Court Opinion

ID: 4370415
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-22 20:36:50.976739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:22:15.918973
License: Public Domain

J-A23009-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 ANDREW D. HEARY                         :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :         PENNSYLVANIA
                    Appellant            :
                                         :
                                         :
              v.                         :
                                         :
                                         :
 DINA M. DICENZO                         :    No. 233 WDA 2018

                  Appeal from the Order February 6, 2018
     In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                         No(s): FD-07-00810-006

BEFORE: BOWES, J., SHOGAN, J., and STABILE, J.

MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.:                        FILED FEBRUARY 22, 2019

      Andrew D. Heary (“Father”) appeals pro se from the February 6, 2018

order dismissing his exceptions to the November 27, 2017 Report and

Recommendation of the hearing officer regarding child support for two minor

children (“the Children”). We affirm.

      The trial court set forth the relevant history underlying this matter as

follows:

            The parties married in 2000, separated in 2007 and divorced
      in 2010. They have two children[.] . . . [Dina A. Dicenzo
      (“Mother”)] is an OB/GYN. Father is disabled. Mother filed a
      complaint in divorce on October 2, 2007. Father filed a complaint
      for custody on October 11, 2007[,] and a long, arduous and
      acrimonious custody battle began. [The parties share physical
      custody of the Children equally, and Mother has sole legal
      custody]. The case has a long history of the parties fighting over
      scheduling, extracurricular activities and certain health issues of
      the children. In addition to child support, Mother pays $400 per
      month to Father to defray the costs of his medical expenses.
J-A23009-18

               Father filed a Petition for Modification on September 11,
        2017. Neither party motioned the court to have the matter
        deemed complex. A hearing was held on November 24, 2017.
        Father and Mother both appeared and testified. The hearing
        officer set Mother’s net monthly income at $23,723 and Father’s
        net monthly income at $2,272. She took into consideration the
        $400 per month Mother pays to Father for his medical expenses
        and set a guideline order of $3,198 per month. Father filed
        exceptions which were denied by order dated February 6, 2018.
        Father timely appealed [and filed a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.
        1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal
        raising 28 issues.]

Trial Court Opinion, 4/16/18, at 1-2 (cleaned up).

        On appeal, Father raises the following issues for our review:

        1. Can Judge [Kim] Eaton ignore Edelstein v. Edelstein[1] and
           destroy [F]ather and [the C]hildren’s 10[-]year home?

        2. Can Judge Eaton ignore the law?

        3. Can Judge Eaton be blatantly prejudiced on and off the record?

        4. Can Judge Eaton ignore medical proof that she has harmed the
           [C]hildren?

        5. Can Judge Eaton allow [Mother’s counsel] to lie when she
           knows [counsel] is lying?

        6. Can Judge Eaton go unpunished for killing a disabled [F]ather
           who has been the primary caregiver of the [C]hildren all of their
           lives?

        7. Can Judge Eaton ignore the fact that she has directly harmed
           the [C]hildren by harming the [F]ather?

        8. Are the trial court’s reasons for its ruling so unfocused, and so
           vague as to not be discernable from the record?

____________________________________________

1   582 A.2d 1074 (Pa.Super. 1990).

                                           -2-
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      9. Can a judge just “make up stuff” that is not supported in the
         record or by evidence- when the record is clear on the issue?

      10. Can a judge cause direct medical harm to a child and then
         refuse to recognize clear facts that her decision has done so?

      11. Can a judge hurt the [C]hildren she is supposed to protect
         without recourse?

      12. Can Judge Eaton’s failure to consistently ignore the PA Law
         on the following factors?

                 unusual needs and unusual fixed obligations
                 other support obligations
                 other household income
                 the child’s age
                 the relative assets and liabilities of the parents
                 medical expenses not covered by insurance
                 standard of living, and
                 other factors, including the best interests of the child
                  law?

      13.     Can Judge Eaton be so vague?

              (a)    . . . the trial court cannot expect the appellant to file
                     a Rule 1925(b) statement that is not vague when the
                     trial court has “given absolutely no indication of the
                     reasons for its decision.”

      14. If “Statement of Questions Involved” can only constitute an
         educated guess as to the trial court’s reasoning based upon the
         issues presented, does the appellant have additional ability to
         preserve his arguments based on what the trial was really
         supposed to be about , and not a tangential issue of what the
         judge tried to make it about?

