Court Opinion

ID: 4541093
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-12 15:12:19.14925+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:21.457685
License: Public Domain

J-S19034-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 S.M.                                   :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                        :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                        :
              v.                        :
                                        :
                                        :
 J.M.,                                  :
                                        :
                     Appellant          :         No. 1895 EDA 2019

                Appeal from the Order Entered May 30, 2019
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County
                   Civil Division at No(s): 2009-05033-DI

BEFORE: BOWES, J., McCAFFERY, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                           Filed: June 11, 2020

     J.M. (“Husband”) appeals from the Order denying his “Petition for

Special Relief in the Nature of a Request to Open the Divorce Matter for

Production of an Accounting and Joinder of an Indispensable Party as well as

a Finding of Contempt” (“Petition”). We affirm.

     The trial court summarized the relevant history underlying the instant

appeal as follows:

            [Husband and S.M. (“Wife”)] married in April 2000. One
     child, who is still a minor, was born to them during the marriage.
     [Wife] filed a Divorce Complaint on May 1, 2009.

            After extensive discovery disputes, several interim
     proceedings, and five settlement conferences before the
     [e]quitable [d]istribution [m]aster, the parties resolved their
     equitable distribution and support issues via [a] marital
     agreement [(“Agreement”)] placed on the record before [a
     hearing master] on June 22, 2017. Each party waived their right
     to file exceptions[,] and agreed [that] they had disclosed all
     marital and non-marital assets and liabilities. A portion of their
     [Agreement] involved their companion support matter; they
J-S19034-20

     agreed that their monthly net incomes were “as determined by
     tax returns.” The [] [A]greement was incorporated into the
     Divorce Decree [(“Decree”)] entered [on] November 6, 2017.

           At a subsequent … child support settlement conference a
     year later (November 27, 2018), [Wife] acknowledged that (at
     some point) during the divorce litigation, she gave her mother
     $3,000.00 to hold for her. She stated that the funds came from
     her post-separation earnings[,] which earnings were fully
     disclosed on her relevant tax returns. She claimed that she
     entrusted the funds to her mother because she had been saving
     to pay first and last months’ rent and security deposit for her
     eventual departure from the marital real estate and she didn’t
     want to spend it.

           Through counsel, [Husband] filed the instant Petition on
     December 6, 2018, asserting that the $3,000.00 was an asset
     (either marital or non-marital) that should have been disclosed,
     and the failure to do so calls into question the veracity of all [of
     Wife’s] disclosures and the fairness of the [A]greement.

            [Wife] respond[ed] that not only did she disclose her
     multiple sources of employment income, she filed tax returns
     reporting it through the divorce litigation; they were part of the
     record, and were taken into account when the parties determined
     their child support and alimony pendente lite.

Trial Court Opinion, 10/25/19, at 2-3.

     The trial court ordered the parties to brief the issues, after which it

entered an Order denying Husband’s Petition. Husband subsequently filed the

instant timely appeal, followed by a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Concise

Statement of matters complained of on appeal.

     Husband presents the following claims for our review:

     1. Did the trial court err when it failed to hold a hearing with
        regard to Husband’s [Petition] and instead based its decision,
        including a determination of the credibility of the parties, solely
        on the written argument of the parties’ counsel?

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      2. Did the trial court err when it failed to order that the divorce
         action be opened[,] given the fraud Wife perpetrated on the
         [c]ourt?

      3. Did the trial court err when it failed to even consider the
         imposition of a [c]onstructive [t]rust with respect to the money
         given by Wife to her mother[,] even though the amount
         admitted to be given by Wife to her mother was in excess of
         the statutory amount required for said [c]onstructive [t]rust?

      4. Did the trial court err when it failed to rule on or even consider
         ordering that Wife’s mother be named an indispensable party
         and joined to the divorce action[,] so [that] the [c]ourt had
         jurisdiction over the discovery and disposition of the funds
         provided by Wife in her custody and control?

      5. Did the trial court err in refusing to find Wife in contempt and
         sanction her willful violations of [the trial court’s] [O]rders and
         for her perjury, including an award of counsel fees and costs,
         making credibility determinations and findings of fact without
         testimony and without the submission of any evidence?

