J - A17039 - 18 NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. WILLIAM LEE ETTISON Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1063 WDA 2017 Appeal from the Order Entered June 22, 2017 in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 25 - CR - 0000072 - 1995, CP - 25 - CR - 0000112 - 2016, CP - 25 - CR - 0000668 - 1996, CP - 25 - CR - 0000687 - 1995, CP - 25 - CR - 0000865 - 2010, CP - 25 - CR - 0000993 - 2016, CP - 25 - CR - 0001588 - 1993, CP - 25 - CR - 0001707 - 2010, CP - 25 - CR - 0001709 - 2010, CP - 25 - MD - 0000024 - 2016, CP - 25 - MD - 0000113 - 2016, CP - 25 - MD - 0000712 - 2015, CP - 25 - SA - 0000098 - 2006, CP - 25 - SA - 0000098 - 2010, CP - 25 - SA - 0000133 - 2009 BEFORE: OTT, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MUSMANNO, J. MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 William Lee Ettison ( “ Ettison ” ) appeals from the Order denying his Petition to Suspend Payment of Costs. We affirm. In its Opinion, the trial court described the relevant underlying history as follows: [Ettison] has been convicted of various crimes in every decade since the 1990s. He has been sentenced to pay restitution, fines and costs since 1991. His payment history consists of sporadic, minimal payments. [Ettison] has been in chronic arrears; he still owes restitution, fines and costs from the 1990s. The procedural genesis o f this appeal is [Ettison ’ s] Petition to Suspend Payment of Costs[,] filed on May 19, 2017, seeking to suspend his obligation to pay restitution, fines and costs based onJ - A17039 - 18

- 2 - his alleged inability to pay. An evidentiary hearing was held on June 22, 2017. The result was a determination [that Ettison] had the ability to pay $50 per month toward the $12,874 . 28 he owed to victims, etc. [,] on numerous dockets. This appeal followed. Trial Court Opinion, 9/29/11, at 1 - 2. 1 T he trial court ’s Opinion also details Et tison ’ s financial obligations , which were imposed at nineteen separate docket numbers . See id. at 4 - 6. In this appeal, Ettison presents the following issues for our review: 1. Did the trial court abuse its discretion by not temporarily suspending [] Ettison ’ s obligation to make payment on his fines, costs, and restitution[,] in light of the uncontested evidence showing that he is indigent, disabled, and unable to work? 2. Did the trial court abuse its discretion by placing [] Ettison on a $50 per month payment plan[,] when the uncontested evidence showed that he is indigent, disabled, unable to work and lacks any financial resources that would permit him to make those payments? 3. Did t he tr i a l court further abuse its discretion by placing [] Ettison on that $50 per month payment plan and requiring the first payment one week after the entry of the order, without giving him time to search for work? Brief for Appellant at 4. Initially, we observe that in his Rule 1925(b) Concise Statement, Ettison preserved the following two claims for our review: 1. The [trial court] erred by not temporarily suspending [] Ettison ’ s obligation to make payments in light of his financial circumstances and the evidence presented, which showed that [] Ettison had no present ability to p ay, in violation of his rights

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______ 1 We note that Ettison properly filed a Concise Statement of matters complained of on appeal, in accordance with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).J - A17039 - 18

- 3 - to Due Process and Equal Protection outlines in, inter alia , C ommonwealth ex rel. Parrish v. C liff , 304 A.2d 158 (Pa. 1973), Bearden v. Georgia , 461 U.S. 660 (1983) and Pa.R.Crim.P. 706; and 2. The [trial court] erred by placin g [] Ettison on an unreasonable payment plan in light of his financial circumstances and the evidence presented, which showed that [] Ettison has no present ability to pay, in violation of his rights to Due Proce ss and Equal Protection outlined in, inter a lia , C ommonwealth ex rel. Parrish v. C liff , 304 A.2d 158 (Pa. 1973), Bearden v. Georgia , 461 U.S. 660 (1983) [,] and Pa.R.Crim.P. 706. Concise Statement, 8/7/17. To the extent that Ettison raises claim s not included in the above - stated issues, we deem them waived. 2 See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(3)(iv) (providing that the failure to include an issue in a Rule 1925(b ) statement results in waiver). We will address Ettison ’ s claims together, as they are all related to whether Ettison was entitled to the suspension or waiver of his obligation to pay fines, costs and restitution installment payments (hereinafter Ettison’s

“ financial obligations ” ) under Pa.R.Crim.P. 706(D). Et tison first challenges the tria l court ’ s rejection of his request to suspend or waive his financial obligations. Brief for Appellant at 19. Ettison argues that at the hearing, he presented uncontested evidence that he could not afford to comply with his

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______ 2 For example, Ettison asks this Court whether the standards applicable to a determination of in forma pauperis status and the appointment of counsel should be applied to determine whether a criminal defendant may gain relief under Pa.R.Crim.P. 706. B rief for Appellant at 36. Th is argument was not raised in Ettison ’ s Rule 1925(b) Conc ise Statement and, accordingl y, is waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(3)(iv).J - A17039 - 18

- 4 - payment plan. Id. According to Ettison, the uncontested evidence showed that he (1) was in a car accident that left him “ fully disabled ” ; (2) lost his job because he was unable to work as a result of the accident, and the pain it caused him; (3) sleeps at his siblings ’ ho uses because other wise, he would be homeless; and (4) has no assets of any value. Id. at 19 - 20. In support, Ettison asserts that a different common pleas court judge temporarily suspended his child support payments, in light of his indigence. Id. at 20. Ettison argues that “ the only burden on [him] was to show [that] he could not pay $85 per month, a burden that he met. ” Id. at 22. Ettison questions the trial court ’ s determination that he failed to meet his burden, while simultaneously reducing Ettiso n ’ s monthly payment from $85 to $50. Id. at 20 - 21. Ettison contends that he was not given the opportunity to challenge his ability to afford the new payment amount, as it was never proposed to him. Id. at 21. Ettison directs our attention to case law holding that a defendant ’ s entitlement to public assistance invite s a “ presumption of indigence. ” Id. at 23. According to Ettison, the Commonwealth did not present evidence to rebut this presumption. Id. at 25 . Ettison also disputes the trial court ’ s findings regarding his indigence, its consideration of “ irrelevant ” evidence, and its credibility determinations. Id. at 25 - 32. Ettison asserts that the trial court ’ s findings regarding his ability to pay are c ontradicted by the evidence of record , and relies upon the testimony ofJ - A17039 - 18

- 5 - his chiropractor, Dr. John Lupo, as being “conclusive. ” Id. at 27 - 28. In particular, Ettison directs our att ention to testimony regarding Ettison’s in ability to perform light duty work, arguing that the trial court drew an unsubstantiated conclusion that Ettison is not fully disabled. Id. at 34. Ettison claims that there was no evidence that he can pay the newly imposed amount of $50 per month. Id. a t 33 - 35. Ettison additionally asserts that the imposition of an impossible payment plan could lead to a deprivation of his liberty interest. Id. at 41. Ettison argues that, “ [e]ven without actually holding [a] defendant in contempt, there is the real p ossibility of an erroneous deprivation of [an] individual ’ s liberty interest [,] if the trial court issues a bench warrant simply for [the] failure to pay. ” Id. at 41. Ettison asserts that “ the Pennsylvania Supreme Court could not have intended[,] when it ruled in Parrish and enacted Rule 706[,] that trial courts could place defendants on payment plans[,] when the uncontested evidence showed that they could not afford to pay those amounts. ” Id. at 42 - 43. Ettison further posits that if the trial court found him capable of light work, “ the reasonable course of actio n would have been to set [] Etti son on a payment plan that started in several months, so that he would have time to look for work. ” Id. at 44. In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Ettison ’ s claim s and concluded that they lack merit. See Trial Court Opinion, 9/29/11, at 7 - 15. The trial court ’ s findings are supported in the record and its legal conclusions areJ - A17039 - 18

