Angino & Rovner, PC v. Santander Bank ( 2015 )

J-A31024-14
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
ANGINO & ROVNER, PC, KING DRIVE IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
CORP., A LA CARTE ENTERPRISES, PENNSYLVANIA
RICHARD C. ANGINO & ALICE K.
ANGINO
Appellants
v.
SANTANDER BANK, N.A., WEIR
PARTNERS, LLP, AND
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD NATIONAL
CORPORATION
No. 489 MDA 2014
Appeal from the Order Entered February 19, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County
Civil Division at No(s): 13-1563
BEFORE: BOWES, J., OTT, J., and STABILE, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.: FILED JANUARY 28, 2015
Angino & Rovner, PC, King Drive Corp., A La Carte Enterprises, Richard
C. Angino & Alice K. Angino (collectively “the Anginos”) bring this appeal
from the order entered on February 19, 2014, in the Court of Common Pleas
of Berks County, sustaining the preliminary objections of Santander Bank,
N.A. (“Bank”) and Weir and Partners, LLP (“W & P”)1, and dismissing the
____________________________________________
1
Weir and Partners, LLP is Bank’s counsel.
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Anginos’ Amended Complaint with prejudice.2 In this appeal, the Anginos
raise the following questions, which we quote:
1. Does there exist a duty of good faith and fair dealing in the
lender/lendee context in Pennsylvania in certain situations?
2. Do the factual averments in the Amended Complaint and
the supporting documents state a claim of breach of
contract under the duty of care and fair dealing in the
lender/lendee context under the special situation
exception?
3. Do the factual averments in [the Anginos’] Amended
Complaint and the supporting documents evidence state a
claim for breach of contract under the reasonable
expectations doctrine?
4. Do the factual averments in [the Anginos’] Amended
Complaint and the supporting documents evidence state a
claim for breach of contract under the defense of
impracticability?
5. Do the factual averments in [the Anginos’] Amended
Complaint and the supporting documents evidence state a
claim for breach of contract under waiver and/or estoppel.
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2
On June 25, 2013, the trial court sustained the preliminary objections of
defendant, Cushman and Wakefield National Corporation (“Cushman and
Wakefield”), and dismissed the complaint against Cushman and Wakefield
with prejudice. After the Anginos took this appeal from the June 25, 2013
and February 19, 2014 orders, Cushman and Wakefield filed an Application
to Dismiss Appeal, contending the Anginos had failed to preserve issues as
to the June 25, 2013 Order in their Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement. On
October 9, 2014, this Court quashed the Anginos’ appeal from the June 25,
2013 Order pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1972(a)(5), finding that the Anginos’
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement failed to preserve any issues related to that
Order, and dismissed the appeal as to Cushman and Wakefield. See Order,
10/9/2014.
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6. Do the factual averments in [the Anginos’] Amended
Complaint and the supporting documents state a claim for
which relief may be granted with respect to [Bank’s]
breach of its contract by refusing to renew approximately
$730,000 of irrevocable letters of credit which were an
integral part of the 2007 Mockingbird/Mockingbird
Extended Construction Loan and although renewing the
Willow Lake 2005 Letter of Credit of $94,252.10 refusing
to honor same?
7. Do the factual averments in [the Anginos’] Amended
Complaint and supporting documents state a claim for
which relief may be granted with respect to [Bank’s]
breach of contract by refusing to accept [the Anginos’]
option to extend the security agreement with respect to
the Mockingbird/Mockingbird Extended Construction
[3]
Development Loan from 2009 to 2010?
8. Do the facts as pleaded and the supporting exhibits state a
claim for which relief may be granted under the tort of civil
conspiracy?
9. Do the facts as pleaded and the supporting exhibits state a
claim for which relief may be granted under the tort of
defamation?
10. Do the facts as pleaded and the supporting exhibit state a
claim for which relief may be granted under the tort of
fraud?
11. Are [the Anginos’] tort claims not barred by the gist of
action doctrine?
