HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-3095JAIME S. NOVINGER, :IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
Plaintiff :CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V. :CIVIL ACTION - LAW
:IN CUSTODY
BENJAMIN F. BRAGG, II
Defendant :NO. Q Gf ' 3 G N
COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY
AND NOW comes the Plaintiff, Jaime S. Novinger, who, by and through her
attorneys, Elizabeth S. Beckley, Esquire, Charles O. Beckley, II, Esquire, and Beckley &
Madden, of Counsel, files this Complaint for Custody, in which she avers that:
1. Plaintiff, Jaime S. Novinger, is an adult individual residing at 1510
Waterford, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 17011.
2. Defendant, Benjamin F. Bragg, II, is an adult individual and, upon
information and belief, resides at 1505 North Second Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin
County, Pennsylvania 17102.
3. Plaintiff seeks primary physical and joint legal custody of the following
children:
Name
Date of Birth
Residence
Diamond T. Bragg 12-17-1999
Passion T. Bragg 06-28-2001
The children were born out of wedlock.
Mother
Mother
The children are presently in the custody of their mother, Jaime S. Novinger, the
Plaintiff herein, who resides at 1510 Waterford, Camp Hill, Cumberland, Pennsylvania
17011.
4. During the past five years, the children have resided at the following
addresses with the individuals indicated:
Persons liviniz with children Address Dates
Mother 1510 Waterford January 06 to present
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Mother and Father
1510 Waterford
Camp Hill, PA 17011
2005 to January 06
Mother and Father 1430 Waterford 2000 to 2005
Camp Hill, PA 17011
5. Plaintiff is the Mother of the children and she currently resides with the
children at 1510 Waterford, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 17011. She is
single.
6. Defendant is the Father of the children and, upon information and belief,
currently resides with his girlfriend and her child at 1505 North Second Street,
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 17102. His is single.
7. The relationship of plaintiff to the children is that of Mother. The Plaintiff
currently resides with the following persons:
Name Relationship
Diamond T. Bragg Daughter with Defendant
Passion T. Bragg Daughter with Defendant
8. The relationship of Defendant to the children is that of Father. The
Defendant currently resides with the following persons:
Name Relationship
Selena Alman girlfriend
Isaiah Alman girlfriend's son
9. Plaintiff has not participated as a party or witness, or in another capacity,
in other litigation concerning the custody of the children in this or another court.
Plaintiff has no information of a custody proceeding concerning the
children pending in a court of this Commonwealth or any other state.
Plaintiff does not know of a person not a party to the proceedings who has
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physical custody of the children or claims to have custody or visitation rights with respect
to the children.
10. The best interest and permanent welfare of the children will be served by
granting the relief requested because: Plaintiff has been the children's primary care taker
since their birth.
11. Each parent whose parental rights to the children have not been terminated
and the person who has physical custody of the children have been named as parties to
this action.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests that the Court grant her primary physical
custody and joint legal custody of the parties' minor children.
DATED: 5,6-,rv
of Counsel
BECKLEY & MADDEN
212 North Third Street
P.O. Box 11998
Harrisburg, PA 17108
(717) 233-7691
3
Respectfully submitted,
VERIFICATION
1, J.dne S. Novk4eir, h=by verify that the statements made in the foregoing
document Iue true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. 1
understand that false statements herein are mask subject to the penaltics 18 Pa. C. S.
Section 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
0- 1
DATED:
e S. NovinV?;r
(?D
OF TN:r ` {AF?Y
2009 n l Y
3 ?d
e'4`?. ? 5'/Ld
JAIME S. NOVINGER IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
PLAINTIFF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V.
BENJAMIN F. BRAGG, II
DEFENDANT
2009-3095 CIVIL ACTION LAW
IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, Thursday, May 21, 2009 , 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 Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 3:30 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 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. Sunday, Esq. ?f
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
Sheriffs Office of Cumberland County
R Thomas Kline r at 'C lu"b Edward L Schorpp
Sheri 'Gov", Solicitor
Ronny R Anderson j ` f^ r Jody S Smith
Chief Deputy OFFICE I "E $hEERIFF Civil Process Sergeant
SHERIFF'S RETURN OF SERVICE
05/15/2009 R. Thomas Kline, Sheriff who being duly sworn according to law states that he made a diligent search and
inquiry for the within named defendant, to wit: Benjamin F. Bragg II, but was unable to locate him in his
bailiwick. He therefore deputized the Sheriff of Dauphin County, PA to serve the within Order of Court
according to law.
