Court Opinion

ID: 9641776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:40:09.310724+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:39.690934
License: Public Domain

NIX, Justice,
dissenting.
It has long been recognized that the broad scope of review given to reviewing courts in custody matters was never intended to mean that an appellate court is free to nullify the fact-finding function of the hearing judge. Commonwealth ex rel. Spriggs v. Carson, 470 Pa. 290, 296, 368 A.2d 635, 637 (1977); Adoption of Farabelli, 460 Pa. 423, 433, 333 A.2d 846, 851 (1975); Commonwealth ex rel. Harry V. Eastridge, 374 Pa. 172, 177, 97 A.2d 350, 353 (1953). However, I *267do not view the disagreement between the Superior Court and the hearing judge as turning upon the former’s refusal to accept the findings of fact of the latter.
The Superior Court accepted the hearing court’s finding as to the existence of a hostility between the appellant and the appellees. The difference in the result of the two tribunals arose from the judgmental determination as to the impact of this animosity on the emotional and physical development of the child and the value to be derived by the child in having some association with her mother’s family.
We hold that [appellees] have shown that it would be in their grandchild’s best interests to allow the partial custody of her.... The relationship between young Shannon and her grandparents appears to be a happy one, filled with love and affection on both sides. Although Shannon is but two and one-half years of age, we believe that she is capable of appreciating and cherishing her grandparents’ affection and would experience a terrible loss if denied the opportunity to see and be with them. . . .
Commonwealth ex rel. Zaffarano v. Genaro, 286 Pa.Super. 436, 442, 429 A.2d 17, 20-21 (1981).
After noting that “[e]xcept under unusual circumstances, no child should be cut off entirely from one side of its family,” id., 286 Pa.Super. at 442,429 A.2d at 21, quoting from Commonwealth ex rel. Williams v. Miller, 254 Pa.Super. 227, 232-233, 385 A.2d 992, 995 (1978), the Superior Court concluded that the relationship between appellees and appellant did not pose such a threat to the emotional or physical development of the child, Shannon, as to warrant the order entered by the hearing court. I do not believe that the Superior Court attempted to nullify the hearing court’s fact-finding responsibility nor do I agree with this Court’s attempt to disturb a reasonable exercise of discretion by the Superior Court, on the conjectural theory of the possibility of the development of “devasting consequences.”
I would affirm the order of the Superior Court.