Court Opinion

ID: 4451230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-29 20:09:43.990398+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:26.738066
License: Public Domain

J-S06002-19

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 SARA POIST                           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                      :
              v.                      :
                                      :
                                      :
 MARK POIST,                          :
                                      :
                   Appellant          :   No. 1877 EDA 2018

               Appeal from the Order Entered June 15, 2016
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Civil Division at
                           No(s): 2013-27844

 SARA POIST                           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                      :
              v.                      :
                                      :
                                      :
 MARK POIST,                          :
                                      :
                   Appellant          :   No. 1879 EDA 2018

             Appeal from the Order Entered February 5, 2018
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Civil Division at
                           No(s): 2013-27844

 SARA POIST                           :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                      :
              v.                      :
                                      :
                                      :
 MARK POIST,                          :
                                      :
                   Appellant          :   No. 1880 EDA 2018

               Appeal from the Order Entered May 15, 2018
   In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Civil Division at
                           No(s): 2013-27844

 SARA L. POIST                        :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
J-S06002-19

                                                 :
                v.                               :
                                                 :
                                                 :
    MARK E. POIST                                :
                                                 :
                       Appellant                 :   No. 2291 EDA 2018

                 Appeal from the Order Entered June 18, 2018
     In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Civil Division at
                           No(s): No. 2013-27844,

BEFORE: BOWES, J., DUBOW, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.                                 FILED OCTOBER 29, 2019

       In these consolidated appeals, Mark E. Poist (“Husband”), an attorney

proceeding pro se, appeals from the May 15, 2018 equitable distribution order

and divorce decree that ended his marriage to Sara L. Poist (“Wife”) and

resolved all outstanding economic claims. Husband also purports to appeal

two interlocutory rulings that occurred during June 2016 and February 2018,

respectively, and a third post-divorce order in which the trial court denied

Husband’s motion to recuse. We quash the interlocutory appeals filed at 1877

and 1879 EDA 2018,1 dismiss the appeal filed at 2291, and affirm the May

2018 order and decree.

____________________________________________

1 While we quash the appeals docketed at 1877 and 1879 EDA 2018, we
confront the merits of Husband’s challenges to those rulings in addressing the
remaining appeal that is properly before this Court. See Betz v. Pneumo
Abex, LLC, 44 A.3d 27, 54 (Pa. 2012) (“an appeal of a final order subsumes
challenges to previous interlocutory decisions”); Pa.R.A.P. 341 note (“A party
needs to file only a single notice of appeal to secure review of prior non-final
orders that are made final by the entry of a final order[.]”).

                                           -2-
J-S06002-19

       Husband and Wife married on August 29, 2009, and separated on July

15, 2013.     No children were born of the marriage.      Wife filed a divorce

complaint on September 11, 2013. As it relates to an issue on appeal, Wife

did not request in her complaint reasonable counsel fees as an equitable

measure pursuant to § 3702(a) of the Divorce Code. Approximately two and

one-half years later she filed an affidavit pursuant to § 3301(d) attesting that

the parties have been separated for at least two years and that the marriage

is irretrievably broken. Husband responded with a counter-affidavit disputing

that the marriage was irretrievably broken. He subsequently requested the

court to order the parties to attend marriage counseling.       The trial court

granted that entreaty, and directed the parties to attend three counseling

sessions prior to the ensuing § 3301(d)(1)(ii) hearing to determine the status

of the marriage. The parties complied, and following the evidentiary hearing

on June 14, 2016, the trial court found that Wife satisfied both prerequisites

for divorce under § 3301(d), i.e., “that the parties have lived separate and

apart for a period of at least two years and that the marriage is irretrievably

broken.” 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(d)(1)(ii).2 This determination is the genesis of

Husband’s interlocutory appeal that we docketed at 1877 EDA 2018.

____________________________________________

2Effective December 5, 2016, the required period of living separate and apart
was reduced to at least one year. 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301 Historical and Statutory
Notes.

                                           -3-
J-S06002-19

      The trial court directed that the parties argue their economic issues

before a divorce master, who filed his report and recommendation on

September 20, 2017. The master recommended an equal split of the marital

estate totaling $54,169.41, with Wife transferring to Husband $11,840.30

from her pension via a qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”). While

Wife presented additional evidence regarding her counsel fees totaling

$15,000, and the master stated an inclination to grant the fees accrued in

response to Husband’s obdurate and vexatious conduct, it ultimately declined

to award counsel fees because Wife did not request them in her divorce

complaint. See Master’s Report, 8/31/17, 5-6.

      Husband filed timely exceptions to the master’s report and demanded a

de novo hearing to determine the equitable distribution of marital property.

Thereafter, he filed a motion to compel discovery of a litany of documents that

he asserted he was entitled to review. Wife responded, and the trial court

disposed of Husband’s motion on the record in open court on February 2,

2018. Three days later, the court entered an order stating, “The hearing of

February 2, 2018, has been dispositive of ALL discovery issues/discovery

requests with respect to the equitable distribution hearing[.]” Order, 2/5/18.

This order is the origin of Husband’s interlocutory appeal docketed at 1879

EDA 2018.

      On March 8, 2018, Husband filed a motion in limine seeking to preclude

Wife from offering testimony or exhibits at trial that reference issues that had

                                     -4-
J-S06002-19

not been raised in her divorce complaint, including, inter alia, her counsel fees

and expenses. The trial court did not immediately rule on the motion, but

prior to the May 15, 2018 de novo equitable distribution trial, it granted the

motion in part.     The court precluded Wife from presenting “testimony and

exhibits related to [her] request for counsel fees and expenses pursuant to

[the equitable considerations in] Section 3702 of the Divorce Code [but it

permitted] testimony and exhibits related to counsel fees and expenses . . .

pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 2503(7),” which relates to the award of counsel

fees as a sanction for dilatory, obdurate, or vexatious conduct. Trial Court

Order, 5/15/18, at 3-4.

       Following the trial, on May 15, 2018, the trial court entered the

“Equitable Distribution Order and Divorce Decree” that represents the final,

appealable order in this litigation, and Husband filed a timely notice of appeal.3

He presents nine questions for our review:

____________________________________________

3 On May 25, 2018, following the entry of the divorce decree order but prior
to the filing of the notice of appeal on June 14, 2018, Husband filed in the trial
court a motion for recusal, which the trial court denied on June 18, 2018. That
appeal, which is listed on our docketed at 2291 EDA 2018, is not justiciable.
Stated plainly, the issue concerning the trial judge’s recusal is either moot
because it relates to the now-resolved divorce proceedings, or to the extent
that Husband anticipates some undisclosed post-decree proceeding before the
trial judge, the claim is premature. See Warmkessel v. Heffner, 17 A .3d
408, 412 (Pa.Super.2011) (“As a general rule, an actual case or controversy
must exist at all stages of the judicial process, or a case will be dismissed as
moot.”) If necessary, Husband can file a recusal motion in any future
proceeding where he is before the trial judge. Hence, whether we dismiss
that appeal as moot or as not ripe for review, the current procedural posture
does not permit this Court to address the merits of this appeal.

