HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-6503SHAWN M. SMELTZ,
PLAINTIFF
VS.
TAMMY JO MCKINNEY,
DEFENDANT
IN ~ COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
NO.O -/..5eO
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
IN CUSTODY
COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY
AND NOW, comes the Plaintiff, SHAWN M. SEMLTZ, by and through his counsel,
Susan Kay Candiello, Esquire, of the Law Firm of Susan Kay Candiello, P.C., and files this
Complaint for Custody upon a cause of action of which the following is a statement:
1. The Plaintiff (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Father") is SHAWN M.
SMELTZ, who currently resides at 4 Wheatland Drive, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, 17050.
2. The Defendant (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "Mother") is TAMMY JO
MCK1NNEY, whose current residence is believed to be with James Tschody and mail should be
sent in cdo James Tschody, 138 South Locust Street, Camp Hill, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, 17011.
Name
SHAWN MICHAEL SEMLTZ, JR.
Present Residence
4 Wheatland Drive
Mechaniesburg, PA
The child was born out of wedlock.
Plaintiff seeks Full Legal and Primary Physical Custody of the following child:
Date of Birth
November 20, 2003
5. The child is presently in the custody of the Plaintiff, who resides at 4 Wheatland
Drive, Mechaniesburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17050.
6. Since the child's birth the child has resided with the following persons at the
following addresses:
PERSONS
Plaintiff and Defendant
ADDRESS
DATES
November 2003
Defendant
Plaintiff
801 Sand Bark Road, Lot #12
Mount Holly Springs PA
4 Wheatland Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA
December 1 to 5
December 5 to Present
7. The Mother of the child is the Defendant, Tammy Jo McKinney, who currently resides
with James Tschody at 138 South Locust Street, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
1701 I. The Mother is single.
8. The Father of the child is the Plaintiff, Shawn M. Smeltz, who currently resides at 4
Woodland Drive, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17050. The Father is
single.
9. The relationship of the Plaintiff, Shawn M. Smeltz, to the child is that of the Natural
Father. Father currently resides with the child.
10. The relationship of the Defendant, Tammy Jo McKinney, to the child is that of the
Natural Mother. Mother currently resides with James Tschody.
11. The Plaintiff does not know of a person not a party to the proceedings who has
physical custody of the child or claims to have custody or visitation rights with respect to the
child.
12. Plaintiff has not participated as a party in any prior custody agreement concerning
the custody of the child in any other court in Pennsylvania.
13. Plaintiffhas no information ora custody proceeding concerning the child pending
in a court of this Commonwealth at this time.
14. The best interests and permanent welfare of the child will be served by granting
the relief requested because:
A. Mother has physically left the child;
B. Mother has a history of psychological and physical problems and
was hospitalized within the past few weeks for attempted suicide;
C. Mother was being investigated and monitored by Cumberland
County Children and Youth for child abuse and neglect;
D. Father loves his son and wants a safe and stable environment for
his son;
E. Father resides with his Mother and Father, Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Smeltz, who can assist Father in providing the child with a safe, stable and
loving environment.
15. Each parent whose parental rights to the child have not been terminated and
the person who has physical custody of the child have been named as parties to this
action.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, SHAWN M. SMELTZ, requests this Honorable Court award
him FULL LEGAL and PRIMARY PHYSICAL CUSTODY of the minor child, SHAWN
MICHAEL SMELTZ, JR. and the Defendant, TAMMY JO MCKINNEY, Supervised
Visitation with the child, SHAWN MICHAEL SMELTZ, JR.
Dated: December ~f~ 2003
Respectfully submitted,
LAW FIRM OF SUSAN KAY CANDIELLO, P.C.
Counsel for Plaintiff //
PA I.D. # 64998
5021 East Trindle Road
Suite 100
Mechanicsburg PA 17050
(717) 796-1930
VERIFICATION
The undersigned hereby verifies that the facts averred in the foregoing document are tree
and correct to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief This verification is made
subject to the penalties of 18 Pa. C,S.A. §4904 relating to unswom falsification to authorities.
DATED:
r: ~
SHAWN M. SMELTZ
PLAINTIFF
V.
