McCarl's Services v. Dargenzio, D. ( 2021 )

J-A28034-20
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
MCCARL'S SERVICES, INC. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
DAVID DARGENZIO AND HUCKSTEIN :
MECHANICAL SERVICES, INC. :
: No. 302 WDA 2020
:
APPEAL OF: DAVID DARGENZIO :
Appeal from the Judgment Entered February 20, 2020
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
No(s): No. GD-13-023104
MCCARL'S SERVICES, INC. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant :
:
:
v. :
:
:
DAVID DARGENZIO AND : No. 331 WDA 2020
HUCKESTEIN MECHANICAL :
SERVICES, INC. :
Appeal from the Judgment Entered February 20, 2020
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
No(s): GD13-023104
BEFORE: OLSON, J., MURRAY, J., and McCAFFERY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY McCAFFERY, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 25, 2021
J-A28034-20
These consolidated1 cross-appeals arise from the judgment2 entered
February 20, 2020, in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas following
the non-jury verdict entered in favor of David Dargenzio (Dargenzio) on claims
filed by McCarl’s Services Inc. (McCarl’s), and in favor of McCarl’s on cross-
claims filed by Dargenzio.3 This action involves a non-compete clause in an
employment contract. At Docket No. 302 WDA 2020, Dargenzio contends the
trial court erred in finding McCarl’s was not liable for claims of breach of
contract, violations of Pennsylvania’s Wage Payment and Collection Law 4
(WPCL), and fraud in the inducement. At Docket No. 331 WDA 2020, McCarl’s
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1On March 1, 2020, this Court consolidated these appeals sua sponte. Order,
3/10/20.
2 Both the notice of appeal and the notice of cross-appeal purport to appeal
from the order entered February 6, 2018. However, that “order,” which was
docketed on February 9, 2018, announced the trial court’s non-jury verdict.
See Order of Non-Jury Verdict, 2/9/18. Rather, the appeal properly lies from
the February 20, 2020, entry of judgment on the verdict, following the parties’
filing of post-trial motions. See Crosby v. Com., Dep’t of Transp., 548 A.2d
281, 283 (Pa. Super. 1988) (explaining “the proper, procedural course to
pursue in perfecting an appeal from an adverse jury verdict is to reduce the
verdict to judgment and take an appeal therefrom”). As will be discussed
infra, both parties properly preserved their claims in timely filed post-trial
motions, although the trial court never ruled on those motions before
judgment was entered. We have corrected the captions accordingly.
3 McCarl’s also sued Huckstein Mechanical Services, Inc. (Huckstein) — the
competitor Dargenzio worked for after leaving McCarl’s. However, McCarl’s
settled its claims against Huckstein prior to trial. See McCarl’s Praecipe to
Settle and Discontinue, 1/6/17. Thus, Huckstein is not a party to this appeal.
4 43 P.S. 260.1 to 260.45.
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argues the trial court erred in finding Dargenzio was not liable on claims of
breach of contract, breach of duty of loyalty, and civil conspiracy. We affirm.
I. FACTS & PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The facts underlying this appeal were summarized by the trial court as
follows:
This case addresses Dargenzio’s departure from McCarl’s
and new employment at Huckstein. McCarl’s is a Pennsylvania
business corporation with a principal place of business located in
Cranberry Township, PA. McCarl’s is in the business of designing,
installing and repairing commercial heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (“HVAC”) systems in the Greater Pittsburgh area. On
or about May 12, 1994, McCarl’s hired Dargenzio as a Sales
Engineer. On or about April 6, 1998, McCarl’s promoted Dargenzio
to Sr. Project Manager and enrolled Dargenzio in a Phantom Stock
Plan. On April 6, 1998, both Kevin McCarl[, President and CEO of
McCarl’s,] and Dargenzio signed an Employment Agreement
(“1998 Employment Agreement”), which included an agreement
not to compete. On the same day, both parties signed
“Attachment A” to the Employment Agreement, which detailed the
compensation and Phantom Stock Policy. McCarl’s argued that
this Phantom Stock was the consideration for the Employment
Agreement and that this Employment Agreement remained in
place though Dargenzio’s employment until his departure in 2013.
