X.F. Lin v. The Board of Revision of Taxes of The City of Philadelphia , 137 A.3d 637 ( 2016 )


Menu:
  •          IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Xun F. Lin, Xian Mei Chen, Xun        :
    Jing Lin, Mei L. Liu, Bao Yin         :
    Huang, Jian Zhen Liu, and             :
    Chang Pine Yang,                      :
    Appellants   :
    :
    v.                        :
    :
    The Board of Revision of Taxes        : No. 1261 C.D. 2015
    of The City of Philadelphia           : Argued: February 8, 2016
    BEFORE:     HONORABLE RENÉE COHN JUBELIRER, Judge
    HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
    HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge
    OPINION NOT REPORTED
    MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
    SENIOR JUDGE PELLEGRINI                             FILED: February 24, 2016
    Xun F. Lin, Xian Mei Chen, Xun Jing Lin, Mei L. Liu, Bao Yin
    Huang, Jian Zhen Liu, and Chang Pine Yang (Landowners) appeal the Court of
    Common Pleas of Philadelphia County’s (trial court) order affirming the Board of
    Revision of Taxes of the City of Philadelphia’s (Board) denial of their petition
    nunc pro tunc for tax abatement with regard to certain real properties situated in
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
    I.
    In April 2012, Landowners purchased the real properties situated at
    916, 918, 920, 922 and 924 Green Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by individual
    deeds subdividing the property previously deeded as 916924 Green Street. On
    October 1, 2012, the Department of Licenses and Inspections issued Lin Xun Fu
    separate building permits for each of the properties for “construction of a 3rd floor
    addition with related interior/exterior improvements for use as a two dwelling units
    [sic] and commercial.” (Reproduced Record [R.R.] at 21a25a.) Each of the
    permits stated, “construction to be in accordance with Permit/Plans 414212.” (Id.
    at 22a24a.) Regarding applications for exemptions, each permit provided, “Tax
    Exemption (Abatement):          …Applications for all new construction and
    commercial improvements are due within sixty (60) days of permit issuance.
    Residential rehab and builder/developer applications are due by December 31 st of
    the year of permit issuance.” (Id. at 21a24a.)
    Subsequently, on July 30, 2013, the Department of Licenses and
    Inspections issued Lin Xun Fu a revised building permit with respect to 918 Green
    Street describing the permit as “Revise[d] Permit 414215 to document floor plan
    layout changes to residential portion of building.” (Id. at 26a.) The revised permit
    contains the same language as the original permits regarding the deadline for filing
    exemption applications.
    On December 23, 2013, the following applications for property tax
    abatements were filed in the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Property Assessment
    (Assessment Office): Xun Fu Lin for 916 Green Street; Xian Mei Chen and Xun
    2
    Jing Lin for 918 Green Street; Mei L. Liu and Bao Yin Huang for 920 Green
    Street; Jian Zhen Liu for 922 Green Street; and Chang Pine Yang for 924 Green
    Street.    The Assessment Office denied the applications as untimely filed,
    determining that they did not comply with the December 31st deadline governing
    applications for residential rehabs.
    Landowners then appealed to the Board, seeking nunc pro tunc
    approval1 of the tax abatement applications on the basis that they were filed
    pursuant to Section 19-1303(2) of the Philadelphia Code2 to which no deadline
    1
    “[A]n appeal nunc pro tunc is intended as a remedy to vindicate the right to an appeal
    where that right has been lost due to certain extraordinary circumstances.” Commonwealth v.
    Stock, 
    679 A.2d 760
    , 764 (Pa. 1996).
    2
    Section 19-1303(2) of the Philadelphia Code, which was created for purposes of
    preserving and improving the City’s residential neighborhoods, states in pertinent part:
    B. Eligible Neighborhoods.
    ***
    (2) Therefore, person making improvements to eligible
    residential properties within the definition contained in this
    ordinance within any of the foregoing eligible neighborhoods, may
    apply for, and the Board of Revision of Taxes may grant, a real
    estate tax exemption upon such improvements in the amount and in
    the manner hereinafter provided.
