1720 Sansom Street v. Correll, M. ( 2017 )

J-A19033-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
1720 SANSOM STREET, LP, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant :
:
v. :
:
MATTHEW CORRELL : No. 1209 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Judgment June 3, 2016
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
Civil Division, No(s): 140500361
1720 SANSOM STREET, LP : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
v. :
:
MATTHEW CORRELL, :
:
Appellant : No. 1210 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Judgment June 3, 2016
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
Civil Division, No(s): 00361
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., DUBOW and MUSMANNO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED OCTOBER 12, 2017
1720 Sansom Street, LP (“Plaintiff”), appeals, and Matthew Correll
(“Correll”) cross-appeals, from the judgment that ultimately determined the
ownership of, and boundary line between, their respective properties. We
affirm.
According to Plaintiff’s Complaint, by a deed recorded on December
29, 2011, Susannah H. Hall conveyed to Correll property located at 1715
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Moravian Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (“the Correll Property”), for the
sum of $252,000.00.
By a deed recorded on February 22, 2013, Yuko Omori (“Omori”)
conveyed, to Plaintiff,1 adjoining properties located at 1717 Moravian Street
and 1720 Sansom Street in Philadelphia (“Plaintiff’s Property”), for the sum
of $1.00.
In April 2012, Plaintiff’s Property2 was substantially damaged in a fire.
After the resolution of unrelated insurance issues, Plaintiff contracted with
Matthew DiPasquale, Inc. (“DiPasquale”), to commence reconstruction of
Plaintiff’s Property. During this reconstruction, Plaintiff discovered that a
third-floor powder room on the Correll Property, with its plumbing and
fixtures located on the second floor (collectively, “the Improvements”), was
partially located on Plaintiff’s Property.3 A survey conducted by Plaintiff’s
architect confirmed that the Improvements encroached on Plaintiff’s Property
by approximately 18 inches. A deck on the Correll Property (“the Deck”)
also was found to encroach on Plaintiff’s Property.
1 Omori is a limited partner of Plaintiff.
2 Although Omori owned the property at the time, we will refer to her
property as “Plaintiff’s Property” for clarity.
3 A subsequent inspection by Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and
Inspections determined that the Improvements were built without the
issuance of a building permit.
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On May 6, 2014, Plaintiff initiated the instant action by filing a Petition
for a preliminary injunction and a Complaint for equitable relief based upon
Correll’s alleged trespass upon Plaintiff’s Property. Correll counterclaimed,
seeking to quiet title to the Improvements by application of the consentable
line doctrine, as the Improvements had been in existence for over 21 years.
Correll additionally sought to quiet title to the Deck.
On February 12, 2016, after a bench trial, the trial court determined
that Correll is the owner of the Deck and the Improvements. The trial court
directed that Correll pay the costs of installing a permanent firewall between
the Correll Property and Plaintiff’s Property.
Plaintiff filed a post-trial Motion for judgment n.o.v., challenging the
trial court’s application of the consentable line doctrine and its denial of relief
for Correll’s trespass onto Plaintiff’s Property. Correll filed a post-trial Motion
to clarify and amend the trial court’s February 12, 2016 Order. Specifically,
Correll sought an amendment of the Order to reflect that the plumbing for
the Improvements, located on the second floor of Plaintiff’s Property, should
be awarded to him, and a clarification regarding the location of the proposed
firewall. Correll further challenged the requirement that he pay the costs
associated with installation of a firewall between Plaintiff’s Property and the
Correll Property. Finally, Correll asserted that Plaintiff already had
constructed a temporary firewall, and it was unclear as to what Correll was
to do with that firewall.
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On March 16, 2016, the trial court entered an Order amending its
February 12, 2016 Order, and declaring Correll to be the legal owner of “the
[D]eck and the third floor [Improvements], including the plumbing servicing
it on the second floor of [the Correll Property] and extending into [Plaintiff’s
Property.]” Trial Court Order, 3/16/16, at ¶ 6. The trial court’s Order
further clarified that Correll was to construct the firewall between Plaintiff’s
Property and the Correll Property, “on the property line which reflects the
ownership as mandated by this Order.” Id. at ¶ 8. The trial court directed
the parties to submit proposed reformed deeds for all of the affected
properties, but stayed that portion of the Order pending appeal. Thereafter,
Plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal, after which Correll filed a cross-appeal of
the trial court’s March 16, 2016 Order. The trial court subsequently entered
Judgment.4
In its appeal, Plaintiff presents the following claims for our review:
1. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and exceed its equitable
power when it applied the doctrine of de minimis non curat lex to
determine that [Correll] is the owner of the [I]mprovements?
[2]. Did the trial court abuse its discretion when it refused to
consider the post[-]trial findings of Code enforcement violations
found by the municipal court?
[3]. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and exceed its
equitable power when it barred Plaintiff’s claims for trespass of
4
“A notice of appeal filed after the announcement of a determination but
before the entry of an appealable order shall be treated as filed after such
entry and on the date thereof.” Commonwealth v. Cooper, 27 A.3d 994,
1008 (Pa. 2011) (citation omitted).
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the [Improvements] pursuant to the application of the doctrine
of laches?
[4]. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and commit an error
of law when it denied Plaintiff’s request for a permanent
injunction?
[5]. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and commit an error
of law when it denied Plaintiff’s request for a directed verdict?
Brief for Appellant at 6-7 (some capitalization omitted, numbering changed).
Before addressing Plaintiff’s claims, we observe that, in its Statement
of Questions Involved, Plaintiff challenges the trial court’s application of the
de minimis doctrine. Id. at 6. In the Argument section of its brief,
however, Plaintiff generally argues that the trial court improperly declared
Correll to be the owner of the property encompassing the Improvements.
Id. at 14. Under this heading, Plaintiff argues that the trial court improperly
(a) determined that Correll established a consentable boundary line; (b)
determined that Correll failed to establish the requisite 21 years of adverse
use; and (c) supplanted rules of law with equitable principles. See id. at 14,
25, 28. In subsection (c), Plaintiff addresses the claim set forth in his
Statement of Questions Involved. Although we could deemed waived any
issues not set forth in Plaintiff’s Statement of Questions Involved, we will
address the claims set forth in the Argument section of Plaintiff’s brief.
