Court Opinion

ID: 9353347
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-11 17:09:35.413868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:07:20.403847
License: Public Domain

J-S39027-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 IN RE: ESTATE OF CATHERINE               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 METZ                                     :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                          :
                                          :
 APPEAL OF: STEVEN BRUNGARD               :
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :   No. 540 MDA 2022

            Appeal from the Orders Entered December 23, 2021
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County Orphans' Court at No(s):
                               44-11-215

BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and NICHOLS, J.

MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.:                     FILED JANUARY 11, 2023

      Steven Brungard (Appellant) purportedly appeals pro se from two

orders, both dated December 21, 2021, that were issued by the Orphans’

Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Mifflin County. The two orders

relate to distributions to Richard Metz (Richard) and Rose Marie Metz (Rose)

from the Estate of Catherine Metz (Decedent), Richard’s and Rose’s mother.

Following review, we affirm.

      During her lifetime, Decedent established an intervivos revocable trust

setting forth distributions that were to be made upon her death to her children,

Rose and Richard. Decedent amended the trust three times before she died

in 2011. Rose and Richard were alive when Decedent died and, therefore,

pursuant to the terms of the trust, were the sole remainder beneficiaries.

Rose died in 2018 and Richard died in 2020. Richard is survived by his wife,
J-S39027-22

Corrine Besser (Richard’s Wife), the petitioner below.       Appellant, who is

currently incarcerated, claims he is Rose’s common-law husband.

      Because Appellant allegedly filed an informal claim against Rose’s estate

as her common-law husband, Richard’s Wife filed a petition for declaratory

judgment for a determination of the appropriate trust distributions in the

underlying administration of Decedent’s estate.          The Orphans’ Court

subsequently scheduled a hearing on the common-law marriage issue.

      Following that hearing, the Orphans’ Court issued two orders, both

dated December 21, 2021. One of the orders, docketed on December 22,

2021, but time stamped December 21, 2021, granted Richard’s Wife’s petition

for declaratory judgment, specifically stating that Rose’s four vested payments

would pass to her brother Richard’s estate. The second order, docketed on

December 23, 2021, granted Richard’s Wife’s request for a demurrer, which

was requested orally at the December 21, 2021 hearing.               See N.T.,

12/21/2021, at 19. Richard’s Wife’s request for the demurrer was based on

the fact that Appellant had not established that a common-law marriage

existed between him and Rose.      Appellant presented no documentation or

testimony other than his own. As a result, the Orphans’ Court concluded that

Appellant had failed to meet the burden of proving the existence of a common-

law marriage, i.e., the demurrer was granted due to an insufficiency of

evidence. Id. at 20. Thus, it is evident that both orders result in a conclusion

that Richard’s Wife is the recipient of Decedent’s estate as stated in the order

granting Richard’s Wife’s petition for a declaratory judgment.      On April 5,

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2022, Appellant filed one notice of appeal stating that he was appealing from

the two orders dated December 21, 2021, and entered respectively on

December 22, 2021, and December 23, 2021.

       Before we may address the merits of Appellant’s appeal, we must

determine whether his appeal should be quashed. In fact, this Court entered

an order directing Appellant to show cause why the appeal should not be

quashed because his notice of appeal was untimely and because he filed one

notice of appeal from two orders. Appellant responded that his lack of access

to the prison library caused his untimeliness and that the order granting the

demurrer forms the basis for the order granting the declaratory judgment.

       In requesting the quashal of the appeal, Richard’s Wife claimed that

Appellant’s lack of access to the prison library does not excuse the

untimeliness. However, in reviewing the Orphans’ Court docket, we note that

it did not contain the requisite Orphans’ Court Rule 4.6 notice1 and, therefore,

____________________________________________

1 Orphans’ Court Rule 4.6, entitled “Notice of the Date of Entry of an
Adjudication or Court Order on the Docket,” states:

    (a)   The clerk shall immediately give written notice of the entry of
          an adjudication or court order in a particular matter to each
          interested party’s counsel of record or, if unrepresented to each
          interested party. The notice shall include a copy of the
          adjudication or court order.