06/02/2009 Dauphin County Return: And now June 2, 2009 at 1300 hoursi'Dack Lotwick, Sheriff of Dauphin County,
Pennsylvania, do herby certify and return that I served a true copy of the within Complaint for Custody,
upon the within named defendant, to wit: Benjamin F. Bragg II by making known unto himself personally,
defendant at Front and Market Streets Harrisburg, PA 17101 its contents and at the same time handing to
him personally the said true and correct copy of the same.
SHERIFF COST: $37.00 SO ANSWERS
June 04, 2009 R THOMAS KLINE, SHERIFF
2009-3095
Jaime S. Novinger
V
Benjamin F. Bragg, II
CJ H
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(etti'tilt of t4v
Mary Jane Snyder
Real Estate Depu
William T. Tully
Solicitor
Dauphin County
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
ph: (717) 780-6590 fax: (717) 255-2889
Charles E. Sheaffer
Chief Deputy
Michael W. Rinehart
Assistant Chief Deputy
Jack Lotwick
Sheriff
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
County of Dauphin
JAIME S NOVINGER
VS
BENJAMIN F BRAGG, II
Sheriff s Return
No. 2009-T-1259
OTHER COUNTY NO. 20093095
And now: JUNE 2, 2009 at 1:00:00 PM served the within COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY upon
BENJAMIN F BRAGG, II by personally handing to BENJAMIN F BRAGG, II 1 true attested copy of the
original COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY and making known to him/her the contents thereof at DAUPHIN
COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE FRONT AND MARKET STREETS HARRISBURG PA 17101
Sworn and subscribed to
before me this 2ND day of June, 2009
TIOTl1R1AL SEAL
ARYJANE SNYDER, Notary Pub
li
Highspire, Dauphin County
M Commission Ex ires S t 1, 2010
So Answers,
?7
Sheriff ff of Dauphin County, Pa.
Deputy Sheriff
Deputy: LORRAINE SITLINGER
Sheriffs Costs: $41.25 5/18/2009
'JUN 2 9 2009
JAIME S. NOVIIvTGER
Plaintiff
vs.
BENJAMIN F. BRAGG, II
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
2009-3095 CIVIL ACTION LAW
IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this day of 2009, upon
consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Report, it is ordered and directed as follows:
1. The Mother. Jaime S. Novinger, and the Father, Benjamin F. Bragg, II, shall have shared
legal custody of Diamond T. Bragg, born December 17, 1999, and Passion T. Bragg, born June 28,
2001. 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.
§309, 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 consult with each other prior to enrolling the Children
in extracurricular activities which would affect the other parent's custodial time with the Children.
2. The parties shall participate in a course of therapeutic family counseling with a professional
to be selected by agreement. The purpose of the counseling shall be to assist the parties in establishing
sufficient communication and cooperation to enable them to effectively co-parent the Children and to
address issues related to the Children's emotional and general well-being and needs. The parties shall
attend a minimum of three sessions and shall thereafter follow the recommendations of the counselor
with regard to ongoing counseling sessions. Any costs of the counseling which are not covered by
insurance shall be shared equally between the parties. Within seven days of the custody conciliation
conference, the parties shall select the counselor by agreement and within 14 days of the conciliation
conference, each party shall contact the selected counselor's office in order to schedule the initial
sessions.
Z
3. The parties shall have physical custody of the Children in accordance with the following
schedule:
A. Summer School Break: During the summer school break, the parties shall share
having physical custody of the Children on an alternating weekly schedule with the exchange to take
place every Monday at 1:00 p.m. The non-custodial parent shall be entitled to have a period of custody
with the Children on Thursday from 3:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The alternating weekly schedule shall
begin with the Mother having custody of the Children on Monday, June 29, 2009.
B. School Year: During the school year, the parties shall share having physical custody
with the Mother having custody every week from Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. through Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
and the Father having custody from Sunday at 1:00 p.m. through Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. The parties
agree to follow this schedule at least for the first semester of the 2009-2010 school year with the
opportunity for either party to request the scheduling of a custody conciliation conference within six
months of the date of this Order if necessary to review the school year schedule. The schedule shall
continue in effect pending further Order of Court or agreement of the parties.
