City of Pittsburgh v. DeWald

Opinion by

Judge Crumlish, Jr.,

David DeWald and Helen, his wife, (Appellants) appeal a decree of the court of common pleas holding them both in contempt of court for failure to comply with an order directing them to cease and desist from operating a trailer park in violation of the zoning ordinance of the City of Pittsburgh.

Pivotal to our decision in this matter is the question of whether Appellants were guilty of criminal or civil contempt. One is guilty of contempt of court if his conduct tends to bring into disrespect the authority or administration of the law by a court. While conduct…