Court Opinion

ID: 3168529
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-11 18:05:47.036197+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:33:20.827237
License: Public Domain

J-A35027-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

DINA A. DICENZO,                              IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                    PENNSYLVANIA
                         Appellee

                    v.

ANDREW D. HEARY,

                         Appellant                 No. 442 WDA 2015

             Appeal from the Order Entered February 23, 2015
            In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
                  Civil Division at No(s): FD 07-8810-006

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., SHOGAN, and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.:                       FILED JANUARY 11, 2016

      Andrew D. Heary (“Father”) appeals from the February 23, 2015 order

dismissing his exceptions to a Master’s child support recommendation and

making the November 20, 2014 recommendation final. We affirm.

      Father and Dina A. DiCenzo (“Mother”) are the parents of two minor

daughters (“the Children”). They were married in April of 2000 and divorced

in June 2010.   Father has received Social Security disability support since

2002 when he was injured in a motorcycle accident; Mother is an

obstetrician/gynecologist.   Father sought an upward deviation from the

$2,462.62 guideline amount of child support to $6,200 per month, based on

his $2,899.91 net monthly income versus Mother’s $24,858.89 net monthly

income and the lifestyle of the Children.   The Master recommended that

Mother pay $2,462.62 per month to Father in child support.     Hearing and
J-A35027-15

Recommendation, 11/20/14, at 1.      Father filed exceptions, which the trial

court dismissed. Trial Court Order, 2/23/15. This appeal followed. Father

and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

      On appeal, Father presents the following questions for our review:

      1.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to consider the relative
           assets and liabilities of the parties?

      2.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to permit evidence or
           testimony concerning the relative assets and [liabilities] of
           the parties?

      3.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to consider the standard
           of living of the parties’ children?

      4.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to consider [Father’s]
           expenses for the children’s activities?

      5.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to consider [Father’s]
           extraordinary expenses?

      6.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to consider [Father’s]
           additional expenses incurred as a result of one child’s
           medical condition?

      7.   Whether the Hearing Officer failed to consider [Father’s]
           Request for an upward deviation from the guideline support
           amount even though he had a reasonable basis for his
           request based on the factors listed in Pa. R.C.P. 1910.16-
           1[?]

Father’s Brief at 4–5.

      Appellate review of support matters is governed by an abuse of
      discretion standard. When evaluating a support order, this Court
      may only reverse the trial court’s determination where the order
      cannot be sustained on any valid ground. An abuse of discretion
      is not merely an error of judgment, but if in reaching a
      conclusion the law is overridden or misapplied, or the judgment
      exercised is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality,
      prejudice, bias or ill-will, as shown by the evidence of record.

                                     -2-
J-A35027-15

       The principal goal in child support matters is to serve the best
       interests of the children through the provision of reasonable
       expenses.

J.P.D. v. W.E.D., 114 A.3d 887, 889 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quoting R.K.J. v.

S.P.K., 77 A.3d 33, 37 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations and quotation marks

omitted)).    “A party seeking to modify a support order has the burden of

proving a modification is warranted and that he/she promptly filed a

modification petition.”      Krebs v. Krebs, 944 A.2d 768, 774 (Pa. Super.

2008) (citation omitted). The amount of support indicated by the guidelines

presents a rebuttable presumption.             Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16–1(d).   In deciding

whether to deviate from the guidelines, the trial court shall consider, inter

alia, the relative assets and liabilities of the parties and the standards of

living of the parents and the children. Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16–5(b)(5) and (7).

       We have reviewed the parties’ briefs, the certified record, the relevant

case law and statutory authority, and the trial court’s Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)

opinion. Trial Court Opinion, 6/1/15.1 Based on that review, we conclude

that the trial court adequately and accurately disposed of Father’s myriad

challenges to the support order in its opinion to this Court. Therefore, we

affirm the support order on the basis of the trial court’s Rule 1925(a)

opinion, which we adopt as our own. The parties are instructed to attach a

____________________________________________

1
  We correct the trial court’s pinpoint citation of Elias v. Spencer, 673 A.2d
982 (Pa. Super. 1996). The correct cite is to page 984.