- 6 - sound. We ther efore affirm on the basis of the trial court ’ s Opinion with regard to Ettison’s claims , see id. , with the following addendum. Issues pertaining to a defendant ’ s inability to pay court costs, fines and restitution are governed by Rule 706 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, which provides as follows: ( A) A court shall not commit the defendant to prison for failure to pay a fine or costs unless it appears after hearing that the defendant is financially able to pay the fine or costs. (B) When the court determines, after hearing, that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the court may provide for payment of the fines or costs in such installments and over such period o f time as it deems to be just and practicable, taking into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden its payments will impose, as set forth in paragraph (D) below. (C) The court, in determining the amount and method of payment of a fine or costs shall, insofar as is just and practicable, consider the burden upon the defendant by reason of the defendant ’ s financial means, including the defendant ’ s ability to make restitu tion or reparations. (D) In cases in which the court has ordered payment of a fine or costs in installments, the defendant may request a rehearing on the payment schedule when the defendant is in default of a payment or when the defendant advises the cou rt that such default is imminent. At such hearing, the burden shall be on the defendant to prove that his or her financial condition has deteriorated to the extent that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. Thereupon the court may extend or accelerate the payment schedule or leave it unaltered, as the court finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances of record. When there has been default and the court finds the defendant is not indigent, the court may impose impr isonment as provided by law for nonpayment.J - A17039 - 18

- 7 - Comment: See generally Commonwealth ex rel. [ Parrish ] v. Cliff , 451 Pa. 427, 304 A.2d 158 (1973). Under this rule, when a defendant fails to pay the fine and costs, the common pleas court judge may issue a bench warrant for the collection of the fine and costs. When a “ failure to pay ” bench warrant is issued, the bench warrant must be executed by a po lice officer following the procedures set forth in Rule 431(C)(1)(c) and (C)(2), or, if the defendant is unable to pay, the police officer must proceed as provided in Rule 150 (Bench Warrants). Nothing in this rule is intended to abridge any rights the Co mmonwealth may have in a civil proceeding to collect a fine or costs. Pa.R.C rim.P. 706. Rule 431(C) provides, in relevant part, as follows: (1) When a bench warrant is executed, the police officer shall either

... (c) accept from the defendant the amount of restitution, fine and costs due as specified in the warrant if the warrant is for collection of restitution, fines, and costs after a ... conviction; or (d) if the defendant is unable to pay, promptly take the defendant for a hearing on the bench warrant as provided in paragraph (C)(3).

... (3) When the defendant does not pay the restitution, fine and costs, or collateral, the defendant promptly shall be taken before the proper issuing authority when available pursuant to Rule 117 for a bench warrant hearing. T he bench warrant hearing may be conducted using two - way simultaneous audio - visual communication. Pa.R.Crim.P. 431 (C)(1), (3) .J - A17039 - 18

- 8 - “ When construing a Rule of Criminal Procedure, courts utilize the Statutory Construction Act when possible. ” Commonwealth v. Sepulveda , 144 A.3d 1270, 1270 n.18 (Pa. 2016) (citing Pa.R.Crim. P. 101(c) ) . U nder the Statutory Construction Act , “ [w]hen the words of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuin g its spirit. ” 1 Pa.C.S. A. § 1921 (a) . “ T his Court is without authority to insert a word into a statutory provision where the legislature has failed to supply it. ” Key Sav. and Loan Ass ’ n v. Louis John, Inc. , 549 A.2d 988, 991 (Pa. Super. 1988) (citing Worley v. Augustine , 456 A.2d 558, 561 (Pa. Super. 1983)) . As set forth above, Rule 706(D) provides a criminal defendant with the opportunity to request a hearing , at which “ the burden shall be on the defendant to prove that his or her financial condition has deteriorated to the extent that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule[.] ” Pa.R.Crim.P. 706(D). When a defendant meets that burden, subsection (D) authorizes the court to “ extend or accelerate the payment schedule o r leave it unaltered [.] ” Pa.R.Crim.P. 706(D) (emphasis added) . Rule 706(D) provides no entitlement to having fines and costs suspended or waived , even after indigent status is recognized. Thus, Ettison asks this Court to insert t he words “ waive ” or “ sus pend ” into Rule 706(D), where the legislature has failed to do so. This we cannot do. See Key Sav. and Loan Ass ’ n , 549 A.2d at 991. As the waiver or suspension of Ettison ’ s financialJ - A17039 - 18

- 9 - obligations is not authorized under Rule 706(D), Ettison ’ s claims challenging the trial court’s failure to suspend or waive his payments lack merit. 3 We also note that, although Ettison questions the protection of his liberty interests should he be unable to pay the new monthly installment amount, 4 p rocedural safeguards remain in place . The United States Supreme Court has m ade it clear that “ a court may not constitutionally imprison someone for nonpayment of court costs and fines alone. Instead, it must be proved that the person ‘ has willfully refused to pay the fine or restitution when he has the means to pay ....’” Commonwealth v. Mauk , 185 A.3d 406, 411 (Pa. Super. 2018) (quoting Bearden , 461 U.S. at 668) . “ Process is due in a ll costs - and - fines proceedings. ” Mauk , 185 A.3d at 411 . In the future, should Ettison fail to meet the new payment schedule, the trial court must conduct a hearing and re nder findings of fact as to Ettison ’ s financial resources. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9730 (stating that imprisonment for nonpayment must be pursuant to law); id. § 9772 (explaining that imprisonment for nonpayment must occur after a hearing and a determination that the defendant ’ s failure to pay was not excusable); Pa.R.Crim.P. 431(C) (1)(d), (C) (3) ( if a defendant is unable to pay, requiring a police officer

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______ 3 Notwithstanding the trial court ’s failure to credit Ettison’s evidence regarding his inability to pay, the court nevertheless reduced Ettison’s monthly financial obligation s . 4 See Brief for Appellant at 41.J - A17039 - 18

- 10 - serving a “ failure to pay ” bench warrant to “ promptly take the defendant for a hearing on the bench warra nt ” before the proper issuing authority) ; see also Commonwealth v. Diaz , 2018 Pa. Super. LEXIS 693 *34 (Pa. Super. filed June 21, 2018) (concluding that, “[b]y imprisoning [the defendant] without the required findings of fact of his financial resources, the court failed to apply the law properly .” ). 5 Thus, Ettison ’ s concern over a future due process violation , and the protection of his liberty interests, is not only premature , it is unwarranted . 6 Consequently, for the additional reasons stated above, we discern no abuse of discretion by the trial court in reducing Ettison ’ s monthly payment obligation, but declining to suspend or waive Ettison ’ s financial obligations . Order affirmed.

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______ 5 Ettison argues in his Supplemental Brief that in Diaz , this Court held that the trial court improperly imposed a $100 per month payment plan on two defendants, because it had failed to make the required findings regarding the defendants’ financial re sources. Supplemental Brief at 1. However, this Court held that imprisoning the defendants, without determining their financial resources, constituted error. See Diaz , supra . 6 In the event that Ettison is unable to meet the new monthly obligation, Rule 706 permits him to seek a further reduction in his payment amounts. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 706(D).J - A17039 - 18

- 11 - Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary Date : 9/20/2018Circulated 08/23/2018 11:41 AM

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### W I L L I AM E T T I S ON S A 9 8 - 2 0 0 6 ; S A 1 3 3 - 2 0 0 9 ; S A 9 8 2 0 1 0 I R U L E 1 9 2 5 ( a) O P IN I O N Th e p r e s e nti n g m att e r i s th e d e n i a l o f Ap p e ll ant ' s P e ti ti o n t o S u s p e n d P aym e nt o f C o s t s b y O rd e r d at e d Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 . Ap p e ll ant fil e d a N o ti c e o fAp p e al o n 

### July 1 9 , 2 0 1 7 an d a C o n c i s e S t at e m e nt o fM att e r s C o mp l ain e d o f o n Ap p e al o n Au gu s t 7 , 2 0 1 7 . Ap p e ll ant cl o ak s h i s a

p p e a l in c o n s ti t

uti o n a l cl o th b y a ll e g i n g a d e n i al o f d u e p ro c e s s an d h i s ri ght t o equ al p ro t e c ti o n . H o w e v e r , th e r e i s n o c o n s ti t ut i o n al b as i s fo r thi s a

p p e al b e c au s e Ap p e ll ant w a s g i v e n d

u e p ro c e s s an d e qu a l p ro t e c ti o n wh e n h e r e c e i v e d an e v i d e nti ary h e ari n g o n hi s P e ti ti o n t o S u s p e n d P aym e nt o f C o s t s . O n th e m e ri t s , th e r e w a s n o t a c re dib l e b a s i s t o gr ant th e r e l i efAp p e ll ant r e qu e s te d . 

