Court Opinion

ID: 4234775
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-05 21:23:31.835924+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:48.287758
License: Public Domain

[This is an entirely new rule.]

Rule 205.6. Confidential Information and Confidential Documents. Certification.

       Unless public access is otherwise constrained by applicable authority, any

attorney, or any party if unrepresented, who files a document pursuant to these rules

with the prothonotary’s office shall comply with the requirements of Sections 7.0 and 8.0

of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania:         Case

Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts (Policy) including a certification of compliance

with the Policy and, as necessary, a Confidential Information Form, unless otherwise

specified by rule or order of court, or a Confidential Document Form in accordance with

the Policy.

       Note: Applicable authority includes but is not limited to statute,
       procedural rule or court order. The Public Access Policy of the Unified
       Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial
       Courts (Policy) can be found on the website of the Supreme Court of
       Pennsylvania at http://www.pacourts.us/public-records. Sections 7.0(D)
       and 8.0(D) of the Policy provide that the certification shall be in
       substantially the following form:

              I certify that this filing complies with the provisions of the
              Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of
              Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial
              Courts that require filing confidential information and
              documents differently than non-confidential information and
              documents.

              The Confidential Information Form and the Confidential Document
       Form can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/public-records. In lieu of the
       Confidential Information Form, Section 7.0(C) of the Policy provides for a
       court to adopt a rule or order permitting the filing of a document in two
       versions, a “Redacted Version” and an “Unredacted Version.”
Rule 229.2. Petition to Transfer Structured Settlement Payment Rights.

       (a)   ***

       (b)   ***

       (c)   ***

       (d)   ***

       (e)   ***
       (f)   The Payee’s Affidavit in Support of Petition shall be substantially in the

following form:

                                      (Caption)

                            Payee’s Affidavit in Support of

                   Petition to Transfer Structured Settlement Rights

       I, _____________, the payee, verify that the statements below are true and

correct:

1.     Payee’s name, address and age:         _______________________________

       ________________________________________________________________.

2.     Marital Status:

             ____ Never Married; ____ Married; ____ Separated; ____ Divorced

             If married or separated, name of spouse: ________________________.

3.     Minor children and other dependents:

             Initials of minor children, [N]names of other dependents, ages, and

             places of residence: __________________________________________

             __________________________________________________________.

4.     Income:

             (a)     Payee’s monthly income and sources:      ____________________

             __________________________________________________________.

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            (b)     If presently married, spouse’s monthly income and sources: _____

            __________________________________________________________.

5.   Child support, alimony or alimony pendente lite

            Obligation to pay:     ___ Yes       ___ No

     If yes, state the amount of the obligation, to whom payable, and whether there

are arrearages:_________________________________________________________.

6.   Previous transfers

     Have you previously filed a petition to transfer payment rights under the

     structured settlement that is the subject of this petition?    ___Yes ___ No

     If yes, for each petition that you filed,

            (a)     If the transfer was submitted for court approval, list the court, the

                    case caption and case number, and state whether the court

                    approved           or        disapproved         the        transfer:

                    _____________________________________________________

                    _____________________________________________________

                    _____________________________________________________.

            (b)     If the transfer was approved,

                    (i)    State the name of the transferee and identify (listing due

                    dates and payment amount(s)) the payments involved in the

                    transfer:_______________________________________________

                    _____________________________________________________.

                    (ii)   State the amount of money and the manner in which the

                    money was used:______________________________________

                    _____________________________________________________.

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              (c)    Have you ever transferred payments without court approval? If so,

                     please explain:

                     _____________________________________________________

                     _____________________________________________________.

7.     Reasons for transfer

       Describe in detail your reasons for the proposed transfer, including an

explanation as to why a sale of a lesser amount of the structured settlement amount will

not better serve your interests:    ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

8.     Payment of debts

       If you seek the transfer in order to pay debts, list each debt, including the name

of the creditor and the amount presently owed:

       Debt                         Creditor                 Amount Owed

       ________________             __________________       $___________

       ________________             __________________       $___________

       ________________             __________________       $___________

                                        Verification

       I verify that the statements made in this affidavit are true and correct.         I

understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S.

§4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

DATE: _______________                              ________________________________
                                                             Signature
       (g)    ***

       (h)    ***

       (i)    ***

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              Note: The form of order does not preclude a court from adding
              additional language to the order as deemed appropriate in the
              individual circumstances of a case.

                     The filings required by this rule are subject to the Public
              Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania:
              Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts. See Rule
              205.6.

Rule 240.     [In Forma Pauperis] In Forma Pauperis

       (a)    This rule shall apply to all civil actions and proceedings except actions

pursuant to the Protection From Abuse Act and Protection of Victims of Sexual

Violence or Intimidation Act.

