J-A07030-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
DWAYNE THOMPSON IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellant
v.
KRISTA ABRAM
Appellee No. 1231 WDA 2016
Appeal from the Order Entered July 12, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Family Court at No: FD-003646-010
BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE, and STRASSBURGER, JJ.*
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED APRIL 19, 2017
Appellant, Dwayne Thompson, appeals pro se from the July 12, 2016
order denying his motion to modify an order entered against him under the
Protection From Abuse Act (“PFA”). We affirm in part, vacate in part,
remand for further proceedings, and deny Appellant’s application for relief as
moot.1
The parties have been engaged in a highly contentious child custody
and support dispute since July of 2008. Appellee, Krista Abram, filed for
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 We are in receipt of Appellant’s April 11, 2017 application for an expedited decision. Appellant has requested expedited action from this Court, given the fact that the final PFA order expires in August of this year. Given our decision in this memorandum, we deny the application as moot. J-A07030-17
support from Appellant in 2008 after genetic testing revealed Appellant was
the father of the parties’ child (the “Child”). The support action has been
pending before Judge Kim Berkeley Clark of the Allegheny County Court of
Common Pleas, Family Division. On July 23, 2014, Appellee filed a PFA
petition on behalf of herself and the Child, alleging Appellant was physically
and emotionally abusive to the Child and using and selling illegal drugs in
the Child’s presence. On August 12, 2014, Judge Kathryn Hens-Greco
entered a three-year PFA order against Appellant prohibiting Appellant from
seeing Appellee and the Child. Appellant did not file a timely appeal from
the August 12, 2014 PFA order.
On September 6, 2014, Appellant filed a petition for special relief,
before Judge Clark, requesting reconsideration of the final PFA order. Judge
Berkeley Clark ordered Appellant to present the petition to Judge Hens-
Greco. On June 3, 2015,2 Appellant presented an emergency petition to
vacate and expunge the final PFA order to Judge Hens-Greco. Judge Hens-
Greco denied relief.
Presently at issue is Appellant’s June 23, 2016 petition to modify the
August 12, 2014 final PFA order. Also on June 23, 2016, Appellee filed a
complaint against Appellant for indirect criminal contempt (“ICC”) of a prior
2 In the interim, Appellant filed an emergency petition to vacate and expunge the PFA order before Judge Berkeley Clark. Judge Berkeley Clark denied relief.
-2- J-A07030-17
court order. On July 12, 2016, Judge Clark denied Appellant’s motion to
modify the PFA order and dismissed Appellee’s ICC complaint. The trial
court denied Appellant’s petition to hold Appellee in contempt. At Appellee’s
request, the trial court vacated a May 3, 2016 order which permitted
Appellant to deliver a cell phone to Appellee’s attorney to facilitate phone
conversations between Appellant and the Child. Appellant filed this timely
appeal, raising five assertions of error:
1. Whether the trial court erred when it heard, allowed[,] and granted [Appellee’s] pro se motion to vacate [the May 3, 2016 order] when she is represented by counsel?
2. Whether the trial court erred when it heard, allowed[,] and granted [Appellee’s] motion to vacate [the May 3, 2016 order] when she failed to appear for presentment of the motion, violated the order and then filed a pro se motion to vacate?
3. Whether the trial court erred when it denied [Appellant’s] motion for contempt?
4. Whether the trial court erred when it denied [Appellant’s] petition to modify [the August 12, 2014 final PFA order]?
5. Whether the trial court erred when it once again showed clear bias for [Appellee] and no concern for the best interest of the [Child]?
Appellant’s Brief at 6.
We begin with a review of Appellant’s fourth and fifth issues. Judge
Clark reasoned that the coordinate jurisdiction rule prevented her from
modifying Judge Hens-Greco’s final PFA order. Trial Court Opinion,
10/28/16, at 9-10. We disagree. The trial court relied on Commonwealth
v. Charnik, 921 A.2d 1214 (Pa. Super. 2007), wherein this Court noted that
-3- J-A07030-17
a trial court cannot vacate a final PFA order after the appeal period expires.
Id. at 1217 n.3. The trial court also cited the well-settled principle that
“judges of coordinate jurisdictions sitting in the same court and in the same
case should not overrule the decisions of each other.” Trial Court Opinion,
10/29/16, (quoting Okkerse v. Howe, 556 A.2d 827 (Pa. 1989)).
We observe that the Domestic Relations Act permits the plaintiff or
defendant in a PFA action to file a petition for modification at any time
during the pendency of the PFA order. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 6117(a). The trial
court cited § 6117, but nonetheless refused to consider Appellant’s
modification because she “believed that this motion should have been
presented before the [sic] Judge Hens-Greco.” Trial Court Opinion,
10/28/16, at 10.
The trial court misapplied the coordinate jurisdiction rule. As is clear
from the foregoing law, the propriety of Judge Hens-Greco’s final PFA order
is not at issue. Appellant did not file a timely appeal from that order, and it
is not subject to collateral attack absent extraordinary circumstances not
applicable here. Section 6117 permits modification of a final PFA order at
any time during the pendency of the order. The merits of a modification
petition do not call into question the propriety of the original order, as that
order is no longer subject to attack. Rather, the propriety of modification
presents a new issue. Therefore, the coordinate jurisdiction rule does not
bar Judge Clark from hearing Appellant’s modification petition. We vacate
-4- J-A07030-17
Judge Clark’s order insofar as it denied Appellant’s modification petition and
remand for a decision on the merits.
