E. Collins and G. Dieffenbach v. E. Crago, T. Scott, M. Garman ( 2017 )

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Eddie L. Collins and Gary Dieffenbach, :
Appellants :
:
v. : No. 1876 C.D. 2016
: Submitted: June 2, 2017
Earl Crago, Thomas Scott, Mike :
Garman, Joe Craigwell, Paul Sload, :
Kim Glaser, Carrie Ferree, Allen :
Jones, Donald Patterson, Colleen :
Alviani, Brian Williams, Greg Fajt, :
Julia Sheridan, Molly Leach, Wilbur :
Hetrick, Sarah Yerger, Commonwealth :
of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue:
and Office of Inspector General (OIG) :
and PA Office of Attorney General :
(OAG), James Honchar, Sandra Muma, :
Nancy Moskel, Mary Graham, Susan :
Price, Benita Martinez, Bill Olsen, :
Somchai Sae-Tong, Christine Fritto :
Easton :
BEFORE: HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
HONORABLE MICHAEL H. WOJCIK, Judge
HONORABLE DAN PELLEGRINI, Senior Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE SIMPSON FILED: September 15, 2017
This case returns to us following our remand to the Court of Common
Pleas of Dauphin County (trial court). See Dieffenbach v. Crago (Pa. Cmwlth.,
No. 308 C.D. 2014, filed December 5, 2014), 2014 WL 10298862 (unreported)
(Dieffenbach I). In Dieffenbach I, we determined the trial court erred in sustaining
the preliminary objections of the Department of Revenue (Department) and its
former Secretary, Gregory Fajt,1 on the ground that the suit filed by Gary
Dieffenbach and Eddie L. Collins (collectively, Plaintiffs) was barred by the statute
of limitations. We returned this matter to the trial court for consideration of the
remaining preliminary objection of Defendants Fajt and the Department as well as
consideration of whether Plaintiffs’ claims against defendants other than Fajt and
the Department,2 who filed separate preliminary objections, were barred by the
statute of limitations.
On remand, the trial court sustained the preliminary objection of
Defendants Fajt and the Department on the ground that Plaintiffs’ suit was barred
by res judicata based on the outcomes of prior federal lawsuits filed by Plaintiffs.
The trial court also sustained the preliminary objection of the other defendants on
the ground that Plaintiffs’ claims against them were barred by the statute of
limitations. Upon review, we affirm in part, reverse in part and remand for further
proceedings.
I. Background
In Dieffenbach I, we set forth the following background to this matter.
On March 15, 2005, Plaintiffs filed a writ of summons in the trial court naming the
Department and Fajt as defendants. On March 23, 2005, the sheriff’s office served
the writ of summons on Fajt and the Office of the Attorney General. Shortly
1
Fajt served as Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Department of Revenue from 2003
through 2007.
2
The other named defendants are the Office of Inspector General, the Pennsylvania
Office of Attorney General and numerous current or former Commonwealth employees.
2
thereafter, counsel from the Attorney General’s Office entered his appearance on
behalf of Fajt and the Department.
In 2006, Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a petition to withdraw, in which
counsel averred Plaintiffs filed no complaint and there was no docket activity since
the filing of the writ. After issuance of a rule to show cause, counsel was
permitted to withdraw.
In November 2008, the trial court entered a Notice of Proposed
Termination of Court Case in this matter. See Pa. R.C.P. No. 230.2. In January
2009, Plaintiff Collins filed a Reply to Notice of Proposed Termination of Court
Case, in which he indicated his intent to proceed with the case.
In March 2012, the trial court entered a second Notice of Proposed
Termination of Court Case. On May 25, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a complaint against
Fajt, the Department and 17 additional defendants. Plaintiffs alleged that, during
their employment with the Department, they were subjected to racial
discrimination, harassment and retaliation. They averred Plaintiff Collins, a black
male, complained of and opposed discriminatory practices within the Department
and was subjected to retaliation after doing so. They further alleged Plaintiff
Dieffenbach was subjected to retaliation after he testified in support of Plaintiff
Collins regarding the discrimination and retaliation.
