HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-3697JULIE S. PHILLIPS,
APRIL R. PHILLIPS and
KEVIN M. LA CROIX,
Plaintiff
Defendants
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
COMPLAINT IN CUSTODY
COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY
AND NOW, comes the Plaintiff, Julie S. Phillips, by her attorneys, Metzger,
Wickersham, Knauss & Erb, P.C., and files the within Complaint for custody as follows:
1. The Plaintiff, Julie S. Phillips, is an adult individual currently residing at 441
Crossroadschool Road, P.O. Box 122, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17241.
2. The Defendant, April R. Phillips, is an adult individual currently residing at the
Cumberland County Prison, 1101 Claremont Road, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvarfia,
17013.
3.
168 Dogwood Drive, Swansboro, North Carolina, 28584.
4. Plaintiff seeks custody of the following child:
The Defendant, Kevin M. La Croix, is an adult individual currently residing at
Nalll~
Calvin Mitchell La Croix
The minor child was born out of wedlock.
Present Address
441 Crossroadschool Road
P.O. Box 122
Newville, PA 17241
D,O.B.
04/23/1997
308640
5. The child is presently in the custody of the Plaintiff, Julie S. Phillips, who resides
at 441 Crossroadschool Road, P.O. Box 122, Newville, Cumberland Cottnty, Pennsylvania,
During the past five (5) years, the child, Calvin Mitchell La Croix, has resided
17241.
with the following persons at the following addresses:
Name Address Date
Julie S. Phillips 441 Crossroadschool Road 09/2001 - Present
P.O. Box 122
Newville, PA 17241
April R. Phillips
April R. Phillips
Julie S. Phillips
April R. Phillips
Julie S. Phillips
April R. Phillips
Kevin M. La Croix
Julie S. Phillips
Women & Children Rehabilitation
Coatesville, PA
Main Street
Newville, PA 17241
441 Crossroadschool Road
P.O. Box 122
Newville, PA 17241
Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
441 Crossroadschool Road
P.O. Box 122
Newville, PA 17241
Hanover Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
441 Crossroadschool Road
P.O. Box 122
Newville, PA 17241
08/2001 - 09/2001
09/2000- 08/2001
02/2000 - 09/2000
01/2000 -02/2000
10/1999 - 01/2000
08/1999 - 10/1999
10/1998 - 08/1999
308640
-2-
The Mother of the child is Defendant, April R. Phillips, currently residing at
Cumberland County Prison, 1101 Claremont Road, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
17013.
The Father of the children is Defendant, Kevin M. La Croix, currently residing at
168 Dogwood Drive, Swansboro, North Carolina, 28584.
6. The relationship of Plaintiffto the child is that of Grandmother.
7. The relationship of Defendants to the child is that of Parents.
8. Plaintiff has not participated as a party or witness, or in any other capacity in any
other litigation concerning the custody of the child in this or another Court.
9. Plaintiff has no information of a custody proceeding concerning the child pending
in a Court of this Commonwealth or any other state.
10. Plaintiff does not know of a person not a party to the proceedings who has
physical custody of the minor child or claims to have custody or visitation rights with respect to
the minor child.
11. The best interest and permanent welfare of the minor child will be served by
granting the relief requested because the Plaintiffis best able to provide the wholesome and
healthy environment which will permit the child to develop into an honest, hard working, law
abiding, mentally stable and well adjusted individual.
12. Each parent whose parental rights to the child has not been terminated and the
person who has physical custody of the child have been named as parties to this action.
308640
-3-
WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff, Julie S. Phillips, requests the Court to grant her custody of
the child.
METZGER, WICKERSHAM, KNAUSS & ERB, P,C.
Dated:
By
P.O. Box 5300
3211 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-0300
(717) 238-8187
Attorneys for Plaintiff
308640
-4-
VERIFICATION
1 verify that the statements made in the foregoing Complaint for Custody are true and
correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. I understand that false statements
herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. §4904, relating to unsworn falsification to
authorities.
Dated:
Julie S) Phillips
308640
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, James F. Carl, Esquire, of the law firm of Metzger, Wickersham, Knauss & Erb, P.C.,
hereby certify that I served a true and exact copy of the Complaint for Custody with reference to the
foregoing action by certified mail, postage prepaid this 2gJ~ay of July, 2004, on the following:
April R. Phillips
Cumberland County Prison
1101 Claremont Road
Carlisle, PA 17013
Kevin M. La Croix
168 Dogwood Drive
Swansboro, NC 28584
METZGER, WICKERSHAM, KNAUSS & ERB, P.C.
Dated:
By
J~nes F. Carl, Esquire
308640
JULIE S. PHILLIPS
PLAINTIFF
V.
APRIL R. PHILLIPS AND KEVIN M. LA
CROIX
DEFENDANT
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
04-3697 CIVIL ACTION LAW
IN CUSTODY
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, Thursday, August 05, 2004 , upon consideration of the attached Complaint,
it is hereby directed that parties and their respective counsel appear before Melissa P. Greevy, Esq. , the conciliator,
at 301 Market Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043 on Tuesday, September 07, 2004 at 1:00 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 define and narrow the issues to be heard hy 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/
Melissa P. Gree~,y. Esq.