    (b)   The clerk shall note in the docket the date when notice was
          given to the interested party or to his or her counsel under
          subparagraph (a) of this Rule.

See also Pa.R.Civ.P. 236.

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the time for filing an appeal had not yet begun to run, i.e., quashal based on

untimeliness would not be appropriate.

       Next, we address whether the one appeal from the two orders may go

forward, because, generally, taking one appeal from separate final orders is

not an acceptable practice and is discouraged. See General Electric Credit

Corp., 263 A.2d 448, 452 (Pa. 1970).2 However, “appellate courts have not

generally quashed [such] appeals, provided that the issues involved are nearly

identical, no objection to the appeal has been raised, and the period for appeal

has expired.” In the Interest of P.S., 158 A.3d 643, 648 (Pa. Super. 2017)

(quoting K.H. v. J.R., 826 A.2d 863, 870 (Pa. 2003)). Here, the issues are

intertwined, Richard’s Wife did not object to the single appeal from the two

orders, and at this point the appeal has been filed. Thus, we decline to quash

Appellant’s appeal.

       We now turn to the merits of Appellant’s appeal. In his brief, Appellant

sets forth the following seven issues for our review:

       1. Did the lower [c]ourt err by allowing me to answer a petition for
          declaratory judgment without having a copy of the petition?

____________________________________________

2 We note that both orders at issue here are final, appealable orders.
Specifically, the order granting Richard’s Wife’s petition for declaratory
judgment and directing that Rose’s vested payments be distributed to
Richard’s estate is appealable pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 342(a)(1) (permitting
appeal from Orphans’ Court order directing distribution from a trust). The
order granting the demurrer is appealable pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 342(a)(5)
(permitting appeal from Orphans’ Court order determining the status of
beneficiaries).

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      2. Did the lower [c]ourt err by interpreting my answer to the
         petition as a petition for status as a common law spouse to
         Rose Marie Metz?

      3. Did the lower [c]ourt err by not determining if I had counsel, if
         I had ability to represent myself, if I had sufficient time to
         recover essential documents, schedule witnesses[,] without
         guidance or assistance for presenting witnesses and gathering
         documents, appointing counsel?

      4. Did the lower [c]ourt err by ordering me to attend a hearing
         for common law status which I did not request nor consent to?

      5. Did the lower [c]ourt err by claimg [sic] jurisdiction over the
         estate of Rose Marie Metz who died in Cumberland County as
         a long[-]term resident, taxpayer and joint owner of real estate
         with Steven Brungard at 1 East Manor Avenue, Rear, Enola,
         Pennsylvania?

      6. Did the lower [c]ourt abuse its power by allowing prejudicial,
         inflamatory [sic] irrelevancies into the record?

      7. Did the lower [c]ourt err by not asking me if I wanted to litigate
         in Mifflin County or in Cumberland County nor discussing
         elements of jurisdiction with me?

Appellant’s brief at 5.

      In reviewing these issues, we begin by setting forth our standard of

review.

      Our standard of review of the findings of an Orphans’ Court is
      deferential.

            When reviewing a decree entered by the Orphans’
            Court, this Court must determine whether the record
            is free from legal error and the court’s factual findings
            are supported by the evidence. Because the Orphans’
            Court sits as the fact-finder, it determines the
            credibility of the witnesses and, on review, we will not
            reverse its credibility determinations absent an abuse
            of that discretion.

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           However, we are not constrained to give the same
           deference to any resulting legal conclusions.

     In re Estate of Harrison, 745 A.2d 676, 678-79 (Pa. Super.
     2000), appeal denied, 563 Pa. 646, 758 A.2d 1200 (2000)
     (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). “The Orphans’
     Court decision will not be reversed unless there has been an abuse
     of discretion or a fundamental error in applying the correct
     principles of law.” In re Estate of Luongo, 823 A.2d 942, 951
     (Pa. Super. 2003), appeal denied, 577 Pa. 722, 847 A.2d 1287
     (2003).