                                           -5-
J-S06002-19

      1. Did the trial court err by making findings of facts not supported
      by competent or adequate evidence and/or predicated on errors
      of law when applying the factors required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502 to
      divide the marital estate in an equitable manner?

      2. Did the trial court err by failing to properly apply the factors
      required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502 to divide the marital estate in an
      equitable manner and to give a reasoned explanation for that
      division, as required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3506?

      3. Did the trial court err by failing to give any consideration in the
      equitable distribution process to [Husband’s] evidence of [Wife’s]
      student loans and car loans, acquired prior to the marriage, but
      paid off during the marriage and prior to the parties' separation?

      4. Did the trial court err by failing to give any consideration to the
      parties' refund/liability regarding the filing of 2013 taxes?

      5. Did the trial court err by failing to give any consideration to
      checks written out by [Wife] around and after the date of
      separation from the parties’ joint checking account, or to monies
      withdrawn by [Wife] from the joint account after [Wife]
      unilaterally withdrew approximately half (1/2) the monies in
      September 2013, but continued to withdraw from [Husband’s]
      remaining amount?

      6. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and err as a matter of
      law in awarding attorneys’ fees sua sponte upon a finding of
      dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct by [Husband]?

      7. Did the trial court err and commit reversible error when it did
      not grant a continuance prior to the irretrievable breakdown
      hearing on June 14, 2016?

      8. Did the trial court err and commit reversible error when it
      refused to require [Wife] to answer, and properly object, to
      discovery pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure
      and other applicable local rules?

      9. Did the trial court err as a matter of law and its discretion in
      failing to recuse itself from this matter?

Husband’s brief at 9-10. Wife neglected to file a brief.

                                      -6-
J-S06002-19

       Husband’s first five issues assail the trial courts’ equitable distribution

order. The following principles guide our review of these claims:

          Our standard of review in assessing the propriety of a
          marital property distribution is whether the trial court
          abused its discretion by a misapplication of the law or failure
          to follow proper legal procedure. An abuse of discretion is
          not found lightly, but only upon a showing of clear and
          convincing evidence.

       Smith v. Smith, 904 A.2d 15, 18 (Pa.Super. 2006) (quoting
       McCoy v. McCoy, 888 A.2d 906, 908 (Pa.Super. 2005)). As we
       previously observed, in the context of an equitable distribution of
       marital property, a trial court has the authority to divide the award
       as the equities presented in the particular case may require.
       Mercatell, 854 A.2d at 611. “In determining the propriety of an
       equitable distribution award, courts must consider the distribution
       scheme as a whole. We measure the circumstances of the case
       against the objective of effectuating economic justice between the
       parties and achieving a just determination of their property
       rights.” Morgante v. Morgante, 119 A.3d 382, 387 (Pa.Super.
       2015) (quoting Biese v. Biese, 979 A.2d 892, 895 (Pa.Super.
       2009)).

Cook v. Cook, 186 A.3d 1015, 1025–26 (Pa.Super. 2018).

       Issues one and two challenge the trial court’s consideration of the

statutory factors outlined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 35024 in dividing the marital estate.

____________________________________________

4 Pursuant to the Divorce Code, the following factors are relevant to the
equitable division of marital property:

       (1) The length of the marriage.

       (2) Any prior marriage of either party.

       (3) The age, health, station, amount and sources of income,
       vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of
       each of the parties.

                                           -7-
J-S06002-19

Specifically, he argues that the trial court attributed improper weight to factors

three, four, seven, eight, and ten, and he asserts that the court failed to

explain the reasons for its decision.            Husband’s brief at 34.   Similarly,

Husband’s next three issues relate to the weight of the evidence that the trial

____________________________________________

       (4) The contribution by one party to the education, training or
       increased earning power of the other party.

       (5) The opportunity of each party for future acquisitions of capital
       assets and income.

       (6) The sources of income of both parties, including, but not
       limited to, medical, retirement, insurance or other benefits.

       (7) The contribution or dissipation of each party in the acquisition,
       preservation, depreciation or appreciation of the marital property,
       including the contribution of a party as homemaker.

       (8) The value of the property set apart to each party.

       (9) The standard of living of the parties established during the
       marriage.

       (10) The economic circumstances of each party at the time the
       division of property is to become effective.

       (10.1) The Federal, State and local tax ramifications associated
       with each asset to be divided, distributed or assigned, which
       ramifications need not be immediate and certain.

       (10.2) The expense of sale, transfer or liquidation associated with
       a particular asset, which expense need not be immediate and
       certain.

       (11) Whether the party will be serving as the custodian of any
       dependent minor children.

23 Pa.C.S. § 3502(a).

                                           -8-
J-S06002-19

court attributed to his evidence regarding Wife’s premarital student loan debt,

the parties’ tax liability for 2013, and Wife’s post-separation withdrawals from

the marital bank account. None of these five contentions merits relief.

      First, the certified record belies Husband’s assertions that the trial court

improperly applied the equitable distribution factors or failed to disclose the

reasons for its determination. Indeed, the trial court’s equitable distribution

order and divorce decree set forth all of the relevant facts, compiled an

inventory of the marital assets, addressed every applicable statutory factor,

and explained the court’s rationale in detail. See Equitable Distribution Order

and Divorce Decree, 5/15/18, at 1-9.

      Moreover, absent deficiencies in the certified record, we may not re-

weigh the evidence in Husband’s favor and apply the statutory factors anew.

Brubaker v. Brubaker, 201 A.3d 180, 184 (Pa.Super. 2018) (“it is within the

province of the trial court to weigh the evidence and decide credibility and this

Court will not reverse those determinations so long as they are supported by

the evidence.”).    Herein, the record sustains the trial court’s equitable

distribution of the marital estate, including the manner in which the court

equitably resolved the payment of Wife’s premarital loans with marital funds,

Wife’s alleged appropriation of $9,000 from a joint savings account, and the

parties’ respective tax liability for 2013. See Equitable Distribution Order and

Divorce Decree, 5/15/18, at 2-3, 16, 17. Accordingly, we will not disturb it.

Brubaker, supra at 184.

                                      -9-
J-S06002-19

      Husband’s last three issues relate to Wife’s award of attorneys’ fees for

Husband’s dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct, the trial court’s denial

of Husband’s request for a continuance prior to the June 2016 evidentiary

hearing to determine the status of the marriage, and the court’s alleged

indifference to Husband’s discovery requests.

