

### p ay T r a j e c ti f y 

### m o n e y , i s t o fi g ur e 

### o ut 

### w ay s t o c o n ti nu e 

### t o w o rk w i th th e e xi s ti n g 

### c o mp an i e s 

### in a 

### l ar g e r c a

p a ci ty . 

### In a d d i ti o n t o th a t , I m e an , y o u 

### kn o w , I fo un d th e T ra j e c ti fy w o rk 

### b y r e a c hi n g o u t t o my n e tw o rk. I m e an , th a t ' s th e w ay - - y o u hi t a c e rta in l e v e l 

### in y o ur c ar e e r an d th e 

### b e s t w ay 

### t o fi n d n e w 

### w o rk i s 

### t o c o nn e c t w i th p e o p l e fa c e 

### t o fa c e , y o u kn o w , rath e r th an , lik e , a M o n s t e r . c o rn typ e b o ar d . S o , y o u 

### kn o w , I' v e 

### b e e n , y o u kn o w , r e a c hi n g o u t t o p e o p l e i n 

### my n e tw o rk , h av i n g 

### c o n v e r s ati o n s , h av in g a l o t 

### o f c o ff e e t o tty 

### t o fi n d a d di ti o n a l w o rk. (N . T. 

### 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 

### 5 1 ) . 

### F ath e r f urth e r c o n firm e d h e h a s n o t fo rm a ll y 

### s o u g h t fu ll - tim e e mp l o y m e n t w i th an o th e r e mp l o y e r lik e h e h a d 

### w i th A. 

### W e b e r :



### B y 

### M s . F i n e m an : Q H av e y o u 

### a

p p li e d fo r any o th e r 

### j o b s ? A I h av e n o t fi l e d , lik e , a 

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### a p p li c ati o n w i th o th e r c o mp an i e s . 

### Q H av e y o u h a d any o th e r - - any i n t e rv i e w s fo r j o b s ? 

### A I h a d - - n o , n o o th e r in t e rv i e w s . 

### Q H av e y o u w o rk e d 

### w i th any h e a dhun t e r s ? A I g e n e r a ll y av o i d w o rkin g w i th h e a dhun t e r s b e c au s e w h e n I' v e tr i e d w o rki n g 

### w i th th e m 

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### v a l u a b l e p o s i ti o n s . 

### Q D o 

### y o u h av e any o th e r s ub s t an ti v e 

### l e a d s fo r 

### fu ll - ti m e e mp l o y m e n t o th e r th an th e 

### w o rk th a t 

### y o u ' r e c urr e n tl y d o i n g 

### w i th T r a j e c t i f y ? A N o t c urr e n t l y . W e ll , I m e an - - an d C l u b O S . 

### Q C l ub O S i s 

### th ro u g h T ra j e c ti fy , th o u g h . C o rr e c t ? A 

### A g a i n , li k e , I - - y o u 

### kn o w , I p i t c h e d 

### th e m s p e c i fi c a ll y . Y o u kn o w , lik e , I w a s i n tr o d

u c e d t o th e C E O o f C l ub O S I th i nk b a c k i n O c t o b e r , N o v e mb e r , an d 

### th e n I s aw a p o t e n ti a l o p p o rt un i ty w i th 

### th e m . A n d th e n I a c ti v e l y p ur s u e d , y o u k n o w , p i t c hi n g th e m a s a c o n s u l t an t . (N .T . 

### 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , 

### p p . 5 1 - 5 2 ) . 

### T h i s C o urt r e c o gn i z e s F a th e r di d n o t v o l un t ar il y d e p art fr o m h i s j o b w i th 

### A. W e b e r an d th at th e r e is 

### a di s p u t e 

### b e tw e e n th e p arti e s a s t o w h e th e r o r n o t F ath e r w a s t e rmi n a t e d fo r c au s e . R e g ar d l e s s

