Com. v. Forman, B. ( 2018 )

J-S19032-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
BRIAN FORMAN :
:
Appellant : No. 466 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 12, 2017
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No.: CP-51-CR-0007846-2015
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., NICHOLS, J., and PLATT*, J.
MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.: FILED AUGUST 16, 2018
Appellant, Brian Forman, appeals from the judgment of sentence
imposed on January 12, 2017, following his jury conviction of one count each
of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person (REAP).1 On
appeal, Appellant challenges the sufficiency and weight of the evidence, and
the denial of his motion for a mistrial. For the reasons discussed below, we
affirm the judgment of sentence.
We take the underlying facts and procedural history in this matter from
the trial court’s June 28, 2017 opinion and our independent review of the
certified record.
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1
18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 2702(a) and 2705, respectively.
____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
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On May 27, 2015, Appellant became involved in a verbal
altercation with Alexander Gonzalez Marinucci,[a] in front of the
family home, a row house on North Lambert Street in Philadelphia.
At some point Alexander turned away from Appellant, who then
[punched] him from behind, striking Alexander in the side of the
face. A fistfight between Appellant and Alexander then ensued.
[(See N.T. Trial, 9/14/16, at 26-27, 86, 144, 160-61)]. Neighbors
gathered. [(See id. at 34-35, 91-92)]. Alexander’s mother,
Theresa Marinucci, exited their home and attempted to stop the
fight. [(See id. at 27, 87)]. Arnaldo, the oldest brother, also
exited the home and attempted to broker a [fair, one-on-one]
fistfight. [(See id. at 28-29, 37, 88, 93, 148-49, 175, 178, 181)].
[a]
Because there were three Gonzalez/Marinucci
brothers involved in these events, [the trial court
refers] to them by their first names for clarity.
During the course of the fight, [David Edwards], a man in a
black hat who accompanied Appellant, also attempted to intervene
in the fight. [(See id. at 29, 35, 88, 91, 145, 148)]. At some
point, Alexander threw Appellant over a low fence and to the
ground. [(See id. at 28, 37, 91, 146)]. Appellant accused
Arnaldo of having a weapon. [See id. at 29, 38, 40, 93, 96, 184-
85]. Appellant then left the scene with [Edwards], saying he was
going to get a gun. [(See id. at 29-30, 40-41, 97, 107, 153-54,
164)]. The neighbors started yelling that Appellant was going to
get a gun and urging the Marinucci[]s to get in their house, which
they did. [(See id. at 30, 151, 154-55, 168, 186)]. In addition to
Theresa, Alexander and Arnaldo, Antonio Marinucci and Theresa’s
boyfriend were in the house. [(See id. at 84-85, 166)].
Shortly thereafter, Appellant and [Edwards] returned and
Appellant began banging on the Marinucci[s’] front door as he
attempted to open the security gate. Theresa Marinucci looked
out through the peep[]hole and saw Appellant and [Edwards].
[(See id. at 43-44, 100, 105, 107-08, 123)]. She saw the handle
of a gun in Appellant’s waistband, then saw him point the gun
toward the house. [(See id. at 45-47, 106, 123)]. Arnaldo also
saw Appellant reaching under his shirt as though he had a
weapon. [(See id. at 188-90)]. As Appellant did this, [Edwards],
who also had a gun, started to back up and run to[wards] the
middle of the street, walking sideways down the street from the
house. [(See id. at 127-29, 132-33)]. Theresa then heard two
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gunshots, followed by three more gunshots. [(See id. at 30-31,
47)].
There were two bullet holes in the kitchen window, bullet
strikes up near the front bedroom window and on a brick wall, and
in a cabinet and a laundry room door inside the house[. (See id.
at 52-54, 125, 127; see also N.T. Trial, 9/15/16, at 47-48, 57-
59)]. Four fired cartridge cases were recovered from the scene.
All four were fired from the same weapon. [(See N.T. Trial,
9/15/16, at 49, 58-59, 81, 83)].
Police responded to the [victims’] calls to 9-1-1. [(See N.T.
Trial, 9/14/16, at 47, 50)]. A short time later, Appellant and
[Edwards] were stopped by police. Appellant was not in
possession of a weapon. [(See N.T. Trial, 9/15/16, at 24, 33, 37-
38)]. Theresa was transported to the scene where she identified
both men. [(See N.T. Trial, 9/14/16, at 50-51, 89-90)].
