Court Opinion

ID: 4300437
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-02 15:28:51.649778+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:16.170437
License: Public Domain

J. A16039/18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

SUSAN A. KASSIS,                         :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :           PENNSYLVANIA
                        Appellant        :
                                         :
                   v.                    :          No. 295 EDA 2018
                                         :
TERRANCE KASSIS                          :

                 Appeal from the Order, November 30, 2017,
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
                      Civil Division at No. 2015-10272

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., AND FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

JUDGMENT ORDER BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.:             FILED AUGUST 02, 2018

      Susan A. Kassis (“Mother”) appeals pro se from the November 30, 2017

order entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County that

denied her exceptions to the master’s recommendation and order of child

support. We affirm.

      The record reflects that Terrance Kassis (“Father”) filed a petition to

modify child support. The support master held a hearing. The record reflects

that at the time of that hearing, Father had full custody of C.K., the parties’

six-year-old special needs child (“Child”). Mother resides in California and had

not seen Child for two years. Father lives alone with Child; tends to Child’s

special needs; provides Child’s health insurance; and arranges for Child to

attend psychotherapy, play therapy, and summer day camp. Because Father

works full-time to support Child, Father employs two nannies on a year-round
J. A16039/18

basis at an hourly rate of $15. The record reflects that nanny care is necessary

at various times during the year, such as after school, during school breaks,

after summer day camp, and during the summer when summer day camp is

not in session.

      Following    the   hearing,   the   support    master    filed   a   written

recommendation and basic child support order directing Mother to pay

$474.37 per month plus $146.29 for her share of Child’s health insurance,

$319.96 for her share of childcare costs, and $87.29 for her share of Child’s

recurring medical expenses, for a total monthly child support order of

$1,027.91.     Mother filed timely exceptions, which the trial court denied.

Mother then erroneously filed an appeal to the Commonwealth Court of

Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth Court transferred the appeal to this court.

Although the trial court did not order Mother to file a concise statement of

errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), it did file a

Rule 1925(a) opinion.

      In her brief to this court, Mother fails to include a statement of questions

presented on appeal. A reading of Mother’s brief, however, reveals that she

is unhappy with the amount of the child support order.           Indeed, Mother

expressed her displeasure with that amount during oral argument on this

matter. Having determined, however, after careful review, that the learned

Judge Emanuel A. Bertin, in his December 29, 2017 Rule 1925(a) opinion,

ably and comprehensively disposes of Mother’s issues on appeal, with

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J. A16039/18

appropriate reference to the record and without legal error, we affirm on the

basis of that opinion.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/2/18

                                    -3-
                                                                                 Circulated 07/31/2018
                                                                                2015-10272-0147        03:06 Page
                                                                                                   Opinion,  PM 1

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                    CIVIL ACTION - FAMil.,Y DIVISION

SUSAN A. KASSIS                                      NO. 2015-10272

       vs.                                           PACSES NO. 381115393

TERRANCE KASSIS

December """2 Cf        , 2017                                               BERTIN, S.J.

                                            OPINION
                                                                       2015-10272-0147 12 29 20179:22 ...\.\1       = 11587265
                                            I. Background                                     Opinion
                                                                       Rq>l=Z3295732 F.:.::S0.00
       This is a child support case.                                              '.\lark Levy - '.\lontCo PrOlhonotary

       On March 3, 2017, father filed a petition to modify support order. (6/8/17 N.T. 8). A

record hearing thereon, before the Montgomery County support master, Patricia A. Coacher,

Esquire, was held on June 8, 2017. The notes of testimony of said hearing have been transcribed

and are part of the record.

       At the time of the June 8, 2017 hearing, father had 100% custody of the parties' six year

old special needs son. (6/8/17 N.T. 23). Further, mother, a resident of California, had not seen

her son for two years, since mother's move to California. ( 6/8/17 N. T. 20). This period of time

represents one-third of the child's life.

        Father lives alone with the child in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and tends to the

child's special needs. Father supplies important health insurance for the child, which covers the

child's medical, dental, and vision needs. (6/8/17 N.T. 23, 24). Father arranges for the child to

go to Dr. Steven Glaser for psychotherapy (6/8/17 N.T. 24); to Tonya Bettencourt for needed

play therapy (6/8/17 N.T. 24); to Dr. Ross, who is not covered by insurance (6/8/17 N.T. 25);

and to Radnor Day Camp in the summer (6/8/17 N.T. 24).
                                                                               2015-10272-0147 Opinion, Page 2

         Since father works full time to support the child, father, appropriately, employs two

nannies (Babysitters), year round, for an annual childcare cost. (6/8/17 N. T. 25). The child just

finished full day kindergarten, and nanny coverage is needed from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, five

days per week. (6/8/17 N.T. 30, 31). Of course, when the child has half day school days or is

off from school, since father works, more hours of nanny coverage are required at an additional

cost. (6/8/17 N.T. 30, 31). Nanny coverage for child is also needed during summer day camp

during the summer. The child attends summer camp from the morning until 3:00 PM (6/8/17

N.T.) 31). Additionally, nanny coverage is needed from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM (6/8/17 N.T. 31).

