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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00-00260NMMICHAEL SMITH IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PLAINTIFF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 2000-260 CIVIL ACTION LAW MCC - -, - ?_y? n MICHELLE SMITH r- -C> °U -ar IN CUSTODY -, DEFENDAN T -n ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, Wednesday, June 08, 2011 , upon consideration of the attached Com plaint, 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, July 05, 2011 _ at 10:30 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. 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 fC'oPY mat fPd ? - ?, s??day .ConciGtc7?r OK$ TAB OM CSC Nu ULAKIS Michelle L Sommer, Esquire Attorng LD. No.: 93034 2 west High Street Carlisle, Penn ylvania 17013 (717) 249-0900 tZ 2.3 P tj 3' r? r?1t`t_y14 f,l < j t ? Y. 1. MICHAEL SMITH, IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Plaintiff CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA V. CASE NO. 00-260 CIVIL TERM MICHELLE SMITH, n/k/a, MICHELLE FOLTZ CIVIL ACTION - LAW Defendant IN CUSTODY AND NOW this 23rd day of June, 2011, comes the Defendant, Michelle Smith, now known as, Michelle Foltz, by and through her undersigned counsel, Michelle L. Sommer, of Abom & Kutulakis, L.L.P., and respectfully sets forth the following Answer to Plaintiff's Petition for Modification of a Custody Order/Petition for Contempt and Defendants New Matter and avers the following: 1. Admitted. 2. Admitted in part and Denied in part. It is admitted that the Minor Child has told the Mother this, on or around, the middle of May, when Father first made contact with the Minor Child. However; the Minor Child has told Mother that she did this for "spite" because she was angry with her Mother and now has no desire to live with her Father. It is specifically denied as the Minor Child had now indicated that since she has been attending the Warwick School District her whole life she would like to graduate from there with her friends. 3. Admitted in part and Denied in part. It is admitted that Father is currently working full-time for ISA as he indicated at the Domestic Relations Conference on June 10, 2011. It is specifically denied that Father has a "stable home" as it is believed and therefore averred that the location of Father's home is in a very bad location in the City of Harrisburg. 4. Mother is without any specific information, knowledge, or belief to answer the Defendant's averment. 5. Denied. It is specifically denied that Father and the Minor Child have a "good Relationship" and that they talk by telephone every day. By way of further answer, Father's last conversation with the Minor Child occurred on May 18, 2011. Until recently, Father hasn't seen the Minor Child since she was five (5) years old. 6. Denied. It is specifically denied that it would be in the best interest of the Minor Child if Father would be granted Primary Custody since he as not seen her since she was five (5) years old, nor has he made any attempts to be part of her life until just recently. 7. Admitted. DEFENDANT'S ANSWER TO PETITION FOR CONTEMPT 8. The averment within this paragraph is a conclusion of law to which no responsive pleasing is required. 9. Denied. It is specifically denied that Mother has denied Father his period of custody provided in the January 19, 2001, Court Order. By way of further answer, Mother has lived in the same house with the same phone number since July 2001; it was Father who has decided to not exercised his periods of custody due to his incarceration, which is no fault of Mother and when his period of incarceration was completed he made no attempts to contact Mother to begin his visitation schedule with the Minor Child. 10. Denied. It is specially denied that Father has failed to exercise his requests for visitation of the Minor Child. In fact as previously stated, Mother has lived in the same house with the same phone number since July 2001 and he never attempted to contact her to reinstate his visitation after he was released from prison. 11. Denied. It is specifically denied that Father did not have Mother's address as he was provided Mother's address when they appeared for Father's Contempt Hearings on several occasions before judge Turgeon; therefore, Father was clearly aware of the Minor Child's address in Lancaster. 