However, another agreement between the parties went into
effect on January 1, 2010 (“2010 Agreement”), when Dargenzio
transitioned from a full[-]time employee to a commissioned sales
representative. Dargenzio argued that this 2010 Agreement
replaced the 1998 Employment Agreement, hence rendering the
agreement’s prohibition against competition no longer
operative.[5]
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5 The 2010 Agreement was updated “towards the end of 2012.” See N.T.
Trial, 4/18-20/17, at 73. Both documents are attached to Dargenzio’s
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Dargenzio began communication with [Huckstein’s
President and CEO,] Wendy Staso concerning potential
employment at Huckstein on or about September 12, 2013.
Dargenzio submitted his letter of resignation to Kevin McCarl on
November 12, 2013. Dargenzio commenced employment at
Huckstein on or about November 18, 2013. At the time Dargenzio
commenced employment at Huckstein, Huckstein was a
competitor of McCarl’s and located within 100 miles of Pittsburgh,
PA[, which was a violation of the parties’ non-compete
agreement].
Trial Ct. Memorandum & Order, 2/8/18, at 2-3 (unpaginated).6
McCarl’s filed a civil action against Dargenzio and Huckstein on
December 9, 2013. In an amended complaint filed on March 14, 2014,
McCarl’s asserted the following claims: (1) against Dargenzio, (a) two counts
of breach of contract, seeking money damages and injunctive relief, (b)
breach of duty of loyalty, and (c) civil conspiracy; (2) against Huckstein, (a)
interference with contract, (b) interference with business relations, and (c)
unfair competition; and against both Dargenzio and Huckstein, civil
conspiracy. See McCarl’s Amended Complaint, 3/14/14. Specifically, McCarl’s
alleged that Dargenzio breached the non-compete clause in his 1998
Employment Agreement when he accepted employment with its competitor,
Huckstein, and breached his duty of loyalty to the company when he diverted
business leads to Huckstein while still employed by McCarl’s. Id. at ¶¶ 5-9,
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amended Answer, New Matter and Counterclaim. See Dargenzio’s Amended
Answer, New Matter & Counterclaim, 6/10/14 at Exhibits B, C.
6 The trial court filed two opinions in this case. The first, entitled
“Memorandum and Order,” was filed on February 8, 2018, and accompanied
its non-jury verdict. The second was filed on August 3, 2020, in response to
the parties’ Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statements of errors complained of on appeal.
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15-18. McCarl’s also asserted Dargenzio conspired with Huckstein to do so.
Id. at ¶ 44.
Huckstein and Dargenzio each filed answers with new matter. In
addition, Dargenzio filed counterclaims seeking relief for (1) breach of
contract, (2) violations of the WPCL, and (3) fraud in the inducement. See
Dargenzio’s Amended Answer, New Matter & Counterclaim at ¶¶ 64-122.
Specifically, Dargenzio asserted McCarl’s breached its agreement to
compensate him under the Phantom Stock Plan upon his semi-retirement in
2009 as evidenced in two novations to the 1998 Employment Agreement
executed in 2010 and 2012. Id. at ¶¶ 66-77. He further alleged McCarl’s
verbally agreed to pay him commissions on projects which required the use
of his out-of-state licenses. Id. at ¶ 78. When McCarl’s informed him the
Phantom Stock Plan had no value, and continued to fail to provide him the
compensation he was owed, Dargenzio claims, he was constructively
terminated in 2013. Id. at ¶¶ 79-82. His cause of action under the WPCL is
related to McCarl’s failure to pay him compensation under the Phantom Stock
Plan. See id. at ¶¶ 98-106. Lastly, Dargenzio alleged McCarl’s fraudulently
induced him to continue his employment by offering him compensation via the
Phantom Stock Plan, knowing the Plan had no value. See id. at ¶¶ 116-22.
Both Dargenzio and Huckstein filed motions for summary judgment on
December 15, 2014. On February 5, 2015, McCarl’s filed a motion for partial
summary judgment on Dargenzio’s counterclaims. After conducting
argument, the trial court denied all three motions on July 6th. Thereafter, on
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January 6, 2017, McCarl’s filed a praecipe to mark its claims against Huckstein
settled and discontinued. See McCarl’s Praecipe to Settle & Discontinue,
1/6/17.
