J-A30032-14


NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

H.M.,                                             IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                        PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellant

                       v.

J.D.,

                            Appellee                   No. 1664 EDA 2014


                   Appeal from the Order Entered June 3, 2014
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
                     Domestic Relations at No.: OC1001255


BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., MUNDY, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.:                                      FILED DECEMBER 05, 2014

        Appellant, H.M. (Father), appeals from the order of the Court of

Common Pleas of Philadelphia County entered June 3, 2014.           In pertinent

part, the order continued the custody arrangements previously ordered on

June 20, 2011: Father and Appellee, J.D. (Mother), shared legal custody of

their child, C.E.M. (Child); Mother continued to have primary physical

custody of Child.      Father has partial physical custody as well as a specific

schedule of custodial time during holidays.      Father chiefly argues the trial

court disregarded his change of circumstances.       We affirm on the basis of

the trial court’s opinion.


____________________________________________


*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-A30032-14


       The trial court described this litigation as “a tumultuous custody

battle.”   (Trial Court Opinion, 7/09/14, at 1).        The procedural history is

extended and convoluted. We will recount only the most significant details

relevant to this appeal.

       Child was born in July of 2009. The parties are married but separated

when Mother filed for divorce from Father on April 23, 2010. Father filed a

complaint for custody of Child on July 16, 2010.1 After a hearing on June

20, 2011, the trial court entered a final order that granted the parties shared

legal custody, granted Mother primary physical custody, and granted Father

partial physical custody with a schedule of holidays.2

       Father    subsequently      purchased     a   home,   and   reorganized   his

employment duties so he could work at home with more hours available for

parenting. He filed a petition to modify custody on August 9, 2012, and a



____________________________________________


1
  The trial court entered an interim order pending a full trial originally
scheduled for February 4, 2011. The court rescheduled its hearing from
February 4, 2011, to June 20, 2011, after Mother filed a motion for a
protracted hearing, on December 28, 2010.
2
   For completeness we also note that on April 23, 2012, the parties began a
protracted argument before the trial court over whether Child should
undergo a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Mother chose to follow Child’s
doctor’s advice to have the surgery performed; Father opposed the surgery
and filed an emergency motion to prevent it. After a number of competing
filings and continuances, the trial court cancelled the trial on the question
when the parties both signed consents to the surgeries.




                                           -2-
J-A30032-14


motion for a protracted hearing, on August 13, 2012.             The trial court

scheduled a protracted hearing on Father’s petition for June 18, 2013.

        Father also filed a motion on August 7, 2012 calling for the recusal of

the judge of the trial court. The trial court denied the motion on August 14,

2012.3 The trial court scheduled the hearing on Father’s petition to modify

for September 5, 2012, but continued it to September 18, 2012, at Father’s

request.

        Father’s attorney filed a petition to withdraw his representation on

December 4, 2013.          The trial court granted the petition on December 9,

2013.     Based on Father’s assertion that he was prejudiced as a result of his

attorney’s withdrawal, the court continued the hearing on his petition to

modify to the next available date, June 3, 2014. Mother and Father testified

at that hearing. The trial court entered its order on June 3, 2014. Father

timely filed his notice of appeal and statement of errors on June 9, 2014.

        Father presents four questions for our review:4

        1. Whether the trial court’s analysis is deficient and erred in its
        “rationle decidendi” [sic][5] when it found there had been no
____________________________________________


3
  Father appealed the denial of his recusal motion. This Court deemed
Father’s appeal interlocutory and quashed it on October 6, 2012.
4
 Father incorrectly labels his statement of questions involved as “Order or
Other Determination in Question.” (See Father’s Brief, at 2).
5
  In his brief, Father adds “ratio decidendi” [“reason for deciding”] in a
footnote, apparently acknowledging the trial court’s correction of the
misspelling in his citation to the Latin phrase. (See id.).



                                           -3-
J-A30032-14


      change in circumstance since entry of its Order in June 2011
      when Father, subsequent thereto, purchased a home to provide
      more stability and continuity for Child, changed his schedule to
      work from home, thereby maximizing potential parent/child
      contact, and increased his network of support to help with
      Child[?]

      2. Whether the trial court erred and abused its discretion in
      failing to grant Father’s Petition for Modification pursuant to 23
      Pa.C.S.A. §5338 when it did not consider all of the factors in 23
      Pa.C.S.A. §5328 and found there had been “no substantial
      changes in circumstances” when the standard is “best interests
      of the child”[?]