      As it relates to Husband’s dispute of the counsel fees, we note that the

trial court imposed counsel fees pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 2503, which provides

as follows:

      The following participants shall be entitled to a reasonable counsel
      fee as part of the taxable costs of the matter:

              ....

      (7) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees as a sanction
      against another participant for dilatory, obdurate or vexatious
      conduct during the pendency of a matter.

42 Pa.C.S. § 2503(7).

      Concerning the two remaining arguments, this Court reviews both the

propriety of a discovery order and the denial of a continuance request for an

abuse of discretion. Gallo v. Conemaugh Health Sys., Inc., 114 A.3d 855,

860 (Pa.Super. 2015); In the Interest of D.F., 165 A.3d 960, 965 (Pa.Super.

2017). As we recently reiterated, “[a]n abuse of discretion is more than just

an error in judgment and, on appeal, the trial court will not be found to have

abused its discretion unless the record discloses that the judgment exercised

was manifestly unreasonable, or the results of partiality, prejudice, bias, or

                                     - 10 -
J-S06002-19

ill-will.” Id. (quoting In re J.K., 825 A.2d 1277, 1280 (Pa. Super. 2003))

(cleaned up).

     Upon our thorough review of the record, we agree with the discussion

of these issues that Judge Rhonda Lee Daniele presented in her Equitable

Distribution Order and Divorce Decree filed on May 14, 2018, and we adopt

the court’s comprehensive rationale as our own. See Equitable Distribution

Order and Divorce Decree, 5/15/18, at 9-16.

     Order affirmed. Appeals docketed at 1877 and 1879 EDA 2018 quashed.

Appeal docketed at 2291 EDA 2018 dismissed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 10/29/19

                                  - 11 -
                                                                                  2013-27844-0067
                                                                                          Circulated Divorce Decree,
                                                                                                     09/30/2019       AM 1
                                                                                                                09:54 Page

        IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA                                       =
                                CIVIL ACTION - LAW

SARA L. POIST1                                                 NO. I 3-27844

         V.

MARKE. POIST

                      EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION ORDER AND DIVORCE DECREE

              Defendant-Husband's Equitable Distribution Exceptions, which he filed on September 20, 20 I 7

are before the Court. Following a hearing on March 12, 2018, we now issue this Equitable Distribution

Order and Divorce Decree.

                                                FINDINGS OF FACT

              The parties were married on August 29, 2009, and they separated on July !5, 2013. Plaintiff-

Wife filed her Divorce Complaint on September l l, 2013. Plaintiff-Wife reinstated the Divorce

Complaint on October 31, 2013, and the Reinstated Complaint was served upon Defendant-Husband in a

timely manner. Plaintiff-Wife's Divorce Complaint included a request for equitable distribution.

              On January 28, 2014, Defendant-Husband filed an Answer and Counterclaim to the Divorce

Complaint. In his Counterclaim, Defendant-Husband included a request for equitable distribution.

              Plaintiff-Wife received her undergraduate degree from West Chester University and a master's

degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Plaintiff-Wife had completed her education prior to the date

of marriage.

              Plaintiff-Wife is a social worker. From 2006-2009, Plaintiff-Wife worked for Horizon Health. In

June of 2009, she became an employee of Eagleville Hospital. Plaintiff-Wife's current job title at

Eagleville Hospital is program manager of an adult psychiatric unit/social worker.

              Plaintiff-Wife's biweekly gross pay in 2018 is $2,692, which equates to a gross salary of

$69, 992/year.

              Plaintiff-Wife currently resides in an apartment in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

              Defendant-Husband received an undergraduate degree from Loyola University Maryland and a

law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (Class of2008).

I
    On February 22, 2018, Plaintiff-Wife tiled Notice to Retake Prior Surname, which is Sara L. Dodge.
                                                                              2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 2
        Following law school, Defendant-Husband worked as a law clerk in Berks County for Judge John

Boccabella. Thereafter, Defendant-Husband worked for a couple of law firms for a brief period. From

July of 2012 until January of 2017, Defendant-Husband worked as an attorney for the law firm O'Brien,

Belland & Bushinsky, LLC.

        In January of 2017, Defendant-Husband began employment as an attorney with the City of

Philadelphia Law Department's tax division.

        Defendant-Husband resides in Philadelphia (1112 Kent Lane) with his girlfriend and their infant

child. Defendant-Husband's girlfriend is employed as a certified nursing assistant. In April of 2017, ·

Defendant-Husband's parents purchased the Philadelphia residence in which Defendant-Husband resides.

Defendant-Husband's parents reside in Key West, Florida. Defendant-Husband pays rent to his parents,

but Defendant-Husband and his parents have not executed a lease agreement.

        Defendant-Husband's parents purchased the Philadelphia residence using approximately $61,288

as a clown payment. This down payment was withdrawn from a Filbrandt & Company ("Filbrandt")

account owned jointly by Defendant-Husband and his mother.

        Defendant-Husband could not purchase the Philadelphia residence in his own name because

Plaintiff-Wife did not agree to sign the paperwork required for Defendant-Husband to purchase the house

by himself. We find that the $61,288 withdrawn from the Filbrandt account is Defendant-Husband's

money. Defendant-Husband testified that he would have had the house placed in his name alone had
                                                                                                          \
Plaintiff-Wife signed a necessary waiver that she would not assert any interest in said house.

        Defendant-Husband had a power of attorney for his parents with respect to signing all the

required documents to purchase the Kent Lane residence. Despite the fact that Defendant-Husband's

parents are the deed holders of the Kent Lane property, it is clear to the Court that Defendant-Husband is

the real owner of the property. The Cou11 would not be surprised if Defendant-Husband transfers the

property to his name within a short time after the entry of the Divorce Decree in this action.

        It is also clear to the Court that the Filbrandt account, though titled jointly in the names of

Defendant-Husband and his mother, is Defendant-Husband's property alone. The entirety of the $61,288

down payment on the Kent Lane property was withdrawn from this account.

                                                      2
                                                                               2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 3
        Defendant-Husband claims on his pre-trial inventory statement (Exhibit H-46), which is dated

May 4, 20 I 7, that the F i I brandt account is a premarital asset, but he failed to produce any evidence as to

its value at the time of marriage or date of separation. Therefore, the Court has NO information as to

what portion of this account is marital property. As of January 3 I, 2018, the balance in the Filbrandt

account was $16,104. See Exhibit W-L.

        Defendant-Husband's failure to produce any evidence of the Filbrandt account's balance at the

time of marriage or date of separation has precluded the Court from determining the portion of this

account that constitutes marital property.

