Herbert, A. v. Kholyavka, L. ( 2015 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
ADAM HERBERT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
LILIYA KHOLYAVKA
Appellant No. 3157 EDA 2010
Appeal from the Order Entered September 29, 2010
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at No(s): 1486 April Term 2010
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., SHOGAN, J., and ALLEN, J.
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED MARCH 17, 2015
Appellant, Liliya Kholyavka, appeals from the order entered in the
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, denying her petitions to
open/strike a default judgment entered in favor of Appellee, Adam Herbert.
We affirm.
The trial court set forth the relevant facts and procedural history of
this appeal as follows:
On April 12, 2010, [Appellee] filed a Complaint for
Declaratory Judgment against [Appellant]. The Complaint
alleges that [Appellant] and [Appellee] had entered into an
Agreement of Sale for real property. [Appellant] placed
$6,000 in escrow as a down payment towards the
purchase. The Agreement states that if [Appellant] failed
to close, [Appellee’s] remedies were limited to retaining
the down payment. [Appellant] was notified in 2002 that
the Agreement was terminated due to [Appellant’s] failure
to close. [Appellee] declared a forfeiture of the deposit
monies and notified [Appellant] of her right to mediation.
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[Appellant] did not respond. [Appellant] was served with
the Complaint on April 17, 2010 by personal service.
[Appellant] did not file a response and a default judgment
was entered on June 1, 2010. On August 16, 2010,
[Appellant] filed both a Petition to Strike and Petition to
Open the default judgment. This court denied both
Petitions on September 29, 2010.
(Trial Court Opinion, filed January 25, 2011, at 1-2). On October 29, 2010,
Appellant filed a notice of appeal. The appeal was subsequently stayed on
May 18, 2011, due to Appellant filing for bankruptcy protection earlier in
May 2011. The Bankruptcy court ultimately dismissed the matter on
February 28, 2012. Following notice to this Court on June 27, 2014, of the
bankruptcy case dismissal, this Court vacated the stay on July 24, 2014, and
permitted the appeal to proceed.
Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
DID NOT THE TRIAL COURT ERR BY ITS FAILURE TO
EXERCISE JUDICIAL DISCRETION IN LIGHT OF THE
SELLER’S FAILURE TO JOIN THE ESCROW HOLDER IN THE
ACTION?
DID NOT THE TRIAL COURT ERR BY REFUSING TO STRIKE
OFF THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT IN ABSENCE OF JOINDER
OF AN INDISPENSABLE PARTY?
DID NOT THE TRIAL COURT ERR BY REFUSING TO OPEN
THE JUDGMENT AND LET THE BUYER IN FOR A DEFENSE
BASED UPON SELLER’S AND BUYER’S AGREEMENT TO
MEDIATE ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM?
(Appellant’s Brief at 4).
In issues one and two combined, Appellant asserts all persons having
an interest in the proceedings who would be affected by the declaratory
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judgment must be made parties to the action. Specifically, Appellant argues
the real estate broker (“Broker”), acting as escrow agent, was required to be
made a party to the declaratory judgment action. Appellant avers Broker is
an indispensable party because the relief sought in the action is an order
requiring Broker to surrender the escrow funds to Appellee. Appellant
believes the failure to join Broker is a jurisdictional defect, and scheduling an
assessment of damages hearing following entry of the default judgment
exceeded the jurisdiction of the court, absent joinder of Broker. In other
words, Appellant contends the failure to join Broker in the action deprives
the court of subject matter jurisdiction, because Broker has an interest
affected by the declaration. Appellant asserts the judgment by default in
this declaratory judgment action must be struck as there was no joinder of
Broker, which constitutes a fatal defect on the face of the record. Appellant
claims the default judgment is void, because the trial court lacked subject
matter jurisdiction. Appellant avows the issue of failure to join Broker as an
indispensable party can be raised for the first time on appeal, even though
Appellant did not present it to the trial court.