Appellant was charged, [Edwards] was not. [(See N.T. Trial,
9/15/16, at 112)].
Several days after the incident, a woman identifying herself
as Appellant’s wife approached Theresa Marinucci, explained that
Appellant was just drunk and asked Theresa to drop the charges,
offering her $300[.00] and other services to do so. [(See N.T.
Trial, 9/14/16, at 69-72)]. Several days later[,] the woman
repeated this offer to Theresa. [(See id. at 74-75)].
(Trial Court Opinion, 6/28/17, at 2-3).
On August 11, 2015, the Commonwealth filed a criminal information
charging Appellant with aggravated assault, REAP, and a variety of weapons
and other offenses. A jury trial took place beginning on September 13, 2016.
On September 16, 2016, the jury convicted Appellant of aggravated assault
and REAP, but acquitted him of the other charges. On January 11, 2017,
Appellant filed a motion for extraordinary relief seeking a judgment of
acquittal or, in the alternative, a new trial. The trial court denied the motion
on January 12, 2017.
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On January 12, 2017, following receipt of a pre-sentence investigation
report, the trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate term of
incarceration of not less than eight nor more than twenty years. The instant,
timely appeal followed. On January 31, 2017, the trial court directed Appellant
to file a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal. See Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b). Appellant filed a timely Rule 1925(b) statement on February 21,
2017. See id. On June 28, 2017, the trial court issued an opinion. See
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
On appeal, Appellant raises the following questions for our review.
[1.] Is the evidence sufficient as a matter of law to support
the conviction for criminal aggravated assault as set forth in 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a) graded as a felony of the first degree[?]
[2.] Is the verdict of guilty with respect to the charge of
aggravated assault as set forth in 18 Pa. C.S.A. §2702(a), graded
as a felony of the first degree, against the weight of the evidence
and so contrary to the evidence that it shock’s one’s sense of
justice[?]
[3.] Did the trial court err and/or abuse[] its discretion
where it denied [Appellant’s] motion for a mistrial based upon a
police detective’s improper and unwarranted comment upon
[Appellant’s] post-arrest silence in response to a direct question
from the assistant district attorney?
(Appellant’s Brief, at 7-9) (subparts omitted).
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Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence underlying his
conviction for aggravated assault.2 (See id. at 23-31). Our standard of
review for sufficiency of the evidence claims is well settled:
We must determine whether the evidence admitted at trial,
and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, when viewed in
a light most favorable to the Commonwealth as verdict
winner, support the conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.
Where there is sufficient evidence to enable the trier of fact to find
every element of the crime has been established beyond a
reasonable doubt, the sufficiency of the evidence claim must fail.
The evidence established at trial need not preclude every
possibility of innocence and the fact-finder is free to believe all,
part, or none of the evidence presented. It is not within the
province of this Court to re-weigh the evidence and substitute our
judgment for that of the fact-finder. The Commonwealth’s burden
may be met by wholly circumstantial evidence and any doubt
about the defendant’s guilt is to be resolved by the fact finder
unless the evidence is so weak and inconclusive that, as a matter
of law, no probability of fact can be drawn from the combined
circumstances.
Commonwealth v. Tarrach, 42 A.3d 342, 345 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation
omitted) (emphasis added).
The crime of aggravated assault occurs when a person “attempts to
cause serious bodily injury to another, or causes such injury intentionally,
knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference
to the value of human life[.]” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(1). An aggravated
assault also takes place when an individual “attempts to cause or intentionally
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2
Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence underlying his
conviction for REAP. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 23-31).
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or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon[.]” 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(4).
The Crimes Code defines “[s]erious bodily injury” as “[b]odily injury
which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent
disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily
member or organ.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2301. “Bodily injury,” is defined as
“[i]mpairment of physical condition or substantial pain.” Id.
In the context of Section 2702, attempt “is demonstrated by proving
that the accused acted in a manner which constitutes a substantial or
significant step toward perpetrating serious bodily injury upon another along
with the intent to inflict serious bodily injury.” Commonwealth v. Gruf, 822
A.2d 773, 776 (Pa. Super. 2003), appeal denied, 863 A.2d 1143 (Pa. 2004)
(citation omitted). We can sustain a conviction for aggravated assault
regardless of whether any serious bodily injury actually occurred. See id.