        Defendant-Husband's biweekly gross pay with the City of Philadelphia Law Department (as

reflected in a 2018 paystub) is $2,697.00, which equates to a gross salary of $70, 122/year.

        Defendant-Husband's conduct during the litigation of this divorce case has been dilatory,

obdurate, and vexatious. As a result of such conduct, we will award Plaintiff-Wife attorney's fees.

        We specifically find that Plaintiff-Wife provided Defendant-Husband with the appropriate

discovery responses on more than one occasion.

        Martin Mullaney, Esquire, has represented Plaintiff-Wife for the entirety of this action,

commencing with the filing of the Divorce Complaint. We find that Mr. Mullaney's rate of $385/hour in

this matter is reasonable given Mr. Mullancy's experience and the range of fees in this geographic area

for domestic litigation.

        Defendant-Husband stated to Mr. Mullaney approximately one ( l) week prior to the equitable

distribution hearing of March 12, 2018, that he would agree to a withdrawal of the divorce action so the

parties could remain married.

        Following the parties' physical separation on July 15, 2013, the parties continued to use their joint

Susquehanna Bank savings and checking accounts. On or about September 10, 2013, Plaintiff-Wife: ( l)

withdrew $1,000 from the parties' joint savings account and deposited this amount into the joint

checking account to pay for marital expenses and (2) withdrew $9,000 from the joint savings account and

deposited said amount into a newly opened account titled in her name only. The remaining balance of the

joint savings account, $8,738.96, was left in the account for Defendant-Husband's use.

                                                       3
                                                                            2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 4
        Since Plaintiff-Wife withdrew $9,000 from the joint savings account when the balance of the

account was S I 7, 738.96 and deposited said amount into her own account, we will direct that Defendant-

Husband receive $130.00 in order to equally divide the parties' joint savings account.

        Following the parties' separation, their Susquehanna Bank joint savings and checking accounts

became BB&T accounts. Defendant-Husband has refused to agree to permit Plaintiff-Wife's name to be

removed from these BB&T accounts.

        During the marriage, the remaining loan balance on Plaintiff-Wife's 2008 Honda CR-V, which

was $16,876.28, was paid from the joint checking account. The parties also used the joint checking

account during their marriage to pay the balance of Plaintiff-Wife's student loan (sequence #3) in the

amount of $2,874.93.

        During the parties' marriage, Plaintiff-Wife's salary exceeded that of Defendant-Husband. For

example, in 2009 (the year the patties married), Plaintiff-Wife's wages accounted for 64.5% of the

parties' joint wages. We find that Pia inti ff-Wife contributed more to the marital expenses than

Defendant-Husband. Furthermore, appreciation and contributions to Plaintiff-Wife's non-marital

property account for the majority of the parties' marital assets.

        The evidence presented indicates that Plaintiff-Wife's earnings have exceeded Defendant-

Husband's earnings from the date of marriage through 2017. However, a review of the parties' 2018

paystubs reveals that Defendant-Husband's anticipated gross earnings this year will exceed Plaintiff.

Wife's gross earnings by $130.

        Furthermore, we find that Defendant-Husband has a greater earning capacity than Plaintiff-Wife

given his law degree and the rate at which his salary has increased over the years.

        The chart that follows shows each party's Medicare wages for 2009 (during the marriage) and

2013-2017. We compiled the chart from information provided in Exhibits H-14 through H-19 & H-40

through H-44.

Year                                 Plaintiff- Wife                      Defendant-Husband

2009                                 $52,297                             $28,725
--                                                                                                       _J

                                                       4
                                                                                2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 5
    2013                                   $53,963                             $50,357

    2014                                   $51,819                             $49,233

    2015                                   $62,532                             $49,292
                                                                                                           ·-
    2016                                   $66,843                             $58,514

    2017                                   $68,506                             $64,896

            Defendant-Wife owns a 2008 Honda CR-V, which has about 145,000 miles on it. No testimony

    was presented regarding its current value. This is a premarital asset. No testimony was presented

    regarding a vehicle of Plaintiff-Husband.

            The assets of the parties are set forth in the following chart.

    Asset                   Title Holder         Total Value            Marital Portion    NIM Portion
    403(b) Mass             Wife                 $90,867.24             $42,870.31         $47,996.93
    Mutual
    Roth IRA# 1             Wife                 $37,772.34             $13,973.37         $23,798.97
    Roth lRA #2             Wife                 $8,620.92              $512.89            $8, I 08.03
    Rollover lRA            Wife                 $14,966.03             $4,04J.58          $10,918.45            '
    Vanguard Money          Wife                 $1,256.I3              (2,964.93)         $1,256.13
    Market
    Rollover IRA            Husband              $10,241.40             $9,019.60          $1,221.80
    OBBB 40\(k)             Husband              $28,010.61             $430.64            $27,579.97
    Filbrandt & Co.         Husband & his        $16,104.00             Unknown!Not        Unknown!Not
    account                 mother                                      provided           provided. We
                                                                                           will attribute the
                                                                                           full balance of       I
                                                                                           $16,104.00 to
                        '
                                                                                           Husband's non-
                                                                                           marital p�operty.
    Equity in 1 1 I 2       Husband's parents    $61,288.00             Unknown!Not        Unknown!Not
    Kent Lane,                                                          provided           provided. We
    Philadelphia, PA                                                                       wi 11 attribute the
                                                                                           full balance of
                                                                                           $61,288.00 to
I                                                                                          Husband's non-
                                                                                           marital property.
    H's total non-                                                                         $ I 06, 193.77
    marital
    W's total non-                                                                         $92,078.51
    marital

                                                           5
                                                                                 2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 6
          In light of Defendant-Husband's failure to produce documentary evidence as to the value of the

Filbrandt account as of the date of marriage or date of separation, the Court could not ascertain the true

value of the parties' marital assets.

          The marital assets as set forth in the chart above total $67,889.46. Of this amount, $58,439.22

[86%] is from assets titled in Plaintiff-Wife's name, and $9,450.24 [14%] is from assets titled in

Defendant-Husband's name.

          There are no marital debts.

                                                  DISCUSSION

                                         I. Equitable Distribution Factors

(I) The length of the marriage.

          The parties were married for approximately 4 7 months prior to their separation on July 15, 2013.

(2) Any prior marriage of either party.

          The Court does not recall any specific evidence as to this factor, but it is believed that this

marriage was the first marriage for each party.

(3) The age, health, station, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate,

liabilities, and needs of the parties.

          Plaintiff-Wife is 36 years old and in good health; Defendant-Husband is 35 years old and in good

health.

          Each party's gross annual salary is approximately $70,000. Both parties are highly educated with

graduate degrees. Plaintiff-Wife has a master's degree, and Defendant-Husband has a law degree. Each

party is highly employable.