The case proceeded to a three-day, non-jury trial from April 18 to 20,
2017. Both parties subsequently submitted post-trial briefs. On February 9,
2018, the trial court filed a memorandum and order, concluding neither party
was entitled to relief on any claim. The court’s “Order of Non-Jury Verdict”
specifies the trial court found as follows:
(1) McCarl’s Breach of Contract Claim in favor of Dargenzio;
(2) McCarl’s Breach of Duty of Loyalty Claim in favor of Dargenzio;
(3) McCarl’s Civil Conspiracy Claim in favor of Dargenzio;
(4) Dargenzio’s Breach of Contract Claim in favor of McCarl’s;
(5) Dargenzio’s Violation of Pennsylvania Wage Payment and
Collection Law Claim in favor of McCarl’s;
(6) Dargenzio’s Fraud in the Inducement Claim in favor of
McCarl’s.
Order of Non-Jury Verdict, 2/9/18.7
Both Dargenzio and McCarl’s filed timely post-trial motions.8 While
these motions were still pending, Dargenzio filed a notice of appeal on March
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7 The trial court’s memorandum was docketed on February 8, 2018. However,
the Order of Non-Jury Verdict was not docketed until the next day, February
9th.
8 Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, post-trial motions
must be filed within 10 days of “the filing of the decision” after a non-jury
trial. Pa.R.C.P. 227.1(c)(2). Once one party has filed a timely post-trial
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8, 2018. McCarl’s then filed a cross-appeal on March 14th. On April 26, 2018,
this Court quashed both appeals sua sponte because the post-trial motions
were still pending in the trial court. See Docket No. 497 WDA 2018 (Dargenzio
appeal); Docket No. 382 WDA 2018 (McCarl appeal).
The trial court docket reveals no further activity for nearly two years.
On February 20, 2020, Dargenzio filed two praecipes for entry of judgment on
the court’s verdict in favor of Dargenzio on McCarl’s complaint, and in favor of
McCarl on Dargenzio’s counterclaims.9 See Dargenzio’s Praecipe for
Judgment on Non Jury Verdict, 2/20/20. Thereafter, Dargenzio filed a timely
notice of appeal on February 25, 2020, and McCarl’s filed a timely cross-appeal
on March 4, 2020.10 See Pa.R.A.P. 903(a) (notice of appeal “shall be filed
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motion, “any other party may file a post–trial motion within ten days after the
filing of the first post–trial motion.” Id. Here, Dargenzio filed a post-trial
motion on February 20, 2018. Although this was 11 days after the entry of
the court’s verdict, the 10th day — February 19, 2018 — was President’s Day,
a court holiday. Thus, his motion was timely filed. See 1 Pa.C.S. § 1908 (for
purposes of computing time, “[w]henever the last day of any such period shall
fall on Saturday or Sunday, or on any day made a legal holiday . . . such day
shall be omitted from the computation”). McCarl’s then filed a timely post-
trial motion within 10 days, on February 27, 2018.
9 It is well-settled that the parties were required to file post-trial motions in
order to preserve issues for appeal. Chalkey v. Roush, 805 A.2d 491, 496
(Pa. 2002). However, there is no accompanying rule requiring the trial court
to address the parties’ post-trial motions, and, in the present case, the court
provided no explanation for its failure to do so. Nonetheless, the parties were
permitted to praecipe for entry of judgment after the court did not enter an
order disposing of the motions within 120 days. See Pa.R.C.P. 227.4(1)(b).
10 Both parties subsequently complied with the trial court’s orders directing
them to file concise statements of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b).
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within 30 days after the entry of the order from which the appeal is taken”),
(b) (when timely appeal is filed, any other party may file cross-appeal within
14 days).
II. DAREGENZIO’S APPEAL (Docket 302 WDA 2020)
Dargenzio raises the following issues on appeal:
1. Whether the Trial Court erred in determining that Dargenzio
did not “retire” where, in 2009, Dargenzio openly announced his
intention to retire and then withdrew from his position as Sales
Manager of McCarl’s to assume the role of a commissioned sales
representative[?]
