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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-23-12IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ~o CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ~, x IN RE: ESTATE OF DAVID H. CLOUSER ci ~~ :. ~~G-,'-: ORPHAN'S CO~ NO. 21-2009-02. ~ '-'i ~' STATEMENT OF MATTERS COMPLAINED OF ON APPEAL The issues before the court on March 21, 2012, were: a. the payment of rent which the court had previously ordered to be held in abeyance until resolution of other estate issues; b. a request for contributions to the rental of storage units; c. an unnecessary request for a Notice deadline since Debra Houseman had already agreed to put the house on the market; and d. a request for attorney fees. 2. Without a hearing the court ordered Debra Houseman to vacate her residence on or before July 2, 2012. 3. Over objection of Debra Houseman's counsel to the order to vacate, the court simply stated that it was the only way this estate would ever be settled. 4. Under the laws of descent in Pennsylvania, and by virtue of the Will of David H. Clouser, Debra Houseman is a joint owner of the property where she resides. 5. As the legal owner of the residence, even if a joint owner, she cannot be deprived of that property, or the beneficial use thereof, without due process of law. 6. Debra Houseman was never given an opportunity to be heard. Even in the last hearing, the court stopped the proceedings and issued an order before Debra Housemen had an opportunity to testify or introduce evidence. 1`.. j i~~~Y -.1 c__. c r N ca -~ ~r W W w i I ~,. ~-, ~-~ l~ 1[f 1 ,Cs !-~ r~ t;,l~ O ~.~ ,~ 7. The deprivation of Debra Houseman's property rights without due process of law violates both the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 8. Even a tenant, under Pennsylvania's Landlord Tenant Act, has more rights regarding due process than those afforded to Debra Houseman b y the court. 9. The Petitioner, Douglas Clouser, has legal remedies he could pursue through Partition of the property. He never sought that remedy, nor did he request that Debra Houseman be removed from the property. 10. The court's order of March 21, 2012, is unconstitutional, and is an abuse of the court's discretion. 11. Pa. Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 313, allows appellant to appeal this order because of the irreparable harm it will cause appellant. Respectfully submitted, R. Mark Thomas, Esquire