Opinion ID: 1981926
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Eaches v. Steigerwalt

Text: On November 10, 1987, appellant Pennie Eaches filed a petition for relief pursuant to the Protection From Abuse Act [1] against Kenneth Steigerwalt. Although required to do so by the Act, appellant did not file an affidavit stating she did not have funds available to pay the costs of filing and service. [2] Notwithstanding this defect, appellant's petition was accepted for filing and service without payment of the $40.50 filing fee, in what appellant claims was routine practice at the time in Lehigh County for persons seeking to proceed in forma pauperis in protection from abuse actions. [3] Following an ex parte hearing the same day, the court entered a temporary Order directing Steigerwalt to refrain from abusing, harassing or threatening appellant, and ejecting him from her premises. A full hearing was scheduled for November 17, 1987, and personal service of the temporary Order and notice of hearing was made on appellant by the Lehigh County sheriff on November 12, 1987. Appellant did not appear for the scheduled final hearing November 17, 1987, and her counsel requested a continuance, which was granted, extending the hearing and the temporary Order until November 24, 1987. Appellant again did not appear on November 24, 1987, and her counsel requested the matter be dismissed; accordingly, the court entered a verbal Order dismissing appellant's petition under the Protection From Abuse Act. On December 10, 1987, the court entered a written Order dismissing appellant's petition, and further ordering any unpaid filing fees and sheriff's costs be paid by Lehigh Valley Legal Services, Inc., appellant's counsel. Following counsel's motion to reconsider, the court entered a new Order on January 6, 1988, directing any fees and costs be paid by appellant.