In July 2012, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which attempted
to incorporate their entire original complaint by reference. Through their amended
3
complaint, Plaintiffs sought to add an additional 13 defendants and include several
additional allegations. In the complaint and the amended complaint, Plaintiffs
purportedly raise claims pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title
VII),3 42 U.S.C. §§1981, 1983, 1985(3) and/or 1986, the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Act (PHRA),4 and the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law.5
Of further note, in between the filing of the writ of summons and the
filing of the original and amended complaints, both Plaintiffs filed suit separately
in federal court. In particular, Plaintiff Dieffenbach filed suit against Fajt and the
Department as well as several additional defendants alleging violations of Title VII
and raising claims under 42 U.S.C. §§1981 and 1983, and the PHRA stemming
from his employment with the Department. Plaintiff Collins filed two suits in
federal court against Fajt and the Department as well as several other defendants
stemming from his employment with the Department. He asserted claims under
Title VII, 42 U.S.C. §§1981, 1983, 1985 and 1986, as well as the PHRA. All of
Plaintiffs’ federal suits were unsuccessful.
In response to Plaintiffs’ complaint filed in state court, which is at
issue here, Defendants Fajt and the Department filed preliminary objections in
which they raised the statutes of limitations and res judicata as grounds for
dismissing the complaint. Numerous other defendants separately filed preliminary
3
42 U.S.C. §§2000e–2000e–17.
4
Act of October 27, 1955, P.L. 744, as amended, 43 P.S. §§951-963.
5
Act of December 12, 1986, P.L. 1559, as amended, 43 P.S. §§1421–1428.
4
objections in which they raised the statute of limitations as a basis for dismissing
the complaint.
In Dieffenbach I, the trial court subsequently issued an opinion and
order in which it sustained the preliminary objections of Defendants Fajt and the
Department as well as the preliminary objections of the other defendants. The trial
court determined Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by the statute of limitations. The
trial court based its decision on the fact that Plaintiffs filed and served writs of
summons on Defendants Fajt and the Department in 2005, but did not file their
complaint until approximately seven years later, a period which exceeded the
limitations periods for any of the causes of action alleged. The trial court noted
that in this seven-year period, Plaintiffs did not reissue their writs. As such, the
trial court did not reach the issue of whether Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by res
judicata. Also, in its opinion, the trial court did not separately address the
preliminary objections of the defendants other than Fajt and the Department.
On appeal, this Court reversed and remanded. See Dieffenbach I. We
determined the trial court erred in concluding Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by the
applicable statutes of limitations. To that end, it was undisputed that Plaintiffs
commenced their suit by filing and serving a writ of summons on Defendants Fajt
and the Department in March 2005. This was sufficient to toll the statutes of
limitations. Id. (citing Galbraith v. Gahagen, 204 A.2d 251 (Pa. 1964); Sheets v.
Liberty Homes, Inc., 823 A.2d 1016 (Pa. Super. 2003)). As such, Plaintiffs were
not required to reissue the timely-filed writ where they effectuated proper, prompt
service of the writ on Defendants Fajt and the Department. Sheets.
5
We further explained that the fact that Plaintiffs did not file their
initial complaint until May 2012 did not render their claims against Defendants
Fajt and the Department barred by the applicable limitations periods. Defendants
Fajt and the Department were served with the writ of summons in 2005; they could
have required Plaintiffs to file their complaint earlier by ruling Plaintiffs to file a
complaint under Pa. R.C.P. No. 1037. Galbraith; Sheets. If Plaintiffs failed to
respond to the rule, the case could be dismissed for failing to respond to the rule,
not based on a violation of the applicable statutes of limitations periods. The trial
court erred to the extent it concluded otherwise.
However, as to defendants other than Fajt and the Department, despite
the fact that these defendants filed separate preliminary objections also raising the
statute of limitations, the trial court did not separately analyze those preliminary
objections. Therefore, we reversed the trial court to the extent it held Plaintiffs’
claims against Defendants Fajt and the Department were barred by the statute of
limitations, and we remanded for consideration of the remaining preliminary
objection of Defendants Fajt and the Department, which was premised on res
judicata. See Dieffenbach I. Additionally, we directed the trial court to consider
whether Plaintiffs’ claims against objecting defendants other than Fajt and the
Department, who filed separate preliminary objections, were barred by the
applicable statutes of limitations.