1 0o f th a t d e t e rm i n a ti o n , th e C o urt p r o p e r l y c o n cl u d e d F a th e r ' s c urr e n t e ar ni n g c a p a c i ty i s s imp l y n o t c o m m e n s ura t e w i th w h a t h e e arn e d a t A W e b e r . I t i s th. i s C o urt' s d e t e rm in a ti o n fr o m e x am i n i n g th e r e c o r d , a s s e s s i n g th e w i tn e s s ( e s ) an d c o n s i d e r in g th e e v i d e n c e an d t e s tim o ny p r e s e n t e d th a t F ath e r p o s s e s s e s th e av a il a

b ili ty , n e c e s s ar

y p h y s i c a l h e a lth c o n d i ti o n s , w o rk e xp e r i e n c e , in t e lli g e n c e , m e n t a l a b ili ty , j o b s kill s an d e mp l o y m e n t h i s t o r y t o s e c ur e e mp l o y m e n t m o r e s u i t a b l e t o an e arn in g c a

p a c i ty a s a s s e s s e d b y th i s C o urt , an d n o t th e l o w e r am o un t h e c urr e n tl y d e r i v e s fr o m h i s ei g h t ( 8 ) h o ur s p e r w e e k c o n s u l ti n g w o rk . F ath e r h a s n o t s h o w n any e ff o rt t o a c ti v e l y s e c ur e fo ll - tim e e mp l o y m e n t . F ath e r a dmi tt e d h e di d n o t c o mp l e t e any j o b a p p li c ati o n s , di d n o t h av e any j o b i n t e rv i e w s an d w a s n o t w o rk i n g w i th any h e a dhun t e r s . U n d e r P e nn s y l v ani a law , p ar e n t s h av e an a b s o l u t e o b li g ati o n t o s u p p o rt th e ir c h il dr e n an d thi s o b li g ati o n " mu s t b e di s c h ar g e d b y th e p ar e n t s e v e n i f i t c au s e s th e m s o m e h ar d s hi p . " M e n c e r v . R u c h , 92 8 J\. Z <l 2 9 4 , 2 9 7 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 7 ) . B a s e d o n th e e v i d e n ti ary r e c o r d an d P e nn s y l v ani a l aw , th e C o urt p ro p e rl y fo un d th at F ath e r fa il e d t o o b t a i n a p p r o p r i a t e e mp l o y m e n t d e s p i t e b e in g an e d u c a t e d , e xp e r i e n c e d an d i n t e lli g e n t m an i n g o o d h e a l th . T h e C o urt h o l d s F a th e r i s c a p ab l e o f s e c uri n g fu ll ti m e e mp l o y m e n t t o e arn i n c o m e h i g h e r th an h i s c ur r e n t c o n s u l ti n g an d a

p p r o p r i a t e t o hi s a c tu a l e arn in g c a

p a ci ty i n o r d e r t o a ll o w h i m t o m e e t h i s m o n th l y C h il d S u p p o rt p ay m e n t o b li g ati o n s . F o r th e s e r e a s o n s , th e C o urt p r o p e r l y c o n cl u d e d th a t F a th e r s h o ul d b e a s s e s s e d an e arn i n g c a p a ci ty o f E i g h ty - T w o T h o u s an d N i n e ty - O n e D o ll ar s an d F i f t e e n C e n t s ( $ 8 2 , 0 9 1 . 1 5 ) g r o s s annu a ll y . T h i s i s n o t th e am o un t o f O n e H un dr e d S i x ty - S i x T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 1 6 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) h e e arn e d annu a ll y a t A W e b e r , b u t i s m o r e th an w h a t h e cur r e n tl y e arn s annu a ll y fr o m h i s l imi t e d c o n s u l ti n g w o rk an d h i s s t art - u p S h ar e y p ro

j e c t. F a th e r n e x t ar g u e s th a t th e C o urt a b u s e d i t s di s c r e ti o n w h e n 

### i t p r e cl u d e d fr o m e v i d e n c e t e s tim o ny r el atin g t o M o th e r ' s fi n an c i a l c o n d i ti o n an d a b ili ty t o r e p ay F a th e r ' s o v e r p ay m e n t i n th e 1 1am o un t o f F o ur T h o u s an d S i x ty H un dr e d F o rty - T w o D o ll ar s an d T w e n ty - F o ur C e n t s ( $ 4 , 6 4 2 . 2 4 ) .

