HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-05
IN RE:
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYL VANIA
: ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION
: NO. 21-03-936 A..c( #0. ~/~OY-.30/
ELEANOR Ii. COOLIDGE
STATEMENT OF MATTERS COMPLAINED OF ON APPEAL
AND NOW, comes the Petitioner, Julia Elizabeth Coolidge-Stolz, M.D., by and through
her counsel. R. Mark Thomas, Esquire. and pursuant to this court's order of June 20, 2005, files
a Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal:
ij
ISSUES RAISED ON APPEAL
I. It was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to deny Petitioner's request for a
trial b,y jury under 20 Pa.C.S. ~ 777(c).
2. The court erred in finding that a confidential relationship did not exist between
the.decedent and her son. Respondent Thomas E. Coolidge. Such a finding is not supported by
the cvidence.
3. The court erred in finding that the respondents did not receive a substantial
benelit under the Will dated December 8. 2003. Such a finding is not supported by the evidence.
4. The court erred in its linding that the decedent did not suffer from a weakened
intellect for a significant period of time prior to and/or on the date of execution of the Will dated
Decembcr 8. 2003. Such a finding is not supported by the evidence.
5. The court's characterization of Petitioner's "unmeritorious" attempt to have a
guardian apP0inted lor hcr mother reveals bias of judge against Petitioner in light of fact that
only a few minutes of testimony were presented and Petitioner was not afforded opportunity to
testify.
\{ '1--
6. The court's finding that Petitioner's relationship with the decedent was less than
harmonious is not supported by the evidence.
7. In light of all of the testimony and documentary evidence submitted, it was an
abuse or discretion for the court to find that Petitioner, Petitioner's witnesses and Petitioner's
documentary evidence were not credible. Although the court makes no credibility holdings in its
Adjudication and Decree, such ajudgment of the lack of credibility of Petitioner's case must be
inferred Ji'om the tenor of the Adjudication and Decree,
WHEREFORE, Petitioner intends to raise these Issues In her appeal of the court's
Adjudication and Decree.
Respectfully submitted,
kMJ~
R. Mark Thomas, Esquire
10# 41301
101 S. Market Street
Mechanicsburg, P A 17055
(717) 796-2100
.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
L R. Mark Thomas. Esquire. hereby certify that I have served a true and correct
copy of the within document on the following by depositing a true and correct copy of the same
in the U.S. Mail at Mechanicsburg. Pennsylvania. First Class Postage pre-paid, which service
satisties the requirements of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, addressed to:
James D. Flower, Jr., Esq.
Attorney for Respondents
26 West High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
Robert M. Frey, Esq.
Attorney tor the Estate of Eleanor U. Coolidge
5 South Hanover Street
Carlisle. P A 17013
~J~
R. Mark Thomas, Esquire
101 S. Market St.
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
717-796-2100
Dale: July 5.2005