As to Appellant’s remaining issues, we deny relief for the reasons
explained in Judge Clark’s October 28, 2016 opinion. We direct that a copy
of that opinion be filed along with this memorandum.
Order affirmed in part and vacated in part. Application for relief
denied as moot. Case remanded. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 4/19/2017
-5- Circulated 04/17/2017 03:33 PM
.......... .. -~ ·,· ·.·
iNTHE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS:OF.ALLEGI'.iENY COON.TY; "ijENN$YLVANIA .,I FAMJ.l,Y RIVJS.rON I I
DWAYNE TIIO:MPSQN,·. Appellant, FD: ffiMl03646-0lO·
SUP.ERIOR COURTNO; 12:3J WP.A ·iow ..KRISTA . . ·- . . ABRAM,.. .. Appellee. OPINJO.N '
.I :HONORABLE KIM Bf:RKELEYCLARK i ". I
0W~yng,Jbpn;t_ps(>fl,prQSt -Ap~0.1mt .. . W13'. .Co?-1 Street I 'Wilkinsburg,:P:A t5221
tauten Darbouze!·Esqµ.ir~ Counse] fot Ap~llee, Kti$~ Abram O~forcl: C.e1;1."~~r-:$u1te·43oO 301 ·crarit:Streef .. , Pittsburgh, .PA 1-521:9
OR I G:lNIA;L ... · ·...
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEA50F ALLEGHENYCOUNTY; PENNSYLVANIA EA.MILY DIVISION~JUVENILE:SECTION
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J-A07030-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
DWAYNE THOMPSON IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA Appellant
v.
KRISTA ABRAM
Appellee No. 1231 WDA 2016
Appeal from the Order Entered July 12, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Family Court at No: FD-003646-010
BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE, and STRASSBURGER, JJ.*
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED APRIL 19, 2017
Appellant, Dwayne Thompson, appeals pro se from the July 12, 2016
order denying his motion to modify an order entered against him under the
Protection From Abuse Act (“PFA”). We affirm in part, vacate in part,
remand for further proceedings, and deny Appellant’s application for relief as
moot.1
The parties have been engaged in a highly contentious child custody
and support dispute since July of 2008. Appellee, Krista Abram, filed for
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 We are in receipt of Appellant’s April 11, 2017 application for an expedited decision. Appellant has requested expedited action from this Court, given the fact that the final PFA order expires in August of this year. Given our decision in this memorandum, we deny the application as moot. J-A07030-17
support from Appellant in 2008 after genetic testing revealed Appellant was
the father of the parties’ child (the “Child”). The support action has been
pending before Judge Kim Berkeley Clark of the Allegheny County Court of
Common Pleas, Family Division. On July 23, 2014, Appellee filed a PFA
petition on behalf of herself and the Child, alleging Appellant was physically
and emotionally abusive to the Child and using and selling illegal drugs in
the Child’s presence. On August 12, 2014, Judge Kathryn Hens-Greco
entered a three-year PFA order against Appellant prohibiting Appellant from
seeing Appellee and the Child. Appellant did not file a timely appeal from
the August 12, 2014 PFA order.
On September 6, 2014, Appellant filed a petition for special relief,
before Judge Clark, requesting reconsideration of the final PFA order. Judge
Berkeley Clark ordered Appellant to present the petition to Judge Hens-
Greco. On June 3, 2015,2 Appellant presented an emergency petition to
vacate and expunge the final PFA order to Judge Hens-Greco. Judge Hens-
Greco denied relief.
Presently at issue is Appellant’s June 23, 2016 petition to modify the
August 12, 2014 final PFA order. Also on June 23, 2016, Appellee filed a
complaint against Appellant for indirect criminal contempt (“ICC”) of a prior
2 In the interim, Appellant filed an emergency petition to vacate and expunge the PFA order before Judge Berkeley Clark. Judge Berkeley Clark denied relief.
-2- J-A07030-17
court order. On July 12, 2016, Judge Clark denied Appellant’s motion to
modify the PFA order and dismissed Appellee’s ICC complaint. The trial
court denied Appellant’s petition to hold Appellee in contempt. At Appellee’s
request, the trial court vacated a May 3, 2016 order which permitted
Appellant to deliver a cell phone to Appellee’s attorney to facilitate phone
conversations between Appellant and the Child. Appellant filed this timely
appeal, raising five assertions of error:
1. Whether the trial court erred when it heard, allowed[,] and granted [Appellee’s] pro se motion to vacate [the May 3, 2016 order] when she is represented by counsel?
2. Whether the trial court erred when it heard, allowed[,] and granted [Appellee’s] motion to vacate [the May 3, 2016 order] when she failed to appear for presentment of the motion, violated the order and then filed a pro se motion to vacate?
3. Whether the trial court erred when it denied [Appellant’s] motion for contempt?
4. Whether the trial court erred when it denied [Appellant’s] petition to modify [the August 12, 2014 final PFA order]?
5. Whether the trial court erred when it once again showed clear bias for [Appellee] and no concern for the best interest of the [Child]?
Appellant’s Brief at 6.