2. Whether the Trial Court erred in determining that Dargenzio
was not “constructively discharged” in 2013 as a result of either
McCarl’s failure to pay Dargenzio earned benefits under the
Phantom Stock Plan or McCarl’s failure to pay Dargenzio earned
commission for projects that required the use of Dargenzio’s Ohio
and West Virginia licenses[?]
3. Whether the Trial Court erred in determining that Dargenzio
was not entitled to relief under the Pennsylvania [WPCL] where
McCarl’s failed to pay Dargenzio earned benefits under the
Phantom Stock Plan both subsequent to Dargenzio’s retirement in
2009 and subsequent to Dargenzio’s constructive discharge in
2013[?]
4. Whether the Trial Court erred in determining that Dargenzio
was not fraudulently induced by McCarl’s to sign the 1998
Agreement or the 2010 Agreement where McCarl’s knew or should
have known that the Phantom Stock Plan would lack funds
sufficient to compensate Dargenzio upon either his retirement or
discharge without cause[?]
Dargenzio’s Brief at 4-5.11
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11 Dargenzio listed two additional questions, which did not raise any further
claims of error on his own behalf, but rather were merely posed in response
to McCarl’s cross-appeal.
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In his first two issues, Dargenzio challenges the trial court’s finding that
McCarl’s did not breach the 1998 Employment Agreement when it failed to
pay him earned benefits under the Phantom Stock Plan in either 2009, when
he announced his retirement, or 2013, when he was “constructively
discharged.” See Dargenzio’s Brief at 10, 14.
When considering the verdict in a non-jury trial, our standard of review
is well-settled:
We must determine whether the findings of the trial court are
supported by competent evidence and whether the trial judge
committed error in the application of law. Additionally, findings of
the trial judge in a non-jury case must be given the same weight
and effect on appeal as a verdict of a jury and will not be disturbed
absent error of law or abuse of discretion.
Yablonski v. Keevican Weiss Bauerle & Hirsch LLC, 197 A.3d 1234, 1238
(Pa. Super. 2018) (citation omitted). “As an appellate court, we cannot
disturb the finding of the trial court on the witnesses’ credibility.” Id. at 1240
(citation omitted).
Moreover, when the issue involves contract interpretation, we must bear
in mind:
“[T]he interpretation of the terms of a contract is a question of
law for which our standard of review is de novo, and our scope of
review is plenary.” Furthermore:
Contract interpretation ... requires the court to ascertain
and give effect to the intent of the contracting parties as
embodied in the written agreement. Courts assume that a
contract’s language is chosen carefully and that the parties
are mindful of the meaning of the language used. When a
writing is clear and unequivocal, its meaning must be
determined by its contents alone.
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Braun v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 24 A.3d 875, 957 (Pa. Super. 2011)
(citations omitted), aff'd, 106 A.3d 656 (Pa. 2014).
By its own terms, the Phantom Stock Plan was created “to provide
deferred compensation to certain key employees of McCarl’s[.]” Dargenzio’s
Amended Answer, New Matter & Counterclaim at Exhibit E, Phantom Stock
Plan (PSP) at 1. Those employees were awarded “performance units,” each
of which equated to one share of stock in the company. Id. Kevin McCarl
explained the Plan gave the participating employees “an opportunity to share
in the growth and increase profitability in the company.” N.T. Trial at 48.
When the company’s profits rose above the baseline — established at
$5,859,000 — the participants were be entitled to a percentage “of the
increased value,” which was determined by a Phantom Stock Committee
established by the Board of Directors.12 See id. at 55; PSP at 1, 6. A
participant was entitled to payment under the Plan when their employment
was terminated (1) upon their retirement, (2) by McCarl’s for reasons other
than cause, or (3) “as a result of death or disability.” PSP at 3. The value of
the participant’s stock was then calculated by the Committee based upon the
company’s profits above the baseline. See N.T. Trial, 59-60 (value of
phantom stock for 2004 was zero because earnings of company “was less than
the value of the baseline”); 61-62 (value of phantom stock for 2005 was $500
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12When the Plan was created, the Phantom Stock Committee consisted of
Kevin McCarl, then Chief Financial Officer John Gregg McMillan, Jr., and
Dargenzio. N.T. Trial at 53.