4. The parties shall share having custody of the Children on holidays as follows:
A. Christmas: The Christmas holiday shall be divided into Segment A, which shall run
from Christmas Eve at 2:00 p.m. through Christmas Day at 2:00 p.m., Segment B. which shall run
from Christmas Day at 2:00 p.m. through December 26 at 2:00 p.m., Segment C, which shall run from
December 26 at 2:00 p.m. through December 28 at 9:00 a.m., and Segment D, which shall run from
December 28 at 9:00 a.m. through January 3 at 9:00 a.m. In odd numbered years, the Mother shall
have custody of the Children during Segments A and D and the Father shall have custody during
Segments B and C. In even-numbered years, the Father shall have custody of the Children during
Segments A and C and the Mother shall have custody during Segments B and D.
B. New Year's: In every year, the Mother shall have custody of the Children as
specified in the preceding paragraph from December 28 at 9:00 a.m. through January 3 at 9:00 a.m.
C. Thanksgiving: In every year, the Mother shall have custody of the Children for the
Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. through Thanksgiving Day at 3:00 p.m. and the
Father shall have custody of the Children every year from Thanksgiving Day at 3:00 p.m. through
Friday at 3:00 p.m.
D. Alternating Holidavs: The parties shall alternate having custody of the Children on
Easter. Memorial Day and Independence Day from 9:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. In odd-numbered years.
the Father shall have custody of the Children for Easter and Independence Day and the Mother shall
have custody for Memorial Day. In even-numbered years. the Mother shall have custody of the
Children for Easter and Independence Day and the Father shall have custody for Memorial Day.
E. Labor Dav: In every year, the Father shall have custodv of the Children on Labor
Day from 9:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
F. Mother's Day/Father's Day: In every year. the Mother shall have custody of the
Children on Mother's Day and the Father shall have custody on Father's Day from 9:00 a.m. until 8:30
p.m.
G. The holiday custody schedule shall supersede and take precedence over the regular
and vacation custody schedules.
H. In the event a parent's period of holiday custody falls immediately preceding or
following that parent's regular period of custody, the regular and holiday periods of custody shall run
continuously without interruption.
5. Each party shall be entitled to have up to two nonconsecutive weeks of vacation with the
Children in the summer each year upon providing at least one week's advance notice. Unless
otherwise agreed between the parties, each party shall schedule his or her periods of vacation custody
to coincide with that parent's alternating week of custody under the regular summer schedule.
6. In the event either party intends to remove the Children from his or her residence for an
overnight period or longer, that parent shall provide advance notice to the other parent of the address
and telephone number where the Children can be contacted.
7. In the event either parent is unavailable to provide care for the Children during his or her
period of custody for an overnight period or longer, that parent shall first provide the other parent with
the opportunity to provide care for the Children during the period of unavailability before contacting
third party caregivers.
8. The parent receiving custody of the Children shall be responsible to provide transportation
for the exchange of custody unless otherwise agreed between the parties.
9. Neither parent shall schedule activities for the Children on the other party's custodial time
unless otherwise agreed in advance between the parties.
10. Neither party shall remove the Children from school for an unexcused absence or
unexcused late arrival to school. The parties shall notify each other in advance of any excused
absences for the Children from school.
11. Each party shall ensure that the Children's homework is completed during his or her
periods of custody.
12. The parties shall equally share all of the Children's extracurricular activity and medical
expenses and the Mother shall be entitled to claim the Children as exemptions for tax purposes in
every year.
13. 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.
14. This Order is entered pursuant to an agreement of the
conference. The parties may modify the provisions of this Order by r
of mutual agreement, the terms of this Order shall control.
BY T COU
parties at a custody conciliation
Tutu -r2greement. In the absence
J.
Z
izabeth S.
cc: El
Benjamin F
Beckley, Esquire - Counsel for Mother
Bragg, II - Father
Cc f t'£.S
lgao/o?
?l
eVL aLLCL
JAIME S. NOVINGER
Plaintiff
Vs.
BENJAMIN F. BRAGG, II
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
2009-3095 CIVIL ACTION LAW
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
Diamond T. Bragg December 17, 1999 Mother/Father
Passion T. Bragg June 28, 2001 Mother/Father
2. A custody conciliation conference was held on June 24, 2009, with the following individuals
in attendance: the Mother, Jaime S. Novinger, with her counsel, Elizabeth S. Beckley, Esquire, and the
Father, Benjamin G. Bragg, 11, who is not represented by counsel in this matter.
3. The parties agreed to entry of an Order in the form as attached.
6
Date Dawn S. Sunday, Esquire
Custody Conciliator
FILED-Ot ROF
OF THE ) f Tj1 qy
2009 JUR 30 Ali 0: 16)