12. Denied. It is specifically denied that Mother refused to allow Father to speak. to the Minor Child. In fact as previously stated, Mother has lived in the same house with the same phone number since July 2001 and Father was provided Mother's address and phone number when they appeared for Father's Contempt Hearings on several occasions before judge Turgeon; therefore, Father was clearly aware of the Minor Child's address in Lancaster. By way of further answer, Father has only called Minor Child one time, during his eleven (11) year absence from her life, on or about September 2001; at approximately 12:30 a.m. and Father appeared to be intoxicated so Mother refused to allow Father to speak to her. 13. Denied. It is specifically denied that Mother failed to provide Father with any information regarding the Minor Child's education or medical services as he never made such a request. By way of further answer, Father has shared legal custody of the Minor Child based on the April 4, 2000, Order of Court and can request educational and medical information on his own through the Minor Child's school and doctors. DEFENDANT'S NEW MATTER - PETITION FOR MOnTHCAT ON AND NOW this 23rd day of June, 2011, comes the Defendant, Michelle Smith, now known as, Michelle Foltz, by and through her undersigned counsel, Michelle L. Sommer, of Abom & Kutulakis, L.L.P., and respectfully sets forth the following New Matter in a Petition for Modification and avers the following: 14. Defendant is Michelle Smith, now known as, Michelle Foltz, who was the Defendant in the above captioned action between the parties. 15. Plaintiff is Michael Smith, who was the Plaintiff in the above captioned action between the parties. 16. Petitioner and Respondent are the parents of Brittany Marie Smith, born September 6, 1995. 17. On April 4, 2000, this Honorable Court entered an Order of Court signed by judge Edgar B. Bayley based upon a custody conciliation report. (A true and correct copy of the Order of Court is attached as "Exhibit A'? a. The Order of Court states that Mother and Father will have Shared Legal Custody of the Minor Child. 18. On January 19, 2001, this Honorable Court entered an Order of Court signed by judge Edgar B. Bayley based upon a custody conciliation report. (A true and correct copy of the Order of Court is attached as "Exhibit B'?. a. Physical Custody was modified at that time. Mother was given Primary Physical Custody and Father was to have Partial Physical Custody in accordance with the following schedule: i. Every Friday, the Mother shall transport the Child to the Father's residence at 7:00 a.m. and the Father shall have Custody of the Child until 1:30 p.m., when the Father shall transport the Child to the maternal grandparent's residence. ii. Every Friday, the Father shall pick up the Child at the Mother's residence between 9:45 and 10:00 p.m. and retain custody of the Child through Saturday at 1:30 p.m., when the parties shall exchange custody of the Child at the Capitol City Mall Sears Auto Center. iii. Every Saturday, the Father shall pick up the Child at the Mother's residence between 9:45 and 10:00 p.m. and shall retain custody through Monday at 8:00 p.m. when the Father shall transfer custody of the Child at the Mother at the Child at the Capitol City Mall Sears Auto Center. 19. Father appeared out of the blue, on or about May 20, 2011, and Mother became concerned Father would take Minor Child back to Dauphin County unexpectedly due to the demands he was making at that time. 20. Mother is not opposed to visitation; however, the existing Physical Custody Order from January 2001 cannot remain in effect due to the Child's age and distance between the parties; as well as, the time that has elapsed between the last visit Father and the Minor Child had prior to his incarceration. 21. It is believed and therefore averred that a new relationship needs to be introduced gradually so that the parties can establish the Father-Daughter bond that has been lost over the last eleven (11) years; accordingly, a gradual schedule needs to be implemented in order to allow that bond to grow. 22. It is believed and therefore averred that Father needs to be patient with this schedule as the Minor Child is active in several extracurricular activities as she is active in school sports and he will need to work around her practice and event schedule through the year. WHEREFORE, the Defendant/Mother respectfully requests this Honorable Court to dismiss Plaintiff/Father's Petition for Contempt and direct that the parties implement a gradual custody schedule that would allow the Minor Child to be re-introduced to her Father slowly and allow a schedule to be implemented around the Minor Child's extracurricular activities. DATE r Respectfully submitted, ABOM & KUTULAKIS, L.L.P. F?