We begin with a review of Appellant’s fourth and fifth issues. Judge
Clark reasoned that the coordinate jurisdiction rule prevented her from
modifying Judge Hens-Greco’s final PFA order. Trial Court Opinion,
10/28/16, at 9-10. We disagree. The trial court relied on Commonwealth
v. Charnik, 921 A.2d 1214 (Pa. Super. 2007), wherein this Court noted that
-3- J-A07030-17
a trial court cannot vacate a final PFA order after the appeal period expires.
Id. at 1217 n.3. The trial court also cited the well-settled principle that
“judges of coordinate jurisdictions sitting in the same court and in the same
case should not overrule the decisions of each other.” Trial Court Opinion,
10/29/16, (quoting Okkerse v. Howe, 556 A.2d 827 (Pa. 1989)).
We observe that the Domestic Relations Act permits the plaintiff or
defendant in a PFA action to file a petition for modification at any time
during the pendency of the PFA order. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 6117(a). The trial
court cited § 6117, but nonetheless refused to consider Appellant’s
modification because she “believed that this motion should have been
presented before the [sic] Judge Hens-Greco.” Trial Court Opinion,
10/28/16, at 10.
The trial court misapplied the coordinate jurisdiction rule. As is clear
from the foregoing law, the propriety of Judge Hens-Greco’s final PFA order
is not at issue. Appellant did not file a timely appeal from that order, and it
is not subject to collateral attack absent extraordinary circumstances not
applicable here. Section 6117 permits modification of a final PFA order at
any time during the pendency of the order. The merits of a modification
petition do not call into question the propriety of the original order, as that
order is no longer subject to attack. Rather, the propriety of modification
presents a new issue. Therefore, the coordinate jurisdiction rule does not
bar Judge Clark from hearing Appellant’s modification petition. We vacate
-4- J-A07030-17
Judge Clark’s order insofar as it denied Appellant’s modification petition and
remand for a decision on the merits.
As to Appellant’s remaining issues, we deny relief for the reasons
explained in Judge Clark’s October 28, 2016 opinion. We direct that a copy
of that opinion be filed along with this memorandum.
Order affirmed in part and vacated in part. Application for relief
denied as moot. Case remanded. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 4/19/2017
-5- Circulated 04/17/2017 03:33 PM
.......... .. -~ ·,· ·.·
iNTHE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS:OF.ALLEGI'.iENY COON.TY; "ijENN$YLVANIA .,I FAMJ.l,Y RIVJS.rON I I
DWAYNE TIIO:MPSQN,·. Appellant, FD: ffiMl03646-0lO·
SUP.ERIOR COURTNO; 12:3J WP.A ·iow ..KRISTA . . ·- . . ABRAM,.. .. Appellee. OPINJO.N '
.I :HONORABLE KIM Bf:RKELEYCLARK i ". I
0W~yng,Jbpn;t_ps(>fl,prQSt -Ap~0.1mt .. . W13'. .Co?-1 Street I 'Wilkinsburg,:P:A t5221
tauten Darbouze!·Esqµ.ir~ Counse] fot Ap~llee, Kti$~ Abram O~forcl: C.e1;1."~~r-:$u1te·43oO 301 ·crarit:Streef .. , Pittsburgh, .PA 1-521:9
OR I G:lNIA;L ... · ·...
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEA50F ALLEGHENYCOUNTY; PENNSYLVANIA EA.MILY DIVISION~JUVENILE:SECTION
bWAYNE'THOM'PSON, Appellant,-,
I vs, SUPERJQJ,{ COURT'NO; }231 WDA.20J I- KR1$'tA ABRAM, I Appellee, I
October 28r 20"16
OPiNfON'
On July 8; .2016 Appellant~ DWayne 'Thompson,. :(hereinafter Father) ]~resented a. Motion
HonerableKathryn.M, Hens-Greco on Allgµ$t !?, 2()1~ During th~ S@J~;h~~g, .AppeU~~i
Krista Abram :(heteirtafte:r Mother) also presented a Petition for. Special Relief.requesting: this
court 10 vacatetheorder entered on May 3;_ 2016. After .consideration:of the. motions and=the
Petition to Modify Protection from Abuse. As, to Mother's.Petition for Speq1~LRelif,freQ~~tu1g
tha;Uva"Qaf~ myorder-ofcourt enteredon May~; :201~~ lgranted thepetitionand vacated the May
,: I. Father appeals my, 'order entered on July·$, 2:')16, in, w.hi4 l d~.ni-~4 hi.s ¥,i>t;iffi· for. • • • •• I
~qri,t~mttt~dismissed hisJ~e"ti'tion· ta Modffy a Proteetienfrom Abuse Order and granted Mother~s
Motion . ~9-Y"cat~ . ·~ D'.IY. Qr~kr.~t~re~. on May· ·3r .4_016..
11 Page HISTOEY
While the appeal.lnthis case involvesmy OrderofCourt'entered ohJuly 13,:2016, tt:sbo-µf4
be noted that this· case tnvolves. a :highly .contested and contentious cu~fqdy m~tter: that was
oflgmally filed .orrMay 5~ ~()10: and :a Protection horn .Abuse Matter, :inc.hJ<{ingseveral P·etltions
'for Indirec] Crim.ma.I Contempt. The case hisfory:ro~y be :51,UJ}I):rn.ri.z~ as set forth.below,
t ~ July .f7, 2Q98; 'Mother filed a compl~in_f m support on behalf of the child, At. :the time that: the complaint was. filed, 'f ather w.~s residing; in Ceorgia, A(fer· gen:etti:; te~tiQ.g. established "tha.t::b~ W~.S "the .Father of the .chlld, Fa-ilier· moved to ,A..U~gheny County, Pennsylvania.