Counsel, however, is reminded of Rule of Appellate Procedure 2116(a). See
Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a) (directing that “[n]o question will be considered unless it
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is stated in the statement of questions involved or is fairly suggested
thereby.”)
In its first claim, Plaintiff challenges the trial court’s determination that
Correll had established ownership of the Improvements and the Deck by
application of the consentable line doctrine. Brief for Appellant at 14.
Plaintiff contends that neither Plaintiff nor Correll recognized a new boundary
line, 18 inches away from the deeded property line. Id. at 16. Plaintiff
argues that the positioning of interior walls, within one’s own property, is not
equivalent to recognizing a boundary line. Id. at 17. Plaintiff directs our
attention to evidence that Plaintiff and Correll were not aware that the
Improvements were placed over the boundary line of Plaintiff’s Property. Id.
at 16. Plaintiff also directs our attention to testimony of owners in the
parties’ respective chains of title that they were unaware of any
encroachment by the Improvements onto Plaintiff’s Property. See id. at 18,
20 (wherein Plaintiff points out (1) Correll’s testimony that he was unaware
of whether the Improvements matched the description set forth in the
Movarian Street Deed, (2) Hall’s testimony that she had no knowledge that
the Improvements had been constructed and installed beyond the Correll
Property’s boundary line, and (3) Dr. Peter Hunt’s (“Dr. Hunt”) testimony
that he had no knowledge of any alterations by Correll after the time of his
transfer of the property to Hall).
We keep in mind the applicable standard of review:
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In equity matters, appellate review is based on a determination
by the appellate court of such questions as whether (1) sufficient
evidence supports the findings of the judge; (2) the factual
inferences and legal conclusions based on those findings are
correct; and (3) there has been an abuse of discretion or an
error of law. Generally, in an appeal from a trial court sitting in
equity, the standard of review is rigorous. The function of this
Court on an appeal from an adjudication in equity is not to
substitute its view for that of the lower tribunal; our task is
rather to determine whether a judicial mind, on due
consideration of all of the evidence, as a whole, could reasonably
have reached the conclusion of that tribunal.
Omicron Sys., Inc. v. Weiner, 860 A.2d 554, 557-58 (Pa. Super. 2004)
(citation and internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, we are “bound
by the trial court’s determination concerning the credibility of witnesses and
weight to be accorded the evidence.” Marchetti v. Karpowick, 667 A.2d
724, 726 (Pa. Super. 1995) (citation omitted).
“Based upon a rule of repose sometimes known as the doctrine of
consentable line, the existence of such a boundary may be proved either by
dispute and compromise between the parties or recognition and
acquiescence by one party of the right and title of the other.” Moore v.
Moore, 921 A.2d 1, 4 (Pa. Super. 2007).
“Acquiescence,” in the context of a dispute over real property,
denotes passive conduct on the part of the lawful owner
consisting of failure on his part to assert his paramount rights or
interests against the hostile claims of the adverse user. A
determination of consentable line by acquiescence requires a
finding 1) that each party has claimed the land on his side of the
line as his own[;] and 2) that he or she has occupied the land on
his side of the line for a continuous period of 21 years…. [W]hen
a consentable line is established, the land behind such a line
becomes the property of each neighbor regardless of what the
deed specifies. In essence, each neighbor gains marketable title
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to that land behind the line, some of which may not have been
theirs under their deeds.
Id. at 5 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). The parties need
not have specifically consented to the location of the line. Sorg v.
Cunningham, 687 A.2d 846, 849 (Pa. Super. 1997). “It must nevertheless
appear that for the requisite twenty-one years[,] a line was recognized and
acquiesced in as a boundary by adjoining landowners.” Plauchak v.
Boling, 653 A.2d 671, 675 (Pa. Super. 1995) (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted). Proof of passage of the statutory period may be
shown by tacking the current claimant’s tenancy to that of his predecessor.
Moore, 921 A.2d at 5.
We have reviewed the parties’ briefs and the certified record. We
agree with the sound reasoning of the trial court, as set forth in its Opinion,
regarding this claim. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at 4-5. We
therefore affirm on the basis of the trial court’s Opinion with regard to
Plaintiff’s first claim of error, see id., with the following addendum.
Plaintiff contends that a consentable line has not been recognized
above a properties’ surface. Brief for Appellant at 21. However, a property
owner’s “interest in exclusive possession is not limited to the surfaces; it
extends above and below.” Jones v. Wagner, 624 A.2d 166, 169 (Pa.
Super. 1993) (citations omitted). As stated above, the consentable line
doctrine is a rule of repose that may be used to determine a property’s
boundary line(s). Moore, 921 A.2d at 4. We can find no case law limiting
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application of the doctrine to surface rights only. Consequently, we cannot
conclude that the trial court erred in finding a consentable line above the
surface of the property.
Plaintiff also claims that Correll failed to satisfy the 21-year statutory
requirement for application of the consentable line doctrine. Brief for
Appellant at 25. At trial, Omori testified that she and her husband acquired
Plaintiff’s Property on October 27, 1994.5 N.T., 10/1/15, at 117. Omori
explained that she subsequently deeded Plaintiff’s Property to Plaintiff, of
which she is a limited partner. Id. at 118. Omori stated that she never
gave anyone permission to use a portion of Plaintiff’s Property, while she
owned it. Id. at 135. Omori explained that she used the third floor of her
property, up to the wall dividing Plaintiff’s Property from the Correll
Property, from 1997 to 2006. Id. at 148. During her ownership, Omori
believed that she owned up to the wall on the east and west side of
Plaintiff’s Property. Id. at 165.
James Campbell (“Campbell”), Plaintiff’s expert architect, testified that
in February or March 2013, he was asked by Omori to “come over to take a
look at a fire-damaged building” on Plaintiff’s Property. N.T., 10/2/15, at
27. Campbell stated that as part of that work, he engaged surveyor David
Landrecht (“Landrecht”) to survey the property. Id. at 35. Landrecht
testified that he surveyed Plaintiff’s Property on February 6, 2014. N.T.,
5 Omori’s husband died on December 14, 1995.
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8/30/15, at 65. Landrecht acknowledged a “common wall” between the
Correll Property and Plaintiff’s Property. Id. at 73.
