Court Opinion

ID: 9698317
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 19:47:38.642851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:40.143921
License: Public Domain

VAN der VOORT, Judge,
concurring:
The lower court in this action in divorce A.V.M. has ordered the appellee-husband to pay counsel fees and costs, and also to pay $35.00 per week as alimony pendente lite. I believe this order to be inadequate, and I concur in the Opinion of my colleague Judge SPAETH, however I would set the amount of the alimony.
*23Appellant and appellee have been married since 1943. Appellant has been a housewife since 1972, and, although physically able to work, at age 53 has little prospect for profitable employment. Appellant owns 60 shares of A.T.&T. common stock, has a savings account with approximately $2,000.00, has no car, and lives in the unencumbered marital abode. The parties’ 24 year old daughter resides with appellant and contributes $40.00 per month. Appellee, according to the finding of the lower court, has a net income after taxes of over $15,000.00. Appellee owns a 1970 Rebel automobile (which is paid for), has stamp and coin collections worth approximately $4,000.00, pays tuition for a son in college, and lives in an apartment. The parties jointly own savings bonds worth approximately $2,000.00; in addition, the husband has 16 and the wife has 6 paintings worth a total of $8,000.00.
Our Court has stated that it will not interfere with an award of alimony pendente lite except in cases of manifest abuse of discretion. Kayaian v. Kayaian, 223 Pa.Super. 103, 297 A.2d 136 (1972). I would find an abuse of discretion in the case before us. The husband in this case has net income of over $15,000.00 per year, yet is required to pay his wife only $1,820.00 per year. I would increase the amount of the award to $75.00 per week, to give the wife an annual income of $3,900.00 from appellant and $480.00 from her daughter, making a total of $4,380.00.
CERCONE, J., joins in this opinion.