    C. Definitions.
    (1) In this Section the following definitions shall apply:
    (a) Eligible residential property shall be any
    property containing one or more dwelling units located in an
    eligible neighborhood; or any property containing one or more
    dwelling units which has been, or, upon request, is, certified by the
    (Footnote continued on next page…)
    3
    (continued…)
    Department of Licenses and Inspections or by the Department of
    Health as unfit for human habitation; or any property containing
    one or more dwelling units which has been the subject of any order
    to be vacated, condemned, or demolished by reason of
    noncompliance with laws, ordinances, or regulations of the City of
    Philadelphia.
    (b) Reserved.
    (c) Improvements shall be any repairs,
    constructions, or reconstruction, including additions and
    alterations, which have the effect of rehabilitating a structure so
    that it becomes habitable or attains a higher degree of housing
    safety, health or amenity, or is brought into compliance with the
    laws, ordinances, or regulations of the City of Philadelphia.
    Ordinary upkeep and maintenance shall not be deemed an
    improvement.
    ***
    F. Procedure for Obtaining Exemption.
    (1) At the time a building permit for the construction of an
    improvement, for which exemption is desired, is approved, the
    permit issuing division of the Department of Licenses and
    Inspection [sic] shall notify, in writing, the taxpayer of the
    possibility of an exemption under this ordinance, the taxpayer shall
    apply to the Board of Revision of Taxes for such exemption. The
    application shall be in writing upon forms prescribed by the Board
    of Revision of Taxes.
    (2) The Board of Revision of Taxes shall determine
    whether the exemption shall be granted. A copy of the approved
    request for exemption shall be forwarded by the Board of Revision
    of Taxes to the taxpayer.
    (3) The Board of Revision of Taxes in determining whether
    the exemption shall be granted shall inquire of the Department of
    Revenue of the City of Philadelphia whether the taxpayer is
    indebted to the City or School District of Philadelphia for or on
    (Footnote continued on next page…)
    4
    applies. The Board, after reviewing the parties’ memoranda of law, affirmed
    without further explanation, and an appeal was taken to the trial court.
    On the civil cover sheet that was filed in the trial court, the plaintiff’s
    name is listed as “XUN F. LIN,” and the total number of plaintiffs is denoted as
    one. (Certified Record [C.R.], Civil Cover Sheet.) The notice of appeal filed with
    the trial court also listed Xun Fu Lin as the sole appellant and stated, in pertinent
    part: “Appellant, Xun Fu Lin, hereby appeals the adjudication of the BOARD OF
    (continued…)
    account of any delinquent taxes, charges, fees, rents or claims.
    The Board of Revision of Taxes shall withhold approval of the
    application until the taxpayer pays or enters into an agreement with
    the City of Philadelphia to pay the tax, charge, fee, rent or claim.
    The Board of Revision of Taxes shall withdraw approval where the
    taxpayer fails to pay delinquent taxes, charges, fees, rents or claims
    during the exemption period or fails to comply with his agreement
    to pay as provided herein. Any withholding or withdrawal of the
    exemption by the Board of Revision of Taxes pursuant to this
    subsection shall not be construed to stay the tolling of the
    exemption period for which a taxpayer would otherwise qualify.
    (4) Upon completion of the improvement, the taxpayer
    shall notify the Board of Revision of Taxes, so that the Board may
    assess the improvements separately for the purpose of calculating
    the amount of assessment eligible for exemption.
    (5) The Board of Revision of Taxes shall notify the
    taxpayer of the amount of assessment eligible for exemption.
    (6) Appeals from the reassessment and the amount eligible
    for the exemption may be taken by the City or by the Taxpayer as
    provided by law.
    Philadelphia Code §19-1303(2).