T h i s C o urt fin d s F a th e r ' s c o n t e n ti o n s ar e w i th o u t m e ri t . F a th e r 

### w ill o b t ai n c r e d i t s a g a i n s t th i s am o un t fo r h i s C hil d S u

p p o rt o b li g ati o n a s e s t a

b li s h e d h e r e i n . A t th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e j anu ary 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 h e ar in g , b o th p arti e s s ti p u l a t e d M o th e r ' s annu a l g rn s s in c o m e 

### i

s S i x ty - S e v e n T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 6 7 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) fr o m R e fr i g e r ati o n 

### Air C o n d i ti o n i n g an d s u c h c o n cl u s i o n w a s b a s e d o n h e r p ay s t ub s (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 2 4 ) . T h e p arti e s a l s o s ti p ul a t e d th e y s h ar e e qu a l p h y s ic a l c u s t o dy fi fty/ fi f ty ( 5 0 / 5 0 ) o f th e C hi l dr e n (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , P : 2 4 ) . A d d i ti o n a ll y , th e p arti e s a g r e e d M o th e r p ay s h e a lth in s ur an c e fo r th e mi n o r C hil dr e n a t a m o n thl y c o s t o f N i n e ty - F o ur D o ll ar s an d N i n e ty C e n ts ( $ 9 4 . 9 0 ) (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p . 2 4 ) . F urth e rm o r e , M o th e r t e s ti fi e d a t th e h e ar i n g an d F a th e r w a s g i v e n amp l e o p p o rtun i ty t o c r o s s e x am in e M o th e r an d o ff e r any d o c um e n t s i n t o e v i d e n c e 

### ( S e e N . T. 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 , p p . 2 6 - 2 9 ) . N o thi n g i n th e r e c o r d in di c a t e s th i s C o urt d e n i e d F ath e r th e o p p o rtun i ty t o i n tr o d u c e any t e s tim o ny an d

/ o r e x hi b i t s t o s u

p p o rt h i s c a s e i n th i s r e g ar d .



### " I t i s w i thi n th e d is c r e ti o n o f th e tr i a l c o urt t o d e t e rm in e , un d e r a ll th e ci r c um s t an c e s , w h a t i s j u s t an d e qu i t a

b l e . " H a ttl e y v . H artl e y , 5 2 8 i\. 2 d 2 3 3 , 2 3 5 (P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 7 ) . R

u l e 1 9 1 0 . 1 9 (g) ( 1 ) s ta t e s , i n p e rti n e n t p art :



### [ i ] f th e r e i s an o v e r

p ay m e n t 

### .in an am o un t i n e x c e s s o f tw o m o n th s o f th e m o n th l y s u

p p o rt o b li g a t i o n an d a c h ar g i n g o r d e r r e m a i n s in e ff e c t , a ft e r n o ti c e t o th e p arti e s a s s e t fo rth b e l o w , th e d o m e s ti c r e l ati o n s s e c ti o n s h a ll r e d

u c e th e c h ar g i n g o r d e r b y 2 0 % o r an am o un t s u f fi c i e n t t o r e tir e th e o v e r

p ay m e n t b y th e ti m e th e c h ar g i n g o r d e r i s t e rm in a t e d . P a . R . C. P
. 1 9 1 0 . 1 9 (g) ( 1 ) . 

### In r e a c hin g i t s d e c i s i o n , th e C o urt d u l y c o n s i d e r e d a ll e v i d e n c e s u b m i tt e d i n t o th e r e c o r d an d al l w i tn e s s e s ' t e s tim o ny an d c r e di b ili ty th e r e o f a t th e h e ar in g . T h e C o urt n o t e s th e S e p t e mb e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 7 O r d e r e s t a

b li s h e d an o v e r

p ay m e n t o w e d t o F a th e r 

### in th e t o t a l am o un t o f F o ur T h o u s an d S i x

1 2H un dr e d F o rty - T w o D o ll ar s an d T w e n ty - F o ur C e n t s ( $ 4 , 6 4 2 . 2 4 ) , r e p r e s e n tin g P o ur T h o u s an d T hr e e

