Court Opinion

ID: 4236123
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-11 20:25:24.361445+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:59.693104
License: Public Domain

J-A28003-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

D.C.S., F/K/A, D.C.S.-R.                :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                        :          PENNSYLVANIA
                   Appellee             :
                                        :
             v.                         :
                                        :
P.R.                                    :
                                        :
                   Appellant            :
                                        :         No. 1008 EDA 2017

               Appeal from the Order Dated February 27, 2017
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Wayne County
                    Civil Division at No(s): 462-DR-2011

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., PANELLA, J., and DUBOW, J.

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.:                     FILED JANUARY 11, 2018

       Appellant, P.R. (“Father”), appeals pro se from the order entered in

the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, which granted in part Appellee’s,

D.C.S., f/k/a, D.C.S.-R. (“Mother”), motion for sanctions, sustained Mother’s

objections to the notice of intent to serve subpoenas, denied Father’s

petition for special order for discovery, and dismissed a support proceeding.

We affirm.

       The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows.

On September 7, 2011, Mother filed a complaint against Father for child and

spousal support.    After a support conference on November 1, 2011, the

support master entered an interim support order on November 2, 2011. On

November 28, 2011, Father filed a de novo appeal and objections to the

support order.    After a de novo hearing on February 28, 2012, the court
J-A28003-17

upheld the support order.    On August 10, 2015, Mother filed a petition to

modify the support order. After a modification conference on September 21,

2015, the support master modified the support order on September 22,

2015.

        Father filed a pro se petition to modify support on June 27, 2016.

Following a modification conference on July 27, 2016, the support master

dismissed Father’s modification petition on July 28, 2016.    On August 15,

2016, Father filed a pro se request for a de novo hearing; Mother did not file

objections. After a de novo hearing on October 4, 2016, the court upheld

the denial of Father’s June 27, 2016 modification petition.

        On January 9, 2017, Father filed a second pro se petition to modify

support and a notice of intent to serve subpoenas. Mother filed a motion for

sanctions on January 18, 2017, and objections to Father’s notice of intent to

serve subpoenas.     On January 27, 2017, Father filed pro se objections to

Mother’s January 18, 2017 motion and objections, and Father also filed a

petition for a special order for discovery.    The court held a hearing on

February 1, 2017. On February 27, 2017, the court granted in part Mother’s

motion for sanctions, sustained Mother’s objections to the notice of intent to

serve subpoenas, denied Father’s petition for special order for discovery, and

dismissed a support proceeding that was continued on February 1, 2017,

until further order of the court. On March 23, 2017, Father timely filed a pro

se notice of appeal along with a concise statement of errors complained of

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on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).1

       Father raises the following issues for our review:

          DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR AND/OR ABUSE ITS
          DISCRETION IN GRANTING [MOTHER]’S MOTION FOR
          SANCTIONS PURSUANT TO PA.R.C.P. 1023.2 WHEN THE
          EVIDENCE AND THE RECORD CLEARLY SHOWS THAT
          [FATHER] FILED AND SERVED ALL OF THE PLEADINGS IN
          GOOD FAITH, AND WHERE [FATHER]’S ACTIONS IN
          FILING THE PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF SUPPORT
          OR IN SERVING THE NOTICE OF INTENT TO SERVE
          SUBPOENAS WERE NOT DILATORY, OBDURATE OR
          VEXATIOUS IN NATURE?

          DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR AND/OR ABUSE ITS
          DISCRETION IN GRANTING [MOTHER]’S MOTION FOR
          SANCTIONS PURSUANT TO PA.R.C.P. 1023.2 WHEN IT
          WAS VERY WELL AWARE THAT [MOTHER] DID NOT GIVE
          WRITTEN NOTICE OR DEMAND TO [FATHER], FORMAL OR
          INFORMAL, TO APPROPRIATELY CORRECT OR WITHDRAW
          THE CHALLENGED PAPER OR REPORTED DEFICIENT, NOR
          DID [MOTHER] WAIT THE REQUIRED TWENTY-EIGHT (28)
          DAY GRACE PERIOD AFTER SERVICE OF DEMAND, HAD
          SHE GIVEN THE REQUIRED NOTICE [PRIOR TO] FILING
          THE MOTION FOR SANCTIONS, AS CALLED FOR IN
          PA.R.C.P. 1023.1 AND 1023.2; AND WHEN ALL [MOTHER]
          HAD TO DO WAS FILE A MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE OF
          THE FEBRUARY 2, 2017 SUPPORT CONFERENCE WHILE
          GIVING [FATHER] THE REQUIRED 28[-]DAY NOTICE
          DEMAND PRIOR TO FILING THE WITHIN MOTION FOR
          SANCTIONS?

          DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR AND/OR ABUSE ITS
          DISCRETION IN SUSTAINING [MOTHER]’S OBJECTIONS
          TO NOTICE OF INTENT TO SERVE SUBPOENAS AND/OR IN
          DENYING [FATHER]’S PETITION FOR SPECIAL ORDER FOR
          DISCOVERY IN A SUPPORT ACTION PURSUANT TO
          PA.R.C.P. 1910.9(A), WHEN THESE PLEADINGS WERE
____________________________________________

1  Father styled his concise statement of errors as a Rule 1925(a)(2)
statement; however, this appeal is not a children’s fast track case.

                                           -3-
J-A28003-17

         SERVED IN GOOD FAITH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
         APPLICABLE RULES, SO AS TO SECURE NECESSARY
         DOCUMENTS FROM TWO (2) GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES
         AND A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN TO FURTHER SUPPORT
         [FATHER]’S CONTENTION THAT THERE IS A CHANGE IN
         CIRCUMSTANCES, IN THAT [MOTHER] HAS NO MEDICAL
         RESTRICTIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE
         RESULTED IN [MOTHER] BEING IMPUTED INCOME, AND
         THUS A CHANGE IN INCOME OF THE PARTIES, AS
         SUPPORTED BY RULE 1023.1(C)(3)?

         DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR AND/OR ABUSE ITS
         DISCRETION IN DISMISSING THE SUPPORT PROCEEDING
         THAT WAS CONTINUED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2017 UNTIL
         FURTHER ORDER OF THE COURT, WHEN THIS WAS
         [FATHER]’S SECOND PETITION FOR MODIFICATION FILED
         IN THE SIX (6) YEAR HISTORY OF THIS CASE, AND
         WHERE [MOTHER] HAS NEVER PROVIDED [FATHER] WITH
         A PHYSICIAN’S AFFIDAVIT OR VERIFICATION FORM AS TO
         HER ALLEGED EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS, WHICH SHE
         FALSELY CLAIMED SHE HAD IN HER POSSESSION AND
         WHICH SHE HAD FILED WITH THE COURT IN PRIOR
         SUPPORT PROCEEDINGS THAT RESULTED IN DE NOVO
         HEARINGS BEFORE THE COURT?

(Father’s Brief at 3-6).

      Preliminarily, we observe “[i]ssues not raised in the lower court are

waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).

Further, our standard of review of issues concerning sanctions and discovery

orders is one of abuse of discretion by the trial court. ACE American Ins.

Co. v. Underwriters at Lloyds and Cos., 939 A.2d 935 (Pa.Super. 2007),

affirmed,    601    Pa.    95,   971    A.2d   1121     (2009);    Crum      v.

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, 907 A.2d 578

(Pa.Super. 2006). “An abuse of discretion is not lightly found, as it requires

clear and convincing evidence that the trial court misapplied the law or failed

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to follow proper legal procedures. [This Court] will not usurp the trial court’s

factfinding function.”   Holz v. Holz, 850 A.2d 751, 757 (Pa.Super. 2004),

appeal denied, 582 Pa. 700, 871 A.2d 192 (2005) (internal citations

omitted).

      Our standard review of child support orders is well settled:

         When evaluating a support order, this Court may only
         reverse the trial court’s determination where the order
         cannot be sustained on any valid ground. We will not
         interfere with the broad discretion afforded the trial court
         absent an abuse of discretion or insufficient evidence to
         sustain the support order. An abuse of discretion is not
         merely an error of judgment; if, in reaching a conclusion,
         the court overrides or misapplies the law, or the judgment
         exercised is shown by the record to be either manifestly
         unreasonable or the product of partiality, prejudice, bias or
         ill will, discretion has been abused. In addition, we note
         that the duty to support one’s child is absolute, and the
         purpose of child support is to promote the child’s best
         interests.

Krebs v. Krebs, 944 A.2d 768, 772 (Pa.Super. 2008) (quoting Mencer v.

Ruch, 928 A.2d 294, 297 (Pa.Super. 2007)).

      After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

applicable law, and the reasoned opinion of the Honorable Raymond L.