                                           -3-
J-A35027-15

copy of the trial court’s June 1, 2015 opinion to this memorandum in future

proceedings.

     Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/11/2016

                                   -4-
                                                                               Circulated 12/23/2015 12:30 PM

 IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA                                          ( .. --.).
                                        FAMILY DIVISION

DINA A. DICENZO,                               No. F.D. 07·008810·006
                                               Superior Court #442 WDA 2015
                   PLAINTIFF~

     v.

ANDREWD. HEARY,

                DEFENDANT.

                                          OPINION
Kim D. Eaton, Judge                                                 Date 6·1·15

          Defendant Andrew D. Heary (Father) appeals from this Court's Order of February 23,

2015 dismissing his exceptions to the child support Recommendation of the Special Master.                ()
          The parties were married on April 8, 2000, separated on October 2, 2007 and divorced by

decree entered June 24, 2010. They are the parents of two children, Grace Heary born July 11,

2004 and Claire Heary, born November 13, 2005. Father has two adult children from a previous

marriage. The parties share custody of the children equally on a 2/2/5/5 schedule. Mother is a

high earning physician. Father is unemployed and collecting Social Security Disability benefits.

The parties executed two agreements to settle their claims. On July 13, 2009, a consent order

was entered regarding economic claims in which Mother paid Father cash of $87 ,887, 50% of

her Fidelity 467B account, 50% of her Fidelity 403B account, 50% of her West Penn Allegheny

Health System (WP AHS) defined benefit retirement plan and 50% of her IRA. Wife agreed to

pay alimony to Father until Father reached 59112, and child support of $3000 per month.

Following an appeal filed by Father docketed at 1859 WDA 2010, the parties entered into a
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second agreement dated March 29, 2011 in which Mother agreed to pay $4100 per month in
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                                                                                                       ....
                                                                                                       ··   ·'

alimony and child support through December 2013 and $400 a month to defray his medical

expenses until the younger daughter graduated from high school.

       On March 19, 2014, Father filed a petition to modify child support seeking an additional

$3,200 per month. At his request, the matter was designated complex. Written discovery was

exchanged, Mother was deposed and a hearing was held before Special Master Ferber on

November 20, 2014.

       Mother is an obstetrician/gynecologist   with WPAHS with gross annual earnings in 2014

of $422,555.   Father's social security disability monthly benefit is $2,468, from which $1,086 is

taken to satisfy alimony obligation to his first wife. He receives a derivative of $617 for each of

the girls and $30 a month from a pension benefit. Based upon the income of the parties, the

guideline amount for support for two children is $2463.

       Father contends that he is unable to pay his expenses with the income and child support

he currently receives. The money he received in equitable distribution was spent to retire his

debt and buy a car. Having reached 59V:2, he is no longer getting alimony. Father seeks an

upward modification to $6,200, an amount, which he claims, would enable him to continue to

live the lifestyle he deems appropriate without filing for bankruptcy. Father's debt is staggering.

In addition to the $1086 alimony payment, he pays his first wife $1,165 a month towards child

support arrears of $44,7 50. He owes over $100,000 in legal fees to three different attorneys. He

has 17 credit cards all with outstanding balances. None of his debt is related to the children at

issue in this support matter. Father presented a budget at the hearing showing monthly expenses

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of $20,496 per month. The only expenses that he was able to attribute even partial to the

children was $300 per month for clothing and $877 for high quality food. (Ex. T).

       On November 20, 2014, the Special Master reconunended a guideline order of $2,463

based on net monthly income for Father of $2900 and net monthly income for Mother of

$24,939. Father's exceptions were dismissed by Order dated February 23, 2015. Father timely

appealed, and, in response to an Order issued pursuant to Pa.RAP. 1925(b) filed a Statement of

Matters Complained of on Appeal raising the following assignments of error:

       1. The Master failed to consider the relative assets and liabilities of the parties.

       2. The Master failed to permit evidence or testimony concerning the relative assets and

           liabilities of the parties.