Custody Conciliator
mhc
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
SEP 1 6 2004
JULIE S. PHILLIPS,
Plaintiff
APRIL R. PHILLIPS and
KEVIN M. LA CROIX,
Defendants
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
NO. 04-3697 CIVIL TERM
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
IN CUSTODY
TEMPORARY ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this ~) day of September, 2004, upon consideration of the
attached Custody Conciliation Summary Report, it is hereby ordered and directed as
follows:
1. ~ Custody. The Plaintiff, Julie S. Phillips, shall have legal custody of the
minor child, Calvin Mitchell La Croix, born on April 23, 1997.
2. Physical Custody. The Plaintiff shall have primary physical custody of the
child subject to Mother's rights of reasonable visitation with the minor child to occur in
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania and Father's rights of reasonable visitation with the
minor child to occur in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
3. Holidays. The visitation of both parents for holidays shall be by agreement
with the Plaintiff/Matemal Grandmother.
4. During any period of custody or visitation, the parties to this Order shall not
possess or use controlled substances, neither shall they consume alcoholic beverages to
the point of intoxication. The parties shall likewise ensure, to the extent possible, that the
other household members and/or house guests comply with this prohibition.
5. The parties shall cooperate with one another in the implementation of this
Order and understand and agree that changes or modifications may be necessary to enable
all parties to continue and foster and develop a good and healthy relationship with the child.
To that end, the parties shall cooperate with one another to encourage the relationship of
the child with others and to refrain from any and all conduct, activity or communication which
would adversely affect the child's relationship with his Mother, Father, or Maternal
Grandmother. No parties shall make disparaging comments about the others in front of the
child, nor will they permit any other relative or party to do so.
6. The legal residence of the minor child shall be that of the Maternal
Grandmother.
NO. 04-3697 CIVIL TERM
7. In the event that either Defendant is aggrieved by the terms of this Order,
upon proper petition, the Custody Conciliation Conference may be reconvened in the
normal course.
8. Plaintiff's counsel shall serve the Defendants with a copy of this Order and
thereafter file a return of service indicating the completion.t~.hereof.4
BY TH OURT: ~
· ,/ u'" ~. J.
Dist:
James F. Carl, Esquire, P.O, Box 5300, Harrisburg, PA 17110-0300
Kevin M. La Croix, 168 Dogwood Drive, Swansboro, NC 28584
April R. Phillips, 1101 Claremont Road, Carlisle, PA 17013
JULIE S. PHILLIPS,
Plaintiff
V.
APRIL R. PHILLIPS and
KEVIN M. LA CROIX,
Defendants
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
NO. 04-3697 CIVIL TERM
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
IN CUSTODY
CUSTODY CONCILIATION SUMMARY REPORT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH CUMBERLAND COUNTY RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
'19'15.3-8, the undersigned Custody Conciliator submits the following report:
1. The pertinent information concerning the child who is the subject of this
litigation is as follows:
NAME,
Calvin Mitchell La Croix
DATE OF BIRTH
CURRENTLYIN THE CUSTODY OF
MaternaIGrandmother
April 23, 1997
2. A Custody Conciliation Conference was held on September 7, 2004 following
Maternal Grandmother's filing of a Complaint for Custody on July 28, 2004. Attending the
Conference were: the Maternal Grandmother, Julie S. Phillips, and her counsel, James F.
Carl, Esquire. The Mother, April R. Phillips, is believed to be incarcerated.
3. Maternal Grandmother seeks an Order confirming the status quo "custody
arrangement" which she represents to be as reflected in the Stipulation signed by the
Defendant/Mother. Maternal Grandmother reports that the child has been raised by her for
the vast majority of his life. She presents a handwritten and a notarized copy of a document
providing temporary guardianship of the child to the Maternal Grandmother for purposes of
medical or emergency services for the subject child. Additionally, her counsel presents a
Stipulated Custody Agreement executed by the Plaintiff and the Defendant/April R. Phillips.
The same Stipulated Custody Agreement was provided to Defendant/Kevin M. La Croix.
However, he has not returned a signed document. The Stipulated Custody Agreement
provides, inter alia, that its validity is not contingent upon Court approval and prays the
Court enter an Order for Custody. The Plaintiff attempted to serve the Defendant/Mother by
restricted delivery mail at 1101 Claremont Road. However, the green card came back
signed by someone other than the Defendant, presumably someone on staff at Cumberland
County Prison. With regard to service on the Defendant/Kevin M. La Croix, Plaintiff
produced a letter which had been sent to him in North Carolina but was returned marked
"Attempted, not known." Therefore, service was incomplete as to the Defendant/Father.
Maternal Grandmother reports that she is providing all of the care and supervision for the
child as well as attending to his medical and psychiatric needs. The child is enrolled in East
Pennsboro Township School District.
NO. 04-3697 CIVIL TERM
4. The Conciliator recommends a Temporary Order confirming the terms of the
September 30, 2002 Guardianship and July 30, 2004 custodial arrangement between the
Defendant/Mother and the Plaintiff/Maternal Grandmother. The Conciliator recommends
that the attached Order requires Plaintiffs counsel to serve the attached Order on both
parties and file a return of service when this has been completed.
~'elis~a Peel Greevy, Esquire
Custody Conciliator
:235034