HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-5602DOUGLAS T. JAMES, : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
Plaintiff : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V. CIVIL ACTION - LAW
2008 - Sll??' CIVIL TERM
MICHELLE A. JAMES,
Defendant IN CUSTODY
COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY
AND NOW comes the Plaintiff, Douglas T. James, by his attorneys, Irwin & McKnight,
and presents the following Complaint for Custody.
1.
The Plaintiff, Douglas T. James, is an adult individual with an address of 6344
Bennington Road, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 17050.
2.
The Defendant, Michelle A. James, is an adult individual with an address of 4066 Darius
Drive, Enola, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 17025.
3.
The parties are the natural parents of two (2) children, Lindsey James, born April 5, 1995;
and Danielle James, born December 27, 1998.
4.
The Plaintiff, Douglas T. James, desires that the parties have shared legal custody of said
minor children, Lindsey James and Danielle James.
5.
The Plaintiff, Douglas T. James, desires primary physical custody of said minor child,
Lindsey James, with periods of temporary physical custody to Defendant, Michelle A. James, as
the parties can agree.
6.
The Plaintiff, Douglas T. James, desires shared physical custody of said minor child,
Danielle James, on a week on/week off basis as the parties can agree.
7.
The best interests and permanent welfare of the minor children requires that the Court
grant the Plaintiff's request as set forth above.
WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff, Douglas T. James, respectfully requests that he be awarded
primary physical custody and shared legal custody of Lindsey James and shared physical and
shared legal custody of Danielle James as provided herein.
Respectfully submitted,
IRWIN &
By:
Aw1gs-A. McKnig II, Esquire
:orney for Plaintiff
West Pomfret Street
[lisle, Pennsylvania 1701 -3222
(71 -2353
Supreme Court I. D. No. 25476
Date: September 19, 2008
VERIFICATION
The foregoing Complaint for Custody is based upon information which has been gathered
by counsel and myself in the preparation of this action. I have read the statements made in this
document and they are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. I
understand that false statements herein made are subject to the penalties of 18 Pa. C.S.A. Section
4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date: September 19, 2008
Fn
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DOUGLAS T. JAMES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
PLAINTIFF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V.
2008-5602 CIVIL ACTION LAW
MICHELLE A. JAMES IN CUSTODY
DEFENDANT
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, Monday, September 29, 2008 _, 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, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 10:00 AM
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 define and narrow the issues to be heard by the court, and to enter into a temporary
order. Failure to appear at the conference may provide grounds for entry of a temporary or permanent order.
The court hereby directs the parties to furnish any and all 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. Sunda Es .
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 THE 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
DOUGLAS T. JAMES
Plaintiff
VS.
MICHELLE A. JAMES
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
2008-5602 CIVIL ACTION LAW
IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this T -? day of 2008, upon
consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Report, it is ordered and directed as follows:
1. The Father, Douglas T. James, and the Mother, Michelle A. James, shall have shared legal
custody of Lindsey James, born April 5, 1995, and Danielle James, born December 27, 1998. Major
decisions concerning the Children including, but not necessarily limited to, their health, welfare,
education, religious training and upbringing shall be made jointly by the parties after discussion and
consultation with a view toward obtaining and following a harmonious policy in each Child's best
interest. Neither party shall impair the other party's rights to shared legal custody of the Children.
Neither party shall attempt to alienate the affections of the Children from the other party. Each party
shall notify the other of any activity or circumstance concerning the Children that could reasonably be
expected to be of concern to the other. Day to day decisions shall be the responsibility of the parent
then having physical custody. With regard to any emergency decisions which must be made, the
parent having physical custody of the Child at the time of the emergency shall be permitted to make
any immediate decisions necessitated thereby. However, that parent shall inform the other of the
emergency and consult with him or her as soon as possible. In accordance with 23 Pa.C.S.A. §5309,
each party shall be entitled to complete and full information from any doctor, dentist, teacher,
professional or authority and to have copies of any reports or information given to either party as a
parent as authorized by statute. The parties shall keep each other advised immediately in the event of a
serious illness or medical emergency concerning the Children and shall take any necessary steps to
ensure that the health and well-being of the Children are protected. During such illness or medical
emergency, both parties shall have the right to visit the Children as often as they desire consistent with
the proper medical care of the Children.
2. The Father shall have primary physical custody of Lindsey and the Mother shall have partial
physical custody of Lindsey as arranged by agreement between the parties.
3. The parties shall share having physical custody of Danielle on an alternating weekly basis,
with the exchange time and day to be arranged by agreement between the parties.
4. The parties shall have custody of the Children during holidays in a manner consistent with
the Children's best interests and as arranged by agreement.
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5. In the event the parties mutually agree to change the physical custody schedule for Lindsey,
the Father shall pay the court costs and legal fees required to obtain a Court Order confirming the
agreed-upon changes.
6. The parties agree to be flexible in making any necessary changes to the custody schedule set
forth in this Order to accommodate the schedules of the Children and the parties.
7. Neither party shall do or say anything which may estrange the Children from the other
parent, injure the opinion of the Children as to the other parent, or hamper the free and natural
development of the Children's love and respect for the other parent. Both parties shall ensure that third
parties having contact with the Children comply with this provision.
8. The parties may modify the provisions of this Order by mutual consent in writing. In the
absence of such mutual consent, the terms of this Order shall control. J_
BY THE CO MT,
J.
cc: Marcus A. McKnight, III, Esquire - Counsel for Father
Michelle A. James - Mother i j - oS
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NOV 0 3 2008
1
DOUGLAS T. JAMES IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
Plaintiff CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
vs. 2008-5602 CIVIL ACTION LAW
MICHELLE A. JAMES :
Defendant IN CUSTODY
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 concerning the Children who are the subjects of this litigation is as
follows:
NAME DATE OF BIRTH CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY OF
Lindsey James April 5, 1995 Father
Danielle James December 27, 1998 Mother/Father
2. A custody conciliation conference was held on October 28, 2008, with the following
individuals in attendance: the Father's counsel, Marcus A. McKnight, III, Esquire. Neither of the
parties appeared for the conference or contacted the conciliator.
3. The Father's counsel provided written confirmation of the parties' agreement on certain
custody issues. Based upon the representations of the Father's counsel and the written confirmation of
the Mother's agreement to the custody arrangements, the conciliator recommends an Order in the form
as attached.
4. In the event either of the parties desires a review of the custody arrangements, he or she may
file a request for the rescheduling of a conference to address those issues.
Date Dawn S. Sunday, Esquire
Custody Conciliator
T