              Note: The term ‘‘all civil actions and proceedings’’ includes all
              domestic relations actions except those brought pursuant to the
              Protection From Abuse Act, [which are governed by] 23 Pa.C.S.
              § 6106, and Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or
              Intimidation Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 62A01-62A20.
       (b)    A party who is without financial resources to pay the costs of litigation is

entitled to proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis.

       (c)    Except as provided by subdivision (d), the party shall file a petition and an

affidavit in the form prescribed by subdivision (h). The petition may not be filed prior to

the commencement of an action or proceeding or the taking of an appeal.

              (1)(i) If the petition is filed simultaneously with the commencement of the

       action or proceeding or with the taking of the appeal, the prothonotary shall

       docket the matter and petition without the payment of any filing fee.

              (ii)   If the court shall thereafter deny the petition, the petitioner shall pay

       the filing fee for commencing the action or proceeding or taking the appeal. A

       party required to pay such fee may not without leave of court take any further

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       steps in the action, proceeding or appeal so long as such fee remains unpaid.

       Not sooner than ten days after notice of the denial of the petition pursuant to

       Rule 236, the prothonotary shall enter a judgment of [non pros] non pros in the

       action or proceeding or strike the appeal if the fee remains unpaid. The action,

       proceeding or appeal shall be reinstated only by the court for good cause shown.

               (2)   If the action or proceeding is commenced or the appeal is taken

       without the simultaneous filing of a petition, the appropriate filing fee must be

       paid and shall not be refunded if a petition is thereafter filed and granted.

               (3)   Except as provided by subdivision (j)(2), the court shall act promptly

       upon the petition and shall enter its order within twenty days from the date of the

       filing of the petition. If the petition is denied, in whole or in part, the court shall

       briefly state its reasons.

       (d)(1) If the party is represented by an attorney, the prothonotary shall allow the

party to proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis upon the filing of a [praecipe]

praecipe which contains a certification by the attorney that he or she is providing free

legal service to the party and believes the party is unable to pay the costs.

       (2)     The [praecipe] praecipe shall be substantially in the form prescribed by

subdivision (i).

       (e)     A party permitted to proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis has

a continuing obligation to inform the court of improvement in the party’s financial

circumstances which will enable the party to pay costs.

       (f)     A party permitted to proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis shall

not be required to

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              (1)      pay any cost or fee imposed or authorized by Act of Assembly or

       general rule which is payable to any court or prothonotary or any public officer or

       employee, or

              (2)      post bond or other security for costs as a condition for commencing

       an action or proceeding or taking an appeal.

        (g)   If there is a monetary recovery by judgment or settlement in favor of the

party permitted to proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis, the exonerated

fees and costs shall be taxed as costs and paid to the prothonotary by the party paying

the monetary recovery. In no event shall the exonerated fees and costs be paid to the

indigent party.

       (h)    The affidavit in support of a petition for leave to proceed [in forma

pauperis] in forma pauperis shall be substantially in the following form:

                                          (Caption)

       1.     I am the (plaintiff) (defendant) in the above matter and because of my

financial condition am unable to pay the fees and costs of prosecuting or defending the

action or proceeding.

       2.         I am unable to obtain funds from anyone, including my family and

associates, to pay the costs of litigation.

       3.     I represent that the information below relating to my ability to pay the fees

and costs is true and correct:

       (a)    Name:______________________________________________________

              Address:____________________________________________________

              ___________________________________________________________

       (b)    Employment

              If you are presently employed, state

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Employer:________________________________________________________

Address:_________________________________________________________

Salary or wages per month:__________________________________________

Type of work:_____________________________________________________

      If you are presently unemployed, state

Date of last employment:____________________________________________

Salary or wages per month:__________________________________________

Type of work:_____________________________________________________

(c)   Other income within the past twelve months

Business or profession:______________________________________________

Other self-employment:______________________________________________

Interest:__________________________________________________________

Dividends:________________________________________________________

Pension and annuities:______________________________________________

Social security benefits:_____________________________________________

Support payments:_________________________________________________

Disability payments:________________________________________________

Unemployment compensation and supplemental benefits:__________________

________________________________________________________________

Workers’ compensation:_____________________________________________

Public assistance:__________________________________________________

Other:___________________________________________________________

(d)   Other contributions to household support

(Wife)(Husband) Name:_____________________________________________

      If your (wife) (husband) is employed, state

                                    8
Employer:________________________________________________________

Salary or wages per month:__________________________________________

Type of work:_____________________________________________________

Contributions from children:__________________________________________

Contributions from parents:___________________________________________

Other contributions:_________________________________________________

(e)   Property owned

Cash:____________________________________________________________

Checking account:_________________________________________________

Savings account:___________________________________________________

Certificates of deposit:______________________________________________

Real estate (including home):_________________________________________

Motor vehicle:_____________________________________________________

      Make______________________________________,

      Year_______________________________________,

      Cost_______________________________________,

      Amount Owed $______________________________

Stocks and bonds:_________________________________________________

Other:___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

(f)   Debts and Obligations

Mortgage:________________________________________________________

Rent:____________________________________________________________

Loans:___________________________________________________________

Other:___________________________________________________________

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       (g)    Persons dependent upon you for support

