Bollard & Assoc. v. H&R Industries ( 2017 )


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  • J-A10020-17
    NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
    BOLLARD & ASSOCIATES, INC.          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    PENNSYLVANIA
    v.
    H&R INDUSTRIES,             INC.   AND   HARRY
    SCHMIDT
    APPEAL OF: HARRY SCHMIDT
    No. 1038 EDA 2016
    Appeal from the Judgment Entered February 11, 2016
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
    Civil Division at No(s): 2010-33146
    BEFORE: DUBOW, J., SOLANO, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.
    MEMORANDUM BY SOLANO, J.:                          FILED OCTOBER 24, 2017
    Appellant Harry Schmidt appeals from the judgment entered on
    February 11, 2016, in favor of Appellee Bollard & Associates, Inc.
    (“Bollard”), in this debt collection action.1 We affirm.
    H&R Industries, Inc. (“H&R”), is a manufacturer and supplier of parts
    and equipment.        Mr. Schmidt is H&R’s owner.     He also makes property
    investments. Bollard brought this action against H&R and Mr. Schmidt for
    outstanding commissions on sales that Bollard generated for H&R products.
    Insofar as is relevant here, Bollard contended that Mr. Schmidt made an oral
    promise to pay H&R’s corporate debt from his personal assets.          The trial
    court found in favor of Bollard following a one-day bench trial, and we
    ____________________________________________
    1   The other party to this action, H&R Industries, Inc., has not appealed.
    J-A10020-17
    therefore summarize the relevant evidence from the trial as it relates to Mr.
    Schmidt’s alleged agreement to pay H&R’s debt to Bollard.
    Donna M. Scheuren, a long-time manufacturers’ representative at
    Bollard, testified that there came a time when H&R stopped paying
    commissions that Bollard had earned on sales, and that she set up meetings
    with Mr. Schmidt to discuss the outstanding debt. N.T., 8/24/15, at 11. At
    a dinner meeting, Mr. Schmidt told Ms. Scheuren “that many of his issues
    regarding cash flow problems were related to many of his personal
    investments, personal assets, ventures.”   Id.   According to Ms. Scheuren,
    Mr. Schmidt said that he would be able to pay the debt owed for the
    commissions once he sold some of his properties:
    [I]n [Mr. Schmidt’s] office we sat and discussed townhouses that
    he was building up in Allentown, Pennsylvania and he showed
    me brochures and marketing paraphernalia. He explained that
    he was an investor in these townhomes and due to the slow
    down they weren’t selling quite as fast as he had hoped.
    But whether he bought out another contractor or builder or
    whether these homes started to sell and the market bounced
    back he would have the money from that particular venture to
    be square and pay out the past due commissions.
    If that didn’t happen in a timely fashion, he also shared with me
    his properties in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He had two buildings
    over there that were up for sale and he was patiently waiting for
    Walgreen’s to come through with an offer on that building. . . .
    But the general consistency of the whole conversation was as
    soon as one of those ventures broke loose Mr. Schmidt said he
    would pay his debt and those personal assets would be able
    to clean up the commissions in one fell swoop when they
    were sold.
    Id. at 11-13 (emphasis added).
    -2-
    J-A10020-17
    Bollard’s owner, Richard A. Bollard (“Mr. Bollard”), similarly testified
    that he and Mr. Schmidt “talked about his properties in Allentown” and “the
    building over in Jersey” and that Mr. Schmidt told him, “I will definitely pay
    you guys.”     N.T., 8/24/15, at 71.   Mr. Bollard stated that he “went to
    Allentown with [Mr. Schmidt] to look at the property up there.” Id. at 72.
    Mr. Bollard reiterated, “[Mr. Schmidt] was always saying, hey, when I get
    flush, when I get something here, I will pay you guys.       His words were I
    always pay my debts.” Id. Mr. Bollard further testified:
    Q.   Now, when you had these discussions with [Mr. Schmidt],
    was there ever anyone else around concerning his promises to
    pay you personally?
    A.    Yes, I mean, I remember I was out with Tom Kutzer a
    couple of times, Jeff Amtman. John Watt was with us one time
    and had a conversation, too.
    Q.     And the conversations are what you had discussed here?
    A.    Basically, that he would take care of us. He would pay
    us either through the business or personally out of his own
    pocket if he had to.
    Id. at 73-74 (emphases added).