      3. Whether the trial court erred when it did not consider the
      current circumstances and based its decision partially upon
      testimony from approximately one year earlier in contravention
      to Kozlowski v. Kozlowski, 542 A.2d 995 (Pa. Super. 1987)[?]
      (emphasis in original) [sic]

      4. Whether the trial court erred and abused its discretion by
      relying too heavily on the testimony of a five-year-old child in
      rendering its decision[?]

(Father’s Brief at 2) (footnotes omitted, except as noted) (emphasis in

original).

      Our scope and standard of review is well-settled:

      In reviewing a custody order, our scope is of the broadest type
      and our standard is abuse of discretion.          We must accept
      findings of the trial court that are supported by competent
      evidence of record, as our role does not include making
      independent factual determinations. In addition, with regard to
      issues of credibility and weight of the evidence, we must defer to
      the presiding trial judge who viewed and assessed the witnesses
      first-hand. However, we are not bound by the trial court’s
      deductions or inferences from its factual findings. Ultimately,
      the test is whether the trial court’s conclusions are unreasonable
      as shown by the evidence of record.            We may reject the
      conclusions of the trial court only if they involve an error of law,
      or are unreasonable in light of the sustainable findings of the
      trial court.

                                     -4-
J-A30032-14



C.R.F., III v. S.E.F., 45 A.3d 441, 443 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations

omitted).

         In addressing the trial court’s discretion, this Court has observed:

         [T]he discretion that a trial court employs in custody matters
         should be accorded the utmost respect, given the special nature
         of the proceeding and the lasting impact the result will have on
         the lives of the parties concerned. Indeed, the knowledge
         gained by a trial court in observing witnesses in a custody
         proceeding cannot adequately be imparted to an appellate court
         by a printed record.

Ketterer v. Seifert, 902 A.2d 533, 540 (Pa. Super. 2006) (quoting

Jackson v. Beck, 858 A.2d 1250, 1254 (Pa. Super. 2004)).

         The primary concern in any custody case is the best interests of the

child.     “The best interests standard, decided on a case-by-case basis,

considers all factors which legitimately have an effect upon the child’s

physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual well-being.”     Saintz v. Rinker,

902 A.2d 509, 512 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citing Arnold v. Arnold, 847 A.2d

674, 677 (Pa. Super. 2004)).

         We must accept the trial court’s findings that are supported by

competent evidence of record, and we defer to the trial court on issues of

credibility and weight of the evidence. If competent evidence supports the

trial court’s findings, we will affirm even if the record could also support the

opposite result.

         Additionally,




                                        -5-
J-A30032-14


         The parties cannot dictate the amount of weight the trial
         court places on evidence. Rather, the paramount concern
         of the trial court is the best interest of the child. Appellate
         interference is unwarranted if the trial court’s consideration
         of the best interest of the child was careful and thorough,
         and we are unable to find any abuse of discretion.

S.M. v. J.M., 811 A.2d 621, 623 (Pa. Super. 2002) (quoting Robinson v.

Robinson, 645 A.2d 836, 838 (Pa. 1994)).

      Here, our review of the record in this matter supports the trial court’s

findings and conclusions of law. Our review also confirms that the trial court

properly exercised its discretion.

      Accordingly, after a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the

parties, the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the trial court

we conclude that there is no merit to the issues that Appellant has raised on

appeal. The trial court opinion properly disposes of the questions presented.

(See Trial Court Opinion, 7/09/14, at 7-15) (concluding that: (1) while

Father made several changes to his lifestyle to accommodate the needs of

Child, it was nonetheless still in the best interest of Child for Mother to retain

primary physical custody with liberal partial physical custody for Father; (2)

the trial court properly considered all relevant factors pursuant to 23

Pa.C.S.A. § 5328 in rendering its award of custody; (3) the trial court’s

decision is not contravened by the holding in Kozlowski, supra, which is

distinguishable on its facts; and (4) the trial court properly considered the

testimony of Child, where it was the province of the court as fact finder to




                                      -6-
J-A30032-14


weigh the evidence presented and assess credibility). Accordingly, we affirm

on the basis of the trial court’s opinion.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.




Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary



Date: 12/5/2014




                                      -7-
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"
                                                                                             ABOl)3'2..-\~
                                 IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                            FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                                  DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION


    H_ _lrM                  I,                                             COURT OF COMMON PLEAS,
                      Appellant                                             PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PA

             v.                                                             IN CUSTODY OC1001255

                                                                            NO. 1664 EDA 2014             \J       .r--
                      Appellee                                                                            :.;0     L-
                                                                                                                    c::
                                                                                                          O         I-
                                                                                                          v         I
                                                                                                           Xi      ,0
                                                        OPINION                                            o        ~
                                                                                             :: rn
                                                                                                o          -{
             Appellant, H ' " M. . . (hereinafter "Father"), appeals from a custody orde?aat~d'
                                                                                                            -...     w
                                                                                                                     rv
    June 3, 2014 entered by the Honorable Holly J. Ford. This Court reinstated the June 20, 20 11

    Order,l which granted Father and Appellee, J~ ~ (hereinafter "Mother") shared legal

    custody of the minor child, C (born July 23, 2009). Mother was awarded primary physical

    custody of C with Father to have liberal partial physical custody. In addition, a specific and

    comprehensive schedule for custodial time during holidays and the child's bilihday was

    delineated. The June 3, 2014 Order gave rise to this appeal.
                                                                                                       filED
                                                                                                   JUl' - ·91 20Vl
    Procedural History (see docket)                                                         CLERK OF FAMILV COURT
             The parties have been engaged in a tumultuous custody battle since July 16, 20 10 when

    Father, pro se, filed a complaint for primary physical and legal custody. Father also filed a

    motion for expedited relief on August 9,2010, which was granted on September 24, 20 10. The

    Honorable Diane Thompson entered an interim order pending a full trial on February 4, 2011




    I The court ordered the June 20, 20 11 Order to stand with the exception that the child will be graduating from Busy

    Bee Daycare in June 2014.
                                                                                     Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




    granting the parties shared legal custody of C. Mother was awarded primary physical custody

    with Father to have pruiial physical custody every Tuesday and every other weekend.

           On November 4,2010, Father filed a petition for contempt. Counsel for Mother filed a
      it   1t    ~.    ft
    motion for a protracted hearing on December 28,2010. On December 29,2010, Father filed

    another contempt petition. Mother's motion for a protracted hearing was granted on January 20,

    2011 ; the Pebruaryi4, 2011 trial was cancelled and the matter was rescheduled for June 20, 2011.

    On May 25, 2011, counsel for Mother filed an answer and counterclaim to Father's complaint for

    custody.

           After a protnftted*heal'inton June 20, 2011, Father's two outstanding contempt petitions

were withdrawn at his request, and the Honorable Holly Ford entered a final order awarding

Mother primary physical custody with Fathetto liave1>art! al physical custody; the pruiies were to

share legal custody of C.

           On April 23 , 2012, counsel for Mother filed a petition for special relief requesting

permission to obtain a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for the child at the recommendation of

Dr. Rizzi (C's ear, nose and throat doctor). Judge Ford entered an order on May 2, 2012

directing Father to obtain a second opinion regarding the child's need for the procedures; if the

second opinion reinforced Dr. Rizzi's recommendation, the child was to undergo the surgeries.

           On May 8, 2012, Father filed a notice of appeal,2 and on June 7, 2012, Father filed an

emergency motion to stay the May 2,2012 Order authorizing C's surgeries. On June 11,2012,

the Superior Court remanded the matter at Judge Ford's request, and a trial was scheduled for

September 5, 2012.




2   Appeal no . 1377 EDA 2012.

                                                    2
                                                                                    Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




            Father filed a motion for Judge Ford' s recusal on August 7, 201 2. On August 9, 201 2,

    Father filed a petition to modify, and on August 13, 2012, Father filed a motion for a protracted

    hearing. Father's motion for recusal was denied on August 14,2012.

           On August 23,2012, Judge Ford entered an administrative order continuing the

    scheduled September 5,2012 trial, at Father's request, to September 18, 2012. Father's motion

    for a protracted hearing was referred to Judge Ford; the trial date of September 18,2012

    remained with additional trial time to be given at the court's discretion.

           On August 31 , 2012, Father filed a notice of appeal of the August 14, 2012 Order (Judge

    Ford's denial of Father' s motion for recusal) .3 This Court filed a memorandum in lieu of an

    opinion on September 17,2012, as Father's appeal involved an interlocutory issue.