On remand, the trial court first determined that Plaintiffs’ claims
against the additional defendants were barred by the statute of limitations. More
particularly, unlike Defendants Fajt and the Department, the additional defendants
6
were neither named in nor served with the writ of summons in 2005; rather, they
first received notice of Plaintiffs’ suit against them in 2012 when Plaintiffs filed
their complaint and amended complaint. The trial court explained that, while the
applicable statute of limitations was tolled once the Department and Fajt were
served with the writ of summons, the additional defendants were never served with
the writ. Because Plaintiffs’ claims against the additional defendants carried a
maximum statute of limitations period of 4 years, the trial court determined, the
additional defendants correctly asserted the claims were time-barred.
As to the remaining preliminary objection raised by Defendants Fajt
and the Department, that Plaintiffs’ suit against them was barred res judicata, the
trial court explained the doctrine of res judicata precludes re-litigation of issues
decided in a prior, valid judgment in any future suit between the parties on the
same cause of action. Bell v. Twp. of Spring Brook, 30 A.3d 554 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2011). The trial court further stated that for res judicata to apply the following
criteria must be shown: the parties to the current suit are the same parties as in the
prior lawsuit; the current claim arises out of the same “transaction or occurrence”
underlying the first suit; and, the prior suit resulted in a valid, final judgment on the
merits. See Roberts v. Estate of Pursley, 700 A.2d 475, 480 (Pa. Super. 1997).
Here, the trial court stated Dieffenbach filed a federal suit against the
same defendants, alleging violations of Title VII, the First Amendment, and the
PHRA. Those claims arose out of the same conduct for which he is currently suing
the same defendants in state court. The trial court stated, the federal suit, docketed
7
at 4:09-CV-00967, was fully litigated and resulted in the entry of judgment in
favor of all defendants in June 2011.
In addition, the trial court stated, Collins filed a federal suit, docketed
at 1:99-CV-00829, against the same defendants, which involved the same claims as
those currently before the trial court. The trial court explained this suit was also
fully litigated and resulted in the entry of judgment in favor of the defendants in
February 2006. For these reasons, the trial court concluded the doctrine of res
judicata applied, and it sustained the preliminary objection of Defendants Fajt and
the Department. Plaintiffs, representing themselves, again appealed to this Court.6
6
After Plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal to this Court, the trial court directed them to
file a concise statement of the errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b).
Thereafter, in its opinion filed pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(a), the trial court noted that Plaintiffs
did not file a concise statement of the errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P.
1925(b). Nevertheless, the trial court did not state that Plaintiffs’ failure to file a 1925(b)
Statement should result in waiver of the issues raised in Plaintiffs’ appeal. Rather, the trial court
incorporated by reference its prior opinion sustaining the preliminary objections of all of the
defendants. In their brief to this Court, the defendants do not raise any issue regarding Plaintiffs’
failure to comply with the trial court’s order directing them to file a concise statement of the
errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(b). Additionally, our review of the
trial court’s docket sheet reveals no indication that the prothonotary gave Plaintiffs notice of the
trial court’s order requiring Plaintiffs to file a 1925(b) Statement as required by Pa. R.C.P. No.
236(b). Under these circumstances, we decline to find waiver. See Schlag v. Dep’t of Transp.,
Bureau of Driver Licensing, 963 A.2d 598 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009) (where docket does not reflect
that prothonotary provided notice of entry of a Rule 1925(b) order to appellant as required under
Pa. R.C.P. No. 236 (b), this Court would not conclude appellant’s issues were waived for failure
to file a Statement).
8
II. Discussion
A. Plaintiffs’ Claims Against Additional Defendants
On appeal,7 Plaintiffs primarily challenge the trial court’s
determination that their claims against the defendants other than the Department
and Fajt are barred by the applicable statutes of limitations.
The causes of action Plaintiffs purport to state in their complaint are
based on Title VII, 42 U.S.C. §§1981, 1983, 1985(3) and/or 1986, the PHRA, and
the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law.
With regard to claims brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983, “the
[U.S.] Supreme Court has concluded that such claims are best characterized as
personal injury actions for purposes of state statutes of limitations.” Burger v.