H un dr e d S i x ty - Fi v e D o ll ar s an d T w e n ty - F o ur C e n t s ( $ 4 , 3 6 5 . 2 4 ) 

### in c a s e b a l an c e o v e r p ay m e n t an d T w o H un dr e d S e v e n ty - S e v e n D o ll ar s ( $ 2 7 0 . 0 0 ) w h i c h M o th e r o w e d F a th e r fo r h e a l th i n s uran c e c o n tr i b uti o n t o w ar d o ff s e t fo r th e m o n th o f S e p t e mb e r 2 0 1 7 . T h e .J anu a 1 y 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 O r d e r s t at e s i n p art " [ s Jh o u l d th e r e b e an o v e r p ay m e n t o n th e a c c o un t , i t i s t o r e d u c e b y 2 0 % p e r P a R C P 1 9 1 0 . 1 9 9 ( g ) ( 1 ) . " T h e C o urt ' s O r d e r furth e r i n d i c a t e d " [ t ] h e s um o f $ 4 3 6 5 . 2 4 i s t o b e r e i n s t a t e d a s a c r e d i t t o b e l i qui d a t e d a s s t a t e d a b o v e . " A d di ti o n a ll y , p e r th e J anu ary 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 O r d e r , M o th e r i s o b li g a t e d t o p r o vi d e th e C hil dr e n ' s h e al th c ar e c o v e r a g e an d M o th e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e t o p ay th e fir s t T w o H un dr e d F if ty D o ll ar s ( $ 2 5 0 . 0 0 ) annu a ll y p e r C hil d fo r any unr e imb ur s e d m e di c a l e xp e n s e s . T h e C o urt g r an t e d F a th e r ' s r e qu e s t fo r r e c o g ni ti o n o f h i s o v e r p ay m e n t an d , th e r e fo r e , F a th e r ' s c o n t e n ti o n s w i th r e s p e c t t o th e a p p li c ati o n o r di s p o s i ti o n o f th a t o v e r p ay m e n t c r e di t a t e m e r i tl e s s . F in a ll y , a t th e c o n cl u s i o n o f th e J anu ar y 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 h e atin g , th e p art i e s arti c u la t e d t o th e C o urt th e ir s ti p u l ati o n t o F a th e r ' s o v e r p ay m e n t i s s u e s an d h o w i t i s g o in g t o b e li qu i d a t e d : 

### T H E C O U R T : I s e e th e an al y s i s 

### th a t th e r e w a s e x tra - - I th i nk 

### I in c o rp o r a t e d th a t i n t o th e r e c o r d . D o e s m o th er di s a g r e e th a t th e r e w a s an o v e rp ay m e n t ? M S . 

### F I N E M AN : N o . T h e r e ' s a C o n s e n t O r d e r a s p art o f Y o ur H o n o r d e c i d i n g h o w th a t ' s g o i n g t o b e li qui d a t e d . T H E C O U R T : S o th e r e ' s n o d i s p u t e a s t o o v e r p ay m e n t . 

### (N .T . 0 1 / 2 5 / 2 0 1 8 p . 9 3 ) . T h e C o urt fi n d s th at F a th e r i s c a p a b l e o f g a i n i n g f

u ll - tim e e mp l o y m e n t m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e w i th th e e ar ni n g c a p a c i ty a s s i g n e d b y th e C o urt an d th a t h i s e ff o rt s t o m e e t hi s C h il dr e n ' s s u p p o rt o b li g ati o n s an d hi s g e n e ra l o v e r a ll fi n an c i a l w e ll - b e i n g w o u l d b e b e tt e r s e rv e d i n th a t m ann e r , r a th e r th an th e c o s t an d e xp e n s e o f p ro tr a c t e d li ti g ati o n .

1 3I V . 

### C O N C L U S I O N B a s e d u p o n th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , th i s C o urt fi n d s 

### Fa th e r ' s Ap p e a l i s w i th o u t m e r i t. T h e C o urt' s S u

p p o rt O r d e r s h o ul d b e a f fum e d fo r th e r e a s o n s s e t fo rth h e r e i n a b o v e .



### B Y T H E C O U R T :

D a t e : !', fa y 2 , 2 0 1 8



### 1 4