Valentino, J. v. Harleysville Preferred Ins. Co. ( 2015 )

J-A24034-14
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
JOHN VALENTINO AND MARY CLARE IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
VALENTINO, H/W AND JEEL PENNSYLVANIA
CORPORATION,
Appellants
v.
HARLEYSVILLE PREFERRED INSURANCE
COMPANY AND SCOTT RITTER, IND. &
T/A SER BUILDING ASSOCIATES, INC.
AND STABLE CONTRACTING A/K/A
STABLE ROOFING AND DANIEL BEEBIE,
IND. & T/A RESQUE,
Appellees No. 360 EDA 2014
Appeal from the Order Dated December 16, 2013
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at No.: February Term, 2012, No. 3608
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 03, 2015
Appellants, John and Mary Clare Valentino, husband and wife, and Jeel
Corporation, (which they own), appeal from the orders granting summary
judgment in favor of Appellees, Harleysville Preferred Insurance Company,
Scott Ritter t/a SER Building Associates, Inc. and Daniel Beebie, individually
____________________________________________
*
Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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and t/a Resque.1 Appellants assert genuine issues of material fact and trial
court abuse of discretion. We affirm.
This is a hybrid case combining an insurance coverage dispute claiming
damage to a commercial building, and claims of negligent performance
against roofing contractors for the same damage. There is a voluminous
record, but the central underlying disputes are whether the roofing
contractors, Ritter and Beebie, were negligent, in breach of contract, causing
damage from rain seepage, and whether this damage constituted a covered
____________________________________________
1
On December 16, 2013, after a bench trial, the court entered a defense
verdict for Stable Contracting, a sole proprietorship of Christopher Maher,
and the last remaining defendant, resolving all claims for all parties.
Notably, the trial court found the testimony of John Valentino to be
“incredible” and the damages claimed “so grotesquely inflated as to
completely undermine his testimony.” (Order, 12/16/13, at 1 n.1).
Appellants timely appealed from the verdict after the bench trial on
December 16, 2013, as well as the previous grants of summary judgment.
(See Notice of Appeal, 12/30/13). However, they did not file a post-trial
motion following the verdict. This Court filed a rule to show cause order,
questioning whether issues related to the trial were waived for failure to file
a timely post-trial motion. Counsel for Appellants has conceded that no
issues challenging the bench trial verdict were preserved for appeal, but
maintains that the issues from the grants of summary judgment were
properly preserved. (See “Memorandum,” 2/26/14, at 2-3). Accordingly,
all issues related to the bench trial verdict are waived. See Pa.R.C.P. 227.1;
Chalkey v. Roush, 805 A.2d 491, 496 (Pa. 2002) (“Under Rule 227.1, a
party must file post-trial motions at the conclusion of a trial in any type of
action in order to preserve claims that the party wishes to raise on appeal”).
Appellants fail to include the text of the orders appealed from in their brief.
See Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(2); Pa.R.A.P. 2115(a). The orders are included in
the Reproduced Record.
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loss under the policy. We summarize only the facts most relevant to our
review of the claims properly preserved and raised on appeal.
Appellants allege that they (through Mr. Valentino) made an “oral
handshake” agreement with Ritter, t/a SER Building Associates, to remove
and repair (or replace) a roof on their non-compliant commercial property at
3001 Richmond Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.2 (See Appellants’
Brief, at 17; see also Deposition of John Valentino, 3/25/13, at 34). The
building was used to store product in connection with Jeel’s retail appliance
business.
After making the preliminary arrangements, Mr. Valentino left for a
two month trip to Arizona, from May to July, 2010. He asserts he discovered
the damage in July of 2010, after his return. A month later, he made a
claim under the policy, on August 18, 2010, designating that same date as
the date of loss.
Harleysville engaged a claims adjuster, and then retained a civil
engineer, Gary Popolizio, to inspect the property. Mr. Popolizio produced a
written report. (See Harleysville Preferred’s Motion for Summary Judgment,
at Exhibit G, Report of Gary L. Popolizio, P.E., 4/09/11). Harleysville
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2
The building had previously been cited for building code violations. (See
Deposition of John Valentino, 3/25/13, at 15-16).