Borough of Ingram, 697 A.2d 1037, 1041 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1997) (citing Wilson v.
Garcia, 471 U.S. 261 (1985)). As such, claims brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§1983 are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in Pennsylvania. Id. (citing
42 Pa. C.S. §5524). Similarly, claims asserted under 42 U.S.C. §1985(3) are
7
In ruling on preliminary objections, courts must accept as true all well-pled allegations
of material facts as well as all inferences reasonably deducible from the facts. Stilp v.
Commonwealth, 910 A.2d 775 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2006), aff'd, 974 A.2d 491 (Pa. 2009). For
preliminary objections to be sustained, it must appear with certainty that the law will permit no
recovery, and any doubt must be resolved in favor of the non-moving party. Id.Although the statute of limitations is to be pled as new matter, it may be raised in
preliminary objections where the defense is clear on the face of the pleadings and the responding
party does not file preliminary objections to the preliminary objections. Petsinger v. Dep’t of
Labor & Indus., Office of Vocational Rehab., 988 A.2d 748 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010). Similarly, “[a]s
a general rule, res judicata is an affirmative defense and should be pleaded as new matter.”
Phila. Fraternal Order of Corr. Officers v. Rendell, 701 A.2d 600, 607 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1997).
However, if the opposing party does not challenge “the procedural propriety of another party’s
preliminary objections raising res judicata” by filing preliminary objections thereto, the “defect
is deemed waived.” Id.9
subject to the same two-year limitations period. Bougher v. Univ. of Pittsburgh,
882 F.2d 74 (3d Cir. 1989).
Further, “no action under the provisions of [42 U.S.C. §1986] shall be
sustained which is not commenced within one year after the cause of action has
accrued.” 42 U.S.C. §1986 (emphasis added). Additionally, 42 U.S.C. §1981 has
a four-year statute of limitations. McGovern v. City of Phila., 554 F.3d 114 (3d
Cir. 2009).
Under Section 4 of the Whistleblower Law, 43 P.S. §1424, an action
must be filed within 180 days of the alleged violation of the Whistleblower Law.
The 180-day time limit is mandatory; courts have no discretion to extend it.
O’Rourke v. Pa. Dep’t of Corr., 730 A.2d 1039 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1999) (citing Perry v.
Tioga Cnty., 649 A.2d 186 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1994)).
In addition, under Title VII, a private action must be filed within 90
days of the date on which the complainant has notice of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission’s decision not to pursue the administrative charge. See
42 U.S.C. §2000e-5(f)(1). The onset of the 90-day period is generally considered
to be the date on which the complainant receives a right-to-sue letter. See Burgh v.
Borough Council of Borough of Montrose, 251 F.3d 465 (3d Cir. 2001). The 90-
day period for filing a court action is treated as a statute of limitations. Id. The
Third Circuit strictly construes the 90-day period, holding, in the absence of some
equitable basis for tolling, a civil suit filed even one day late is time-barred and
may be dismissed. Id.10
“Like Title VII, the PHRA establishes two limitations periods: first,
the administrative charge must be filed by a complainant with the [Pennsylvania
Human Relations Commission (PHRC)] within 180 days of the alleged
discrimination, see [Section 9(h) of the PHRA,] 43 [P.S.] § 959(h); second, a court
action must be filed within two years of the date that the PHRC gives the
complainant notice of the closing of the administrative complaint. See [Section
12(c)(2) of the PHRA,] 43 [P.S.] § 962(c)(2).” Burgh, 251 F.3d at 475. “As in
Title VII, these periods represent the complete legislative determination as to the
appropriate timing provisions under the PHRA.” Id.Here, the factual allegations in Plaintiffs’ complaint relate to events
that occurred between 2004 and 2007. See Certified Record (C.R.), Item #13.
However, Plaintiffs did not serve any defendants other than the Department and
Fajt with either a writ of summons or the complaint and amended complaint until,
at the earliest, more than four years later, in May and July 2012 when Plaintiffs
filed their complaint and amended complaint, respectively. Plaintiffs cite no
authority for their vague assertion that service of the writ of summons on the
Department and Fajt in 2005 was sufficient to constitute service on the numerous
other defendants named in Plaintiffs’ complaint and amended complaint.