Additionally, when an assault takes place but the assailant does not
inflict serious bodily injury, “the charge of aggravated assault can be
supported only if the evidence supports a finding that the blow delivered was
accompanied by the intent to inflict serious bodily injury.” Commonwealth
v. Alexander, 383 A.2d 887, 889 (Pa. 1978). The Commonwealth can prove
intent through direct or circumstantial evidence. See id. We can consider
whether the attacker was disproportionately larger or stronger than the
victim; whether the attacker escalated the attack; whether the attacker used
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a weapon to aid in his attack; and any statements made by the attacker. See
id.; see also Commonwealth v. Jackson, 955 A.2d 441, 446 (Pa. Super.
2008), appeal denied, 967 A.2d 958 (Pa. 2009).
Initially, we note Appellant’s sufficiency claim is less a claim that the
Commonwealth did not make out the elements of the offense than a claim
that the jury should have credited his theory that Edwards was the shooter
and not the testimony of Theresa Marinucci. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 23-
28). However, an argument that the finder of fact should not have credited a
witness’s testimony goes to the weight, not the sufficiency of the evidence.
See Commonwealth v. W.H.M., Jr., 932 A.2d 155, 160 (Pa. Super. 2007)
(claim that jury should not have believed victim’s version of events goes to
weight, not sufficiency of evidence).
Moreover, as discussed above, the evidence demonstrated that
Appellant got into a fight with Alexander. Appellant, getting the worst of the
fight, left the scene, saying he was going to get a gun. He and Edwards then
returned to the scene, and Appellant began to bang on the Marinuccis’ front
door and attempted to pry open the security gate. Theresa Marinucci saw
Appellant reach for the handle of a gun stored in the waist of his pants. She
then observed Appellant back away from the door, pull the gun, and aim it.
She did not see him shoot, but immediately after he aimed the gun, she heard
five pops. While Theresa Marinucci also saw Edwards with a gun, she did not
see him pull it or aim it and he was backing away from the house and going
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towards the street at the time of the shooting. This evidence was sufficient
to sustain Appellant’s conviction for aggravated assault. See
Commonwealth v. Hunter, 644 A.2d 763, 764 (Pa. Super. 1994), appeal
denied, 668 A.2d 1125 (Pa. 1995) (holding evidence sufficient to sustain
conviction for aggravated assault where appellant fired gunshots into
residence he knew to be occupied because, “[t]he intent to do serious bodily
harm can be inferred in the act of discharging a firearm into an occupied
home.”).
Further, Appellant claims, without substantiation, that the jury’s
acquittal of him on the weapons offense must mean that they did not believe
he was the person who shot at the home, otherwise the verdict is inconsistent.
(See Appellant’s Brief, at 28). However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has
held that “a mere facial inconsistency in verdicts is not a valid basis upon
which to upset a conviction which is otherwise proper, since consistency in
verdicts is not required.” Commonwealth v. Magliocco, 883 A.2d 479, 492
(Pa. 2005) (citation and footnote omitted); see also Commonwealth v.
Rakowski, 987 A.2d 1215, 1220 (Pa. Super. 2010), appeal denied, 9 A.3d
629 (Pa. 2010) (holding that inconsistent verdict is not basis for reversal).
Accordingly, Appellant’s sufficiency of the evidence claim fails.
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In his second issue, Appellant challenges the weight of evidence. (See
Appellant’s Brief, at 31-35).3 Our scope and standard of review of a weight of
the evidence claim is as follows:
The finder of fact is the exclusive judge of the weight of the
evidence as the fact finder is free to believe all, part, or none of
the evidence presented and determines the credibility of the
witnesses.
As an appellate court, we cannot substitute our judgment
for that of the finder of fact. Therefore, we will reverse a jury’s
verdict and grant a new trial only where the verdict is so contrary
to the evidence as to shock one’s sense of justice. A verdict is
said to be contrary to the evidence such that it shocks one’s sense
of justice when the figure of Justice totters on her pedestal, or
when the jury’s verdict, at the time of its rendition, causes the
trial judge to lose his breath, temporarily, and causes him to
almost fall from the bench, then it is truly shocking to the judicial
conscience.
Furthermore, where the trial court has ruled on the weight
claim below, an appellate court’s role is not to consider the
underlying question of whether the verdict is against the weight
of the evidence. Rather, appellate review is limited to whether
the trial court palpably abused its discretion in ruling on the weight
claim.
