HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-0095ROBERT W. SMITH
Plaintiff
Vs,
LORI A. SMITH
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
: NO. 2002- 9~' CIVIL TERM
: IN CUSTODY
COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY
1. Plaintiff is Robert W. Smith, an adult individual, currently residing at
307 Raymon Ave., Boiling Springs, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
2. Defendant is Lori A. Smith, an adult individual, currently residing at
1360 Kiner Blvd., Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
3. Plaintiff seeks custody of the following children: Benjamin Robert
Smith, age 10, born February 7, 1991 and Kellie Marie Smith, age 6, born April 22,
1995.
The children were not born out of wedlock.
The children are presently in the primary physical custody of the Father,
Robert W. Smith. The Defendant Mother in October, 2001, removed herself from the
home and left the children with the Father. She has daily contact with the children.
During the past five years, or since the children's birth, they have resided
with the following persons at the following addresses:
(a) from their births to October 26, 2001, with the parties at 307 Raymon
Ave., Boiling Springs, Cumberland County, PA.
(b) from October 26, 2001 to the present with the Father at 307 Raymon
Ave., Boiling Springs, Cumberland County, PA.
The natural mother of the children is the Defendant.
She is married to the Plaintiff.
4. The relationship of the Plaintiff to the children is that of natural father.
5. The relationship of the Defendant to children is that of natural mother.
6. The parties have not participated as a party or witness, or in any other
capacity in other litigation, concerning the custody of the children in this or in any other
Court.
Plaintiff does not know of a person not a party to the proceedings who has
physical custody of the children or claims to have custody or visitation rights with
respect to the child.
7. The best interest and permanent welfare of the child will be served by
granting the relief requested because:
(a) The Father has been one of the primary caretakers of the children
since their births and has been the primary caretaker since the parties separation. Prior
to the parties separation in October, 2001, the Mother on numerous occasions declined
the opportunity to spend time with the children and left them with the Father for care.
(b) The Father remains in the home that the children have lived in their
whole lives. This home is in the neighborhood where their present and future schools
are located. Father wants to be accommodating to permit "frequent and continuing
contact and physical contact" between Dylan and his Mother. 23 PACSA 5303 (a).
(c) The Mother suffers from depression, is medicated and lacks the
capacity to provide primary care for the children.
8. 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. All other persons, named below, who are known to have or
claim a right to custody or visitation of the children will be given notice of the pendency
of this action and the right to intervene.
NAME ADDRESS
None
BASIS OF CLAIM
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests your Honorable Court to:
A) grant primary physical custody of the children to the Father with
the parties to share legal custody;
B) set an emergency hearing in the event the Mother attempts to
remove the children from the home, in order to set the parties rights until such time as
there can be a full hearing in this matter;
C) grant such other relief as is just and in the best interest of the
children.
Date: I /~) /oz-
Respectfully submitted,
Robert L. O'Brien, Esquire
O'BRIEN, BARIC & SCHERER
17 West South Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 249-6873
I verify that the statements made in the foregoing Complaint for Custody are true
and correct. I understand that false statements herein are made subject to the
penalties of 18 Pa. C.S. § 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Robert W. Smith
DATE: 7
o o
ROBERT W. SMITH
PLAINTIFF
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: 02-95
CIVIL ACTION LAW
LORI A. SMITH
DEFENDANT : IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, Friday, January 18, 2002 , upon consideration of the attached Complaint,
it is hereby directed that parties and their respective counsel appear before Jacqueline M. Verney, Esq. , the conciliator,
at 4th Floor, Cumberland County Courthouse, Carlisle on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at 9:30 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. All children age five or older may also be present at the conference. 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/ Jacaueline M. Vernev. Esa. ;~
' Custody Conciliat'or - ~' '
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
2 Liberty Avenue
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Telephone (717) 249-3166
FEB :1 ZO0
ROBERT W. SMITH,
Plaintiff
V.
LORI A. SMITH,
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
:
: NO. 2002-95 CIVIL TERM
:
: IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
ANDNOW, this ,~a°t day of~.~:l~4~, 2002, up°.n. .
consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Report~tit is ordered and &rectea
follows:
as
1. A Hearing is scheduled in Court Room No. ~ , of the Cumberland
County Court House, onthe o%~c~_ day of ~ 1) ,2002, at
o'clock, p~ . M., at which time testimony will ge taken. For purposes of this Hearing,
the Father shall be deemed to be the moving party and shall proceed initially with
testimony. Counsel for each party shall file with the Court and opposing counsel a
Memorandum setting forth each party's position on custody, a list of witnesses who will
be expected to testify at the Hearing and a summary of the anticipated testimony of each
witness. These Memoranda shall be filed at least ten days prior to the Hearing date.
2. Pending further Order of Court or agreement of the parties, the following
shall remain in effect:
3. The Father, Robert W. Smith, and the Mother, Lori A. Smith, shall have
shared legal custody of Benjamin Robert Smith, bom February 7, 1991, and Kellie Marie
Smith, bom April 22, 1995. Each parent shall have an equal right, to be exercised jointly
with the other parent, to make all major non-emergency decisions affecting the children's
general well-being including, but not limited to, all decisions regarding their health,
education and religion.