Therefore, as the trial court properly determined because the causes of action
against these additional defendants “carry a maximum statute of limitations period
of 4 years, [the] [a]dditional [d]efendants are correct to assert such claims are
barred.” Tr. Ct., Slip Op., 10/28/16, at 4.
11
Nevertheless, Plaintiffs argue that under the “continuing violations”
doctrine they may bring suit on claims that would ordinarily be time-barred as long
as they are sufficiently related to incidents that fall within the statute of limitations
period or are part of a systemic policy or practice of discrimination that took place,
at least in part, within the limitations period. This argument fails.
Under the continuing violation doctrine, discriminatory acts that are
not individually actionable may be aggregated to make out a hostile work
environment claim; such acts “can occur at any time so long as they are linked in a
pattern of actions which continues into the applicable limitations period.” Mandel
v. M & Q Packaging Corp., 706 F.3d 157, 165 (3d Cir. 2013) (citation omitted).
To allege a continuing violation, “the plaintiff must show that all acts which
constitute the claim are part of the same unlawful employment practice and that at
least one act falls within the applicable limitations period.” Id. at 165-66
(emphasis added) (citations omitted).
Here, none of the averments in Plaintiffs’ complaint relate to incidents
that occurred after 2007. As explained above, Plaintiffs did not file their complaint
(and amended complaint) until 2012, and Plaintiffs’ causes of action carry a
maximum statute of limitations period of four years. Because none of the
allegations in Plaintiffs’ complaint fall within the applicable limitations periods,
the “continuing violations” doctrine does not apply here.
12
B. Remaining Preliminary Objection of Fajt and the Department
Plaintiffs next maintain the trial court erred in sustaining the
preliminary objections of the Department and Fajt on the ground that Plaintiffs’
claims against them are barred by res judicata. Plaintiffs contend res judicata does
not apply here because: the parties in the current suit are not the same parties as in
the prior suit; and, the prior suit was not fully adjudicated. In particular, they argue
Plaintiff Collins filed a federal suit, which was not fully adjudicated.
In Wilkins Township v. Wage Policy Committee of Wilkins
Township Police Department, 162 A.3d 581, 586-87 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2017), we
recently explained:
Res judicata and collateral estoppel preclude
parties from contesting claims and issues that have been
previously litigated. In re Stevenson, 40 A.3d 1212,
1222 (Pa. 2012). Our Supreme Court has explained the
doctrine of res judicata as follows:
The term ‘res judicata’ is often sweepingly used,
by courts and litigants alike, to refer to the various
ways in which a judgment in one action will have a
binding effect in a later action. ‘Res judicata’
encompasses the modern principle of issue
preclusion (traditionally known as estoppel), which
is the common law rule that a final judgment
forecloses relitigation in a later action involving at
least one of the original parties, of an issue of fact
or law which was actually litigated and which was
necessary to the original judgment.
Clark v. Troutman, 502 A.2d 137, 139 (Pa. 1985). To
support a claim of res judicata, a party must show a
concurrence of four conditions: (1) identity of the thing
sued upon; (2) identity of the cause of action; (3) identity
of persons and parties to the action; and (4) identity of
13
the quality or capacity of the parties suing or sued. Itama
Dev. Assocs., LP v. Zoning Hearing Bd. of Twp. of
Rostraver, 132 A.3d 1040, 1049 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2016).
‘The essential inquiry is whether the ultimate and
controlling issues have been decided in a prior
proceeding in which the present parties had an
opportunity to appear and assert their rights.’ Takacs v.
Indian Lake Borough, 10 A.3d 416, 418 (Pa. Cmwlth.
2010).
The doctrine of collateral estoppel, or issue
preclusion, precludes the relitigation of issues of fact or
law determined in a prior proceeding. Mason v.
Workmen's Comp. Appeal Bd. (Hilti Fastening Sys.
