Com. of PA v. D.P. Flickinger ( 2023 )

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
:
v. : No. 1376 C.D. 2021
: SUBMITTED: April 6, 2023
Daniel P. Flickinger, :
Appellant :
BEFORE: HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge
HONORABLE BONNIE BRIGANCE LEADBETTER, Senior Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION BY
SENIOR JUDGE LEADBETTER FILED: June 26, 2023
Daniel P. Flickinger appeals pro se from an order of the Court of
Common Pleas of Greene County finding Flickinger guilty of two summary
violations of an ordinance that limits the height of certain vegetation. Upon review,
we affirm.
The relevant facts are as follows. Flickinger resides in the state of West
Virginia but owns two parcels of land located in Greensboro Borough, Greene
County, Pennsylvania. In August 2017, the Borough issued two non-traffic,
summary citations against Flickinger – one for each property – for violating
Greensboro Borough Ordinance Number 2015-6, Grass and Other Vegetation
(Ordinance). Section 1 of the Ordinance is titled “Prohibited Height of Plants” and
provides:
No person, firm, corporation or contractor owning or
occupying any property within the Borough[], shall permit
any grass or weeds or any vegetation whatsoever, not
edible or not planted for some useful or ornamental
purpose, to grow or remain upon such premises so as to
exceed a height of eight (8) inches, or to throw off any
unpleasant or noxious odor or, to conceal any filthy
deposit. Any grass, weeds, or other vegetation growing
upon any premises in the Borough in violation of any of
the provisions of this section is hereby declared to be a
nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness
and comfort of the inhabitants of the [B]orough.
(Ordinance § 1 (Jan. 12, 2015); Original Record “O.R.” Item No. 34, Ex. B.)
Flickinger pleaded not guilty, and a trial was then held before a
magisterial district judge (MDJ) at which Flickinger appeared pro se. The MDJ
subsequently found Flickinger guilty and ordered him to pay fines and costs.
Flickinger timely appealed to the trial court which held a non-jury, de
novo trial at which Flickinger again appeared pro se. The Commonwealth presented
the testimony of Mark Gordon, the Borough’s Code and Zoning Enforcement
Officer, and Bruce Neino, an individual who owns property adjacent to Flickinger’s.
Both witnesses testified that in 2017 and just prior to the hearing, the vegetation on
Flickinger’s properties was knee-high in some places and even taller in others,
reaching into the trees. Neino also stated that the vegetation on Flickinger’s property
had encroached onto his lot, causing issues.
Flickinger cross-examined both of the Commonwealth’s witnesses and
testified briefly on his own behalf. He stated that the vegetation was present when
he purchased the properties and that he tried several times to cut it back but did not
dispute the height of the vegetation or claim that it was planted for “some useful or
ornamental purpose[.]” (Ordinance § 1.) Instead, he advanced legal arguments, in
particular that the Ordinance is unconstitutionally vague because the term
“vegetation” encompasses all plants and the term “weeds” is subjective.
2
The trial court issued an order at the conclusion of the hearing finding
Flickinger guilty on both counts and ordering him to pay fines and costs. This appeal
followed.1
Flickinger’s filings throughout this matter, including his concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal and his briefs to this Court, are difficult
to decipher. From what we can discern, he raises the following arguments on
appeal:2 the Ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and ambiguous because it does
not put property owners on notice of what is prohibited; the Commonwealth did not
meet its burden of proving that he violated the Ordinance; the trial court committed
multiple procedural and administrative errors which created an undue burden on him
as a pro se party; and the Commonwealth misrepresented or failed to disclose facts
and information pertinent to his defense.
We begin with the constitutional argument. Flickinger maintains that
Section 1 of the Ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and ambiguous because the
terminology used is undefined and does not put individuals on notice of what exactly
is prohibited. In particular, he objects to the use of the term “vegetation” because
that encompasses all plants, and to the term “weeds” because he believes that is
subjective. We disagree.
1
Flickinger’s appeal was initially docketed in the Superior Court. Because the matter involves
a local ordinance, the Superior Court transferred the matter to this Court for review. See 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 762(a)(4)(i)(B).
2
Flickinger’s appellate briefs consist, in his own words, of a “laundry list of errors and
omissions” by the trial court, presented in bullet point fashion. (Flickinger’s Initial Br. at 9.) There
is little in the way of cogent legal argument and no supporting case law. Thus, to the extent
Flickinger wished to raise any additional issues beyond those identified above, we find they have
been waived. See Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a) & 2119(a); Wirth v. Commonwealth, 95 A.3d 822 (Pa. 2014)
(finding party’s failure to comply with rules or develop issues constitutes waiver).
3
It is well established that “[o]rdinances are presumed to be
constitutional and a heavy burden is placed on the one seeking to challenge the
constitutionality of an ordinance.” Commonwealth v. Ebaugh, 783 A.2d 846, 849
(Pa. Cmwlth. 2001) (citation omitted). Moreover, “[a]n ordinance is
unconstitutionally vague only when it fails to give a person of ordinary intelligence
a reasonable opportunity to know what conduct is prohibited by the law.” Id.This Court has repeatedly upheld similar vegetation ordinances when
the undefined, challenged words could be interpreted according to their common
meaning and the ordinance specified a maximum height for vegetation. See
Commonwealth v. Siemel, 686 A.2d 899, 901-02 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996) (finding
excessive vegetation ordinance was not unconstitutionally vague, despite the fact
that the terms “useful and ornamental” and “planted” were not specifically defined,
because they may be interpreted according to their common meaning and the
ordinance set a definite height limitation);3 Sobocinski v. City of Williamsport, 319
A.2d 697 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1974) (same finding where subject ordinance did not define
the words grass or weeds). In fact, in a recent unreported opinion, Commonwealth
v. Jannini (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 566 C.D. 2018, filed August 13, 2019),4 this Court
addressed a similar argument pertaining to the exact same Ordinance at issue herein.