    Thomas M. Kutzer, a former supply manager for one of H&R’s
    customers,     corroborated   Mr.   Bollard’s   testimony,   confirming   that
    Mr. Schmidt “would always say that he was good for everything
    personally.”     N.T., 8/24/15, at 56 (emphases added).         During cross-
    examination, Mr. Kutzer reiterated:
    Q.     Now, do you have any idea -- you said that [Mr. Schmidt]
    said I will personally be responsible. Did he use those words?
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    J-A10020-17
    A.   He said his word is good and he was personally
    responsible for . . . what he owed.
    Id. at 59 (emphases added).
    During the trial, Mr. Schmidt testified as follows:
    Q.    . . . Mr. Bollard alleges that in 2007 and on times
    thereafter, you gave him assurances that you would personally
    pay his commissions. What’s your response to that?
    A.   My response. Why would I make such an assurance?             I
    mean it wasn’t my debt. It was company debt.
    Q.   Okay. Did you ever promise him that you personally
    would pay his commissions?
    A.     I never promised that I would personally pay his
    commissions or that I could do anything other than the fact that
    if the company didn’t have the funds, he’d have to wait. . . .
    Q.    Okay.   It’s been testified to that you discussed with
    Mr. Bollard your investment in Allentown. Do you recall that
    discussion?
    A.    Vaguely, but not one hundred percent.
    Q.    All right. Did you ever take a trip with Mr. Bollard to
    Allentown to look at the investment that you had there?
    A.   I don’t – I honestly don’t believe I took a trip up there with
    him. He might have gone up there on his own, but I don’t
    remember going up there with him. It’s got to be refreshed in
    my mind.
    Q.   Does that investment have anything to do with H&R
    Industries?
    A.    No.
    Q.    Did money from H&R Industries go into that investment?
    A.    No. . . .
    -4-
    J-A10020-17
    Q.   Did you ever discuss with Mr. Bollard or with Donna
    Schueren an investment you had in Cherry Hill, New Jersey?
    A.    Could have been I mentioned it[?], yes.
    Q.    Did any      of   H&R     Industries[’]   money   go   into   that
    investment?
    A.    No, not a dime.
    ...
    Q.    Now, you indicated to [Mr. Schmidt’s counsel] with regard
    to the New Jersey property that you could have mentioned it to
    Donna Scheuren; is that correct?
    A.    Only if they were interested in buying it.
    Q.    The New Jersey property?
    A.    Right.
    Q.    So   you      didn’t        have     any    discussions       with
    [Ms. Scheuren?] . . .
    A.   I recall I did talk to her about that because I wanted to do
    some refinancing or sell it. That was the only reason.
    Q.   So you did bring up the fact that you were doing
    something with the property, correct?
    A.    I didn’t deny it. . . .
    Q.   Did you provide [Ms. Scheuren] with brochures of the
    townhomes that you were trying to sell in Allentown?
    A.    Yes.
    Q.    And did you indicate to her at that time that if you were
    able to sell those townhomes that you would be able to make
    payment for the outstanding commissions due to [Bollard]?
    A.  No. That’s mixing my personal money with the company
    money. That’s not allowed.
    -5-
    J-A10020-17
    ...
    I never promised anybody personally that they would get paid
    for a company debt. . . .
    [Q. E]ven though you were telling [Mr. Bollard] that the
    company was in financial difficulty and he was owed a lot of
    money, you never told him you would make sure that he got
    paid so that he would continue to sell for you?
    A.    I don’t believe so.
    N.T., 8/24/15, at 135-37, 141-42, 146-47.
    At the conclusion of the trial, counsel for Mr. Schmidt presented the
    following argument:
    I believe the Court will find that there is an obligation by H&R
    Industries to pay Bollard & Associates. I, in fact, concede that.
    But . . . the personal assurance, as the Court opined early on, is,
    in fact, the issue. The Statute of Frauds is not relevant here . . .
    But that does not eliminate the level of proof required and it
    simply has to be more than balancing a scintilla of evidence as
    we do in the civil world. Just a little balance, a feather more on
    one side. It has to be clear and convincing that someone would
    go beyond their corporate entity and make a commitment.
    It’s significant that there is no writing to commemorate this
    promise personally. No memorandum, no confirmation, nothing
    whatsoever. It’s a — it’s a well thought out clever effort but it
    doesn't bear enough proof, if Your Honor pleases.
    N.T., 8/24/15, at 157-58.