Corp.), 657 A.2d 1020 (Pa. Cmwlth.), appeal denied, 668
A.2d 1140 (Pa. 1995). Collateral estoppel applies if: (1)
the issue decided in the prior case is identical to one
presented in the later case; (2) there was a final judgment
on the merits; (3) the party against whom the plea is
asserted was a party or in privity with a party in the prior
case; (4) the party or person privy to the party against
whom the doctrine is asserted had a full and fair
opportunity to actually litigate the issue in the prior
proceeding; and (5) the determination in the prior
proceeding was essential to the judgment. Liberty Mut.
Ins. Co. v. Bureau of Workers’ Comp., 37 A.3d 1264,
1270 n.12 (Pa. Cmwlth.), appeal denied, 53 A.3d 51 (Pa.
2012).
Res judicata prohibits parties involved in a prior litigation from
subsequently asserting claims in a later action that were raised, or could have been
raised, in the previous adjudication. Hillgartner v. Port Auth. of Allegheny Cnty.,
936 A.2d 131 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2007). Res judicata shields parties from the burden of
re-litigating claims with the same parties, or parties in privity with the original
litigant, and serves to protect the courts from inefficiency and confusion that re-
litigation fosters. Id.14
Further, “[a] plaintiff must recover all damages arising from given
operative facts in a single action when the first forum has the ability to give the
relief sought in the second forum.” Id. at 141 (quoting Int’l Prisoners’ Union v.
Rizzo, 356 F. Supp. 806, 810 (E.D. Pa. 1973)). Failure to raise a claim in the first
forum and subsequently asserting it in an action arising out of the same facts
constitutes a splitting of causes of action. Id.
1. Plaintiff Dieffenbach’s Prior Federal Suit
Here, both Plaintiffs filed separate, prior lawsuits in federal court. As
to Plaintiff Dieffenbach’s federal suit, he filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the
Middle District of Pennsylvania against several defendants, including the
Department and Fajt. C.R., Item #21, Ex. A. In that suit, Plaintiff Dieffenbach
alleged violations of Title VII, the PHRA, and 42 U.S.C. §§1981 and 1983,
relating to his employment with the Department, including claims of
discrimination and retaliation. Id.; see also Dieffenbach v. Crago, Civil No. 4:09-
CV-0967 (M.D. Pa. filed June 10, 2011), 2011 WL 2601507. Further, that suit,
which was litigated through the summary judgment stage, resulted in an entry of
judgment in favor of all defendants, including Fajt and the Department, and that
judgment was affirmed on appeal. C.R., Item #21, Ex. A; see Dieffenbach v. Dep’t
of Revenue, 490 Fed. Appx. 433 (3d Cir. 2012). Therefore, no error is apparent in
the trial court’s determination that Plaintiff Dieffenbach’s current suit against Fajt
and the Department is barred by res judicata.
15
2. Plaintiff Collins’ Prior Federal Suits
With regard to Plaintiff Collins, however, Defendants Fajt and the
Department candidly concede the trial court’s determination that Plaintiff Collins’
claims against them are barred res judicata and cannot be supported by the record.
More particularly, they explain, Collins filed two prior federal suits,
which Fajt and the Department relied on in support of their preliminary objections.
In 2007, he filed Collins v. Garman, No. 1:07-CV-1957 (M.D. Pa.). That suit was
dismissed for failure to timely prosecute. C.R., Item #21, Ex. C. Thus, Fajt and
the Department assert, as the trial court correctly concluded, that suit could not bar
the present suit because a dismissal for failure to prosecute is not a “final judgment
on the merits” for res judicata purposes. See Municipality of Monroeville v.
Liberatore, 736 A.2d 31 (Pa. Cmwlth 1999).
Fajt and the Department further maintain the other federal suit Collins
filed was Collins v. Sload, No. 1:CV-99-0829 (M.D. Pa.). They argue the federal
trial court entered a final judgment in favor of the defendants in that suit by
memorandum opinion and order in February 2006. C.R. Item #21, Ex. B. Like the
present case, Fajt and the Department contend Collins’ claims related to alleged
acts of discrimination against him by the Department and its employees. However,
they assert, in reviewing documents for preparing their brief to this Court, their
counsel determined the claims in Sload, while involving Collins’ employment with
the Department, were related to events that occurred in or before 1999. Fajt and
the Department argue the present case involves Plaintiff Collins’ claims arising
from 2004 through 2007. Although final judgment was not entered in Sload until
16
2006, Fajt and the Department maintain, Collins could not have raised the same
issues as in his current suit because he filed his complaint in Sload in 1999.