### B A C K G R O UN D It i s imp o rt ant t o i d e nti fy wh at thi s c a s e i s n o t ab o ut v e r s u s th e m ann e r in wh i c h i t i s p o rtr ay e d in thi s a

p p e al . Ap p e ll ant h a s b e e n c o nv i c t e d o f v ari o u s c ri m e s i n e v e ry d e c a d e s i n c e th e 1 9 9 0 s . H e h a s b e e n s e nt e n c e d t o p a y re s ti t uti o n , fi n e s an d c o s t s s i n c e 1 9 9 1. . H i s p aym e nt hi st o ry c o n s i st s o f s p o r a d i c , m i ni m al p aym e nt s . Ap p e ll ant h as b e e n in c hr o ni c arr e ar s ; h e s ti ll 

### o w e s r e s ti tuti o n , fi n e s an d c o s t s fro m th e 1 9 9 0 s . Th e p ro c e d

ur a l g e n e s i s o f th i s a

p p e a l i s Ap p e ll ant' s P e ti ti o n t o S u s p e n d P aym e nt o f C o s t s fi l e d o n M ay 1 9 , 2 0 1 7 , s e e ki n g t o s u s p e n d hi s o b li g at i o n t o p ay r e s ti tuti o n , fi n e s an d c o s t s I

### b ased o n hi s all e g ed inab il ity to 

### p ay . An evi d e nti ary h earing w as h e l d o n Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 . Th e

resu lt w as a d et ermi nati o n Ap p e ll ant 

### had th e ab ili ty t o p ay $ 5 0 p er m o nth t o w ard th e $ 1 2 , 8 7 4 . 2 8 h e o w ed t o vi ctims , et c . o n num ero us dock et s . Thi s a p p eal fo ll o w ed . AP P E LLAN T ' S C O N S TITU TI ONAL RI G HT S 

### Ap p e ll ant ' s co n sti tuti o nal l o gi c i s co nt o rt ed . Ap pe ll ant c lai m s hi s ri ght to d u e p ro ce s s an d 

### equal p ro t ecti o n w er e vi o lat ed wh e n i t 

### was fo un d h e h ad th e ab ili ty t o p ay $ 5 0 m o nthly to ward resti tuti o n, fin e s an d co sts o w ed s in ce 1 9 9 1 . H o w ev er , Appe ll ant ' s d ue process an d equal pro tecti o n ri ght s w ere ful ly h o n o r ed wh e n h e wa s gi v en an e vi d e ntiary h earin g o n hi s P eti ti o n t o S us p en d P aym e nt . Ap p e ll ant ' s re l ian c e o n 

### B earde n v. Ge o r gia, 46 1 U . S . 6 60 (1 9 8 3 ) i s mi s p l aced . 

### In B e arden, th e i s sue 

### was "wh eth er th e F o urt eenth Am endm ent p ro hib i t s a S tate fro m r ev o kin g an in di gent d ef

en dant ' s p ro bati o n fo r fai lur e to p ay a fin e an d r e stituti o n . " 

### B e arde n , p . 

### 6 61. Th e Unit ed S tat es S u

p rem e C o urt ul timat e ly h e l d " . . . th e tri al co urt err ed in aut o mati cal ly re v o king p ro b ati o n b e cau se peti ti o n er co ul d n o t p ay hi s tin e , wi th o ut d et erminin g 

### that p eti ti o n er 

### had n o t mad e suffi c i ent b o na fi d e e ff o rt s t o p ay o r 

### that adequat e al ternati v e f o rms o f p uni s hm ent di d n ot exi st . " 

### I d , p : 6 6 2 . B e arde n i s p remi sed o n th e fai lur e o f th e g o v ernm e nt to aff

o rd a d e f en dant a h earin g o n th e ab ili ty t o p ay p ri o r to revo king p ro b ati o n . Thi s i s su e d o es n o t exi st h er e in b ec au se th e g o v ernm e nt w as n o t aut o mati cally r ev o king Ap pe ll ant ' s p ro b ati o n fo r fai lure to p ay co urt o rd er ed r estituti o n, fin es an d co sts . In 

### fa ct, th e g o v ernm ent 

### was n ot see kin g any san cti o n again st App e ll ant. B y co ntrast , Ap p e ll ant i s th e m o vin g p arty wh o 

### seeks re li e f fro m hi s l o ngtim e o b li gati o ns . B e cau se Ap p e ll ant 

### was gi v e n a full evi d entiary h earin g o n hi s P eti ti o n t o S u s p en d, 

### B e arden d efeat s Ap pe ll ant ' s co nsti tuti o nal argum ent . 2

### Ap pe ll ant ' s rel i an c e o n 

### C o m m o nw e a lth ex re l. Parris h v. Cliff, 3 04 A 2 d 1 5 8 (P a . 1 9 7 3 ) i s al so unju stifi e d . In 

## Parrish. i t w as th e p o li c y o f th e L an ca st er C o unty Court o f C o mm o n P l eas to 

### in carcerate a def

endant wh o fail ed t o p ay t o w ard fin es and co st s . F o ur inmate s o f th e co unty pri so n 

### fil ed a 

### Writ o fHab eas C o rp u s . Ultimately th e P e nnsy lv ani a S u p rem e C o urt h e l d a d e f

en d ant co ul d n o t b e in carcerat ed 

### fo r a fai lure to 

### p ay with o ut first 

### pro vi ding th e d ef en dant a h earing 

### t o d etermin e wh eth er in di g en ce w as th e cause 

### o f th e n o n - paym ent . Th e 

### Parri s h facts are n ot ap p li cab l e t o Ap pe ll ant ' s case . H e w as n o t in carc erat ed wi th o ut a h earin g p ursuant to 

### a co untywi d e p o li cy . T o th e co ntrary App e ll ant ' s l ib erty int er est s w er e n o t at i s su e as it 

### w as s imp ly a h earing o n Ap p e ll ant ' s P eti ti o n to 

### S u s pen d hi s o b li gati o n t o pay . T h e r esult o f Appe llant ' s h earing w as n ot hi s in carcerati o n, inst ead 

### it 

### w a s a mini m al p aym ent p lan b a sed o n hi s ab ili ty to 

### pay . Th e co nstituti o nal co ncerns o f the 

### B e arde n an d 

### Parri s h co urt s w ere addres sed 

### in P enns y lv ania b y P a. R. 

### C rim. P . 7 0 6 , 

### whi c h, in 

### re l evant part, 

### pro vi d e s : In cas e s in 

### whi c h th e co urt has 

### o rdered p aym ent o f a fin e o r co sts in installm e nts, th e d e fen d ant may requ e st a reh earing 

### o n th e p aym e nt sc h ed ul e wh e n th e d e fen dant i s in d e f

ault o f a paym ent o r when 

### th e d e f endant a dvi s es th e co urt that 

### su c h d e fiwlt i s imm in e nt . At 

### su c h h earing, the burd en 

### shall be 

### o n th e d efen dant to pro ve 

### that hi s o r he r finan c i al co n di ti o n has 

### d eteri o rat ed to 

### th e ext ent that th e d ef endant i s wi th o ut th e m ean s to 

### m eet th e paym e nt sc hed ul e . Th ereu

p o n th e co urt may ext en d o r acce l erat e th e p aym ent sc h ed ul e o r l eav e i t unalt ered, 

### as th e co urt fin d s to 

### b e just 

### an d p racti cab l e und er th e circumstan ce s o f r eco rd . Wh en th ere ha s b een d efau l t an d th e co urt fin d s th e d ef en dant is 

