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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-25-01 Draft #4 - 10-24-01 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION IN RE: : No. 21-01-92 APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN : OF THE PERSON OF MILDRED J. GERBER, : an alleged incapacitated person : PETITION TO REQUIRE FILING OF AN ANSWER TO PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON TO THE HONORABLE, THE JUDGES OF SAID COURT: 1. The Petitioner is Frederick E. Gerber, II, the son of Mildred J. Gerber, the alleged incapacitated person. The Petitioner resides at 3313-1205 Wyndham Circle, Alexandria, VA 22320. 2. The Respondent is Marilyn J. Gerber, the daughter of Mildred J. Gerber, the alleged incapacitated person. The Respondent has a Pennsylvania residence at 42 Drexel Place, New Cumberland, PA 17070. 3. A Petition for Appointment of a Guardian of the Person of Mildred J. Gerber, the alleged incapacitated person, was filed on September 7, 2001, to No. 21-01-92. 4. A hearing was held on the Petition before The Honorable Edgar B. Bayley on October 8, 2001, at which hearing evidence was offered by the Petitioner to show the need of Mildred J. Gerber, the alleged incapacitated person, for a Guardian of the Person and evidence that the Petitioner should be appointed Guardian of the Person of the alleged incapacitated person. 5. At the opening of the hearing on October 8, 2001, Stanley J. Laskowksi, Esquire, Attorney for the Respondent, stated to the Court that the Respondent: A. Believes the alleged incapacitated person is not in need of a Guardian of the Person; ._ B. If a Guardian of the Person is decreed, opposes the appointment of the Petitioner as such Guardian of the Person; and, 2 C. If a Guardian of the Person is decreed, believes that Respondent should be appointed as such Guardian. and requested the hearing be continued at which the Respondent could present evidence as to the items in (A)(B)(C) above. 6. The Respondent has no statutory right to cross-examine witnesses as to the capacity of the alleged incapacitated person. 20 Pa. CSA 5518.1. 7. The Court, in its discretion, permitted Respondent to cross-examine witnesses as to capacity of the alleged incapacitated person. 8. The Respondent now intends, as stated by her legal counsel, to offer evidence as to the capacity of the alleged incapacitated person and as to the qualifications of Petitioner and the qualifications of the Respondent to be Guardian of the Person of the alleged incapacitated person. 9. The Respondent has no statutory right to offer such evidence. 20 Pa. c.S.^. 5518.1 10. The Court, in its discretion, may receive such evidence. 11. The Respondent should not be permitted to offer evidence as to the capacity of the alleged incapacitated person and/or the qualifications fo the Petitioner or the Respondent to be the Guardian of the Person of the alleged incapacitated person, without first filing an Answer (with New Matter, if any) to the Petition for the Appointment of a Guardian of the Person of the alleged incapacitated person, as required in a Civil Action in Law or in Equity. See Standard Pennsylvania Practice, Volume 3, Section 15:20, p. 444. WHEREFORE, the Petitioner requests this Honorable Court to issue a Rule to Show Cause upon the Respondent why Respondent should not be required to file an Answer (with New Matter, if any) to the Petition for Appointment of Guardian of the Person, otherwise to be prevented from offering evidence as to the capacity of the alleged incapacitated person and/or the qualifications of the Petitioner of the Respondent to be the Guardian of the Person of the alleged incapacitated person. Respectfully submitted, RUPP AND MEIKLE Richard Rupp Sup. Court I.D. No.: 34832 355 North 21st Street, Suite 205 Camp Hill, PA 1 7011 (717) 761-3459 Attorney for Petitioner 3 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION IN RE: : No. 21-01-92 APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN .. OF THE PERSON OF MILDRED J. GERBER, : an alleged incapacitated person : VERIFICATION I, Richard C. Rupp, Esquire, Attorney for Petitioner, verify that the statements in the foregoing Petition for Rule to Show Cause are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. Said statements are based on undersigned's own knowledge or information or information supplied to undersigned by Petitioner Frederick E. Gerber II. Said Verification is made by the undersigned as the Petitioner is outside of the Court's iurisdiction and is unavailable to sign this verification. I understand that false statements herein are made subject to penalties of 18 Pa. C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities. --- CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Richard C. Rupp, Esquire, do hereby certify that I am serving a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition for Rule to Show Cause upon the persons named below by telefax and by placing the same in the United States Mail, First Class, Postage Prepaid, on the date stated below; Stanley J. A. Laskowski, Esquire Caldwell & Kearns 3631 N. Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17110 Jacqueline M. Verney, Esquire Attorney at Law 44 S. Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 fi:my J. Mendelsohn; Esquire Rhoades & Sinon P.O. Box 1146 Harrisburg, PA 17108 Jane N. Heflin 270 N. Garfield Lombard, I C. Rupp, Esqmre Attorney I.D.# 34832 355 North 21st Street, Suite 303 Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 (717) 761-3459