Court Opinion

ID: 9734393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:33:41.848056+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:48.409297
License: Public Domain

SPAETH, Judge,
dissenting:
In order to obtain a divorce under the Divorce Law, Act of May 2, 1929, P.L. 1237, 23 P.S. § 10, on the ground that his wife committed indignities to his person, appellee had to prove that he was an innocent and injured spouse. E. g. Mintz v. Mintz, 258 Pa.Super. 187, 392 A.2d 747 (1978). Appellee’s own testimony establishes that he was not innocent and injured. Appellee testified that he has not tried to speak with his wife for years; has not sought sexual relations with his wife since 1959; has not asked his wife to go out for a social activity since 1959; has started as many arguments with his wife as she has with him; has struck his wife on the occasions she has struck him; has used greater force on his wife than she has used on him; has rummaged *537through his wife’s personal closets without her permission; and has demonstrated virtually no willingness to do household chores even though his wife works and he is unemployed and physically able to do the chores.
Without question, for years the parties’ marriage has been one in form only. Appellee suspects his wife’s every act, and the wife has become indifferent to appellee. They agree on neither the most inconsequential nor the most important matter. Perhaps the Divorce Law is flawed in not making the decisive factor in a divorce action the cessation of a loving relationship between the parties. It is our function, however, to apply the law. Thus, this court has consistently held that under the Divorce Law, the inability to live together does not constitute a ground for divorce. Howard v. Howard, 260 Pa.Super. 257, 393 A.2d 1251 (1978); Fodor v. Fodor, 221 Pa.Super. 321, 292 A.2d 485 (1972); Nichols v. Nichols, 207 Pa.Super. 220, 217 A.2d 807 (1966); DeFrancesco v. DeFrancesco, 179 Pa.Super. 106, 115 A.2d 411 (1955). Further, we have equally consistently held “that where both parties are nearly equally at fault, so that neither can clearly be said to be the injured and innocent spouse, the law will grant a divorce to neither on the ground of indignities to the person, but will leave them where they put themselves.” Simons v. Simons, 196 Pa.Super. 650, 656, 176 A.2d 105, 108 (1961). See also Lapiska v. Lapiska, 202 Pa.Super. 607, 198 A.2d 386 (1964); Shoemaker v. Shoemaker, 199 Pa.Super. 61, 184 A.2d 282 (1961); Rankin v. Rankin, 181 Pa.Super. 414, 124 A.2d 639 (1956). After examining the record, I find it impossible to determine which party, if either, is more responsible for the breakdown of the marriage. While appellee’s wife may have committed indignities against appellee, the record shows that her conduct was, to a great extent, provoked by appellee, and did not amount to excessive retaliation.
I therefore should reverse the order of the lower court granting appellee a divorce. I should do so, however, without prejudice to appellee’s filing another complaint for divorce after the effective date of the new Divorce Code, Act of April 2, 1980, P.L. 26, eff. June 30, 1980. The new act *538broadens the grounds for divorce, and the filing of a new complaint would appear proper. See section 103 of the Divorce Code. In this regard, it should be noted that if appellee is entitled to a divorce under the new act, requiring him to proceed under that act would have substantial consequences for his wife. See section 501 of the Divorce Code (provision of alimony after divorce); section 401 of the Divorce Code (distribution of marital property). The result of the majority’s decision is to deprive the wife of the right to resort to these provisions for her protection. Given the record of appellee’s conduct over the past twenty years, this result, I submit, is to be regretted.
The order of the lower court should be reversed.