### n o t in di g ent, th e co urt may imp o se imp ri so nm ent as p ro vi d ed b y l aw fo r n o np aym ent. P a. R. 

### C rim . P . 7 06(0 ) . C o nsi st ent 

### with P a. R. 

### C rim . P . 7 06 , an evi d e nti ary h earing w as h e l d o n Ap pe ll ant ' s P eti ti o n t o S us p e nd P aym e nt o f Co sts . Ap pe ll ant was gi v e n du e p rocess an d ha s n o equal prot ecti o n c l ai m . That 

### Ap p e ll ant di d no t sati sfy hi s b urd en o f pro vin g a b as i s to 

### sus p e n d hi s p aym e nt s d oes n ot giv e ri se t o a co nsti tuti o nal vi o l ati o n . 3AP P E L L AN T ' S FINAN C IAL RE S P O N S I B IL IT IE S

Ap p e ll ant ' s l e n gthy c ri mi n al hi s t o ry n e e d s r e vi e w e d to e stab li s h th e b as i s fo r hi s l e g al re s po ns ib ili ti e s an d p aym e nt hi s t o ry . Th e fo ll o win g i s a c hro n o l o g i c al li stin g o f th e a c tual o p e n c as e s in whi c h Ap p e ll ant w o ul d h av e b e e n e nti tl e d t o th e r e li e f h e s o u ght. S e e C o u rt Exh i b i t A , a tta c h e d h e re to a n d in c o r p o ra te d h e re in . At D o c ke t Numbe r 2 0 7 8 o f 1 9 9 1 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nvi c t ed o f s imp l e as s aul t , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 2 7 0 1 ( a) . H e w as o rd e r e d t o p ay r e sti tuti o n an d c o s t s in th e am o unt o f $ 4 , 0 2 0 . 9 1. As o f th e tim e o fth e Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 e vi d e nti ary h e arin g , Ap p e ll ant o w e d a t o tal b al an c e o f $ 2 , 7 3 8 . 5 6 , whi c h in c lu d e d a r e s ti tuti o n b al an c e o f $ 2 , 3 2 7 . 0 6 t o hi s as s aul t vi c ti m . Th e date o f th e as saul t w a s Au gus t 2 6 , 1 9 9 1 . At D o c k e t Numb e r 2 5 2 8 o f 1 9 9 1 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nv i c t e d o f c ri minal c o ns p irac y , b urgl ary , th e ft b y unl awful takin g , an d re c e i v in g s t o l e n p ro p e rty . 1 H e w as o rd e r ed t o p ay re s ti tuti o n an d c o s ts in th e am o unt o f $ 444 . 0 0 . A s o f th e Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 h e arin g , h e s til l o w e d $4 1 2 . 5 0 . At D o c k e t Numb er 1 5 8 8 o f 1 9 9 3 , Ap p e ll ant p i e d gui l ty t o an am e n d e d c h arg e o f di s o rd e rly c o n d

u c t, a v i o l ati o n o f rul e s r e g ardin g c o n d u c t o n C o mm o nw e al th p ro p e rty , an d d epo s i tin g was t e o n a hi ghw ay .' Hi s as se s s m e nts t o tal e d $ 6 0 7 . 0 0 . Ap p e ll ant s ti ll o w e s $ 5 3 5 . 5 0 . At D o c ke t Numb e r 2 6 8 2 o f 1 9 9 3 , Ap p e ll ant w as c harg e d wi th s imp l e as s aul t, 1 8 P a C . S . A. 

### § 2 7 0 1 ( a) . H e p i e d gu il ty t o th e c h arg e a s h aras s m e nt, 1 8 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 2 7 0 9 ( a) . H e w as o rd e r ed t o p ay r e sti tuti o n an d c o sts in th e am o unt o f $ 1 7 3 . 0 0 . H e d o e s n o t o w e anythin g at thi s d o c ke t.

1 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 9 0 3 ( aX 1 ) ; 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 3 5 0 2 ( a) ; 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 3 9 2 1 ( a) ; an d 1 8 P a. C . S . A . § 3 9 2 5 ( a) , res p e c ti v e ly . 2 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 5 5 0 3 ( aX 1 } ; 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 7 5 0 6 (b ) ; an d 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 7 0 9 ( a } , re s p e c ti v e ly . 4At D o c k e t Numb e r 7 2 o f 1 9 9 5 , Ap pe ll ant p i e d gui l ty t o s imp l e as s aul t, 1 8 P a . C . S . A. §

2 7 0 l ( a) . H e w as o rd e r ed t o p ay c o st s th at t o tal e d $ 4 1 8 . 8 0 . H e still o w e s $ 3 8 7 .3 0 . At D o c k e t Numb e r 6 8 7 o f 1 9 9 5 , Ap p e ll ant p i e d guil ty t o c ri minal m i s c hi e f , th e ft b y unl awful takin g , th e ft b y re ce i vin g s t o l e n p ro p e rty , an d c rimi nal c o ns p ira c y . 3 H e w as o rd e r ed t o p ay re sti tuti o n an d c o s ts in th e am o unt o f $ 2 8 5 . 9 5 . H e o w e s $ 2 5 4 .4 5 . At D o c k e t Numb e r 1 2 2 3 o f 1 9 9 5 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nvi c t e d o f s imp l e as s aul t , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 2 7 0 l ( a) . H e w a s o rd e re d t o p ay r e s ti tuti o n an d co s ts 

### in th e am o unt o f $ 4 7 2 . 7 5 . H e o w e s $ 13 0 . 5 6 . At D o c k e t Numb e r 6 6 8 o f 1 9 9 6 , Ap p e ll ant was c o nvi c t e d o f t e rro ri s ti c threats , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 2 7 0 6 , an d di so rd e rly co n d u c t, 1 8 P a C . S . A . § 5 5 0 3 ( a) ( l ) . H e w as o rd e r ed t o p ay c o sts in th e am o unt o f $ 8 1 0 .4 0 . H e o w e s $ 7 7 8 . 9 0 . At D o c k e t Numb e r 9 8 o f 2 0 0 6 , Ap p e ll ant was fo un d guil ty aft er a s ummary a p p e al h e arin g o f o p e r atin g a v e hi c l e whi l e r e g i s trati o n w as s u sp e n d e d, 7 5 P a C . S . A . § 13 7 l ( a) . H e w as o rd e re d t o p ay c o st s th at t o tal e d $ 5 6 1. 5 0 . H e o w e s $ 4 7 1. 5 0 . At D o c ke t Numb e r 13 3 o f 2 0 0 9 , Ap pe ll ant w as fo un d gui l ty aft e r a s ummary a p p e al h earin g o f c ar e l e s s dri v i n g , 7 5 P a C . S . A . § 3 7 1 4( a) . H e w as o rd e r e d to p ay fin e s an d c o s ts t o tal in g $ 4 0 9 . 5 0 . H e o w e s $ 3 9 9 . 5 0 . At D o c ke t Numbe r 9 8 o f 2 0 1 0 , Ap p e ll ant w as fo un d gui l ty aft er a s ummary a pp e al h e arin g o f c ar e l e s s dri v in g , ill e g al ra c in g , an d imp ro p e r li c e n se fo r th e v e hi c l e c l as s . H e w as o rd e re d t o p ay fi n e s an d c o s ts t o tal in g $ 5 8 3 . 0 0 . H e o w e s $ 5 1 9 . 5 0 . 4