Dr. Hunt, an oral surgeon, testified that he owned the Correll Property
from September 4, 1987 to 2004. N.T., 6/17/14, at 20. According to Dr.
Hunt, the third-floor bathroom existed at the time he purchased the Correll
Property. Id. at 12-13. Dr. Hunt further testified that he made no changes
to the bathroom during his period of ownership. Id. at 14, 17. In addition,
Dr. Hunt testified that the third-floor bathroom existed at the time he sold
the Correll Property to Susannah Hall (“Hall”), Correll’s predecessor in title.
Id. at 15. Dr. Hunt confirmed that the Correll Property included the Deck, at
the time of his purchase, and on the date that he conveyed the Correll
Property to Hall. Id. at 15-16. Dr. Hunt testified that he used the bathroom
and the Deck during his period of ownership. Id. at 17.
Hall confirmed that the Improvements and the Deck existed at the
time she purchased the Correll Property. N.T., 10/6/15, at 58. Although
Hall renovated the Improvements by installing bathroom tile, she did not
move the walls or plumbing, and retained the same sink and toilet. Id. at
62. Hall performed some work on the Deck, but did not expand the Deck’s
size. Id. at 63. Hall used the Improvements and Deck during her
ownership of the Correll Property. Id. at 63-64. Hall sold the Correll
Property to Correll on December 9, 2011. Id. at 63. During her period of
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ownership, Hall considered the Improvements and the Deck to be owned by
her. Id. at 64, 66.
Suzin Kline (“Kline”), a real estate agent, testified that she
represented the seller of the Correll Property during the sale to Hall, and
from Hall to Correll. Id. at 72. According to Kline, the listing for the Correll
Property included a reference to the Improvements as a “one-half bath.” Id.
at 74. When Hall purchased the Correll Property, Kline personally observed
the Improvements. Id. at 76. The listing for the Correll Property also
included a reference to the Deck. Id. at 77.
Finally, Correll testified as to his belief that, at the time he purchased
the Correll Property, “when I walked through with my realtor, I believed
[that] all [of] the property within the house, as well as the [D]eck, was
considered to be my property.” N.T., 10/5/15, at 120. Correll testified to
his belief that the other side of the wall of the Improvements was Plaintiff’s
Property. Id. at 148-149. Correll also acknowledged his use of the
Improvements and the Deck throughout his ownership of the Correll
Property. Id. at 151-52.
Thus, the evidence supports the trial court’s findings that each party
has (1) claimed the land on their respective sides of the Improvements and
the Deck as their own; and (2) occupied their respective side of the line for a
continuous period of 21 years. See Moore, 921 A.2d at 5.
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Plaintiff, in his first claim, also argues that Correll failed to satisfy the
21-year statutory period because there was no obvious presence of a
boundary line, so as to allow Correll’s possession to tack onto that of his
predecessors in title. See Brief for Appellant at 25, 26-27. Plaintiff
contends that there was only a “hidden” boundary line in the air space above
an alley. Id. at 27.
As our Supreme Court has explained,
“where a boundary line, or corner, is actually located is a
question for the trier of fact.” Corbin v. Cowan, 716 A.2d 614,
617 (Pa. Super. 1998) (resolving dispute regarding location of
common boundary line and ownership rights of dirt road)
(emphasis added), quoting Plott v. Cole, 377 Pa. Super. 585,
547 A.2d 1216, 1219 (Pa. Super. 1988); see also Plauchak[,]
... 653 A.2d [at] 675 (noting “location of … [a] boundary line is a
matter for the trier of fact” in action in ejectment and/or to quiet
title regarding location of boundary line and ownership of
property surrounding boundary line) (emphasis in original)….
Starling v. Lake Meade Prop. Owners Ass’n, 162 A.3d 327, 352-53, (Pa.
2017) (emphasis omitted).
The evidence supports the trial court’s finding that Correll established
the existence of a consentable line for the requisite 21-year period. As set
forth above, Omori testified that she believed that Plaintiff owned up to the
wall on the east side of Plaintiff’s Property. N.T., 10/1/15, at 148, 165.
Hall, Dr. Hunt, and Correll each testified that they believed that they owned,
and continually used, the Improvements and the Deck throughout their
periods of ownership. N.T. (Correll), 10/5/16, at 120; N.T. (Hall), 10/6/15,
at 63-64, 66; N.T. (Dr. Hunt), 6/17/14, at 12-13, 15-17. Thus, Correll
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established the existence of a consentable line, the location of which was left
to the trial court, as finder of fact, to decide. See Starling, 162 A.3d at
352-53. Because the evidence supports the findings of the trial court, as
fact-finder, and its legal conclusions are sound, we cannot grant Plaintiff
relief on this contention. See Omicron Sys, Inc., 860 A.2d at 557-58.
Under his first claim of error, Plaintiff additionally argues that the trial
court improperly replaced “rules of law with equitable principles[.]” Brief for
Appellant at 28 (capitalization omitted). Plaintiff contends that the trial
court’s “sua sponte application of the de minimis doctrine exceeded the trial
court’s equitable power.” Id. According to Plaintiff, the doctrine had no
place in this litigation, and the trial court improperly used this doctrine “in
place of finding that [Correll] had legally established ownership by
consentable line.” Id. at 32. Plaintiff directs our attention to testimony
regarding water damage to Plaintiff’s Property, purportedly caused by the
flashing on the pole attaching the Deck to Plaintiff’s Property. Id. at 33-34.
Plaintiff argues that this damage is not trifling or immaterial. Id. at 37.
Our review discloses that, although the trial court found that the
encroachment was de minimis, the trial court additionally determined that
Correll had established a consentable line by recognition and acquiescence.