       3. The Master failed to consider the standard of living of the parties and the children.

       4. The Master failed to take into consideration Father's expenses for the children's
                                                                                                   ()
           activities.

       5. The Master failed to take into consideration Father's extraordinary expenses.

       6. The Master filed to take into consideration Father's additional expenses incurred as a

          result of one child's medical condition.

       7. The Master failed to consider Father's request for an upward deviation from the

          guideline support amount even though he had a reasonable basis for his request based

          on the factors listed in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1.

  Support actions are governed by Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 1910.1 through

1910.50. Initially, Pa.R.C.P.1910.16-l(d) provides as follows:

        (d) Rebuttable Presumption. If it has been determined that there is an obligation to pay   (_)
       support, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the amount of the award determined

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        from the guidelines is the correct amount of support to be awarded. The support
        guidelines are a rebuttable presumption and must be applied taking into consideration the       ()
        special needs and obligations of the parties. The trier of fact must consider the factors set
        forth in Rule 1910.16-5. The presumption shall be rebutted if the trier of fact makes a
        written finding or a specific finding on the record, that an award in the amount
        determined from the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate.

Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-S(b); Arbet v. Arbet, 863 A.2d 34 (Pa. Super. 2004). Rule 1910.16-5

provides as follows:

         (a) Deviation. If the amount of support deviates from the amount of support determined
        by the guidelines, the trier of fact shall specify, in writing, the guideline amount of
        support, and the reasons for, and findings of fact justifying, the amount of the deviation.

        (b) Factors. In deciding whether to deviate from the amount of support determined by the
        guidelines, the trier of fact shall consider:

                (1) Unusual needs and unusual fixed obligations;

                (2) Other support obligations of the parties;
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                (3) Other income in the household;

                ( 4) Ages of the children;

                (5) Assets of the parties;

                (6) Medical expenses not covered by insurance;

                (7) Standard of living of the parties and their children;

                (8) In a spousal support or alimony pendente lite case, the period of time during
                which the parties lived together from the date of marriage to the date of final
                separation; and

                9) Other relevant and appropriate factors, including the best interests of the child
                or children.

Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-S(b).

        In determining whether to deviate from the amount of child support mandated by the

guidelines set forth in the rules of civil procedure, the trier of fact is required to consider all
                                                                                                        ()
                                                   5
relevant factors. Suzanne D. V. Stephen W., 65 A.3d 965, 973 (Pa. Super 2013). No one factor
                                                                                                         ()
alone will necessarily dictate that the amount of support should be other than guideline figure.

Rather the trier of fact must carefully consider all relevant factors and make a reasoned decision

as to whether consideration thereof indicates that there are special needs and/or circumstances,

which render deviation necessary. Elias v. Spencer, 673 A.2d 982, 986 (Pa Super. 1996). The

party seeking modification of child support bears the burden of proving that the modification is

warranted. Sirio v. Sirio, 951 a.2d 1188 (Pa. Super. 2008). At the conclusion of the hearing,

after considering all relevant factors, the Master decided that Father failed to produce sufficient

evidence warranting upward modification. The Master determined that the guideline amount

was just and appropriate.

           Father's first two matters relate to the Court's alleged failure to consider the parties'

relative assets and liabilities. Father testified at length about his outstanding debt. Father claims    ( )

that he needs the increase in child support to avert filing for personal bankruptcy. The vast

majority of his debt is from obligations to his former wife and children, and to the parade of

attorneys, he retained to litigate against Mother. Father conceded at the hearing that none of his

outstanding financial obligations is related to expenses for the children. (Tr. 24-34, 68-72).