Father pays two nannies $15.00 per hour. (6/8/17. N.T. 31). Again, when the child has half days

off or full days off from summer camp, more hours of nanny coverage is needed at an additional

cost. (6/8/17 N.T. 31). The nanny meets the child at the camp bus stop, where the camp bus

brings the child home from camp, and the nanny brings the child home from the bus stop (6/8/17

N.T. 32).

         At the conclusion of the June 8, 2017 hearing, in a written recommendation and order,

dated July 3, 2017, the support master entered a basic order for the child of $474.37 per month.

In addition thereto, the master order mother to contribute her share of $146.29 per month toward

health insurance, $319.96 per month toward child care (including summer camp), and $87.29 per

month for recurring medical expenses. The total support order amounted to $1,027.91 per

month.

         On July 11, 2017, mother filed exceptions to the master's recommendation and order. As

ordered on October l 0, 2017 by the undersigned, mother and father filed briefs in support of

their respective positions. Oral argument was held before the undersigned on November 29,

2017. After considering the record, briefs, and oral argument held on November 29, 2017, the

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                                                                               2015-10272-0147 Opinion, Page 3

undersigned entered an order that same day, on November 29, 2017, denying mother's

exceptions.

        On December 12, 2017, mother filed a notice of appeal from the undersigned's

November 29, 2017 order to the wrong appellate court, the commonwealth Court of

Pennsylvania, when the appeal should have been filed to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

                                          II. Discussion

       The standard of review of the undersigned, as a trial court, in reviewing the

recommendation and order of support master Patricia A. Coacher, Esquire, was thoughtfully

analyzed and set forth by the Pennsylvania Superior Court in Goodman v. Goodman, 544 A.2d

1033, 1035 ( 1988), as follows:

                We first note the findings of the DRHO were only advisory and not in
       any way binding on the trial court. See Pa. R.C.P. 1910.12, sections (d) (hearing
       officer shall file report containing recommendation with respect to entry of an
       order), (f) (absent exceptions, court shall review report and, if approved, enter
       a final order), and (g) (following argument on exceptions, court shall enter
       appropriate order) ( emphasis added). Because the procedure followed under
       this rule involves, "in essence substantially a master's hearing, akin to a master's
       hearing in divorce", explanatory comment to Rule 1910.12, the cases addressing
       the use of a divorce master's report and recommendations are apposite to actions
       for support under this rule. See, e.g., Mcbride v. Mcbride, 335 Pa. Super. 296, 484 A.2d
       141 (1984). While such a report is to be given the fullest consideration, especially
       with regard to the credibility of witnesses, a trial court is required to review the
       report to determine if the recommendations are appropriate. Reed v. Reed, 354
       Pa. Super. 284, 511 A.2d 874 (1986). It is the sole province and the responsibility
       of the court to set an award of support, however much it may choose to utilize
       a master's report.

       With the foregoing mandate in mind, the undersigned carefully reviewed the record,

briefs, and oral arguments, and for the reasons set forth hereafter, found that the support master

filed an excellent report and recommendation, in conformity with the testimony offered at the

support hearing before her. And, as required by Goodman, supra, the undersigned gave the

"fullest" consideration" to the support master's report and reviewed "the report to determine if

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                                                                                2015-10272-0147 Opinion, Page 4

the recommendations are appropriate," Goodman, supra, and found they were. For this reason,

the undersigned denied mother's exceptions.

        By reason of mother's appeal, the Pennsylvania Superior Court is now called upon to

review the undersigned's order based upon the undersigned's reasoning as set forth above. In

that regard, the Pennsylvania Superior Court's standard ofreview is set forth in Isralsky v.

Isralsky, 824 A.2d 1178, 1186 (2003), as follows:

                In child support cases, our standard or review is as follows:

                The amount of a support order is largely within the discretion of the trial
       court, whose judgment should not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of
       discretion. As abuse of discretion is not merely an error of judgment, but rather
       a misapplication of the law or an unreasonable exercise of judgment. A finding
       that the trial court abused its discretion must rest upon a showing by clear and
       convincing evidence, and the trial court will be upheld on any valid ground.
       Kessler v. Helmich. 449 Pa. Super. 113, 672 A.2d 1380, 1382 (1996) (quoting
       Griffin v. Griffin, 384 Pa. Super. 188, 558 A.2d 75, 77 (1989) (en bane)). For our
       purposes, "an abuse of discretion requires proof of more than a mere error of
       judgment, but rather evidence that the law was misapplied or overridden, or that
       the judgment was manifestly unreasonable or based on bias, ill will, prejudice or
       partiality."

        Portugal v. Portugal, 798 A.2d 246, 249 (Pa. Super. 202) (citations omitted.

        In accordance with the foregoing standards of review, set forth in Goodman, supra. and

Isralsky, supra, we now look at mother's "exceptions", all of which we find wanting.