Z. On May 4; 201-0; Father.filed ·a.CQQ\"pJ~1.t1(£Qr.shi,lr1;?(i· custody of the-child; The :p~ti~wei;:~, directeii to ..attend the Gebe.i:~ti<;i® Education. and Medlatioii P.to~ram With. ·th~· ·gq!!(qf ,reaching an agr_e¢·ment
whiih w~~ presented before.me '3-.- Or)· May l.O, '.20W,. Father filed.a petition fotspe.cfatrelief; 911,M~y 20,.1dio. On May 20!" 20.10, I ordered" ·Yis.itatj~I). for Father three times· per week forthree hours pet .visit{. pending the-entry o_f ~- :fjJJal custody order.
4. bn June .2, 2010,. Eather ·fil~d A petition to enforce: the 'custody order (entered ,Q.n ::txfgi,y ,20i. 2010), OnJurtell:,.-20:tO:.MofJ\ei:filed an emergency petitidnJor ~~i;~l.i~. ,()nJune-li, 2010~ I vacated th~: order entered on May" )o_i .2o1Q and J (.)l'd~~d ~t Father .have s:up~rv.i,se,i:l,vt~:it<1_tion, a t the 'Parental Stress Center under the :~e Families Program twice '~.W~~
:s., Mo'$.er and Ilather. attended cu~totly e4:u.~!itjon .and. mediation but did not, reach cm agreement .A conciliation was hel4 on )\µ;gust 9, 2010 and no .agreement was reached, "Thejiiattet was :refemd.. to the Partial Custody Heanng :Officer,:µ1ur_a,: v~.~~-
;Q~ A cus_tpdyJ~~~g. was held- on -Septemoer 30,-2010 before JJe~ring Officer Laura.Valles, H~~ring .Qffice Valles: issued .a rep<:irt" and. re<:Pmm@.4~~on enOctober' i~; zoio, Heatm,g. Officer Valles recommende.d U1aJ.M9U)~r-- have primary physical ootocly ·qfth~- ~.d: i:i:nd· 0
that: Father. ha.V.e p·arti.al, cusl(>i;iy -of the 'child' on .a transitional schet.hile" whid:t wa~ to ultimately: resul] fu F~fu~r hi);ving.partial rust~y of the child on, ~te.m~tmg,weekends · ·\(: ffom Friday' at 6';0()":f:J\f 'through Sunday at 6,00 P.M. '·To_e, r~9n.tptenda~on also i~ve· Mo_th¢r .m-d J:ath~.i: 'shared: 'legal ·cilst6Qy., Father•was to (:c,mpfu.te a parenting ptogtatti·, i i - ! . . ! ·. : . . ·'
----;----,---·~---·. - ---·-' --- -!-:-- ,-· _: .t • --~ -~-·
~ Lr ~: g_ ;,, 7, On November \,.2oio, Motbex timely filed exceptions to· the hearing Officer's reporf and 'recorttmendattons. M9ther fileda briefin support.QJher:~x~eptions on.Decembetl6,;2QlQ,. Fatherfiled a brief on' February 9; 2011. · .
8'. On febr:va.ry TO,. 2011 after co~ig.er;itic;m of Mother's exeephons, Jb"e ·!:,r;je(s -and oral argument.Ldenied the exdepti.Qns and the recommendation c>f'thl;! Hearing Officer became ~ final.order oJ eourr.
tt Stibseq_uently, F3-ther filed ,a. petition for contempt claiming. that Mother was not in. compliance -with 'tbe· custody order, Ort, May 4; 291Z, Hearfng: Officer Valles Joµnd that .Mother was ·Il;I. contempt. of court .. 'The Hearing: Officer ga:v.e· Father two· we~~~ds, of additional custody time, Mother wasordered to strk~Y comply ih Qrder to· purge. the contempt.
to. Between May of.2.QJ2.and September ¢f2Ql2, J1µmey9us; motions· and. petitions were file& by both parties regarding ciisto.dy of the· ·dJild. Both parties 'have Q\ad,e·· :ajlega.tions of abuse :t9. the, child, .resti.ltmg· in ref~qa.j~· ~Q. the Office o1 Chlldren, x'9µ;t;h~ and Families ,(CY:f) for-investigation ..Abuse has never been substantiated,
11. Mother' failed-to: cqroply with. the, custody order, which re.$.µlted in Eathet having no 'partial custody .b(!.~e_en May of 20ti:cmd .October cfZOl:2 .
t2. On Noverrib¢r,9,,i(>i2,:Fathefptesente.d an em~rg~cy- petition fot'sp.ecial relie( requesting the 1vfqtlv~r be.held in contempt of court for-failure to: comply With the (;µStQ(}y 'order. The courtordered that the-.¢ustody Qr<{ei;{i;)_ remain in effect and ~o:t·th~ matter to Hearing Qf.ficer -Vall'es' for a· contempt-b.~arwg.. . .