Appellant’s brief at 5-8.

      We must first determine whether Appellant’s issues are preserved for

our review.       Pennsylvania courts have repeatedly held that an appellant

waives all matters for review where he identifies an outrageous number of

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issues in the concise statement. See Jones v. Jones, 878 A.2d 86 (Pa.Super.

2005) (holding that a seven-page, twenty-nine issue statement resulted in

waiver). This Court may also find waiver where a concise statement is too

vague. See In re A.B., 63 A.3d 345, 350 (Pa.Super. 2013) (“When a court

has to guess what issues an appellant is appealing, that is not enough for

meaningful review.”) (citation omitted).

      Here, the trial court ordered Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise

statement. In response, Father filed a document raising twenty-eight matters

of which he complained. Although Rule 1925(b) dictates that the number of

issues raised in a concise statement will not be grounds for finding waiver,

this principle applies only “[w]here non-redundant, non-frivolous issues are

set forth in an appropriately concise manner[.]”     Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(iv);

see also Kanter v. Epstein, 866 A.2d 394, 401 (Pa.Super. 2004) (holding

that “[b]y raising an outrageous number of issues” in a Rule 1925(b)

statement, an appellant impedes the trial court’s ability to prepare an opinion

addressing the issues on appeal, thereby effectively precluding appellate

review).

      The trial court described Appellant’s concise statement as “a rambling

dissertation on Pennsylvania child support guidelines and contains 28

numbered paragraphs accusing the [trial c]ourt, the [h]earing [o]fficer, and

Mother’s counsel of a number of improprieties.” Trial Court Opinion, 4/16/18,

at 2. Based on its review of the document, the trial court considered there to

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be only one relevant issue; namely, Father’s claim that this is not a guideline

support case and he is entitled to an upward deviation because the parties are

not similarly situated financially and he has extraordinarily high expenses for

himself and the Children. Id.

      Based on our review, we agree with the trial court’s characterization of

the concise statement, as well as its determination as to the single relevant

issue sufficiently raised therein.   Thus, we deem that to be the sole issue

preserved for our review. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(ii) and (vii).

      Our standard of review of a support order is well-settled:

      We review child support awards for an abuse of discretion. A court
      does not commit an abuse of discretion merely by making an error
      of judgment. Rather, a court abuses its discretion if it exercises
      judgment that is manifestly unreasonable or the result of
      partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will as shown by the evidence of
      record. [An appellate court] will not disturb a support order unless
      the trial court failed to consider properly the requirements of the
      rules governing support actions. Additionally, [if the] appeal
      presents questions of law, . . . “our standard of review is de novo
      and our scope of review is plenary” for such questions.

Hanrahan v. Bakker, 186 A.3d 958, 966 (Pa. 2018) (internal citations

omitted).

      Child support “shall be awarded pursuant to statewide guidelines.” 23

Pa.C.S. § 4322(a). In determining the ability of an obligor to provide support,

the guidelines “place primary emphasis on the net incomes and earning

capacities of the parties[.]”   23 Pa.C.S. § 4322(a).   See also Woskob v.

Woskob, 843 A.2d 1247, 1251 (Pa.Super. 2004) (finding that “a person's

support obligation is determined primarily by the parties’ actual financial

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resources and their earning capacity”). An award of support, once in effect,

may be modified via petition at any time, provided that the petitioning party

demonstrates a material and substantial change in their circumstances

warranting a modification.       23 Pa.C.S. § 4352(a).         The burden of

demonstrating a “material and substantial change” rests with the moving

party, and the determination of whether such change has occurred rests within

the trial court’s discretion. Plunkard v. McConnell, 962 A.2d 1227, 1229

(Pa.Super. 2008). The trial court must consider all pertinent circumstances

and base its decision upon facts appearing in the record which indicate that

the moving party did or did not meet the burden of proof as to changed

conditions. McClain v. McClain, 872 A.2d 856, 863 (Pa.Super. 2005).