    5
    REVISION OF TAXES made on November 31, 2013….”                      (C.R., Notice of
    Appeal.) Nonetheless, the properties at issue were indicated to be 916924 Green
    Street.
    During oral argument, Landowners’ counsel presented argument with
    regard to all five properties, stating “This is a little complicated because it was one
    property subdivided into five recently, so there’s five building permits here, but
    somehow the [Board] denied it under one account number for the unsubdivided
    property, but there’s five.” (R.R. at 105a.) At no time before the trial court did
    opposing counsel object or otherwise suggest that the other Landowners were not
    parties to the appeal.
    Ultimately, the trial court affirmed the Board’s decision, reasoning
    that pursuant to Philadelphia Code Section 19-1303(2), the Department of Licenses
    and Inspection was required to and did notify Landowners of the possibility of an
    exemption, including the requirement that applications be filed by December 31st
    of the year in which the permits were issued—that is, December 31, 2012.
    Because Landowners’ applications were not filed until December 2013, nearly one
    year after they were due, the trial court found them untimely. Because the trial
    court determined that the Philadelphia Code vests the grant or denial of tax
    abatements with the Board, as well as the manner in which they are reviewed and
    granted, the trial court upheld the Board’s imposition of the December 31 st
    deadline, despite the fact that the deadline did not expressly appear in Section 19-
    1303(2) of the Code. Further, the trial court determined that Section 8-407 of the
    Philadelphia Code, which was once a component of the Plumbing Code, no longer
    6
    existed as it was repealed in the 1990s and, at any rate, it was inapplicable. With
    respect to nunc pro tunc relief, the trial court found that regardless of whether
    Landowners were confused and, therefore, believed that a 60-day deadline applied,
    they did not satisfy even that deadline. This appeal followed.3
    II.
    A.
    On appeal,4 we first address the School District of Philadelphia’s
    (District)5 contention that because Xun F. Lin is the only Landowner who is
    properly a party to this appeal, the only issues before us are those involving 916
    3
    Mr. Lin filed a motion for reconsideration, asserting the following, additional
    arguments: (1) because the application for 918 Green Street was revised on July 30, 2013, the
    appropriate deadline for that property was December 31, 2013; (2) because all of the building
    permits are related, the revised permit for 918 Green Street effectively revised all permits,
    thereby providing a deadline of December 31, 2013, for all properties; and (3) nunc pro tunc
    relief is appropriate because, in addition to being confused by the lack of a deadline in Section
    19-1303(2)(F)(1) of the Philadelphia Code, that section was amended sometime during 2012 to
    change the deadline from 60 days to December 31st, thereby compounding Landowners’
    confusion. In a supplemental memorandum of law, Mr. Lin also asserted that Section 8-407 of
    the Philadelphia Code “prohibits administrative agencies such as [the Assessment Office] from
    legislating or promulgating regulations without notice and public hearings thereon.”
    (Supplemental Memorandum of Law, at 2.) Although Mr. Lin cited Section 8-407 of the
    Philadelphia Code, he actually relied upon and quoted the language contained in Section 8-407
    of the Philadelphia Home Charter. Regardless, the trial court denied this motion.
    4
    In cases where the trial court does not permit an untimely appeal to be filed nunc pro
    tunc, our review is limited to determining whether the trial court abused its discretion or
    committed an error of law. Maxion v. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver
    Licensing, 
    728 A.2d 442
    , 444 n.3 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1999).
    5
    By order dated December 29, 2015, this Court granted the District’s motion to be
    deemed a party in the action, noting that it was a party before the trial court.
    7
    Green Street. Specifically, the District claims that although all Landowners were
    parties to the appeal before the Board, only Mr. Lin appealed the Board’s decision
    to the trial court and, therefore, only he is a proper party in the instant appeal.