.13. On fanuary 17, 20)~,Jje.arlng_.Officet, Va.Ue~ found th,itMQttter·was in contempt 0J.~9mt and awarde:4.F~th~rten additional 'Weekends ·of. cni~tQdy timewith the-child, .M<>t11~r was, ordered tc, $.tri.¢(Jy comply ·wfth the p.rovjsj_cm.of th~,ordertop.u.tge'her$el.f Qi .tb.~ contempt,
14. On <>.r.al:>Qut February 1( 2013~ Fa.tb~t filed .a motion ro. ·modify th~ custody order. The parties were. ordered to attend .J.ll.~~tion Ori March 18;_2013. M9ther failed to pay forher share offhe mediation l.~, ~ the mediation -did not ml<~ place 'on. March 18; 20l3;. c:1.1? scheduled.
1s. an· February $, 2013; ·Father ·p.rescitted: 'a. petition f_ot special' relief, enforcement .and s~¢n<>IJS~ l ordered that Fath~r ~h~J1.tld. 'continue to havepartia! ~tajy as. p·revfodsly orderedendI Imposeda s.aiwtfonqt$30
16. "4oth~t. failed -to tOlllpi.y with the
--· .. -~-·-- ..... -- .. ·------1 . -. primary physical 0.1_st9dy- of Ule child and Mother partia.1 custody evety Weekend . from, Friday:at.6:00 until S!.ln<;i~y -at 6:00 P.M: on· arUnterj.m,b;i~J$;
17: 'On April. _1.8,, ~01'3, Mother presented an ,~w~rg~.~y motionfor special relief, l
1$:. QI) April 29, 201~, Father opJaip~(i ~- ~emporary order" for. protection f:r:9m.;abuse £.tom Mother .. Ori,May ·6, 201~, a{ter1.~ h.~.~ing;l dismissed. the. PFA;pe!ition ..
19. A cµsfody ,~on:ciij.a#P.JJ was; on July 2; :20J~;- ·:np agreemenr was reached". .J.t.tdi_cj~l, .concil~at;ion was scheduled for Ati~st ~ ZOl:t
20 .. QnJ uly 8, 20i3Jvf.o,:herJail~d {Q ~9.mpiy wi th the custody exch:1mge;'fue police.were.called to enforce .the order; MPih~r wasinvolved 'in an· altercation' ~th· ~e police-and.was charg¢d. With P·ggr:ay;i!~assault, resisting arrest, mt~kr.em;:e with custody and related charges. On Jµ_iy- 11, i'.2013, Father presented an emergency motion for. special reU~f l I J corttinQ~d. fa.thels .interim primary phf$kaJ ~todye and ordered" ·that Moth~ ;hc;1ve supervised. partial custody--fWke per :w~t M~ther.-~bsecjtiently- pleaded. gtJflty, to· the ·dl,n·g~s, .· ·
zi. 'On December 13r 20t:3r <;1.{t~r-~ two-day cusmdy.·ttial, ~W¥~fod.Mother.and . Father shared legal -cusfody -o{ tlJg d,.iid and nearly- shared physlc_~i. Mt9
. 22, Q.n"]uly :23; 1014, Mother filed _;;i Petition for protectionFront Abuse: <:>n. ~haif of herself and the child'. The pefition alfoge.4. fu~t Fatherwas using and s¢U.ing:~girin the.presence of the .child .and. that he· was _pby.si~c:11 and" emotionally a~li$iv~·to tlw child. A temp.oraty PF A Otder'Wa& efft~~4 an~ a final' heating, Was sth~.d.uie·difor: July 30,. 2014. · ·
23~ The Ju~y :301h h~a.ring was continued.until August 1:2, l014.
24.:·0n .A,µgµ~t i, 201-4, Mother filed, a Ci).i.npl~t for indirect· Crlmlnal :C~mtempt (It<.'J ~-li~gmg .that Father had Viol.al~~ U!e ·t~mporary PFA Order, The JC¢' was scheduled.' for August H,. 2014.
25; OrtAi1gust T2,. 20J4, after a hearing, the Honorable K_r~cy .~s~o.dywas. awar.de4Jo M.<:>ther, wfth Judge He!JS."Gte<;Q writlng.inthe Or~er ',/. i-l:> tlu!t f;ather ''inaji file. for·mgdi/ic~tio:n of.custody and :the:,ma.ijer:-$}1~µ be set before Judge 'K-un .c1ar1<;''. ·~ r~ · t' · = '. . · ·
I .
. I
41 P'a ,o·e ·o. 2$. Father did not file .an appeal. as tp the .PFA Orderof the ICC Order. 'Instead, Father presented .a Petition: for Special Relief' ~foi:.e· m~ .on September 6, 20i4. Father reque·s ted reconsideration of the :et'A matter ;iv~rrfng lack of credibility. of the. Witnesses: and. :thal cl. witness did 110~ haveth~. opp9r,tµnity ta testify, As.Iwas no.tthejudg_e who:pre~Jd~4over the PEA matter, I -d.~le~f the 'Peti tion for :~p.ecial Relief- ·and -ordered that ·ti,_e ;.matt~..r .by· pr:e~n·t.e((~for~ Judge Hens-Creco,
:Z?. dn.·May·14,20i5 Father: presented.an emergency moti_QI1.tovacate and .. expunge thefinal PFA order entered· ofi August 12; 20141 byJµdg~ He.ns-O.re!cO-l,>efore this court. I -denied this motion.