           Father filed a motion for special relief on September 18,2012 requesting that his

paramour be permitted to pick up and drop off C when necessary.

           After a trial on September 18,2012, Judge Ford entered an order directing the parties to

schedule a sleep study for C, which would playa role in determining whether or not a

tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were necessary. The matter was relisted for December 19,

2012. On September 21,2012, Father filed a motion for a protracted hearing.

           Father filed a motion to quash his pending appeal with the Superior Court on October 3,

2012, which was granted on October 9, 2012.

           On November 13, 2012, the Honorable Angeles Roca entered an order granting Father's

motion for special relief filed on September 18,2012.

           On November 16,2012, Father filed two contempt petitions (the first alleging Mother

violated the June 20, 2011 Order and the second alleging that Mother violated the September 18,

2012 Order) and a petition for reconsideration of Judge Roca's November 13 , 2012 Order.

3   Appeal no. 2340 EDA 2012.

                                                     3
                                                                                 Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




        Due to the complex nature of the case and the volume of testimony heard by Judge Ford

in particular, all future motions and petitions filed in this matter were assigned to Judge Ford on

November 20,2012.

        On November 30, 2012, Judge Ford entered an administrative order cancelling the

December 19,2012 hearing as both parties signed consent forms for C to undergo the disputed

surgeries. On November 30, 2012, Judge Ford also granted Father's motion for a protracted

hearing and scheduled all outstanding petitions for June 18,2013 .

        Father filed a notice of appeal of Judge Roca's November 13,2012 Order on December

11,201 2. On January 9, 2013, Judge Roca entered an order granting in pari and denying in pari

Father's motion for reconsideration.

        On May 29,2013, counsel for Father filed a motion in limine requesting the court to bar

any of Mother's witnesses for which an address was not provided to Father or his attorney. (See

N.T. p.4, 1.6 - p. 14,1.1.) The court denied the motion, and following a protracted hearing on

June 18,2013, the matter was re1isted as a semi-protracted hearing on December 9, 2013

specifically for cross-examination of Mother, interview of the child, and rebuttal witnesses.

       Father filed a motion for special relief on September 6, 2013 claiming that Mother made

defamatory statements about Father to several ofC's doctors. On November 4,2013 , Father

filed a counter affidavit objecting to Mother's proposed relocation. Father's attorney filed a

petition to withdraw his appearance on December 4,2013, which was granted a lUle to show

cause on December 5, 2013 and consolidated with the outstanding petitions listed for a semi-

protracted hearing on December 9, 2013.

       After the hear'ing on December 9, 2013, Father's counter affidavit to Mother's proposed

relocation was dismissed as there was no establishment of a relocation requirement under the



                                                4
                                                                                                 Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




    statute,23 Pa. C. S. § 5337. 4 The     COUlt   granted Father's attorney' s motion to withdraw, and

    based on Father ' s assertion that he would be prejudiced as a result, the remainder of Father' s

    outstanding petitions were continued for trial on June 3, 2014.

            After retaining new counsel, Father withdrew one of his two outstanding contempt

petitions filed November 16,2012 and his motion for special relief filed September 6, 2013 at

the bar of the court on June 3, 2014. Both Father's petition to modify filed August 9,2012 and

his remaining petition for contempt filed November 16,2012 were denied after the semi-

protracted hearing. The court ordered the June 20,2011 Order to stand.

            On June 9, 2014, counsel for Father filed a notice of appeal and a concise statement of

enors complained of on appeal (hereinafter "Statement") simultaneously. The instant appeal is

classified as a Children's Fast Track Appeal.

Statement of Law

           Child custody cases are reviewed under a specific and well-defined standard; the

paramount inquiry and "polestar" of analysis is the best interest of the child. Arnold v. Arnold,

847 A.2d 674,677 (Pa. Super. 2004). The "best interest" standard considers "all factors which

legitimately have an effect upon the child's physical, intellectual, moral and spiritual well-

being." Jd. In addition, the trial court must consider all of the relevant factors set forth in

Pennsylvania's custody statute, 23 Pa. C. S. § 5328(a) (2012), in determining an award of

custody. These factors are as follows:

       1. Which party is more likely to encourage and permit frequent and continuing contact
          between the child and another party.