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eventually paid policy limits for loss of contents,3 but denied further payment
(for damages to the building) on the ground that the claim was not the
result of a covered loss.
On November 18, 2011, Harleysville issued a denial of coverage letter
based on the Popolizio report and various cited exclusions and limitations in
the policy. (See id. at Exhibit F, Letter from Mark Sworaski, Property Claims
Supervisor, Harleysville Preferred, to Jeel Corporation, Attn: John Valentino,
11/18/11, at 1-3; see also Appellee Harleysville’s Brief, at 4). The letter,
citing the Popolizio report, noted, inter alia, an aging building with a bulging
brick wall, evidence of prior repairs, and long-term deterioration from
multiple freeze-thaw cycles specifically excluded under the terms of the
policy. The letter further noted policy exclusions for wear and tear,
corrosion and other forms of deterioration, and for continuous or repeated
seepage or leakage of water. The policy also excluded coverage for
negligent work, including maintenance, repair, construction or renovation.
Most notably, the policy excluded, in pertinent part, loss or damage to
an interior from “rain . . . whether driven by wind or not” unless the
building or structure first sustained damage from a “Covered Cause of Loss
to its roof or walls through which the rain . . . enters.” (Trial Court Opinion,
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3
Harleysville initially claimed its liability for damage to contents was limited
to $32,000.00 under the policy. During litigation, Appellants’ counsel argued
that a higher payment was due. Harleysville agreed and paid an additional
amount for the contents claim.
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8/05/13, at 2; (quoting Policy, Section I, 4(a), (5)(a)) (emphasis added);
see also, inter alia, Appellee Harleysville’s Brief, at 4).
Appellants sued.4 As noted by the trial court, at Mr. Valentino’s
deposition, when asked about the source of the water which came into the
building in July of 2010, he responded:
“Rain.”
“Just ordinary rain?”
“Ordinary rain, God-given rain.”
(Deposition of John Valentino, 3/25/13, at 76; see also Trial Ct. Op.,
8/05/13, at 4).
Harleysville and Ritter moved for summary judgment. The trial court
granted the motions on August 5, 2013, in an order with accompanying
opinion. (See Order, 8/05/13, at 1; see also Trial Ct. Op., 8/05/13, at 1-
6). As to Harleysville, the trial court reasoned that the insurance claim fell
under the provision which excluded coverage for water damage from rain,
concluding that “[o]rdinary rain is not a covered loss under the policy.”
(Trial Ct. Op., 8/05/13, at 4).
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4
In addition to the claims addressed in this appeal, Appellants sought
punitive damages for bad faith, and related claims. (See Appellants’
Amended Civil Action Complaint, at 5-6, Count II, ¶¶ 25-28). Appellants do
not pursue these claims on appeal. Accordingly, we deem them abandoned.
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Beebie, individually and t/a Resque, moved for summary judgment
separately. The trial court granted Beebie’s motion on October 3, 2013, with
no additional opinion. (See Order, 10/03/13).
In granting summary judgment for Ritter (and later Beebie), the court
reasoned that Appellants failed to prove their claim that contractor
negligence caused the resultant damage. The trial court maintains that
expert testimony was required to establish causation. (See Trial Ct. Op.,
8/05/13, at 5; see also Order, 10/03/13 n.1).
As previously noted, on December 16, 2013, the same trial judge
rendered a defense verdict in the bench trial case against the remaining
defendant, Stable Contracting a/k/a Stable Roofing (a sole proprietorship of
Christopher Maher). (See Order, 12/16/13).5
Appellants timely appealed all three orders. (See Notice of Appeal,
12/30/13). The trial court did not order a statement of errors complained of
on appeal. See Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b). The trial
court filed an opinion on February 10, 2014, incorporating by reference its
opinion and order dated August 5, 2013, and order dated October 3, 2013.6
See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
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5
Mr. Maher represented himself and testified at the trial.
6
The trial court also asks this Court to quash the appeal from the bench trial
verdict dated December 16, 2013 for failure to file post-trial motions. (See
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Appellants raise three questions on appeal:
A. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt’s determination that
Appellee, Harleysville[,] was entitled to summary judgment
because there is no coverage under the policy constituted an
abuse of discretion where there are multiple issues of material
fact suggesting that a preceding covered cause of loss occurred
which would have afforded coverage for Appellants’ loss?
B. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt’s determination that
Appellee, Scott Ritter T/A SER Building Associates was entitled to
summary judgment was an abuse of discretion where the [c]ourt
found that expert testimony was required to prove the link
between Ritter’s breach of contract and the damages sustained
by Appellants despite the fact that the competent evidence
sufficiently made such a connection?
C. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt’s determination that
Appellee, Daniel Beebie, individually and T/a [sic] Resque was
entitled to summary judgment was an abuse of discretion where
the [c]ourt found that expert testimony was required to prove
the link between Beebie’s breach of contract and the damages
sustained by Appellants despite the fact that the competent
evidence sufficiently made such a connection?
(Appellants’ Brief, at 3).
Our review on an appeal from the grant of a motion for
summary judgment is well-settled. A reviewing court may
disturb the order of the trial court only where it is established
that the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion.
As with all questions of law, our review is plenary.
In evaluating the trial court’s decision to enter summary
judgment, we focus on the legal standard articulated in the
summary judgment rule. Pa.R.C.P. 1035.2. The rule states that
where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving
party is entitled to relief as a matter of law, summary judgment
may be entered. Where the non-moving party bears the burden
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
Trial Court Opinion, 2/10/14, at 2). For the reasons already noted, this
issue is now moot. (See n.3, supra).
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of proof on an issue, he may not merely rely on his pleadings or
answers in order to survive summary judgment. Failure of a
non-moving party to adduce sufficient evidence on an issue
essential to his case and on which it bears the burden of proof
. . . establishes the entitlement of the moving party to judgment
as a matter of law. Lastly, we will view the record in the light
most favorable to the non-moving party, and all doubts as to the
existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved
against the moving party.
Murphy v. Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost, 777 A.2d 418,
429 (Pa. 2001) (citations and quotation marks omitted). Furthermore,
[W]e apply the same standard as the trial court, reviewing all
the evidence of record to determine whether there exists a
genuine issue of material fact. . . . Only where there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and it is clear that the
moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law will
summary judgment be entered.
Motions for summary judgment necessarily and directly implicate
the plaintiff’s proof of the elements of [his] cause of action.
Summary judgment is proper if, after the completion of
discovery relevant to the motion, including the production of
expert reports, an adverse party who will bear the burden of
proof at trial has failed to produce evidence of facts essential to
the cause of action or defense which in a jury trial would require
the issues to be submitted to a jury. Pa.R.C.P. 1035.2. Thus, a
record that supports summary judgment will either (1) show the
material facts are undisputed or (2) contain insufficient evidence
of facts to make out a prima facie cause of action or defense
and, therefore, there is no issue to be submitted to the jury.
Upon appellate review, we are not bound by the trial court’s
conclusions of law, but may reach our own conclusions. The
appellate Court may disturb the trial court’s order only upon an
error of law or an abuse of discretion.
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
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reason. Similarly, the trial court abuses its discretion if it
does not follow legal procedure.
Where the discretion exercised by the trial court is challenged on
appeal, the party bringing the challenge bears a heavy burden.
[I]t is not sufficient to persuade the appellate court that it
might have reached a different conclusion if . . . charged
with the duty imposed on the court below; it is necessary to
go further and show an abuse of the discretionary power.
An abuse of discretion is not merely an error of judgment,
but if in reaching a conclusion the law is overridden or
misapplied, or the judgment exercised is manifestly
unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill
will, as shown by the evidence or the record, discretion is
abused.
Nat’l Cas. Co. v. Kinney, 90 A.3d 747, 752-53 (Pa. Super. 2014) (case
citations and quotation marks omitted).
The interpretation of an insurance policy is a question of
law that we review de novo.
Our purpose in interpreting insurance contracts is to
ascertain the intent of the parties as manifested by the
terms used in the written insurance policy. When the
language is clear and unambiguous, we must give effect to
that language. However, when a provision in the policy is
ambiguous, the policy is to be construed in favor of the
insured to further the contract’s prime purpose of
indemnification and against the insurer, as the insurer
drafts the policy and controls coverage.
Lexington Ins. Co. v. Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co., 81 A.3d 903, 908 (Pa.
Super. 2013) (citations omitted).
Whether [the insurer] breached a duty imposed by contract is a
legal conclusion. Mellon Bank, N.A. v. Nat'l Union Ins. Co. of
Pittsburgh, PA, 768 A.2d 865, 869 (Pa. Super. 2001) (“A legal
conclusion is a statement of a legal duty without stating the facts
from which the duty arises. A statement of the existence of a
fact could be a legal conclusion if the fact stated is one of the
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ultimate issues in the proceeding.”). We must, therefore,
examine the factual averments to determine whether they
support the conclusion.
Joyce v. Erie Ins. Exchange, 74 A.3d 157, 168 (Pa. Super. 2013).
Here, Appellants’ first question asserts that the trial court abused its
discretion in granting summary judgment to Harleysville when a genuine
issue of material fact existed. (See Appellants’ Brief, at 3). Appellants
assert there were “multiple issues of material fact suggesting that a
preceding covered cause of loss occurred” under the policy terms. (Id.)
(emphasis added).
Appellants argue that “there is evidence to suggest that a tarp[aulin]
placed on the roof” dislodged, “suggest[ing] a genuine issue of material
fact.” (Id. at 13) (emphases added). Citing to limitations in the policy,
Appellants also contend that wind damage is a covered loss, despite an
express exclusion in Paragraph 4 of the policy, “Limitations,” (“whether
driven by wind or not”). (See id. at 15; Policy, Section I, 4.a (5); see also
Trial Ct. Op., 8/05/13, at 2). Finally, Appellants argue that the tarpaulin
itself “should be considered a roof under the terms of the insurance policy.”
(Appellants’ Brief, at 16).7 We disagree.
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7
We note generally that Appellants’ citation to the record in support of the
assertions in their argument is haphazard and inconsistent, failing to comply
with Pa.R.A.P. 2119(c), and (d).
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Preliminarily, we note that Appellants concede that the policy only
covers a loss caused by rain when there has been a covered preceding cause
of loss. (See id. at 13). However, they claim that a genuine issue of fact
exists as to whether a preceding cause of loss occurred which allowed the
rainwater to infiltrate the property, which would constitute a claim covered
by the policy. (See id.). Appellants now urge this Court to disregard Mr.
Valentino’s testimony about rain, asserting that the trial court erred by
relying on it. (See id. at 12-13).
Notably, in their response in opposition to Harleysville Preferred’s
motion for summary judgment, Appellants offered no evidence in support of
their rejection of Harleysville’s proposition that “no genuine issue of material
fact exists in this matter.” (Plaintiffs’ Response . . . To . . . Motion for
Summary Judgment, 7/15/13 [R.R. at 788a-790a], at unnumbered page 2 ¶
10; see also id. generally at unnumbered pages 1-3). Instead, except to
deny that they were required to produce an expert (in response to the
Popolizio Report), Appellants chiefly rely on boilerplate denials in opposition
to the motion. (See id. at unnumbered pages 1-3).
On appeal, Appellants now posit wind damage as the qualifying
covered loss. (See id. at 14-15). They also maintain that a genuine issue
of material fact exists as to whether a tarpaulin is a “roof” within the
meaning of the policy. (Id. at 15, 16).
[T]he questions of whether there are material facts in
issue and whether the moving party is entitled to summary
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judgment are matters of law. The abuse-of-discretion aspect
has relevance only with regard to matters which lie within the
discretion of the court of original jurisdiction, such as a
subsidiary evidentiary ruling associated with the award.”
Alderwoods (Pennsylvania), Inc. v. Duquesne Light Co., ___ A.3d
____, 2014 WL 7089637, *16 n.5 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted). As we have
already noted, “[t]he interpretation of an insurance policy is a question of
law that we review de novo.” Lexington Ins. Co., supra at 908 (citation
omitted). Alderwoods, supra at *16 n.5.
Here, viewing the record in the light most favorable to Appellants as
the non-moving parties, we conclude that the trial court committed no error
of law or abuse of discretion. Neither of these propositions (wind damage as
preceding covered loss, tarpaulin as “roof”) proves either error of law or
abuse of discretion by the trial court. To the contrary, Appellants’ various
hypotheses and suggestions on appeal, (e.g., wind damage causation;
recommended disregard of Mr. Valentino’s “God-given rain” testimony), not
only present arguments not raised with the trial court, they transparently
contradict Mr. Valentino’s deposition testimony. Appellants’ numerous
“suggestions” do not constitute evidence, much less evidence which would
require submission of an issue to a jury as fact-finder. Appellants offer no
authority to the contrary.
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Furthermore, several claims, most notably the wind damage as
preceding covered loss hypothesis, are argued for the first time on appeal, in
violation of Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).8
[A]rguments not raised initially before the trial court in
opposition to summary judgment cannot be raised for the first
time on appeal. With respect to arguments not raised initially
before the trial court in opposition to summary judgment, this
Court has explained:
Because, under [Pa.R.C.P.] 1035.3, the non-moving party
must respond to a motion for summary judgment, he or she
bears the same responsibility as in any proceeding, to raise
all defenses or grounds for relief at the first opportunity. A
party who fails to raise such defenses or grounds for relief
may not assert that the trial court erred in failing to address
them. To the extent that our former case law allowed
presentation of arguments in opposition to summary
judgment for the first time on appeal it stands in derogation
of Rules 1035.2 and 1035.3 and is not dispositive in this
matter. The Superior Court, as an error-correcting court,
may not purport to reverse a trial court’s order where the
only basis for a finding of error is a claim that the
responsible party never gave the trial court an opportunity
to consider.
More recently, we have reaffirmed the proposition that a non-
moving party’s failure to raise grounds for relief in the trial court
as a basis upon which to deny summary judgment waives those
grounds on appeal. Our application of the summary judgment
rules . . . establishes the critical importance to the non-moving
party of the defense to summary judgment he or she chooses to
advance. A decision to pursue one argument over another
carries the certain consequence of waiver for those arguments
that could have been raised but were not. This proposition is
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8
Compounding the error of raising new issues for the first time on appeal,
Appellants proffer little more than unsupported anecdotal claims as
purported evidence, e.g., the assertion that “wind was a factor” because of
the building’s proximity to Interstate 95. (Appellants’ Brief, at 14).
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consistent with our Supreme Court’s efforts to promote finality,
and effectuates the clear mandate of our appellate rules
requiring presentation of all grounds for relief to the trial court
as a predicate for appellate review.
“Issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be
raised for the first time on appeal.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(a).
Lineberger v. Wyeth, 894 A.2d 141, 147-48 (Pa. Super. 2006) (case
citations omitted).
“Failure of a non-moving party to adduce sufficient evidence on an
issue essential to [its] case and on which it bears the burden of proof such
that a jury could return a verdict in its favor establishes the entitlement of
the moving party to judgment as a matter of law.” Murphy, supra at 429
(quoting Young v. Commonwealth, Dept. of Transp., 744 A.2d 1276,
1277 (Pa. 2000)). “A jury can[-]not be allowed to reach a verdict merely on
the basis of speculation or conjecture.” Young, supra at 1277 (citation
omitted).
Finally, on this issue, we note Appellants’ argument that whether a
tarpaulin should be considered a roof under the terms of the insurance policy
constitutes a genuine issue of material fact.9 (See Appellants’ Brief, at 15-
16). It does not.
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9
For clarity and completeness, we observe that Appellants argue both that
there is a genuine issue of material fact about whether a tarpaulin is roof
under the policy, (see Appellants’ Brief, at 15-16), and that a tarpaulin
should be considered a roof under the terms of the policy, (see id. at 16).
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Words of “common usage” in an insurance policy are to be
construed in their natural, plain, and ordinary sense, and a court
may inform its understanding of these terms by considering their
dictionary definitions. Moreover, courts must construe the terms
of an insurance policy as written and may not modify the plain
meaning of the words under the guise of “interpreting” the
policy. If the terms of a policy are clear, this Court cannot
rewrite it or give it a construction in conflict with the accepted
and plain meaning of the language used.
Wall Rose Mut. Ins. Co. v. Manross, 939 A.2d 958, 962 (Pa. Super. 2007)
appeal denied, 946 A.2d 688 (Pa. 2008) (citations omitted).
Here, Appellants offer no legal authority in support of this claim.
Instead, they rest their argument exclusively on an Internet dictionary’s
definition of “roof” as “the external upper covering of a house or other
building.” (Appellants’ Brief, at 15). Nor did they offer this Court (or the
trial court) any evidence to establish their interpretation as a genuine issue
of material fact. (See id.). Appellants fail to prove there is any support for
their interpretation.
This Court has long recognized that “[i]n this State, we do not
‘create’ a doubt in insurance cases, ‘which would not be
tolerated in any other kind of contract’, in order to resolve it in
favor of the insured[.]” McCowley v. N. Am. Acc. Ins. Co.,
150 Pa. Super. 540, 29 A.2d 215, 215 (Pa. Super. 1942)
(citation omitted) (collecting cases); see also Huffman v.
Aetna Life and Cas. Co., 337 Pa. Super. 274, 486 A.2d 1330,
1334 (Pa. Super. 1984) (recognizing that “this Court cannot
create a doubt for the purpose of resolving it in favor of the
insured ... where language in an insurance contract is clear and
unambiguous, Pennsylvania courts must give effect to that
language.”) (citations omitted).
Peters v. National Interstate Ins. Co., 2014 WL 7140532, *7 (Pa. Super.
2014).
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On independent review, we find no basis to establish that there is a
common usage of “tarpaulin” to mean a roof as referenced in the
Harleysville insurance policy at issue here.10 To the contrary, this reading
violates the well-settled principle of interpreting policy provisions according
to their plain meaning. Appellants’ assertion that a tarpaulin is a roof under
the insurance policy lacks any basis in law or fact, and is, accordingly, legally
frivolous. It does not present a genuine issue of material fact.
The trial court properly interpreted the insurance policy. See
Lexington, supra at 908. We discern no error of law or abuse of
discretion. See Murphy, supra at 429; Kinney, supra at 752-53.
Appellants’ first issue does not merit relief.
Appellants’ second and third claims both assert abuse of discretion in
the trial court’s finding that expert testimony was required to determine
causality as a required element of breach of contract.11 (See Appellants’
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10
See, e.g., Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/tarpaulin>.1: a piece of material (as durable
plastic) used for protecting exposed objects or areas; see also Oxford
English Dictionary, www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/.../tarpaulin: 1.
Heavy-duty waterproof cloth, originally of tarred canvas; 2. historical A
sailor’s tarred or oilskin hat.
11
We observe for clarity that even though both Appellants’ second and third
claims and the supporting arguments assume breach of contract, the trial
court does not include such a finding in its decision. (See Trial Ct. Op.,
8/05/13, at 5-6; see also Order, 10/03/13, at 1 n.1). Rather, the trial
court explained that it granted summary judgment to Ritter/SER and against
Appellants, reasoning that Appellants failed to produce “evidence of
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Brief, at 3). Appellants argue that Mr. Valentino was competent to testify
about damages, and expert testimony was not required. (See id. at 16-24).
Under our standard of review and controlling caselaw, we disagree.
We address both claims together.12
Expert testimony is often employed to help jurors
understand issues and evidence which is outside of the average
juror’s normal realm of experience. We have stated that,
[t]he employment of testimony of an expert rises from
necessity, a necessity born of the fact that the subject
matter of the inquiry is one involving special skill and
training beyond the ken of the ordinary layman.
Conversely,
[I]f all the primary facts can be accurately described
to a jury and if the jury is as capable of comprehending and
understanding such facts and drawing correct conclusions
from them as are witnesses possessed of special training,
experience or observation, then there is no need for the
testimony of an expert.
Numerous cases have expounded on when expert testimony is
indispensable. See Powell v. Risser, 375 Pa. 60, 99 A.2d 454(1953) (holding that expert testimony is needed to show a
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
damages” caused by the alleged breach, (Trial Ct. Op., 8/05/13, at 6), and
that “Mr. Valentino has never been identified as an expert in roofing.” (Id.).
Appellants concede that to prove a breach of contract they had to prove
three elements, including “resultant damages,” (Appellants’ Brief, at 17),
that is, “damages [suffered] from the breach.” McShea v. City of
Philadelphia, 995 A.2d 334, 340 (Pa. 2010) (citing Hart v. Arnold, 884
A.2d 316, 332 (Pa. Super. 2005), appeal denied, 897 A.2d 458 (Pa. 2006).
(emphases added).
12
We note that Appellants, in the argument of their third claim, incorporate
by reference the arguments in support of their second claim. (See
Appellants’ Brief, at 23).
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deviation from proper and accepted medical practice); Tennis v.
Fedorwicz, 140 Pa. Cmwlth. 7, 592 A.2d 116 (1991)(holding
that expert testimony is necessary to prove negligent design);
and Storm v. Golden, 371 Pa. Super. 368, 538 A.2d 61 (1988)
(holding that an expert must define what constitutes reasonable
degree of care and skill related to legal practice).
Young, supra at 1278 (finding that even though ordinary drivers may be
competent to testify about personal experiences in traffic backup, testimony
of lay witnesses was insufficient to establish existence of legal duty to place
warning signs over three miles away from construction zone; trial court
grant of summary judgment reinstated) (one case citation omitted).
In this appeal of summary judgment orders, a jury was not involved.
Nevertheless, under the legal principle articulated by our Supreme Court in
Young, we conclude that the trial court, in reviewing the motion for
summary judgment, acted well within its discretion in determining that lay
testimony (principally, Mr. Valentino’s own deposition testimony) was
insufficient to present an issue of causation which would require submission
to a jury.
Notably, Appellants correctly concede that “[t]he trial court must
determine whether the necessity for the [expert] testimony exists and
whether the witness is qualified to testify” and the trial court’s decision “can
only be overturned for an abuse of discretion.” (Appellants’ Brief, at 17)
(citations omitted).
Whether a necessity [for expert testimony] exists, and whether
the witness is qualified, are in the first instance to be determined
by the trial judge. If he decides that it is necessary and that the
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witness is qualified, the questions on review are whether he has
abused his power in so deciding and whether the opinion
received was admissible.
Cooper v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 186 A. 125, 128 (Pa. 1936)
(citations omitted).
Accordingly, even assuming for the sake of argument that Appellant
John Valentino was competent to present factual testimony in his deposition
about what he observed at the roof reconstruction sight, it was within the
discretion of the trial court to determine that his testimony was insufficient
to establish “the many variables which are required to establish the
existence of a legal duty[.]” Young, supra at 1278.
The essence of Appellants’ claim is contained in the summary
argument that the roof did not leak in May, 2010, but that Mr. Valentino
observed water damage in July, 2010. (See Appellants’ Brief, at 24).
Viewing the evidence of record in the light most favorable to
Appellants as the non-moving parties, and resolving all doubts against
Appellees as the moving parties, we conclude that Appellants offered no
more than a “post hoc, ergo propter hoc” (“After this, therefore because of
this”) claim of breach. Appellants confuse sequence with consequence. This
is insufficient to explain how the alleged negligence caused the alleged
damage.
Furthermore, to prevail against a motion for summary judgment,
Appellants could not merely rely on their pleadings or answers. See
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Murphy, supra at 429. They had the burden to “adduce sufficient evidence
on an issue essential to [their] case and on which [they] bear[ ] the burden
of proof” such that a jury could return a verdict in [their] favor. The failure
to do so “establishes the entitlement of the moving party to judgment as a
matter of law.” (Id.).
“Where the discretion exercised by the trial court is challenged on
appeal, the party bringing the challenge bears a heavy burden.” Kinney,
supra at 753 (citation omitted). In this appeal, Appellants do not raise an
issue of trial court partiality, prejudice, bias or ill-will. They obviously
disagree with the trial court’s decision but fail to demonstrate that it was
“manifestly unreasonable.” Id. at 753.
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding
that expert testimony was necessary to establish an issue of causation
requiring submission to a jury. Mr. Valentino’s lay opinion that a breach
occurred is not enough. We also conclude that the trial court’s decision was
not manifestly unreasonable. To the contrary, the trial court’s decision is
amply supported by the record. Appellants failed to meet their heavy
burden to prove abuse of discretion. Appellants’ second and third claims do
not merit relief.
Order affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/3/2015
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