In issue three, Appellant directs our attention to paragraph “29” of the
Agreement for Sale, titled “MEDIATION.” Appellant contends she and
Appellee elected to include the mediation clause in their agreement, and as a
result, mediation is a necessary first step before any judgment could be
entered. Additionally, Appellant asserts the trial court misinterpreted the
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intent of the mediation clause and incorrectly disregarded its effect upon the
judicial proceeding. Appellant concludes the default entered should be
struck, the order denying Appellant’s motion to strike/open the default
judgment should be reversed, and the case should be remanded for further
proceedings. We disagree.
“Our standard of review regarding [a]ppellant’s petition to strike
default judgment is well settled. Appellant’s first issue questions the
applicability of a Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure to the instant case. As
this presents us with a question of law, our standard of review is de novo
and our scope of review is plenary.” Oswald v. WB Public Square
Associates, LLC, 80 A.3d 790, 793 (Pa.Super. 2013) (citing Skonieczny v.
Cooper, 37 A.3d 1211, 1213 (Pa.Super. 2012)).
A petition to strike a default judgment operates as a demurrer to the
record, and the court must grant the petition whenever some fatal defect
appears on the face of the record. PNC Bank v. Bolus, 655 A.2d 997, 999
(Pa.Super. 1995). “[A] petition to strike is not a chance to review the merits
of the allegations of a complaint. Rather, a petition to strike is aimed at
defects that affect the validity of the judgment and that entitle the
petitioner, as a matter of law, to relief.” Oswald, supra at 794 (quoting
City of Philadelphia v. David J. Lane Advertising, Inc., 33 A.3d 674,
677 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2011)) (internal quotation marks omitted). A fatal defect
on the face of the record denies a prothonotary the authority to enter the
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judgment. Erie Ins. Co. v. Bullard, 839 A.2d 383, 388 (Pa.Super. 2003).
If a prothonotary enters judgment without authority, that judgment is void
ab initio. Id. (holding non-compliance with rule governing service of intent
to take default judgment rendered judgment void ab initio).
“When deciding if there are fatal defects on the face of the record for
the purposes of a petition to strike a [default] judgment, a court may only
look at what was in the record when the judgment was entered.” Cintas
Corp. v. Lee’s Cleaning Services, Inc., 549 Pa. 84, 90, 700 A.2d 915,
917 (1997) (citation omitted). Failure to adhere to the Pennsylvania Rules
of Civil Procedure regarding service of process is a facially fatal defect. Id.
at 91, 700 A.2d at 917-18 (stating: “Service of process is a mechanism by
which a court obtains jurisdiction of a defendant, and therefore, the rules
concerning service of process must be strictly followed. … Without valid
service, a court lacks personal jurisdiction of a defendant and is powerless to
enter judgment against him or her. … Thus, improper service is not merely
a procedural defect that can be ignored when a defendant subsequently
learns of the action against him or her. … [T]he fact of service is the
important thing in determining jurisdiction and…proof of service may be
defective or even lacking, but if the fact of service is established jurisdiction
cannot be questioned”).
The grant or denial of a petition to open a default judgment is a matter
of judicial discretion. Schultz v. Erie Ins. Exchange, 505 Pa. 90, 477 A.2d
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471 (1984). A petition to open a default judgment is an appeal to the
court’s equitable powers, and absent an error of law or an abuse of
discretion, this Court will not disturb that decision on appeal. Reid v.
Boohar, 856 A.2d 156 (Pa.Super. 2004).
Judicial discretion requires action in conformity with law on
facts and circumstances before the trial court after hearing
and consideration. Consequently, the court abuses its
discretion if, in resolving the issue for decision, it
misapplies the law or exercises its discretion in a manner
lacking reason.
