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Schwenksville Farm v. Mendelson Family Trust

Citation: Not availableDocket: 3245 EDA 2015

Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania; September 19, 2016; Pennsylvania; State Appellate Court

Original Court Document: View Document

Narrative Opinion Summary

This case involves a landlord/tenant dispute where the Mendelson Family Trust and Mark Mendelson appealed an order granting Schwenksville Farm, LLC possession of a property. Initially, a magisterial district judge ordered possession to Schwenksville Farm, requiring monthly rent payments but no arrears, which the Appellants appealed without depositing the necessary amounts to establish a supersedeas per procedural rules, leading the trial court to enforce the possession order. The trial court's decision was not deemed final or appealable as it did not resolve the entire complaint, and the appeal was quashed due to lack of jurisdiction. Although a stay was initially granted, contingent on posting a $42,000 security, the failure to fulfill this condition resulted in the stay being lifted. The court also clarified that the order was not interlocutory related to injunctions, further affirming its decision to quash the appeal.

Legal Issues Addressed

Finality of Orders under Pa.R.A.P. 341(b)(1)

Application: The court determined that the order was not final or appealable since it did not resolve the underlying complaint for possession and eviction.

Reasoning: The court examined its jurisdiction and concluded that the order was not final or appealable under Pa.R.A.P. 341(b)(1), as it did not resolve the underlying complaint for possession and eviction, which remains pending.

Interlocutory Orders and Injunctions

Application: The order does not relate to an injunction status and thus does not fall under interlocutory appeals permissible by Pa.R.A.P. 311(a)(4).

Reasoning: Appellant referenced Pa.R.A.P. 311(a)(4) regarding interlocutory appeals related to injunctions, but the order in question does not pertain to an injunction's status.

Stay of Trial Court's Order

Application: A stay was granted contingent on posting security, which was not fulfilled by the Appellant, leading to the stay being lifted.

Reasoning: On November 19, 2015, the Court granted Appellant’s application, staying the trial court’s order contingent upon the Appellant posting security as determined by the trial court.

Supersedeas and Deposit Requirements

Application: The failure to deposit the required sums with the prothonotary means the appeal does not act as a supersedeas, allowing the enforcement of the possession order.

Reasoning: The Appellants filed an appeal from the MDJ's decision and subsequently did not deposit the required sums with the prothonotary to establish a supersedeas as outlined in Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 1008(b).