      Much like Father’s concise statement, the argument section presented

in his appellate brief is rambling, disputatious, and references numerous

alleged errors and “lies” in Judge Eaton’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. Appellant

discusses various court filings, testimony provided at various hearings, and

documentation he claims was submitted to the trial court. However, Appellant

fails to make references to the places in the certified record where those items

can be found. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(c) (“If reference is made to the pleadings,

evidence, charge, opinion or order, or any other matter appearing in the

record, the argument must set forth, in immediate connection therewith, or in

a footnote thereto, a reference to the place in the record where the matter

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referred to appears (see Pa.R.A.P. 2132).”).2 Appellant’s argument section is

also devoid of any reference to or discussion of pertinent legal authority. See

Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (stating that the parties’ briefs must include a discussion of

each question raised on appeal and a “citation of authorities as are deemed

pertinent”).

       While we are mindful that Appellant is proceeding without counsel, his

status as a pro se litigant does not relieve him “of his duty to properly raise

and develop his appealable claims.” First Union Mortg. Corp. v. Frempong,

744 A.2d 327, 337 (Pa.Super. 1999). “Although this Court is willing to liberally

construe materials filed by a pro se litigant, pro se status confers no special

benefit upon the appellant.” Wilkins v. Marsico, 903 A.2d 1281, 1284-85

(Pa.Super. 2006). Moreover, given that the certified record herein exceeds

5,600 pages, we are disinclined to search for the items mentioned by

Appellant; nor are we willing to make legal arguments on his behalf. See

Coulter v. Ramsden, 94 A.3d 1080, 1088 (Pa.Super. 2014) (holding that

“[t]his Court will not act as counsel and will not develop arguments on behalf

of an appellant.”).

       Although we could find waiver on these bases, we decline to do so.

Instead, we have reviewed the parties’ briefs, relevant portions of the certified

____________________________________________

2 In the argument section of his brief, Appellant makes a single reference to
the reproduced record, wherein he specifies the location of a Physician
Verification Form verifying his disability. See Appellant’s brief at 24.

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record, the relevant case law and statutory authority, and the trial court’s

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion.    Based on that review, we discern no abuse of

discretion, and conclude that the trial court adequately and accurately

disposed of Father’s sole preserved challenge to the support order in its

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, which we incorporate herein by reference. On the

basis of the trial court’s cogent opinion, we therefore affirm the trial court’s

February 6, 2018 order dismissing Father’s exceptions to the November 27,

2017 Report and Recommendation of the hearing officer regarding child

support.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/22/2019

                                     -8-
                                                                           Circulated 01/29/2019 11:47 AM

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                        FAMILY DMSION

  ANDREW HEARY,

                    PLAINTIFF,

                                                      NO, F.D. 07-008810-006
                   vs.                                SUPERIOR COURT# 233 WDA 2018

 DlNA DiCENZO,

                    DEFENDANT,

                                         OPINION

 Judge Kim D. Eaton

         Plaintiff Andrew D. Heary (Father) appeals from this Court's February 6, 2018

 Order dismissing his Exceptions to the Report and Recommendation of the Hearing

 Officer dated November 27, 2017 regarding child support.

        The parties married in 2000, separated in 2007 and divorced in 2010. They have

 two children,   C-. (DOB 07/./2004) and C-(DOB             11/13/2005). Mother is an

 OB/GYN. Father is disabled. Mother filed a Complaint in Divorce on October 2, 2007.

Father filed a Complaint for Custody on October 11, 2007 and a long, arduous· and

acrimonious custody battle began. The case has a long history of the parties fighting

over scheduling, extracurricular activities and certain health issues of the children. In

addition to child support, Mother pays $400 per month to Father to defray the costs of his

medical expenses.

       Father filed a Petition for Modification on September 11, 2017. Neither party

motioned the Court to have the matter deemed complex. A hearing was held on

                                             2
    November 24, 2017. Father and Mother both appeared and testified. The Hearing

    Officer set Mother's net monthly income at $23,723 and Father's net monthly income at

    $2,272. She took into consideration the $400 per month Mother pays to Father for h.is

    medical expenses and set a guideline order of $3198 per month. Father filed Exceptions

    which were denied by Order dated February 6, 2018. Father timely appealed.

            In response to an Order issued on February 131 2018, Father filed a document

    entitled "Matters Complained of in Appeal.     )I   The document is a rambling dissertation ou

    Pennsylvania child support guidelines and contains 28 numbered paragraphs accusing the

    Court, the Hearing Officer and Mother's counsel of a number of improprieties. The

    Court considers there to be only one relevant issue raised by Father. Father contends that

    th.is is not a guideline support case as Mother earns well over $500,000.00 per year.