          Given that Defendant-Husband has a law degree, we find that he has a greater earning capacity

than Plaintiff-Wife. In fact, Defendant-Husband has the potential to earn much more than Plaintiff-Wife

into the future.

          It is not believed that either party has any liabilities. It is believed that each party's needs are

modest, and each party is capable of fully supporting herself/himself. No evidence was presented

regarding any unusual needs of either party.

                                                         6
                                                                               2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 7
(4) The contribution bv one patty to the education, training. or increased earning power of the other pattv.

        NIA

(5) The ORJ20rtunity of each party for future acguisitions of capital assets and income.

        Given the young age of the parties and their advanced educations, each party has ample

opportunity for future acquisitions of capital assets and income. However, given that Defendant-Husband

has a law degree and is a practicing attorney, we believe that he has a greater opportunity to acquire

capital assets and income. He certainly has the ability to earn a much greater income than Plaintiff-Wife.

(6) The sources of income of both parties. including but not limited to, medical, retirement insurance, or

other benefits.

        Each party's main source of income is her/his employment.

(7) The contribution or dissipation of each patty in the acguisition. greservation, depreciation. or

!_1_J2Preciatio11 of the marital Rroperty. including the contribution of a patty as a homemaker.

        This is an important factor in that an increase in value to Plaintiff-Wife's non-marital property

(through appreciation and contributions) accounts for the majority of the patties' marital assets.

        If Defendant-Husband had not delayed this case by prolonging litigation, then we would have

been more inclined to divide the marital assets in a 50:50 proportion. However, given the length of time

that has passed since the parties' date of separation, we believe that it would be inequitable to award

Defendant-Husband an equal share of the marital assets. We emphasize that Defendant-Husband has

reaped the benefit of delaying this case in that the post-separation interest on the marital property has

appreciated with time.

        Furthermore, we believe it is more equitable to award Plaintiff-Wife a larger percentage of the

marital property because a majority of the marital property is attributable to her.

        We cannot overlook the fact that Defendant-Husband failed to produce evidence as to the value

of the Filbrandt account at the date of marriage or the date of the parties' separation. We have no means

of ascertaining the portion of the Filbrandt account that is marital property. Thus, we will create an

adverse inference against Defendant-Husband for his failure to produce evidence concerning the Filbrandt

                                                       7
                                                                             2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 8
account at relevant dates and direct that the marital assets be split in a 65%/35% proportion in favor of

Plaintiff-Wife.

        The only Filbrandt account statement presented by Defendant-Husband is for the month ending

December 3 1, 2017. See Exhibit H-32. That statement shows a balance of $11, 122.00.

        Plaintiff-Wife produced Filbrandt account statements for the months of March 2017 through

January 2018. See Exhibit W-L. The balance of the account at the end of March 2017 was $69,267.00.

The balance of the account at the end of April 2017, following a withdrawal of $61,288 for a down

payment on the Kent Lane property, was $7, 73 7.00. The balance as of January 3 I, 2018, was $16, I 04.00.

         Each party contributed to the acquisition of marital property through her/his employment.

Neither party dissipated the marital property.

(8) The value of the proge11y set agart to each Q.i!.11y.

         Plaintiff-Wife's non-marital assets are worth approximately $92,078.S l.

         Defendant-Husband has accumulated about $61,288 in equity in the house in which he resides.

The balance of Defendant-Husband's Filbrandt account as of January 31, 2018, was approximately

$16, 104. The total value of Defendant-Husband's non-marital assets is approximately $106, 193.77.

(9) The standard of living established during the marria�.

         We believe that the parties had a modest, yet comfortable, standard of living during their

marriage.

( 10) The economic circumstances of each garty at the ti111e the division of.Q[Q.Re11y is to become effective.

        The parties are situated fairly similarly at the present time. Their incomes arc nearly equal.

However, Defendant-Husband's income has increased at a greater rate than that of Plaintiff-Wife. For

instance, Plaintiff-Wife's income and Defendant-Husband's income in 2009 (the year they married) was

$52,297 and $28,725, respectively. Plaintiff-Wife's income and Defendant-Husband's income in 2017

was $68,506 and $64,896, respectively. This shows that Defendant-Husband's income has more than

doubled since 2009 while Plaintiff-Wife's income has increased at a much lower rate.

                                                            8
                                                                                 2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 9
         We believe that Plaintiff-Wife's income has leveled off, and we do not anticipate her income

growing at a large rate into the future. However, Defendant-Husband has the ability to increase his

income exponentially given his law degree and legal experience.

         Defendant-Husband's non-marital assets exceed Plaintiff-Wife's non-marital assets by about

$14,000.00.

         Defendant-Husband has equity in the house in which he resides as well as modest retirement

assets. Plaintiff-Wife has retirement assets that exceed those of Defendant-Husband.

( I 0. l) The Federal, State, and local tax ramifications associated with each asset to be divided, distributed,

or assigned, which ramifications need not be immediate or certain.

         The division of the marital estate should not result in any tax ramifications.

( 10.2) The expense of sale, transfer. or liguidation associated with a Qar1icular asset, which expense need

not be immediate and certain.

         There should not be significant expense in dividing the marital estate.

( 11) Whether the Qarly will be serving as the custodian of any dependent minor children.

         The parties do not have any children together.

                                          11. Award of Attorney's Fees2

         Pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. §2503(7), we are awarding Plaintiff-Wife attorney's fees as a result of

Defendant-Husband's dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct during the litigation of th is case.

         Subsection 2503(7) of the Judicial Code permits an award of counsel fees as a sanction for

dilatory, obdurate, or vexatious conduct during the pendency of a matter. There is authority for a trial

court's sua sponte award of counsel fees based on a party's dilatory, obdurate, or vexatious conduct. See,

Kulp v. Hrivnak, 765 A.2d 796 (Pa. Super. 2000).

         The following demonstrates Defendant-Husband's dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct.

     A. Hearing regarding Defendant-Husband's counter-affidavit to Plaintiff-Wife's 3301 (d) affidavit

2
  On March 8, 2018, Defendant-Husband filed a Motion in Limine in which he sought to preclude Plaintiff-Wife
from offering into evidence any testimony or exhibits unrelated to the claims set forth by Plaintiff-Wife in her
Divorce Complaint filed on September I I, 2013.
Defendant-Husband filed his Motion in Limine in response to Plaintiff-Wife's filing ofan Amended Divorce
Complaint on October 6, 2017, which added a request for counsel fees and expenses.
We will address Defendant-Husband's Motion in Limine in a separate Order.

                                                         9
                                                                                2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 10
         On February 29, 2016, Defendant-Husband filed a counter-affidavit to Plaintiff-Wife's 3301 ( ct)

affidavit. See docket entry no. 13. In his counter-affidavit, Defendant-Husband alleged that the parties'

marriage was not irretrievably broken.