    After the bench trial, on August 31, 2015, the trial court entered the
    following order:
    AND NOW, this 31st day of August, 2015, after a bench trial on
    the above captioned matter and review of the record, it is hereby
    ORDERED and DECREED that the parties are given forty (40)
    days from the date of this order to submit FINDINGS OF FACT
    and CONCLUSIONS OF LAW for the court’s review.
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    It is further ORDERED that such FINDINGS and CONCLUSIONS
    shall address the appropriate burden of proof to be utilized in the
    above captioned matter (ie., oral personal guarantee) as well as
    specifically address the damages sought against each Defendant,
    as the same is not clear from a reading of the Complaint.
    Order, 8/31/15 (underlining in original; italicized emphasis added). Despite
    this order, neither H&R nor Mr. Schmidt filed Findings of Fact or Conclusions
    of Law.2 On October 27, 2015, the trial court found in favor of Bollard and
    against H&R and Mr. Schmidt, awarding $402,815.73, plus interest.                   The
    court said it rendered its decision after review of the proposed Findings of
    Fact and Conclusions of Law submitted by Bollard, “as well as after
    independent review of the record and case law.” Trial Ct. Op. at 1. The trial
    court stated that by “fail[ing] to provide the court with the requested
    Findings and Conclusions,” Mr. Schmidt had “abandon[ed] his burden of
    proof argument.” Id. at 3; see also id. at 2.
    On November 9, 2015, Mr. Schmidt filed a post-trial motion, in which
    he argued, among other things, that Bollard “did not meet its burden of
    proof to establish a personal guarantee of an individual, [i.e.,] Harry
    Schmidt     to   pay   the    debt   of   H&R    Industries,   Inc[.]   to   [Bollard].”
    Mr. Schmidt’s Post-Trial Mot., 11/6/15, at 1 ¶ 2. The motion did not specify
    what burden of proof should apply.             On December 21, 2015, Mr. Schmidt
    filed a praecipe to attach a memorandum of law to his motion that argued
    sufficiency and weight of the evidence and contended that the burden of
    ____________________________________________
    2 Mr. Schmidt’s counsel contends that he sent letters to the trial court to
    request an extension of time to file the proposed Findings and Conclusions,
    but that the court “never responded” to his letters. Schmidt Brief at 8.
    -7-
    J-A10020-17
    proof applicable to Bollard’s claim was clear and convincing evidence.     On
    January 5, 2016, the trial court denied Mr. Schmidt’s post-trial motion. On
    January 8, 2016, Mr. Schmidt filed a motion for reconsideration, which the
    trial court denied on February 9, 2015.
    Judgment was entered on February 11, 2016, and Mr. Schmidt then
    filed this timely appeal.    On March 15, 2016, the trial court ordered
    Mr. Schmidt to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal
    pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).     Mr. Schmidt complied on April 4, 2016.
    Among other issues, Mr. Schmidt contended that the trial court erred by not
    applying a clear and convincing burden of proof.          Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
    Statement, 4/4/16, at 1.
    In the statement of the questions involved pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2116
    that is included in Mr. Schmidt’s brief to this Court, he raises the following
    issues, which we reproduce verbatim:
    I.    Whether [the trial] court failed to see the clear
    inconsistencies offered in [Bollard]’s witnesses[’] testimony? No
    one (except [Bollard]’s counsel) said Harry Schmidt personally
    promised to pay the debt of his company; and the date of any
    alleged promise was never proven. [Bollard]’s case is based
    upon oral statements with no written evidence to support its
    claim.
    II.   If a personal promise to pay the debt of [H&R to Bollard]
    was conditioned upon Harry Schmidt’s liquidation of assets
    referred to as the Allentown townhouses property and/or the
    Cherry Hill property, absent receiving funds from these personal
    assets, can the conditional personal promise, even if made,
    cannot be enforced?
    Schmidt Brief at 3.
    -8-
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    Sufficiency
    In his first issue, Mr. Schmidt contends that the evidence is insufficient
    to hold him personally liable for the debts owed to Bollard by his company,
    H&R. As we stated in Commonwealth v. Sullivan, 
    820 A.2d 795
    , 805 (Pa.
    Super. 2003) (citation omitted), appeal denied, 
    833 A.2d 143
     (Pa.2003):
    A claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence is a question
    of law. . . . When reviewing a sufficiency claim the court is
    required to view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    verdict winner giving [the verdict winner] the benefit of all
    reasonable inferences to be drawn from the evidence.
    “As a reviewing court, we may not weigh the evidence or substitute our
    judgment for that of the fact-finder, who is free to believe all, part, or none
    of the evidence.” Commonwealth v. Chambers, 
    157 A.3d 508
    , 512 (Pa.