       2. The present and past abuse committed by a party or member of the party's household,
          whether there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an abused party and which party
          can better provide adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the child.


4   Mother moved 0.8 miles closer to Father, remaining in the City and County of Philadelphia.

                                                           5
                                                                                     Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




       3. The parental duties performed by each party on behalf of the child.

       4. The need for stability and continuity in the child's education, family life and community
          life.

       5. The availability of extended family.

       6. The child's sibling relationships.

       7. The well-reasoned preference of the child, based on the child's maturity and judgment.

       8. The attempts of a parent to turn the child against the other parent, except in cases of
          domestic violence where reasonable safety measures are necessary to protect the child
          from harm.

       9. Which party is more likely to maintain a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing
          relationship with the child adequate for the child's emotional needs .

       10. Which party is more likely to attend to the daily physical, emotional, developmental,
           educational and special needs of the child.

       11. The proximity of the residences of the parties.

       12. Each party's availability to care for the child or ability to make appropriate child-care
           arrangements.

       13. The level of conflict between the parties and the willingness and ability of the pmiies to
           cooperate with one another. A party's effort to protect a child from abuse by another party
           is not evidence of unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that party.

       14. The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a party or member of a pmiy's household.

      15. The mental m1d physical condition of a party or member of a pmiy's household.

      16. Any other relevant factor.

ld.

          Although the scope of appellate review is broad, it is "bound by fIndings supported in the

record, and may reject conclusions drawn by the trial court only if they involve an error oflaw,

or are unreasonable in light of the sustainable fIndings of the trial court." Arnold, 847 A.2d at

677.



                                                    6
                                                                                                 Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




    Errors Complained of on Appeal

           Father contends that this Court erred in its entry of the June 3, 2014 Order for the

    following reasons:

       1. The trial court's analysis was deficient, and it erred in its "rationle decidendi"s [sic]
          when it found there had been no change in circumstance since entry of its order in
          June 2011 when Father, subsequent thereto, purchased a home to provide more
          stability and continuity for the child, changed his schedule to work from home,
          thereby maximizing potential parent/child contact, and increased his network of
          support to help with the child.

           Father's assertion incorrectly suggests that, had the court found there was indeed a

change in circumstances, custody of the child would therefore automatically be transferred to

Father. However, "[c]hanged circumstances are no longer required for a court to review child

custody [o]rders." Hutchinson v. Hutchinson , 549 A.2d 999, 1001 (Pa. Super. 1988). As

previously discussed, the paramount concern and ultimate consideration in a custody matter is

the best interest of the child. See Arnold v. Arnold, 847 A.2d 674,677 (Pa. Super. 2004). A

petition to modify custody therefore "requires the court to inquire into the best interest of the

child regardless of whether a "substantial" change in circumstances has been shown." Karis v.

Karis, 518 Pa. 601, 607-08 (1988). The Superior Court has made abundantly clear that the

"party seeking modification of custody arrangements has the burden to show that modification is

in the child's best interest." Johns v. Cioci, 865 A.2d 931,937 (Pa. Super. 2004).

          Father filed a petition to modify on August 9, 2012 requesting primary physical and

shared legal custody of C; therefore, it was Father's burden to show that granting his request

would be in C's best interest. After carefully weighing the testimony of both parties, the witness

and the child and considering all of the relevant evidence, this Court determined that Father

failed to meet his burden and found no reason to change the existing custody arrangement. (The

5 This Court presumes that Father intends to cite "ratio decidendi" in his ftrst contention, which refers to the
rationale for the court's decision in a specific case.

                                                           7
                                                                                 Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




 court's specific findings with regard to the custody factors under 23 Pa. C. S. § 5338(a) are

discussed under Father's second contention, infra.) While the court recognizes that Father made

several changes to his lifestyle to accommodate the needs of the child, it ultimately determined

that it was nonetheless in C's best interest for Mother to retain primary physical custody of the

four-year-old child and for Father to have liberal partial physical custody in order to help

promote stability and continuity in C's life ..

    2. The trial court erred and abused its discretion in failing to grant Father's petition
       for modification pursuant to 23 Pa. C. S. § 5338 when it did not consider all of the
       factors in 23 Pa. C. S. § 5328 and found there had been "no substantial changes in
       circumstances" when the standard is "best interests of the child."

