Court Opinion

ID: 9747748
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 15:30:27.802548+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:26.254618
License: Public Domain

MANDERINO, Justice
(concurring).
Although I join in the majority opinion, I would like to make one further comment. The Pennsylvania Constitution provides that: “The person of a debtor, where there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison after delivering up his estate for the benefit of his creditors in such manner as shall be prescribed by law.” Constitution, Article I, Section 16. A money judgment resulting from a support order should, in my opinion, be treated as any other money judgment. If the defendant has assets against which such a money judgment can be enforced, the plaintiff may proceed as in any enforcement action, See generally Pa.R.C.P. Rule 8101, et seq. Therefore, unless the non-support defendant wilfully conceals assets in order to avoid execution of the money judgment, he or she should not be subjected to the sanction of imprisonment. To do so violates Art. I, Section 16^