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3
We note that the Anginos do not present a separate argument in their brief
regarding this issue. Therefore, we will not consider it. See Bolick v.
Commonwealth, 69 A.3d 1267, 1269 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied, 84
A.3d 1061 (Pa. 2014) (finding issue waived pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a)
because appellant failed to present an argument in support of the issue).
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The Anginos’ Brief, at 5–6. In addition, although not listed in the Statement
of Questions Involved, the Anginos’ argument section separately addresses
the following issue: “Plaintiffs have pleaded sufficient factual claims to set
forth a cognizable claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress”. 4 See
id. at 42–43, Argument H. Based upon the following, we affirm.
The Honorable Jeffrey K. Sprecher has ably stated the facts of this
case in his Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, which we reiterate as follows:
The following are the procedural facts:
On February 1, 2013, plaintiffs filed their original complaint
against Weir & Partners LLP (W & P), Cushman & Wakefield
National Corporation (Cushman & Wakefield), and Santander
Holdings USA, Inc. (SHUSA), the holding company of Sovereign,
now Santander (Bank). All three defendants filed preliminary
objections. On May 30, 2013, the parties stipulated to dismiss
SHUSA with prejudice as a defendant, that Bank would be added
as the proper defendant, and that SHUSA’s preliminary
objections would continue to be advanced on Bank’s behalf. On
June 25, 2013, Judge Schmehl sustained the preliminary
objections of the three defendants. Cushman & Wakefield was
dismissed with prejudice, and plaintiffs were granted leave to file
an amended complaint against the remaining defendants.
On July 11, 2013, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint
with very similar allegations. W & P and Bank filed preliminary
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4
We note that the Anginos include this issue in the Table of Contents. See
The Anginos Brief at ii. However, failure to include the issue in the
Statement of Questions Involved violates Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a) (“No question
will be considered unless it is stated in the statement of questions involved
or is fairly suggested thereby.”). Nevertheless, we decline to find waiver as
“nothing substantially impedes our ability to review appellant[s’]
argument[].” Rock v. Meakem, 61 A.3d 239, 249 (Pa. Super. 2013),
appeal denied, 80 A.3d 778 (Pa. 2013).
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objections which this court sustained, and this court dismissed
with prejudice the complaint against the remaining defendants.
The pertinent facts gleaned from the record are as follows.
Plaintiff, Richard C. Angino, is an attorney. He and his wife,
Alice K. Angino, are the sole owners of plaintiffs King Drive
Corporation and A La Carte Enterprises. These businesses are for
residential land development and the operation of Felicita Resort.
Plaintiff, Angino & Rovner, P.C., is Mr. Angino’s law firm.
The Anginos are sophisticated borrowers and land
developers. From 1971 through 2007, they invested an average
of $1 million per year and borrowed $10 million to $12 million
per year for a total investment of more than $50 million. Before
2004 they used Wells Fargo for their banking needs. In 2004,
they entered into a series of loan transactions with Waypoint
Bank, Bank’s predecessor, and Bank: (1) a loan made by
Waypoint Bank to King Drive on October 29, 2004, in the original
principal amount of $1,400,000.00; (2) a loan made by Bank to
King Drive on September 2, 2005, in the original principal
amount of $94,252.10; (3) a site development loan made by
Bank to King Drive on July 3, 2007, in the original principal
amount of $2,000,000.00; (4) a mortgage loan made by Bank to
King Drive on November 28, 2007, in the original principal
amount of $3,500,000.00; (5) a line of credit made by Bank to
King Drive on November 28, 2007, in the original principal
amount of $750,000.00; and (6) a line of credit made by Bank
to A La Carte dated November 28, 2007, in the original principal
amount of $750,000.00. The loans contained one, two, and
three year maturity dates.
Plaintiffs allege in their amended complaint that from 2004
through 2008, Bank automatically renewed plaintiffs’ loans and
lines and letters of credit despite plaintiffs’ inability to sell the
requisite number of lots referenced in the financial documents.