               "l. Mother's income= $60,000 gross with net of $3,300 under
               California Tax table. Mother resides in California"

       Actually, mother's gross yearly income is $61,000.08 6/8/17 N.T. 11). The basic child

support order is only $474.37 per month. And, when you add mother's fair share of

contributions to health insurance, summer camp, child care year round, psychotherapy, play

therapy, and the like, for this six year old special needs child, who mother does not visit, the total

overall support order amounts to $1,027. 91 per month. If mother is suggesting that the order is

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                                                                                2015-10272-0147 Opinion, Page 5

economically confiscatory, though she has not articulated this, we disagree. Even assuming

mother's net monthly income is $3,300, or $39,600 yearly, as mother now asserts, the $1,027.91

per month, or yearly $12,324, child support order, is only 31.12% of mother's net income. That

is certainly a reasonable child support order for a special needs child.

                 "2. Portions of unpaid medical bills ordered from 2016 support ordered
                 from 2016 support order has not been paid by the Plaintiff."

          The record of the support hearing is devoid of this matter and is, therefore a statement

dehors the record, not to be considered by this court.

                 "3. Deviation under Rule 1910.16-5 for Defendant's unusual needs due to
                 medical condition and unusual fixed obligations with IRS for 2016 tax
                 payment."

          No specifics of these matters were presented at the support hearing before the support

master.

                 "4. Relative assets of the Plaintiff in the amount of $500,00 Rule 1910.16-5."

          No specifics of these matters were presented at the support hearing before the support

master.

                 "5. Liabilities of the defendant with amount over $500 per month Rule
                 1910.16-5."

          No specifics of these matters were presented at the support hearing before the support

master.

                 "6. Psychiatric expenses - Father failed to notify mother since inception. No
                 Verification from doctor, if required."

          Mother did not question the necessity for, or reasonableness of, psychiatric treatment or

cost thereof for the special needs child at the support hearing and the issue of a doctor

notification was not raised. The issue of "notification" of the same is a child custody issue, not a

support issue.

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                                                                                2015-10272-0147 Opinion, Page 6

               "7. Mother's medical insurance payment of $168.00 under under pursuant
               to 23 Pa. C. S. §4321."

       This is unintelligible to the undersigned. Mother's ordered $146.29 per month

contribution toward medical insurance for the child is appropriate.

               "8. Summer care activities of $4,475 is excessive. Mother don't know
               activities that father enrolled the child."

       Motion is referring to the child's summer day camp when she cites to the cost of

$4,475.00. Mother did not attack the cost of summer day camp at the support hearing. She

could have offered the cost of other summer day camps at the support hearing, or cross-examined

father on the same, but she did not. Accordingly, on the record, there could be no finding of

excessiveness. As to informing mother about child's activities, again, this is a child custody

issue, not a support issue.

               "9. Child care - Father always utilized grandfather and grandmother for
               child care."

        Mother did not develop this at the support hearing before the support mast or make

argument before the master thereon. There was credible testimony and exhibits submitted by

father concerning child care.

               "10. Tier fact under Rule 1910.16-5 was not considered thus, burdensome
               on the obligor is excessive."

       This exception is unintelligible. However, Rule 1910.16-5 is the support deviation rule.

The support master, appropriately, did not deviate downward for any factor listed therein. If

mother is suggesting that the order is excessive or burdensome, this court finds that it is not.

               "11. Objections to Evidence."

       This is a general, not specific, exception and, therefore, is not permissible.

       The court finds mother's exceptions to be meritless.

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                                                                               2015-10272-0147 Opinion, Page 7

       It should be noted that at the support hearing mother sought to avoid the entry of a child

support order in any amount by arguing to the support master that there was a local rule that

prevented a custodial parent with a higher income than the noncustodial parent from obtaining a

child support order from the said non-custodial parent. (6/8/17 N.T. 22). The support master

told mother that was not correct. (6/8/17 N.T. 22). Also, when mother objected to the relevance

of the fact she had not seen her son in two years, in the context of a child support hearing, the

support master pointed out to the mother that the amount of time a non-custodial parent spends

with the child may impact a child support order and that if the non-custodial parent does not see

the child, 30% of the time overnight, the custodial parent can request an upward deviation in the

child support order. (6/8/17 N.T. 21 ). This last issue is important, because the support master, in

her discretion, could have deviated upward, resulting in a high child support order against

mother. But, the support master, in her discretion, did not do so.

       It is submitted that this court's holding, that the support master's recommendation and

proposed order was "appropriate" under Goodman, supra, was not a "clear abuse of discretion"

(meaning that the law was not "misapplied or overridden, or that the judgment was manifestly

unreasonable or based on bias, ill will, prejudice or partiality") under lsralsky, supra. The

support order should, accordingly, be affirmed.

                                             III. Conclusion

       The court respectfully requests that your Honorable Court deny mother's appeal and

affirm the child support order.

                                                      BY THE COURT:

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