Court Opinion

ID: 9755821
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 20:51:59.297678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:11.589623
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion by
Mr. Justice Cohen :
I concur in the result reached by the majority but would like to comment on the state of the law with respect to the fictional offer and acceptance doctrine.
I agree with Stemniski v. Stemniski, 403 Pa. 38, 169 A. 2d 51 (1961), that an offer to sever an entireties account (withdrawal of part or all of the fund) is deemed accepted when suit is brought during the lifetime of the withdrawing spouse for one-half of the withdrawal. However, there is no fictional acceptance of an offer to sever when the aggrieved spouse is seeking to recover all of the funds wrongfully withdrawn. *199Wlien a spouse brings suit to recover the entire amount appropriated, this is not an acceptance of an offer to sever but rather is a rejection of the offer and a demand that the estate by the entireties be restored to its original state. Consequently, I agree with the majority that the survivor is entitled to the entire fund.
Mr. Chief Justice Bell joins in this concurring opinion.