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per share). Further, the Plan explicitly provided that a participant’s
performance units would be cancelled, and all payments forfeited, if, inter alia,
the participant “voluntarily terminate[d] his employment.” PSP at 4. When
Dargenzio resigned in November of 2013, he received no compensation under
the Phantom Stock Plan.
On appeal, Dargenzio insists he is entitled to payment under the Plan
either because he effectively retired in 2009, or because he was constructively
discharged in 2013. See Dargenzio’s Brief at 10, 14. With regard to his
“retirement,” Dargenzio contends he told Kevin McCarl that he intended to
retire at the end of 2009, and “openly announced his retirement during the
company’s retreat” in early 2009. Id. at 12. He maintains he then “withdrew
from his position as Sales Manager,” which is memorialized in the 2010
Agreement, and “changed from a full-time employee to a commission-based
sales representative.” Id. at 13.
Citing Franklin Cty. Career & Tech. Ctr. v. Franklin Cty. Career &
Tech. Ctr. Educ. Ass'n, PSEA/NEA, 39 A.3d 456 (Pa. Cmwlth. Ct. 2012),
Dargenzio contends that “[u]nder Pennsylvania law, ‘retirement’ has been
defined to include ‘withdrawal from one’s position.’” Dargenzio’s Brief at 10.
Further, he maintains “[a]n employee can retire . . . without ceasing
employment or withdrawing from the labor force.” Id. Thus, here, Dargenzio
insists that “[b]y announcing his retirement, voluntarily withdrawing from his
position as Sales Manager of McCarl’s, and attempting to collect earned
benefits under the Phantom Stock Plan, [he] retired from McCarl’s” in 2009.
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Id. at 13 (emphasis added). Moreover, he asserts the fact he remained a
commissioned sales representative is “irrelevant.” Id.
The trial court, however, found Dargenzio voluntarily terminated his
employment in 2013, thus, forfeiting his right to any compensation under the
Phantom Stock Plan. See Trial Ct. Memorandum & Order at 8-9. With regard
to Dargenzio’s purported “retirement” in 2009, the court concluded “Dargenzio
did not retire from McCarl’s[, but rather,] merely changed his role with
McCarl’s and . . . continued to work for McCarl’s until 2013.” Trial Ct. Op.,
8/3/20, at 8. We agree.
Kevin McCarl acknowledged that Dargenzio talked about retiring at the
end of 2009, so that he could “slow down at some point and move to North
Carolina.” N.T. Trial at 126. However, he also testified that Dargenzio (who
was 46 years old at the time), did not retire at that time upon learning the
Phantom Stock shares had no value at the end of 2008. Id. at 126-27, 198.
McCarl explained:
[Dargenzio] thought there was this big payday. He said: I need
that damn stock. Other than that, I can’t retire, I have to sell my
house.
Id. at 127. See also id. at 128 (McCarl stating Dargenzio told him “he had
no other means to retire other than the money through the phantom stock,
and there wasn’t any money in the phantom stock”).
Dargenzio implies that his retirement announcement, coupled with his
withdrawal from the position as sales manager, triggered McCarl’s obligation
to pay him compensation pursuant to the Phantom Stock Plan. Dargenzio’s
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Brief at 13. He notes that in Franklin Cty., the Commonwealth Court
determined a teacher had “retired” after being furloughed for several years,
despite the fact the teacher requested to retain her furlough rights. See id.
at 11. However, we find the facts in Franklin Cty. distinguishable.