3 1 8 P a . C . S . A. § 3 3 04( a) ; 1 8 P a. C . S . A. § 3 9 2 l ( a) ; 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 3 9 2 5 ( a) ; an d 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 9 0 3 ( a) ( l ) , r es p e c ti v e l y . 4 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 71 4 ( a) ; 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 3 6 7 ( a) ; 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 1 5 0 4 ( c ) 5At D o c k e t Numb e r 8 6 5 o f 2 0 1 0 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nv i c t e d o f fl e e in g o r att e mp tin g t o

e lu d e a p o li c e o ffi c e r , re c kl e s s dri vin g , di s o b e yin g d uti e s at a st o p s i gn , fo rg ed ti tl e re g i strati o n , p o s se s s i o n o f co ntro ll ed s ub s tan c e , p o s s e s s i o n o f m ari j uana, an d p o s s e s s i o n o f dru g p ara p h e rnal i a . 5 H e w as o rd e re d t o p ay fi n e s an d c o st s t o tal in g $ 1 , 9 8 3 . 2 5 . H e o w e s $ 1 , 9 3 2 .4 7 . At D o c ke t Numb e r 1 7 0 7 o f 2 0 1 0 , Ap p e ll ant p i e d gui l ty t o di s o rd e rly c o n d u c t, 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 5 5 0 3 ( a) ( 4 ) , an d re c kl e s s dri vin g , 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 7 3 6 . Hi s fin e s an d c o s ts are $ 6 8 8 . 5 0 . H e o w e s $ 6 2 8 . 5 0 . At D o c ke t Numb e r 1 7 0 9 o f 2 0 1 0 , Ap p e ll ant p i e d gui l ty t o p ub li c drunk e nn e s s , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 5 5 0 5 . Hi s fin e s an d c o s ts w e r e $ 5 3 9 . 7 5 . H e o w e s $ 4 5 6 . 2 5 . At D o c ke t Numbe r 7 1 2 o f 2 0 1 5 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nvi c t e d o f v i o l ati o n o f a P F A o rd e r , 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 6 11 3 . H i s as s e s s m e nt s t o tal e d $ 6 8 2 .1 5 . H e has n o t p ai d anythi n g i n thi s c as e . At D o c ke t Numb e r 2 4 o f 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nv i c t e d o f vi o l ati o n o f a P F A o rd e r , 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 6 1 1 3 . H i s a s s e s s m e nt s ar e $ 4 6 6 . 0 0 , n o n e o f whi c h h as b e e n p ai d . At D o c k e t Numb e r 1 1 2 o f 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nvi c t e d o f h ar as s m e nt , 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 2 7 0 9 ( a) ( l ) . H e w as o rd e re d t o p ay c o s ts in th e am o unt o f $ 5 1 5 .1 4 . H e o w e s $ 4 5 5 .1 4 At D o c ke t Numbe r 1 1 3 o f 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll ant w as c o nvi c t e d o f v i o l ati o n o f a P F A o rd e r , 2 3 P a . C . S . A . § 6 1 1 3 . H e w as o rd e re d t o p ay $ 4 6 6 . 0 0 , al l o f whi c h re m ai n s unp ai d . At D o c k e t Numb e r 9 9 3 o f 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll ant p i e d guil ty t o an am e n d e d c o unt o f di s o rd e rly co n d u c t, 1 8 P a . C . S . A . § 5 5 0 3 ( a) ( 4 ) , an d al l o th e r c harg e s w e re n o llep ro ss e d . H e o w e s $ 1 , 1 5 9 . 5 0 ( aft e r re c e i vi n g an a d

j u s tm e nt o f

$ 4 0 0 ) . A s o f th e dat e o f th e Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 h e arin g , Ap p e ll ant ' s a ggr e g at e arr e ar s datin g b a c k t o hi s 1 9 9 1 d o c k e t t o tal e d $ 1 2 , 8 7 4 . 2 8 .

5 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 7 3 3 ( a) ; 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 7 3 6 ( a) ; 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 3 3 2 3 (b ) ; 7 5 P a . C . S . A . § 71 2 2 ( 1 ) ; 3 5 P a . C . S . A. § 7 8 0 - 1 1 3 ( aX 1 6 ) ; 3 5 P a . C . S . A . § 7 8 0 - l 1 3 ( a) ( 3 1 ) ; an d 3 5 P a . C . S . A . § 7 8 0 - 1 1 3 ( a) ( 3 2 ) , re s pec ti v e ly . 6Ap pe ll ant d o e s n o t co nt e s t th e v ali di ty o r c al c ul ati o n o f hi s arr e ar s . S in ce 1 9 9 1 , Ap pe ll ant ' s p aym e nt hi s t o ry . 

### has be e n in c o n s i s te nt an d m i ni m al . Am o n g Ap p e l l ant ' s 1 9 c as e s , o nl y o n e c as e , D o c k e t Numb er 2 6 8 2 o f 1 9 8 3 , 

### has b ee n p ai d 

### in ful l ( t o tal w as $ 1 7 3 ) . In thr e e c as e s , Ap p e ll ant ha s p ai d n o thin g . 6 Th e r e m ai ni n g 1 5 a c ti v e c as e s s h o w a t o k e n p aym e nt hi s t o ry s i n ce 1 9 9 1 . Th e p i c tur e p r e s e nte d i s th at Ap p e ll ant c o nti nual ly v i o l at e s th e l aw wi th o ut any int e nti o n o f p ayin g th e fi n an c i al c o n s equ e n ce s . Ap p e ll ant w as 4 6 y e ar s o l d at th e Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 h earin g . Th e o rd e r o n a p peal r e quir e s him t o p ay $ 5 0 m o nthly o n hi s arr e ar s o f $ 1 2 , 8 7 4 . 2 8 . As s umi n g Ap pe ll ant p ay s $ 5 0 m o nthly , i t w o ul d tak e hi m n e arly 2 1 . 5 y e ar s t o sati s fy hi s l e g al r e sp o n s ib ili ti e s . H e n ce Ap p e ll ant c ann o t in g o o d f ai th c o nte n d th e O rd e r i s unr e a s o n ab l e .

AP P E L L AN T ' S RE Q U E S T T O S U S P END Ap p e ll ant bo r e th e b urd en o f p ro o f in s u p p o rt o f hi s P e ti ti o n t o S u s p e n d . 

### Pa .R . C rim . P. 7 0 6 ( D ) . At th e Jun e 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 e vi d e nti ary h e arin g , App e ll ant t e sti fi ed as d i d hi s c h i ro p r ac t o r . D r . Lu p o , Ap p e ll ant ' s c hiro p r a c t o r , p ro ff er e d th e o p ini o n th at App e ll ant w as " ful l y di s ab l ed . " Thi s c o n c lus i o n w as n o t s u p p o rtab l e fo r at l e as t th e fo ll o win g r eas o n s . D r . Lu p o fi r s t s aw Ap p e ll ant as a p ati e nt o n July 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 , fo ll o win g a tw o - car aut o m o b il e ac c i d e nt inv o l vin g Ap p e ll ant o n Jun e 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 . P ri o r t o thi s a c c i d ent, Ap p e ll ant 

### had b ac k p ai n fro m an uns pe c i fi ed b a c k c o n di ti o n . D es p i t e th e b a c k p ain , Ap p e ll ant t e sti fi e d h e ha d a s t eady w o rk hi s t o ry p ri o r t o th e Jun e 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 aut o a c c i d e nt. Ap p e ll ant c l aim s t o h av e re c e i v e d a n e c k i n j ury 

### in th e aut o a c c i d e nt. D urin g hi s 

### first vi s i t wi th D r . Lu p o o n Ju ly 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 , Ap pe ll ant c o mp l ain e d o fn e c k, arm an d ba c k pain . B as e d s o l e l y o n th e i nf o rm ati o n p r o v i de d b y Ap p e ll ant, D r . Lup o admi tt ed h e " di d 6 D o c k e t# 7 1 2 o f

2 00 3 ; D oc k e t# 2 4 o f

2 0 1 6 ; an d D o c k e t# 1 1 3 o f2 0 1 6 .

7

### diagn o se hi m wi th n ec k an d arm p ain th e v ery fi rst day 

### that h e walked in. " 

### E videntiary H

e aring, J une 2 2, 2 0 1 7

, p . 2 0 

### (he re afte r H. T.

) . Dr . Lu po e l abo rat ed "My o p ini o n 

### was that h e w as n o t ab l e t o return 

### to wo rk o n July 2 0 , 2 0 1 6 . . . " H . T. p . 1 5. 

### H en ce , Dr . 

### Lu

p o ' s imm e diat e diagn o s i s 

### was ba sed o n Ap p e ll ant ' s sub

j ecti v e co mp l aint s o f

pai n . Thi s ru s h ed di a gn o s is w a s n o t th e re su l t o f any o b j ecti v e m edi cal t e sting . Thi s i s n o t a criti c i s m o f Dr . 