See Trial Court Order, 3/16/16, at ¶¶ 3 (finding in favor of Correll as to
Count III of Correll’s Counterclaim for quiet title based upon the consentable
line doctrine), 6 (finding that Correll owns the Improvements and Deck);
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see also Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at 5-7 (determining that Correll met
the required 21-year period of possession for application of the consentable
line doctrine). Because we discern no error or abuse of discretion as to this
determination, we need not address Plaintiff’s challenge to the
characterization of the encroachment as de minimis. However, even if we
were to address this claim, we would affirm on the basis of the trial court’s
Opinion with regard to this issue. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at 4-5.
As to Plaintiff’s assertion that the trial court improperly “replaced rules
of law with equitable principles,” see Brief for Appellant at 28, we point out
that Plaintiff sought equitable relief from the trial court. We cannot conclude
that the trial court erred by applying equitable principles to Plaintiff’s claim
for equitable relief.
In its second claim of error, Plaintiff argues that the trial court
improperly applied the doctrine of laches to bar Plaintiff’s claim for trespass
as to a support post of the Deck. Brief for Appellant at 38. According to
Plaintiff, Correll suffered no prejudice caused by Plaintiff’s alleged delay. Id.
at 40.
“The doctrine of laches is an equitable bar to the prosecution of stale
claims and is the practical application of the maxim that those who sleep on
their rights must awaken to the consequence that they have disappeared.”
Fulton v. Fulton, 106 A.3d 127, 131 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2014) (internal
quotation marks omitted). “Laches arises when a party’s position or rights
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are so prejudiced by length of time and inexcusable delay, plus attendant
facts and circumstances, that it would be an injustice to permit presently the
assertion of a claim against him.” In re Estate of Moskowitz, 115 A.3d
372, 380 (Pa. Super. 2015) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
“The question of whether laches applies is a question of law; thus, we are
not bound by the trial court’s decision on the issue.” Fulton, 106 A.3d at
131.
Laches bars relief when the complaining party is guilty of
want of due diligence in failing to promptly institute the action to
the prejudice of another. Thus, in order to prevail on an
assertion of laches, respondents must establish: a) a delay
arising from petitioner’s failure to exercise due diligence; and, b)
prejudice to the respondents resulting from the delay.
Id. (citation omitted).
The party asserting laches as a defense must present
evidence demonstrating prejudice from the lapse of time. Such
evidence may include establishing that a witness has died or
become unavailable, that substantiating records were lost or
destroyed, or that the defendant has changed his position in
anticipation that the opposing party has waived his claims.
Estate of Moskowitz, 115 A.2d at 380 (quoting Fulton, 106 A.3d at 131
(internal citations omitted)).
Here, Correll testified that a critical reason for his purchase of the
Correll Property was the Deck. N.T., 10/5/15, 147. According to Correll, “it
was a big asset to me to have an outdoor space and eating area since my
kitchen is … very small and not suitable for entertainment.” Id. Correll also
testified that he would not have purchased the Correll Property had the Deck
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not been included as part of the property. Id. Contrary to Plaintiff’s claim,
Correll presented evidence of prejudice due to the lapse of time.
In its second claim, Plaintiff also argues that the trial court improperly
barred Plaintiff’s claim for trespass by a water diverter from the Correll
Property. Brief for Appellant at 41. Plaintiff asserts that the water diverter
violated the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code, as it resulted in the
concentration of water drainage to Plaintiff’s Property. Id.
In its Opinion, the trial court addressed Plaintiff’s claim of trespass
based upon the water diverted from the Correll Property. See Trial Court
Opinion, 3/21/17, at 8-9. We agree with the sound reasoning of the trial
court, as expressed in its Opinion, and affirm on this basis as to Plaintiff’s
contention in this regard. See id.
In its third claim of error, Plaintiff argues that the trial court erred by
denying its request for a permanent injunction. Brief for Appellant at 44.
According to Plaintiff, the trial court’s failure to enjoin Correll from
maintaining the Deck’s post on Plaintiff’s Property violates the Philadelphia
Property Maintenance Code. Id. at 45.
Our review of the record discloses no abuse of discretion or error in
the trial court’s determination of the parties’ respective property rights. The
extent to which the Deck complies with or violates the Philadelphia Property
Maintenance Code was/is the subject of a municipal court proceeding. Any
violations, and potential remedies to correct violations, are properly before
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the municipal court for determination. Finally, we agree with the trial court’s
determination that “[i]t would be improper to import, after the close of
evidence and completely out of context, the findings of another court as to
another matter.” Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at 5 n.4. Consequently,
Plaintiff is not entitled to relief on this claim.
In its fourth claim of error, Plaintiff argues that the trial court
improperly denied its Motion for a directed verdict. Brief for Appellant at 47.
According to Plaintiff, Correll failed to sufficiently describe the land in
controversy, such that the trial court could afford Correll the relief sought.
Id. at 47-48.
In its Opinion, the trial court addressed this claim and concluded that
it lacks merit. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at 9. We agree with the
reasoning of the trial court, and affirm on this basis as to Plaintiff’s fourth
claim. See id.
In its fifth claim, Plaintiff argues that the trial court improperly refused
to consider the post-trial findings of the municipal court as to code violations
by Correll. Brief for Appellant at 52. Plaintiff contends that this newly
discovered evidence was relevant to Correll’s “unclean hands.” Id.
In its Opinion, the trial court addressed this claim and concluded that
it lacks merit. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at 5 n.4. We agree with
the trial court’s determination, and affirm on this basis as to Plaintiff’s fifth
claim. See id.
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We next address the following claims raised by Correll:
1) Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in ordering [Correll] to
construct and pay the costs of installing a permanent firewall
between [Plaintiff’s Property and the Correll Property,] when the
[trial c]ourt’s ruling was against the weight of the evidence
insofar as there was no evidence presented at trial that [the
Correll Property] was cited for violation of any City of
Philadelphia codes regarding the fire separation [between the
properties]?
2) Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in ordering [Correll] to
construct and pay the costs of installing a permanent firewall
between [Plaintiff’s Property and the Correll Property] by failing
to consider [that the] existing condition of the properties were
such that the City of Philadelphia would even require a firewall to
be constructed by [Correll]?
3) Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in ordering [Correll] to
construct and pay the costs of installing a permanent firewall
between [Plaintiff’s Property and the Correll Property,] since it
was beyond the scope of relief requested by [Plaintiff] in its
Complaint?
4. Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in its order by failing to
specify that [Correll] did not construct the [Improvements] and
the plumbing servicing [them] had been in existence for more
than forty years?
5. Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in ordering [Correll] to
construct and pay the costs of installing a permanent firewall
between [Plaintiff’s Property and the Correll Property] when facts
at trial established that [Plaintiff], through its agents, removed
material from the wall between [Plaintiff’s Property and the
Correll Property] which could have sufficed as a firewall, and
therefore[,] Correll should not be forced to bear the costs of
erecting a firewall when any damage to [Plaintiff’s Property] was
caused by [Plaintiff]?
6. Whether the Court erred by failing to specify in its [O]rder
that [Correll] is only required to install and pay the costs of
installing a firewall on [Correll’s] side of the property line[,] as
determined by the [trial court] in its [O]rder of March 16, 2016,
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not on [Plaintiff’s] side of the property line, if the City of
Philadelphia deems it necessary?
Brief for Cross-Appellant at 6-7.
In its Opinion, the trial court succinctly addressed each of these issues,
and concluded that they lack merit. See Trial Court Opinion, 3/21/17, at
10-12. We agree with the sound reasoning of the trial court, as expressed
in its Opinion, and affirm on the basis of the trial court’s Opinion with regard
to each of Correll’s claims. See id.
Accordingly, we affirm the Judgment entered by the trial court.
Judgment affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/12/2017
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Circulated 09/13/2017 04:18 PM
INT E COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
FIRST JUD CIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL TRIAL DIVISION
1720 SANSOM STREET, L.P. DOCKET NO.: 140500361
1209 & 1210 EDA 2016 44 ..........
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OPINION
POWELL, JR. KENNETH J., . March 21, 2017
I. Facts and Procedur I History
This is a case about a "p wder room encroachment" - the defendant, Matthew Correll,
owns a rowhome at 1715 Moravian Street in Philadelphia, and some portion of a powder room
on that property encroaches on t e interior wall space of the plaintiffs property, 1717 Moravian
Street.1 The plaintiff acknowled es that it was initially unaware of the encroachment, which does
not penetrate the plaintiffs prop rty walls or otherwise intrude into the interior living space that
the plaintiff enjoyed prior to the owder room's installation. The plaintiff alleged that the
defendant's roof deck and certai plumbing serving the powder room trespassed upon the
plaintiffs property as well. The ncroachment was approximately eighteen inches in depth over
the alleged property line, at its d epest. Prior owners of both properties testified that these
conditions predated their owners ip of the property, and have been in place for decades.
1
Sansom Street and Moravian Street ar both smaller streets in Philadelphia, and Sansom is just north of Moravian.
They run parallel to one another, and a e separated by approximately six to seven car-lengths.
... The parties agreed to for go a jury trial and to proceed with this Court as the finder of
fact. On February 12, 2016, this ourt entered an order specifying that on count I of the
complaint for ejectment for tresp ss, judgment is entered for the defendant; on count II for
preliminary injunction, judgmen is entered for the defendant; on count I of counterclaim for
action to quiet title, judgment is ntered for the defendant; on count II of counterclaim for quiet
title, judgment is entered for the efendant; and count III of the counterclaim for injunctive relief
is dismissed as moot.
On March 16, 2016, the der was amended as follows: judgment for the defendant/
counterclaim plaintiff as to tresp ss, permanent injunction, and quiet title as to the powder room
and the deck, the claim for injun tive relief is dismissed as moot, and the defendant is ordered to
construct and pay the costs of a p rmanent firewall between the two properties. On April 13,
2016, both sides filed timely noti es of appeal.
The defendant and count claim plaintiff brings six alleged points of error, all relating to
this Court's order that he constru t and pay for a firewall between the properties, as described in
greater detail infra. The plaintiff nd counterclaim defendant brings a broader range of alleged
claims of error:2
1. Whether the trial co erred in finding that Appellee is the legal owner of the third
floor powder room an the plumbing servicing it on the second floor, and the roof
deck, to the extent tha they extend over the deeded property line between 1715
Moravian Street and 1 1 7 Moravian Street?
a. Whether the tr al court considered that Appellee was found liable for code
enforcement v olations pertaining to the roof deck and powder room
encroachment ost trial in Philadelphia Municipal Court on February 18,
2016, as raise in Appellant's Post Trial Motion?
2For clarity's sake, the opinion wilt refe to the plaintiff and counterclaim defendant as the plaintiff, and the
defendant and counterclaim plaintiff as e defendant.
2
. 2. Whether the trial co erred in permitting the Appellee to tack his predecessors'
periods of possession to comply with the Doctrine of Consentable Lines' required 21
year period of posses ion?
3. Whether the trial cou erred in failing to determine that Appellee's deck post that is
situated on Appellant s roof is a trespass onto Appellant's property and is required to
be repositioned onto ppellee's roof?
a. Even if the tri 1 court finds Appellee to be the owner of the roof deck to the
extent it exten s over the deeded property line, why it failed to enjoin the
water penetrat on into appellant's property caused by the deck post?
4. Whether the trial cou erred in failing to determine that Appellee's water drainage
diversion gutter is at spass onto Appellant's property requiring removal from
Appellant's property d redirection into Appellee's own downspout?
5. Whether the trial cou erred in denying Appellant's request for a permanent
injunction?
6. Whether the trial cou 's February 12, 2016 Order was a final order per Pa.R.A.P.
341?
7. Whether the trial cou erred in denying Appellant's Motion for a Directed Verdict
and by finding in fav r of Appellee as to Counts I and II of his Counterclaim to quiet
title where Appellee iled to sufficiently describe[] the land in controversy?