      6. Did the trial court err when it failed to even consider ordering
         an accounting and permit discovery with regard to the money
         given by Wife to her mother to “hold for her” during the
         pendency of the divorce matter?

Brief for Appellant at 4-5 (issues renumbered).

      Initially, we observe our standard of review: “A trial court’s exercise or

refusal to exercise its authority to open, vacate, or strike a divorce decree is

reviewable on appeal for an abuse of discretion.” Bardine v. Bardine, 194

A.3d 150, 152 (Pa. Super. 2018).

      Husband first claims that the trial court improperly failed to hold a

hearing on his Petition. Brief for Appellant at 15. Husband claims that the

trial court rendered credibility determinations and found facts, without first

holding an evidentiary hearing. Id. at 16. According to Husband, there was

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no evidence upon which the trial court could render these findings. Id. at 16-

17. However, Husband provides no analysis and no citations to relevant legal

authorities to support his bald assertion.

      As this Court has explained,

      [t]he Rules of Appellate Procedure require the argument section
      of an appellate brief to include “citation of authorities as are
      deemed pertinent.” Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a). It is not the role of this
      Court to develop an appellant’s argument where the brief provides
      mere cursory legal discussion. Commonwealth v. Johnson, …
      985 A.2d 915, 925 (Pa. 2009) …; see also In re C.R., … 113 A.3d
      328, 336 (Pa. Super. 2015) … (“This Court will not consider an
      argument where an appellant fails to cite to any legal authority or
      otherwise develop the issue.”).

Lechowicz v. Moser, 164 A.3d 1271, 1276 (Pa. Super. 2017). Consequently,

we cannot grant Husband relief on this claim. See id.

      In his second claim, Husband argues that the trial court improperly

failed to open the Decree, “given the fraud [that] Wife perpetrated on the

court.” Brief for Appellant at 17.   Husband contends that Wife committed

fraud by the following actions:

         Wife’s pretrial statement did not provide the required full
          disclosure of both marital and non-marital assets along with
          their values.

         Wife’s inventory pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1920.33(a) did not list
          all property owned or possessed by either party, as required.

         Wife’s inventory of property pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
          [§] 3505(b) did not list all property owned or possessed by
          either or both of them on the date of acquisition, the date of
          separation or thirty days prior to the equitable distribution
          hearing[.]?

Brief for Husband at 18-19.

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      As this Court has explained,

      [p]etitions to open the decree must be filed within 30 days.
      During this 30-day period, the court holds wide discretion to
      modify or rescind its decree. The trial court’s broad discretion is
      lost, however, if the court fails to act within 30 days. After this
      30-day period, an order can only be opened or vacated if there is
      fraud or some other circumstance so grave or compelling as to
      constitute extraordinary cause justifying intervention by the court.
      ... [A] general plea to economic justice will not satisfy the
      stringent standard set forth above. After 30 days, the divorce
      decree may be vacated only as a result of extrinsic fraud,
      lack of subject matter jurisdiction, or a fatal defect
      apparent on the face of the record.

Melton v. Melton, 831 A.2d 646, 651 (Pa. Super. 2003) (internal citations

and quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added).

      In its Opinion, the trial court addressed this claim and concluded that it

lacks merit. See Trial Court Opinion, 10/25/19, at 3-6. We agree with the

sound reasoning of the trial court, and affirm on this basis with regard to

Husband’s second claim. See id.; see also Major v. Major, 518 A.2d 1267,

1273 (Pa. Super. 1986) (concluding that the failure to disclose an asset, i.e.,

a military pension, did not amount to extrinsic fraud).

      In his third claim, Husband argues that the trial court erred when it

failed to consider the imposition of a constructive trust, “with regard to the

money given by Wife to her mother[.]” Brief for Appellant at 20. According

to Husband, the trial court improperly ignored his request that a constructive

trust be imposed.    Id.   Husband contends that, pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.

§ 3502, the remedy of a constructive trust is not bound by the time

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constrictions of fraud, “rather, it may be raised at any time where it appears

that there is nondisclosure of an asset valued more than $1000.” Id. at 21.