    Alternatively, he seeks a significant upward deviation because the parties are not

    similarly situated financially and he has extraordinarily high expenses for himself and the

    children.'

           The child support guidelines are presumptively correct and the appropriate

support award. The presumption is rebutted when the guideline amount is shown to be

unjust or inappropriate. McCarty v. Smith, 655 A. 2d 563 (Pa. Super. 1995); Silver v.

Pinskey1 981 A.2d 282 (Pa. Super. 2009). The Court is permitted to deviate from the

guideline amount due to unusual needs, extraordinary expenses and other factors.

Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-S(b). Since the guidelines assume the parties have reasonable and

necessary expenses, only extraordinary expenses of the parties may be considered as a

reason for deviation. Ball v. Mi.nnick, 648 A.2d 1192 (Pa. 1989). The presumption is

I Father raised all the same arguments at a child support hearing before Special Master Peggy Ferber on
November 24, 2014 without success. Father appealed that order to both the Superior and Supreme Courts,
also without success.

                                                  2
..
       strong that the appropriate amount of support in each case is the amount as determined

       from the support guidelines. However, where the facts demonstrate the inappropriateness

       of such an award, the trier of fact may deviate therefrom. This flexibility is not, however,

      intended to provide the trier of fact with unfettered discretion to, in each case, deviate

      from the recommended amount of support. Deviation will be permitted only where

      special needs and/or circumstances are present such as to render an award in the amount

      of the guideline figure unjust or inappropriate.

              The Court agrees with the Hearing Officer that there was an insufficient factual

      basis for an upward deviation. Mother has a base annual salary of $268,272.00. She

      inherited a family trust from her mother and has investments in her retirement accounts.

      Mother has less than $10,000 in her investment account, She pays for health insurance

     for Father and the children. She employs an au pair at an approximate cost of $1660 per

     month. She pays Father $400 per month to help with his high medical expenses.

             Father collects $1440 in Social Security Disability benefits for himself. Each

     child receives a derivative benefit of $627 per month which goes to him. In 2016, Father

     received $190,000 in settlement of an automobile accident which he did not report to

     Mother. Father claims to be incurring expenses of over $6000 per year for the children's

     activities, including piano, YMCA membership fees, dance, Mother of Sorrows and

     school. Father did not have bills or receipts at the hearing to substantiate his claim.

     Mother has sole legal custody of the children and is responsible for making all decisions

     regarding extra-curricular activities for the children.   Mother agreed that the children

     could participate in ballet, jazz, piano, guitar and personal training while with Father.

     Mother pays for the children's activities when they are in her custody, and Father pays

                                                   3
. .
 I

       for activities during his custody time. Father has not sought reimbursement for any of

       the expenses he claimed. The last time Mother received a request for reimbursement

       from Father was in 2013. Father was unable to provide documentation to support the

       majority of the claimed expenses at the hearing.

               Father contends that he was denied a complex support hearing and prohibited

       from conducting discovery on Mother's income. Father did not bring any evidence to the

       hearing on the mistaken belief that it was just a "conference" and he anticipated that he

       would have a complex support hearing at a future date. As the hearing officer correctly

      pointed out, Father anticipated incorrectly. Father did not request a complex hearing.

      Father conducted extensive discovery on Mother's income during the divorce

      proceedings. Father was permitted to question Mother extensively at the hearing about

      her other income, including investments.

              Father correctly points out that Mother did not bring her tax return to the hearing.

      Mother brought other documentation of her income which she thought was sufficient.

      The Hearing Officer agreed to hold open the record for 48 hours so that Mother could

      submit the tax return. The Hearing Officer had Mother's tax retun:i before the

      recommendation was rendered.

               The reasonable needs of the children are being met under the guideline order.

      The Court found no basis for Mother to pay more in child support than required by the

      guidelines to sustain Father's untenable financial situation.

                                                   4
      The Hearing Officer properly determined that this was a guideline support case and that

      Father was not entitled to an upward deviation.

                                                                                • Eaton
                                                                        linistrative Judge

_t)

                                                 5