Court Opinion

ID: 4514393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-10 19:11:09.177349+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:46:18.048893
License: Public Domain

J-A05029-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    D.D.                                       :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
    v.                                         :
                                               :
    A.H.                                       :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :
                                               :
                                               :   No. 1434 WDA 2019

                 Appeal from the Order Entered September 10, 2019
         In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                               No(s): FD 07-008810

BEFORE:       BENDER, P.J.E., BOWES, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.:                                FILED MARCH 10, 2020

         A.H. (“Father”) appeals pro se from the September 10, 2019 order

awarding D.D. (“Mother”) primary physical custody of their daughters, G.H.

and C.H. We affirm.

         Mother and Father married in 2000, separated in 2007, and divorced in

2010. G.H. and C.H. were born of the marriage in July 2004, and November

2005, respectively.       The trial court summarized the contentious custody

litigation as follows:

               The case has a long and tortured history. Since separation,
         the parties had followed a 2-2-5-5 schedule with Mother having
         Monday and Tuesday and Father having Wednesday and
         Thursday. Throughout the early periods, the parties had constant
         disagreements about the children’s activities, including payment
         for the activities. At some point, the [c]ourt curtailed Father’s
         Sunday nights as there was evidence that the children were
         having trouble getting ready for school on Mondays. The original
____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-A05029-20

     custody trial was held in October 2016, and January 2017.
     Following the trial, the [c]ourt kept the physical shared custody
     order in place but granted Mother sole legal custody for all medical
     decisions and for educational, and extra-curricular activities. [The
     Superior Court affirmed the custody order, and our Supreme Court
     denied review.]

           Father filed a Petition for Modification in [s]pring 2018 and
     a judicial conciliation was held in June 2018. At that time, the
     Court had grave concerns about Father’s mental and emotional
     health and ordered Dr. Joseph A. Greenburg, [Ph.D.] of Allegheny
     Forensic Associates to conduct a full psychological evaluation as
     to Father.    Dr. Greenburg had previously done a custody
     evaluation in this case for the prior trial. Mother filed a Petition
     for Modification in September 2018 based on the children’s
     constant requests to limit their time with Father.           Mother
     requested an emergency conciliation at that time to address the
     children’s concerns about their custody time with Father. The
     children were extremely upset with the current custody
     arrangement and Mother requested that, at least on an
     emergency basis, the order be changed to Father having custody
     every other weekend.

           The [c]ourt met in camera with each child separately. They
     expressed grave concerns about Father’s behavior, including his
     obsession with their health, his unwillingness to let them spend
     time with friends, and his refusal to listen to them and consider
     their opinions. One child relayed sobbing sessions during which
     Father told them that Mother is “taking the children away from
     him.” Both expressed a strong and unequivocal preference to live
     primarily with Mother and begged the [c]ourt to make the custody
     change. The [c]ourt entered an interim order changing Father’s
     custody to every other weekend and set the matter for trial.

     . . . Trial of the action was heard on October 29, 2018, December
     5, 2018 and June 12, 2019. The children were interviewed on July
     2, 2019. Dr. Greenburg filed his psychological evaluation on
     February 28, 2019. After considering all the testimony and
     evidence, the [c]ourt determined that it was in the best interest
     of the children to live primarily with Mother and for Father to have
     custody every other weekend. On September 10, 2019, the
     [c]ourt issued its Background and Order setting forth the
     reasoning for its decision including a detailed discussion of the
     sixteen custody factors which the [c]ourt is required to consider

                                    -2-
J-A05029-20

      when making a custody determination. The vast majority favored
      Mother.

Trial Court Opinion, 11/4/19, at 1-3 (italics supplied).

      Father filed a timely notice of appeal and a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement

that enumerated fifty-five assertions, including subparts, and an exhaustive

criticism of the trial court’s best-interest determination. The trial court issued

a comprehensive opinion that condensed Father’s rambling complaints into

three manageable issues.