         On April 13, 2016, the undersigned conducted a phone conference with Defendant-Husband and

Plaintiff-Wife's counsel for the purpose of scheduling an evidentiary hearing regarding Defendant-

Husband's counter-affidavit to Plaintiff-Wife's 330l(d) affidavit. During the phone conference,

Defendant-Husband requested the Court to direct the parties to attend three (3) marriage counseling

sessions. This was the first request for marriage counseling that Defendant-Husband had made of

the Court.

         By Order dated April 13, 2016, we scheduled an evidentiary hearing regarding Defendant-

Husband's counter-affidavit on June 14, 2016. We also directed the parties to attend three (3) marriage

counseling sessions before said hearing.

         Section 3302(c) of the Divorce Code provides that whenever the court orders a continuation

period as provided for irretrievable breakdown in section 330J(d)(2), the court shall require up to a

maximum of three counseling sessions within the time period where either party requests it.

         At the time that Plaintiff-Wife filed her 330l(d) affidavit, section 330J(d)(2)3 of the Divorce

Code provided that the court may grant a divorce based on irretrievable breakdown where, after hearing,

the court determines that the parties have lived separate and apart for a period of at least two (2) years and

that the marriage is irretrievably broken.

         Thus, it is clear from sections 3 30 I and 3 302 of the Divorce Code that, where the ground for

divorce is irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and the required period of separation, the Cou11 is only

required to direct the parties to attend counseling when it determines, following a hearing, that there is a

reasonable prospect of reconciliation.

3
  Effective December 5, 2016, this statute was amended to permit a divorce based on irretrievable breakdown when
the parties had been separated for at least one (I) year. That amendment does not apply to the instant case such that
Plaintiff-Wife and Defendant-Husband had to have been separated at least two (2) years for the Court to grant a
divorce based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

                                                         10
                                                                              2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 11
          Here, following a hearing on June 14, 2016, we determined that: (I) the parties had lived

separate and apart for a period in excess of two (2) years and (2) the parties' marriage was irretrievably

broken.

          Therefore, we need not have directed counseling in this case, but we erred on the side of caution

 in so directing.

          As the transcript for the hearing of June 14, 2016 reveals, there is no question that the parties'

 marriage was irretrievably broken at the time Plaintiff-Wife filed her 330 I ( d) affidavit. The parties had

no mean ingfu I communication after Plaintiff-Wife filed her Divorce Complaint on September I l, 2013.

Their conversations concerned updates regarding their shared dog. Plaintiff-Wife's testimony, which we

 find credible, was that she did not initiate discussions regarding any other matters with Defendant-

 Husband.

          Following the parties' physical separation, they did not socialize together or visit relatives of each

other. The fact that more than 28 months had elapsed between Plaintiff-Wife's filing of the Divorce

Complaint and her filing of a 330 l(d) affidavit on February 8, 2016 (during which period Defendant-

 Husband did not request an order for counseling) supports our finding on June 14, 2016, that the marriage

was irretrievably broken. It was blatantly obvious that this marriage was irretrievably broken.

          We find Defendant-Husband's filing of a counter-affidavit to be dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious

because, according to any reasonable person, this marriage was clearly irretrievably broken at the time

that Plaintiff-Wife filed her 3301(d) affidavit on February 8, 2016.

          Despite the fact that the Court was not required to direct the parties to attend counseling in this

particular case as discussed above, we find it egregious that Defendant-Husband did not request

counseling prior to the phone conference on April 13, 2016.

               B. Defendant-Husband's request for continuance or the hearing of June 14.2016

          At the start of the hearing on June 14, 2016, the Court addressed a continuance request that

Defendant-Husband had faxed to the Cou11 at 6:46 p.rn. on June 9, 20164•

 1
•A copy of Defendant-Husband's faxed continuance request is attached to his Motion for Reconsideration and
marked Exhibit "D". See docket entry no. 25.

                                                       11
                                                                           2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 12
        One reason for Defendant-Husband's continuance request was his allegation that Plaintiff-Wife

had served incomplete discovery responses upon him. Again, we reiterate that any reasonable person

wou Id know that this marriage was irretrievably broken so seeking discovery on that issue was a futile

exercise.

        Furthermore, many of Defendant-Husband's interrogatories regarding whether the marriage was

irretrievably broken were irrelevant to that issue. See Defendant-Husband's First Set of Interrogatories,

Exhibit H-54. In particular, see Interrogatories 14-22, 30. The information sought in those

interrogatories includes any sexual contact Plaintiff-Wife had with anyone other than Defendant-Husband

since date of marriage, any gifts received by Plaintiff-Wife from an unrelated adult male from the date of

marriage, any gift Plaintiff-Wife had given to an unrelated adult male from the date of marriage, and any

communications with an unrelated adult male which arc sexually explicit in nature.

        It is clear these interrogatories are irrelevant to Defendant-Husband's al legation that the marriage

was not irretrievably broken. Rather, the information sought only further demonstrates that the marriage

is irretrievably broken.

        Defendant-Husband also sought a continuance of the June 14, 2016, hearing based on his

allegation that he had yet to receive documents pursuant to a subpoena served upon Well-Mind Therapy,

which had counseled the parties prior to their separation. (N.T., 6/14/16, p. 7). We note that Defendant-

Husband did not serve this subpoena upon Well-Mind Therapy until June 8, 2016. See docket entry no.

19. Thus, Defendant-Husband served said subpoena only 6 days prior to the hearing elate.

Defendant-Husband had ample time to seek discovery as our Scheduling Order was dated April 13,

2016. Furthermore, the information sought was clearly irrelevant to the issue before the Court.

        The examples cited above further demonstrate Defendant-Husband's dilatory, obdurate, and

vexatious conduct.

                           C. Defendant-Husband's Motion for Reconsideration

        On July 14, 2016, Defendant-Husband filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the Order dated June

14, 2016, that found that: (I) the parties had lived separate and apart for a period in excess of two (2)

years and (2) the parties' marriage was irretrievably broken.

                                                     12
                                                                            2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 13
        We find the filing of said motion to be dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious.

        first, we reiterate that any reasonable person would have known that the parties' marriage was

irretrievably broken. Defendant-Husband continued to dispute that fact and delay this litigation.

        Second, we note that Defendant-Husband alleged in Paragraph 5 of his motion that he had

prepared and served a Motion for Marriage Counseling on December 14, 20 I 5. A review of the docket

reflects that no such Motion for Marriage Counseling was filed of record. We find that Defendant-

Husband lacked candor with the Court in making it appear that he had previously requested the Court to

order marriage counseling.

        finally, we note that Defendant-Husband misquoted Section 3301(d)(2) of the Divorce Code in

Paragraph 18 of his Motion for Reconsideration. Defendant-Husband alleged that Section 330 I (d)(2)

states that, "[f]ollowing a hearing, where one party contests the entry of a Divorce Decree, the Court shall

continue the matter for a period not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days unless the parties agree to a

period in excess of 120 days." (emphasis by Defendant-Husband).