Hamill, we conclude Father’s issues merit no relief. The trial court opinion

comprehensively    discusses   and   properly   disposes    of   the   questions

presented. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed May 18, 2017, at 1-5) (finding:

(1) Father did not aver material and substantial change in circumstances in

his January 9, 2017 petition for modification; instead, he challenged

testimony and evidence from October 4, 2016 de novo hearing; Father

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repeatedly failed to abide by Rules of Procedure and needlessly increased

cost of litigation, which warranted entry of sanction order; (2) Father failed

to argue Mother did not serve him with written notice and demand of her

motion for sanctions; Father raised this argument for first time in his Rule

1925(b) statement; therefore, Father waived this issue; (3) Father

requested inappropriate discovery; Father sought information to show

material and substantial change in circumstances; Father, however, failed to

establish how sought-after information would show change in circumstances;

Father also claims Mother failed and/or refused to provide Physician’s

Affidavit and Verification Form, but Mother did not introduce this form into

evidence, so Father was not entitled to copy; Father’s purpose for obtaining

the Physician’s Affidavit and Verification Form was suspect, because he

originally sought this Form to use against Mother in separate custody action;

(4) court determined after February 1, 2017 argument that Father’s petition

for modification of existing support order failed to aver material and

substantial change in circumstances; therefore, court properly dismissed

support proceeding on Father’s petition).        Accordingly, we affirm on the

basis of the trial court opinion.2

       Order affirmed.

____________________________________________

2 Mother’s open application for relief in the form of a motion for counsel fees
is denied without prejudice to Mother’s right to seek reasonable attorneys’
fees in the trial court along with other costs associated with this appeal.

                                           -6-
J-A28003-17

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/11/18

                          -7-
                                                                                          Circulated 12/21 /2017 04:39 PM

            IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE 22ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT
                        COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
                               COUNTY OF WAYNE

                             '
                            Plaintiff

vs.
                    .,
                            Defendant                              NO. 462-DR-2011

                                         STATEMENT OF REASONS

           Defendant, f>e   R�          , appeals from an Order entered in this matter on the   27th   day of

February 2017, which granted in part Plaintiffs Motion for Sanctions, sustained Plaintiffs

Objections to Notice of Intent to Serve Subpoenas, denied Defendant's Petition for Special Order

for Discovery, and dismissed the support proceeding that was continued on February 1, 2017 until

further Order of Court. In his concise statement, Defendant raises four (4) issues.

      I.      Whether the trial court erred and/or abused its discretion in granting Plaintiff's

              Motion for Sanctions pursuant to PA. R.C.P. 1023.2.

           Defendant claims that the evidence and record shows that he filed and served all of the

pleadings in good faith, and that his actions in filing the Petition for Modification of Support or in

serving the Notice ofintent to Serve Subpoenas were not dilatory, obdurate or vexatious in nature.

Pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1023.1:

      ( c) The signature of an attorney or pro se party constitutes a certificate that the signatory
           has read the pleading, motion, or other paper. By signing, filing, submitting, or later
           advocating such a document, the attorney or pro se party certifies that, to the best
           of the person's knowledge, information and belief, formed after an inquiry
           reasonable under the circumstances,
                                                         LO : fl WV 81 J. VH LI Ol

                                                                                                  Page 1 of5

                                                               · ICANNED                                                /
    (1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause
        unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation,

    (2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions therein are warranted by existing
        law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification or reversal of
        existing law of the establishment of new law,

    (3) the factual allegations have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, are
        likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further
        investigation or discovery; and

    ( 4) the denials of factual allegations are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so
         identified, are reasonably based on a lack of information or belief.

    ( d) If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the court determines that
         subdivision (c) has been violated, the court may, subject to the conditions stated in
         Rules 1023.2 through 1023.4, impose an appropriate sanction upon any attorneys,
         law firms and parties that have violated subdivision ( c) or are responsible for the
         violation.

       On June 27, 2016, Defendant filed a Petition for Modification of an Existing Support Order.

Defendant's petition was dismissed without prejudice on July 27, 2016. After a de novo hearing

held on October 4, 2016, this Court ordered the Support Order to remain in full force and effect.

Shortly thereafter, on January 9, 2017, Defendant filed another Petition for Modification.

Defendant argues within his petition that Plaintiff failed to provide him with a Physician

Verification From within 20 days after the Support Conference, or in advance of the de novo

hearing, as required by Rule 1910.29(b)(2). Thus, Defendant argues that modification of the

existing support order is warranted.

       "A petition for modification or termination of an existing support order shall specifically

aver the material and substantial change in circumstances upon which the petition is based." Pa.