       (Wife)(Husband) Name: ____________________________________________

       Children, if any:

              [Name] Initials: ______________________________________________

              Age:_______________________________________________________

       Other Persons:

              Name:________________________________________________

              Relationship:__________________________________________

               4.    I understand that I have a continuing obligation to inform the court

       of improvement in my financial circumstances which would permit me to pay the

       costs incurred herein.

       5.      I verify that the statements made in this affidavit are true and correct. I

understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S.

§ 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

Date:____________________                                   __________________________
                                                            Petitioner
       (i)    The praecipe required by subdivision (d) shall be substantially in the

following form:

                                         (Caption)

     [PRAECIPE] PRAECIPE TO PROCEED [IN FORMA PAUPERIS] IN FORMA

                                        PAUPERIS

To the Prothonotary:

       Kindly allow_______________________________, (Plaintiff) (Defendant) to

proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis.

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       I,     _____________________________________,             attorney    for   the   party

proceeding [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis, certify that I believe the party is

unable to pay the costs and that I am providing free legal service to the party.
                                                       __________________________
                                                       Attorney for
       (j)(1) If, simultaneous with the commencement of an action or proceeding or the

taking of an appeal, a party has filed a petition for leave to proceed [in forma pauperis]

in forma pauperis, the court prior to acting upon the petition may dismiss the action,

proceeding or appeal if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if it is satisfied that the

action, proceeding or appeal is frivolous.

                Note: A frivolous action or proceeding has been defined as one
                that ‘‘lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact.’’ Neitzke v.
                Williams, 490 U. S. 319, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989).
            (2) If the petitioner commences the action by writ of summons, the court shall

not act on the petition for leave to proceed [in forma pauperis] in forma pauperis until

the complaint is filed. If the complaint has not been filed within ninety days of the filing of

the petition, the court may dismiss the action pursuant to subdivision (j)(1).

                Note: The filings required by this rule are subject to the Public
                Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania:
                Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts. See Rule
                205.6.

Rule 1018.       Caption.

       Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the

number of the action and the name of the pleading. The caption of a complaint shall set

forth the form of the action and the names of all the parties, but in other pleadings it is

sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side in the complaint with an

appropriate indication of other parties.

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              Note: Civil Actions and proceedings shall be captioned “Court of
              Common Pleas of ___________ County - Civil Action” or other
              appropriate form of action.

                       The caption of all legal papers filed in a medical professional
              liability action must contain the designation “Civil Action -- Medical
              Professional Liability Action.” See Rule 1042.16.

                     The caption of all legal papers filed in a civil action by
              and against a minor must designate the minor by the initials of
              his or her first and last name. See Rule 2028.

Rule 2028.    Actions By and Against Minors. Averments in Plaintiff’s Pleading.

        (a)   An action in which a minor is plaintiff shall be entitled ‘‘A, a Minor, by B,

Guardian,’’ against the party defendant.       The minor shall be designated by the

initials of his or her first and last name.

              Note: Under the above rule the representative of a minor plaintiff is
              termed a ‘‘guardian’’ regardless of whether under prior practice he
              or she would be termed a legal guardian or a next friend.
        (b)   The initial pleading filed in behalf of a minor plaintiff shall state the name

and address of his or her guardian and the guardian’s relationship, if any, to the subject

matter of the action or to any of the parties thereto. In case the person selected as

guardian is a guardian appointed by any court of competent jurisdiction or by a will duly

probated, the initial pleading shall contain a reference to the record of the appointment.

        (c)   An action in which a minor is the defendant shall be commenced against

the minor [by name] in the manner in which a like action is commenced against an

adult. The minor shall be designated by the initials of his or her first and last

name.

              Note: An action against a minor is begun in the same manner as
              an action against an adult, although by Rule 2034[, infra,] as under
              prior practice, the subsequent appointment of a guardian to

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represent the minor is essential to the rendition of a valid judgment
against the minor.

Note: The filings required by this rule are subject to the Public
Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania:
Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts. See Rule
205.6.

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