In that case, a teacher decided to retire “for financial reasons” after
being furloughed for three years. Franklin Cty., 39 A.3d at 457. As such
she began receiving retirement benefits. Id. Nevertheless, she requested to
remain on the recall list in the event a position for which she was qualified
became available. Id. The school refused to pay her accumulated sick leave,
arguing she had not “retired” as defined by the collective bargaining
agreement. See id. The case proceeded to arbitration, and the arbitrator
ruled in favor of the teacher. Id. On appeal, the Commonwealth Court
affirmed, holding:
The definition of “retirement” includes “withdrawal from one’s
position.” The definition does not require complete cessation of
employment or withdrawal from the labor force, as [the school]
maintains. [The teacher] withdrew from her position as a teacher
by notifying [the school] of her retirement and by applying for,
and taking, a retirement pension. The fact that [she] retired
for financial reasons and hoped to return to teaching via recall did
not negate her retirement status at this time.
Id. at 458 (some emphasis omitted and some added). It bears emphasis that
the teacher in Franklin Cty. ceased working for her employer at the time she
retired. See id. at 457.
Conversely, in the present case, Dargenzio never retired. Rather, he
took another position within the company, albeit in a reduced workload
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capacity. Kevin McCarl testified Dargenzio was still a full-time employee,
eligible for benefits, the company 401-K plan, and a car allowance — his
salary, however, changed to commission-based only. See N.T. Trial at 66-
68. According to McCarl, Dargenzio “wanted to slow down a bit, he didn’t
want to attend the weekly sales meetings[.]” Id. at 66. It is undisputed
Dargenzio did not receive any retirement benefits at that time. Thus, we
agree with the trial court that, for purposes of the Phantom Stock Plan,
Dargenzio did not retire in 2009. See Trial Ct. Op. at 8-9.
Similarly, we conclude Dargenzio was not “constructively discharged”
when he left McCarl’s in 2013. This Court has explained:
“[C]onstructive discharge of an at-will employee may serve as a
basis for tort recovery if the employer has made working
conditions so intolerable that an employee has been forced to
resign.” In this context, “[i]ntolerability . . . is assessed by the
objective standard of whether a ‘reasonable person’ in the
employee’s position would have felt compelled to resign, that is,
whether he would have had no choice but to resign.” It may not
be premised upon the conclusion that resignation was the wisest
or best decision under the circumstances, nor is it established
based on an employee’s subjective judgment.
Helpin v. Trustees of Univ. of Pennsylvania, 969 A.2d 601, 614 (Pa.
Super. 2009) (citations and footnote omitted), aff'd, 10 A.3d 267 (Pa. 2010).
Here, Dargenzio complains his working conditions at McCarl’s became
“intolerable” in 2013 because McCarl’s refused to pay him earned benefits
under the Phantom Stock Plan, as well as “earned commissions for projects
that required the use of his Ohio and/or West Virginia licenses.” Dargenzio’s
Brief at 16. He claims he and Kevin McCarl entered into an “oral agreement”
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whereby he would receive part of the commissions on out-of-state projects
that required the use of his license. Id. Because termination by the company
without cause is one of the employment events which triggers payment under
the Phantom Stock Plan, Dargenzio insists he is entitled to relief. See PSP at
3.
The trial court, however, found McCarl’s did not “constructively
discharge” Dargenzio. Trial Ct. Op. at 9. Rather, it concluded Dargenzio
“voluntarily terminated” his employment with McCarl’s when he resigned and
immediately began working for Huckstein. Id. We agree. In his resignation
letter, Dargenzio stated he “appreciated the opportunities” he had been given
at McCarl’s, and described his tenure there as a “pleasurable learning
experience.” N.T. Trial at 458. Further, he conceded that while he began
communicating with the President of Huckstein two months before he resigned
from MCarl’s, he told them in an email he was “in no hurry to make a move
at [that] point[.]”13 Id. Kevin McCarl denied he had any oral agreement with
Dargenzio to pay Dargenzio partial commissions for jobs completed in Ohio
and West Virginia, and, McCarl insisted, if there had been such an agreement,
it would have been in writing. Id. at 115-17. Moreover, he testified Dargenzio
never complained that McCarl’s failed to pay him for commissions he believed
were due, or indicated that his working conditions were “intolerable.” Id. at
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13 Dargenzio insisted that comment was taken out of context. N.T. Trial. at
458. He claimed he “knew [he] had to leave, but it had to be the right
circumstances.” Id. at 459. However, even this explanation undercuts his
insistence that he was subjected to objectively intolerable working conditions.