        Section 330 I (d)(2) actually states as follows:

        If a hearing has been held pursuant to paragraph ( I )(ii) and the court determines that there is a
        reasonable prospect of reconciliation, then the court shall continue the matter for a period not less
        than 90 days nor more than 120 days unless the parties agree to a period in excess of 120 days.
        During this period, the court shall require counseling as provided in section 3302 (relating to
        counseling). If the parties have not reconciled at the expiration of the time period and one party
        states under oath that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court shall determine whether the
        marriage is irretrievably broken. If the court determines that the marriage is irretrievably broken,
        the court shall grant the divorce. Otherwise, the court shall deny the divorce.

        Thus, it is clear from a plain reading of the statute that the Court is only required to continue a

case for 90-120 days when, after a hearing, it has determined that there is a reasonable prospect of

reconciliation. We found in our Order dated June 14, 2016, that the parties' marriage was irretrievably

broken. Therefore, as there was no reasonable prospect of reconciliation between Plaintiff-Wife and

Defendant-Husband, we were not required to continue the case for any length of time.

               D. Defendant-Husband's continued effo1ts to request irrelevant information

        Plaintiff-Wife produced discovery responses on more than one occasion. Despite this,

Defendant-Husband continuously sought discovery responses from Plaintiff-Wife.

                                                      13
                                                                          2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 14
        A portion of the discovery sought by Defendant-Husband was clearly inappropriate as it

concerned whether the parties' marriage was irretrievably broken. That issue had been resolved by th is

Court both on the record on June 14, 2016, and in a written Order dated June 14, 2016.

        Defendant-Husband filed several motions to compel discovery. He filed said motions on May,

26, 2017, August 22, 2017, September 29, 2017, December 1, 2017, and January 23, 2018.

        With respect to the Motion to Compel filed on May 26, 2017, Defendant-Husband alleged, inter

cilia, that Defendant-Wife failed to respond to his Second Set of Interrogatories. See docket entry no. 32,

Paragraphs 6, 8 [sic], and Proposed Order.

        We note that interrogatories 3-7 of Defendant-Husband's Second Set of Interrogatories are

irrelevant to equitable distribution issues. See Exhibit H-54, Defendant-Husband's Second Set of

Interrogatories. These interrogatories seek information regarding the following: whether Plaintiff-Wife

has used more than one cellular phone or email address since the date of marriage, whether Plaintiff-Wife

is living with anyone, and whether Plaintiff-Wife has given or received any gift(s) from unrelated males

since the date of marriage.

        Such interrogatories serve only to harass Plaintiff-Wife.

        By letter to Plaintiff-Wife's counsel dated August I 8, 2017 (see Exhibit H-51 ), Defendant-

Husband sets forth why he believes certain discovery responses of Plaintiff-Wife are deficient. Several of

Defendant-Husband's interrogatories are related to irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, which had

already been ruled upon by the Court on June 14, 2016. See, Exhibit H-51, Defendant-Husband's

complaints regarding First Set of Interrogatories numbers 4-19, 21-22 and Defendant-Husband's

complaints regarding Second Set of Interrogatories numbers 3-7.

        Despite the Court's determination that the parties' marriage was irretrievably broken, which we

made at the conclusion of the hearing on June 14, 2016, Defendant-Husband continued to seek the

information set forth in the preceding paragraph. See Paragraph 6 and the Proposed Order in the motions

to compel filed on August 22, 2017, September 29, 2017, December I, 2017, and January 23, 2018.

        Defendant-Husband's continued pursuit of discovery as highlighted above is dilatory, obdurate,

and vexatious. The Court had specifically ruled that the parties' marriage was irretrievably broken.

                                                     14
                                                                           2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 15
        Furthermore, any discovery related to Plaintiff-Wife's conduct both during the marriage and post-

separation arc irrelevant because: (I) fault grounds for a divorce have not been sought by Defendant-

Husband and (2) a request for alimony has not been raised.

                             E. Defendant-Husband's statement to Mr. Mullaney

        During the hearing on March 12, 2018, Mr. Mullaney testified that, approximately one (I) week

prior to the hearing of March 12, 2018, Defendant-Husband stated to Mr. Mullaney that he would agree to

a withdrawal of the divorce action so the parties could remain married.

        We find such testimony by Mr. Mullaney to be credible. Furthermore, Defendant-Husband did

not dispute that he made said statement to Mr. Mullaney. Such a statement by Defendant-Husband is

further proof of his dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct. Plaintiff-Wife was quite adamant that the

marriage was over. We cannot force Plaintiff-Wife to remain in this broken marriage.

        It is clear that Defendant-Husband has no real interest in salvaging the marriage as he has a I 0-

month-old child with his current girlfriend, and they reside together.

        Defendant-Husband's continued assertion that the marriage is not irretrievably broken is a

disservice to Plaintiff-Wife as well as Defendant-Husband's girlfriend and their child.

                    r.   Defendant-Husband's failure to produce reguired documentation

        Defendant-Husband failed to produce documentation to the Equitable Distribution Master for the

hearing on August 23, 2017. See docket entry    110.   45.

        Defendant-Husband also failed to tile a pre-trial statement, which is required pursuant to

Pa.R.C.P. 1920.33(b).

        We find it incredible that Defendant-Husband has consistently alleged that Plaintiff-Wife has

failed to produce discovery responses and/or produced incomplete responses when the record reflects that

it is Defendant-Husband who has failed to follow the Rules of Civil Procedure.

                                       G. Amount of Attornev's Fees

        The following counsel fees incurred by Plaintiff-Wife will be awarded to her as a result of

Defendant-Husband's dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct in this action. These fees are for work

                                                        15
                                                                                2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 16
concerning: (I) Defendant-Husband's al legation that the marriage was not irretrievably broken and (2)

Defendant-Husband's numerous Motions to Compel.

         It is clear to any objective, reasonable person that the parties' marriage was irretrievably broken

prior to the hearing on June 14, 2016. Defendant-Husband did not request the Court to order counseling

until the phone conference of April 13, 2016.

         Much of Defendant-Husband's discovery requests concerning irretrievable breakdown' of the

marriage was irrelevant and harassing. Even after the Court had issued a ruling on June 14, 2016, in

which we determined that the marriage was irretrievably broken, Defendant-Husband continued to seek

discovery regarding irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. See, e.g., Defendant-Husband's

correspondence dated August 18, 2017 (see Exhibit H-51 ), and Defendant-Husband's Motions to Compel

filed on August 22, 2017, September 29, 2017, December 1, 2017, and January 23, 2018.