The landowner in Jannini argued, among other things, that Section 1 of the
Ordinance was unconstitutionally vague because it does not define the terms
“useful” or “ornamental” and a reasonable person would not be put on notice of what
3
While not directly raised by Flickinger, it bears noting that “[i]t has uniformly been held that
an ordinance which declares as a nuisance and requires the abatement of weeds above a height
certain is a reasonable exercise of the police power.” Siemel, 686 A.2d at 901 [quoting Sobocinski
v. City of Williamsport, 319 A.2d 697, 700 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1974)].
4
While not binding, unreported panel decisions of this Court issued after January 15, 2008,
may be cited for their persuasive value. See Pa.R.A.P. 126(b)(1); 210 Pa. Code § 69.414(a).
4
conduct was prohibited. The Court in Jannini rejected this argument, holding that
these terms could “be defined by their plain meaning and need not be specifically
defined in the Ordinance in order to put citizens on notice of what is expected.” Id.,slip op. at 9. The same reasoning holds true in the instant matter with respect to the
terms “vegetation” and “weeds.” Given the plain meaning of these words and the
fact that a definite height limitation is provided, we conclude that Section 1 of the
Ordinance is not unconstitutionally vague or ambiguous.
The next issue Flickinger raises is whether there was sufficient
evidence to support his conviction. “In summary offense cases, the Commonwealth
is required to establish that one’s guilt is beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Commonwealth v. Spontarelli, 791 A.2d 1254, 1258 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002). This Court
views “all of the evidence admitted at trial, together with all reasonable inferences
therefrom, in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth” as the prevailing party.
Id. In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, the test is whether “the trial court,
as trier of fact, could have found that each element of the offense[] charged was
supported by evidence and inferences sufficient in law to prove guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Id.Here, the testimony of the Commonwealth’s witnesses and the
documentary evidence, including photographs of both properties, demonstrate each
of the necessary elements of Section 1 of the Ordinance. Namely, that Flickinger
“(1) grows or allows to remain upon his land grass, weeds, or any vegetation (2) that
[] is not edible, useful, or ornamental and (3) exceeds a height of eight inches.”
Jannini, slip op. at 12 (citing Ordinance § 1). Flickinger’s argument that the
offending vegetation existed at the time he purchased the properties and that they
are somehow grandfathered or exempted as “wooded lots” is inapposite. As such,
5
we hold that sufficient evidence existed to find Flickinger guilty of violating Section
1 of the Ordinance and the trial court did not abuse its discretion or commit an error
of law in this regard.
Next, our review of the record reveals no merit in Flickinger’s argument
that the trial court placed an undue burden on him as a pro se party by committing
various procedural and administrative errors. To the contrary, the trial court
exercised great patience in the matter, granting multiple requests to continue the
hearing to afford Flickinger additional time to prepare his defense, request
documents through the Right-to-Know Law (RTKL),5 and travel to the
Commonwealth. (See O.R. Item Nos. 5, 7, 8, 10, 17, 24 & 30.) Despite Flickinger’s
argument to the contrary, the trial court did not place a time limit on the presentation
of his case during the hearing, and in fact “was prepared to schedule more time,” if
needed. (O.R. Item No. 48.) Flickinger was provided an opportunity to testify and
present documentary evidence on his own behalf, as well as the chance to cross-
examine the Commonwealth’s witnesses. As this Court has often reminded litigants,
“a party seeking to represent himself assumes the risk that his lack of legal
knowledge might prove to be his undoing.” Commonwealth v. Geatti, 35 A.3d 798,
800 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011) [citing Hinds v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Motor Vehicles,
740 A.2d 1217 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1999)]. Given these facts, we reject Flickinger’s
argument that he was unduly burdened or not afforded an adequate opportunity to
present his case.
Finally, we agree with the Commonwealth that Flickinger has waived
his argument that it misrepresented or failed to disclose facts and information
pertinent to his defense. The trial court addressed Flickinger’s discovery requests
5
Act of February 14, 2008, P.L. 6, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
6
and an outstanding “motion to condense discovery” at the outset of the hearing.
(O.R. Item No. 46, 8/23/21 Hr’g Tr. at 3.) Counsel for the Commonwealth reviewed
the documents and files it previously provided to Flickinger, and also provided him
with additional documents at that time. When asked by the trial court, “What else
do you want,” Flickinger responded, “That’s fine, Your Honor. That’s the bulk of
what I needed.” (Id. at 3-4.) To the extent that Flickinger’s argument pertains to
public records sought through the RTKL and whether the Commonwealth complied
with a final determination from the Office of Open Records, such matters are not at
issue in this summary citation appeal.
Accordingly, the trial court’s order is affirmed.
_____________________________________
BONNIE BRIGANCE LEADBETTER,
President Judge Emerita
7
IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
:
v. : No. 1376 C.D. 2021
:
Daniel P. Flickinger, :
Appellant :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 26th day of June, 2023, the order of the Court of
Common Pleas of Greene County is hereby AFFIRMED.
_____________________________________
BONNIE BRIGANCE LEADBETTER,
President Judge Emerita