In re Fiedler, 132 A.3d 1010, 1018 (Pa. Super. 2016) (quoting In re

Estate of Whitley, 50 A.3d 203, 206-07 (Pa. Super. 2012)).

     We have reviewed the certified record, the briefs of the parties, the

applicable law, and the thorough opinion authored by the Honorable David W.

Barron, President Judge of the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of

Common Pleas of Mifflin County, dated April 29, 2022. We conclude that Judge

Barron’s well-reasoned opinion appropriately disposes of the issues presented

by Appellant and his accompanying arguments, which are essentially attacking

the findings and credibility determinations of the court. See Fiedler, supra.

Accordingly, we adopt Judge Barron’s opinion as our own and affirm the orders

from which Appellant appealed.

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     Orders affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/11/2023

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                                                                                               Circulated 12/19/2022 10:57 AM

                                                                                      I.

          IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MIFFLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

IN RE;                                                                                  No. 4411.-215

ESTATE OF CATHERINE M. METZ

                                Statement in Compliance with Pa .R.A.P. 1925

         AND NOW, this,              •    day of April, 2022, having reviewed the docket entries and

Appellant's Concise Statement of Matters Complained of On Appeal Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.

1925, this Court addresses Appellant's issues below'.

    I.   Did the lower court err by allowing me to answer apetition for declaratory judgment

             without having acopy of the petition?

         Appellant did not ask this Court for the copy of the Petition. In fact, in Appellant's letter

dated September 23, 2021, to Barbara Stinger, former Register and Recorder, Appellant did not

ask for a copy of the Petition.            Rather Appellant asked Barbra Stringer, former Register and

Recorder, to inform this Court of his incarcerated status, that he would like an opportunity to

respond via mail, and that he was obtaining a copy of the Petition from Katelyn Rohrbaugh,

Esq., who he believed to be Petitioner's attorney.

         On October 4, 2021, Appellant filed aletter that he deemed to be a "response to aPetition

for Declaratory Judgment" in which he asserted he was the Common Law Spouse of Rose Marie

'This Court notes that there was an administrative issue with Appellant '
                                                                        sappeal which resulted in this Court not issuing a
formal 1925 Order to Appellant.This Court instead used Appellant '  sissues laid out in his brief to the Superior Court as
Appellant's Concise Statement of Matters Complained on Appeal to write its Opinion, as to not delay the Superior Court any
longer.

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                                                                                                                                12,
Metz, leading this Court to believe he had in fact received acopy of the Petition. At no point

did Appellant during the December 21, 2021 hearing mention not having acopy of the Petition,

and this Court additionally provided the transcript of the September 30, 2021 hearing to

Appellant, so he would be adequately prepared for the subsequent hearing.

   II. Did the lower court err by interpreting my answer to the petition as a petition for

          status as acommon law spouse of Rose Marie Metz?

       This Court did not treat Appellant's Answer to the Petition as aPetition for status as a

common law spouse, rather this Court treated Appellant's Answer to the Petition as an Answer.

This Court had to determine if Appellant's position that he was indeed Rose Marie Metz's

common law spouse to determine if Appellant had standing in the instant case.         Appellant

having provided no evidence to this Court that he was indeed Rose Marie Metz's common law

spouse, this Court did not rule in Appellant's favor.

   III.Did the lower court err by not determining if I had counsel, if I had ability to

          represent myself, if Ihad sufficient time to recover essential documents, schedule

          witnesses, without guidance or assistance for presenting witnesses and gathering

          documents, appointing counsel?

      In issue three, Appellant apparently takes issue with this Court not providing counsel for

Appellant, and not performing a colloquy on Appellant's desire to represent himself, or his

ability to represent himself.   As Appellant is not a minor nor is he an incapacitated person,

Appellant is not entitled to court appointed counsel in this proceeding.

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          Had Appellant filed at any time aMotion for Continuance to obtain counsel, it is this

Court's routine practice to grant such motions, but Appellant neither filed amotion nor made

an oral request at the hearing asking for such.