In 2007, the residential housing market collapsed, and plaintiffs
were unable to sell the lots at the sales pace required in the loan
documents. In 2008, plaintiffs wanted to borrow additional funds
from Bank but were denied, because the lines were failing to
generate the anticipated cash flow. Plaintiffs contend that
beginning in 2008, Bank commenced a plan to divest itself of
residential loans, lines of credit, and letters of credit by changing
its prior practice of waiving compliance with the technical
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contract terms, including time and lot sales, and refusing to
continue payments under its lines and letters of credit
commitments.
By mid-2009, plaintiffs were in default of the loan
documents for failing to sell lots at the required sales pace. Bank
offered to modify the loans to extend the maturity dates, but
plaintiffs refused this offer.
Bank notified plaintiffs on March 24, 201[0], that they
were in default of the loans. [On May 5, 2010,] W & P, Bank’s
counsel, sent plaintiffs a letter advising that the loans were
immediately due and payable. On July 14, 2011, Bank entered
into a Loan Modification agreement. The Modification extended
the maturity dates for the loans, modified the interest rates, and
required additional security for the loans. Plaintiffs released all
claims against the Bank, its employees, officers, directors,
agents, representatives, attorneys, consultants, and advisors.
The Modification was negotiated by all of the plaintiffs and their
counsel, and defendants.
Plaintiffs were unable to make the required June 30, 2012
principal payment of $500,000.00; therefore, on July 19, 2012,
Bank agreed to amend the Loan Modification under the terms of
the First Amendment which plaintiffs and their legal counsel
approved and executed. This amendment, inter alia, reduced the
amount of June 30, 2012 principal payment and provided
additional time for payment. Under the terms of this
amendment, plaintiffs released all claims again against
defendants.
Plaintiffs were again unable to make the principal payment
due on December 31, 2012. Bank again agreed to amend the
loan for a second time. Under the terms of the Second
Amendment, plaintiffs again released all claims.
Plaintiffs requested that Bank make payments to them
under letters of credit. Bank refused because plaintiffs were not
the named beneficiaries and, therefore, not entitled to payment.
Furthermore, under the terms of the Loan Modification, no
further advances were permitted. Moreover, two of the letters of
credit had expired prior to the extension of the Modification
agreement and were not renewed.
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Plaintiffs amended complaint contains six causes of action,
but within each cause of action are several claims. Defendants
filed preliminary objections to the amended complaint. After
argument and a review of the record, this court sustained
defendants’ preliminary objections. Plaintiffs did not substantially
amend the complaint against these defendants in any salient
manner, so this court dismissed the amended complaint against
defendants with prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a timely appeal.
…
This court ordered plaintiffs to file a Concise Statement of
Errors Complained of on Appeal. Plaintiffs complied with this
directive; however, this court notes that plaintiffs’ statement
consists of sixteen pages with five attached exhibits, so it is far
from concise. …
Trial Court Opinion, 5/13/2014, at 1–5.
At the outset, we state our standard of review:
The standard of review we apply when reviewing a trial court’s
order granting preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer
is as follows:
Our standard of review of an order of the trial court
overruling or granting preliminary objections is to
determine whether the trial court committed an error of
law. When considering the appropriateness of a ruling on
preliminary objections, the appellate court must apply the
same standard as the trial court.
Preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer test
the legal sufficiency of the complaint. When considering
preliminary objections, all material facts set forth in the
challenged pleadings are admitted as true, as well as all
inferences reasonably deducible therefrom. Preliminary
objections which seek the dismissal of a cause of action
should be sustained only in cases in which it is clear and
free from doubt that the pleader will be unable to prove
facts legally sufficient to establish the right to relief. If
any doubt exists as to whether a demurrer should be
sustained, it should be resolved in favor of overruling the
preliminary objections.
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Feingold v. Hendrzak, 15 A.3d 937, 941 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citation
omitted).
In the first two issues, the Anginos assert that there exists a duty of
good faith and fair dealing in the lender/lendee context in Pennsylvania in
certain situations, and that the Amended Complaint states a valid cause of
action.
