Court Opinion

ID: 9692439
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 15:54:15.677347+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:00.232102
License: Public Domain

BECK, J.,
dissenting:
¶ 1 I dissent. Contrary to the majority, I cannot conclude that the living arrangement between Nancy Lobaugh and Thomas Jones meets the definition for cohabitation barring alimony under the Pennsylvania Divorce Code. This definition is critical because under our law alimony ceases upon proof of cohabitation. Consequently, a finding of cohabitation nullifies a court award of alimony that was entered based on the needs of the dependent spouse and that has intended to establish economic justice between divorcing spouses. See Musko v. Musko, 447 Pa.Super. 150, 668 A.2d 561, 565 (1995), rev’d on other grounds, 548 Pa. 378, 697 A.2d 255 (1997).
¶ 2 Although few Pennsylvania cases define “cohabitation” for purposes of barring alimony, each makes clear that cohabitation will be found only if a relationship can be analogized to marriage.1 A party should not be entitled to alimony if he or she has established a marital-like relationship with another that has qualities of stability, permanence and mutual interdependence. Such interdependence is reflected in the way two persons share their life together as a couple: it encompasses not only the social, emotional and sexual, but also the economic aspects of the relationship. Thus, determination that a relationship akin to marriage has been established requires a careful weighing of all the circumstances in each case. No single factor should obscure the assessment of whether there has been sufficient change in the life of the party receiving alimony to warrant its denial.
¶ 3 Despite this multifaceted standard, the majority finds the living arrangement between Nancy Lobaugh and Tom Jones to be the measure of a marriage. My review of this record, however, leads me to conclude that this relationship was never intended to involve the assumption of mutual rights and duties: it was designed to help Jones cope with the consequences of *839serious illness.2 The evidence established that he feared being alone at night, needed help with daily living and required assistance with his son. Although unemployed, he took on almost no responsibilities in Ms. Lobaugh’s home and continued to spend considerable time both days and evenings in his own apartment.3 He did not share in the expenses of the household: his contributions were limited to three mattresses and meals eaten in restaurants. He did not co-mingle his funds with hers, but he paid rent for his own residence and remained part-owner of another house. Ms. Lobaugh, for her part, continued to work full-time and to manage a household newly complicated by the presence of a problematic child.4 Within nine weeks, this arrangement ended not because of problems between Nancy Laubaugh and Tom Jones, who maintain their close 28-year friendship, but because the tension created by Jones’ son resulted in more rather than less stress for him.
¶ 4 I find no indicia of mutuality in the emotional, social or financial aspects of this relationship: this was a living arrangement for the benefit of Mr. Jones. There is no evidence of social interdependence within family or community other than eating in restaurants and attending mass with their sons. Financially, Ms. Lobaugh’s household budget was unchanged; the cost increment for food and utilities for Mr. Jones and his son was offset by Mr. Jones’ restaurant invitations and the mattresses. Moreover, the brevity of the arrangement and the ease with which it was definitively terminated belie a long term commitment or objective of permanency. Under our law, such a short-lived relationship absent the hallmarks of a marriage cannot be construed as cohabitation and should not result in the loss of alimony.
¶ 5 The majority, however, reads the definition of cohabitation narrowly, emphasizing, as did the trial court, the inference that Nancy Lobaugh and Tom Jones were sexually intimate. As a result, Nancy Lo-baugh is now denied the remaining 30 months of $350.00 alimony awarded to her by the court in her divorce from Willaim Lobaugh. Although faced with the identical situation that existed when alimony was awarded, she is deprived of $10,500.00 in alimony because of a brief, nine-week relationship in which there was no expectation, and thus no evidence of stability, permanence or mutual interdependence. The majority’s decision does not comport with our law nor does it comport with fundamental fairness. I, therefore, dissent.

. See Majority Opinion at 836 (quoting Miller v. Miller, 352 Pa.Super. 432, 508 A.2d 550 (1986)). See also Thomas v. Thomas, 335 Pa.Super. 41, 483 A.2d 945 (1984) (cohabitation means the mutual assumption of those rights and duties attendant to the relationship of husband and wife). The comments of Rep. Cunningham of Centre County during the legislative debates on the predecessor statute to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3706, also emphasize the substantial nature of a relationship that would equate to cohabitation:
Cohabitation is clearly not remaining at someone’s house overnight. It is clearly not remaining ... for the weekend. Cohabitation is a definition that ha's to be viewed in light of the facts of each individual case.... We are talking about a consistent pattern of conduct established over a substantial period of time with one person.
Id., at 946 (emphasis added) (quoting HJ 1843L, reprinted in J.A. Rounick, Pa. Matrimonial Practice, Part 3, Appendix B at 42-43 (1983)).

. Mr. Jones suffered from heart disease and lymphatic cancer. Even Steven Lobaugh, the parties’ son, testified that Jones moved in so his mom could help Jones during his illness. N.T., 8/16/99, at 61.

. The investigator hired by Nancy Lobaugh’s husband to undertake surveillance of her home from March 15, 1999 to April 2, 1999 testified that Jones was not there from March 18 to 24, and could only confirm he spent the night on six occasions. N.T., 8/16/99, at 34, 27-30.

.Nancy Lobaugh testified that Jeremy’s mother did not help with the boy because she could not handle him. N.T., 8/16/99 at 79.