28. On rune 3! 201"5., appellant presented his second emergency.motionfo vai::at:e,an·ct e)(;pqnge the final PF.A.order before Judge Hens-Greco. The:'motiQP.W
29 .. On October 9r2015;.Fallier represented his Peti tion.before Judge Hens-Greco. The'Petitior, .was denied. '30; On' December 18, :201.~, Father presented a Petition for Special Relief -, _Fc}tJ,:er requested U.n1J h~. be· permitted to. deliver a 'Chnstmas present to his: daughter and 'have t~lephone contact with.her and to-recelve.inforrnation about.her ~d-µ.~~ti9r:t,Mother consented to this, and Ientered 'ati order s-ranffug Father's r~quE:!~J~ci relief.
31, Since December 18, '.2ff15~ hQtl) M9t:h~r Jmd: Father have presented multiple petitions ·and motions before th~ ~Pt.J.tt. As of September i6,.201~;the case has.generatedat.leas; QO~ hundred' ,5~ty-"two .docket entries, ·
32, On May 3; :2oi6, Bather ,appe·ared before ·the· courtand presentedan E.rnerg~cy Motion for Special 'Relief. Neither Mother nor her attorney appeared for presentation of the .motion .. Outing .his.presentation, Fatherrequested that he be· able to have telephone contact with 'his d~ught~r :c11rw,ij~.Preyjoll$Jy ordered, Father. .requested thatI enter' .an· order. ditectirtg Mother to make arrangements for the.child to. call him evety·,mowmg· 'before sro.QQf .iIBd ev~· evening after school 1 granted Father" s motion and 9fderedthe morning and evening telephone calls 'between Father: and :hisi daughter, l also ordered Father toprovide a cell phonetoMother's.attomey, who W9Wd. then.release the cell phone to Mothedtt:otdfffo facilitak'.th¢ telephone ~on~ct,.
-' 311, Qn,JIJcll~i 2$, 201~; Father presented. ~ .?y{~·aoh to Mod~ the. PFA .Ot:det:~4 a Ji.1qti<>nifor.· C~pt~mpt:. Mothet presented a- Petition' for· Special Rclie(I sct,,ed\µ~d ithea,ring on the. rrt~tulrs for'.Jtily 8, 2016, I al~ ordered that di~ md4ectc1rim~m1J.,;orrip4inrfiled'.by Krista. A;lbra~ .; a.gains~ ;. appellant on: J~e.:2.3,.• -Wi.6 ~ tQ: be scheduled (iJposstble) . on Jµly . ~r-20i~.as: i ;
·----~ .. i ; - ----~----·- - --·-··--·-------"--~ 51 P;a ~·e---,..... we.it ,Arthe conclusion: of .the .hearing, ..ap~ll'"1t w~!? arrested .for the m.dii.ect criminal .complaint. ·
36; On July 8i:~0.16, M9th_eJ~ pro.se, requested that Ivacate ·tne-C)rdet,e.nt~~~l on May-3, 20i6, . Whith-.g_ran_ted ,Father permission to deliver a telephone :to her; through her. att6rtU.\}l; Mother $Q requested thatthechild not beforcedto make t~t~phc;,ne calls to FathetFath~ req~~te~ modification of the .A~gtist 12, ·ioi~ f.F,A- order .and that I hold Mother in contempt for.failureto contply. Wit:h.th~:Or:4er·entered on Ma.y-3,2016,. A hearing on athe .I():: was also held, Aftet ahearing µJ opencourt, I dismissed .the ICC lalso denled ,Fa ther's ·iitotio't, for l:QJ;tf~mpt ~-J dismissed the petitj'oh fo modify Jfte pr9tec;tign. from. .abuse.ordet. I:gr~~ed'.Mo'ther's-·petitiathifid vadl;fed the ~y-;3,. 2§)1(i order ofcourt.
~7;_ Qn: Augus t8; 2016, appellant filed .a notice. Qf; ~P.P~~t of the order ,entered on July a~ :2016,, Appellant timely-fileia,toncii>e s_t.il~Mtofm~tters complained .of:on appeal.on Al!gµ_~l ' r- 22~·20t6.
.MA TT.ERS.C'.OMPiAINED OF ON ~PEAL_.
f "'th~r .raises five issues. on ·appeal. In his fus.t assignment of error, :.Father. asserts that I
erred.when.I heard, allowe~,.aifdgranted Mofuefs pro,se Motion to VacatEqPetitio11 for :S.~i~,
NexJ;.f~~er!,f.ates that I erred' when lheard, allowe.4.ran4gr_anteq..Motherl s_pic:He Motion
to Y~c~t~ when she failed' to: appear .for the: presentation. of the motion, -violated the order, and.
then' filed a prose Motion t'oVata~, (J?e.titi9JJ· IorSpeeial.Relief)
In his: Wr.d matter .raised, Father -contends that 1 erred, when I; ~~roe4 his Motion for
F.m~ly,.'.Father contends that} erted;wh~n I ~.ho.wed' deilr bias for Mother and· np con~m· I· ; ., "\- - 1 ; · for the best n,itetesf.ofthe child .. -----------~- r ' - - .,.... ? __ . __ . ---.:. . -____._:...~-- 6(P a~e, . : ·.: ::. # I!