TAMMY JO MCKINNEY
DEFENDANT
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
03-6503 CIVIL ACTION LAW
:
: IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, Tuesday, December 23, 2003 , upon consideration of the attached Complaint,
it is hereby directed that parties and their respective counsel appear before Dawn S. Sunday, Esq. , the conciliator,
at 39 West Main Street, Meehanicsburg, PA 17055 on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at I:00 PM
for a Pre-Hearing Custody Conference. At such conference, an effort will be made to resolve the issues in dispute; or
if this cannot be accomplished, to de£me and narrow the issues to be heard by the court, and to enter into a temporary
order. All children age five or older may a/so be present at the conference. Failure to appear at the conference may
provide grounds tbr entry of a temporary or permanent order.
The court hereby directs the parties to furnish any and ali existing Protection from Abuse orders,
Special Relief orders, and Custody orders to the conciliator 48 hours prior to scheduled hearing.
FOR THE COURT,
By: /s/
Dawn S. Sunday, Esq.
Custody Conciliator
The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County is required by law to comply with the Americans
with Disabilites Act of 1990. For information about accessible facilities and reasonable accommodations
available to disabled individuals having business before the court, please contact our office. All arrangements
must be made at least 72 hours prior to any hearing or business before the court. You must attend the scheduled
conference or hearing.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR ATTORNEY AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE AN ATTORNEY OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE TIlE OFFICE SET
FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP.
Cumberland County Bar Association
32 South Bedford Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Telephone (717) 249-3166
7003 3110
0000 7773
SHAWN M. SMELTZ,
Plaintiff
VS.
TAMMY JO MCKINNEY
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
03-6503
CiVIL ACTION LAW
JAN 2 3 2004
IN CUSTODY
TEMPORARY ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this ~qOk day of ~ , 2004, upon
consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Re~ort, it is or0~red and directed as follows:
1. The Father shall have primary physical custody of Shawn Michael Smeltz, Jr., bom
November 20, 2003.
2. The Mother shall have periods of visitation at the patemal grandparents' residence in
Mechanicsburg every Sunday from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm. During the Mother's periods of
visitation, only the parties shall be present, with the Father refraining from interfering or actively
participating in the Mother's interaction with the Child.
3. This Order is entered without prejudice to either party's position on custody at the
Conciliation Conference which shall be scheduled at such time as the Mother obtains legal counsel.
/
cc:/Susan K. Candiello, Esquire - Counsel for Father
~/Tammy Jo McKinney, Mother
SHAWN M. SMELTZ,
Plaintiff
VS.
TAMMY JO MCKINNEY
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
03-6503 CIVIL ACTION LAW
: 1NCUSTODY
CUSTODY CONCILIATION SUMMARY REPORT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CUMBERLAND COUNTY RULE OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE 1915.3-8, the undersigned Custody Conciliator submits the following report:
1. The pertinent information conceming the Child who is the subject of this litigation is as
follows:
NAlVIE
DATE OF BIRTH
CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY OF
Shawn Michael Smeltz, Jr.
11/20/03 Father
2. A Conciliation Conference was held on January 20, 2004, with the following individuals in
attendance: The Father, Shawn M. Smeltz, with his counsel, Susan K. Candiello, Esquire, and the
Mother, Tammy Jo McKinney, who was not represented at the conference.
3. It should be noted that the Mother's counsel in a related matter, Lisa Greason, Esquire,
notified the conciliator by letter on the date of the conference of her belief that the Mother may not be
able to represent herself or make decisions on her own behalf at this time and requested that the
conciliator contact her by telephone during the conference. By telephone during the conference, Lisa
Greason reiterated her concern and requested that the Mother be permitted to obtain counsel before
proceeding with the conciliation conference. The Mother agreed that she was unable to participate in
the conference without the assistance of counsel and, with the consent of the Father's counsel, it was
agreed that the conference would be rescheduled at such time as the Mother obtained legal counsel.
3. The Child who is involved in this matter is a two-month old infant. The Child was bom on
November 20, 2003, the parties separated on December 1, and the Child has resided with the Father
since December 5. Children and Youth Services have been involved in this matter. Recognizing the
concerns about the Mother's ability to make decisions on her own behalf, the parties did express an
agreement at the conference to a temporary Order, without prejudice to either party at the rescheduled
conference, providing for the Child to continue residing with the Father and for the Mother to have
contact with the Child on a regular basis.
4. The parties agreed to entry of a temporary interim Order in the form as attached pending
rescheduling of the Conciliation Conference when the Mother obtains counsel.
Date
·
Dawn S. Sunday, Esquire"
Custody Conciliator