The duty of good faith and fair dealing in Pennsylvania was addressed
in Cable & Assocs. Ins. Agency v. Commercial Nat'l Bank, 875 A.2d
361 (Pa. Super. 2005):
In Creeger Brick & Bldg. Supply, Inc. v. Mid-State Bank
and Trust, 385 Pa. Super. 30, 560 A.2d 151 (Pa. Super.
1989), we explained the legal concept of “good faith” with
regard to the law of contracts in the following fashion:
Section 205 of the Restatement (Second) of Contracts
suggests that “every contract imposes upon each party a
duty of good faith and fair dealing in its performance and
its enforcement.” A similar requirement has been
imposed upon contracts within the Uniform Commercial
Code by 13 Pa.C.S. § 1203. The duty of “good faith” has
been defined as “honesty in fact in the conduct or
transaction concerned.” See: 13 Pa.C.S. § 1201;
Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 205, Comment a.
Where a duty of good faith arises, it arises under the law
of contracts, not under the law of torts. AM/PM
Franchise Association v. Atlantic Richfield Co., 373
Pa. Super. 572, 579, 542 A.2d 90, 94 (1988); [see also]
Clay v. Advanced Computer Applications, Inc., 370
Pa. Super. 497, 505 n. 4, 536 A.2d 1375, 1379 n. 4
(1988), allocatur granted, 518 Pa. 647, 544 A.2d 959
(1988).
Creeger, 560 A.2d at 153.
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The courts of this Commonwealth have, in addition to the
general contractual concept of “good faith,” recognized a duty of
“good faith” inherent in certain types of legal relationships, such
as insurer and insured. Creeger, 560 A.2d at 153. Such an
inherent duty of good faith does not extend to the lender-
borrower relationship. Id., 560 A.2d at 154. As we explained in
Creeger, a lending institution does not violate a separate duty
of good faith by adhering to its agreement with the borrower or
by enforcing its legal and contractual rights as a creditor. Id.,
560 A.2d at 154. However, a borrower may plead sufficient facts
to make out a claim that a lender violated its general duty of
“good faith” arising out of the law of contracts. See, e.g.,
Corestates Bank, N.A. v. Cutillo, 1999 Pa. Super. 14, 723 A.2d
1053 (Pa. Super. 1999). Therefore, the creation of a separate
duty of good faith between lender and borrower is unnecessary
due to the existence of this “good faith” cause of action sounding
in contract, as well as the existence of other causes of action
such as fraud, slander, or interference with prospective
contractual relations, which sound in tort. Creeger, 560 A.2d at
154.
A party proceeding on the theory that a lender violated its
contractual duty of good faith must demonstrate more than the
fact that a lender negotiated terms of a loan which are favorable
to itself. Creeger, 560 A.2d at 154. Further, the duty of good
faith imposed upon contracting parties does not compel a lender
to surrender rights granted by statute or conferred to the lender
by the terms of the loan contract. Id., 560 A.2d at 154. As such,
a lender generally is not liable for harm caused to a borrower by
refusing to advance additional funds, release collateral, or assist
in obtaining additional loans from third persons. Id., 560 A.2d at
154.
Id. at 364.
Here, the trial court rejected the Anginos’ claim that the Amended
Complaint stated a cause of action for breach of the duty of good faith and
fair dealing, stating:
Plaintiffs’ third assertion is that the amended complaint is
legally sufficient to state a claim for a breach of the duty of good
faith and fair dealing. This contention fails and must be
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dismissed. Plaintiffs cite cases in which the court held or in dicta
stated that a duty of good faith and fair dealing can be breached
by a party; however, plaintiffs’ cases are inapposite to the
instant case. Plaintiffs and Bank have a relationship of borrowers
and lender. A lending institution does not violate a duty of good
faith by adhering to its agreement with the borrower or by
enforcing its legal and contractual rights against a creditor.
Creeger Brick and Building Supply Inc. v. Mid State Bank
and Trust Company, 385 Pa. Super. 30, 560 A.2d 151 (1989).