R.C.P. 1910.19(a). It is clear from Defendant's Petition that he is challenging the testimony and

evidence from the October 4, 2016 de novo hearing instead of averring a material and substantial

change in circumstances. Defendant's failure to litigate by the rules has become a pattern. This

                                                                                             Page 2 of5
pattern has created a needless increase in the cost of litigation, and justifies the entry of a sanction

order.

    II.       Whether the trial court erred and/or abused its discretion in granting Plaintiffs

              Motion for Sanctions pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1023.2

          Defendant claims that Plaintiff did not give written notice or demand to Defendant, formal

or informal, to appropriately correct or withdraw the challenged paper or reported deficiency.

Defendant further claims that Plaintiff did not wait the required twenty-eight (28) day grace period

after service of demand. Pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1023.2(b):

          No such motion shall be filed unless it includes a certification that the applicant
          served written notice and demand to the attorney or pro se party who signed or filed
          the challenged pleading, motion or other paper. The certification shall have annexed
          a copy of that notice and demand, which shall identify with specificity each portion
          of the document which is believed to violate the provisions of this rule, set forth the
          basis for that belief with specificity, include a demand that the document or portion
          of the document, be withdraw or appropriately corrected. An application for
          sanctions may be filed if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention,
          allegation or denial is not withdrawn or appropriately corrected within twenty-eight
          days after service of the written demand. If warranted, the court may award to the
          party prevailing on the motion the reasonable expenses and attorney's fees incurred
          in presenting or opposing the motion.

          When Plaintiff filed her Motion for Sanctions, Defendant never put forth his position that

Plaintiff failed to serve written notice and demand. It was not until Defendant filed his Concise

Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal that he advised this Court of his position.

Defendant's failure to do so constitutes a waiver of his arguments, and justifies the entry of a

sanction order.

                                                                                               Page3 of5
   III.      Whether the trial court erred and/or abused its discretion in sustaining Plalntiff's

             Objections to Defendant's Notice of Intent to Serve Subpoenas and/or in denying

             Defendant's Petition for Special Order for Discovery in a Support Action

             Pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1910.9(a).

          Defendant claims these pleadings were served in good faith and in accordance with the

applicable rules so as to secure necessary documents from two (2) governmental entities and a

private physician to further support Defendant's contention that there is a change in circumstances.

The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure provide that there is no discovery in support matters

except where authorized by special order of court. Pa. R.C.P. 1910.9(a), 400l(a). It is within the

discretion of the trial court to determine whether discovery is appropriate under the circumstances

of the particular case.

          In this case, the discovery requested by Defendant is inappropriate. Defendant is seeking

information to show a material and substantial change in circumstances; however, Defendant failed

to establish how the information sought would in fact show such a change. Defendant also

mistakenly claims that Plaintiff failed and/or outright refused to provide a Physician's Affidavit

and Verification Form as required by Pa. R.C.P. 1910.29(b)(2). Pursuant to 1910.29, "if the matter

proceeds to a record hearing and the party wishes to introduce the completed Physician

Verification Form into evidence, he or she must serve the form on the other party not later than 20

days after the conference." Pa. R. C.P. 1910.29(b)(2) ( emphasis added). Plaintiff has not introduced

a Physician Verification From into evidence; therefore, Defendant was not entitled to be served

with a copy of that form. Furthermore, the purpose for obtaining a Physician's Affidavit and

Verification Form in this support action is questionable because Defendant testified that he

originally sought the Physician's Affidavit and Verification Form to use against Plaintiff in a

                                                                                           Page 4 of5
                                 .....

separate custody action. For the foregoing reasons, this Court did not err or abuse its discretion in

sustaining Plaintiffs Objections to Defendant's Notice of Intent to Serve Subpoenas and in

denying Defendant's Petition for Special order for Discovery in a Support Action Pursuant to Pa.

R.C.P. 1910.9(a).

      IV.      Whether the trial court erred and/or abused its discretion in dismissing the

               Support Proceeding that was continued on February 1, 2017 until further order

               of the court.

            This Court determined after argument held on February 1, 2017, that Defendant's Petition ·

for Modification of an Existing Support Order failed to aver a material and substantial change in

circumstances. Therefore, the support proceeding on Defendant's petition was properly dismissed.

                                                               BY THE COURT

DATE: �JJ;-4 'i..L:J---4-/;_--4- /--'--_
                                       J
                  7     l                                      RA     OND L. HAMILL
                                                               P SIDENT JUDGE
                                                               22ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT

cc:    - Oressa P. Campbell, Esq.
      - Peter Ramos
                P.O. Box 22494
                Trenton, NJ 08;��

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