- Michelle L. So r Supreme Court ID #93034 2 West High Street Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013 (717) 249-0900 Attorney for Defendant VERIFICATION I, MICHELLE SMITH, now known as, MICHELLE FOLTZ, verify that the statements made in this Answer to Plaintiffs Petition for Modification and Contempt and Defendant's New Matter 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. Date CP Z 1 )Lp MICHELL FOLTZ MICHAEL SMITH, Plaintiff VS. MICHELLE SMITH, Defendant : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA NO. 00-260 CIVIL TERM CIVIL ACTION - LAW IN CUSTODY FILE COPY omm W caw AND NOW, this 0 61 day of A consideration of the attached Cust 2000, upon ody Conc liation Report, it is ordered and directed as follows: 1. The Father, Michael Smith, and the Mother, Michelle Smith, shall have shared legal custody of Brittany Marie Smith, born September 5, 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 Child's general well-being including, but not limited to, all decisions regarding her health, education and religion. 2. The Mother shall have primary physical custody of the Child. 3. The Father shall have partial physical custody of the Child every week from Sunday at 9:00 a.m. through Monday at 8:00 p.m., beginning April 2, 2000. 4. The parties shall share or alternate having custody of the Child on holidays as follows: A. CLEUSTMAS: The Christmas holiday shall be divided into Segment A, which shall run from Christmas Eve at 12:00 noon through Christmas Day at 12:00 noon, and Segment B, which shall run from Christmas Day at 12:00 noon through December 26 at 12:00 noon. The Father shall have custody o.' ' the Child during Segment A in even numbered years and during Segment B in odd numbered years. The Mother shall have custody of the Child during Segment A in odd numbered years and during Segment B in even numbered years. B. NEW YEARS: The New Years holiday shall be divided into Segment A, which shall run from New Years Eve at 12:00 noon through New Years Day at 12:00 noon, and Segment B, which shall run from New Years Day at 12:00 noon through January 2 at 12:00 noon. The Father shall have custody of the Child during Segment A in even numbered years and during Segment B in odd numbered years. The Mother shall have custody of the Child during Segment A in odd numbered years and during Segment B in even numbered years. For purposes of this paragraph, the entire New Years holiday shall be deemed to fall within the same year as New Years Eve. C. FASTER: On Easter Sunday in 20001 the Mother shall have custody of the Child until 4:00 p.m. and the Father shall have custody of the Child from 4:00 p.m. on Easter through termination of his regular period of weekly custody. In subsequent years, the Mother shall have custody of the Child on Easter Sunday until 3:00 p.m. and the Father shall have custody of the Child on Easter beginning at 3:00 p.m. and continuing through termination of his regular period of weekly custody. D. THANKSGIVING: In every year, the Mother shall have custody of the Child on Thanksgiving Day until 3:00 p.m. and the Father shall have custody of the Child on Thanksgiving Day from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. E. MEMORIAL DAY: The Father shall have custody of the Child on Memorial Day in even numbered years from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and the Mother shall have custody of the Child on Memorial Day in odd numbered years from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. F. IMEPENDENCE DAY (Observed): The Father shall have custody of the Child on Independence Day in odd numbered years from 9:00 a.m. until after the fireworks and the Mother shall have custody of the Child in even numbered years from 9:00 a.m. until after the fireworks. G. LABOR DAY: The Father shall have custody of the Child every year on Labor Day until 8:00 p.m. H. MOT'S DAY/FATHER'S DAY: The Mother shall have custody of the Child every year on Mother's Day until 1:00 p.m. and, the Father shall have custody of the Child every year on Father's Day in accordance with the regular custody schedule. 1. The holiday custody schedule shall supersede and take precedence over the regular custody schedule. J. In the event the Father's period of holiday custody falls immediately preceding or following his regular period of custody, the Father's holiday/regular period of custody shall run continuously. 5. Each party shall be entitled to have custody of the Child for 1 uninterrupted week during each summer school vacation upon providing at least 30 days advance notice to the other party. The party providing notice first shall be entitled to preference of his or her selection of vacation dates. 6. The Father shall be responsible to provide all transportation for exchanges of custody unless otherwise arranged by the parties. 7. In the event the Father is unavailable to provide care during his periods of custody with the Child, the Father shall contact the Mother to offer her the opportunity to care for the Child before contacting third party caregivers. 