In the case at bar, Bank simply adhered to the parties’
agreement and enforced its legal rights as plaintiffs’ creditor.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/13/2014, at 7. We agree with the court’s analysis.
Moreover, Corestates Bank, N.A. v. Cutillo, 723 A.2d 1053 (Pa. Super.
1999), relied upon by the Anginos, is distinguishable.
In Corestates Bank, N.A., appellant borrower was sued by lender to
collect a debt owed following appellant’s default under a loan agreement.
The borrower counterclaimed, alleging, inter alia, the lender’s “failure to deal
in good faith.” Id. at 1058. The counterclaim set forth the following
averments:
For an extended period of time, [appellant] dealt with [the Bank]
almost exclusively with regard to the financial needs of
[appellant] and of [appellant’s] various commercial enterprises.
Over the course of 19 years, [appellant] established a
relationship with [the Bank] of trust and reliance.
By way of refusing to satisfy numerous outstanding mortgages
which were in amounts greatly in excess of the borrowings of
[appellant] from [the Bank], and by refusing to advance the
$50,000.00 promised by [the Bank] to [appellant] in
consideration for the $50,000.00 Mortgage obtained by [the
Bank] from [appellant], [the Bank] breached its duty to
[appellant] to deal in good faith in the various business
transactions entered into by the parties.
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Id. at 1059. The trial court granted the bank’s preliminary objections to the
counterclaim. On appeal, a panel of this Court reversed the trial court,
stating:
In Pennsylvania, the duty of good faith has been recognized in
limited situations. Creeger Brick & Building Supply, Inc. v.
Mid-State Bank & Trust, 385 Pa. Super. 30, 560 A.2d 151
(1989). While a lending institution does not violate a separate
duty of good faith by adhering to its agreements with a borrower
or enforcing its contractual rights as a creditor, see id. 560 A.2d
at 154, due to the longstanding relationship between the parties
in this case, we cannot say that the parties have not, as a
matter of law, developed a relationship wherein the Bank owes
appellant a duty of good faith.
Id. at 1059.
The Anginos claim that the holding in Corestates Bank, N.A.
supports its position that a valid claim exists in this case for breach of the
duty of good faith and fair dealing. We disagree and find the Anginos’
reliance on Corestates Bank, N.A., to be misplaced.
In Corestates Bank, N.A., when the borrower counterclaimed against
the lender, the borrower expressly pleaded lender’s breach of duty of good
faith in failing to perform its oral promise to lend the borrower $50,000,
after the lender executed a mortgage in favor of the lender pursuant to the
parties’ agreement. Such is not the case here.
In the present case, the averments of the Amended Complaint do not
establish anything other than Bank’s decision to enforce its legal and
contractual rights against the Anginos. As such, the Amended Complaint
fails to allege the existence of facts and circumstances to support a claim for
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breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. See Cable &
Assoc. Ins. Agency, supra at 364 (“[A] lender generally is not liable for
harm caused to a borrower by refusing to advance additional funds, release
collateral, or assist in obtaining additional loans from third persons.”).
Accordingly, the trial court properly determined that the Amended Complaint
failed to state a claim for a breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.
Next, the Anginos claim that the Amended Complaint and referenced
documentary exhibits state a theory of recovery for breach of contract under
the reasonable expectation doctrine. According to the Anginos:
The averments in [the Anginos’] Amended Complaint and
referenced exhibits clearly provide a theory of recovery based
upon the parties’ reasonable expectations as detailed in an
exchange of communications from 2002 through 2004, including
[the Anginos’] submission in 2004 of its long-range plan to
develop a green sustainable multi-use community.
The Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 211 standardized
agreement provides that in construing and applying a
standardized contract, the construction must effectuate the
reasonable expectation of the average member of the public who
accepts it. It is clear from the averments in the Amended
Complaint and the documents attached as exhibits that the
reasonable expectations of the parties were to extend beyond
the one year maturity dates of lines and letters of credit and two
year maturity dates of the documents themselves and even
beyond the “pacing” requirements of the documents. The
“pacing” requirements of three per year for Willow Lake would
require at least four to five years to sell the remaining 13 or 14
lots. The “pacing” requirement for Mockingbird/Mockingbird
Extended of five lots per year would also require at least five to
six years to sell 28 lots. The $200,000 annual payments toward
principal for the $5,000,000 mortgage and two lines of credit
necessitated 25 years for total payment of principal.
The Anginos’ Brief, at 31-32. This argument is unavailing.
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“[A] party may not claim its reasonable expectations are inconsistent
with clear contract language.” Gustine Uniontown Associates, Ltd. ex
rel. Gustine Uniontown, Inc. v. Anthony Crane Rental, Inc., 892 A.2d
830, 837 (Pa. Super. 2006). Here, the Anginos present a theory of recovery
for breach of contract based upon the reasonable expectation doctrine.
However, the Anginos present no authority, nor has our research revealed,
that a cause of action for breach of contract exists based upon the
reasonable expectation doctrine. Accordingly, no relief is due on this claim.
In the next two issues (Issues 4 and 5), the Anginos claim (1) that the
Amended Complaint and numerous documentary exhibits establish a theory
of recovery for breach of contract under waiver and estoppel, and (2) the
Amended Complaint and supporting exhibits state a viable theory of
recovery for breach of contract under impracticability and impossibility.
However, as the trial court correctly points out, these doctrines are
affirmative defenses, not causes of action. See Trial Court Opinion,
5/13/2014, at 8; Pa.R.C.P. 1030 (“[A]ll affirmative defenses including but
not limited to the defenses of … estoppel, … impossibility of performance, …
and waiver shall be pleaded in a responsive pleading under the heading
“New Matter”.). Accordingly, we reject this argument without further
discussion.
In the sixth issue, the Anginos argue that the Amended Complaint
states a theory of recovery based upon Bank’s breach of contract by refusing
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to renew irrevocable letters of credit, refusing to honor letters of credit, and
interpreting letters of credit erroneously. Specifically, the Anginos rely upon
allegations that Bank refused to renew two letters of credit — for
Mockingbird/Mockingbird Extended, and although continuing to renew a third
letter of credit — for Willow Lake, and refused to reimburse the Anginos for
expenses incurred for roads and infrastructure beyond the 2009 maturity
date. Here, however, there are no averments that Bank failed to abide by
the written terms of the letters of credit. Therefore, our review confirms the
Amended Complaint fails to state a cause of action based upon this theory.
In the remaining issues, the Anginos claim that the Amended
Complaint sets forth causes of action for the torts of civil conspiracy,
defamation, fraud, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The
Anginos also contend that the tort claims are not barred by the gist of the
action doctrine.
The trial court has succinctly and properly rejected these arguments.
We therefore adopt the trial court’s discussion as dispositive of the final five
issues raised by the Anginos in this appeal, as follows:
Plaintiffs next argue that the complaint is legally sufficient
to state a claim for civil conspiracy. This contention is without
merit and should be dismissed. A civil conspiracy is a
combination of two or more persons who engage in an unlawful
or criminal act or accomplish a lawful act by unlawful means or
for an unlawful purpose. In the instant case, the defendants are
the Bank and its attorneys; therefore, there is no conspiracy
because it is impossible for a principal and agent to enter into a
conspiracy. Even assuming arguendo, that a conspiracy existed
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between the defendants, they did nothing illegal or for an
unlawful purpose against plaintiffs.
Plaintiffs’ next argument is that the complaint was legally
sufficient to state a claim for the intentional infliction of
emotional distress. This contention fails. Intentional infliction of
emotional distress occurs when one, intentionally and recklessly,
by extreme and outrageous conduct, causes severe emotional
distress to another. This court notes that all plaintiffs assert this
action, but businesses are unable to suffer emotional distress.