Husband argues that it is unclear whether the source of the funds given by

Wife to her mother was marital or non-marital. Id. Husband asserts that

Wife failed to disclose the amount and location of these “secreted funds.” Id.

at 22. Husband asserts that the trial court should have imposed a constructive

trust and directed Wife to disclose the true nature and amount of the

previously undisclosed funds during the divorce proceedings. Id.

      Our review of the record discloses that, in his Petition, Husband

expressly sought to open the Decree “to consider Wife’s true financial

circumstances[,]” and to join Wife’s mother as an indispensable party to the

divorce matter. Petition, 12/6/18, at 5 (unnumbered). Husband averred that

the Agreement “was made without the knowledge of this money that could be

partly marital and should be considered when determining the financial

circumstances of the parties upon the entry of the [Decree].”         Id. at 5

(unnumbered).

      Husband filed his Petition seeking the opening of the Decree, based upon

section 3332 of the Divorce Code. See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3332. Section provides

as follows:

      § 3332. Opening or vacating decrees

      A motion to open a decree of divorce or annulment may be made
      only within the period limited by 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 5505 (relating
      to modification of orders) and not thereafter. The motion may lie
      where it is alleged that the decree was procured by intrinsic fraud

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      or that there is new evidence relating to the cause of action which
      will sustain the attack upon its validity. A motion to vacate a
      decree or strike a judgment alleged to be void because of extrinsic
      fraud, lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter or a fatal defect
      apparent upon the face of the record must be made within five
      years after entry of the final decree. Intrinsic fraud relates to a
      matter adjudicated by the judgment, including perjury and false
      testimony, whereas extrinsic fraud relates to matters collateral to
      the judgment which have the consequence of precluding a fair
      hearing or presentation of one side of the case.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3322.

      Husband’s Petition did not seek the imposition of a constructive trust,

which remedy is provided under section 3505 of the Divorce Code, see 23

Pa.C.S.A. § 3505; rather, the relief sought by Husband required opening of

the Decree pursuant to section 3332. See Petition, 12/6/18. We discern no

abuse of discretion or error by the trial court in addressing only the request

for relief set forth in the Petition. See Kozel v. Kozel, 97 A.3d 767, 770 (Pa.

Super. 2017) (recognizing that “section 3505 [is] an alternative and distinct

cause of action to section 3332.”).    Accordingly, Husband is not entitled to

relief on this claim.

      In his fourth claim, Husband argues that the trial court improperly failed

to consider or address his request that Wife’s mother be named an

indispensable party and joined to the divorce action. Brief for Appellant at 22.

However, because Husband failed to establish extrinsic fraud warranting the

opening of the Decree, this claim is moot.

      Similarly, in his fifth claim, Husband argues that the trial court

improperly failed to address Husband’s claim for an accounting. Id. at 26.

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Husband argues that the trial court improperly failed to permit discovery

regarding funds given by Wife to her mother. Id. However, we discern no

error or abuse of discretion by the trial court in not addressing or ordering an

accounting, where Husband had failed to establish the extrinsic fraud required

to open the Decree. As such, we cannot grant Husband relief on this claim.

      Finally, Husband argues that the trial court improperly denied Husband’s

request to find Wife in contempt of the trial court’s prior Orders. Id. at 24.

However, in his brief, Husband does not identify the Orders at issue, beyond

a citation to a page in the Reproduced Record on which the scheduling Order

for the fourth settlement conference is depicted (“Scheduling Order”). Id. at

25. Our review of the certified record discloses that the Scheduling Order

directed the parties to produce certain items at a settlement conference.

Scheduling Order, 5/9/16.         In his brief, Husband does not set forth the

provision of the Scheduling Order purportedly violated by Wife, or how it

established   extrinsic   fraud    warranting   the   opening   of   the   Decree.

Consequently, this claim is waived. See M.Z.T.M.W., 163 A.3d 465, 462 (Pa.

Super. 2017) (recognizing that this Court will not review a claim unless it is

developed in the argument section of the appellant’s brief).

      Order affirmed.