    This argument was not raised before the trial court.             Normally,
    “[i]ssues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first
    time on appeal.” Pa. R.A.P. 302(a); see Siegfried v. Borough of Wilson, 
    695 A.2d 892
    , 894 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1997) (“The appellate court may sua sponte refuse to
    address an issue raised on appeal that was not raised and preserved below….”).
    Despite the fact that Mr. Lin was the only appellant listed on the civil cover sheet,
    his counsel, who represented all Landowners, advanced both written and oral
    arguments in favor of all of his clients. Indeed, during oral argument, he made
    clear that five properties were at issue, and the trial court issued a ruling and
    opinion which substantively addressed all of the properties. At no point in time did
    opposing counsel object.
    Countervailing the normal argument that issues not raised below will
    not be considered, a party’s failure to file a timely appeal “renders [its] subsequent
    appeals untimely and deprives [our Supreme Court] and the lower courts of
    jurisdiction to grant the relief requested in those appeals.” Lincoln Philadelphia
    Realty Associates I v. Board of Revision of Taxes of City and County of
    Philadelphia, 
    758 A.2d 1178
    , 1192 (Pa. 2000). As such, where a jurisdictional
    issue is present, a court may raise the matter sua sponte, and it is clear that
    jurisdiction may not be conferred by the parties’ failure to raise the issue below.
    Lashe v. Northern York County School District, 
    417 A.2d 260
    , 263 (Pa. Cmwlth.
    8
    1980) (en banc); see also Pheasant Run Civic Organization v. Board of
    Commissioners of Penn Township, 
    430 A.2d 1231
    , 1233 n.4 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1981).
    In this case, it is clear from the caption and from the civil cover sheet that Mr. Lin
    is the only Landowner who appealed to the trial court.            Because the other
    Landowners were not parties to the appeal pending before the trial court, they
    cannot now join the appeal pending before this Court.
    B.
    Having determined that only Mr. Lin is a party to the instant appeal,
    we next address his argument that the tax abatement application with respect to
    916 Green Street was timely filed in December 2013 because a revised permit was
    issued for the work in July of that year. In support of this argument, Mr. Lin
    highlights the language of the revised permit, stating: “Applications for all new
    construction and commercial improvements are due within sixty (60) days of
    permit issuance. Residential rehab and builder/developer applications are due by
    December 31st of the year of permit issuance.” (R.R. at 26a.) In other words, Mr.
    Lin suggests that each time a permit upon which a tax abatement application is
    based is amended, the deadline for filing the application extends.
    1.
    Notably, this argument was not presented before the Board and was
    raised before the trial court for the first time in Mr. Lin’s motion for
    reconsideration, after the trial court issued its decision. This Court has previously
    held that where an issue which could have been raised earlier is raised for the first
    time in a motion for reconsideration, it is not preserved for appellate review. See
    9
    Bedford Downs Management Corporation v. State Harness Racing Commission,
    
    926 A.2d 908
    , 924 (Pa. 2007) (“[I]ssues raised for the first time in a
    reconsideration request, after the agency has issued its adjudication, cannot be
    regarded as raising the issues while the matter was before the agency.”); Ramsey v.
    Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board, 
    572 A.2d 21
    , 25 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1990);
    Frankford Hospital v. Department of Public Welfare, 
    466 A.2d 260
    , 262 (Pa.
    Cmwlth. 1983); see also Rabatin v. Allied Glove Corporation, 
    24 A.3d 388
    , 391
    (Pa. Super. 2011) (“While the issue was included in the subsequently filed motion
    for reconsideration, issues raised in motions for reconsideration are beyond the
    jurisdiction of this Court and thus may not be considered by this Court on
    appeal.”).   But see Cagnoli v. Bonnell, 
    611 A.2d 1194
    , 119596 (Pa. 1992)
    (suspending this general rule where an “appellant’s first opportunity to raise these
    issues was at the time of filing his [m]otion for [r]econsideration.”). Not only did
    Landowners fail to raise this issue before the Board, Mr. Lin also failed to raise it
    before the trial court until after a decision was issued in the matter, despite the fact
    that there was ample opportunity to do so from the outset.