### Lu p o , but a c hiro p ract o r re li e s l arg e ly o n th e se lf - rep o rt ed hi st o ry an d re s p o ns e s o f th e p ati e nt . T h ere w as o nly o n e o b j ecti v e m edi cal t e st perf

o rm ed o n Ap p e ll ant, whi c h w as an MRI exam b y a p ain spec i al i st, 

### Dr . J o sep h Th o mas . A cc o rding t o th e D ece mb er , 2 0 1 6 r eco rds fro m D r . Th o mas, th e MRI s h o w ed th ere w ere co mp re s s i o ns in th e cervi cal an d lumb ar ar eas o f App e ll ant ' s s p in e that co ul d 

### be th e c au se o f Ap pe ll ant ' s n e c k an d b ac k p ain . Thi s C o urt a ccept s Dr . 

### Th o ma s ' s int erp retati o n o fth e MRI as m edi cal evi d e n ce o f co mp re ss i o ns in th ese tw o ar eas o f

th e s p in e . H o w ev er , Ap p e ll ant ' s MRI cann o t estab li s h wh e n th e co mp res s i o ns o ccurred o r what caus ed th e m . Ap p e ll ant h as a l o ng hi st o ry o f a ss au l ti v e b e h avi o r , whi c h w as n o t rul ed o ut as th e cau se o f hi s co mp r ess i o ns . If 

### in f

act th e co mp re s s i o ns t o hi s n ec k e xi st ed p ri o r to th e Jun e aut o acci d e nt, Ap pe ll ant has 

### no b as i s t o c lai m th e acci d ent caused 

### any di s ab ili ty . S ep arat ely , an MRI al o n e cann o t sup po rt a fin din g Ap pe ll ant w as " fully di sab l ed . " An 

### MRI can i d e ntify a p o ss ib l e so urce o f p ain . H o w e v er , an MRI d oe s n o t m easure , n o r i s th er e any o b j e cti v e m edi c al w ay t o m ea sure, th e actual l e v e l o fa p er s o n ' s p ain. T h e o nly kn o wn m eas ure m e nt o f p ai n i s th e se l f -r epo rt o f a p ati ent o n a scal e o f 1 t o S 

### o r 1 t o 1 0 . Thi s i s an entire ly su b j e cti v e res p o n se b ased o n a pati e nt ' s t o l eran ce o f pain and 

### h o n e sty in rep o rting . D r . Lu po co n ced ed th e su

b j ecti v e natur e o f m easurin g Ap p e ll ant ' s p ain : THE C O URT : O kay . N o w , th e s ymp t o mat o l o gy o f what h e ' s exp eri e n c in g in t erms o f th e p ain l e v e l s - an d y o u re f er en c e it 

### in y o ur Ap ri l r epo rt o f th e l e v e l s o f 8

### p ain, that ' s a rating 

### that th e pati e nt gi v e s t o y o u, typ i cal ly o n a scal e o f ten, 

### am I 

### co rr ect ? D R. LUP O : That 

### i s co rrect . THE C O URT : An d if 

### I' m l o o king at th e fir st p aragra p h o fy o ur Ap ri l 1 2 th 

### l ett er, in 

### l arg e p art that i s b ased o n inf o rmati o n that h e ' s p ro vi ding t o y o u, co rr ect ?' ' D R. LUP O : That i s co rrect . THE C O URT : That ' s n ot based o n any o b j ecti v e m edi cal fin din g, co rrect ? D R. LUP O : C o rr ect . 

### H T. p . 3 7 . The 

### v ali dity o f

Dr . Lu p o ' s o p ini o n r est ed l arg e ly o n th e v e rac i ty o f th e inf o rmati o n Ap p e ll ant p ro vi d ed, with o ut any o b

j ecti v e m edi c al w ay t o co rro b o rat e Ap p e ll ant ' s sub j ecti v e res p o n s es . F o r r easo ns di s cu s sed in d et ail l at er , Ap p e ll ant wa s n o t a credib l e witn e ss . It 

### fo ll o ws that Ap p e ll ant w as n o t a credib l e s o urce fo r th e info rmati o n h e p ro vi d ed to 

### Dr . Lu po . H en ce , th e resul tin g di agn o s i s b y D r . Lu po rest s o n unre li ab l e gro un d . 

### Dr . Lu po ' s o pini o n was 

### unp ersuas i v e f o r sev eral ad di ti o nal reaso ns . Dr . Lu p o wa s ins i st e nt fro m hi s fir st m eeting wi th Ap pe ll ant o n July 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 

### that Ap pe ll ant w as " fully di s ab l ed " fro m al l fo rm s o f e mp l o ym e nt. 

### Dr . Lu po ' s ru s h t o ju dgm e nt was 

### furth er limi t ed b y hi s co n c lu s i o n Ap p e ll ant 

### was unab l e t o return to 

### hi s j o b a s a m eat cutt er wi th S peci al ty S t eaks . Ho w e v er , th e in quiry in thi s case i s n o t wh eth er Ap pe ll ant can p erf o rm a p ri o rj o b . Inst ea d, th e qu e sti o n i s wh eth er Ap pe ll ant has 

### th e ab il ity t o p ay a mini m al am o unt t o w ard th e l eg al o b li g ati o ns ari s in g fro m hi s cri min al co nvi cti o ns . In exp li cab ly , 

### Dr . Lu

po di d n o t gi v e any co ns i derati o n to 

### wh eth er Appe ll ant 

### was ca p ab l e o f p e rf o rmin g p art - tim e an d/o r l i ght d uty w o rk : THE C O URT : O kay . W e ll , l et m e ask 

### yo u thi s b ecause th e i s su e in thi s case , Dr . Lu p o , i s n ot wh eth er h e can return to 

### hi s w ork as a m eat cutt er , but th e is su e i s 9wh e th e r h e h as th e ab ili ty t o m ak e th e p aym e nt p l an th at w as p ro ff er e d in thi s cas e . At o n e p o i nt i t w as $ 7 5 a m o nth , th e n i t w a s d o wn t o $ 2 5 a m o nth . S o i s i t y o ur o p i ni o n t o a re as o n ab l e d e gre e o f m e di c al c e rta inty th at h e ' s i n c a p ab l e o f any fo rm o f e mp l o ym e nt , e i th e r as li ght d uty o r as a dri v e r o f a v e hi c l e o fp ayin g th e $ 2 5 o r $ 7 5 a m o nth th at w as in p l ac e at th e tim e h e fi l e d thi s p e ti ti o n ? D R. LUP O : I d o n ' t r e al ly kn o w h o w t o an s w e r that b e c aus e my j o b as hi s d o ct o r i s t o tr e at an d i f y o u w e r e t o b rin g m e a j o b o f 

### ' 'x " an d I w o ul d h av e t o e v alu at e e a c h j o b . Y o u kn o w , wh at h e o w e s th e C o urt o r wh at h e d o e s n ' t , I kn o w th at thi s i s wh at thi s i s ab o ut , b ut i f y o u w e r e t o b rin g a j o b d e s c rip ti o n an d say , y o u kn o w , h e re ' s a j o b d e s c rip ti o n o f s o m e thin g th at h e ' s g o in g t o d o at D e l ta S o ni c , an d I w o ul d l o o k at th at an d I c o ul d te ll y o u fro m my o p ini o n an d wh at h e h as g o in g o n i f h e i s o k ay to d o th at o r n o t. THE C O URT : W e ll , I' m s ur e - - D R. LU P O : I c an t e ll y o u fro m th e S p e c i al ty M e ats , h e c ann o t d o that c urr e ntly , y o u kn o w , an d s o - - THE C O URT : I un d e r s tan d th at p o int , D o c t o r , b ut my qu e sti o n i n thi s , an d I' m s ur e in y o ur fi e l d an d y o u ' v e b e e n in thi s b u sin e s s fo r a l o n g ti m e in y o ur fi e l d , an d I r e s p e c t y o ur o p ini o n h e re , an d I' m s ur e th at y o u ' re f am ili ar wi th th e c o n cep t o fli ght - d uty w o rk , c o rr e c t ? D R. LUP O : Ab s o lut e ly . THE C O URT : An d li ght - d uty w o rk w o ul d a d dr e s s c o n c e rn s that p e o p l e hav e e i th e r c e rv i c al ly an d/ o r wi th th e ir lumb ar c o n di ti o n, c o rre c t ? D R. LUP O : Th at i s c o rr ec t. THE C O URT : An d s o th e re ar e li ght - d uty tas ks th at y o u c an d o an d e mp l o ym ent th at w o ul dn ' t b e c utt in g m e at, b ut i t c o u l d be dri vin g a car as y o u ' v e i n di c ate d th at y o u b e li e v e th at h e d o e s . 