      On appeal, Father presents thirty-four declarations, most of which are

scurrilous accusations against the trial court, and renews his critique of the

trial court’s best-interest analysis. Father’s brief at 8-13, 24-44. In contrast,

Mother argues succinctly, “[t]he trial court carefully considered all testimony

and weighed that against the 16 custody factors.” Mother’s brief at 8.

      At the outset, we address whether Father’s issues are preserved for our

review.   An appellant waives all matters for review where he identifies an

excessive number of issues in the concise statement. See Jones v. Jones,

878 A.2d 86 (Pa.Super. 2005) (holding that a seven-page, twenty-nine issue

statement resulted in waiver). While Rule 1925(b)(4)(iv) provides that the

sheer number of issues is not sufficient grounds to find waiver “[w]here non-

redundant, non-frivolous issues are set forth in an appropriately concise

manner[,]” that concession does not negate the requirement that the Rule

1925 statement facilitate appellate review. See also Kanter v. Epstein, 866

A.2d 394, 401 (Pa.Super. 2004) (holding that “[b]y raising an outrageous

                                      -3-
J-A05029-20

number of issues” in a Rule 1925(b) statement, an appellant impedes the trial

court’s ability to prepare an opinion addressing the issues on appeal, thereby

effectively precluding appellate review). As outlined supra, the trial court was

able to distill Father’s litany of unfounded complaints into three lucid

arguments concerning alleged due process violations, Mother’s parental

fitness, and parental alienation.    Any claim asserted on appeal that is not

subsumed within one of the foregoing arguments is waived.

      We review the child custody order according to the following scope and

standard of review:

      This Court reviews a custody determination for an abuse of
      discretion. In re K.D., 144 A.3d 145, 151 (Pa. Super. 2016). We
      will not find an abuse of discretion “merely because a reviewing
      court would have reached a different conclusion.” Id. (citation
      omitted). Rather, “[a]ppellate courts will find a trial court abuses
      its discretion if, in reaching a conclusion, it overrides or misapplies
      the law, or the record shows that the trial court’s judgment was
      either manifestly unreasonable or the product of partiality,
      prejudice, bias or ill will.” Id.

R.L. v. M.A., 209 A.3d 391, 395 (Pa.Super.2019).

      Moreover,

      on issues of credibility and weight of the evidence, we defer to the
      findings of the trial [court] wh[ich] has had the opportunity to
      observe the proceedings and demeanor of the witnesses.

      The parties cannot dictate the amount of weight the trial court
      places on evidence. Rather, the paramount concern of the trial
      court is the best interest of the child. Appellate interference is
      unwarranted if the trial court’s consideration of the best interest
      of the child was careful and thorough, and we are unable to find
      any abuse of discretion.

A.V. v. S.T., 87 A.3d 818, 820 (Pa.Super. 2014) (citations omitted).

                                       -4-
J-A05029-20

     After a thorough review of the certified record, the parties’ briefs, and

the pertinent law, we discern no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial

court as to the issues raised by Father, and we affirm the custody order on

the basis of the cogent and well-reasoned opinion that the Honorable Kim D.

Eaton entered on November 4, 2019.

     Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/10/2020

                                    -5-
                                                              Circulated 02/28/2020 03:06 PM

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                              FAMILY DIVISION

                                  NO. F.D. 07-008810-006
                PLAINTIFF
                                  1434 WDA 2019

     .H ..
                VS.

Al
                                  OPINION
                DEFENDANT
                                  HONORABLE KIM D. EATON

                                  COPIES SENT TO:

                                  COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF:

                                  CORY SIRI, ESQ.
                                  2125 FREEPORT ROAD
                                  NATRONA HEIGHTS, PA 15065

                                  (724) 226-0671

                                  DEFENDANT, PRO SE:

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      IN THE COI.JRT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
                                 FAMILY DIVISION

Dl9DS         [.                               NO. F.O. 07-008810-006

                      PLAINTIFF
                                               1434 WDA 2019
                      vs.

Al     SH ..,

                      DEFENDANT

                                           OPINION

       Defendant/appellant A..., H .. (Father) appeals this Court's Order dated September

10, 2019 granting plaintiff/appellee D.    oa      's (Mother) request for modification of the

shared custody order for the parties' two children, G .. DOB 7 Ja/2004 (age 15) and (9,

DOB 11/e/2005 (age 13).