Commonwealth v. Boyd, 73 A.3d 1269, 1274-75 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en
banc) (citation and quotation marks omitted). “Thus, the trial court’s denial
of a motion for a new trial based on a weight of the evidence claim is the least
assailable of its rulings.” Commonwealth v. Diggs, 949 A.2d 873, 879-80
(Pa. 2008), cert. denied, 556 U.S. 1106 (2009) (citation omitted).
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3
Appellant does not challenge the weight of the evidence underlying his
conviction for REAP. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 31-35). Appellant preserved
his weight of the evidence claim by filing a post-trial motion.
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In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court stated:
Although there were inconsistencies in the Marinuccis’
testimony, they mainly involved issues of who was standing
where, the order of certain events or the completeness of prior
statements. The core facts giving rise to the conviction were not
in material dispute, and the jury reconciled unessential
discrepancies. The [trial c]ourt’s conscience was in no way
shocked by the verdict of guilty on the aggravated assault charge,
which was not at all contrary to the weight of the relevant credible
evidence.
(Trial Ct. Op., at 8); see Commonwealth v. Griscavage, 517 A.2d 1256,
1259 (Pa. 1986).
“[I]t is for the fact-finder to make credibility determinations, and the
finder of fact may believe all, part, or none of a witness’s testimony.”
Commonwealth v. Lee, 956 A.2d 1024, 1029 (Pa. Super. 2008), appeal
denied, 964 A.2d 894 (Pa. 2009) (citation omitted). This Court cannot
substitute our judgment for that of the finder of fact. See Commonwealth
v. Lyons, 79 A.3d 1053, 1067 (Pa. 2013), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 1792
(2014). Here the jury chose to credit the Commonwealth’s theory of the case
and not Appellant’s; the trial court found that this decision did not shock its
conscience; thus, this issue does not merit relief.
In his third claim, Appellant contends the trial court erred in denying his
motion for a mistrial after a police witness commented on Appellant’s post-
arrest silence. (See Appellant’s Brief, at 36-44). However, Appellant waived
this claim.
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This Court has stated that, “[i]n order to preserve a claim of
prosecutorial misconduct for appeal, a defendant must make an objection and
move for a mistrial.” Commonwealth v. Sasse, 921 A.2d 1229, 1238 (Pa.
Super. 2007), appeal denied, 938 A.2d 1052 (Pa. 2007) (citation omitted);
see also Commonwealth v. Manley, 985 A.2d 256, 267 n.8 (Pa. Super.
2009), appeal denied, 996 A.2d 491 (Pa. 2010) (noting that where defendant
objects and trial court sustains objection, failure to request either curative
instruction or mistrial constitutes waiver on appeal).
During Detective Steve Jefferson’s testimony, the Commonwealth asked
the detective what occurred after the detective took statements from the
victim. Detective Jefferson answered:
A. After I took the statements from them, they signed the
photographs. I reviewed all the statements that were taken. I
believe there was another detective that did interviews, and I
wanted to speak with [Appellant] to hear his side of the story
about what happened.
Q. And did you have an opportunity to do that?
A. No. [Appellant] did not want to talk to me.
[Defense Counsel]: Objection.
THE COURT: Sustained. Let me see counsel at sidebar.
(N.T. Trial, 9/15/16, at 65). The sidebar discussion was off-the-record.
Following, the discussion, the Commonwealth continued to question the
witness and defense counsel subsequently cross-examined him. (See id. at
66-76). The Commonwealth then called another witness, and both sides
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questioned him. (See id. at 76-90). The court then broke for lunch. (See
id. at 90-91).
At that time, a discussion took place on-the-record regarding the nature
of defense counsel’s objection to the question asked of Detective Jefferson;
and whether an instruction to the jury would cure any prejudice. (See id. at
91-94). At no point during this discussion, did defense counsel move for a
mistrial or indicate in any manner that he had moved for a mistrial during the
sidebar conference. (See id.). The trial court never mentioned any motion
for a mistrial and never ruled on any such motion. (See id.).
Following the lunch recess, the trial court informed counsel that it would
issue an instruction to the jury and both parties agreed to the language of the
instruction. (See id. at 108-09). The trial court then charged the jury as
follow:
. . . [T]here was testimony from Detective Jefferson that
[Appellant] chose not to speak to the police. I instruct you that
[Appellant] and everyone has an absolute right based upon the
United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions to remain silent.
You are not to hold that against him in any way. All right.
(Id. at 110). Appellant did not object to the instruction.