        Upon petition, under Pennsylvania's Child Custody Act, "a court may modify [an

existing] custody order to serve the best interest of the child." 23 Pa. C. S. § 5338(a). A custody

modification "is not warranted merely because one parent is unhappy with the existing

arrangement" and the Superior Court has "repeatedly ... emphasized that a party requesting

modification must prove that the alteration of an existing custody arrangement is in the child's

best interest." Jackson v. Beck, 858 A.2d 1250, 1252 (Pa. Super. 2004).

       As previously discussed, in determining the child's best interest, the court must consider

all of the relevant factors enumerated in Pennsylvania's custody statute, 23 Pa. C. S. § 5328(a).

Set forth below are the court's findings of fact with regard to the sixteen custody factors, which,

in the aggregate, form the basis for an award of primary physical custody to Mother.

    1. Which party is more likely to encourage and permit ji-equent and continuing contact
       beMeen the child and another party.

       No evidence was presented to suggest that either party had ever proactively inhibited the

other's custody. In fact, Mother testified that Father "frequently" requested to swap custodial

time with her due to his travel schedule for his former job and the parties were able to



                                                  8
                                                                                  Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




accOlmnodate one another. (N.T. 6/18113, p.264, 1.23 -p.265, 1.10.) However, the court found

that Father harbored a significant amount of hostility towards Mother, which was not apparently

reciprocated, and it was clear by the demeanor ofthe parties that Mother appeared more likely to

encourage contact and interaction between C and Father. (See, e.g., N .T. 6/18/13, p.263, 1.13-24

(where Mother testified that Father ignores her during exchanges of the child while she attempts

to make polite conversation); N.T. 6118/13 , p.27, 1.10-16 (where Father provided inadmissible

commentary as to Mother's actions); N.T. 6118113, p.264, 1.23 - p.265, 1.10 (where Mother

testified she accommodated Father several times when he requested to switch      custodi~l   days).)

    2. The present and past abuse committed by a party or member of the party's household,
       whether there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an abused party and which party
       can better provide adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the child.

       This factor was not applicable in the case at bar.

    3. The parental duties performed by each party on behalf of the child.

       Both parties are equally capable of performing parental duties on behalf of the child and

both are adequate caretakers. However, C has spent his entire life living primarily with Mother,

who performs the majority of the daily parental duties, including C's laundry, cooking, and

bathing. (N.T. 6118113, p.270, 1.20 - p.271, l.22; see also Factor #4, below.)

   4. The needfor stability and continuity in the child's education, family life and community
      life.

       As articulated by the Superior Court, "the potential harm that may result from the

disruption of established patterns of care and emotional bonds underscores the need for

continuity, stability, and finality imparted to custody arrangements." Jackson v. Beck, 858 A.2d

1250, 1252 (Pa. Super. 2004). C, at nearly five years old, has been living primarily with Mother

since he was approximately a year and a half. Not only is C happy with the arrangement, but the

comi found that C is doing extremely well. (N.T. "Child Testimony" p.8, 1.4-12; N.T. 6118113 ,

                                                9
                                                                                 Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




p.263,1.9-l4.) Nothing was presented at trial to justify a disruption in custody possibly

jeopardizing C's happiness and well-being.

    5. The availability of extendedfamily.

        C's paternal grandparents reside in New Zealand, and Father testified adamantly that he

wants them to have no involvement with C at all, based on issues he experienced while living

with them as a child. (N.T. 6118113, p.167, 1.19 - p.168, 1.1 0.) Father has had "almost nothing to

do with them in 10 years." (N.T. 6118/13, p.168, 1.6-7.)

        Conversely, Mother and C travel to Absecon, New Jersey "frequently" to visit C's

maternal grandparents on weekends. (N.T. 6118113, p.268, 1.16-24.) Mother testified that her

parents and C are "very, very, very close" and have been since he was a baby. (N.T.6118113,

p.269,1.10-14.) In addition, Mother's sister has four children who are often present at the

maternal grandparents' home on weekends as well. (N.T. 6118113, p.269, 1.6; p.270, 1.2-4.)

Mother stated that C spends a "great deal" oftime with them and has developed "very strong,

wonderful relationship [s] with his cousins." (N.T. 6118113, p.270, 1.4-5; p.269, 1.15-18.)

Accordingly, the cOUli found that not only was Mother's side of the family more "available," but

Mother was much more likely to encourage continuing contact and foster relationships between

the child and his extended family.

