Liebendorfer v. Liebendorfer

• Decision Date: 10 August 1981
• Docket Number: No. 727 and A,No. 1112,727 and A,1112
• Citation: 289 Pa.Super. 339,433 A.2d 480
• Parties: Nils LIEBENDORFER, Appellant inppellee in, v. Sue Ann LIEBENDORFER, Appellee inppellant in.
• Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court

Page 480

433 A.2d 480

289 Pa.Super. 339

Nils LIEBENDORFER, Appellant in No. 727 and Appellee in No. 1112, v. Sue Ann LIEBENDORFER, Appellee in No. 727 and Appellant in No. 1112.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Argued Nov. 10, 1980.

Filed May 1, 1981.

Reargument Denied Aug. 10, 1981.

Frank J. Lucchino, Pittsburgh, for appellant at No. 727 and for appellee at No. 1112.

Barris Siegel, Rochester, for appellee at No. 727 and for appellant at No. 1112.

Before SPAETH, WICKERSHAM and LIPEZ, JJ.

LIPEZ, Judge:

Wife defendant appeals from the entry of a final decree in divorce A.V.M. in favor of her husband on the grounds of indignities, pursuant to Section 10 of the Divorce Law of 1929. The husband appeals from the award of counsel fees and expenses.

Essentially it was contended that the wife drank excessively, and was a confirmed alcoholic causing the husband such embarrassment and humiliation as to constitute indignities. The master recommended a divorce, believing the husband and his witnesses, disbelieving the wife and her witnesses, and finding the husband to be an innocent and injured spouse. The court below agreed. Having made an independent and complete study of the evidence, Leucci v. Leucci, 261 Pa.Super. 102, 395 A.2d 1333 (1978), we are convinced that the husband is not an innocent and injured spouse and reverse. We think the award of counsel fees and expenses was proper and affirm.

There was abundant evidence to show that the wife drank excessively and was indeed a confirmed alcoholic. Though the parties were married for some 25 years, the crucial period was from 1972 to December 1977 when the husband left. He was president of a building and loan association, entertaining in the home and attending many functions, parties and conventions with the wife. During this period, though the wife drank considerably, as wife and mother she took care of the household duties, took courses in various colleges towards a masters degree, putting in long hours in her household duties and her studies, and became an associate professor at a community college. We agree that the evidence of her actions, privately and publicly, arising as they did out of her excessive drinking, constituted indignities.

However, we think the husband has not carried his burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he was an innocent and injured spouse. O'Leary v. O'Leary, 264 Pa.Super. 253, 399 A.2d 763 (1979). The wife's actions constituting indignities were all clearly alcohol related. During the whole of this five year period, except for a short time in 1977, both the husband and wife brought alcoholic beverages into the home. The husband took his wife to various parties, conventions and clubs where alcoholic beverages were served, where he made it a point to get drinks for her and himself, notwithstanding his knowledge of her drinking proclivities. During all this period the husband himself continued to drink considerably. A number of times the husband suggested that she do something about her drinking problem, but he did not actively do anything about it, except to suggest certain doctors. She saw them, none of whom appeared to be helpful. She then told her husband that they both needed counseling, asking him to go with her but he refused.

In May of 1977, the husband left her telling her that until she got professional help he was not returning. She then inquired about a hospital in Lynn, Massachusetts to which she went for two weeks while the husband stayed with the children. He made no calls to her there. She returned improved, begged her husband's forgiveness and then began to attend A.A. meetings. Though she requested him to attend with her he failed or refused to do so. After a time since her husband would not babysit and finding it difficult to obtain babysitters, she stopped going. During this period she had stopped drinking. Thereafter the former drinking pattern started again. Both husband and wife at various times started bringing liquor into the house; both of them drank there with company; they went to a convention in San...