    2.
    Regardless, we find the argument without merit. Article VIII, Section
    2(b)(iii) of the Pennsylvania Constitution authorizes the General Assembly to
    “[e]stablish standards and qualifications by which local taxing authorities may
    make uniform special tax provisions applicable to a taxpayer for a limited period of
    time to encourage improvement of deteriorating property or areas by an individual,
    association or corporation, or to encourage industrial development by a non-profit
    corporation.” Pa. Const. art. VIII, §2(b)(iii). Pursuant to this authorization, the
    10
    General Assembly enacted the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act
    (Act)6, Section 6(a) of which sets forth the procedure for obtaining an exemption:
    Any person desiring tax exemption pursuant to
    ordinances or resolutions adopted pursuant to this act,
    shall notify each local taxing authority granting such
    exemption in writing on a form provided by it submitted
    at the time he secures the building permit, or if no
    building permit or other notification of new construction
    or improvement is required, at the time he commences
    construction. A copy of the exemption request shall be
    forwarded to the board of assessment and revision of
    taxes or other appropriate assessment agency. The
    assessment agency shall, after completion of the new
    construction or improvement, assess separately the new
    construction or improvement and calculate the amounts
    of the assessment eligible for tax exemption in
    accordance with the limits established by the local taxing
    authorities and notify the taxpayer and the local taxing
    authorities of the reassessment and amounts of the
    assessment eligible for exemption. Appeals from the
    reassessment and the amounts eligible for the exemption
    may be taken by the taxpayer or the local taxing
    authorities as provided by law.
    72 P.S. §4727(a) (emphasis added).
    Further, Section 2 of the Act, 72 P.S. §4723, provides, “This act shall
    be construed to authorize local taxing authorities to exempt new construction in
    deteriorated areas of economically depressed communities and improvements to
    certain deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business property thereby
    6
    Act of December 1, 1977, P.L. 237, as amended, 72 P.S. §§47224727.
    11
    implementing Article VIII, section 2(b)(iii) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.”
    72 P.S. §4723.
    The plain language of Section 6(a), pursuant to which the Philadelphia
    City Council enacted Section 19-1303(2) of the Philadelphia Code, makes clear
    that applications for exemptions must be submitted “at the time [an applicant]
    secures the building permit.” 72 P.S. §4727(a). It contains no language providing
    for extensions based upon the issuance of revised permits. Carried to its logical
    end, Mr. Lin’s interpretation would enable an applicant who is time-barred from
    filing an application to set the deadline anew, simply by making a trivial change to
    its plans.
    There may well be circumstances, including those of the instant case,
    in which a revised permit is issued based upon plans amended in good faith.
    However, both Section 6(a) of the Act and Section 19-1303(2)(F)(4)(6) of the
    Philadelphia Code account for this situation. Specifically, Section 6(a) of the Act
    provides that after completion of the improvement, the assessment agency must
    assess the improvement and calculate the amount of the assessment eligible for tax
    exemption. If the landowner disagrees with the assessment, he may appeal to the
    local taxing authority. In this way, assessments are based on the improvement as
    actually completed, not as envisioned in the original plans.
    In the event an assessment is calculated based on the latter instead of
    the former, a landowner’s remedy is to file an appeal, during which a revised
    building permit would certainly be relevant for purposes of establishing the nature
    12
    of the improvement and, therefore, the calculation of the exemption-eligible
    assessment. However, the fact that a revised permit is issued has no relevance to
    the due date of an application, as that application is not acted upon until
    completion of the work—be it pursuant to the original permit or a revised permit.
    C.
    In passing, Mr. Lin compares Section 19-1303(2) of the Philadelphia
    Code to Section 19-1303(3) regarding real-estate tax exemptions on improvements
    to deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business properties. He claims
    that because Section 19-1303(3) specifies a 60-day deadline for filing abatement
    applications,7 whereas Section 19-1303(2) is silent, no deadline governs the filing
    of applications for abatements with regard to improvements on residential
    properties. This position implies that a residential property owner who makes an
    improvement may file an application for abatement at any time, including after the
    exemption period began and after the associated tax years have ended.
    7
    Section 19-1303(3)(D)(3)(a) applies to improvements to deteriorated industrial,
    commercial and other business properties and provides, in pertinent part:
    At the time a building permit for the construction of an
    improvement is applied for, the Department of Licenses and
    Inspections shall notify the applicant by a printed notice of the
    possibility of a tax exemption under this bill. Within sixty (60)
    days of the date the building permit is issued, the taxpayer shall
    apply to the Board of Revision of Taxes for such exemption. The
    application shall be in writing upon forms prescribed by the Board
    of Revision of Taxes and must be filed within the specified time
    period.
    Philadelphia Code §19-1303(3)(D)(3)(a).
    13
    The absence of a provision in the Philadelphia Code regarding when
    applications for residential exemptions must be filed does not mean that there are
    no filing deadlines. Section 6(a) of the Act, pursuant to which Section 19-1303(2)
    of the Philadelphia Code was enacted, requires abatement applications to be
    “submitted at the time [one] secures the building permit.” 72 P.S. §4727(a). Mr.
    Lin’s submission nearly 15 months after he obtained a building permit does not
    satisfy this criteria alone.
    D.
    Next, Mr. Lin asserts that in interpreting Section 19-1303(2) of the
    Philadelphia Code to impose a 60-day deadline or a December 31st deadline, the
    Assessment Office has violated Section 8-407 of the Philadelphia Home Charter8
    8
    Specifically, Section 8-407 of the Philadelphia Home Charter states, in pertinent part:
    § 8-407. Regulations.
    Except as otherwise provided in this charter, in the adoption of
    regulations, the following procedure shall apply:
    (a) The department, board or commission promulgating the
    regulations shall first submit them for approval to the Law
    Department and upon receiving such approval file them with the
    Department of Records where they shall be available for public
    inspection for thirty days;
    (b) The Department of Records shall give public notice of
    such filing by advertising in the three daily newspapers of the City
    having the largest paid circulation the fact that regulations relating
    to a particular subject have been filed with it, and that any person
    affected thereby may request a hearing. Council may by ordinance
    adopted by a vote of two-thirds of all of its members specify
    different or additional requirements for providing public notice of
    the filing of regulations and the availability of a hearing, in
    (Footnote continued on next page…)
    14
    prohibiting administrative agencies from legislating and from promulgating
    regulations outside of the proper rulemaking procedures.
    Essentially, Mr. Lin argues that because Section 19-1303(2)(F)(4)(6)
    of the Philadelphia Code does not provide for a specific deadline, the Assessment
    Office has “legislated” by imposing a deadline of either 60 days from the date on
    which a permit was issued or on December 31st of the year in which a permit was
    issued. However, as we discussed above, this issue is waived because it was not
    presented in any context before the Board, and it was raised before the trial court
    for the first time in Mr. Lin’s motion for reconsideration. See Bedford Downs
    Management Corporation, 926 A.2d at 924; Ramsey, 572 A.2d at 25; Frankford
    Hospital, 466 A.2d at 262.
    Further, the record is devoid of any evidence supporting the argument
    that the deadlines were not established in accordance with Section 8-407 of the
    Philadelphia Home Charter—not unsurprising given that this argument was not
    raised until after the trial court rendered its decision.              The only statements
    regarding the violation of the Home Charter which, albeit, at times, was incorrectly
    (continued…)
    accordance with applicable law. Any such ordinance may include
    a requirement that notice be posted on the City’s website….