   IV.Did the lower court err by ordering me to attend a hearing for common law status

             which Idid not request nor consent to?

      Appellant was not forced to attend ahearing for the Petition for Declaratory Judgement,

nor was he transported against his will. Appellant was set up to attend the hearing via video

conference. Appellant in afiling dated September 23, 2021, stated in pertinent part "The cost of

having the Pa. Dept. of Corrections transport me to and from the hearing beyond my ability to

pay..."     This Court did not order a fetch for Appellant to be transferred and instead set

Appellant up via video conferencing via PolyCom, and if Appellant did not want to attend,

Appellant was never under obligation by this Court to attend said hearing.

   V. Did the lower court err by claiming jurisdiction over the estate of Rose Marie Metz

            who died in Cumberland County as along term resident, taxpayer and joint owner

            of real estate with Steven Brungard at Z East Manor Avenue, Rear, Enola,

            Pennsylvania?

      This Court did not handle the Estate of Rose Marie Metz.      The only mention of Rose

Marie Metz's estate was during ahearing on September 30, 2021, was that Rose Marie Metz's

estate should be handled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.         The declaratory judgment

granted by this Court was for the irrevocable trust of the deceased Catherine M. Metz, as it

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related to Catherine M. Metz's deceased children, R. Thomas Metz, and Rose Marie Metz. To

this Court's knowledge, Rose Marie Metz died intestate and no estate has been opened at time

of hearing.

    VI.Did the     lower Court abuse         its power by allowing prejudicial, inflammatory

            irrelevancies into the record?

       Appellant alleges this Court allowed prejudicial, inflammatory irrelevancies into the

record because this Court discussed Appellant's incarceration.       This Court can only assume

Appellant is referencing mentions by this Court and opposing counsel of Appellant's state

sentence. During the September 30, 2021, this Court specifically stated that Appellant's sentence

was likely irrelevant. During the December 21, 2021 hearing, this Court again questioned the

relevance of mentioning Appellant's sentence, to which opposing counsel stated it was in

reference to acrimen falsi crime to undercut Appellant's testimony. Further, Appellant was not

prejudiced by these brief discussions of Appellant's criminal activity and length of Appellant's

sentence.   This Court made it clear to Appellant that this Court could not rule in his favor

because he failed to provide any evidence of his common law spousal status during the hearing.

   VII.     Did the lower court err by not asking me if Iwanted to litigate in Mifflin County or

            in Cumberland County nor discussing elements of jurisdiction with me?

      This Court is under no obligation to discuss jurisdiction with Appellant. It is well-settled

that "any layperson choosing to represent themselves in a legal proceeding must, to some

reasonable extent, assume the risk that their lack of expertise and legal training will prove their

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undoing." Vann v. Com., Unemployment Compensation Bd. Of Review, 494 A.2d 1081, 1086 (Pa.

1985); see Mueller v. State Police Headquarters, 532 A.2d 900, 902 (Pa. Cmwlth. Ctr. 1987) (
                                                                                           citing

Com. v. Lamb, 316 A.2d 148 (Pa. Cmwlth. Ct. 1974)) ("While pleadings filed by pro se litigants

are to be construed liberally, apro se litigant is not to be given any particular advantage because

of his lack of knowledge of the law.").

        Appellant proceeded in this matter pro se, and while this Court liberally construed his

pleadings in this case, and in turn, gave Appellant an opportunity to prove his standing in this

matter, this Court cannot and will not educate Appellant on the law, and act as Appellant's

counsel.

        As Appellant's Statement of Matters Complained on Appeal are without merit, this

Court respectfully requests the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirm.

                                                BY THE COURT:

                                                DAVID W. BARRON
                                                PRESIDENT JUDGE

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      'Justin Tomevi, Esq.
                                                                                       R MY ZIQZ

     ,1., Alex Snyder, Esq.
     -'MacGregor J. Briilhart, Esq.
       Steven R. Brungard
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