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79. It is evident the trial court simply did not credit Dargenzio’s testimony on
this claim. Accordingly, no relief is warranted. See Yablonski, 197 A.3d at
1240.
Next, Dargenzio contends the trial court erred in denying him relief
under the WPCL. Dargenzio’s Brief at 17. “[T]he primary goal of the WPCL is
to make whole again, employees whose wages were wrongfully withheld by
their employers.” Ely v. Susquehanna Aquacultures, Inc., 130 A.3d 6, 13
(Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted). Dargenzio’s claim, however, rests upon
his prior argument that he is entitled to payment under the Phantom Stock
Plan, either because he retired in 2009 or was constructively discharged in
2013. See Dargenzio’s Brief at 17-18. The trial court succinctly disposed of
this issue as follows:
This argument is completely reliant upon Dargenzio’s claim for
unpaid compensation pursuant to the Phantom Stock plan. Given
that this Court concluded that Dargenzio was not entitled to
payments pursuant to the Phantom Stock Plan, Dargenzio’s claim
under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law must
also fail.
Trial Ct. Op. at 9-10. We agree. Thus, no relief is due.
Lastly, Dargenzio contends the trial court erred in concluding he was not
“fraudulently induced by McCarl’s to sign the 1998 Employment Agreement.”
Dargenzio’s Brief at 18. He insists McCarl’s “falsely represent[ed] . . . the
value of [the] Phantom Stock Plan” and the fact that another employee
actually received compensation under the Plan is irrelevant. Id. at 19.
Rather, Dargenzio maintains that “when the 1998 Employment Agreement
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was executed, McCarl’s knew or should have known that the Phantom Stock
Plan would lack sufficient funds to compensate [the participants] upon their
retirements.” Id. at 19-20.
An actionable claim of fraudulent misrepresentation requires the
following elements:
(1) A representation; (2) which is material to the transaction
at hand; (3) made falsely, with knowledge of its falsity or
recklessness as to whether it is true or false; (4) with the
intent of misleading another into relying on it; (5) justifiable
reliance on the misrepresentation; and, (6) the resulting
injury was proximately caused by the reliance.
Weston v. Northampton Pers. Care, Inc., 62 A.3d 947, 960 (Pa. Super.
2013) (citations omitted). Furthermore, any claim of fraud “must be proven
by clear and convincing evidence.” Id. (citation omitted).
In rejecting Dargenzio’s fraud claim, the trial court opined:
Of the voluminous amount of testimony on this subject, the
most telling piece of evidence was that McCarl’s compensated a
former employee under the Phantom Stock Plan when [it]
terminated that employee without cause. McCarl’s employed
[McMillan] as CFO from 1994 until 2007. Upon McMillan’s
termination, McCarl’s paid [McMillan] in accordance with the
Phantom Stock Plan. Accordingly, this Court correctly found that
McCarl’s intended to honor the terms of the Phantom Stock Plan,
provide[d] employees left on acceptable terms as they are
outlined in the Plan. For the reasons stated above, Dargenzio
simply did not leave under terms that would allow him to collect
payment pursuant to the Phantom Stock Plan.
Trial Ct. Op. at 10.
While Dargenzio insists McCarl’s “knew or should have known” the PSP
would lack sufficient funds to compensate both participants, him and McMillan,
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at the time of their respective retirements, he provides no evidence to support
this claim. See Dargenzio’s Brief at 19-20. Indeed, the value of the phantom
stock, which varied from year to year based upon the company’s profits, was
determined by the Plan Committee, of which Dargenzio was a member. See
N.T. Trial at 53, 58-63. When asked what “misrepresentation” Kevin McCarl
made to him regarding the Phantom Stock Plan, Dargenzio replied: “I don’t
believe he ever had the intent at that point in time of fulfilling his promise.”
Id. at 468-69. Dargenzio’s subjective “belief” that McCarl’s never intended to
compensate him under the PSP, is simply insufficient to sustain a claim of
fraud. See Weston, 62 A.3d at 960. Thus, this claim, too, fails.