8. This Order is entered pursuant to an agreement of the parties at a Custody Conciliation Conference. The parties may modify the provisions of this Order by mutual consent. In the absence of mutual consent, the terms of this Order shall control. BY THE COURT, S J. cc: Michael J. Pykosh, Esquire - Counsel for Father Bryan S. Walk, Esquire - Counsel for Mother TRUE COPY FRONV. In Testimony v;h:r, oI, i here unto set my hand SW the seal of said Courts at Carkl:;, Pa. ' h day of.RP.RIL.., Prothonota MICHAEL SMITH, IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF Plaintiff : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA VS. NO. 00-260 CIVIL TERM MICHELLE SMITH, CIVIL ACTION - LAW Defendant IN CUSTODY CUSTODY CONCILIATION SUMMARY REPORT 1N 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 Child who is the subject of this litigation is as follows: NAME DATE OF BIRTH CURRENTLY IN CUSIIODY OF Brittany Marie Smith September 5, 1995 Mother 2. A Custody Conciliation Conference was he'd on March 28, 2000, with the following individuals in attendance: The Father, Michael Smith, with his counsel, Michael J. Pykosh, Esquire, and the Mother, Michelle Smith, with her counsel, Bryan Walk, Esquire. 3. The parties agreed to entry of an order in the form as attached. fi7 Date Dawn S. Sunday, Esquire Custody Conciliator MICHAEL SMITH, Plaintiff VS. MICHELLE SMITH, Defendant IN THE OOURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA NO. 00-260 CIVIL TERM CIVIL ACTION - LAW IN CUSTODY ORDER OF COURT ANDr th. G 1 day of ?GL rJ t,t, consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Rep rt, it isord vupon and directed as follows: 1. The prior Order of this Ccurt dated September 6, 2000 is vacated and replaced with this Order. 2. The prior Order of this Court dated April 4, 2000 shall continue in effect with the exception of paragraphs 3 and 61 which are modified by this Order. 3. Beginning Friday, January 19, 2001, the Father shall have partial physical custody of the Child in accordance with the following schedule: A. Every Friday, the Mother shall transport the Child to the Father's residence at 7:00 a.m. and the Father shall have custody of the Child until 1:30 p.m., when the Father shall transport the Child to the maternal grandparent's residence. B. Every Friday, the Father shall pick up the Child at the Mother's residence between 9:45 and 10:00 p.m. and retain custody of the Child through Saturday at 1:30 p.m., when the parties shall exchange custody of the Child at the Capitol City Mall Sears Auto Center. C. Every Saturday, the Father shall pick up the Child at the Mother's residence between 9:45 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and shall retain custody through Monday at 8:00 p.m. when the Father shall transfer custody of the Child to the Mother at the Capitol City Mall Sears Auto Center. 4. The parties shall jointly obtain instructions from the Child's physician regarding treatment of the Child's allergies, including limiting or prohibiting the Child's contact with animals during periods of custody with both parties. EXHIBIT 5. This Oder is entered pursuant to an agreement of the parties at a Custody Conciliation Conference. The parties may modify the provisions of this Cyder by mutual consent. In the absence of mutual consent, the terms of this Order shall control. BY THE COURT, .S Edgar B. ayley, J, cc: Michael J. Pykosh, Esquire - Counsel for Father Bryan S. Walk, Esquire - Counsel for Mother In and. T'l? *3t.,1, 1 0?s..?f y ha, " tea. Prothonota MICHAEL SMITH, Plaintiff VS. MICHELLE SMITH, Defendant PRIOR JUDGE: Edgar B. Bayley IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA NO. 00-260 CIVIL TERM CIVIL ACTION - LAW IN CUSTODY CUSTODY CONCILIATION SUMMARY REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CUMERLAND COUNTY RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 1915.3-8, 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: DATE OF BIRTH CURRENTLY IN CUSMDY OF Brittany Marie Smith September 5, 1995 Mother/Father 2. A Custody Conciliation Ccnference was held on January 16, 2001, with the following individuals in attendance: The Father, Michael Smith, with his counsel, Michael J. Pykosh, Esquire, and the Mother, Michelle Smith, with her counsel, Bryan S. Walk, Esquire. 3. The parties agreed to entry of an Order in the form as attached. Date r f?? Dawn S. Sunday, Esquire Custody Conciliator AND NOW, this 23rd day of June, 2011, I, Michelle L. Sommer, Esquire, of Abom & Kutulakis, L.L.P., hereby certify that I did serve a true and correct copy of the foregoing Answer to Plaintiffs Petition for Modification and Contempt and Defendant's New Matter, upon the Plaintiff, through his attorney, by depositing, or causing to be deposited, same in the United States Mail, First-class mail, postage prepaid addressed to the following: Sheri D. Coover, Esquire 44 South Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Attorney for the Plaintif Respectfully submitted, AB0M & KUTULATaS, L.L.P. i Michelle L. So er, Esquire Supreme Court ID #93034 2 West High Street Carlisle, PA 17013 (717) 249-0900 Attorney for Defendant 3 MICHAEL SMITH IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF Plaintiff CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA vs. 2000-260 CIVIL ACTION LAW Ml CHELLE FOLTZ Defendant IN CUSTODY C-) ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this S day of GIG L1,S 2011, upon consideration of the attached Custody Conciliation Report, it is ordered and directed as follows: 1. The prior Order of this Court dated January 19, 2001 is vacated and replaced with this Order. 