DIS.CUSSION
Father asserts that' Lerred when.I fteijrci, ~J}owed, and ·granted Mother's.pro'-s~ Motipn:tp
M ·Exhihlt,, language; from the Court,M.anu.~.l' :for the .A4µJ.t $ection of the Eam4y Division ,of ·the
m}amiiytii'v'tsfonCases.statesthat:
i'N.o: pro. se. motions will be ~q;ep.(~ fovolving,a:cause ofacticn 1n ·whkh ~: U.tigc\I!f is. r:epr:es~le4. by CQ.~f 'Representation JI\ :a. parttcular cause of )l~tto1rw.il.l .~· d'¢f¢~rni.ned on :th~ P~$1~ of the praecipefor' appearanc.e:filed t;>y t:he· ~ttorn~y/
F.~tner also attached ro.his response/as·ExhihW' d", a <;.~p.y of. the Praecipe fot Appearance
., . :, :·
"A -defendan! has the consij.tuti.oni4 right to proceed. Without" .co):msel if the decision :t~ cl~s~ :_~ :~.Q~~g· ..~d: voluntary:'. ~~retta. v. Ctilifdrn~a( 422 JJ;'.S~ 80~, :9!~: s.c.t. 4525.,.~f.L/J::g,2d 562 (..1975)~ accord, .Commonwealth .v. D.ll1Jl~, ~ . Pa. i74..~, A,2~f ·3.24:. (1~78). However, the. same constttuhonal ·r:igbt: 49e~ n:ot .apply to a defendant like the Appellant; ·whowas. ·r:~p~n~ t,y counselbut also wanted to be 'his own eo-counsel. Cbmmimwea.Ulh~, °£.{ff$, .. ~~- Pa: 17.6, 626. A.2d i'137 (199.3)..- This: court's. OpihiP1'. in ~IH$. ~u~rnte4. the foUowin~.policf' reasons s:tate.d b}l .the Superior Court ~Qn..~~1ng: why that court will not -review ·pr-0 s.e briefs w.1:1:~-!l ~: app¢ll~l ~=r~presented .by- courisel:
.•)· . permittlhg;thep.r.o-se'brief~may mYcilYe-~·(;on.flict pe~~ iawyer and client, and ,,;, tqi§,c9nllid ¢~J4d undetmj.~t;!;~ppd.i,an~'.~ cll:~c~of success; ; t ) ,j : . ;; 'j' ;
.. - ·-----~-~-- -~--=--· . . -----· 71. Pa,g .e .·. : . 2. .counsel.is ,qbli.g~tt;!q 'to submit to the appellate court' oill_Y'tbps~. ·i~!?lJ~~ -which he, believes to possess .merit;.
., ,: ;3_. under no other circumstances are counsel.and dtentp!;!ntiitted. to present cipp.o!;ing arguments,. as:may well h"p~rl i( ~QQ:u~re permitted to submit Qriefs; ani ·
4.- revieW:ing p.r_o _s~: .bl.'.i~fs of .counseled appellim.ts would Je~c:f tQ procedural confusion @"~.dd~y:ir.(the:appellate proce~~becaus~ of Ure n~d-.fot tt"t~:court and -the Commonwealth to- reviewandevaluate additional pm 'ee ~rids. Ellis, 534 Pa, at 179-1$0,.616 A.2d at .i138:-l139,.
th.is,Co.ilit.held ih-,Ellis. that a ,fof~4~tin·a criminal case.maynot' confuse and . . ciVerburq.¢11 the ·GQ~~ b.y filing,his, own pro- se briefs.at the .same)ill'.ll;!. W,s· CQUI)~l is· filing briefs _for hint- 1a. Thereds no dgnttci lliat·.ty:pe of hyp~Jtl.:r~p:rt~ntation at . tria] or on appeal, and the- decision wh~ther. to a,Uqw .s~clthy~ri~ representation i~within. the sowid" discretion -of the' trl~l (Q_qrt . u. {Emphaskad.ded:)
'This Court; further. ¢x:pfam.~(i the ·tHis decision in Commonwetiltfr v. Roger_s~ s:37· Pa.. 581; 645· A.id 4:2-3. (1994), in which. we: held that-the Su:p.enor= Court .m~y prohibit th~.fiiin_g of pro .~e'b~iefs by appellantstepresenled.by cm~lQJ},.,.ppe~. tn.Rllgers; our decision stated that we. may :r~uite that- app~~~, remain with · counsel through the appeal. once co:tmsef h$"-fil¢4 .a b:ri~.f:be@~· to do' otherwise 'would result in the coruusionartd oveibµr~ening o(th_e,c;:gµrt'ciescribed' mEilis.
'Even ur had refused to allow to_ Mother to present: 11: prose motion, she. would still have
had the opportunity . to testify.and. be lw
Motion, ·(;jy~ fhe testimon y offered at the hearing (as well ~, the history of this case), I would
Ilkely have reached the.sameconclusion. The.reason thatI'vacatedthe.May 31.:Wlo·on;ier W;;tS
that tne~-May '-},_J,· 3, 20Hi waiHnt~r~ . because Mother failed to. comply· with the D~ ' .. ..• 1.6>ioi's :
Onf~x: ·wWcli permitted, f • -; Father to ha~e tele·plloli.~ .tp_hta~ wjt}:t .bi$ -d~µghter,. receive "tnfortna ~oh .. .. : : . : .
abou t- het: ediJcation,, and delfver .a pm.#m~ g'f~ to her.T would not.have entered such an. ~wfer .. i ·: . ~ . .