There was extensive evidence offered regarding Father's assets, which include a new house, two

cars, a motorcycle, a camper and a boat. Motherlives in a 7,000 square foot home, has an au

pair and takes the girls on lavish vacations. Unquestionably, Mother has more assets and fewer

liabilities at present than Father. The difference in the parties' relative assets and liabilities was

appropriately and adequately handled during the equitable distribution proceedings, and in light

of the evidence presented, was not sufficient in and of itself to justify a deviation in child

support.
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       Father's third matter asserts that the Master failed to take into consideration the parties'

standard of living. This is a factor to be considered, and the Master permitted Father to introduce

evidence of this. Father testified that Mother takes lavish, expensive vacations while he travels

by modest camper. That is the sum total of evidence offered regarding her standard of living.

Father continues to maintain a high standard of living. Father testified about the considerable

expenses he incurs for his home and the upkeep of his two cars. (Tr. 27-28, 31, 35, 37, 73). He

paid $279,000 for a house in 2008. He recently purchased a new car. He employs a handyman,

and takes the children on vacations to Disney

       Father's fourth, fifth and sixth matters relate to his extraordinary expenses for the

children's extra-curricular activities. Father presented no evidence that he was incurring

extraordinary expenses for the children's activities. The activities in which the children are

engaged are typical of children their age. The only costs to which Father testified are $25 for       (. )

piano lessons, $90 a month for Claire's guitar lessons and $40 a month to rent a cello.    Father

can easily pay these costs with the guideline amount. Father contends that Grace's medical

condition is causing him to incur additional expenses. Grace's medical condition is that she is

overweight. She has been going to UPMC weight management since she was three years old.

Mother pays for health insurance, which covers all costs of Grace's medical condition. There is

no expense to Father for this other than an occasional co-pay of $40. Doctors have

recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and an hour of aerobic exercise daily.

According to Mother, any aerobic activity, which they enjoy, is sufficient. While in her custody,

Grace participates in swimming and horseback riding for which Mother pays. Father does not

approve of swimming. Father has both girls enrolled in ballet, Irish dance, and hip-hop dancing

and tumbling. Father wants Mother to pay for these activities.
                                                                                                      (_)
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       According to the parties' agreement, they are to share expenses of extra-curricular                  c··)
activities to which they both agreed. They do not agree on many. Father contends that activities

must be instructed by professionals and be measurable, definable and repeatable. Mother

contends that they need aerobic activities. On March 26, 2014, Father filed a Motion for

Contempt, seeking to compel Mother of pay her share of these activities.       A hearing on Father's

motion was scheduled at the time of this complex support hearing.       Since Mother's obligation to

pay for the expenses of the activities for which Father sought an upward deviation was being

litigated separately, the Special Master appropriately deferred this. The Master noted in her

Hearing Surrunary that "any money owed from one parent to the other for mutually agreed upon

extra-curricular activities both in the past and for the future, "will be addressed in that hearing. If

it is determined that Wife should be paying for these activities under their agreement, Father

would be reimbursed at that time. This was not a factor militating in favor of a deviation.
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       In his seventh matter, Father generally complains that the Court erred in denying his

request for an upward deviation. Father failed to come forward with sufficient factual evidence

from which the Court could justify a deviation under Rule 1910.16. The children do not have

unusual needs or high medical expenses, which Father is required to pay. Mother is already

paying for Father's medical expenses. The fact that Mother has a significantly higher income

from Father is not a sufficient basis to deviate from the guidelines. The Special Master assigned

to the complex support hearing also presided over the equitable distribution proceedings.      She

was very familiar with the parties and their financial situation. Father's admittedly unfortunate

financial situation is of his own doing and wholly unrelated to unusual expenses for the children.

The expenses, which he is unable to pay on his current income, are legal fees, upkeep of his

house and upkeep of his two cars. While Father argued that, he needs to maintain a certain                      )
                                                                                                          /\__ __

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'   .
    ,.
         lifestyle for the benefit of the children. Father's fixed expenses are unreiated to the children.    ()

         The guideline amount, coupled with the derivative benefit, is more than sufficient to provide for

         the children for the 50% of the time they are in his custody. Mother is not legally responsible to

         pay more in child support than the guidelines provide so that Father may maintain a lifestyle,

         which he can no longer afford.

                For the foregoing reasons, the Court dismissed Father's exceptions.

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