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J-S19034-20

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 6/11/20

                          -9-
151. DECISION BY THE HONORABLE KATHERINE B.L. PLATT COPIES SENT TO ALL
                                                    Circulated 06/11/2020 02:02 PM
COUNSEL AND UNREPRESENTED PARTIES

 S.-M ...                                     IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

                 Plaintiff,                   CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

       vs.                                    CIVIL ACTION-LAW

 J-M-                                         NO. 2009-05033-DI
     Defendant.

Dolores M. Troiani, Attorney for Plaintiff
Barbara Schneider, Attorney for Defendant

                                      DECISION

      This matter comes before me on Defendant J• �·s "Petition for

Special Relief in the Nature of a Request to Open the Divorce Matter for Production

of an Accounting and Joinder of an Indispensable Party as well as a Finding of

Contempt." Plaintiff� Mtlll.lfiled an Answer thereto, and the parties have

submitted memoranda of law.

      The primary issue at bar is whether Plaintiff's (S••••
                                                         I   ) failure to disclose

$3,000 being held by her mother for some period during their 8 years of divorce

litigation amounts to extrinsic fraud justifying the opening of the parties' November 6,

2017 Divorce Decree.      If the divorce is opened, Defendant (Jlill) seeks extensive

discovery of s-·s "true" financial circumstances during the divorce, and

accounting of all funds given to third parties, the joinder of s-·s mother, as well

as a finding of contempt and sanctions. If, on the other hand, extrinsic fraud is not

found, the Divorce Decree will not be opened and the parties will continue to be

bound by their marital agreement which was incorporated into their Divorce Decree.

      Secondarily, J.- seeks to have S- held in contempt for failing to

disclose assets as required by discovery and pretrial conference Orders.
        For the reasons that follow, I find neither extrinsic fraud nor contempt, and

have denied both parties' request for counsel fees.

        BACKGROUND
        The parties were married in April 2000. One child, who is still a minor, was

born to them during the marriage.     � filed a Divorce Complaint on May 1,

2009.

        After extensive discovery disputes, several interim proceedings, and five

settlement conferences before the Equitable Distribution Master, the parties resolved

their equitable distribution and support issues via marital agreement placed on the

record before Master Julia Malloy-Good on June 22, 2017. Each party waived their

right to file exceptions and agreed they had disclosed all marital and non-marital

assets and liabilities. A portion of their global agreement involved their companion

support matter; they agreed that their monthly net incomes were "as determined by

tax returns."   The marital agreement was incorporated into the Divorce Decree

entered November 6, 2017.

        At a subsequent Long Day child support settlement conference a year later

(November 27, 2018), � acknowledge that (at some point) during the divorce

litigation, she gave her mother $3,000.00 to hold for her. She stated that the funds

came from her post-separation earnings which earnings were fully disclosed on her

relevant tax returns. She claimed that she entrusted the funds to her mother because

she had been saving to pay first and last months' rent and security deposit for her

eventual departure from the marital real estate and she didn't want to spend it.

        Through counsel,   Jt9   filed the instant Petition on December 6, 2018,

asserting that the $3,000.00 was an asset (either marital or non-marital) that should

                                           2
have been disclosed, and failure to do so calls into question the veracity of all

s-·s disclosures and the fairness of the agreement.

       � responds that not only did she disclose her multiple sources of

employment income, she filed tax returns reporting it throughout the divorce litigation;

they were part of the record, and were taken into account when the parties

determined their child support and alimony pendente lite.

      LEGAL ISSUE - EXTRINSIC FRAUD

      As a general rule, the ability of a Court to alter an Order or Decree is very

limited. "Except as otherwise provided or prescribed by law, a court upon notice to

the parties may modify or rescind any order within 30 days after its entry ... if not

appeal from such order has been taken or allowed." 42 Pa. C.S.A. §5505.

      Within the divorce setting, that general rule also applies.        However, the

Divorce Code also sets forth circumstances under which the Court may take action

beyond the 30 day limit. 23 Pa. C.S.A. §3332 provides that:

      A motion to open a decree of divorce or annulment may be made
      only within the period limited by 42 Pa. C.S. §5505 (relating to
      modification of orders) and not thereafter. The motion may lie
      where it is alleged that the decree was procured by intrinsic fraud or
      that there is new evidence relating to the cause of action which will
      sustain the attack upon its validity. A motion to vacate a decree or
      strike a judgment alleged to be void because of extrinsic fraud, lack
      of jurisdiction over the subject matter or a fatal defect apparent
      upon the face of the record must be made within five years after
      entry of the final decree.       Intrinsic fraud relates to a matter
      adjudicated by the judgment, including perjury and false testimony,
      whereas extrinsic fraud relates to matter collateral to the judgment
      which have the consequence of precluding a fair hearing or
      presentation of one side of the case.

      The instant Petition was brought more than a year after the entry of the

Divorce Decree.    ... asserts that s-·s failure to disclose the $3,000.00

                                           3
savings held by her mother is extrinsic fraud which precluded him form a fair hearing.

If that is shown, the time limit to open is extended to five (5) years, and his filing

would be timely.     Not surprisingly,   Simm       denies that her failure to explicitly

disclose what she characterizes as a relatively small amount of post-separation

savings was fraudulent, thus requests the Decree not be opened.

       The intent of statutory limits on opening or modifying orders is to establish

finality in litigation where the parties have had their "day in court."   As important as

finality is to our judicial system, the Court is not expected to throw up its hands if it

determines its judgment was reached as a result extrinsic fraud.

       "By the expression of 'extrinsic or collateral fraud' is meant some
       act or conduct of the prevailing party which has prevented a fair
       submission of the controversy. Among these are the keeping of the
       defeated party away from Court by false promise of compromise or
       keeping him in ignorance of the action. Another instance is where
       an attorney without authority pretends to represent a party and
       corruptly connives at his defeat, or where an attorney has been
       regularly employed and corruptly sells out his client's interest. The
       fraud on such case is extrinsic or collateral to the question
       determined by the Court. The reason for the rule is that there must
       be an end to litigation ... "

       Fenstermaker v. Fenstermaker, 502 A.2d 185, 188 (Pa. Super. 1985), quoting

McEvoy v. Quaker City Cab Co., 110 A. 366, 368 (Pa. 1920).See Bardine v. Bardine,

194 A.3rd 150, 153 (Pa. Super. 2018).

       In Fenstermaker, the Superior Court upheld a finding of extrinsic fraud where

Appellant had been justifiably lulled into not appealing a Divorce Decree by

assurances that property settlement negotiations would be ongoing.

       Similarly in Foley v. Foley, 572 A.2d 6 (Pa. Super. 1990), the husband's

intimidation of wife justified the vacation of the Divorce Decree fifteen months after its

entry because "the actions of appellant did intimidate appellee to the extend she was

                                            4
fearful of undertaking any effort to secure the economic justice to which she was

entitled, ... because she was thereby denied an opportunity for a fair trial [the wife] had

established the existence of extrinsic fraud." Id at 9.

       The value of marital or non-marital property is a central issue in divorce

proceedings.     Under no circumstances can it be considered "collateral" where

ancillary relief is pleaded, subject to intensive discovery and negotiated at length.

       Indeed, the failure to disclose an asset or investment as to the value of an

asset does not in itself justify vacating a Divorce Decree, particularly where, as here,

the stipulated property settlement was arrived at by extensive and counseled

negotiation.   See Ratarsky v. Ratarsky, 557 A.2d 23 (Pa. Super. 1989).          See also

Bardine v. Bardine, 194 A.3rd 150 (Pa. Super. 2018).

       In the instant case, the parties had been litigating issues with the divorce for

more than 8 years. They attended at leave five (5) settlement conferences before the

Special Master. They reached a counseled, thorough property settlement agreement

resolving all economic claims, including support.            �s post-separation

earnings from her multiple jobs was disclosed and documented by tax returns. The

disposition of post-separation (non-marital) income is not explicitly required to be

disclosed by the Divorce Code, although it could be argued (as John has) that

ongoing disclosure of even non-marital assets is required.