4. Father shall have primary physical custody of the children.
5. Mother shall have the following periods of partial physical custody of the
children beginning February 16, 2002:
A. Every weekend, except the third weekend of every month, from Saturday
10:00 a.m. to Tuesday morning when Mother shall deliver the children to
school. Mother shall also be responsible for delivering the children to school
on Mondays. Father's third weekend every month shall be from Friday after
school to Sunday at 8:00 p.m. On the third weekend of every month, Mother
shall have physical custody of the children from Sunday at 8:00 p.m. to
Tuesday morning.
In addition, Mother shall have partial physical custody of the children when
the children are off from school. In such instances, Father shall transport the
children to Mother's home the evening before the day off from school at 8:00
p.m.
Mother shall have physical custody of the children during Easter break from
March 25, 2002 to April 2, 2002, however, Father shall have physical custody
of the children from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every evening that week Monday
to Friday during that period and on Easter, March 31, 2002 from 8:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.
D. Such other times as the parties agree.
6. Transportation shall be shared as agreed by the parties.
7. The parties may modify this Order by mutual agreement. In the absence of
mutual consent, the terms of this Order shall control.
cg,~ oobert L. O'Brien, Esquire, counsel for Father
,,,,,Edward L. Schorpp, Esquire, counsel for Mother
ROBERT W. SMITH,
Plaintiff
V.
LORI A. SMITH,
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
:
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
:
: NO. 2002-95 CIVIL TERM
:
: IN CUSTODY
PRIOR JUDGE: None
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
Benjamin Robert Smith
Kellie Marie Smith
February 7, 1991 Father
April 22, 1995 Father
2. A Conciliation Conference was held February 13, 2002 with the following
individuals in attendance: The Father, Robert W. Smith, with his counsel, Robert L.
O'Brien, Esquire, and the Mother, Lori A. Smith, with her counsel, Edward L. Schorpp,
Esquire.
3. Father's position on custody is as follows: Father seeks shared legal and
primary physical custody. Father relates that Mother left the family residence on October
26, 2001 voluntarily leaving Father to care for the children. Father asserts that the
children should remain primarily with him for their stability. Father's work schedule is
from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mother's work schedule is 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Tuesday
to Friday. Father maintains that he is available to care for the children after school and if
Mother had shared physical custody, the children would not see their Mother except
before school for a short period of time. Father is willing to provide Mother with all
weekends per month, from Saturday morning to Tuesday morning, except one. Father
was also willing to go to a shared physical arrangement on a week on/week off basis
during the summer. Father believes the children should continue in their present school
placements.
4. Mother's position on custody is as follows: Mother seeks shared legal
custody and shared physical custody. Mother would transport the children to their
present schools during her periods of custody. Mother maintains that primary physical
custody in Father penalizes her for her work schedule. As she is presently living with her
parents, they can provide care while she is at work. Mother believes it is important to
transition the children into a shared physical arrangement.
5. The Conciliator recommends an Order in the form as attached scheduling
a Hearing and granting the parents shared legal custody, Father primary physical custody
and Mother having periods of partial physical as set forth, maximizing her time with the
children. It is expected that the Hearing will require one day.
Date
//acqu~line M. Vemey, Esquire
Custody Conciliator
ROBERT W. SMITH,
Plaintiff
VS.
LORI A. SMITH,
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
i CIVIL ACTION - LAW
: NO. 2002- ~.5' CIVIL
:IN DIVORCE
ACCEPTANCE OF SERVICE
AND NOW, this c~ day of .'~'/~?'; /
,2002, I, Lori A. Smith,
Defendant above, hereby accept service of the Complaint filed in the above case
pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. 1920.4(e) and acknowledge receipt of a true and attested copy
of said Complaint.
Lori A. Smith
ROBERT VV. SMITH
Plaintiff
VS.
LORI A. SMITH
Defendant
· IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
· CIVIL ACTION - LAW
: NO. 2002-i~,~' CIVILTERM
: IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this ~ day of April, 2002, upon review the Motion For A
Continuance the Court orders and directs that the hearing scheduled for Thursday, April
25th, 2002 at 8:45 a.m. is continued generally and the matter may be re-listed for a
hearing by the Court upon application of either party by motion or petition.
Robert L. O'Brien, Esquire
O'Brien, Baric & Scherer
17 West South Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Edward Schorpp, Esquire
10 East High Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
VtNYA'I,kSNNBcl
ROBERT W. SMITH
Plaintiff
Vs.
LORI A. SMITH
Defendant
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
: CIVIL ACTION - LAW
: NO. 2002- OO(t.~'CIVIL TERM
: IN CUSTODY
MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE
1. Movant is Robert L. O'Brien, Esquire, Attorney for the Plaintiff in the
above-captioned action.
2. Movant has talked with his client about a custody agreement outlined by
the Defendant's counsel and believes that an agreement can be reached.
3. Plaintiff wishes to have this matter continued generally until such time as
the parties sign an agreement or negotiations falter. Movant has contacted Edward
Schorpp, Esquire, Attorney for the Defendant and he has agreed to a general
continuance.
WHEREFORE, Movant respectfully requests that the custody hearing scheduled
for Thursday, April 25th, 2002 be continued generally and the matter maybe re-listed for
a hearing by the court by either party by motion or petition requesting same.
Respectfully submitted,
O'BRIEN, BARIC & SCHERER
Robert L. O'Brien, Esquire
I.D. #28351
17 West South Street
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
(717) 249-6873