The only allegations to support this claim are that Bank’s
employees made telephone calls to the individual plaintiffs
regarding their failure to make timely loan payments and they
made “irresponsible threats of foreclosure.” Bank pursued its
legal rights and warned plaintiffs of its intent to foreclose due to
the lack of payments. Hence, Bank’s actions are legal, not
irresponsible. If plaintiffs suffered emotional distress, it was the
result of their unhappiness over Bank’s pursuit of its legal
remedies.
Plaintiffs assert that the complaint is legally sufficient to
state a claim for fraud. This allegation is meritless. Pa.R.C.P.
1019 states that averments of fraud or mistake must be averred
with particularity. Plaintiffs contend only that the defendants
committed fraud and misrepresentations pertaining to their
position regarding appraisals, obligations, and letters of credit.
Plaintiffs do not delineate what was fraudulent or why an action
was fraudulent. Plaintiffs do not agree with defendants’
appraisals of their properties, but their appraisals do not
constitute fraud. For these reasons, this issue should be
dismissed.
Plaintiffs submit that the amended complaint is legally
sufficient to state a claim for defamation. This complaint is a
frippery. Plaintiffs do not state what statements were
defamatory. Moreover, defendants did not publish any
statements to the public. The public’s knowledge gained through
the publicity of a legal proceeding is not defamation.
Plaintiffs’ [next] contention is that their tort claims are not
barred by the gist of the action doctrine. The gist of the action
doctrine precludes tort claims that are collateral to claims
sounding in contract. The doctrine is designed to maintain the
conceptual distinction between breach of contract claims and tort
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claims and, as a practical matter, precludes plaintiffs from re-
casting ordinary breach of contract claims into tort claims. The
Brickman Group, LTD. v. CGU Insurance Company, 865
A.2d 918 (Pa. Super. 2004). lf plaintiffs had pled legitimate
intentional tort claims, perhaps they would have withstood the
gist of the doctrine test; however, this court dismissed plaintiffs’
tort claims because they were legally deficient. For this reason
this assertion fails.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/13/2014, at 9–10.5
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5
We simply add that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently addressed
the “gist of the action” doctrine in Bruno v. Erie Ins. Co., ___ A.3d ___
[2014 PA LEXIS 3319] (Pa. December 15, 2014). The Bruno Court held that
the “gist of the action” doctrine did not bar the plaintiffs’-insureds’
negligence claim against its insurer for false assurances made by the
insurer’s adjuster and the engineer regarding mold discovered in the
insureds’ home. The Supreme Court explained:
[T]he mere existence of a contract between two parties does
not, ipso facto, classify a claim by a contracting party for injury
or loss suffered as the result of actions of the other party in
performing the contract as one for breach of contract. Indeed,
our Court has long recognized that a party to a contract may be
found liable in tort for negligently performing contractual
obligations and thereby causing injury or other harm to another
contracting party ….
Consequently, a negligence claim based on the actions of a
contracting party in performing contractual obligations is not
viewed as an action on the underlying contract itself, since it is
not founded on the breach of any of the specific executory
promises which comprise the contract. Instead, the contract is
regarded merely as the vehicle, or mechanism, which
established the relationship between the parties, during which
the tort of negligence was committed.
Id. at *57–*58.
We note that in Bruno, the issue of the “gist of the action” doctrine
was decided prior to the issue regarding whether the negligence claim was
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Having considered the arguments raised by the Anginos, and finding
that none presents a basis upon which to disturb the decision of the trial
court, we affirm the order that dismissed the Anginos’ Amended Complaint
with prejudice.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/28/2015
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
otherwise legally cognizable, and therefore the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
remanded the case to this Court to fully consider the parties’ arguments on
that issue. See id. at *61-*62.
Here, the Anginos argue that their tort claims are not barred by the
“gist of the action” doctrine because the claims arose from conduct separate
and apart from the subject contracts. The Anginos’ argument assumes the
legally sufficiency of their intentional tort claims. However, we have
concluded that the trial court properly sustained the demurrers and
dismissed the intentional tort claims. It follows, as the trial court
determined, that the Anginos’ argument regarding the “gist of the action”
doctrine is moot.
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