       The case has a long and tortured history. Since separation, the parties had followed a 2-

2-5-5 schedule with Mother having Monday and Tuesday and Father having Wednesday and

Thursday. Throughout the early periods, the parties had constant disagreements about the

children's activities, including payment for the activities. At some point, the Court curtailed

Father's Sunday nights as there was evidence that the children were having trouble getting ready

for school on Mondays. The original custody trial was held in October 2016, and January 2017.

Following the trial, the Court kept the physical shared custody order in place but granted Mother
sole legal custody for all medical decisions and for educational, and extra-curricular activities.

Father filed an appeal to the Superior Court, which affirmed the trial Court. His further appeal to

the Supreme Court was denied.

       Father filed a Petition for Modification in Spring 2018 and a judicial conciliation was held

in June 2018. At that time, the Court had grave concerns about Father's mental and emotional

health and ordered Dr. Joseph A. Greenburg, PhD of Allegheny Forensic Associates to conduct a

full psychological evaluation as to Father.     Dr. Greenburg had previously done a custody

evaluation in this case for the prior trial. Mother filed a Petition for Modification in September

2018 based on the children's constant requests to limit their time with Father. Mother requested

an emergency conciliation at that time to address the children's concerns about their custody

time with Father. The children were extremely upset with the current custody arrangement and

Mother requested that, at least on an emergency basis, the order be changed to Father having

custody every other weekend.

       The Court met in camera with each child separately. They expressed grave concerns

about Father's behavior, including his obsession with their health, his unwillingness to let them

spend time with friends, and his refusal to listen to them and consider their opinions. One child

relayed sobbing sessions during which Father told them that Mother is "taking the children away

from him". Both expressed a strong and unequivocal preference to live primarily with Mother

and begged the Court to make the custody change. -The Court entered an interim order changing

Father's custody to every other weekend and set the matter for trial.

       Trial was delayed when the Court-appointed expert filed his psychological report which

was an "updated" custody evaluation rather than the psychological evaluation of Father that had

                                                 2
been ordered. Trial of the action was heard on October 29, 2018, December 5, 2018 and June

12, 2019. The children were interviewed on July 2, 2019. Or. Greenburg filed his psychological

evaluation on February 28, 2019. After considering all the testimony and evidence, the Court

determined that it was in the best interest of the children to live primarily with Mother and for

Father to have custody every other weekend. On September 10, 2019, the Court issued its

Background and Order setting forth the reasoning for its decision including a detailed discussion

of the sixteen custody factors which the Court is required to consider when making a custody

determination. The vast majority favored Mother.

       Father timely appealed. The Court issued an order pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 192S(b)

directing Father to file a Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal (Statement).

Pa.R.A.P.   192S(b)(4) provides that the Statement shall set forth only those errors that the

appellant intends to assert and concisely identify each error with sufficient detail to identify the

issue to be raised for the judge. Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(i)(ii}.

       On October 2, 2019, Father filed a ten-page document which purported to raise fifty-

two enumerated matters, including sub-parts, and included a lengthy narrative of how the

Court erred in its findings as to each of the 16 custody factors. Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) is not satisfied

by simply filing any Statement. Rather, the Statement must be sufficiently "concise" and

coherent to permit the trial court to understand the specific issues being raised on appeal.

Kanter v. Epstein, 866 A.2d 394, 401 (Pa. Super. 2004). By raising an outrageous number of

issues, the majority of which are unrelated to the Court's decision and contain vicious personal

attacks and unfounded accusations of wrongdoing against Mother, the Court and Dr.

Greenburg, Father has circumvented the meaning and purpose of Rule 1925(b). As Father is

                                                   3
representing himself, rather than deeming all matters waived, the Court will address what it

can discern to be the matters that Father intended to raise in his Statement.