Miller v. Sacred Heart Hosp., 753 A.2d 829, 832 (Pa.Super. 2000)
(internal citations omitted). Where a petition to open a default judgment is
not filed within ten (10) days of entry of the default judgment, 1 the movant
must (1) promptly file a petition to open, (2) offer a justifiable excuse for
the delay that caused the default, and (3) aver a meritorious defense that, if
proved at trial, would afford the defendant relief. Reid, supra at 160. To
succeed, the petitioner must meet all three requirements. US Bank N.A. v.
Mallory, 982 A.2d 986, 995 (Pa.Super. 2009); Duckson v. Wee Wheelers
Inc., 620 A.2d 1206 (Pa.Super. 1993). In other words, if the petitioner fails
to meet even one requirement for opening the default judgment, the court
can deny relief without even considering arguments made with regard to the
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1
Rule 237.3(b) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure provides: “If the
petition [for relief from the default judgment] is filed within ten days after
the entry of the judgment on the docket, the court shall open the judgment
if the proposed complaint or answer states a meritorious cause of action or
defense.” Pa.R.C.P. 237.3(b).
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two other requirements. Id. at 1209. If the petitioner has made some
showing as to all three prongs of the test, then the court is entitled to
consider each point in light of all the “circumstances and equities of the
case.” Id. Courts “must determine whether there are equitable
considerations which require that a defendant, against whom a default
judgment has been entered, receive an opportunity to have the case decided
on the merits.” Id. at 1208.
With respect to the first requirement that the petitioner promptly file a
petition to open, courts do not “employ a bright line test”; courts focus “on
two factors: (1) the length of the delay between discovery of the entry of
the default judgment and filing the petition to open judgment, and (2) the
reason for the delay.” Flynn v. America West Airlines, 742 A.2d 695, 698
(Pa.Super. 1999). Given an acceptable reason for the delay, one month or
less between the entry of the default judgment and the filing of a petition for
relief from the judgment typically meets the time requirement for a prompt
filing of a petition for relief. Myers v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 986 A.2d
171, 176 (Pa.Super. 2009). See also US Bank N.A., supra (comparing
cases and rejecting as tardy eighty-two day interval between default
judgment and petition for relief).
With respect to the second requirement, courts look to the specific
circumstances of the case to determine whether the petitioner offered a
legitimate explanation for the delay that caused entry of the default
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judgment. Id. “While some mistakes will be excused, …mere carelessness
will not be….” Bahr v. Pasky, 439 A.2d 174, 177 (Pa.Super. 1981). In
Flynn, for example, the petitioner’s unintentional failure to act, due to a
defective mail receipt system, was not considered a legitimate explanation
for the delay that caused entry of the default judgment. Flynn, supra at
699. Finally, as to asserting a meritorious defense, the petitioner must aver
facts which if proved at trial would justify relief. See Duckson, supra.Significantly, “A petition for relief from a judgment of…default entered
pursuant to Rule 237.1 shall have attached thereto a verified copy of the
complaint or answer which the petitioner seeks leave to file.” Pa.R.C.P.
237.3.
“An indispensable party is one whose rights are so directly connected
with and affected by litigation that he must be a party of record to protect
such rights.” CRY, Inc. v. Mill Service, Inc., 536 Pa. 462, 468, 640 A.2d
372, 375 (1994) (citing Scherbick v. Community College of Allegheny
County, 479 Pa. 216, 220, 387 A.2d 1301, 1303 (1978)). Therefore, the
absence of the indispensable party renders any court’s order or decree null
and void for lack of jurisdiction. CRY, Inc., supra at 468, 640 A.2d at 375.
Important considerations in the determination of who are indispensable
parties include, but are not limited to, the nature of the absent party’s
interest relating to the claim and whether that interest is essential to the
merits of the issue. Id. at 468, 640 A.2d at 375 (citing Mechanicsburg
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Area School Dist. v. Kline, 494 Pa. 476, 481, 431 A.2d 953, 956 (1981)).
“If no redress is sought against a party, and its rights would not be
prejudiced by any decision in the case, it is not indispensable with respect to
the litigation.” Grimme Combustion, Inc. v. Mergentime Corp., 595
A.2d 77, 81 (Pa.Super. 1991), appeal denied, 530 Pa. 644, 607 A.2d 254(1992). Under the totality of the circumstances, the principal inquiry is
whether justice requires the presence of the absent party. CRY, Inc.,
supra at 469, 640 A.2d at 375. The issue of failure to join an indispensable
party can be raised for the first time on appeal or sua sponte by the
reviewing court. Hart v. O’Malley, 647 A.2d 542, 549 (Pa.Super. 1994),
affirmed, 544 Pa. 315, 676 A.2d 222 (1996).
Instantly, Appellant failed to identify a specific right of Broker that
would be affected or impinged by the declaration of judgment in this case,
except to identify Broker as the person holding and required to release the
funds. Broker was not a party to the real estate transaction. Broker’s role
has been and is simply one of facilitation. Broker must release the escrowed
funds to either one party or the other eventually, depending on the outcome
of the case. Broker has no personal interest in or right to the money held in
escrow; Broker is simply a disinterested stake-holder awaiting the court’s
instructions to release the funds. Absence of Broker as a party in the
present action in no way affects the authority and legality of the default
judgment. Instead, Broker should welcome the protection of court
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instructions to disperse the funds so Broker will not be at risk to pay twice.
Based on the circumstances of this case, we conclude Broker is not an
indispensable party to the present action. Therefore, Appellant’s issues one
and two merit no relief.
With regard to Appellant’s issue three, on the alleged binding nature of
the mediation clause in the Agreement of Sale, the trial court reasoned as
follows:
[Appellant] does not challenge service of the complaint nor
raise any irregularity on the face of the record.
[Appellant’s] only argument to strike default judgment is
that [Appellee] failed to avail [himself] of required
mediation before filing suit and entry of the default
judgment. This court does not agree. While the
Agreement contains a mediation provision, it states as
follows;
Buyer and Seller will try and resolve any disputes or
claim that may arise from the Agreement through
mediation in accordance with the Rules and
Procedures of the Home Seller/Home Buyer Dispute
Resolution System. Any agreement reached through
a mediation…will be binding.
See Section 29 of Agreement.
It appears that mediation is not required by the
Agreement, as the language states that the parties “will
try” to resolve the disputes by mediation. There is no
language that mandates mediation before [] filing an
action and/or the entry of a default judgment. Clearly,
this is not a defect that warrants default judgment [to] be
stricken.
* * *
[Appellant] filed her Petition approximately seventy-five
days after entry of the default judgment. [Appellant] fails
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to offer any reason for her…failure to answer the
Complaint. Finally, [Appellant] does not assert a
meritorious defense [or] attach a proposed Answer to the
Complaint. The only argument put forth by [Appellant] is
that the Agreement of Sale contained a mandatory
mediation clause. As previously stated, any reference to
mediation in the Agreement was voluntary and not
mandated.
(Trial Court Opinion at 2-4). We accept the court’s rationale on the
voluntary nature of the mediation clause. Further, when Appellee declared
the forfeiture of the deposit money for Appellant’s failure to close on the
transaction, Appellee notified Appellant of her right to invoke mediation.
Appellant did not respond. Thus, Appellant then or now cannot argue failure
to mediate as a ground to strike or open the judgment.
Moreover, Appellant failed to follow the applicable rules of court, where
Appellant did not attach to her petition to open a verified copy of the answer
to the complaint she wished to file. Appellant’s failure in this respect is more
than merely a procedural defect that the court can ignore, because this
particular error impinged on Appellee’s rights. See Pa.R.C.P. 237.1, 237.3.
Therefore, the court was correct to deny the petition to open on this ground
as well. Based upon the foregoing, we see no reason to disturb the court’s
decision. Accordingly, we affirm.
Order affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 3/17/2015
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