      S.-..       persuasively argues that even if disposition of her earnings is

mandated, there has been no prejudice to� Her full income (including anything

she was able to save from it) was used in negotiating the property settlement as well

as arriving at a support and alimony pendente lite figure. It is well settled that money

included in the calculation of income available for support may not also be included

                                             5
as a marital asset subject to equitable distribution. Berry v. Berry, 898 A.2d 1100

(Pa. Super. 2006).

       Unlike the circumstances where extrinsic fraud was found in Fenstermaker

and Foley, here there was unhindered access to legal process (repeatedly) and

� did not preclude �rom negotiating a fair settlement (or having a trial if

he had so desired). The issue of Shannon's earnings was central to the divorce and

support matters, and was fully disclosed. Having utilized her post-separation earnings

to calculate support as part of their agreement, those same funds could not have

been considered as available for distribution in equitable distribution.

       For the foregoing reasons, I do not find that � has met his burden of

establishing extrinsic fraud sufficient to justify opening the Divorce Decree entered

November 6, 2017.

       CONTEMPT

      All, argues that S- has violated the various discovery and/or
settlement conference Orders issued during the pendency of the divorce, requiring

the parties to produce documentation of all marital and non-marital assets.

      "To sustain a finding of civil contempt, the complainant must prove, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that:
      (1) The contemnor had notice of the specific order or decree which he is
          alleged to have disobeyed;
      (2) The act constituting the contemnor's violation was volitional; and
      (3) The contemnor acted within wrongful intent."

Thomas v. Thomas, 194 A.3rd 220, 226 (Pa. Super. 2018), quoting MacDougal v.

MacDougal, 49 A.3rd 890, 892 (Pa. Super. 2012). Nevertheless, "a mere showing of

non-compliance with a court order, or even misconduct, is never sufficient alone to

prove civil contempt." Thomas, supra at 226, quoting Habjan v. Habjan, 73 A.3rd 630,

637 (Pa. Super. 2013).
                                            6
       � knew she was under an obligation to disclose to ... and the Court

all her marital and non-marital assets. She believes she did so, and argues that she

has no obligation to disclose the disposition of her post-separation earnings.

interpret Jes argument to be that if post-separation earnings become savings, any

savings account or fund is a disclosable non-marital asset.

       Even if I accept �·s position, arguendo, it does not by itself allow a finding

of civil contempt.   J9 must also convince       me that �·s failure to disclose was

intentional and done with wrongful intent.

       I am not persuaded that � willfully failed to disclose assets.               She

assumed, as argued by her counsel, that the only relevance to her post-separation

earnings (and   "'9s, as well) was in determining their respective support obligations.
� did provide post-separation tax returns in both the divorce and support

aspects of the divorce proceedings.

       Thus, I find that �·s failure to disclose the disposition of her post-

separation earnings was arguably misguided, there is no proof it was done willfully or

with wrongful intent.

       Accordingly, J•'s request that I hold � in contempt is denied.

       COUNSEL FEES

       Both J- and      S.- seek counsel fees.          Jllllllseeks them as a sanction

for �·s alleged contempt. As I have not found � to have willfully failed

to comply with the Orders, I will not sanction her for her "mere" non-compliance.

       � seeks counsel fees under 42 Pa. C.S.A. §2503(7) and/or (9), which

provide for an award of reasonable counsel fees to:

       (7) any participant. .. as a sanction against another participant of
       dilatory obdurate or vexatious conduct during the pendency of the
                                             7
       matter ...
       (9) any participant. .. because the conduct of the other party in
       commencing the matter ... was arbitrary, vexatious or in bad faith.

       sitlllllllllllt claims that brining the Petition to Open was arbitrary and done in
bad faith. She asserts that at the 2018 support conference when she produced the

deposit slip which showed the $3,000.00 her mother had been holding for her, no

request for explanation or clarification was made - formally or informally. He simply

filed this Petition alleging fraud.

       While I have ultimately determined that the relief he seeks is unavailing,

cannot conclude that he acted in bad faith. Thus, no fees will be awarded.

                                          BY THE COURT:

                                          Katherine B. L. Platt,                J.

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