          Father contends that the Court denied him his 14th Amendment rights by sustaining

objections to portions of his testimony and refusing to admit into evidence unsubstantiated

medical records and studies. A large part of Father's case was directed to proving that the

children suffer from severe medical issues which Mother is ignoring or neglecting. Father

continues to be obsessed with G.-.s weight. He is concerned that C-is suicidal and overly

medicated.       Father testified, without any medical support, that G .. has terminal liver

disease. Father offered no proper evidence of medical records, nor any appropriate expert

report or expert testimony to support his concerns. Rather, Father claimed to be an expert in

health care and repeatedly attempted to offer his professional opinion of the children's medical

issues. Alternatively, he attempted to introduce his own testimony of what doctors told him.

Father repeatedly claimed that the Court was violating his due process rights by sustaining

Mother's objections to such evidence. He made no serious attempt to qualify himself as an

expert.

          Another matter raised by Father is that the Court erred by not granting him physical

custody because Mother is an unfit parent. Father contends that Mother either physically

abuses them or allows them to be abused by others and that she refuses to acknowledge and

address their serious illnesses. There was no evidence whatsoever of any child abuse. The

overwhelming evidence established that Mother, a physician, is properly addressing and caring

for the children's medical issues. Dr. Greenburg conferred with each of the children's treating

                                                  4
physicians identified by Father, including G�s liver doctor, and all concurred that there are

no life-threatening conditions and that Mother is managing their care well. All their doctors

gave Dr. Greenburg glowing reports of Mother's care for the children. Dr. Greenburg testified

that Mother does an excellent job dealing with the children's medical issues. Father responded

to Dr. Greenburg's testimony by challenging his qualifications as an expert and accusing him of

violating the law and of fraud. Dr. Greenburg has been qualified as an expert to testify in

custody matters in Allegheny County for many years. He has conducted over 100 evaluations.

He is unquestionably qualified.

       Another matter raised is that the Court failed to find that the children's preference is the

result of Mother's efforts to alienate the children from Father for years. Father refuses to accept

any responsibility for the children's preference to live with Mother. He blames this entirely on

Mother.    The Court found the evidence to be the contrary. Despite Father's constant verbal

attacks against Mother, his reports to CYF and law enforcement, Mother has done everything in

her power to ensure the children have a positive relationship with Father. Father, on the other

hand, has openly attacked Mother verbally and involves the children in the custody disputes.

Father often verbally abuses Mother.

       Dr. Greenburg testified that Mother is going to great lengths not to alienate the children

from Father. She encourages them to stay at his house when they want to leave. She does not

disparage Father in front of the children. Rather, it is the living conditions at Father's house and

his behavior that concerns them. Father's desire to be "right" has driven the children away. They

complain that he refuses to listen to them in any way. They begged the Court to keep the custody

arrangement at every other weekend as it was more "peaceful", and they can enjoy their friends.

                                                 5
       The children both explained the reasons for preferring to live with Mother. The

interview with the children was nothing short of painful. Father insisted on being in the room,

staring at each child during testimony. At first, the children expressed "neutral" reasons for

their preference - Father's house was too far from their friends, etc., which the Court presumes

is their attempt not to hurt Father. However, when pressed, the children's preference was as

strong as the Court has ever seen. Their complaints ranged from the condition of Father's

house (the cats urinate on their clothes and other items and Father doesn't seem to care), to

Father's sobbing breakdowns about them "leaving him", to Father's refusal to let them spend

time with their friends during "his" time. Both children expressed a strong and unequivocal

preference to live with Mother for well-grounded reasons

       This is a very high conflict case; fueled almost completely by Father's constant litigation,

excessive emails, and his demands that Mother accede to his demands for medical tests and

procedures for the Children. Mother, on the other hand, has done everything in her power to

maintain the peace for the children, turning to the Court only when absolutely necessary, or as

occurred in this action, when the children have begged her to go to Court to change custody.

       For the foregoing reasons, and for reasons set forth in the Court's September 10, 2019

Background and Order, the Court determined that it was in the best interest of the children to

reside primarily with Mother.

          il:1./_,_L_f_f __
Date:____._ f            .
           TI
                                                 6