    Philadelphia Home Charter §8-407(a)(b); see also Philadelphia Home Charter §8-407 ann. 2
    (“Administrative agencies may not legislate. However, they may when appropriately authorized
    by this Charter, or by statute or ordinance, define and apply through administrative regulations
    standards established by this Charter or by legislation. Thus regulations afford a means for an
    administrative agency to exercise powers and to perform duties of law administration and
    enforcement imposed upon and vested in it by this Charter or by statute or ordinance.”).
    15
    identified as the Philadelphia Code, appear in the supplemental memorandum of
    law filed with the trial court, the statement of errors complained of on appeal, and
    in Mr. Lin’s brief before this Court. However, it is axiomatic that statements in
    briefs or legal memoranda do not constitute evidence of record upon which
    decisions can be based. See Erie Indemnity Company v. Coal Operators Casualty
    Company, 
    272 A.2d 465
    , 467 (Pa. 1971) (“[B]riefs are not part of the record, and
    the court may not consider facts not established by the record.”); Sanders v.
    Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Marriott Corporation), 
    756 A.2d 129
    , 133
    (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000) (“[B]riefs filed in this [C]ourt are not part of the evidentiary
    record and assertions of fact therein which are not supported in the evidentiary
    record created below may not form the basis of any action by this [C]ourt.”).9
    E.
    Insofar as Mr. Lin claims that he was entitled to nunc pro tunc relief
    because the Assessment Office’s permit form, advising of the deadlines, was
    confusing and misleading, we disagree. While a notice which is confusing with
    regard to deadlines for seeking administrative relief may serve as a basis for
    granting nunc pro tunc relief, see Dwyer v. Department of Transportation, Bureau
    9
    Moreover, it is questionable whether Mr. Lin’s statement of errors complained of on
    appeal was sufficient to preserve this issue for our review in that it incorrectly relied upon
    Section 8-407 of the Philadelphia Code rather than the Philadelphia Home Charter. Vague
    statements of errors complained of on appeal are waived because “[w]hen a trial court has to
    ‘guess’ what issues an appellant is appealing, that is not enough for meaningful review.” Caln
    Nether Co. v. Board of Supervisors, Thornbury Township, 
    840 A.2d 484
    , 490 (Pa. Cmwlth.),
    appeal denied, 
    856 A.2d 835
     (Pa. 2004). Here, it is clear that the trial court had to “guess”
    which provision Mr. Lin relied upon, as it noted that the relevant portion of the Plumbing Code
    was previously repealed. Ultimately, however, we need not address this issue as Mr. Lin
    otherwise failed to preserve it.
    16
    of Driver Licensing, 
    849 A.2d 1274
     (Pa. Cmwlth. 2004) (en banc), here, any
    alleged confusion is immaterial. As the trial court highlighted, it is irrelevant
    whether Mr. Lin mistakenly believed that a 60-day deadline applied to his
    application rather than the December 31, 2012 deadline, because he failed to
    satisfy either deadline and, in fact, did not file an abatement application until
    December 23, 2013, nearly a year after it was due.
    Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion or
    commit an error of law in interpreting the deadlines imposed pursuant to Section
    19-1303(2) of the Philadelphia Code and, therefore, we affirm its decision denying
    Mr. Lin’s appeal.
    DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge
    17
    IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Xun F. Lin, Xian Mei Chen, Xun        :
    Jing Lin, Mei L. Liu, Bao Yin         :
    Huang, Jian Zhen Liu, and             :
    Chang Pine Yang,                      :
    Appellants   :
    :
    v.                       :
    :
    The Board of Revision of Taxes        :
    of The City of Philadelphia           : No. 1261 C.D. 2015
    ORDER
    AND NOW, this 24th day of February, 2016, the order of the Court
    of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County in the above-referenced matter is hereby
    affirmed.
    DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 1261 C.D. 2015

Citation Numbers: 137 A.3d 637

Judges: Pellegrini, Senior Judge

Filed Date: 2/24/2016

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 1/12/2023