Commonwealth ex rel. Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 199 A.2d 490 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1964). · Go Syfert
Commonwealth ex rel. Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 199 A.2d 490 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1964). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
79 citation events (2 in the last 25 years) across 9 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Government of the Virgin Islands ex rel. C.C. v. A.P. (virginislands, 1995-12-13)
Treatment trajectory · 1969 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1969 1997 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 7 distinct citers.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Government of the Virgin Islands ex rel. C.C. v. A.P.
virginislands · 1995 · confidence medium
Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 199 A.2d 490, 491 (Pa.Super. 1964)(implicit in the entry of a child support order is a finding of paternity).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hupp v. Hupp
Va. · 1990 · confidence medium
Specifically, the Virginia statute provides that the courts of the Commonwealth shall give the records of any judicial proceeding of any court of another state “the full faith and credit given to them in the courts of the jurisdiction from whence they come.” In Pennsylvania, an order for support of an illegitimate child “necessarily determines the issue of paternity.” Manze v. Manze, 523 A.2d 821, 824 (Pa. Super. 1987); Shindel v. Leedom, 350 Pa. Super. 274, 278 , 504 A.2d 353, 355 (1986); Commonwealth v. Nedzwecky, 203 Pa. Super. 179, 182 , 199 A.2d 490, 491 (1964).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wachter v. Ascero
Pa. · 1988 · confidence medium
Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 203 Pa.Super. 179, 182 , 199 A.2d 490, 491 (1964), that paternity is a relevant fact necessarily determined and established by the entry of a support order, and therefore, under the doctrine of res judicata, the aggrieved party to a support order may not later challenge that fact in a subsequent proceeding. *622 In this case, the issue of paternity was decided in 1984 when Mr. Ascero chose to enter into the support order and did not appeal that order.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Schultz v. Connelly
Pa. · 1988 · confidence medium
Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 203 Pa.Super. 179, 181-82 , 199 A.2d 490, 491 (1964) (implicit in the entry of a child support order is a finding of paternity).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gardner v. Gardner
Pa. · 1988 · confidence medium
The entry of the support order established by implication that the appellant was Angela’s father. 6 We *262 stated in Commonwealth ex rel Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 203 Pa.Super. 179, 182 , 199 A.2d 490, 491 (1964): [It was] implicit in the entry of the original support order that appellant was the father ...
cited Cited as authority (rule) Manze v. Manze
Pa. · 1987 · confidence medium
Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 203 Pa.Super. 179, 182 , 199 A.2d 490, 491 (1964).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hathaway v. Hines
pactcomplerie · 1985 · confidence medium
A relevant fact necessarily determined as a prerequisite to the entry of an original support order may not, under the doctrine of res judicata, be challenged or put at issue in any subsequent proceeding.” Commonwealth ex rel Nedzwecky v. Nedzwecky, 203 Pa. Super. 179, 182 , 199 A.2d 490, 491 (1964).
Commonwealth ex rel. Nedzwecky
v.
Nedzwecky
Appeal, No. 343.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Apr 14, 1964.
199 A.2d 490
M. Mark Mendel, with him Mendel & Killeen, for appellant., Edward R. Becker, with him Becker & Becker, for appellee.
Bhodes, Ervin, Flood, Montgomery, Watkins, Woodside, Wright.
Cited by 34 opinions  |  Published

Lead Opinion

Opinion by

Wright, J.,

William Nedzwecky has appealed from an order of the County Court of Philadelphia entered in a support proceeding on July 30, 1963, which order revoked a prior order entered March 16, 1962, directing blood tests to resolve the paternity of William Nedzwecky, Jr. It will be necessary to briefly summarize the factual and procedural situation.

William and Alice Nedzwecky were married on March 5, 1953, and ceased living together on September 16, 1960. Two children were born prior to the separation, Darlene on August 7, 1953, and William, Jr. on July 7, 1960. One child was born after the separation, Melody on June 5, 1961. Upon the wife’s petition, an order was entered on January 23, 1961, in amount of $45.00 per week, for the support of Alice, Darlene and William, Jr. On May 18, 1961, after rehearing, the order was vacated as to Alice for just cause, and was entered in the sum of $30.00 per week for the support of Darlene and William, Jr. On March 7, 1962, Alice petitioned for an increase in the order to cover Melody’s support. William thereupon requested blood tests to determine the paternity of both Melody and William, Jr. On March 16, 1962, the court entered an order directing the requested blood tests,[*181] and staying the proceedings pending their completion. At the appointed time Alice produced Melody only, and the ensuing tests excluded paternity. Accordingly no order was entered for Melody’s support. On July 12, 1963, the court revoked its order of March 16, 1962, so far as it required blood tests to determine the paternity of William, Jr., and vacated the stay of proceedings. This appeal followed.

The question involved is stated by appellant as follows: “Where there is ample evidence of meretricious conduct and where one of the children born during wedlock is declared not to be the child of the appellant) should the court have enforced its original order demanding a blood test on both children”.

Appellant points out that, at the time of the original order requiring him to support William, Jr., he could not apply for blood tests under the statute then in effect. Act of May 24, 1951, P. L. 402. See Commonwealth ex rel. O’Brien v. O’Brien, 182 Pa. Superior Ct. 584, 128 A. 2d 164; affirmed 390 Pa. 551, 136 A. 2d 451. He argues that the enactment of the Uniform Act on Blood Tests to Determine Paternity, Act of July 13, 1961, P. L. 587, 28 P.S. 307.1 et seq., enabled him to prove “that which had heretofore been denied him”, and contends that the uniform statute “should be construed to apply retroactively”. In answer to the suggestion by appellee that he would in any event be estopped from questioning the paternity of William, Jr.,[1] he adopts the reasoning in the dissenting opinion in Commonwealth ex rel. Weston v. Weston, 201 Pa. Superior Ct. 554, 193 A. 2d 782, “that to write the doctrine of estoppel into the Act of 1961 is judicial legislation”.

[*182] We deem it unnecessary on this appeal to consider the question of estoppel. It is a complete answer to appellant’s contention to point out that the enactment of the Act of 1961 did not and could not alter the prior adjudication of the court below, implicit in the entry of the original support order, that appellant was the father of William, Jr. In the absence of an appeal from that order, the fact of appellant’s paternity of William, Jr. became established as a matter of law. A relevant fact necessarily determined as a prerequisite to the entry of an original support order may not, under the doctrine of res judicata, be challenged or put at issue in any subsequent proceeding. Cf. Commonwealth, ex rel. Howard v. Howard, 138 Pa. Superior Ct. 505, 10 A. 2d 779.

In Commonwealth, ex rel. DeShields v. DeShields, 173 Pa. Superior Ct. 233, 98 A. 2d 390, the respondent attempted, in a proceeding to vacate a support order, to deny that he had entered into a marriage with the relatrix. We held that the original order of support, unappealed from, was res judicata as to the fact of marriage. See also Commonwealth ex rel. Scarpato v. Scarpato, 190 Pa. Superior Ct. 45, 151 A. 2d 783. To sustain appellant’s contention, as aptly stated by Judge Schwartz of the court below, “would open the door to a flood of petitions by embittered or disgruntled husbands who desire to harass their estranged wives”.

Order affirmed.

1

Appellant filed two habeas corpus petitions seeking visitation rights, one before and one after the effective date of the Uniform Act.

Dissent

Dissenting Opinion by

Ervin, J.:

I continue to believe that a man should be permitted to prove by conclusive evidence that he is not the father of a child he is asked to support. The blood test permitted in this case as to one child excluded the appellant. To deny him the opportunity to offer such proof as to the other child is unjust. I dissent.