    Super. 2017) (quoting Commonwealth v. Haughwout, 
    837 A.2d 480
    , 484
    (Pa. Super. 2003)).        Applying this standard of review, we conclude that
    Mr. Schmidt is not entitled to relief on his sufficiency claim.
    In arguing that the record did not establish that he “personally
    promised to pay the debt of his company,” Mr. Schmidt asserts that the trial
    court “failed to see the clear inconsistencies offered in [Bollard]’s witnesses’
    testimony” that he made such a promise. Schmidt Brief at 10; see also id.
    at 12, 26.3    Mr. Schmidt avers that “[n]o one (except [Bollard]’s counsel)
    ____________________________________________
    3 As Mr. Schmidt frames his argument, it is not entirely clear whether he
    contends that the evidence was insufficient to find him liable as a matter of
    law, which would require reversal of the judgment, or whether the trial
    court’s decision was against the weight of the evidence, which would require
    a new trial. In view of Mr. Schmidt’s emphasis on the burden of proof, we
    understand that his argument is lack of sufficiency.          To the extent
    (Footnote Continued Next Page)
    -9-
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    said Harry Schmidt . . . personally promised to pay the debt of his
    company.” Id. at 10.
    In connection with his argument, Mr. Schmidt contends that the trial
    court failed to apply the correct burden of proof to Bollard’s claim against
    him.    Mr. Schmidt emphasizes that Bollard bases its claim solely on a
    purported oral promise by Mr. Schmidt to pay.      He points out that such a
    promise normally would be unenforceable under the Statute of Frauds of
    1855, 33 P.S. § 3,4 but is excepted from that statute where, as here, “the
    main object of the promisor is to serve his own pecuniary or business
    purpose.” Biller v. Ziegler, 
    593 A.2d 436
    , 440 (Pa. Super. 1991) (citations
    omitted); see also Webb Mfg. Co. v. Sinoff, 
    674 A.2d 723
    , 725 (Pa.
    (Footnote Continued) _______________________
    Mr. Schmidt also argues that the decision was against the weight of the
    evidence, we conclude that Mr. Schmidt is not entitled to relief. “In order for
    a defendant to prevail on a challenge to the weight of the evidence, the
    evidence must be so tenuous, vague and uncertain that the verdict shocks
    the conscience of the court.” Commonwealth v. Talbert, 
    129 A.3d 536
    ,
    546 (Pa. Super. 2015) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted),
    appeal denied, 
    138 A.3d 4
     (Pa. 2016). Here, the verdict is supported by
    the unambiguous testimony of Ms. Scheuren, Mr. Bollard, and Mr. Kutzer.
    N.T., 8/24/15, at 12-13, 59, 73-74. Thus, it is not so tenuous, vague, and
    uncertain that it shocks the conscience. See Talbert, 129 A.3d at 546.
    4 This provision, Act No. 1855-322, § 1, P.L. 308 (Apr. 26, 1855), is a
    “supplement” to the Statute of Frauds of 1772 and provides:
    No action shall be brought . . . whereby to charge the defendant,
    upon any special promise, to answer for the debt or default of
    another, unless the agreement upon which such action shall be
    brought, or some memorandum or note thereof, shall be in
    writing, and signed by the party to be charged therewith, or
    some other person by him authorized.
    33 P.S. § 3.
    - 10 -
    J-A10020-17
    Super. 1996); Johnston the Florist, Inc. v. TEDCO Const. Corp., 
    657 A.2d 511
    , 517 (Pa. Super. 1995) (en banc).5 Relying on non-binding federal
    law — particularly, Jefferson-Travis, Inc. v. Giant Eagle Markets, Inc.,
    
    393 F.2d 426
     (3d Cir. 1968) — Mr. Schmidt contends that in this situation, a
    claim of such an oral promise must be proven by clear and convincing
    evidence, rather than under the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard
    normally applicable to civil cases.
    The trial court opined that although Mr. Schmidt had raised this issue
    in his closing argument at trial, he “abandoned and/or waived” it by failing
    to submit post-trial Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in response to
    the court’s order that the parties address the burden-of-proof issue.    Trial
    Ct. Op. at 2-3.      Alternatively, the court held that even if the clear-and-
    convincing-standard applied, Bollard met its burden under that standard.
    Id. at 4-5, 11. After careful review of the record, we agree with the trial
    court’s latter holding and conclude that we therefore need not reach the
    waiver question6 or decide which burden of proof applies to cases like this
    one.