### H. T . pp . 

### 3 9 - 4 1 D r . Lu p o ' s fo c u s w a s n o t o n th e re l e v ant i s s u e in thi s c as e . D r . Lu p o n e v e r di s c u s s e d wi th Ap pe ll ant n o r c o ns i d e re d th e p o s s ib ili ty o fp art - tim e o r li ght - d uty w o rk b e fo re r en d e rin g an o p ini o n th at Ap p e ll ant w as " ful ly di s ab l ed " . D r . Lu p o c o n c e d e d , as h e mu st, i t i s po s s ib l e that Ap p e ll ant c o ul d pe rf

o rm p art - tim e o r li ght d

uty w o rk, e s p e c i al ly s in c e h e s ti ll dri v e s an aut o m o b il e .

10D r . Lu p o ' s o p ini o n i s al s o aff

ec t e d b y hi s e co n o mi c i nt e re st i n th e o utc o m e o f Ap pe ll ant ' s cas e s . T o hi s c r e di t , D r . Lu p o has n o t c h arg e d Ap p e ll ant fo r a v ari e ty o f tr e atm e nts an d se rvi c e s . D r . Lu p o h o p e s t o b e p ai d b as e d o n a d e t e rminati o n th at Ap p e ll ant i s di s ab l ed an d r e ce i v e s m o n e y in a p e rs o nal i n

j ury c as e . 

### H

T. p p . 2 9 - 3 0. Th e se c ir c um stan c e s inh e r e ntly c as t a cl o u d o f fi n an c i al b i as o v e r D r . Lu

p o ' s t e s tim o ny . L ast ly , Ap p e ll ant ' s t e s ti m o ny w as n o t c r e d ib l e n o r w as th e in fo rm ati o n h e r ep o rt e d t o D r . Lu p o re li ab l e . Ap p e ll ant has a l o n g hi s to ry o f av o i din g p aym e nt o n hi s o b li g ati o ns at th e se 1 9 di ff ere nt c as e s d ati n g b ac k t o 1 9 9 1. N o tab ly , h e sti ll o w e s r e s ti tuti o n t o hi s v i c ti m fro m a 1 9 9 1 as s aul t. H i s p aym e nt hi s t o ry d o e s n o t d e m o nstr at e any int e nt t o m ak e hi s v i c tim s wh o l e o r t o sati s fy hi s l e g al o b li g ati o ns . Th e $ 5 0 m o nthly p aym e nt o rd e re d h e r e in p ro vi d e s Ap p e ll ant o v e r 2 futur e d e c ad e s , in a d di ti o n t o th e 2 5 y e ar s h e h as h ad , t o p ay hi s l e g al r e s p o ns ib ili ti e s . Ap pe ll ant h as co nv i c ti o ns fo r c rim e n f al s i , whi c h g i v e n th e numb e r , di v e rs i ty , an d ti min g o f th e m , r e n d e r Ap p e ll ant ' s t e stim o ny an d th e s ub j e c ti v e r e s p o n s e s h e g av e t o D r . Lu p o unb e li e v ab l e . Ap p e ll ant ' s i nt e nt t o av o i d hi s l e g al re s p o ns ib ili ti e s i s r e a di l y a p p are nt in hi s f

ai lure t o e v e n c o n s i d er , l e t al o n e p ur s u e , o th e r fo rm s o f e mp l o ym e nt. Wh e n as k e d b y hi s l awy e r wh e th e r h e h a d se arc h e d fo r any fo rm o f e mp l o ym e nt s in ce th e aut o a cc i d e nt o n Jun e 13 , 2 0 1 6 , Ap p e ll ant r ep li e d :

" I th o u ght ab o ut i t , b ut aft e r , y o u kn o w , f e e l in g th e p ain that I w as fe e li n g an d tin g li n g s e n sati o n s in my l e ft han d , b e cau s e I' m l e ft - han d e d, I' m l ik e , wh at j o b i s th e r e fo r m e re al ly t o d o . " 

### H T. p .4 8. Ap p e ll ant w as as k ed th e sam e qu e sti o n b y hi s l awy e r o n r e - dire c t :

" A . Unl e s s a mi r a c l e h a

p p e n s o r unl e s s I h av e s urg e ry , I d o n ' t kn o w i f a j o b i s th e re b e c au s e I d o n ' t kn o w . Q . H av e y o u m a d e e ff

o rts t o i d e nti fy o th e r w o rk ?

11

### A Tho u ght about trying 

### t o do - 

### I th o u ght abo ut do ing 

### so m e l an d sca p in g, but that r equires a l o t, b ut that r equires a l o t. " H. T. , p . 64 . 

### Ap p e ll ant has n o t se ri o u s ly th o ught abo ut o r mad e any e ffo rt to 

### inv e sti g at e any f o rm o f vi ab l e e mp l o ym ent h e co ul d p erf o rm, ev e n o n 

### a p art - tim e ba s i s , to 

### sati s fy hi s $ 5 0 

### mini mum o b li gati o n . 

### In addi ti o n, h e nev er w ent to 

### th e Offi ce o f V

### ocati o nal Re hab il itati o n t o exp l o re any re so urce s f

o r emp l o ym ent, j o b trainin g o r ed ucati o n . 

### H . T. , p . 

### 68 . Ap pe ll ant ' s credib ili ty wa s al so e vi s cerat ed b y 

### hi s co ntr a di ct o ry t e stimo ny . A gl arin g examp l e w as wh e n Ap pe ll ant t estifi ed th e first tim e in 

### 2 0 1 6 that h e fai l ed t o m eet hi s min i mum paym e nt was aft er hi s Jun e 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 aut o acci d e nt . H. T. , p . 6 2 . 

### This t estim o ny 

### was c l e arly f al s e b ec au se App el l ant f

ai l ed t o make any p aym e nt s 

### in 2 0 1 6 p ri o r to 

### hi s Jun e a cci d e nt . As 

### p art o f this 

### sam e fab ri cati o n, Ap pe ll ant originally want ed thi s C o urt to 

### b e li e v e h e b e g an w o rking at S pec ialty S t eaks in 

### J anuary , 2 0 1 6 an d w o rk ed th er e co ntinu o u s ly unti l hi s Jun e , 2 0 1 6 acc i d e nt . H o we v er , wh e n qu e sti o n ed why h e mad e n o p aym e nt s fro m J anu ary t o June, 2 0 1 6 durin g a ti m e h e 

### w as p urp o rt edly w o rki ng ful l - tim e at S pec i al ty S t eaks, Ap pe ll ant ab ru ptly c hang ed hi s t estim o ny : 

### THE C O URT : O kay . 

### An d th e s e j o b s , w ere th e y full - tim e ? MR. 

### E TII S ON : Y es . 

### THE C O URT : So y o u start 

### in 

### J anu ary o f 2 0 1 6 wi th 

### S pec i al ty S t eak ? MR. 

### E TTI S ON : 

### C o rrect . 

### THE C O URT : O kay . S o a cco rdin g t o th e reco rds 

### h ere o f y o ur p aym e nt 

### summ ary , 

### u

p until th e tim e o f y o ur acci d e nt 

### fro m J anuary o f 2 0 1 6 t o y o ur acci d ent in th e mi d dl e o f Jun e o f 

### 2 0 1 6 , th ere ar e n o paym e nt s ; why w o u l d th at b e ? :Mil 

### E TTI S ON : I was in c arcer ated . 1 2

### H. T. , pp . 

### 6 5 -6 6 .

Q . 