8. Whether the trial cou erred in failing to identify the precise location of the property
line between 1 715 M ravian Street and 1 71 7 Moravian Street on which Appellee
must construct a fire all as required by Item Number 8 of the Court's March 16,
2016 Order?
II. Discussion
This Court ruled as it did n order to preserve the value of each of the affected properties
to the maximal extent, given that the encroachment was de minimis and given the Court's
equitable powers.
Where, as here, the trial c urt sits as the sole finder of fact, an appellate court will not
reverse on appeal unless the trial [udge's findings are unsupported by competent evidence.
Doman v. Brogan, 592 A.2d 104 110 (Pa. Super. 1991). The question of what constitutes a
boundary line is a matter oflaw hile the location of that boundary line is a matter for the trier
of fact. Plott v. Cole, 547 A.2d 1 16, 1219 (Pa. Super. 1988) (abrogated on other grounds by
Zeglin v. Gahagen, 812 A.2d 55 (Pa. 2002). In a boundary dispute case, as in a general action in
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ejectment, an appellate court wil not reverse the trial court's findings of fact if they are
supported in the certified record. d.; see also Plauchak v. Boling, 653 A.2d 671, 675 (Pa. Super.
1995).
The scope of appellate re iew of a ruling in equity is particularly limited, and such a
ruling will not be disturbed unles it is unsupported by the evidence or demonstrably capricious.
Daley v. Hornbaker, 472 A.2d 7 3 (Pa. Super. 1984); Lynch v. Hook, 444 A.2d 157 (Pa. Super.
1982). The test is not whether th reviewing court would have reached the same result on the
evidence presented, but whether he trial judge's conclusion can reasonably be drawn from the
evidence. In re Estate a/Tippins, 408 A.2d 1377 (Pa. 1979); Hoffman v. Gekoski, 378 A.2d 447
(Pa. Super. 1977). Where a readi g of the record can reasonably be said to reflect the
conclusions reached by a trial co rt sitting in equity, an appellate court will not substitute its
judgment for that of the trial cou . Frowen v. Blank, 425 A.2d 412 (Pa. 1981).
The plaintiffs first point f error goes to the heart of the litigation: did this Court err in
finding that the defendant was th legal owner of his third floor powder room and the plumbing
servicing it on the second floor, a d the roof deck, to the extent that they extend over the deeded
property line between 1715 Mora ian Street and 1717 Moravian Street? This Court found that
the encroachment was de mini mi , and to require demolition of the powder room and roof deck
would have been an equitable dis ster.3 The plaintiff did not establish that it had suffered any
significant harm or loss either be re or upon belated discovery of the encroachment, which was
there for years prior to its discov y by the plaintiff. On the other hand, to require that the
3
"The doctrine is set forth in the maxim 'de minimus non curat lex,' which means that the law will not concern
itself with trifles. More specifically it m ans that a court will not grant equitable relief to a plaintiff who seeks a
decree which will do him no good but w ich will work a hardship on another." Yeakel v. Driscoll, 467 A.2d 1342,
1344 (Pa. Super. 1983) (citing Bristol- ers Co. v, Lit Brothers, Inc., 6 A.2d 843 (Pa. 1939).
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powder room be demolished wo ld cause a serious diminution to the defendant's property and
property value. The equities coul not be clearer, in favor of the defendant.4
The plaintiff next claims hat this Court erred in permitting the defendant to tack his
predecessors' periods of possessi n to comply with the Doctrine of Consentable Lines' required
21 year period of possession. W re a consentable line has been clearly established by dispute
and compromise, the line becom s binding under application of the doctrine of estoppel after
twenty-one years. Niles v. Fall C eek Hunting Club, Inc., 545 A.2d 926, 930 (1988) (en bane)
(citing Newton v. Smith, 40 Pa. S per. 615, 616 (1909)). This rule also applies where the
consentable line was established y recognition and acquiescence. Plauchak v. Boling, 653 A.2d
671, 677 (Pa. Super. 1995).
"The doctrine of consent le line is a rule of repose for the purpose of quieting title and
discouraging confusing and vexa ious litigation." Plott, 547 A.2d at 1220. There are two ways in
which a boundary may be establi hed through consentable line: (1) by dispute and compromise,
or (2) by recognition and acquies ence. Niles v. Fall Creek Hunting Club, Inc., 545 A.2d 926,
930 (Pa. Super. 1988) (en bane). s the en bane court explained in Niles, the doctrine of
consentable line is a separate and distinct theory from that of traditional adverse possession,
although both involve a twenty-o e year statute of limitation. Id. at 267-68, 545 A.2d at 930.
Under the doctrine of consentabl line, "[ijf adjoining landowners occupy their respective
premises up to a certain line whic they mutually recognize and acquiesce in for the period of
time prescribed by the statute of l mitations, they are precluded from claiming that the boundary
4
The plaintiff brings, as a sub-claim, an inquiry as to whether this Court considered certain code violations found in
the Municipal Court, an inferior court, o February 18, 2016, after the close of evidence in this matter. The answer?
Certainly not. It would be improper to · port, after the close of evidence and completely out of context, the findings
of another court as to another matter. In act, such consideration would raise important due process concerns. It is of
no event, because the zoning issues are ot relevant to the equitable determination this Court has made, despite the
plaintiffs aggressive marketing of its "u clean hands" allegations.
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line thus recognized and acquies ed in is not the true one." Plott, 54 7 A}d at 1221 ( citing Adams
v. Tamaqua Underwear Co., 161 A. 416 (Pa. Super. 1932); 12 Am.Jur.Zd, Boundaries§§ 85-90).
i
The establishment of a consenta le line is not a conveyance of land withf n the meaning of the
;
Statute of Frauds because no est te is thereby created. Hagey v. Detweiler, 35 Pa. 409, 412
i
(1860). Therefore such a line m be initiated by oral agreement and pro~ed by parol evidence.