    6. The child's sibling relationships.

       This factor was not applicable in the case at bar.

   7. The well-reasoned preference of the child, based on the child's maturity andjudgment.

       Judge Ford interviewed C in the privacy of her Chambers, at which time the child

expressed a desire for the custody anangement to remain the same. The court found C to be a

very intelligent and creative four-year-old. C stated he likes seeing a lot of both parents and likes



                                                 10
                                                                                   Circulated 11/20/201404:34 PM




things the way they are. (N.T. "Child Testimony" p.8, 1.4-12.) The cOUli fuliher inquired as to

what C would do differently "about seeing Mommy and Daddy" ifhe could change anything he

wanted with a magic wand; C replied, "[k]eep it the same." (N.T. "Child's Testimony" p.18,

1.21 - p.19, 1.6; N.T. 6/3/14, p.61, 1.13-18.) See Father's fOUlih contention, infra, for fuliher

discussion regarding weight of the child' s testimony.

    8. The attempts of a parent to turn the child against the other parent, except in cases of
       domestic violence where reasonable safety measures are necessary to protect the child
       from harm.

           No evidence was presented to suggest either party has made active attempts to tum the

child against the other patiy.

    9. Which party is more likely to.maintain a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing
       relationship with the child adequate for the child's emotional needs.

       Both parties have maintained a strong relationship with the child and are equipped to

provide for C's emotional needs.

    10. Which party is more likely to attend to the daily physical, emotional, developmental,
        educational and special needs of the child.

       Both Mother and Father are equally willing and able to provide for all of C' s needs.

    11. The proximity of the residences of the parties.

       Both parties live in the City and County of Philadelphia and reside fairly close to one

another.

    12. Each party's availability to care for the child or ability to make appropriate child-care
        arrangements.

       Both parties work flexible hours, but during their periods of unavailability, C attends

Busy Bees Daycare. (N.T. 6/18/13, p.262, 1.14-17.) As a healthcare consultant, Mother testified

that she is able to arrange her work schedule around C's schedule. (N.T. 6/18/13, p.267, 1.9-19.)

Father recently accepted a new job allowing him to work from home from 4 a.m. until about

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    noon. (N.T. 6118113, p.95, 1.5-8.) Father's non-traditional hours allow him to drop C off at

    daycare and pick him up during his custodial time. (N. T. 6118113, p.l 00, 1.14 - p.l 01, 1.1.)

    While Mother works locally, Father has traveled three times in the past six months for his new

    job. (N.T. 6118113, p.267, 1.15; p.lOO, 1.6-13 .) Based on the foregoing, both parties have

    managed to craft their work schedules with the child in mind and have made appropriate

    alTangements for C during their periods of unavailability.

        13. The level of conflict between the parties and the willingness and ability of the parties to
            cooperate with one another. A party's effort to protect a child ji-om abuse by another
            party is not evidence of unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that party.

           There is a moderate level of conflict between the parties, and Father, as evidenced by the

    docket, is extremely litigious. Mother testified that she makes an effort to say hello and goodbye

to Father during exchanges of the child, but Father often ignores her and rushes C out of the

building. (N.T. 6118/13, p.263, 1.14-24.) However, when Father requested to swap custodial

time with Mother on several occasions to accommodate his travel schedule, the parties were able

to cooperate and make arrangements. (N.T. 6118113, p.264, 1.23 - p.265, 1.10.)

       14. The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a party or member of a party's household.

           This factor was not applicable in the case at bar.

       15. The mental and physical condition ofaparty or member ofaparty's household.

           Neither party has any mental or physical condition that would inhibit them from properly

caring for C.

       16. Any other relevant factor.


       3. The trial court erred .when it did not consider the current circumstances and based
          its decision partially upon testimony from approximately one year earlier in
          contravention of Kozlowski v. Kozlowski, 362 Pa. Super. 516, 524 A.2d 995 (1987). 6

6The citation for Kozlowski contained in Father's Statement is inconect and leads to an irrelevant workers'
compensation case. The conect citation is given herein.