### O kay . Y o u sai d y o u w er e in carcerat ed ? 

### A Y es . Q . 

### S tartin g in J anu ary until Jun e o f 2 0 1 6 ? 

### A N o . Q . 

### So m eti m e in th ere ? 

### A N o , 

### I w ent to 

### j ai l - - 

### I w ent to 

### j ail D e cemb er 1 3 th o f - Dece mb er 1 3 th o f

2 0 1 5 . Q . 

### O kay . Wh e n di d y o u g et o ut ? 

### A I g ot o ut in 2 0 1 6 , Ap ril, 

### I be li ev e , May . Q . 

### H o w di d y o u start 

### wo rkin g at 

### th e S teaks 

### p la ce in J anuary 

### if y o u w e re in carcerat ed ? 

### A I g ot out - - 

### l et ' s 

### see . I w ent to 

### j ai l o n th e 1 5 th , an d 

### I g ot o ut - - 

### I start ed S pec ialty S t eak in J anuary . I 

### can cal l - - Q . 

### W e ll, I' m tryin g 

### to 

### un d e r st an d h o w y o u ' re s ayin g y o u w e re in carcer at ed an d w o rkin g ? A I 

### st art ed S p ec i al ty S t eaks in J anu ary , J anuary 6 , 2 0 1 6 , 

### all ri ght. 

### B ef o r e that, I 

### was in carcerat ed in ' 1 

### S

, I 

### was - - I 

### w ent to 

### j ai l D ec emb er o f ' 1 5 . I 

### g ot o ut in J anuary , I 

### think, b ecau s e ri ght 

### aft er I got 

### o ut o f j ail , I 

### w e nt to 

### Re m edy an d g o t th e j o b . H. T. , pp . 7 0 - 71. Q . Let 

### m e try 

### an d make thi s s i mp l e . Y o u sai d that y o u start ed at 

### S p eci al ty S t eaks in J anuary o f

2 0 1 6 , co rr ect ? 

### A Y es . Q . 

### Y o ur last day w o rking th er e was 

### Jun e 1 3 th o f 2 0 1 6 , th e day o f

y o ur acc i d e nt ? A C o rrect . Q . 

### W er e y o u in carcerated at any p o int whil e y o u w ere w o rkin g f o r S pecialty S t eak s ? 1 3

### A. I w as in carce rat ed, y es . I w as in carcerat ed fo r two 

### m o nths fro m F eb ruary - -

F eb ruary an d Marc h . 

### H. T. , p p . 73 - 74. As 

### th e re co rd refl ect s, 

### it w a s di ffi cu l t t o g et 

### a truthful 

### ans w e r fro m Ap p e ll ant r egardin g hi s all e g ed e mp l o ym e nt wi th S pec i al ty S t eaks during 

### a tim e wh e n h e was 

### al so in j ail . L ik ewi se , App e ll ant gav e in co ns i st ent exp l anati o ns fo r n o t maldn g any p aym e nt s fro m J anuary t o Jun e , 2 0 1 6 . As 

### di scu ssed, Appe ll ant fir st 

### t estifi ed h e ma d e al l o f hi s p aym e nt s fro m J anuary t o Jun e , 2 0 1 6 - whi c h was 

### a b l atant li e . Ap p e ll ant ' s n e xt exp l anati o n w as that h e di d n o t p ay whi l e h e w as in j ai l ( co u

p l ed wi th co nv o lut ed answ ers 

### as t o wh e n h e w as in j ai l in 2 0 1 6 ) . Lastly , wh e n as k ed why h e di d n o t make any p aym e nts whi l e w o rking wi th S p ec i alty S t eaks fro m J anu ary to 

### Jun e , 2 0 1 6 , App e ll ant rep li ed : " ( t) h e o nly r easo n why I 

### di dn ' t make p aym ent s, th ey t oo k 

### it u p . Th e y t oo k 

### it to 

### $ 8 5 , an d I 

### co ul dn ' t aff o rd that, that ' s th e o nly thing . 

### If 

### th e y w o ul d hav e l e ft 

### it at $2 5, 

### I' d still 

### be p ayin g i t. " 

### H. T. ,

p . 75 . Ap p e ll ant ' s three diff erent v ers i o ns o fhi s p aym e nt hi st o ry in 2 0 1 6 w er e mutually e x c lu si v e , m eanin g if o n e w ere tru e, th e oth er tw o w ere fal se . Ap p e ll ant ' s l a st stat e m ent i s m o st t e llin g . Ap p e ll ant s pec ifi cally sai d h e w o ul d st ill 

### be p ayin g $ 2 5 m o nthly if that w e re o rd e red . Ap pe ll ant ' s admi s s i o n i s co ntrary t o hi s al l e g ed " full 

### di sab ili ty' ' an d hi s c l aim o f

an in ab il ity t o pay any 

### amo unt . An o th er fab ri cati o n re l at es to 

### wh eth er Ap p e ll ant 

### was ev er marri ed . 

### In exp l ain in g why h e w ent to 

### j ai l se v e ral tim es in th e fir st p art 

### o f 2 0 1 6 , Ap pe ll ant rep eat edly b l am ed i t o n bi s wif e . 

### H o w ev er , in hi s a

pp li cati o n f

o r S ocial S ecuri ty di s ab il ity , Ap pe ll ant s p ecifi cally rep r e se nt ed 

### " I n e v er 

### was marri ed . " 

### H. T. ,

p . 6 6 . S e e Ap pe llan t ' s Exhi b i t E 

### In sum, th e l o n g er Ap pe ll ant t estifi ed, th e m o re fal s e h o o d s h e s p e wed wi th o ut any co nsc i o u s re gard fo r th e o ath h e t oo k t o t estify truthfully . Thi s C o urt had th e o p p o rtuni ty t o o b serv e an d li st e n 1 4. �



### to 

### Ap p e ll ant thro u gh o ut th e h eari ng . H e w a s ab l e to 

### st an d th e e ntire tim e wi th o ut be ing in any

vi s ib l e 

### pain . H e re mains ab l e t o dri v e an aut o m o b il e, whi c h m eans e i th e r h e i s n o t " fu lly di sab l ed " o r that h e i s p uttin g hi m s e lfan d 

### oth ers in h arm ' s w ay . Ap p e ll ant ' s p urp o rt ed in di g en c e i s a fabri cat ed s et o f c ircum st an ce s h e cr eat ed . H e i s n o t inv o lunt arily d esti tut e . 

## C ON CLU S I ON Th e di stin ct imp re s s i o n Ap p e ll ant fo rm ed with thi s C o urt i s that Ap p e ll ant w ant s t o av o i d hi s l e g al re s p o nsib iliti e s b y ca p i t alizi n g o n hi s Jun e 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 

### car acc i d e nt. Co mm o n p arl an ce w o ul d d e scrib e Ap p e ll ant as a mal in g er . Ap p e ll ant ' s te sti m o ny was 

### inh er e ntly in co ns i st ent, di s h o nest an d unb e li e v ab l e 

### en t

o to . Unf o rtunat e ly f

o r Dr . 

### Lu p o , h e had t o b as e an o p ini o n o n inp ut fro m a d ecepti v e p ati e nt. B y hi s in adv ert ent a dmi s s i o n, Ap p ellant i s ca p ab l e o f p ay in g $2 5 m o nthly . Th e o rd e r t o p ay $ 5 0 m o nthly b r eaks d o wn t o $ 1. 6 7 p er day . Ap p e l lant di d n o t e st ab li s h h e wa s in ca p ab l e o f p ay in g $ 1. 6 7 

### daily t o ward th e l e g al o b li gati o ns in curr ed fr o m hi s 

### cri minal b e h avi o r o v er n early 2 7 y ears . 

### B Y THE C O URT :



### cc : D istri ct Att o rn ey ' s O ffi ce 

### J . T im o thy Geo rg e , E squire , 2 5 2 5 W e st 2 6 tb. S tr eet, S uit e 2 0 0 , E ri e P A 1 6 5 06

1 5