Beals v. Allison, 54 A.2d 84, 85
In Zeglin v. Gahagen, 81 A.2d 558, 561 (Pa. 2002), our Supreme Court reexamined the
law of establishment of a bound y line by acquiescence, which has long! been a feature of
Pennsylvania law. "Two elemen 'are prerequisites [to establishment of 4 boundary by
acquiescence]: 1) each party mu have claimed and occupied the land ori his side of the line as
his own; and 2) such occupation ust have continued for the statutory period of twenty-one
years." Id. at 561 (citingJedlic v. Clemmer, 677 A.2d 1232, 1235 (Pa. \super. 1996); Plott, 547
A.2d at 1221). Zeglin also clarifi d the application of tacking, the joining of consecutive periods
of possession by different person, to treat the periods for legal purposes as one continuous
.
period. "We hold, therefore, that acking is permitted in such context [claims brought under a
theory of acquiescence in a boun ary] upon sufficient and credible proofof delivery of
possession of land not within (bu contiguous to) property described by deed of conveyance,
which was previously claimed an occupied by the grantor and is taken by the grantee as
successor in such interest." Id. at 66. Zeglin applied the 21-year statute th such claims ("After
21 years, the chips will be allowe to fall where they may, for reasons of equity and peace." Id.)
( citation omitted), and confirmed that privity of possession was sufficient] to enable landowners
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to tack their predecessor's period of ownership.5 Because the defendant established privity of
possession, tacking was appropri te in this case, and this claim of error is meritless.6
The plaintiff also claims at this Court erred in failing to determine that a certain post
that is part of the defendant's roo deck must be repositioned, as it is five to six inches past the
property line. This is another ins ance where, at best, the plaintiff has established de minimis
encroachment, and "the mere exi tence of an encroachment is not adequate to justify equitable
relief." Big Bass Lake Cmty. Ass v. Warren, 950 A.2d 1137, 1147 (Pa. Commw. 2008).
Further, as to the roof deck, whee the defendant's alleged encroachment would be impossible
for the plaintiff not to have notic d, the doctrine of laches applies. "The doctrine of laches is an
equitable bar to the prosecution f stale claims and is 'the practical application of the maxim that
'those who sleep on their rights ust awaken to the consequence that they have disappeared."'
Fulton v. Fulton, 106 A.3d 127, 31 (Pa. Super. 2014) (citing Kern v. Kern, 892 A.2d 1, 9 (Pa.
Super. 2005)
Laches bars relie when the complaining party is guilty of want of
due diligence in failing to promptly institute the action to the
prejudice of anot er. Thus, in order to prevail on an assertion of
laches, responde ts must establish: a) a delay arising from
petitioner's failur to exercise due diligence; and, b) prejudice to the
5
See 3 Am.Jur.2d Adverse Possession 79 ("Privity of possession is a succession of relationship to the same thing,
whether created by deed or by other ac, or by operation of law.").
6
In its post-trial brief: the plaintiff attet pts to cite Zeglin as some sort of wholesale endorsement of the position
articulated in Baylor v. Soska, 658 A.2 743, 746 (Pa. 1995), that "the only method by which an adverse possessor
may convey the title asserted by advers possession is to describe in the instrument of conveyance by means
minimally acceptable for conveyancin ofrealty that which is intended to be conveyed." See Plaintiff's Post Trial
Brief, filed 10.28.2015, p. 25. At a min mum, the plaintiff should be reminded of the necessity of reading the
entirety of a case before citing that cas . The cited quotation, which the plaintiff offers as if it were the holding of
Zeglin, is actually quoted in Zeglin to istinguish Baylor from cases in acquiescence: "Although Baylor was a
boundary case, it proceeded on the the ry of adverse possession, as opposed to acquiescence. While we recognize
that this is a fine basis for distinction g ven the relatedness of these doctrines, strict application of Baylor's holding
in the acquiescence paradigm would el minate tacking in cases involving successive owners and mistaken
boundaries, which would appear to be he prevailing set of circumstances in this line of decisions ... Accordingly,
we find the majority view (requiring o ly privity of possession) better suited to claims brought under a theory of
acquiescence in a boundary." Id. at 56 -66.
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respondents resul ing from the delay. Moreover, the question of
laches is factual d is determined by examining the circumstances
of each case.
Estate ofScharlach, 809 A.2d 3 6, 382-383 (Pa. Super. 2002) (quoting Sprague v. Casey, 550
A.2d 184, 187-88 (Pa. 1988)). P iladelphia rowhome roof decks are a common feature, and are
very hard to miss, unlike an intr sion into a shared wall that does not protrude into the interior of
one's home. The deck was instal ed prior to 1987, and there is no evidence that the alleged
intrusion of this post came into ing after the deck's installation. Yuko Omori, the prior owner
of the house and a partner in the laintiff organization, came to own 171 7 Moravian Street in
1994, over twenty years ago. 7 G' en the de minimis nature of the alleged intrusion, the
longstanding and obvious existe ce of the deck in its current state, and the inconvenience at this
late date of repositioning any as ect of the deck, to the extent that the deck is not governed by
acquiescence, this claim falls to aches. The plaintiff cannot claim to have been duly diligent in
ignoring the roof deck for these ast few decades, given its open and notorious nature. If the
claim had been raised closer tot e time of the roof deck's building, it would have been much
easier to get the original builder o return and correct any minor flaws, but at this late date it is as
if the defendant is starting from scratch in that regard. Because the defendant established a lack
of diligence, a delay arising ther from, and prejudice, this claim is meritless.
The plaintiff also claims hat this Court erred in failing to enjoin what it describes as
"water penetration" caused by t e deck post. The evidence as to water penetration was weak at
best - again, this post has been resent for many decades, so if it was causing some sort of
serious rip in the plaintiff's roof this would have been readily apparent long ago. The plaintiff
7
The fact that Ms. Omori has transferr d ownership of the property to a corporation of which she is a partner cannot
vitiate the laches issue, because to hol otherwise would enable any claim that would otherwise fail to laches to be
revived by creation of a holding comp ny for the sole usage and benefit over the party whose claim has thereby
lapsed.
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has not established that it is har ed, that it acted with due diligence, or that it cannot, given
present conditions, control its o roof. This claim fails.
The plaintiff further clai s that the water drainage situation is a trespass, Again, this is a
state of affairs that has been con tant and ongoing for decades. For the reasons stated above, the
plaintiff cannot establish due dil gence and the claim fails.
