Haire, C. v. Haire, M. ( 2015 )

J-A33013-14
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
CORETTA R. HAIRE IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
MARK V. HAIRE
Appellant No. 688 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Decree of February 7, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Domestic Relations at No.: March Term 2005 No. 8565
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., WECHT, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY WECHT, J.: FILED JANUARY 20, 2015
Mark Haire (“Husband”) appeals the trial court’s February 7, 2014
divorce decree and equitable distribution order. For the reasons set forth
below, Husband has waived the issues set forth in his brief. Accordingly,
Husband is not entitled to any form of relief. Moreover, for the reasons set
forth herein, we grant Coretta Haire (“Wife”) relief in the form of additional
counsel fees. We remand this case to the trial court for the limited purpose
of setting reasonable counsel fees to be paid by Husband.
On April 1, 2005, Coretta Haire (“Wife”) filed a complaint in divorce, in
which Wife included claims for equitable distribution, alimony, and counsel
fees. Husband filed an answer, in which he also raised claims for equitable
____________________________________________
*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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distribution, alimony, and counsel fees. The matter proceeded initially
before a Permanent Master in Divorce, who filed a report addressing the
claims raised by the relevant parties. Thereafter, Husband filed a praecipe
for a trial de novo. On October 16, 2012, the trial court held a de novo
hearing. On 2/7/2014, the trial court entered a divorce order, in which the
court disposed of all of the parties’ economic claims. In that order, the trial
court summarized the basic factual history of this case in its divorce decree
in pertinent part as follows:
The parties were married on November 22, 1997, and their final
date of separation was March 25, 2005, approximately seven-
and-one-half years later. The parties also separated in 2002,
but reconciled thereafter, in addition to a few other brief periods
of separation.
These parties are the parents of three children: [M.H.], born [in
June 1993]; [D.H.], born [in February 2000]; and [Ma.H,] born
[in June 2002]. Wife is the custodial parent of the two younger
children, and she is the recipient of a child support order for the
two children [] in the amount of $768.88 monthly, with arrears
totaling approximately $2,500.00.
Wife was born on June 17, 1970 and [was at the time of the
hearing] forty-three years old. Wife testified that she was
previously employed as a certified nursing assistant, and her
greatest annual earnings from that position totaled
approximately $35,000.00 gross income. As a result of an injury
sustained in July, 2012, Wife testified that she was unemployed
and not receiving any income, although she had a Worker’s
Compensation claim that was pending. Wife described her
injuries as upper neck and middle back injuries. Wife stated
[that] friends were assisting her [in] meeting her living
expenses, pending the resolution of her Worker’s Compensation
claim.
Husband was born on February 14, 1967, and [was at the time
of the hearing] almost forty-seven years old. Since June 2001,
Husband has been continuously employed by the Water
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Department of the City of Philadelphia. Husband described his
position as “water repair,” and stated that he was assigned to
the shut off unit. His base salary is $35,000.00. Husband
stated [that] in 2011, he earned $51,021.00 gross income from
his employment with the City, which included his overtime pay,
which amount was consistent with his previous earnings from his
job with the Water Department.
Clearly, even when Wife was employed, Husband’s earnings
exceeded that of Wife, apparently as a result of his overtime
pay. Unlike Wife who does not have retirement benefits other
than her participation in Social Security, Husband is a participant
in the multitude of benefits from his employment with the City of
Philadelphia, including retirement and health insurance benefits.
Wife resides at 6239 Tackawanna Street, Philadelphia, with the
two minor children of the marriage. Wife is the custodial parent
of the minor children, who attend public school. Wife pays a
monthly mortgage on the Tackawanna Street property in the
amount of $805.00, which amount includes real estate taxes and
insurance.
Husband testified that he resides [in a home located] at 8661
Williams Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his brother,
Cleveland Haire, Cleveland’s wife, and Cleveland’s two children.
This property is not subject to any mortgage. Wife disputed that
Husband resided at 8661 Williams Avenue, and testimony was
presented on this issue.
The parties’ oldest child, Mark, Jr., testified that he had lived
with Wife until he was [seventeen] years old and then moved
into the basement of 8661 Williams Avenue with Husband,
Husband’s girlfriend Dena, and their child: Malachi. Mark Jr.
further testified that several months prior to the [de novo]
hearing, Husband, Dena, Malachi and he moved to 4120 Stenton
Avenue, which is a property owned by Dena’s father. Mark Jr.
stated that Husband’s brother, Cleveland Haire, along with
Cleveland’s family, resided in the upstairs unit at 8661 Williams
Avenue.
Cleveland Haire, Husband’s brother, testified that Husband does
reside in the basement apartment. Cleveland further stated that
since 2010, Cleveland’s family has resided in the upstairs
apartment. Cleveland testified that he does not pay rent to
Husband, but he pays all of the utilities for the property, so
Husband has no utility expense for his basement apartment.
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Cleveland and his wife are both employed by the federal
government.
Husband stated that he primarily resides in the basement of
Williams Avenue, although he frequently stays with Dena and his
two sons (Mark, Jr. and Malachi) at the Stenton Avenue
property. Husband acknowledged that his brother paid all of the
utility expenses. Husband testified that he failed to pay the real
estate taxes on the Williams Avenue property because of his
legal fees for this litigation.
Order, 2/7/2014, at 2-4. With respect to the property located at 8661
Williams Avenue, the trial court set forth the following discussion:
This property was purchased for $46,000.00 on June 11, 1997,
approximately five months prior to the parties’ marriage on
November 22, 1997. The parties had already been living
together for some years at the time of this purchase. As
stipulated, Husband purchased the property with $46,000.00
that he received from a Worker’s Compensation commutation
settlement, which Husband also received before the marriage.
This property was not subject to a mortgage, either at the time
of purchase or at the time of the [divorce] hearing. At the
hearing before [the trial court], Husband stipulated that the
property was marital. However, during the proceedings before
the Master, the title and ownership of this property was a
contentious issue [].
At the time of its original acquisition, the property was titled in
the name of “Lynette McMichael, trustee for [Husband].” On
March 11, 1999, which was after the date of marriage, a new
deed was recorded whereby title was placed in the name of
“Lynette McMichael, trustee for [Husband], and [Wife].” The
language found in the deed, this second indenture provided that
said property was held:
“IN TRUST, nevertheless to let, demise and manage the
premises hereinafter described, to receive and collect the
rents and profits therefrom and after the payment of
taxes, cost of repair and maintenance, insurance,
mortgage interest and amortization and all proper and
legal charges, to take, appropriate and pay over the whole
of the net income to [Husband], and [Wife], for and during
the term of their natural lives.
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FURTHER, the trustee shall have the power to sell, convey,
mortgage or otherwise encumber the said premises, clear
and discharge of the herein created trust, and to execute,
acknowledge and deliver such deeds, . . . upon such terms
and for such price or amounts as the said trustee shall
determine in her sole discretion. . . .
AND, upon the death of the said Lynette McMichael,
Trustee title to the aforementioned premises or the
proceeds of sale thereof shall vest in [Husband], and
[Wife], their heirs and assigns in fee simple, free and
discharged of and from any and all trusts whatsoever.”
* * *
During the proceedings conducted by the Master, the status of
the deed of record for this property was questioned with respect
to whether the deed dated March 11, 1999 had been replaced by
a subsequent deed executed and recorded without Wife’s
agreement. At the request of the Master in Divorce, the
Administrative Order of December 8, 2010 was entered which
provided that “Husband shall produce documentation relating to
any actions taken by himself or by Lynette McMichael for
purposes of setting aside the existing deed for 8661 Williams
Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated March 11, 1999,
whereby that property is titled in the name of Lynette McMichael
as trustee for Husband and Wife.” At the Master’s request,
another Administrative Order was entered on March 11, 2011,
which granted leave for Husband to join his sister as an
Additional Defendant, or in the alternative leave was granted for
her to intervene in this manner. That Order further provided
that: “It shall be understood that if Lynette McMichael fails to
perfect her claim to the aforesaid real estate in this action by the
expiration of sixty (60) days following the date hereof, premises
8661 Williams Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shall be
regarded as marital property in its entirety, to the exclusion of
any equitable interest therein by Lynette McMichael.”
No action was ever taken by Ms. McMichael as a consequence of
that Order. Therefore, in keeping with the terms thereof, the
Master treated the Williams Avenue premises as marital property
that is subject to equitable distribution. At the hearing before
[the trial court], Husband stipulated that this entire
property was marital and subject to equitable distribution,
which is clearly consistent with all of the evidence in this case.
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Order, 2/7/2014, at 10-12 (emphasis added). In the February 7, 2014
order, the trial court established an equitable distribution plan, the details of
which are immaterial to our disposition of this case.
On March 5, 2014, Husband filed a notice of appeal. On March 7,
2014, the trial court directed Husband to file a concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) on or before March
28, 2014. Husband had filed an action in bankruptcy, which he purportedly
believed stayed all active legal burdens and proceedings, including his
obligation to file timely a concise statement. Thus, Husband did not file his
concise statement within the trial court’s deadline. The initial bankruptcy
action was dismissed due to some defect in the bankruptcy filing. However,
Husband filed a second bankruptcy action on April 9, 2014, which he again
believed stayed all legal proceedings, including this appeal. Despite
believing that the proceedings were on hold, Husband nonetheless filed a
facially tardy concise statement on May 12, 2014. On June 11, 2014, the
trial court issued an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
Presently, Husband raises two questions for our review:
1. Was the [trial court’s] holding that 8661 William Avenue[,]
Philadelphia, PA 19150, was marital property subject to
equitable distribution [] an error?
2. Further and in the alternative, [was the trial court’s]
calculation of the value of the marital property portion of
8661 William Avenue[,] Philadelphia, PA 19150 [] an error[?]
Brief for Husband at 5.
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The glaring and difficult question in this case is whether Husband’s
filing of bankruptcy proceedings stayed the instant appeal such that the
facial tardiness of his Rule 1925(b) statement could be excused. However,
because Husband has waived the two issues that he has raised in this appeal
for different reasons, we need not address the more complicated question.
Thus, for ease of disposition, it does not matter if Husband’s issues are
waived due to an untimely Rule 1925(b) statement.
Rule 302(a) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure states:
“Issues not raised in the [trial] court are waived and cannot be raised for the
first time on appeal.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); Willoughby v. Willoughby, 862
A.2d 654, 659 (Pa. Super. 2004); Weir v. Weir, 631 A.2d 650 (Pa. Super.
1993). Our Supreme Court has explained the vital necessity of preserving
an issue in the first instance in the trial court as follows:
Issue preservation is foundational to proper appellate review.
Our rules of appellate procedure mandate that ‘[i]ssues not
raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the
first time on appeal.’ Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). By requiring that an
issue be considered waived if raised for the first time on appeal,
our courts ensure that the trial court that initially hears a dispute
has had an opportunity to consider the issue. Lincoln
Philadelphia Realty Assoc. v. Bd. of Revision of Taxes of
Philadelphia, 758 A.2d 1178, 1186 (Pa. 2000). This
jurisprudential mandate is also grounded upon the principle that
a trial court, like an administrative agency, must be given the
opportunity to correct its errors as early as possible. Wing v.
Com. Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 436 A.2d 179,
181 (Pa. 1981). Related thereto, we have explained in detail the
importance of this preservation requirement as it advances the
orderly and efficient use of our judicial resources. See
generally Dilliplaine v. Lehigh Valley Trust Co., 322 A.2d
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114, 116–17 (Pa. 1974). Finally, concepts of fairness and
expense to the parties are implicated as well.
In re F.C. III, 2 A.3d 1201, 1211-12 (Pa. 2010) (citations modified).
Moreover, it is axiomatic that “[i]n order to preserve an issue for
appellate review, a party must make a timely and specific objection at the
appropriate stage of the proceedings before the trial court. Failure to timely
object to a basic and fundamental error will result in waiver of that issue.”
Thompson v. Thompson, 963 A.2d 474, 475-76 (Pa. Super. 2008). “On
appeal [this Court] will not consider a claim which was not called to the trial
court’s attention at a time when any error committed could have been
corrected.” Id. at 476.
Instantly, Husband’s first stated issue challenges the trial court’s
determination that the property situated at 8661 Williams Avenue
constituted marital property for the purposes of equitable distribution.
However, Husband stipulated at trial that the property was marital property.
His concession of that fact, or the failure to otherwise contest an issue in any
manner, necessarily results in waiver of the issues that he is pursuing in this
appeal. As noted above, a litigant must object or otherwise contest a fact or
issue at the appropriate time in the trial proceedings in order to preserve the
issue for our review. Because Husband failed to do so, his challenge to the
trial court’s determination that the property was a marital asset is waived.
Husband does not separate his argument into two distinct arguments,
one for each question stated, as is required by Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (“[t]he
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argument shall be divided into as many parts as there are questions to be
argued”). Thus, it is difficult to discern where his first argument ends, and
where the second begins. Nor does Husband point to the location in the
record where he preserved such an argument, which also violates our
briefing rules. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(c).
Regardless, Husband appears to concede the point that he sets forth in
his statement of the question presented. Husband questions whether the
trial court erred in calculating the value of the marital property situated at
8661 Williams Avenue. Brief for Husband at 5. However, in his argument,
Husband states that he “is not pressing the issue that the [trial court’s]
valuation of the fair market value of Williams Street as a piece of real estate
is incorrect.” Brief for Husband at 17.
Husband nonetheless advances the argument that he only possesses a
remainder interest in the property, being that it is deeded to Lynette
McMichael, and that presently there is no value in such an interest. This
argument is waived for lack of development.
“The Rules of Appellate Procedure state unequivocally that each
question an appellant raises is to be supported by discussion and analysis of
pertinent authority.” Estate of Haiko v. McGinley, 799 A.2d 155, 161 (Pa.
Super. 2002); see Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (each point in an argument must be
“followed by such discussion and citation of authorities as are deemed
pertinent”). “It is not this Court’s function or duty to become an advocate
for the [A]ppellant.” Commonwealth v. Birdseye, 637 A.2d 1036, 1043
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(Pa. Super. 1994). “[W]here an appellate brief fails to provide any
discussion of a claim with citation to relevant authority or fails to develop the
issue in any other meaningful fashion capable of review, that claim is
waived.” Commonwealth v. Johnson, 985 A.2d 915, 924 (Pa. 2009);
Estate of Lakatosh, 656 A.2d 1378, 1381 (Pa. Super. 1995) (an appellant
waives issues where corresponding argument in brief includes only general
statements without appropriate citation to authority); Umbelina v. Adams,
34 A.3d 151, 161 (Pa. Super. 2011) (same).
Herein, Husband does not cite a single binding authority in support of
any pillar of his argument. Husband does not establish with relevant
authority that the interest that he possesses is in actuality only a remainder
interest, or that such an interest has no value for equitable distribution
purposes. We will not develop Husband’s argument for him. Consequently,
this issue is also waived for purposes of this appeal.
Finally, we must address Wife’s request for additional counsel fees
associated with the costs of this appeal. See Brief for Wife at 15-19.
Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2744:
an appellate court may award as further costs damages as may
be just, including:
(1) a reasonable counsel fee and
(2) damages for delay at the rate of 6% per annum in
addition to legal interest,
if it determines that an appeal is frivolous or taken solely for
delay or that the conduct of the participant against whom costs
are to be imposed is dilatory, obdurate or vexatious. The
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appellate court may remand the case to the trial court to
determine the amount of damages authorized by this rule.”
Pa.R.A.P. 2744. “An appeal is not frivolous simply because it lacks merit.”
Winpenny v. Winpenny, 643 A.2d 677, 680 (Pa. Super. 1994) (citing
Marino by Marino v. Marino, 601 A.2d 1240 (Pa. Super. 1992)). “A claim
is frivolous, however, if it has no basis in law or fact. . . . Allowing [an
appellant] to continue to utilize the courts to pursue fruitless claims at the
expense of not only the opponents significantly, but also the public, will not
be tolerated.” Id. Appeals that are taken for the purposes of delay and
involve “issues that have already been resolved, or which present arguments
running counter to well settled rules of law will be deemed ‘frivolous’ by this
Court. Such appeals are the proper subject for sanctions under Rule 2744.”
Murphy v. Murphy, 599 A.2d 647, 654 (Pa. Super. 1991) (citations
omitted). Finally, in Murphy, we cautioned delay-focused litigants that “an
appeal is considered ‘frivolous’ and warrants the award of attorney fees if,
either as a matter of fact or law, the appellant’s contentions have no
likelihood of success.” Id. (citations omitted). We explained that “[t]o do
otherwise would be to reward an unreasonable prolongation of the contest.”
Id. (citations omitted).
Herein, Husband implicitly admits that the core issue on which he
sought our review, i.e., whether the property in question was a marital
asset, was waived. Husband repeatedly concedes that he stipulated to that
fact at the de novo trial. See Brief for Husband at 12-13. Additionally, as
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noted above, Husband has not offered to this Court any binding or relevant
case law or statutory law in support of his second argument. Hence, we
have little difficulty in declaring Husband’s appeal to be frivolous, because
his issues find no support in either fact or law. See Winpenny; Murphy,
supra.
Not only is Husband’s appeal frivolous, it is also the next step in his
transparent attempts to delay this case, which were apparent from the
outset. The examples of his delay tactics have been well-documented by the
Master and the trial court in this case, both of whom believed the award of
counsel fees was warranted for Husband’s actions before those respective
fact-finders. The Master, in awarding fees, explained as follows:
Given the overall economic circumstances of the parties and the
amount Wife is receiving through equitable distribution, the
Master would ordinarily be disinclined to recommend any counsel
fees in a case such as this. However, it seems clear that
throughout this litigation Husband has forced Wife to incur
otherwise avoidable legal fees by adopting a position of
unrelenting intransigence.
[Wife’s attorney] represented that he has thus far appeared on
Wife’s behalf in a total of twenty-six different hearings. Many, if
not most of these, related to child custody and support (which
were also heavily litigated), and fees relating thereto are not
recoverable in this proceeding. Still, in the divorce itself,
Husband forced Wife into a hearing on the diamond ring and
then sold it during the pendency of those proceedings. After the
first listing in this matter, an Administrative Order was entered
which delineated what would be needed for the second listing,
but while Wife complied therewith, Husband produced nothing
(not even his most recent income tax return as had been
mandated in the Order).
Husband’s mindset towards this matter was reflected by the fact
that after three hearings and his rejection of the Master’s
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recommendation (which he clearly had a right to do), he simply
reverted back to his original position that Wife should receive
nothing from him, or at best a de minimis amount. Even at that
point, he seemed unwilling to accept the concept that his
pension is subject to equitable distribution (let alone that she
has rights with regard to the Williams Avenue Property).
Master’s Report, at 16. The trial court agreed with the Master’s assessment
of Husband’s tactics and awarded Wife counsel fees associated therewith.
Order, 2/7/2014, at 21.
Based upon the frivolousness of Husband’s appeal, we can only
conclude that this appeal is another step in Husband’s attempt to delay
paying Wife any of the money owed to her. Consequently, we conclude that
Wife is entitled to counsel fees pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2744. We remand this
case to the trial court to determine, and thereafter to set, a reasonable
amount of fees to be paid to Wife.
Order affirmed.1 Case remanded for determination of counsel fees.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
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1
Wife has filed with this Court a motion to quash Husband’s appeal, on
the basis that Husband has waived all of his issues due to his untimely Rule
1925(b) statement. Because of our disposition finding Husband’s issues to
be waived for different reasons, we deny Wife’s motion to quash.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/20/2015
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