    ____________________________________________
    5 All parties agree that this exception, which is commonly referred to as the
    “leading object” or “main purpose” rule, applies here, and we therefore do
    not consider that question.
    6 On waiver, we note that Mr. Schmidt did not identify the burden of proof as
    one of his issues in his brief’s Statement of Questions Involved under
    Appellate Rule 2116, and that Rule 2116(a) provides that “[n]o question will
    be considered unless it is stated in the statement of questions involved or is
    fairly suggested thereby.” We also observe, however, that Rule 2116(a)
    further provides that a Statement’s listed issues “will be deemed to include
    (Footnote Continued Next Page)
    - 11 -
    J-A10020-17
    Although Bollard does not agree that the clear and convincing standard
    applies to this case, it argues in its brief that its proof met that standard:
    [E]ven though not required to under the law, [Bollard] has
    demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that [Appellant]
    Schmidt induced [Bollard] to continue selling for H&R
    notwithstanding H&R’s financial difficulties by virtue of utilizing
    the long standing relationship and the promise to be personally
    responsible for the commissions earned.
    Bollard Brief at 16. In finding in Bollard’s favor, the trial court stated:
    The record clearly established that there was a long standing
    relationship between the parties; that [Bollard] was one of two
    entities that brought business to [H&R and Mr. Schmidt] over the
    past fifteen years; that [H&R and Mr. Schmidt] fell behind in
    commission payments; that there were several meetings
    concerning the outstanding commissions; that at those meetings
    Harry Schmidt continually requested that [Bollard] continue to
    sell despite the arrearages; that at those meetings H&R[’s]
    owner, Harry Schmidt, stated that he was good for the money;
    that H&R[’s] owner, Harry Schmidt, had conversations about his
    personal property with [Bollard] and [Bollard]’s employee as it
    related to the outstanding commissions; and that [Bollard]
    received material about, and toured some of Harry Schmidt’s
    personal property, pursuant to conversations concerning the
    arrearages.
    Trial Ct. Op. at 4-5. In light of this evidence, the court concluded that “[t]he
    record . . . amply supports the trial court’s factual finding that [Bollard]
    showed by clear, direct, weighty and convincing evidence that [Appellant]
    Harry Schmidt personally guaranteed the commission payments owed[.]”
    Id. at 5. Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to Bollard as the
    verdict winner, we agree.
    (Footnote Continued) _______________________
    every subsidiary question comprised therein” and that a statement that a
    plaintiff failed to prove a claim by sufficient evidence necessarily will
    encompass consideration of which standard of proof applies to the claim.
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    J-A10020-17
    Ms. Scheuren testified that Mr. Schmidt told her that he would use his
    personal assets to “clean up” the debt he owed to Bollard. N.T., 8/24/15, at
    12-13. Mr. Bollard testified that Mr. Schmidt said that he would pay Bollard
    “personally out of his pocket if he had to.” Id. at 73-74. Mr. Bollard added
    that this guarantee had been made in front of objective third parties,
    including Mr. Kutzer.       Id.    Mr. Kutzer confirmed that he had heard Mr.
    Schmidt tell Mr. Bollard “that he was good for everything personally” and
    that “he was personally responsible for what he owed.” Id. at 59.7 Thus,
    three witnesses testified that Mr. Schmidt orally promised to guarantee
    H&R’s debt.      Id. at 12-13, 59, 73-74.          The record therefore contradicts
    Mr. Schmidt’s appellate argument that “[n]o one (except [Bollard]’s counsel)
    said Harry Schmidt . . . personally promised to pay the debt of his
    company.” See Schmidt Brief at 10.
    Only one witness — Mr. Schmidt, himself — stated that he never made
    such a guarantee, N.T., 8/24/15, at 135-36, 146, and the trial court, as fact-
    ____________________________________________
    7  Mr. Schmidt argues that Mr. Kutzer’s testimony was equivocal because
    when he was asked whether Mr. Schmidt’s promise of payment referred “to
    his company or to his own pocket,” Mr. Kutzer responded, “I'm not a mind
    reader. I don't know. . . . Either one.” Schmidt Brief at 13-14 (quoting
    N.T., 8/24/15, at 59). The trial court observed Mr. Kutzer’s testimony and
    understood it to mean that Mr. Schmidt would pay personally if H&R did not
    pay the debt. We defer to the trial court’s understanding of Mr. Kutzer’s
    testimony. As noted above, “[a]s a reviewing court, we may not weigh the
    evidence or substitute our judgment for that of the fact-finder, who is free to
    believe all, part, or none of the evidence.” Chambers, 157 A.3d at 512;
    see also Commonwealth v. Stiles, 
    143 A.3d 968
    , 981 (Pa. Super.) (“we
    may not weigh the evidence and substitute our judgment for the fact-
    finder”), appeal denied, 
    163 A.3d 403
     (Pa. 2016). Hence, we defer to the
    findings by the trial court on this issue and find no error.