The plaintiff claims that his Court erred in denying a permanent injunction. In order to
establish a claim for a permanen injunction, the party must establish hislor her clear right to
relief. See Boyle v. Pennsylvani Interscholastic Athletic Ass'n., Inc., 676 A.2d 695, 699 (Pa.
Commw. 1996); Buffalo Twp. v. ones, 813 A.2d 659, 663 (Pa. 2002). For all the reasons
explained above, the plaintiff ha failed to do that, and the injunction was rightfully denied. This
is just a rehashing of the other is .ues raised by the plaintiff under another heading.
The plaintiff asks in its si th claim of error whether the Court's order of February 12,
2016 is a final order under Pa.R. .P. 341. This is an unusual point of error, as it is not clear what
the plaintiff is arguing. Perhaps is question is directed at the Superior Court, which quashed the
appeal at 1398 EDA 2016 as ecessarily duplicative. In any case, this is not a statement of
error, and therefore it has no pla e in a concise statement of errors.
In its seventh claim of er or, the plaintiff argues that this Court erred in failing to enter a
directed verdict as to counts one· d two of the defendant's counterclaim as to quiet title,
because of the defendant's alleg d failure to describe the land in controversy. This is silly. Each
side in this litigation paid a surv yor. The land in controversy was mapped, plotted, and
described out of all proportion t its size and impact. If the land in controversy has not been
adequately described, then how oes the plaintiff suppose that it has made out any kind of case?
This claim is meritless.
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In its eighth claim of erro , the plaintiff argues that this Court erred in failing to identify
the precise location of the prope y line for construction of the firewall. This argument is waived
for failure to raise it at any point earlier in the litigation, and is meritless for the reasons
discussed in the preceding parag aph.
Finally, the defendant bri gs six claims of error as well, all involving the firewall. The
defendant claims that this Court rred in ruling that the defendant must construct a firewall by a)
ruling against the greater weight of the evidence; b) failing to consider whether the City of
Philadelphia would require cons ruction of a firewall, given the condition of the two properties;
c) awarding relief beyond the sc pe requested by the plaintiff; d) failing to specify by order that
the defendant himself did not bu ld the powder room; e) failing to consider that the plaintiff
removed materials that "could h ve sufficed" as a firewall; and f) failing to specify that the
defendant is required only to bui d a firewall on the 1715 Moravian Street side of the property
line.
Weight of the evidence c aims acknowledge the sufficiency of the evidence, but argue
only that the greater weight of e idence is against the verdict. A new trial should be awarded
when the verdict is so contrary t the evidence as to shock one's sense of justice and the award of
a new trial is imperative so that ight may be given another opportunity to prevail. Mammoccio v.
1818 Market Partnership, 734 .2d 23, 28 (Pa. Super. 1999) (citations omitted).
The defendant's argume t as to weight of the evidence depends entirely on whether or
not there was evidence as to co violations, given that this Court excluded such evidence. That
is plainly a non sequitur. The ne d for a firewall is not solely in order to satisfy building codes;
there are also, of course, the rea ons that the codes were established in the first place, like basic
safety norms. The defendant's gument is fatally flawed, in that it depends entirely on
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substituting code violation findi gs for the Court's equitable powers. Further, this is actually a
sufficiency argument and not a eight argument. There was ample support for the Court's
exercise of its equitable powers; his argument is meritless.
Next, the defendant fault the Court for failing to consider whether the City of
Philadelphia would require cons ruction of a firewall, given the condition of the two properties.
However, the Court is not a mer instrument of the City's power. In fact, the Court derives its
power from the Commonwealth, which is a higher level of government than the City. Whether
the City would require a firewal is neither here nor there. This scope shift is inapposite and
renders this point of error meritl ss.
The defendant claims ths t this Court erred in awarding relief that was beyond the scope
of what the Plaintiff requested i its complaint. "Courts sitting in equity hold broad powers to
grant relief that will result in an quitable resolution of a dispute." Williams Twp. Bd. of
Supervisors v, Williams Twp. E ergency Co., 986 A.2d 914, 921 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009). The
Court did not give the plaintiff a 1 of the relief it requested in its complaint, because destruction
of the powder room would dimi ish the defendant's property value to an extent completely out
of proportion to the encroachme t. However, the Court also wanted to recognize that the plaintiff
should have the protection that firewall will afford. This was within the Court's broad equitable
powers, and therefore this claim is meritless.
The defendant claims th t this Court erred in failing to specify by order that the defendant
himself did not build the powde room. The defendant did not build the powder room, but what
that has to do with the Court's o der is unclear. In any event, hopefully this declaration will
satisfy the defendant; however, e has not explained how he was prejudiced by the complained-
of omission in the Court's order This claim is meritless.
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The defendant claims th' this Court erred in failing to consider that the plaintiff removed
materials that "could have suffic d" as a firewall. This is simply wrong. This Court considered
all relevant evidence. Just becau e the defendant's encroachment is de minimis does not mean
that it is nothing or that it has no effect. The firewall will help to set things right between the
neighbors. Construction of the fi ewall is the right thing for the defendant to do, under the
circumstances. This utterly spec lative claim of error implicitly asks that the Court make a
finding that the plaintiff remove materials that "could have" acted as a firewall, but the
evidence did not establish the n ure of the removed materials or that there was no necessity to
remove them. The Court did not fail to consider this evidence; this allegation is completely
baseless.
Finally, the defendant cl ims that this Court erred in failing to specify that the defendant
is required only to build a firew 11 on the 1715 Moravian Street side of the property line. Here,
the defendant is being willfully btuse. The defendant is required to build a firewall on the
property line. If you are the part that is arguing that an encroachment is not that big of an issue,
you should not then put yoursel in the position of being ultra-specific to the point of tone
deafness about compliance with he Court's order. In other words, if with one breath you are
arguing that your powder room i "close enough" to the property line, do not use the next breath
to argue that the Court was not ' lose enough" in specifying where, in relation to the property
line, the firewall should be cons cted. This argument is also meritless.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the C urt's verdict should be affirmed.
BY THE COURT,
rI
I
KENNET
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