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           Father cites Kozlowski in support of his contention; however, the facts differ greatly from

    those in the case at bar. In Kozlowski, the Superior COUli reversed the trial court's order granting

    primary physical custody to Father because the award of custody was clearly intended as a

    sanction imposed for Mother's contemptuous behavior rather than based on a determination as to

    what was in the child ' s best interest. 362 Pa. Super. 516. A custody hearing was held on

    October 23 , 1984, but the case fell through the cracks and the trial court failed to issue an order

    until 1986 when it also ruled on an outstanding contempt petition. Id. at 519. As the testimony

from which the trial court drew its conclusions was "almost two years old," the appellant in

Kozlowski raised the issue of staleness on appeal. 362 Pa. Super. 516. The Superior COUli made

no definitive finding as to whether the record was stale but stated "that because a custody decision

"rests upon what is cUlTently in the children's best interest, it must be based upon an up-to-date

record." Id. at 522 (emphasis omitted).

           In the instant case, due to the complexity of the litigation and the number of petitions

filed and scheduled to be heard, one full day's worth oftestimony (during the June 18,2013

hearing) was insufficient for the court to make a custody determination; thus, the December 9,

2013 semi-protracted hearing was scheduled.7 Neither party objected; in fact, counsel for Father

requested a relisting of the case in order to perform his entire cross examination of Mother all at

one time. (N.T. 6118113, p.328, 1.8-25.) The cOUli acquiesced but warned counsel and the pariies

that the waiting period for a relisting of the matter could be lengthy due to the backlog of cas~s

in family court. (N.T. 6/18/13, p.329, 1.1-7.) In the meantime, Father's attorney filed a motion

to withdraw as counsel. Rather than securing new counsel for the December 9, 2013 hearing,

Father requested a continuance at the bar of the cOUli, asserting that he would be prejudiced ifhe

7Due to the volume of custody cases in Philadelphia County, December 9, 2013 was the next available semi-
protracted hearing date.

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    were forced to proceed without an attorney. (See Order dated 12/9113; N .T. 12/9113, p.3, 1.6-15 .)

    Accordingly, the court relisted the case for the next available date, June 3, 2014. While it is true

    that almost a year elapsed between the initial hearing and the entry of the order, the

    circumstances demanded it. Father's attorney initially requested the first relisting, and Father

    actually requested the second relisting of the case. He obviously did not object to either of the

    two continuances of the case.

        4. The trial court erred by relyini too much upon the testimony of the five-year-old
           child in rendering its decision.

            It is well-settled that " [t]he credibility of witnesses and the weight to be accorded to their

testimony is for the trial judge, sitting without ajury." Krobot v. Ganzak, 194 Pa. Super. 49, 52

(1960). In addition, as stated repeatedly in this Opinion, a trial court must consider all of the

relevant factors set forth in Pennsylvania's custody statute to determine the child's best interest.

One of these factors, as previously discussed, is "the well-reasoned preference of the child." 23

Pa. C. S. § 5328(a). The statute takes care to mandate that tIllS preference be based on the child' s

"maturity and judgment" rather than age. Our Supreme Court has articulated that "[a]lthough the

express wishes of a child are not controlling in custody decisions, such wishes do constitute an

important factor that must be carefully considered in determining the child's best interest."

McMillen v. McMillen, 529 Pa. 198,203 (1992). The appellate courts further acknowledge that

"[t]he weight to be given a child's testimony as to ms preference can best be determined by the

judge before whom the child appears." ld.

           This court interviewed the child for the first time at the June 3, 2014 hearing and found

mm to be not only competent but incredibly intelligent and forthcoming for his age. (N.T.

"Child Testimony" p.4, 1.13 - p.6, 1.4.) C expressed a desire for the custody arrangement to


8   Father'S Statement labels the child as five years old, but at the time of trial on June 3, 2014, C was four years old.

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remain the same, which, when considered in combination with the remaining custody factors, the

court found to be in C's best interest. (N.T. "Child Testimony" p.8, 1.4-22.)




Conclusion

         Ultimately, after hearing testimony from both pruiies, the witness and the child,

reviewing the relevant evidence, and in consideration of all of the custody factors under 23 Pa.

C.S. 5328(a), this Court found it was in C's best interest for the June 20, 2011 Order to remain in

effect. The errors of which Father complains on appeal lack any basis in the evidentiary record,

applicable statutes or case law. It is respectfully requested that the findings of the trial court be

affilmed.



BY THE COURT:

Dated:      ffJ !;     (fi / V




                                                                               COPIES SENT
                                                                         PURSUANT TO Pa.R.C.P' 235(b)




                                                                             /




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