         Attached as Exhibit "A" to this Order and Divorce Decree is an itemization of Plaintiff-Wife's

legal fees incurred through approximately January 8, 2018. We will award Plaintiff-Wife counsel fees for

the items on Exhibit "A" that we have denoted with a check mark. That amount totals $9,432.50.

         We will also award counsel fees for the two-hour discovery hearing on February 2, 2018

($385/hour x 2 hours= $770). Thus, the total award of attorney's fees is $10,202.50.

                              Ill. Plaintiff-Wife's Student Loans and Car Payment

         During the hearing on March 12, 2018, Defendant-Husband introduced evidence that the balance

owed on at least one of Plaintiff-Wife's student loans (sequence no. 3 on Exhibit H-9) as well as the

balance owed on her 2008 Honda CR-V were paid from the parties' joint checking account during the

marriage.

         In light of our finding that, during the course of the marriage, Plaintiff-Wife contributed more to

the marital expenses than Defendant-Husband, we will not reimburse Defendant-Husband for any

payments made during the course of the marriage to Plaintiff-Wife's student loans and car loan.

5
  The majority of Defendant-Husband's requests in his First Set of Interrogatories and First Request for Production
of Documents was related to whether the marriage was irretrievably broken. A portion of Defendant-Husband's
requests in his Second Set of [nterrogatories and Second Request for Production of Documents was related to
whether the marriage was irretrievably broken. Defendant-Husband's Third Set of Interrogatories and Third
Request for Documents concerned Plaintiff-Wife's request for attorney's fees; since those requests were relevant,
we will not award Plaintiff-Wife counsel fees for work performed on those requests.

                                                         16
                                                                            2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 17
                      IV. Plaintiff-Wife's Checks Written after the Date of Separation

        During the hearing on March J 2, 2018, Defendant-Husband introduced evidence that Plaintiff-

Wife had written checks on the parties' joint checking account after the parties had separated.

        We note that, although the evidence shows that Plaintiff-Wife did write checks and make debits

following the parties' separation on July 15, 2013, Plaintiff-Wife continued to deposit her paycheck into

the joint checking account until September 13, 2013. See Exhibit H-39, page 1 of the account statement

dated September 24, 2013.

        Since Plaintiff-Wife continued to deposit her pay into the joint checking account until September

I 3, 20 I 3, we will not reimburse Defendant-Husband for any checks written, or debits charged, by

Plaintiff-Wife following the date of separation on July 15, 2013.

                                                    V. 2013 Taxes

        Defendant-Husband has requested that the parties share 50:50 in the refund/liability for 2013

taxes. Each party filed her/his 2013 tax return as married filing separately. Defendant-Husband owed

federal taxes in the amount of$ I ,449; Plaintiff-Wife received a refund on her 20 I 3 tax return in the

amount of$1,039. See Exhibits H-40 and H-15.

        The parties separated on July 15, 2013. Each party had the ability to decide how much she/he

withheld in taxes. We will not disturb the decision of each party to withhold a particular amount of

her/his pay.

        Furthermore, it is possible that either or both parties changed the amount of taxes she/he withheld

during 20 I 3, and no evidence regarding that possibility was presented.

        Thus, we will not disturb the amount of taxes refunded/owed regarding the 2013 tax year.

                 EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION ORDER AND DIVORCE DECREE

        AND NOW, this 141" day of May, 2018, following a hearing before the Court on March I 2, 2018,

and for the reasons set forth above, it is hereby ORDERED and DECREED that SARA L. POIST and

MARKE. POIST are DIVORCED from the bonds of matrimony, and all the duties, rights, and claims

accorded to either of the said parties at any time heretofore, in pursuance of said marriage, shall

                                                      17
                                                                            2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 18
henceforth cease and determine, and the said parties shall severally be at liberty to marry again as if they

had never been married.

        It is FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that:

        (I) Defendant-I-I us band sh al I, within IO days of the date of this Equitable Distribution Order and

Divorce Decree, take all steps required to remove Plaintiff-Wife's name from the following two (2)

BB&T bank accounts: (I) account ending in 7924 and (2) account ending in 9255. If BB&T requires any

action by Plaintiff-Wife to remove her name from these accounts, then Plaintiff-Wife shall take any such

action in a timely manner;

         (2) As there was no testimony from either party requesting specific marital personal property, all

personal property, furniture, furnishings, bank accounts, investment accounts, pension plans, employee

benefits, Individual Retirement Accounts, life insurance, motor vehicles, etc. shall remain the property of

the party presently in possession thereof or according to legal title thereto;

        (3) The marital assets of the parties shall be split 65% to 35% in favor of Plaintiff- Wife. The

value of the marital assets is $67,889.46.

             Defendant-Husband's 35% share of the marital assets is $23,761.31. That amount shall be

reduced by$ I 0,202.50 as a sanction for Defendant-Husband's dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct

during the course of this action. See the discussion above regarding award of attorney's fees.

             Thus, Defendant-Husband's share of the marital assets is summarized as follows:

$23, 761.31 (which is 35% of the value of the marital assets)

-10,202.50 (attorney fees for Defendant-Husband 's dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct)

+   130.00 (to equally divide the parties' joint savings account)

$13,688.81

        Defendant-Husband shall retain the entire marital portion of his Rollover IRA and 0888 40 I (k);

this equals $9,450.24.

$13,688.81

- 9,450.24 (retained by Defendant-Husband)

$4,238.57

                                                      18
                                                                       2013-27844-0067 Divorce Decree, Page 19
       ( 4) Within 60 days of the date of this Equitable Distribution Order and Divorce Decree,

Plaintiff-Wife shall pay to Defendant-Husband the amount of $4,238.57 (less any amount incurred in the

preparation of a QDRO as specified in the following paragraph).

           If Plaintiff-Wife decides to pay this amount to Defendant-Husband by means of a Qualified

Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO"), then each party shall be responsible for one-half of the cost to

prepare the QDRO. Defendant-Husband's share of the cost to prepare the QDRO shall be deducted from

the $4,238.57 to be paid to Defendant-Husband.

                                BY THE COURT:

                                RHONDA LEE DANIELE, J.

Copy of this Equitable Distribution Order and
Divorce Decree mailed to the following on 5//1/2018:

Cheryl Leslie, Court Administration (Interoffice mail)
Martin P. Mullaney, Esquire (First-class mail)
Mark E. Poist, City of Philadelphia Law Department, 140 I John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 5-1 19,
E ·     phia      19102 (First-class mail)

                                                   19