Thus, while Appellant objected and the trial court sustained his
objection, Appellant does not identify the location in the record on appeal
where he moved for a mistrial (and in fact claims it happened dehors the
record), or sought other relief, and our review of the record for this purpose
likewise did not identify any such action. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(e); (see also
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Appellant’s Brief, at 36-44). Because Appellant did not preserve this issue in
the trial court, he has waived it for purposes of appeal. See Manley, supra
at 267 n.8; Sasse, supra at 1238.
Moreover, the claim is without merit. The following standards govern
our review of the denial of a motion for mistrial:
In criminal trials, declaration of a mistrial serves to
eliminate the negative effect wrought upon a defendant
when prejudicial elements are injected into the case or
otherwise discovered at trial. By nullifying the tainted
process of the former trial and allowing a new trial to
convene, declaration of a mistrial serves not only the
defendant’s interest but, equally important, the public’s
interest in fair trials designed to end in just judgments.
Accordingly, the trial court is vested with discretion to grant
a mistrial whenever the alleged prejudicial event may
reasonably be said to deprive the defendant of a fair and
impartial trial. In making its determination, the court must
discern whether misconduct or prejudicial error actually
occurred, and if so, . . . assess the degree of any resulting
prejudice. Our review of the resulting order is constrained
to determining whether the court abused its discretion.
Judicial discretion requires action in conformity with [the]
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 reason.
Commonwealth v. Jaynes, 135 A.3d 606, 615 (Pa. Super. 2016), appeal
denied, 145 A.3d 724 (Pa. 2016) (citation omitted). “A mistrial is an extreme
remedy that is required only where the challenged event deprived the accused
of a fair and impartial trial.” Commonwealth v. Smith, 131 A.3d 467, 475
(Pa. 2015), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 46 (2015) (citation omitted). “The trial
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court is in the best position to assess the effect of an allegedly prejudicial
statement on the jury, and as such, the grant or denial of a mistrial will not
be overturned absent an abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Parker,
957 A.2d 311, 319 (Pa. Super. 2008), appeal denied, 966 A.2d 571 (Pa. 2009)
(citation omitted).
Further, this Court has stated:
If the Commonwealth mentions a defendant’s post-arrest silence,
the court might still be able to cure any prejudice through prompt
and adequate curative instructions. To evaluate whether
cautionary instructions can cure a reference to a defendant’s post-
arrest silence, courts must consider 1) the nature of the reference
to the defendant's silence; 2) how it was elicited; 3) whether the
district attorney exploited it; and 4) the promptness and adequacy
of the cautionary instructions. If the reference to the defendant’s
post-arrest silence was such that it incurably compromised the
jury’s objectivity and would deprive the defendant of a fair trial,
then the court should grant a mistrial.
Commonwealth v. Moury, 992 A.2d 162, 176 (Pa. Super. 2010) (internal
citations, quotation marks, and footnote omitted).
In this case, Detective Jefferson’s reference to Appellant’s post-arrest
silence was brief and fleeting. His answer was in response to a series of
questions about the what events took place after Detective Jefferson
interviewed the victim. (See N.T. Trial, 9/15/16, at 650. These questions
were not meant to elicit a response regarding Appellant’s post-arrest silence.
Instead, Detective Jefferson, merely narrated what actions he took on the
evening in question, which including an attempt to interview Appellant;
however, Appellant was unwilling to speak to him. The Commonwealth did
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not exploit Appellant’s post-arrest silence. It did not continue questioning
Detective Jefferson about the subject. Finally, the trial court gave a complete
curative instruction. “[A] mistrial is not necessary where the [trial court’s]
cautionary instructions are adequate to overcome any possible prejudice.”
Commonwealth v. Rega, 933 A.2d 997, 1016 (Pa. 2007), cert. denied, 552
U.S. 1316 (2008) (citation omitted). Further, “[w]hen the trial court provides
cautionary instructions to the jury in the event the defense raises a motion for
a mistrial, [t]he law presumes that the jury will follow the instructions of the
court.” Parker, supra at 319 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
Thus, we find that all four factors weigh in favor of finding that the trial court’s
instruction cured any prejudice Appellant may have suffered as a result of
Detective Jefferson’s statement. Therefore, even if Appellant had preserved
the claim, we would conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
in denying Appellant’s motion for mistrial.
Appellant’s issues are either waived or lack merit. Thus, we affirm the
judgment of sentence.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judge Nichols did not participate in the consideration or decision of this
case.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/16/2018
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