Pelle v. Pelle

Evans, J., by special assignment, delivered the opinion of the Court. This appeal stems from a Bill of Complaint for Divorce a Mensa et Thoro, filed 8 January 1960, by the appellant, Marianna Pelle, hereinafter referred to as appellant or wife, in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. The appellee, Gabriel Pelle, hereinafter called appellee or husband, filed a motion to dismiss, offering an Alabama decree dated 29 September, 1959, as a defense to the Bill. The wife opposed the motion alleging that (1) the Alabama court had no jurisdiction, (2) that the husband had never been domiciled in Alabama, and (3) that the wife’s consent to the decree had been obtained through fraud.

On a hearing on this motion the court overruled the motion and gave the defendant fifteen days in which to file an answer setting up whatever defenses, he might have, including those reasons on which his motion to dismiss was based, and thereafter ordered a full hearing. Before the hearing an amended Bill of Complaint was filed and an answer thereto denying the allegations, and, by way of further answer, cited the Alabama decree. At the full hearing it was established that the wife was born and raised on a farm in southern Italy; that she had been in this country only a few years, and was unable to read, write, or speak the English language; that she had never had counsel of her own choice prior to the bringing of this proceeding; that she had never been to Alabama; that she had executed a waiver of notice and answer, and a property settlement agreement before a Notary Public in Washington, D. C. before the filing of the proceedings in Alabama; and that these were filed by local counsel in the Alabama proceedings. It was also established that the husband went to Alabama by bus; that he was absent from Maryland only two days; and that he went to Alabama with the intention of returning.

The learned trial judge found that the Alabama court had jurisdiction; that there was insufficient testimony to sustain ¹⁶³ the claim that the divorce decree was obtained by fraud on the Alabama court; and that the contention of' fraudulent representation by the husband to the wife was not sustained to the satisfaction of the court. Assuming without deciding that the trial judge was correct in his latter two conclusions, we do not agree that the Alabama court had obtained jurisdiction. The lower court based its decision on the jurisdictional question on the theory that the Alabama court recited in its decree that it had jurisdiction and that the appellant was estopped from attacking this in a collateral proceeding. The trial judge relies on the fact that the wife signed a waiver of notice and answer which was filed in the proceedings by local counsel in Alabama to raise the estoppel.

We do not agree with the conclusion. It is apparent from the record that the wife was never represented by counsel of her own choice before these proceedings were commenced. Neither the attorney before whom she executed the waiver of notice and answer in Washington, D. C., nor the attorney who appeared for her in Alabama was chosen by her. Further, it appears that she never had any contact with the Alabama attorney and didn’t even know his name.

In all likelihood he was chosen by either the husband or his Alabama counsel. It should also be noted that the waiver of notice and answer was executed by the wife even before the proceedings were filed in Alabama, and the wife did not appear in person before the court or actively participate in the proceedings. These are not sufficient acts to raise an estoppel. The wife was not a moving party, nor did she act in reliance on the decree; and, because of her inability to read, write, or speak the English language, she did not knowingly aid her husband in procuring the decree. 27B C.J.S. Divorce § 364.

See also Colby v. Colby, 217 Md. 35 , 141 A. 2d 506 (1957). The