For these reasons, Fajt and the Department assert Plaintiff Collins’
claims against them in the present suit cannot be barred res judicata based on the
judgment in Sload. As such, they ask that this Court reverse the trial court’s order
to the extent it sustained the preliminary objections filed by Fajt and the
Department to Plaintiff Collins’ suit on the ground of res judicata and remand for
further proceedings on Plaintiff Collins’ claims against them. We agree.
To that end, in sustaining the preliminary objection of Defendants Fajt
and the Department to Plaintiff Collins’ claims against them on the ground of res
judicata, the trial court relied on the final judgment entered against Plaintiff
Collins in Sload. However, the events giving rise to Plaintiff Collins’ claims in
Sload occurred prior to the events that give rise to Plaintiff Collins’ claims in the
current suit. To that end, Plaintiff Collins filed his original and amended
complaints in Sload in 1999, and, as set forth above, the allegations in Plaintiff
Collins’ current suit relate to events that occurred between 2004 and 2007. C.R.
Item #21, Ex. B. Further, although final judgment was not entered until 2006 in
Sload, clearly Collins could not have raised the same issues as in his current suit
when he filed his complaint in Sload in 1999.
As a result, the trial court erred in sustaining the preliminary objection
of Defendants Fajt and the Department to Plaintiff Collins’ claims against them on
the ground of res judicata based on Sload. And, as the trial court noted, the
17
judgment entered in Plaintiff Collins’ second federal suit, Garman, could not bar
his current claims because Plaintiff Collins’ suit in Garman was dismissed for
failure to prosecute, and, therefore did not constitute a final judgment on the
merits. Liberatore, 736 A.2d at 34 (“It is clear from the case law that a dismissal,
even with prejudice, for failure to prosecute a claim is not intended to be res
judicata of the merits to the controversy.”). Thus, we reverse the trial court’s order
to the extent it sustained the preliminary objection of Defendants Fajt and the
Department to Plaintiff Collins’ claims against them, and we remand this matter to
the trial court for further proceedings on Plaintiff Collins’ claims against Fajt and
the Department.
III. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, the trial court’s order is affirmed to the extent
it sustained the preliminary objections of the defendants other than Defendants Fajt
and the Department to Plaintiffs’ claims against those additional defendants
because Plaintiffs’ suit against those defendants is barred by the applicable statutes
of limitations. Additionally, the trial court’s order is affirmed to the extent it
sustained the preliminary objections of Defendants Fajt and the Department to
Plaintiff Dieffenbach’s claims against them as those claims are barred res judicata.
However, the trial court’s order is reversed to the extent it sustained the
preliminary objections of Defendants Fajt and the Department to Plaintiff Collins’
claims against them on the ground those claims are barred res judicata. Noting
with approbation the candid arguments on behalf of Defendants Fajt and the
18
Department, we remand this matter to the trial court for further proceedings on
Plaintiff Collins’ claims against Defendants Fajt and the Department.
ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
19
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Eddie L. Collins and Gary Dieffenbach, :
Appellants :
:
v. : No. 1876 C.D. 2016
:
Earl Crago, Thomas Scott, Mike :
Garman, Joe Craigwell, Paul Sload, :
Kim Glaser, Carrie Ferree, Allen :
Jones, Donald Patterson, Colleen :
Alviani, Brian Williams, Greg Fajt, :
Julia Sheridan, Molly Leach, Wilbur :
Hetrick, Sarah Yerger, Commonwealth :
of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue:
and Office of Inspector General (OIG) :
and PA Office of Attorney General :
(OAG), James Honchar, Sandra Muma, :
Nancy Moskel, Mary Graham, Susan :
Price, Benita Martinez, Bill Olsen, :
Somchai Sae-Tong, Christine Fritto :
Easton :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 15th day of September, 2017, the order of the Court
of Common Pleas of Dauphin County is AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED
in part and this matter is REMANDED to the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin
County for proceedings consistent with the foregoing opinion. Jurisdiction is
relinquished.
ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge