Court Opinion

ID: 4210848
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-11 18:17:25.525326+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:55.743705
License: Public Domain

J-S50016-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

BRENDA I. DREISBACH                       IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                PENNSYLVANIA

                 v.

ANTONIO MONTEFUSCO

APPEAL OF: JOSEPH P. MAHER

                                              No. 1851 EDA 2016

              Appeal from the Order Entered May 10, 2016
         In the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County
               Civil Division at No(s): C-48-CV-2015-5404

BRENDA I. DREISBACH                       IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                PENNSYLVANIA

                 v.

ANTONIO MONTEFUSCO

APPEAL OF: JOSEPH P. MAHER

                                              No. 3829 EDA 2016

           Appeal from the Order Entered November 2, 2016
         In the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County
               Civil Division at No(s): C-48-CV-2015-5404

BEFORE: PANELLA, J., MOULTON, J., and RANSOM, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MOULTON, J.:                 FILED OCTOBER 11, 2017
J-S50016-17

       Joseph P. Maher appeals, pro se, from the May 10, 2016 and

November 2, 2016 orders holding him in contempt of court in relation to his

representation     of   Brenda     I.   Dreisbach    (“Mother”)   in   the   underlying

custody/relocation action between Mother and Antonio Montefusco and

imposing two separate fines of $500 on Maher for contempt.1 We affirm.

       At docket 1851 EDA 2016, Maher appeals from a trial court order

finding him in contempt for failure to appear at a hearing. The trial court set

forth the factual and procedural history of the appeal in its Pennsylvania

Rule   of   Appellate    Procedure      1925(a)     opinion,   which   we    adopt   and

incorporate herein.      Memorandum Opinion Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a),

Docket No. 1851 EDA 2016, 8/31/16, at 1-4 (“1925(a) Op. at 1851 EDA

2016”).

       At docket 3829 EDA 2016, Maher appeals from a trial court order

finding him in contempt for filing with this Court a response to an order to

show cause on behalf of a client after the trial court ordered him to engage

in no further activity on behalf of the client.         The trial court set forth the

factual and procedural history of the appeal in its Rule 1925(a) opinion,

which we adopt and incorporate herein. Memorandum Opinion Pursuant to

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a), 2/3/17, at 1-6 (“1925(a) Op. at 3829 EDA 2016”).

       Maher raises the following issues on appeal:

____________________________________________

       1On March 6, 2016, this Court granted the motion filed by Maher to
consolidate his appeals at Docket Nos. 1851 EDA 2016 and 3829 EDA 2016.

                                           -2-
J-S50016-17

           A. Whether the trial court committed an error of law
           and/or abuse of discretion in that the trial court did not
           have subject matter juris[di]ction of the alleged
           misconduct pursuant to Rule of Prof. Conduct, 8.4(d),
           Article V, §10(c) of the Pennsylvania Constitution & Pa.
           Rules of Disciplinary Enfor[c]ement 103 and 201.

           B. Whether the trial court committed an error of law
           and/or abuse of discretion by refusing to allow Maher to
           call [Mother] as a witness in the second contempt
           proceeding on October 21, 2016 based upon a blanket
           allegation by Attorney Cook that there existed an attorney
           client privilege to prevent her from test[i]fying?

           C. Whether the trial court comm[i]tted an error of law
           and/or abuse of discretion in that he should not have been
           excluded     from   continuing   to   represent   [Mother]
           particularly in her contempt appeal given that any record
           had already been made and he had not testified in any
           matter in prior proceedings in this case as it related to
           contempt issues?

           D. Whether the trial court comm[i]tted an error of law
           and/or abuse of discretion in that Maher should not have
           been ex[cl]uded from the appeal in 2200 EDA 2016 [sic]
           given that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to
           remove him from the appeal which he had previously filed
           on behalf of [Mother] and no rationale pursuant to
           Pa.R.A.P. 1701 existed to preclude him from continuing to
           prosecute [Mother’s] contempt appeal?

Maher’s Br. at 4-5.2

       Generally, whether a trial court possesses subject matter jurisdiction is

a question of law for which our standard of review is de novo and our scope

of review is plenary.      See Orman v. Mortgage I.T., 118 A.3d 403, 406
____________________________________________

       2Maher raised four issues in his 1925(b) statement at docket 1851
EDA 2016 and ten issues in his 1925(b) statement at docket 3829 EDA
2016, all of which the trial court addressed in its 1925(a) opinions. On
appeal, Maher raises only the four issues referenced above.

                                           -3-
J-S50016-17

(Pa.Super. 2015); S.K.C. v. J.L.C., 94 A.3d 402, 408 (Pa.Super. 2014).

Further, we review a trial court’s order regarding the admission of evidence

for an abuse of discretion.       Commonwealth v. Cascardo, 981 A.2d 245,

249 (Pa.Super. 2009).

       Here, the trial court concluded that it had subject matter jurisdiction to

issue the May 6, 2016 and October 21, 2016 contempt orders. 1925(a) Op.

at 1851 EDA 2016, at 6-7; 1925(a) Op. at 3829 EDA 2016, at 9-10.

Further, the trial court concluded that: (1) it did not err in refusing to allow

Maher to call Mother as a witness at the October 21, 2016 hearing, 1925(a)

Op. at 3829 EDA 2016, at 16-17; (2) it had jurisdiction to preclude Maher

from representing Mother even though Mother had a pending appeal, id. at

15; and (3) Maher waived his claim that the trial court erred in precluding

Maher from representing Mother by failing to file an appeal from the July 22,

2017 order precluding him from representing Mother, id. at 15-16.

Following our review of the briefs, the record, and the well-reasoned

opinions of the Honorable Jennifer R. Sletvold, we conclude that the trial

court did not err or abuse its discretion. We agree with and adopt the trial

court’s reasoning.3

____________________________________________

       3Further, to the extent Maher claims the trial court violated his due
process rights, we conclude that the trial court properly concluded that it did
not violate Maher’s rights and agree with and adopt its reasoning. See
1925(a) Op. at 1851 EDA 2016, at 7-14; 1925(a) Op. at 3829 EDA 2016, at
10-13.

                                           -4-
J-S50016-17

     Orders affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 10/11/2017

                          -5-
                                                                                            Circulated 09/18/2017 09:21 AM

        IN THE COURT OF COMMONPLEAS OF NORTHA...t1\1PTON COUNTY,
                            PENNSYLVANIA
                            CIVIL DIVISION

BREI"{DAI. DREISBACH
            Plaintiff                                                  No. C48-CV.;20l5-5404

                  v.                                                   CIVIL ACTION -LAW

                                                                       1851 EDA 2016
ANTHONY MONTEFUSCO
         Defendant

               MEMORANDUM OPINION PURSUANT TO PA;R.A.P. 1925(A)

        This Memorandum Opinion is filed in accordance with Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate

Procedure 1925(a).. Joseph P. Maher, Esq. (hereinafter,
                                          .
                                                        "Attorney. Maher") filed a Notice of

Appeal on June 15, 2016, from this Court's Order dated May 6, 2016 which found Attorney

Maher in contempt of court and fined him $5 00 for deliberately failing to appear with his client

at a scheduled court appearance. Attorney Maher is a third party in this case as he represented
                                                                                                     :;.-                ~
Plaintiff, Brenda I. Dreisbach (hereinafter, ''Mother'}1                                             ;~           ,g ~
                                            PROCEDURAL HISTORY
                                                                                                    r~ir ~
                                                                                                    ;:};;g            w           ,. ·····-
                                                                                                    ~~--~                         t
                                                                                                                              ~....:'I,;'",:;

        This case originates from Mother's Complaint in Custody against Anthony M.9j~sc~                                     i / '
                                                                                                                             ,-
                                                                                                    ~·
                                                                                                   :<       ;2
                                                                                                            M1
                                                                                                                    N        ,.
                                                                                                                              .... _~_.,.;.:
(hereinafter, "Father"), which was filed on June 19, 2015. Attorney Maher entered has                       z,;     c..ri
                                                                                                                    C)

appearance on behalf of Mother on March 31, 2016. On April 18, 2016, Attorney Catherine

Kollet.filed a Petition for Contempt and Sanctions on behalf of Father. In that Petition, Father

"Attorney Maher's appearance on behalf of Mother has since been withdrawn per this Court's instructions due to a
conflict of interest which was placed on.the record before the undersigned and in a separate proceeding regarding
Mother's relocation request before the HonorableSamuel P. Murray of this Court.                            ·

                                                        1
                 alleged that Mother engaged in.a course of conduct to intentionally interfere with Father's court-

                 ordered visitation pursuant to the Custody Order and also committed perjury before the Court.    A
                 custody conference was heldbefore the Court's Custody Master on April 18, 2016. On April 20,

                 2012, the Custody Master praeciped this matter for the weekly Miscellaneous Courtlist. An

                 Order was issued reflecting this praecipe and placing the matter on the April 29, 2016

                 Miscellaneous Court List for a 9:00 a.m. hearing before the undersigned.

                           At approximately 4:25 p.m. on April 28, 2016, the day before the scheduled hearing,

                 Attorney Maher telephoned the chambers of the undersigned and verbally requested a

                 continuance on the basis that his "car was in the shop." Through its administrative assistant, the

                 Court denied this last minute verbal continuance request and directed Attorney Maher to appear

                 in Court. Specifically, the Court's administrative assistant, at the direction of the Court,

                 informed Attorney Maher that, as a result of his verbal request for a continuance being denied" he

                 was to appear at the hearing as scheduled with his client. Attorney Maher responded that he

                 would not be at the hearing, and would instead submit a written request for continuance the

                 following morning on the day of the hearing. Attorney Maher was advised that the Court would

                 not receive the request as the undersigned would be sitting on the bench for Miscellaneous Court

                 first thing in the morning and would be expecting Attorney Maher to be present for the scheduled

                 hearing.

                            On the morning of April 29, 2016, instead of appearing in court with his client as

                 directed, and in direct contravention of our scheduling Order and denial of his verbal

                 continuance request, Attorney Maher faxed the Court a letter at 8:07 a.rn., again indicating that

                 he would not appear because he was without a vehicle and enclosing a continuance form. Both

                 Attorney Maher and Mother failedto appear at this hearing. We conducted the hearing as

                                                                     2

-----·-------------·----
          scheduled. Father, Father's counsel, and a subpoenaed witness were all present in order to make

          a record on Father's underlying Petition. Following this hearing, we found Mother in contempt

                                                           2
          of court and awarded sanctions to Father.            On that same date, we also issued a Rule to Show

                                                                                                3
          Cause cm Attorney Maher regarding his failure to appear at the hearing.

                   Subsequent to Attorney Maher receiving notice of the Orders issued as a result of the

          April 29, 2016 hearing and his failure to appear, Attorney Maher telephoned the undersigned's

          judicial chambers, Attorney Maher engaged the undersigned's administrative assistant in

          conversation wherein he expressed his dissatisfaction with the Orders, at which point the

          undersigned intercepted the telephone call and instructed Attorney Mahet to appear on May 6,

          2016 pursuant to the Rule Returnable indicated in the aforementioned Rule to Show Cause.

                   On May 6, 2016, Attorney Maher and Father's counsel appeared before the undersigned

          for a hearing pursuant to the Rule to Show Cause. After considering all testimony and evidence

          Attorney Maher had to offer at this hearing, we found that Attorney Maher deliberately neglected

          the scheduled court appearance on April 29, 2016, of which he had sufficient notice, without a

          legitimate excuse. We found him in contempt of court and fined him $500, On June 13, 2016,

          Attorney Maher filed a Motion for Reconsideration of our Order, which Motion we denied.

                   Attorney Maher filed a Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on June

          15, 2016 from our Order finding him in contempt of court." On June 21, 2016 we filed a

          2
            Since that time, Mother has filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which we denied. Mother appealed our Orders
          finding her in contempt and denying her Motion for Reconsideration, and that appeal is currently pending before the
          Superior Court.
          3
           The Rule to Show Cause states, in relevant part: "rule to show cause is issued on Attorney Maher to show cause
          why he should not be held in contempt for failure to appear per court instruction. Rule returnable for May 6, 2016 at
          9 AM in courtroom 2."
          4
           We note that on June 15, 2016, Attorney Maher filed a Petition for Leaveto Proceed In Fonna Pauperis for
          purposes of this appeal; however, following a hearing held on June l 6, 20 l 6, the Honorable Anthony S. Beltrami
          denied this Petition.

                                                                   3

_.....   ·-----------------------------
                                                                           ..   -.,,

Memorandum Opinion with the Superior Court indicating our belief that Attorney Maher's

appeal was untimely and should be quashed based on the date of the Order finding Attorney

Maher in contempt. However, the Superior Court indicated that Attorney Maher's appeal was

not untimely based on the date he was served with the Order as opposed to the date the Order

was entered on the docket. Via Order dated July 26, 2016, the Superior Court directed Attorney

Maherto file a docketing statement pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 3517. Thereafter, oh August 10, 2016,

Attorney Maher filed a Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal.

                                         QUESTIONS PRESENTED

          In Attorney Maher' s somewhat confusing Concise Statement, he raises the following as

issues:

          A. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error oflaw and/or abuse of discretion in that
             Maher is of the contention that the procedure - or lack thereof- as to the Rule to
             Show Cause without a Motion for Contempt, violates Maher' s procedural due process
             rights under the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions and the Pennsylvania and
             Northampton County Rules of Civil Procedure to have advance notice as to why it is
             alleged that he has committed some contemptuous action?"

          B. "\Vb.ether the Trial Court committed an error oflaw and/or an abuse of discretion in
             the Petitioner is of the contention that Judge Sletvold exercising a 'duel [sic] role', Le.
             hearing officer and 'prosecutor', in this contempt matter constitutes a violation of
             Maher' s substantive due process rights under the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions
             to have a fair, foll and complete, non-prejudicial hearing on his alleged contemptuous
             behavior under the present exigent circumstances that existed on the evening of April
             28 and the morning of April 29,2016?''

          C. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error oflaw and/or abuse of discretion in that
             Maher contends that this Honorable Court does nothave subject matter jurisdiction of
             the alleged 'misconduct' [sic] See, Rule of Prof. Conduct, 8.4(d), in this regard, but
             rather that such authority-pursuant to Article V, §10(c) of the Pennsylvania
             Constitution and Rule of Disciplinary Enforcement 103 and 201 - lies with The
             Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania?"

          D. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error of law and/or abuse ofdiscretion in that
             even if the Trial Court did have subject matter [sic] in this matter, the Trial Court did
             not abide. by the Pennsylvania Code of Civility, Part 1 concerning a judge's duties to
             lawyers, et al. This is particularly so given Maher's exigent circumstances that

                                                     4

   ·-------------· --------------------·---~---•H•••--n••----- .                       --•-n••---·---•HH••--•-n•••·------•moHoOO_O_H-hH•"•---·,-·.-·,
                    necessitated the granting of a continuance to the Defendant's Motion for Contempt as
                    to Maher' s client, Dreisbach, when such could have been continued until another time
                    Or held in another matter, e.g. by telephone, given that there were no exigent
                    circumstances relating to Defendant's Motion that could have not been delayed given
                    that the allegations of said petition related to activity that had allegedly previously
                    occurred over four (4) months prior and which activity was not related to any ongoing
                    activity between the parties or contrary to the best interests to the minor child's
                    custody?"

         See, Attorney Maher' s "Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal Pursuant to PA.

         R. A. P. 1925 (b)" at, 4 (A~D).

                                                         DISCUSSION

                "Each court is the exclusive judge of contempts against its process," and on appeal, the

         trial court's finding of contempt will only be reversed when there is clearly an abuse of

         discretion. Com. v. Jackson, 532 A.2d 28, 31 {Pa. Super. 1987). Therefore, when reviewing a

         contempt conviction, much reliance is given to the discretion of the trialjudge. Com. v. Worthy,

         512 A.2d 39, 40 (Pa. Super. 1986). Unless the trial court overrides or misapplies the law in

         reaching its 'conclusion or its judgment is manifestly unreasonable, an appellate court will not

         find an abuse of discretion merely for an error of judgment. Com v. Baker, 564 Pa. 192, 198,

         766 A.2d 328, 331 (2001).

                 In this case, Attorney   Maher appeaTs to raise four issues on appeal.   His first and second

         issues appear to pertain to violations of his procedural and substantive due process rights. See

         Attorney Maher' s "Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal Pursuant to PA. R.

         A. P. 1925 (b)" at   14 (A-B).   Third, Attorney Maher contends that we lack subject matter

         jurisdiction in this matter as the appropriate authority "lies with the Disciplinary Board of the

         Supreme Court of Pennsylvania" pursuant to the Pennsylvania Constitution. Id.         at 14 (C).
         Finally, Attorney Maher argues that, given the factual circumstances in the instant case, we

                                                             5

--- ..···--·-------·----------------------------
                  violated the "Pennsylvania         Code of Civility, Part   I   concerning a judge's duties to lawyers, et al."

                  Id. at ,r Id. at   ,r 4(D).   We will address each ofthese issues in tum.

                           A. This Court had Subject Matter Jurisdiction to Find Attorney Maher in
                              Contempt

                            Contrary to Attorney Maher' s contention that we had no authority to find him in

                  contempt pursuant to Article Vofthe Pennsylvania Constitution, we submit that atrial court

                  judge's contempt power flows inherently from historical common law and from the judicial

                  power granted by the Pennsylvania Constitution. lbs well-settledthati'[cjourts possess an

                  inherent power to enforce their orders by way of the power of contempt.'' Dep't ofEnvtl. Prat. v.

                  Cromwell Twp., Huntingdon Cnty., 613 Pa. 1, 32 A.3d 639, 653 (2011) (citations omitted). This

                  power is derived from "a right inherent in courts and is incidental to the grant ofjudicial power

                  under Article 5 of our Constitution." Com. v. McMullen, 599 Pa. 435, 961 A.2d 842 (2008)

                   (emphasis added}. Further, we point out that although the Crimes Code abolished common law

                   crimes (See 18 Pa.C.S. §107(b)) it also provided in is preliminary provisions that "[tjhis section

                   does not affect the power of a court to ... punish for contempt or to employ any sanction

                   authorized by law for the enforcement of an order ... " See 18 Pa.C.S. §107(c).

                            This inherent power of a trial judge to enforce orders specifically includes the power to

                   impose summary findings of criminal contempt, punishing willful misconduct that obstructs the

                   administration of justice. Com, v, Garrison, 478 Pa. 356, 365, 386 A.2d 971, 975 (1978).5

                   Nevertheless, in seeking to regulate the manner of the exercise ofthe power of summary

                   contempt, the legislature restricted the imposition of summary punishments for contempts of

                   court to the following cases:

                   5
                    We note that the term "misconduct" simply refers to "behavior that is inappropriate to the role of the actor."
                   Himesv. Himes, 833 A.;1d 1124 (Pa. Super. 2003).

                                                                              6

-···-·- ......_                                                                               _
               (1) The official rnisconduct of the officers of such courts respectively.
               (2) Disobedience or neglect by officers, parties.jurors or witnesses of or to the
               lawful process of the court
               (3) The misbehavior of any person in the presence of the court, thereby
               obstructing the administration of justice.

42 Pa.C.S.A. §4132.

       In this matter, we imposed a summary punishment for contempt because we found that

AttorneyMaher had deliberately failed to attend a scheduled court appearance with bis client

when he had sufficient notice, without a legitimate excuse. A deliberate absence from a

scheduled court proceeding, if established, falls within the purview of the prohibition set forth

under subsection two of 42 Pa.C.S,A. §4132, set forth above. See Com. v. Marcone, 487 Pa.
572, 583, 410 A.2d 759, 765 (1980); see also Com. v. Debose, 833 A.2d 147 (Pa. Super. 2003}.

        Given the foregoing, Attorney Maher's first issue lacks merit It is without question that

this Court possessed the inherent power to find Attorney Maher in contempt for failing to appear

for a hearing despite a.clear Order of Court and subsequent verbal instruction from this Court,

both of which demanded his appearance.

        B. AttorneyMaher's ProceduralDue Process Rights WereNot Violated

        Contempt may be of a civil or criminal nature. This distinction between a civil and

criminal contempt is crucial because the classification determines what procedural rights are

conferred. Com. v. Ashton, 824 A.2d 1198, 1202 (Pa. Super 2003). "The distinction between

criminal and civil contempt is ... a distinction between two permissible judicial responses to

contumacious behavior. These judicial responses are classified according to the dominant

purpose of the court." Com v. Griffiths, 15 A.3 d 73, 77 (Pa. Super. 2010). It is the judge's

purpose in crafting the contempt order that determines whether the Order is characterized as civil

 or criminal contempt. The purpose of criminal contempt is to vindicate the Court's authority,

                                                   7
and therefore, to punish the contemnor     for his actions; the contemno:t, unlike with civil contempt,

is powerless   to escape sanctioning   by compliance.       See Ingebrethsen v. Ingebrethsen, 661 A.2d
403, 405 (Pa. Super. 1995).

        As discussed supra, we intended to make, and did make, an adjudication of criminal

contempt that falls   within thepurview    of 42 Pa.C.S.A. §4132 (2). We did so to admonish

Attorney Maher and to vindicate the authority of the Court. This was not a situation where

Attorney Maher could remedy his misconduct by compliance. Summary action permits the court

to eliminate traditional steps involved in an adjudication, including all that goes with a

conventional court.trial such as "the issuance of process, service of complaint and answer,

holding of hearings, taking evidence, listening to arguments, awaiting briefs, [and] submission of

findings." See Sacher v. UnitedStates,343 U.S. 1, 9, 72 S. Ct. 451, 455, 96 L. Ed. 717, 724

(1952). However, we acknowledge that the contemnor must be given an opportunity to rebut the

charges. Com. v. Pruitt, 764 A.2d 569, 576 (Pa. Super. 2000).

         A trial court may not properly hold an attorney in contempt and impose a fine for the

 failure to appear in opposition to a motion for sanctions where counsel is not given any notice

 that a charge of criminal contempt is being considered by the Court and is given no opportunity

 to be heard in response to such a charge. See Simpson v. Allstate Ins. Co., 504A2d 335, 338

 (Pa. Super. 1986). In the case sub judice, Attorney Maher was afforded procedural safeguards.

 He was given notice that a charge of contempt was being considered by the Court, and he was

 afforded art opportunity to be heard.

         Specifically, we issued a Rule to Show Cause on Attorney Maher on April 29, 2016, and

 Attorney Maher responded to the Rule Returnable on May 6, 2016 when he appeared for a

 hearing regarding why he should not be held in contempt for failure to appear for the hearing in

                                                        8
the underlying matter that had been scheduled for April 29, 2016 on Father; s Petition per Order

and per subsequent Court instruction. Despite Attorney Maher's contention that he did not voice

objections at the May 6, 2016 hearing because "he was not of the opinion as to   him making

objections to the various exhibits or the testimony surrounding said exhibit or other matters

would not [sic] be considered" (Concise Statement at pp. 2-3), Attorney Maher was given an

unfettered opportunity to be heard on May 6, 2016.

        Subsequent to the Court making a record   of what   had transpired, we asked Attorney

Maher to tell the Court what he wanted itto know regarding his failure to appear and the reason

that he summarily decided not to appear for his court-ordered appearance on April 29, 2016. See

Notes of Testimony (N.T,), 5/6/16, at p. 6. Attorney Maher used this time to explain that he had

problems with his vehicle, thathe could not find an alternative tide to get to the courthouse, and

that he was not "aware of any real suitable taxi service." N.T., 5/6/16 at pp. 6-8. Attorney

 Maher was also offered the opportunity to provide evidence to prove to the Court that his vehicle

 was, in fact, in the garage as he indicated. However, Attorney Maher could not offer a receipt

 because this garage "doesn't give any receipts." Id. at p. 9-10. Thefollowing   exchange took

 place on the record:

     THE COURT: What' s the name of that garage?

     ATTORNEY MAHER. I dori't.remember what the guy's name-« I just recently used him.
     A friend of mine found him. He's relatively inexperienced.     His name is Eddie.

     THE COURT: Did you provide the Court with any receipts that your carwas, in fact,
     there?

     ATTORNEY MAHER: He doesn't give any receipts; Your Honor.

                                                   9
               Id. at pp. 9-10. While Attorney Maher did offer an apology during the course of his explanation,

               we found his testimony to be lacking in credibility. His "mea culpa" attitude and apology were

               insincere and manipulative.             He failed to sway our decision to hold him in contempt of court.

                             As we noted on the record during the May 6, 2016 hearing on the rule to show cause,

                Attorney Maher has a penchant for making ex parte communications to the Court. He has, in the

                past, sent an exparte letter to this Court consisting oflegal arguments. As a result, we had sent

                him correspondence instructing him to refrain from sending such communication to the Court.6

                Despite        ow correspondence       to Attorney Maher alerting him as to the impropriety ofexparte

                communications, Attorney Maher has made several ex parte communications to the Court during

                the course of the instant matter, including, inter alia,            a telephone   call during which he attempted

                to rationalize why he failed to appear and engaged our administrative assistant in a discussion

                regarding his dissatisfaction with Court Orders.

                              Our findings with respect to Attorney Maher' s contempt are bolstered by the fact that

                Attorney Maher has a record of ignoring Court directives and has previously been disciplined for

                evading proper procedure. Moreover, as we evidenced on the record, this is not the first time

                that Attorney Maher has used his car problems as an excuse to avoid court deadlines. In a

                separate matter which was before the Honorable Kimberly McFadden, Attorney Maher filed a

                "Motion for Reconsideration - Nunc Pro Tune Concise Statement Filing" in which he blamed bis

                    car troubles for a late filing. Inparagraph 5 of this Motion, Attorney Maher indicated that he

                    could not meet his March I 0,2016 filing deadline because his" ... automobile experienced a

                    major mechanical failure." He went on to state: "[ t]hrough a series of third party delays and

                    miscommunications,         [Attorney Maher] did notreceive bis one and only personal vehicle back in

                    6
                        This correspondence was made part of the record during the May 6,2016 hearing.
                    7   This call was made after the Rule.to Show Cause was issued, but before the Rule Returnable date.

                                                                              10

-·-·---·---·-·--·       ------------------------------
his possession until late in the day on Friday, March 11, 2016, even though he had anticipated

having such back into his possession original [sic] by mid-day March 1 oth and then subsequently

by   mid-day on March 11th." 8

             C. Attorney Maher's SubstantiveDue Process Rights Were Not Violated

            As discussed, we found Attorney Maher to be in criminal contempt pursuant to 42

Pa.C.S.A. §4132 (2). The appellate courts of this Commonwealth have interpreted this Section

as requiring the following four elements to support a finding of criminal contempt for

"disobedience or neglect":

             (1) The [court's] order or decree must be definite, clear, specific and leave no doubt or
                 uncertainty in the mind of the person to whom it was addressed ofthe conduct
                 prohibited;
             (2) The contemnor must have had notice ofthe specific order or decree;
             (3) The act constituting the violation must have been volitional; and
             (4) The contemnor must have acted with wrongful intent.

             8
            Apart from the aforesaid instances, Attorney Maher is well-known to the otherjudges of Northampton
County, as well as Lehigh County, for being disrespectful of'the Court's time and procedure and for raising
frivolous issues. Significantly, the Superior Court noted Attorney Maher's incessant disregard for court Orders in its
opinion filed on December 14, 2015, which stemmed from a custody case in Lehigh County. In this custody matter,
the trial court ordered Attorney Maher not to represent the father because he had previously represented the mother
in other unrelated cases. The mother filed a contempt petition alleging that Attorney Maher filed motions on the
father's behalf after being ordered not to represent father. The trial court found Attorney Maher in contempt as a
result. Following the custody trial in Lehigh County, during which the father represented himself, the trial court
entered an Order granting primary physical custody to mother. The father, through Attorney Maher, filed a notice of
appeal and a concise statem:ent of errors complained of on appeal. On appeal, the Superior Court stated:

             Instead of appealing the preclusion issue separately, as would be procedurally and ethically proper at this
             point, Attorney Maher has· continued in his malfeasance by bringing the instant appeal on· behalf of both
             himself and Father. We cannot stress enough our condemnation of Maher 's continued disregardfor the
             trial court's orders. Upon the return of this custody matter to the trial court, we recommend the court
             explore disciplinary action and additional sanctions as it sees fit.

E.R.   v,   JN.B., 129 A.3d 521 (Pa. Super, 2015), appeal denied, 135 A.3d 586 (Pa.201(5) (emphasis added).

          Yet another instance ofAttomey Maher's disregard for the Court's time and processes occurred in
·Northampton County in a Protection from.Abuse (PFA) matter involving Mother and Father in the instant case. The
 Honorable Anthony Beltrami denied Mother a PFA against Father; AttorneyMaher then appealed Judge Beltrami's
 Order, and after Judge Beltrami authored an opinion pursuantto Pa.RAP. 1925(a), the appeal was quashed due to
 Attorney Maher' s failure to file a brief.

                                                              11
                                                                                   . . .....,
                                                                                   _

           Com. v. Zacher, 689 A.2d 267, 268-69 (Pa; Super. 1997) (citations omitted). Further, in order to

           prove contempt, the evidence must support that the alleged contemptuous act was "intentional

           disobedience or an intentionalneglectofthe lawful process of the court.'' Pruitt, 764 A.2d at

           574 (citation omitted). Our Superior Court has held that in order to prove that an attorney acted

           intentionally, it is sufficient to demonstrate that they acted with reckless disregard. McCu$ker v.

           McCusker, 631 A.2d 645 (Pa. Super. 1993). A subjective intent to obstruct the administration of

           justice is not a requisite of criminal contempt. Com. v. Owens, 496 Pa. 16, 24, 436 A.2d 129,

            133 (1981).

                   The first element requires that an officer of the Court clearly and without a doubt know

           that he was required to appear in court as scheduled. The evidence here shows that Attorney

            Maher knew, without a doubt, of the Orderrequiring bis appearance on April 29, 2016 because

            he twice requested a continuance of the hearing. He does not contest that he was scheduled to

            appear, but rather, he objects to our unwillingness to grant him a continuance.

                   The second element, whether Attorney Maher had notice      of the    specific Order, is again

            satisfied because he contacted the Court in response to the Order requiring his appearance in

            court on April 29, 2016.

                   The third element focuses on whether Attorney Mahers violation was volitional.

            Attorney Maher made a deliberate choice not to be present as ordered. There is no question that

            Attorney Maher was aware of the court-ordered obligationto appear and purposely failed to meet

            this obligation. His failure to appear was not a mere oversight, and this was demonstrated by his

            cenversation with the Court's administrative assistant wherein, despite being told that he must

            attend the hearing the next day, he was adamant that he would be submitting a written

            continuance on the morning of the hearing rather than appearing. Further, our directive for

                                                             12

___   ,,   ·------------
Attorney Maher to be present at the hearing, despite his car trouble, was not unreasonable.                This

was not a situation where Attorney Maher' s failure to appear was due to conflicting in-court

commitments or due to an overly burdensome caseload. See In re Bernhart, 501 Pa. 428, 461
A.2d 1232 (1983); Matter of Ring, 492 Pa. 407, 424 A.2d 1255 (1981); Com. v. Debose, 833
A.2d 147 (Pa. Super. 2003); Com v. Kolansky, 800 A.2d 937 {Pa. Super. 2002).                   There were

avenues open to Attorney Maher, a local attorney ,9 by which he could have arrived at the

courthouse without resorting to deliberately disregarding his responsibility to the Court and his

former client, i.e. transportation via Uber or an alternate taxi service. Further, he waited until

close to the close of business the afternoon before the hearing to alert the Court, via telephone, of

his alleged car trouble, and he did not notify opposing counsel. Further, he did not advise his

client to appear.

           Finally; the third element regarding volition goes hand-in-hand with the fourth element

which addresses whether the contemnor acted with wrongful intent. "The minimum intent

requited to prove contemptis 'a volitional act done by one who knows or should reasonably be

aware that his conduct.is wrongful.' ... However, ... direct ( as well as subjective) intentis not

necessary where a reckless disregard for the directions of the court can be proven." McCusker,
631 A.2d at 648-649 (1993) (internal citations omitted).

           When Attorney Maher decided to forego the other transportation options available to

him, and instead submitted a written continuance after his verbal request for continuance was

denied, his behavior was such that he acted with reckless disregard as well as wrongful intent.

The willfulness of his conduct in this instance is further demonstrated by Attorney Maher' s

9
    According to the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board Attorney Directory, Attorney Maher is located in Lehigh
County which is a neighboring county to Northampton County.

                                                         13
record, outlined supra, reflecting a continuing course of conduct in failing to comply with court

directives.

        D, This CourtActed in Accordance with Pennsylvania'sCode of Civility

        Attorney Maher contends that, given his "exigent circumstances that necessitated the

granting of a continuance" in the instantmatter, this Court did not "abide by the Pennsylvania

Code of Civility, Part 1 concerning a judge's duties to lawyers, et al." Our Supreme Court

adopted the Code of Civility with the intent of encouraging "lawyers.judges,        and court personnel

to practice civility and decorum and to confirm the legal profession's status as an honorable and

respected profession that observes courtesy and civility as a matter of course." See Pa. Code of

Civility, Preamble. We submit, however, that the Code of Civility, while it serves an important

role as a reminder to judges and lawyers to act with courtesy and civility, does not "supersede or

alter existing disciplinary codes or standards ofconduct and may not be used as a basis for

litigation, lawyer discipline, or sanctions." Id. It is often appropriate and necessary for a Court

to implement its inherent authority in holding in contempt of court an attorney who acts in

blatant disregard of the Court's authority.

         Contrary to Attorney Maher' s contention that we did not abide by the Code of Civility,

finding Attorney Maher in contempt was necessary in order to effectuate our duties in

accordance with the Code of Civility and in accordance with the efficient administration of

justice. Article   I of the   Code of Civility, which pertains to a judge's duties to lawyers and other

judges, provides inpertinent part the following:

         I. Ajudgemust maintain control of the proceedings andhas an obligation to ensure that
         proceedings are conducted in a civil manner.

         2. A judge should showrespect, courtesy and patience to the lawyers, parties and all
         participants in the legal process by treating all with civility .

                                                     .14
       7. A judge should be punctual in convening trials, hearings, meetings and conferences.

       8. A judge should be considerate of the time constraints upon lawyers, parties and
       witnesses and the expenses attendant to litigation when scheduling trials, hearings,
       meetings and conferences to the extent such scheduling is consistent with the efficient
       conduct of litigation.

Pa. Code of Civility, Art. I. Inaccordance with the duties set forth above, this Court must

maintain control of the proceedings; show respect to alllawyers and participants in the legal

process; punctually convene heatings; and be considerate of time constraints on lawyers, parties,

and witnesses. Inthe instant case, Father, his counsel, a witness who was present pursuant to a

subpoena, and the Court were ready and prepared for the scheduled hearing. Accordingly, we

took appropriate action in holding the hearing at the scheduled time and issuing a Rule to Show

Cause on Attorney Maher.

       Moreover, we point out that the Code of Civility goes beyond Article I to include Article

II, pertaining to a lawyer' s duties to the court. These duties include in relevant part the

following:

        9. A lawyer should. be punctual and prepared for all court appearances.

        10. A lawyer should avoid ex parte communications with the court, including the judge's
                                                              letters and other forms orwritten
        staff, on pending matters in p~rson, by relephone or in
        communication unless authorized. Communication with the judge on any matter pending
        before thejudge, without notice to opposing counsel, is strictly prohibited.

        11. A lawyer .should be considerate of the time constraints and pressures on the court in
        the court's effort to administer justice and make every effort to comply with schedules set
        by the court.

        17. A lawyer should demonstrate respect for other lawyers; which requires that counsel
        be punctual in meeting appointments with other lawyers and considerate of the schedules
        of other participants in the legal process; adhere to commitments, Whether made orally or
        in writing; and respond promptly to communications from otherlawyers.

                                                   15

-------"""'--"-'-'~-          ·-------·----      ·····---·   .   . ··-
                    Pa. Code of Civility, Art. Ir.

                                    Attorney Maher cites to portions of the Civility Code in his argument, but the Code must

                    be considered in its entirety, together with Attorney Maher's own actions before the Court.

                    While we do not make it a practice of holding attorneys in contempt, indeed the undersigned has

                    never done so prior to Attorney Maher, we have an obligation to hold an attorney in contempt

                    when he intentionally and illegitimately disregards the authority of the Court and takes no care

                    with regard to the administration ofjustice.

                                     With his actions, Attorney Maher did a disservice to his client, to opposing counsel, to

                    opposing counsel's client, and to the judiciary. His blatant disregard for the Court's authority

                    was unacceptable, and his excuse was weak and lacking in credibility. In order to vindicate the

                    dignity and authority of the court and to protect the interests of the general public, it is

                    imperative to punish an attorney of record that chooses not to appear in court when scheduled.

                    Accordingly, Attorney Maher's appeal lacks merit and should be denied.

                                                                   BY THE COURT,

                    Date:

                    -t5:{3 l { (to
                                                                       ~---
                                                                   . .JENNIFER~,                   .Iudge

                                                                              16

-·-----   ...·-- .. -···---''"'"··-·--   .,,. ,· :.:.---~----------         ............------·---
                                                                                               Circulated 09/18/2017 09:21 AM

          IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF NORTHAlvlPTON                                        COUNTY,
                                               PENNSYLVANIA
                                               CIVIL DIVISION

BRENDA I. DREISBACH
           Plaintiff                                                        No. C48-CV-2015-5404

                    Y.                                                      CIVIL ACTION- LAW

                                                                            3829 EDA 2016
ANTHONY l\lONTEFUSCO
          Defendant
                                                                                                                     I
                                                                                                                 ::.~.f~.:
                  MEMORANDUM OPINIONPURSUANT TO PA.R.A.P. 1925(A);                                                ~1
                                                                                                                 ~ .•.
         This Memorandum          Opinion is filed in accordance with Pennsylvania            Rule o:f.Appell~~
                                                                                                     ~ '
                                                                                                     ~-

Procedure 1925(a). Joseph P. Maher, Esq. (hereinafter, "Attorney Maher") filed a Notice of

Appeal on December 5, 2016, from.this Court's Order dated October 2L 2016, which found

Attorney Maher      in contempt of court      and fined him $500 for deliberately disobeying a clear

directive of this Court Attorney Maher is a third party in this case as he represented Plaintiff.

Brenda I. Dreisbach (hereinafter, "Ms. Dreisbach").              By way of background, Attorney Maher

represented Ms. Dreisbach with respect to several captioned matters pertainingto child custody

and relocation.    During the course of these matters, we held Ms. Dreisbach in contempt once and

held Attorney Maher in contempt twice. This appeal pertains to our second Order of contempt
    · .. A.  . . .            t
against ttorney Maher.

                                              PROCEDURAL HISTORY

         For background purposes, there have been             t\VO other   parallel appeals taken from the

undersigned's Orders docketed at trial court number C48-rV-2015-5404.                      The first was an

1
 Attorney Maher's appearance on behalf ofMs, Dreisbach has since been withdrawn perthis Court's instructions,
as more fully explained below. due to a conflict of interest which was placed on the record before the undersigned
and in a separate proceeding regarding Ms. Dreisbach 's relocation request before the Honorable Samuel P. Murrav
of ibis Court.                                                                                                    ..

                                                          1

                                                                                                                             .·1
                                                                                                                             ~\({}
                                                                                                                           ,    ·-~~
                                                                                                                               ..      .
appeal of Ms. Dreisbach from an Order holding her in contempt, which appeal has since been

quashed by the Superior Court. 2 The-second is Attorney Maher's appeal from an Order holding

him in contempt for failure to appear at a scheduled court-ordered hearing.' Attorney Maher
appealed our first contempt Order against him, and that appeal.is still pending.

          In the instantmatter, we held Attorney Maher in contempt for continuing to act as

counsel for Ms. Dreisbach in spite of several directives from two judges of this Court that he
cease the representation. QnJ uly 13, 201 Q, the Honorable Samuel Murray of this Court

conducted a hearing pursuant to Ms. Dreisbach's request forrelocationin custody. On that date,

AttorneyMaherindicated to Judge Murray that he would be withdrawing his appearance from

representing Ms. Dreisbach because he intended to be a fact witness in the relocation matter as

well as in an underlying protection from abusematter involving the same parties." Judge Murray

noted several times on the record that Attorney Maher had a conflict of interest with respect to

his representation ofMs, Dreisbach.5, 6 As a result, Judge Murray granted Attorney Maher leave

2
 Ms. Dreisbach has since appealed the Superior Court's decision to quash her appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court.

3
  The instant case is the second time that we have held Attorney Maher in contempt in this case. Forthe Superior
Court's convenience.fhe complex procedura1 background of'this case at the time of Attorney Maher's involvement
is outlined. in our Memorandum pursuant to Pa.RA.P. '1925(a), which was filed on August 31. 2016 with regard to
Attorney Maherts appeal from our Order holding him in contempt for failure to appear.
4The
       notes of'testimony of the July   l3, 2016 proceeding before Judge Murray were made part of the record during
Attorney Maher's October 21, 2016 contempthearing,

 At theJuly 13, 2016 hearing, Attorney Maher indicated that he would be withdrawing his appearance on behalf of
,i

Ms. Dreisbach because he would be a fact witness i11 the underlying Protection from Abuse and/or relocation
matters. When Judge Murray asked Attorney Maher why he would be a fact witness, Attorney Maher stated:

          Welt, Your Honor, as Attorney Koll et knows and she mentioned it once before in court in another
          proceeding, Iam also the Godfather of the older child, So since this gets involved with both of them, you
          know - I've seen both the younger child and the older child ii1 various stages there, so it's possible I might
          possibly be involved in this one, but! am definitely involved with the older child and so that sort of-the
          two cases are becoming intermingled particularly because attorney Koll et is doing both of them.

N.T . at p. 8. With respect to the older child, Attorney Maher further explained that he has seen her on numerous
occasions, over the Iastthree or fourmonths, and it was revealed that he became her Godfather, not at her birth, but

                                                            2
--· -~-·-----··- ----   ..   --    ,-   ----------,-,   · --·-.   ·-..   _.     ·   ·--   ~--   .   ·----·~-~--·   ~-   ·--~--            ------   .. ,   " "              ..

                to withdraw as counsel for Ms. Dreisbach, and Attorney Everett Cook assumed representation of

                Ms. Dreisbach.

                                  OnJuly 22, 2016, the undersigned conducted a conference with respect to Ms.

                Dreisbach' s appeal from our April 29, 2 016 Order holding her in contempt The purpose of that

                hearing. was to determine who would appropriately represent
                                                                    .
                                                                            Ms. Dreisbach before the Superior

                Court because; as of that date, she had three attorneys of record: Attorney Maher, Attorney
                Cook, and Attorney Ian Musselman. At this conference, we asked Ms. Dreisbach what her

                wishes were with respectto whom she would like to represent her on appeal. :Ms. Dreisbach

                stated on the record, "Apparently, as you stated, Your Honor, the conflict that you feel at hand

                it's probably bestthat.Attorney Cook probably represent me on allcases in regards to

                Northampton County to_prevent any further conflicts." See N.T., 7/22/16, at p, 15.7 As a result

                of the· conflict that was noted by Judge Murray and by the undersigned, as well as Ms.

                just afew months prior when she received First Holy Communion. Id. at pp. 9-J 0. Judge Murray noted several
                times on the record thatthis created a confllct-of tnterest. Id. atpp. 9-10. Judge Murray acknowledged that
                Attorney Maher' s significant involvement with Ms. Dreisbach' s oldest child created a conflict of interest; which
                 conflict was heightened by the fact that Mr. Maher also babysat for Ms. Dreisbach's children. id. This fact was
                 especially relevant because, as Judge Murray noted, opposing counsel was alleging in the Protection from Abuse
                matter that the oldest child was used too frequently asababysitter, Id. atp, 11. Judge Murray then stated to
                Attorney Maher, "I do not think you should be involved.in the case." Id. Attorney. Maher agreed With Judge
                Murrayat the time of the JulY13,.20 ts heating when he stated, "[t]hat's my understanding, Your Honor. It's
                become -very complicated here." Id.                           · ·

                6
                 Attorney Maher admitted his potential to beafactwitness in atleast one other of Ms. Dreisbacb 's matters. Rule of
                Professional Conduct3.7 provides the following:

                              (a) A lawyer.shall not act as advocate at a trial in which the lawyer ts likely to be a necessary witness
                              unless:                                                                                         ·
                              (i) the testimony relates to an uncontested issue;
                              (2) the testimony relates to the nature and value of legal services rendered in the case; or
                              (J) disqualification of the lawyer would worksubstantial hardship on the client.        .
                              (b) A lawyer may act as advocate in a trial in which another lawyer in the lawyer's firm is likely to be
                              called as a witness unless precluded from doing so by Rule 1.7 or Rule 1.9.

                PAST RFC Rule 3.7. Also; as noted infra, Ms. Dreisbach herself indicated that she thought it was best for her to
                proceed with alternate counsel.
                71:he
                     notes oftestimony of the July 22, 2016 proceeding were made part of the record during Attorney Maher's
                October 21, 2016 contempt hearing.                    ·                                            ·                                        ............

                                                                                          3
                                                                           .._.
                                                                          '.

Dreisbach 's own wishes,    we directed Attorney Maher, via a clear Order, to engage in no further
activity with respect to representing Ms. Dreisbach either before. this Court or before the

Superior Court in her.matters involving custody and relocation.

           Atthe July 22, 2016 hearing, the following interaction took place on the record between

Attorney Maher and the undersigned:

           THE COURT:            "Attorney Maher, Tam directing you to have no further activity as
                                 far· as acting as counsel for Ms. Dreisbach pertaining to anything in
                                 the trial court or in the Superior Court in the custodyand relocation
                                 matter bearing case number 2015-5404. Do you understand?"
           MR.MAHER!             "Your Honor, does that include my case because it's the only thing
                                 that's the docket number that they have for that."
           THKCOUR.T:            "It
                                 .
                                     does not. Yon can represent yourself on appeal
                                                                                 .
                                                                                      from your own
                                 contempt petition but you cannot represent Ms. Dreisbach or any
                                 way act as her representative before the court here or the Superior
                                 Court with respect to her custody; her relocation, or her Superior
                                 Court.appeal, Do you understand?"

       MR. MAHER:                ''I understand."

           THE COURT:            "Is anything I said to you unclear?"

       MR.MAHER:                 "No, Yow Borror. Ifs not"
N.T. (7/22/16) at pp. 17-18-.

       Importantly, no challenge or appeal was filed with. respect to the July 22, 2016 Order

directing Attorney Maherto cease his representation of Ms. Dreisbach in the aforementioned

matters.

       At the time of the July 22, 2016 conference, we granted Attorney Musselman leave to

withdraw, and Attorney Cook, who represented Ms. Dreisbach in her.relocation and protection

from abuse matters, stated that he would be willing to also represent her with respect to the

appeal before the Superior Court on lier appeal from the contempt Order. Attorney Cook

                                                    4
-----n•~·----·--,•-·--••••-rnu-----•:..,.,-•.••••"-••-•-••-•-•               ·.·'--·-~-   '·.-••   ·-•••"••.   -·. ••

                                                                                                                            •..._.

                                    subsequently filed a. Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal on behalf of Ms. Dreisbach

                                    on August                    I, 2016'.

                                                      On August 18, 2.016, the Superior Court filed an Order indicating the untimeliness of Ms.

                                    Dreisbach's appeal of the undersigned's contempt Order of April 29, 2016 and directing Ms.

                                    Dreisbach to show cause as to the basis ofthe Superior Court'sjurisdiction over her appeal.

                                    When this Court.received a copy of the August 18, 2016 Order, we noticed that it had been sent

                                    only to Attorney Maher as opposed to Attorney Cook As a result, we forwarded a copy of the

                                    Order to Attorney Cook on August 31, 2016.

                                                      Inspite of the undersigned's clear directive of July 22, 2016, instructing Attorney Maher

                                    to engage in no further activity in the.trial court or in the SuperiorCourt on behalfof Ms,

                                    Dreisbach, on August 31, 2016, Attorney Maher filed a response on behalf of Ms. Dreisbach

                                    pursuant to the Superior Court's rule to show cause. In that filing.Attorney Maher indicates, "It

                                    was decided between the three counsel that it was best that Attorney.Maher handle the reply to

                                    this Honorable Court's August 18, 2016 Rule to Show Cause." Accordingly, on September 29,

                                    2016; the undersigned issued a rule to show cause on Attorneys Maher and Cook to show -..vhy

                                    they should not be held in contempt .of the July 22, 2016 Order prohibiting Attorney Maher from

                                    engaging in any ·f'urtheI" activity on behalf of Ms. :bn,is b ach,

                                                     On October 21, 2016, Attorney Maher and Attorney Cook appeared before the

                                   undersigned for a hearing pursuant to the rule to show cause, After consi dering all testimony

                                    and evidence that Attorney Maherhad to offer at this hearing, we found that Attorney Maher

                                    deliberately disobeyed our Order of July 22, 2016 and that he did so in contravention of Ms.

                                   Dreisbach's stated wishes on the record. Specifically.in Attorney Maher's August 31, 2016

                                   response to the Superior Court, he stated that "[i]t was decided between the three counsel that it

                                                                                                                        5
-   .--·~-·.-~·-.--·   · -~···   ..   ----·"   -   ··--··

                         was bestthat Attorney Maher handle the reply to this Honorable Court' s August 18, 2016 Rule

                          to Show Cause." At his contempthearing on October 21, 2016, Attorney Maher, himself,

                          admitted on the record that he never spoke with Attorney Cookabout such an agreement. N.T.

                          (10/21/16) at.p, '14. Further, Attorney Cook credibly testified at this hearing that he never spoke

                         to Attorney Maher about an agreement which would entail Attorney Maher replying to the

                          Superior Court. Id. at p. 6 .. On this basis, we found him in contempt of court and fined him

                          $500.

                                          Attorney Maherfiled a Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania on

                         December              5, 2016 from   this Order finding him in contempt of court.8 On January 4, 2017,

                         Attorney Maherfiled a Concise Statement ofMatters Complained of onAppeal.

                                                                           QUESTIONS PRESENTED

                                         In Attorney Maher's somewhat confusing Concise Statement, he raises the following as

                         issues:

                                         A "Whether the Trial Court committed an error of law and/or abuse of discretion in that
                                           Maher is of the contention that the procedure - or lack thereof- as to the Rule to
                                           Show Cause without a Motion for Contempt, violates Maher' s procedural due process
                                           rights under the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions and the Pennsylvania and
                                           Northampton County Rules of Civil Procedure to have advance notice as to why it is
                                           alleged that he has committed some contemptuous action?"

                                         B. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error of law and/or an abuse of discretion in
                                            that Petitioner is of'the contention that Judge Sletvold exercising a 'duel [sic] role',
                                            i.e. hearing officer and 'prosecutor', in this contempt matter constitutes a violation of
                                            Mah.er's substantive due process .rights under the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions
                                            to have a fair, full and complete, non-prejudicial hearing on his alleged contemptuous
                                            behavior under the present exigent circumstances that existed on October 21, 2016?"

                                         C "Whether the TrialCourt committed an error oflaw and/or an abuse of discretion in
                                               that Maher contends that this Honorable Court does not have subject matter
                                               jurisdiction of the alleged 'misconduct' [sic] See, Rule of Prof. Conduct, 8.4(d), in

                         8
                         We note that on December 5, 2019, Attorney Maher filed a Petition for Leave to Proceed In Fortna Pauperis for
                        purposes of this appeal; however, fcllowirrg.a'heariag, the Honorable Paula Roscioli denied this Petition.

                                                                                     6
.   . ·--- . ----·---    -       : " ·----- .· ~. ------~----.c.--------'----

                             this regard, but rather that such authority -pursuant to Article V, §lO(c) of the
                             Pennsylvania Constitution and Rule of Disciplinary Enforcement 103 and 201 -lies
                             with The Disciplinary Board bf the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania?"

                        D. "Whether the TrialCourt committed an error of law and/or an abuse of discretion in
                           that even ifthe Trial Court did have subject matter [sic] in this matter regarding the
                             above stated issues, that the Trial Court did not have jurisdiction in that the long
                             dormant custody case should have been previously dismissedpursuant to
                             Pa.R. C .P .1915 .4 [sic] given said inactivity and thus no case of controversy existed at
                             any time while all of these proceedings occurred?"

                        E. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error of law and/or. an abuse of discretion: in
                           that Maher should not have been excluded from the appeal of this case filed at 2200
                           EDA2016 given that the Trial Court had no jurisdiction to remove him per Pa.R.A.P.
                           1701?"

                        F. "Whetherthe Trial Court committed an error oflaw and/or an abuse of discretion in
                           that no conflict between Maher and the minor child in this case "SM" existed and that
                             the possibilitythat he may need to be called as a witness in either the Relocation
                             (handled by Judge Murray) or PF A (handled by Judge Zito) matters in the
                             Northampton County trial court between.July 13, 2016 arid August 19, 2016 never
                             existed on August 18 given that he. was never called as a witness in either proceeding
                             or that such a conflict only potentially existed vis-a-vis SM's older half-sister, 'VD'?''

                        G. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error oflaw and/or an abuse of discretion in
                             that Maher should have been permitted to call Dreisbach as a witness at the October
                             21, 2016 Rule to Show Cause hearing since even if some "attorney client privilege"
                             as alleged by Cook such a privilege is waivable by Dreisbach as the client not raised
                             by Cook essentially as a defense for his negligence in not filing a response to the
                             Superior Court's Rule which constituted malpractice by simply refusing to due [sic]
                             so claiming as Maher pointed out he was being told that neither Cook (who it should
                             be noted also withdraw as counsel for.Dreisbach at this same hearing) nor Attorney
                             Mussehnan    (wlao had already ,vithdra.yn)   vvor'cgoing to do .ao since Maher        .
                             "[sicjknew the most about the issuewhythe appeal should.have been permitted to
                             continue?"

                        H. "Whether the Trial Court committed an error oflawand/or an abuse of discretion in
                           that Maherwas.never permitted to question Cook before Sletvold summarily
                           dismissed him after only her-questioning of him as to why he failed to file a response
                           creating the need for Maher to file art emergency response to the Superior Court's
                           rule?"

                        I. "Whether the Trial Court committed an·error of law and/or an abuse of discretion in
                             that at the time Sletvold held Maher in contempt the entire issue was moot in thatthe
                             Superior Court had already long before dismissed Dreisbach's contempt appeal?"

                                                                     7
                                                                                                          ·----- ... · ··--···"-"'-•'•.
                                                                                             -------,-.--.·

         J.   "Whether the Trial Court committed an error oflaw and/or an abuse of discretion in
              that given that the Northampton County [sic] never served Maher, pursuant to
              Pa.R. CP. 23 6 with the October 21, 2-016 Order finding him in contempt that his
              appeal filed on December 5, 2016 was filing [sic] prematurely?"

See Attorney Maher' s "Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal Pursuant to PA

R. A. P .1925 (b)" at~ 4 (A-J);

                                                      DISCUSSION

         "Each court is the exclusivejudge of contempts against its process," and on.appeal, the

trial court's finding of contempt will only be reversed wheri there is clearly an abuse-of

discretion.   Com. v. Jackson, 532 A.2d 28,.31 (Pa. Super. 1987). Therefore, when reviewing a

contempt conviction)' much reliance is given to the discretion of'the trialjudge. Com. v. Worthy,

512 A.2d 39, 40 (Pa. Super; 1986). Unless the trial court overrides or misapplies the law in

reaching its conclusion or its judgment.is manifestly unreasonable, an appellate court will not

find an abuse ofdiscretion merely for an errorof judgment, Com v. Baker, 564 Pa. 192, 198,

766 A.2d 328,331 (2001).

         In this case, Attorney Maher appears to raise ten issues on appeal; however we primarily

note that these issues are largely incomprehensible. Nevertheless, we will attempt to address

each of the issues to a degree permitted by our understanding of them. We also note that with

respect to Attorney Maher' s first three issues, he raised the same three statements of error in his

Concise Statement         cl Matters Complained     of on Appeal, filed on August 10, 2016.9

         We address each of Attorney Maher's           issues in tum.

9
 This Statement of Matters was made by Attorney Maher with respect to his appeal of our Order finding him in
contempt for deliberately neglecting: a scheduled court appearance on April 29, 2 016. The appeal pertaining to that
matter is currently pending before the Superior Court

                                                          8

                  .....             _
.,A- . -·   ·-·---·   -··-··   . ·------·-·--------------··        ···---------··   . ------·- ---·---·-----------   -·-.··--.------.   - -··-

                                                 A. Whether this Court had Subject Matter' Jurisdii;tion to Find Attorney Maher in
                                                    Contempt

                                                  Contrary to Attorney Maher's contention that we had 110 authority to find him in

                                    contempt pursuant to Article V of the Pennsylvania Constitution, we submit that a trial court

                                   judge's contempt power flows inherently from historical common law and from the judicial

                                   power granted by the Pennsylvania Constitution .. It is well-settled that "[cjourts possess an

                                    inherent power to enforce their orders by way of the power of contempt." Dep't of Envtl. Prof. v.

                                    Cromwell Twp., Huntingdon Cnty., 613 Pa. 1, 32 A.3d 639, 653 (201 I) (citations omitted). This

                                   power is derived from "a right inherent in courts and is incidental to the grant ofjudicial power

                                    under Article 5 of our Constitution," Com. v. Mc1vfullen, 599 Pa. 435, 961 A.2d 842 (2008)

                                   (emphasis added). Further, we point out thatalthough the Crimes Code abolished commonlaw

                                   crimes (See 18 Pa.C.S .. §107(b)),. it also provided in its preliminary provisions that"[t]his section

                                   does not affect the power ofa court to .~. punish for contempt or to employ any sanction

                                   authorized by law for the enforcement of an order. .. " See 18 Pa.C.S. §107(c).

                                                 This inherent power ofa trial judge to enforce orders specifically includes the power to

                                   impose summary findings ofcriminal contempt, punishing willful .misconduct that obstructs the

                                   administration ofjustice, Com. v. Garrison, 478 Pa. J56, 365,386 A.2d 971, 975 (1978).10

                                   Nevertheless, in seeking to regulate the manner of the exercise of the power of summary

                                   contempt, the legislature restricted the imposition of summary punishments for contempts of

                                   court to the following cases:

                                                               (1) The official misconduct ofthe officers of such courts respectively.
                                                               (2) Disobedience or neglect by officers, parties, jurors or Witnesses ofor to the
                                                              lawful process. of the court.
                                                              (3) The misbehavior of any person in the presence ofthe court thereby

                                   10
                                        W¢ note that the term "misconduct" simply refers to"behaviorthatis                                       inappropriate to the role of the actor."
                                   Hlmes.v. Himes, 833 A.2d 1124 (Pa. Super. 2003).

                                                                                                                          9
                                                                                   ., .........

                  obstructing the admirtistration.of'justice.

42 Pa.C.S.A. §4132.

        In this matter, we imposed a summary punishment for contempt because we found that

Attorney Maher deliberately took actionin direct defiance of a clear Order of Court, without a

legitimate excuse. Deliberate disobedience of a court Order, if established, falls within the

purview of the prohibition set forth under subsection two of 42 Pa.C:.S.A. §4132. 11
         Given the foregoing, Attorney Maher's first issue lacks merit. It is without question that

this Court possessed the inherent power to find Attorney Maher in contempt for deliberately
violating a clear Order of Court which directed him to refrain fromrepresentingMs. Dreisbach

in any matters captioned under tria] court docketnumber C-48-CV -:-5404~2015.

        B. Whether Attorney Maher's Prucedural Due Process Rights Were Violated

         Contempt may be of a civil or criminal nature. This distinction between a civil and

criminal contempt is crucial because the classification determines what procedural rights are

conferred. Cont v. Ashton, 824 A2d 1198, 1202 (Pa. Super 2003). "The distinction between

criminal and civil contempt is ... a distinction between two permissible judicial responses to

contumacious behavior. These judicial responses are classified according to the dominant

purpose ofthe    court;"   Com v.   Gri}jzths, 15 A.3d 73,7T(Pa.        Super. 2010).              Iti s the judge's

purpose in crafting the contempt order that determines whether the Order                          is characterized     as civil

or criminal contempt. The purpose of criminal contempt is to vindicate the Court's authority,

and therefore, to. punish the contemnor for his actions; the contemnor, unlike with civil contempt,

is powerless to escape sanctioning by compliance. See Ingebrethsen v, Ingebrethsen, 661 A.2d
403, 405 (Pa. Super .. 1995).

11
  Under42 Pa.C.S . A. § 4132(2), courts are permitted to use their direct contempt power topunish "disobedience or
neglect" of a court's "lawful process." Courts have interpreted this provision to mean that judges have the power to
compel compliance with their formal orders. Seel4 West's Pa, Prac.i.Crirn. Offenses & Defenses § 2:93 (6th ed.).

                                                         10
                                  ---~-----------·--·-------·-                                .. ·.·

                                        ·-
                As discussed supra, we intended to make, and.did make, an adjudication of criminal

        contempt that falls within the purview of42 Pa.C.S.A. §4132 (2). We did so to admonish

        Attorney Maher and to vindicate the authority of the Court. This was not a situation where

        Attorney Maher could remedy his misconduct by compliance. Summary action permits the court

        to eliminate traditional steps involved in an adjudication, including all that goes with a

        conventional court trial such as "the issuance of process, service of complaint and answer,
        holding of hearings, taking evidence, listening to arguments, awaiting briefs, [and] submission of

        findings:' See Sacher v. United.States, 343 U.S. 1, 9; 72 S. Ct. 451, 455, 96 L. Ed. 717, 724

        (1952). However, we acknowledge that the contemnor must be .given an opportunity to rebut the

        charges. Cont v. Pruitt, 764 A.2d 569, 576 (Pa. Super. 2000).
                In the case sub judice, Attorney Maher was afforded procedural safeguards.                Be was
        given notice that a charge of contempt was being considered by the Court, and he was afforded

        an opportunity to be heard ..

                Specifically, we issued a Rule to Show Cause on Attorney Maher on September 29,2016,

        and Attorney Maher responded to the Rule Returnable on October 21, 2016 when he appeared

        for a hearing regarding why he should not be held in contempt for authoring a response to the

        Superior Court and filing same on behalf of Ms. Dreisbach            when he was under a clear Order of

        Court prohibiting him from taking any further action asMs, Dreisbach' s counsel in that matter.

        Attorney Maher was given ail. unrestrained opportunity to he heard on October 21, 2016 which is

        abundantly clear in the transcript of testimony that has been made part of the record. 12

        12
          Wefurthet discuss AttorneyMaher's opportunity to be heard in section H below wherein we address Attorney
        Maher's allegation thathe was "summarily dismissed" after our questioning of.Attorney Cook at the October 2l,
        20'16 contempt hearing,

                                                               11

- ..·-----·-·--·· ··----·-·-----·---·-------
--·-   . '.   •   '. -   •   _' ----··.     _''. -   . .   -•   •.   ----   •   ~-·~-·•-••n   -••   • ''""•··-•   ,_.,., ... _,_••

                                          C. ·whether Attorney Mahers Substantive Hue Process Rights WereViolated

                                          As discussed, we found Attorney Maher to be in criminal contempt pursuant to 42

                         Pa.CS.A. §4132 (2}. The appellate courts of'this Commonwealth have interpreted this Section

                         as requiring the following four elements to support a finding of criminal contempt for

                         "disobedience or neglect":

                                          (i) The [court's] order or decree mustbe definite, clear, specific and leave no doubt or
                                                uncertainty in, the mind of the person to whom it was addressed ofthe conduct
                                               prohibited;
                                          (2) · The conternnor must have had notice of the specific order or decree;
                                          (3) The act.constituting the violation must have been volitional; and
                                          (4) The contemnor must have acted with wrongful intent.

                         Com. v. Zacher, 689 A.2d 267, 268-,69 (Pa. Super.1997) (citations omitted). Further, in order to

                         prove contempt, the evidence mustsupport that the alleged contemptuous act was "intentional

                         disobedience or an intentional neglect of the Iawfui process ofthe court," Pruitt, 764 A.2d at

                         574 (citation omitted). Our Superior Court has held that in order to prove that an attorney acted

                         intentionally, it is sufficient to demonstrate that they acted with.reckless disregard. McCusker v.

                         Mccusker, 631 A.2d 645 (Pa. Super. 1993) .. A subjective intent to obstruct the administration of

                         justice is not a requisite of criminal contempt Cont v. Owens, 496 Pa. 16, 24, 436 A.2d 129;

                         133 (1981).

                                          The first element requires that an officer of the Court clearly and withouta doubt knew

                         that which he was required or prohibited by the Court to do. The evidence here shows that

                         Attorney Maher.knew, without a doubt, of the. underlying Order directing him to cease any

                         further representation on behalf ofMs, Dreisbach in her matters docketed at trial court number

                         C-48-CV~5404-2015. As noted supra, the colloquy placed onthe record at the July 22, 2016

                         hearing made abundantly clear that Attorney Maher was to cease his representation of Ms.

                         Dreisbach. See N.T. (7/22/16) at pp. 17-18.

                                                                                                                                     12
..   .•.   -.   .        -.~,---                --------~-----·--.                          ,..   '   ... ,..   ···-- ·-·· ··--··--·--·          -
                                                                                                                                          ........ ......

                              Attorney Maher indicated that he understood the underlying Order. It is also cleat that

                    Attorney Maher had notice of this specific Order, which satisfies the second element above.

                              The third element focuses on whether Attorney Maher' s violation was volitional.

                    Attorney Maher made        a: deliberate   choice to author a document and file same in fhe Superior

                    Court in bold defiance of our Order. There is no question.thatAttorney Maher's Superior Court

                    filing was not. one made by mistake. In fact, Attorney Maher intentionally misrepresented facts
                    to the Superior Court about whyhe was the attorney making               the filing on Ms. Dreisbach 's
                    behalf.

                              Finally, the third element regarding volition goes hand-in-hand with the fourth element

                    which addresses whether the contemnor acted with wrongful intent, "The minimum intent

                    required to prove contempt is 'a volitionalact done by one who knows or Should reasonably be

                    aware that his conduct is wrongful.' .~·· However, ... direct (as well as subjective) intent is not

                    necessary where a reckless disregard for the directions of the court can be proven," JyfcCusker,
631 A.2d at 648-649 (1993) (internal citations omitted), For the reasons stated above, including

                    Attorney Mahei-is admission ofmaking false statements in his August 31, 2016 Superior Court

                    filing, we submit that this filing was made volitionally in an attempt to bypass our Order of July

                    22, 2016.      Thus, Attorriey Maherrs behavior was such thathe acted with reckless disregard as

                    well as wrongful intent. 13

                              D; Whether this CourtHad Proper Jllrisdiction to Hold Attorney Maher In
                                 Contempt                                                  ·

                              In this Statement ofError,_it appears that Attorney Maher contends that we did not have

                    jurisdicdon.to hold him in contempt on October 21, 2016 because Ms.Dreisbach's custody

                    13;The
                          willfulness of Attorney Maher's conduct in this instance is further demonstrated by his continuing course of
                    conductin failing to comply with court directives, We have previously outlined this course of conduct in our
                    MemorandumOpinion pursuantto P~.RAP.1925(a) filed onAugusf3 I, 2016.
-------               .-·--·,·

                                    '\..:....:_.... ·

 matter, bearing docket num"berC-'48-CV-2015-5404,was dormant pursuant to Pa.R,.c . P,

 l915A.14

            In response to this issue raised by Attorney Maher, we point out that during the July 22,

 2016 conference at which we issued the underlying Order prohibiting Attorney Maher from any

 furtherrepresentation of Ms. Dreisbach, not once did Attorney Maher indicate a belief that Ms.

 Dreisbach's custody case was "dormant" or in any in violation ofRule 1915.4/5 Moreover! this
 issue is waived because it concerns the merits of the underlying July 22, 2016 Order wherein this

 Court ruled that Attorney Maherwas prohibited from representing Mrs. Dreisbach in any matters
 docketed in the trial court at C-48~CV-5404-20J 5, which includes the above-referenced custody

 matter. Attorney Maher did not appeal that Order,                and as .such, the Order became final.
            Because Attorney Maher was under a final Order pursuant to which he was not to

 represent Mrs. Dreisbach any further in the aforementioned matters, his filing of August 31,

 2016 was.in direct violation of this Court's clear Order of July 22, 2016. Therefore, a finding of

 contempt was warranted. Any jurisdictional issue Attorney Maher may have had with the July

 22, 2016 underlying Order is waived as a result of his failure to appeal same.

 i4   This Rule of Procedure is entitled, "Prompt Disposition of Custody Cases,"
 15
  Additionally, while it is irrelevant for pµrposes of this appeal, it i:i unclear to t)J.i5 Court what Attorney Maher
 means when he refers to Ms. Dreisbach''s custadymatter as "the long dormant custody case." The Complaint in
 Custody was filed inJune of2015, however.the docket will reflect that Ms. Dreisbach has sincebeen availing
 herselftothe processes of this Court's custody system. There have been various conferences with our Custody
 Master, and mu1tiple custody Orders have been put in place since the filing of the Complaint. Moreover; as
 discussed above, Ms, Dreisbach, through Attorney Maher, filed a Notice of'Relocation on July l3, 2016, which
 would have directly impacted the pending custody matter. Judge Murray denied Ms. Dreisbach's request for
 relocationand Ms. Dreisbach ultimately eppealed this denial, extending the protracted status of the telocation
 matter; and thereforecthe custodymatter. Importantly, on September 1,5, 2016, Judge Murray, who is the Judge
 handling.Ms, Dreisbach' s custody and relocation matters, issued an Order that states in relevant part as follows:
 "Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure l915A (D), it is hereby ordered and decreed that this Court has
 extended the. date for a.decision to OctoberB'l, 2016 .... As a result of the length of'the proceedings, this extension is
 being.made for good cause." On Novettiber23, 2016, Ms. Dreisbach filed a motion to dismiss the custody
 proceeding, and Judge Murray denied same on Decem ber 13, 2016. Ms. Dreisbach has also appealed this Order
 issued by Judge Murray, and we understand that this.appeal is currently pending beforethe Superior Court.

                                                             14
        ·E. Whether this Court Had Jurisdiction to Exclude Attorney Maherfrom the
            Appeal Filed at "2200 EDA 2016" 16

        Attorney Maher's argument on this point is premised on Pa.R.A.P. 1701, which provides

that "after an appeal is taken •.. the trial court or other government unit may no longer proceed

further in the matter." However; we primarily submit.thatthis issue is waived because Attorney

Maher did not appeal our Order ofJuly 22, 2016 with regard to a lack of jurisdiction. Even if

this issue is not deemed waived for purposes of this appeal, we point out that Rule 1701 further

provides in subsection (c) the following:

         (c) Limited to matters in dispute.e-Where only a particular item, claim or assessment
        adjudged in the matter is 'involved in an appeal .... , the appeal ... shall operate to prevent
        the trial court or other government unit from proceeding further with only such item,
        claim or assessment, unless otherwise ordered by the trial court or other government unit
        or by the appellate court or ajudge thereof as necessary to preserve the rights of the
        appellant,

         Since the question presented in Ms, Dreisbach's appeal, docketed at 2202 EDA 2016,

which was pending at the time this Court. directed Attorney Cook to proceed as counsel for Ms.

Dreisbach, related only. to Ms. Dreisbach' s contempt, it did not prevent this Court from

considering whether Mr. Maher had a conflict ofinterest that precluded him from. representing

Ms .. Dreisbach further. In other words, the Order challenged in Ms -. Dreisbach' spending appeal

was neither relevant to nor at issue     to whether.   Attorney Maher had a oorrfl.iot in icprcscnting       Ms.

Dreisbach further. See In re Griffin, 690A.2d1192, 1199 (Pa. Super. 1997).

        · F. Whether this Court Committed an Error of Law and/or Abuse of Discretion in
             Finding that Att<,rneyMaher Had a Conflict of Interest in Representing Ms.
             Dreisbach

        This statement of matters complained of on appeal is waived because it concerns the

merits of the underlying July 22, 2016 Order wherein this Court ruled that Attorney Maher was

16
  No matter pertaining to these parties has been docketed at 2200 EDA 20J 6. We note that.the appeal pertaining to
the Order finding Ms. Dreisbach in contempt, which was ultimately quashed by the Superior Court, and to which we
assume Mr. Maherrefers herein was docketed at2202 EDA 20l6.

                                                        15
. -   '···-.   •-N·-··   ·~-    • -·   -·· ·,··--~   .    .   ·--------   ... ~----•••••-••'•••~··••-""••••,-•••••••

                                                                                                                                                    .,.__.

                               prohibited from representing Mrs. Dreisbach in arty matters docketed in the trial court at C~48-

                               CV-5404-2015. As we discussed supra; Attorney Maher did not appeal that Order; and as such,

                               the Order became final. Importantly, we point out that the underlying Order ofJuly 22, 2016 did

                               not contain any conditions or time constraints pursuant to which Attomey Maher could have

                               resumed bis representation of Ms. Dreisbach with respectto matters under docket number C-48-

                               CV-2015-5404. Due to a clear conflict ofinterest which was noted by Judge Murray as well as

                               Ms. Dreisbach, our Order simply-and clearly directedAttorney Maherto engage in no further

                               activity in the trial court or in the Superior Court on behalf ofMs. Dreisbach in matters under

                               docket C-48-CV-2015-5404.

                                                 Simply put, Attorney Maher was under a final Order pursuant to which he was                                       not to
                               represent Mrs. Dreisbach any further in the aforementioned matters. Accordingly, his filing of

                               August31, 2016 was in directviolation of this Court's clear Order of July 22,2016, and

                               therefore, afinding of contempt was warranted. Any issue Attorney Maher may have had with

                               'themerits of the July 22, 2016 underlying Orderis waived as a result of his failure to appeal

                               same.

                                                 G. Wile th er this· Court Committed ah Error of Law and/or Abuse of Discretion in
                                                    Prohibiting Attorney Maher from Calling Ms. Dreisbach as a Witness in
                                                         Attorney         Maher9.s Contempt                            Uearing   of October   21, 2016

                                                 At his October21,2016 contempt hearing, Attorney Maher did not provide a compelling

                               reason to call Ms. Dreisbach as a witness when.such testimony had the potentialto expose Ms.

                               Dreisbach                 to substantial risk, including waiving her attorney                              client privilege with Attorney Cook.

                               We emphasize herein, as we did during the October2l,2016 hearing, that Ms: Dreisbach is a

                               partyto this Courtin matters of the utmost importance to her involving her family. As such,it

                               would have been entirel y inappropriate for Attorney Maher to elicit testimony from her to defend

                                                                                                                            16
                                                                                                     ~-:. . .-----~·

his violation of a court Order. This is especially so when Attorney   Maher had   already admitted

to the Court that his proscribed filing of August 31, 2016 to the Superior Court was supported by

falsities. Any purpose Attorney Maher had with regard to Ms. Dreisbach' s testimony would be

inconsequential.

       M~, Dreisbach, with her testimony, would not be able to ameliorate Attorney Maher's

direct violation of our Order or any reasons Attorney Maher may have had had for violating Dur
Order. As stated in our discussion supra, this is a matter involving criminal contempt, and this

was not a situation where Attorney Maher conldhave remedied his misconduct by compliance,
resolution, orotherwise. Therefore, at most, Attorney Maher could have elicited whether Ms.

Dreisbach specifically asked him to filea response to the Superior Court; however; Ms.

Dreisbach is not vested with the power to overrule an Order of the trial Court. Thus, .no

·compelling reason for Ms. Dreisbach's testimony was offered by Attorney Maher at his contempt

hearing which would havejustified the substantial risk of detrimenrto Ms. Dreisbach in the

       JI. Whether this Court "summarfly dismissed" Attorney Maher "afteronly her
            questioningof him"'Duringthe ContemptHearing of October21, 2016

       During the October 21,2016 contempthearing, the Court made a record of the events
that had transpired leading up to the issuance of the September 29, 2016 Rule to Show Cause.

Thereafter, we tookAttorney Cook's testimony with respect to the Rule issued upon him. The

overwhelming remainder of.the October 21, 2016 contempt hearing, however, was dedicated to

Attorney Maher'stestimonyregarding his position. See Notes of Testimony (N.T.), 10/21/16, at

pp. ll-23. Infact: the majority of this entire hearing was dedicated to Attorney Maher's

testimony. As we discussed above, Attorney Maher had ample opportunity to be heard, and the

transcript speaks for itselfin this matter.

                                                17
     -·    ·.   -   ..   ·   . .   .   ·_   ..   ·   .....   ·-      ..,,_,_.   _ _.__
                                                                                 ..      ..   -----   .   -·---- ..-·   ··-········--·-·--·--····

                                                                  Additionally, near the conclusion of this hearing, the Court gave all counsel the

                                             opportunity to state anything else that they may have for the record. Id. at p. 24 .. Attorney

                                             Maher used this opportunity to discuss his belief as to when Attorney Cook may have filed a

                                             concise statement of matters complained or on appeal on behalfofMs. Dreisbach in her appeal. i7

                                             Id. at.pp, 24-25.

                                                                  This additional comment by Attorney Maher had nothing to do with his contempt at issue

                                             and/or withthe ultimate untimeliness of Ms. Dreisbach's appeal which, in his mind, would have

                                             somehow necessitated his involvement on her behalf such that defiance ofa court Order was

                                             appropriate. Attorney Maher offered nothing further during his contempt hearing. However, he

                                             was in no way impeded from doing same.

                                                                  I. Whether "the entire is-sue was moot" at the. Time this Court Held Maher in
                                                                     Contempt

                                                                  Inthis Statement of'Error, AttorneyMaher seems to argue that because the Superior

                                             Court quashed Ms. Dreisbach' s appeal with respect to our Order finding her in contempt.this

                                             Court did not have the authority to find Attorney Maher in contempt of the July 22, 2016 Order

                                             which he violated while Ms. Dreisbch's appeal was still pending. This issue is entirely without

                                             merit.

                                                                  The Order that was challenged in Ms. Dreisbach's quashed appeal is neither relevant to

                                             nor at issue in the instant contempt proceeding againstAttorney Maher. It isAttorney Maher's

                                             very involvement .in the quashed appeal that is the issue, not the result of his involvement.

                                             Therefore, this statement of error should be dismissed as meritless,

                                             17 When the Courtinitially outlined the procedural background of the case during the October 21, 2016 hearing, the
                                             Court misstated the date                 on
                                                                         which Attorney Cook filed the concise statement of matters complained of on appeal on
                                             Ms. Dreisbach' s behalf. The Court indicated th~t Attorney Cook filed same .on July 11, 2016.,when,in fact, he filed
                                             it on August 1, 20t6.                                                                                                  +-,
                                                                                                                                                    18

,.        ...       ···-·-----·----"--··-----------·
                                                                                                     .   :-----·-   . .   .'   -   ..   -·   ..   ··.

            J.    "Wb.etherthe 'I'rial ·Courtcommittedau error of law and/or an abuse of
                 discretion in that given that-theNorthampton County [sic] never served Maher,
                 pursuant to ,Pa.R.C.P. 236 with the October 21, 2016 Order finding him in
                 contemptthat his appealfiled on December 5, 2()16 was filingjslc]
                 prematurely?"

            This statement of error is confusing and incomprehensible. Therefore, we cannot

properlyaddress same. To the extent Attorney Maher disputes the timeliness of his own appeal,

we submit that this Court never raised untimeliness as an issue with respect to the instant appeal.

Asthe docket reflects, AttorneyMaher filed his Notice of Appeal in this matter on December 5,

2016. We subsequently issued an Order pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. J925(b) on December 13, 2016

directing Attorney Maher to file a concise statement of the errors complained of on appeal Within

twe.ntyworte(21) days.
        .          ..
                       Thereafter, Attorney Maher filed his Concise Statement of Matters
                                                      18
Complained of on Appeal on January 4, 2017.

                                           BY THE COURT,

Date:

18
  Notably; however, Attorney Maher was made aware> in person, of this Court's finding of contempt atthe October
2f, 2016 hearing; yethe did not file a Notice of Appeal with respect to this finding until December 5, 2016.

                                                      19