---~-- ~--·-~·-· .. 1- .• --- :·- -- ---~- . !
without Mother's, corisentdue fo the. existing;I?FA.. It was dear ·the at:theJuly $; 2016'hearing,
Mother Wasno fongerconsentjrl-g., Accerdtngly, even.if I erred' in allo:wirtg)tfqther to proceed.pro
s«, tlie erronv.~s harmless,
m .hls·~~Qnci..m~ttercompfained of oh.ap.p.eat appellant st~tes·th.at l erred when I heard,
the: presentation of fhe .rholionrvi<;>.@Jgq.the order, and then filed a pro se Motion jo V~q.at~, Wheth~r ·fylqtherappeared on May- ·3; f016·is' irrelevant In the' ~Qw·~ .of the presentation of
In. the third 'matter complained of on. -~PP~~l, f .jili,_ey contends that I erred when I denied
·e:9_11~n.leg_ fqthe contact. In . light of the tltiee.y¢arJ?FA Order entered after a.hearing.Inwhich
th~ Petition alleged.abuse of the .child,.Ifeltthat] c.o.414 no] compel Motherto forte the child h>:
.Pep.ti.on to-Mbd.ify Protection from Abuse Order, In-~ l~t assignment ofeiior;.Fathei: avers ~at
i erred w.hen I showed elearblas fpr. _M$,. :Abram and no concem.for the.best 'interest. ()f .th~· gµl(i.. ' I -Will discuss Jh.~ tw<> matters together,
-iri,: Co~monwt!althv. Chiimi( om:Sup.erior Cpim_ hdd. !h~t. -~
? [Pa ge' L • • I " '·: • ,. : ~ ····,·, . \•
"''Aftera final protectionorderis en tered, ~9·no motion Jo reconsider .or 'appealis: filed, thecourtno longer rehi._m~'jqri~di'c!:fon to vacate that order. Charnik~·92t A.-24 i2l4, atl'.Zl7, (2007).: -rh~ court does, however; .have jurisdiction to r,::lq·dify 'a -pro_tepti9n ·fron} µ_~ .order at any· time after the· ·t.ilu)g
it is a well-recognizedprinciple .th~l:" ._.. jµ~ge~ c;,f coordinate.jurisdiction sitting in. tne. :same -totii1 and in. :th:e same .case should -not overrule the decisions, Qf :e~d, other." Okkerse. V,;}-Iqw~ r: :sn 11a-. 509, 556 A:.2d 0827~ 83i f:i989),.
-~ .Pi1.,.C,$.A,. ·~108(a)provides that "thecourt r,na_y $fa,nr~y protection order or' approve any consent· agr¢ern:enHo 1:rrmg a_boQ}.~ cessation.of abuse· of the plaintiff or minor 'child. :(Emphasis -"~d¢.d.} -
emer_gencymotion to ·yacate and.e~@.ge the ·.(im,l P:fA order entered .on .Aii~t: 11; 2014 by
JudgeHerts~Gteco; F.o_Ilowingthe-prirn;iple ofcoordinatejinisdlction; Ldenied <.1.ppell@.t'.~ motion
and, directed.appellant to 'present his motion before Judge! Hens-Greco. On ji,me 3, ·2oiS, Father
pr~sen ted' hrs second emeriency•tnotion Jo vacate ~.cl.: e.qn"mge theJinal PFA order. before Judge,
OnIuly :1;1~ '.201~, father presented a Petition ..to Modify Prot¢ction h:Qm Abuse. i denied -c
this·'Jl;lb(i.Qn because I believed that flus motion should have ~ presented before the Judge
Hens- .Greco; Additionally~ .Mcther has yeh~m~1'tly .objected .to any chatt$es in the current' P:rA
order.
_As,~o ·the issue of bias towards.Mother, the· record is .cJ¢.¥·t:h~.t.~ll decisions made m this;
case werf b~ed .upon the law, 'The law 4i thi~ case .favors. Mother. It Jsalso clear, ·that: I have'
compasstort:for Eather, i\$'l; ~t~w~ at the conclusion of theJul}(B; 2(Jl6ihearing;:
JO:I Pa:ge ~ ..._., ~ . - .... ,:· ... - . _ .. . . -.
With tesped: fo 1ili> Thomps.Qn;$ petition to modify the prot~PIJ :_fo;,m abuse otdet,.-un.f0rlunateiy1jt_~ th~ position.of this Courftihat I am ~a:ble to modlfy the PFAb:ecau$¢ Iw~s;~:wt the Judgewho presided Q.v,e:r ·tMi.h~rmg. Id1d not make th¢ d¢tenn.inc}'ij9.n;in1$ to· credibility of Witness.es and s~rfor:fu ... As much as· I feel u~~t- Mr. Thompson .should be .having: con.taC:t\\"iJh ~ daughter, there. is if PFA, :;m~ the only .contact .that:can.h~ppen; -~ wJt;h the.consent of Ms. Abrart» (See' pag~$ 66; and 61 of the tratfstript of tl\flµ(y ~;_ 2016-hearing)
CONCLUSION'
By the Court
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