    - 13 -
    J-A10020-17
    finder, said it was “not persuaded” by Mr. Schmidt and found his testimony
    to be “non-credible” and “evasive and contradictory.” Trial Ct. Op. at 5, 9.
    We are required to defer to the trial court’s findings on credibility.
    Commonwealth v. Talbert, 
    129 A.3d 536
    , 543 (Pa. Super. 2015), appeal
    denied, 
    138 A.3d 4
     (Pa. 2016).
    To meet the clear and convincing evidence standard --
    [t]he witnesses must be found to be credible, that the facts to
    which they testify are distinctly remembered and the details
    thereof narrated exactly and in due order, and that their
    testimony is so clear, direct, weighty, and convincing as to
    enable the [fact-finder] to come to a clear conviction, without
    hesitancy, of the truth of the precise facts in issue.
    Lessner v. Rubinson, 
    592 A.2d 678
    , 681 (Pa. 1991) (quoted citation
    omitted). “It is not necessary that the evidence be uncontradicted provided
    it carries a clear conviction to the mind or carries a clear conviction of its
    truth.”   In the Interest of J.M., 
    166 A.3d 408
    , 423 (Pa. Super. 2017)
    (quoted citation omitted). We conclude that the trial court did not err when
    it found that the evidence was sufficient under this standard to establish that
    Mr. Schmidt orally promised personally to guarantee the debt that his
    business, H&R, owed to Bollard.          Accordingly, Mr. Schmidt’s general
    sufficiency issue is without merit.
    Conditional Promise
    For his second issue, Mr. Schmidt contends that any oral promise by
    him to pay “was conditioned upon Harry Schmidt’s liquidation of assets
    referred to as the Allentown townhouses property and/or the Cherry Hill
    - 14 -
    J-A10020-17
    property,” and that “absent receiving funds from these personal assets, the
    conditional personal promise, even if made, cannot be enforced.”       Schmidt
    Brief at 16 (emphasis omitted). Although Mr. Schmidt preserved this issue
    in his post-trial motion (at ¶ 4) and statement of errors under Appellate Rule
    1925(b) (at ¶ 2), the trial court did not address this issue. We conclude that
    no relief is due with respect to it.
    Upon reviewing the record, we find nothing to support Mr. Schmidt’s
    contention that his personal guarantee to pay the debt to Bollard was
    contingent upon the sale of his Allentown or Cherry Hill properties. Although
    Ms. Scheuren and Mr. Bollard testified that Mr. Schmidt discussed those
    properties with them and that Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Bollard said he went to
    Allentown to look at that property, neither witness ever stated that he or she
    agreed, on behalf of Bollard, that Mr. Schmidt would not have to pay his
    debt to Bollard if the Allentown and Cherry Hill properties were not sold.
    See N.T., 8/24/15, at 11-12, 71-72.
    Additionally, in his trial testimony, Mr. Schmidt himself claimed that he
    never discussed the Allentown or Cherry Hill properties with Mr. Bollard or
    Ms. Schueren. N.T., 8/24/15, at 136-37.8 The record does not support his
    ____________________________________________
    8 Although Mr. Schmidt did later state that he provided Ms. Scheuren with
    brochures of the townhouses on his Allentown property, he immediately
    added that he did not tell her that his ability to pay the debt to Bollard was
    predicated upon the sale of those townhouses, because “[t]hat’s mixing [his]
    personal money with [his] company[’s] money.” N.T., 8/24/15, at 142. He
    said that, if he had mentioned the Cherry Hill property to Ms. Scheuren, it
    was only to see if “they” were interested in buying the property and not with
    regard to the debt owed to Bollard. Id. at 141.
    - 15 -
    J-A10020-17
    claim that his promise was dependent upon a condition that he says he
    never discussed with the other party.     Accordingly, Mr. Schmidt’s second
    issue merits no relief.
    Judgment affirmed.
    Judgment Entered.
    Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
    Prothonotary
    Date: 9/29/17
    - 16 -