2. The Mother, Michelle Foltz, and the Father, Michael Smith, shall have shared legal custody of Brittany Smith, born September 5, 1995. Major decisions concerning the Child including, but not necessarily limited to, her 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 the Child's best interest. Neither party shall impair the other party's rights to shared legal custody of the Child. Neither party shall attempt to alienate the affections of the Child from the other party. Each party shall notify the other of any activity or circumstance concerning the Child 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. 3. The Mother shall have primary physical of the Child. 4. The Father shall have partial physical custody of the Child in accordance with the following gradually increasing schedule: A. The Father shall have custody of the Child on Friday, July 29, 2011 frbm 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. B. The Father shall have custody of the Child every Wednesday `and Thursday, beginning August 3 and ending on August 18, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.a C. The Father shall have custody of the Child from August 24, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. through August 25, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. and from August 31, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. through September 1, 20: 1 at 4:00 p.m. D. Beginning on September 9, 2011 and continuing thereafter on alternating weekends, the Father shall have custody of the Child from Friday at 7:30 p.m. through Sunday at 7:00 p.m. E. The Father may also have additional periods of custody with the Child as arranged by agreement between the parties. F. The Father shall provide transportation for all exchanges of custody until the Father's custodial periods are expanded to alternating weekends. For alternating weekend periods of custody, the parent receiving custody of the Child shall be responsible to provide transportation for the exchange of custody. 5. The parties acknowledge that the agreed upon arrangements for alternating weekend periods of custody are based on the understanding that the Father will generally have off work during his periods of weekend custody. In the event that the Father is routinely working during periods of custody, during which the parties shall make arrangements for the Child to be with either the Mother or the maternal grandparents, on a frequent basis, counsel for either party may contact the conciliator to schedule a telephone conference to address the issue of the Father's unavailability on his custodial weekends. 6. The parties shall share having custody of the Child for the Christmas holiday every year, with the Father having custody from Christmas Eve at 11:00 a.m. through Christmas Day at 11:00 a.m. and the Mother having custody from Christmas Day at 11:00 a.m. through December 26 at 11:00 a.m. 7. The parties shall share having custody of the Child on the remaining holidays as arranged by agreement. 8. The parties may have periods of vacation custody with the Child as arranged by agreement between the parties. 9. This Order is entered pursuant to an agreement of the parties at a custody conciliation conference. The parties may modify the provisions of this Order by mutual consent. In the absence of mutual consent, the terms of this Order shall control. BY T OURT, J. cc: Sheri D. Coover, Esquire - Counsel for Father Michelle L. Sommer, Esquire - Counsel for Mother yes OOP g? ? p? I MICHAEL SMITH IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF Plaintiff CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA vs. 2000-260 CIVIL ACTION LAW MICHELLE FOLTZ Defendant IN CUSTODY Prior Judge: Edgar B. Bayley 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 Child who is the subject of this litigation is as follows: NAME DATE OF BIRTH CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY OF Brittany Smith September 5, 1995 Mother 2. A custody conciliation conference was held on July 26, 2011, with the following individuals in attendance: the Father, Michael Smith, with his counsel, Sheri D. Coover, Esquire, and the Mother, Michelle Foltz, with her counsel, Michelle L. Sommer, Esquire. 3. The parties agreed to entry of an Order in the form as attached. el? ," d - ;off! Date Dawn S. Sunday, Esquire Custody Conciliator