Because we detect no error in the trial court’s determination that
Dargenzio’s counterclaims warrant no relief, we affirm the judgment entered
in favor of McCarl’s.
III. McCARL’S CROSS-APPEAL (Docket 331 WDA 2020)
McCarl’s sets forth the following questions for our review in its cross-
appeal:
A. Was [Dargenzio] liable to [McCarl’s] for breach of contract?
1. Did [Dargenzio] violate the non-competition covenant
contained in the parties’ 1998 Employment Agreement?
2. Was the 1998 Employment Agreement supported by
adequate consideration?
3. Was there a novation of the 1998 Employment
Agreement which superseded the non-competition covenant
contained therein?
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B. Was [Dargenzio] liable to [McCarl’s] for breach of his duty of
loyalty to [McCarl’s]?
C. Was [Dargenzio] liable to [McCarl’s] for the tort of civil
conspiracy?
McCarl’s Brief at 4.
In its first issue on appeal, McCarl’s asserts the trial court erred in
denying its claim for breach of contract. Specifically, McCarl’s insists the 1998
Employment Agreement, which included the non-compete clause, was
supported by valuable consideration — namely, both a $7,000 raise and
Dargenzio’s enrollment in the Phantom Stock Plan. McCarl’s Brief at 10-11.
Moreover, it argues the 2010 Agreement, which outlined Dargenzio’s change
in status to a full-time commissioned sales representative, did not constitute
a novation of the 1998 Employment Agreement or replace the prior agreement
and concomitant non-compete clause. See id. at 12. Thus, because
Dargenzio violated the non-compete clause when he began working for
Huckstein only days after resigning from McCarl’s, McCarl’s contends the trial
court erred when it failed to grant relief on its breach of contract claim. Id.
at 14-16.
Preliminarily, we note that the inclusion of a covenant not to compete
in an employment contract is “generally disfavored” under Pennsylvania law.
Socko v. Mid-Atl. Sys. of CPA, Inc., 126 A.3d 1266, 1274 (Pa. 2015). See
also Hess v. Gebhard & Co. Inc., 808 A.2d 912, 917 (Pa. 2002) (restrictive
covenants in employment contracts “have been historically viewed as a trade
restraint that prevents a former employee from earning a living”).
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Nevertheless, the courts of this Commonwealth will enforce a non-compete
clause in an employment agreement “assuming adherence to certain
requirements[:]” that the non-compete clause is “(1) ancillary to an
employment relationship between an employee and an employer; (2)
supported by adequate consideration; (3) the restrictions are reasonably
limited in duration and geographic extent; and (4) the restrictions are
designed to protect the legitimate interests of the employer.” Socko, 126
A.3d at 1274.
When a non-compete clause is “executed at the inception of the
employment, the consideration to support the covenant may be the award of
the position itself.” Socko, 126 A.3d at 1275. However, where as here, a
non-compete agreement is required after the employee has already begun
employment,
it is enforceable only if the employee receives “new” and valuable
consideration — that is, some corresponding benefit or a favorable
change in employment status. Sufficient new and valuable
consideration has been found by our courts to include, inter alia,
a promotion, a change from part-time to full-time employment, or
even a change to a compensation package of bonuses, insurance
benefits, and severance benefits. Without new and valuable
consideration, a restrictive covenant is unenforceable. More
specifically, the mere continuation of the employment relationship
at the time of entering into the restrictive covenant is insufficient
to serve as consideration for the new covenant, despite it being
an at-will relationship terminable by either party.
Id. (citations and footnotes omitted). See also Davis & Warde, Inc. v.
Tripodi, 616 A.2d 1384, 1388 (Pa. Super. 1992) (concluding execution of
non-compete clauses by former at-will employees was supported by adequate
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consideration; “[n]ot only were they offered continued employment with new
responsibilities, but each was given a cash payment, a guarantee of certain
job benefits, including a favorable change in the employer’s automobile
reimbursement policy, and a guaranteed severance benefit in the event of
termination”).
In the present case, Dargenzio had been employed by McCarl’s for four
years when he signed the 1998 Employment Agreement. The trial court found
“the mere change in Dargenzio’s job title and his enrollment in the Phantom
Stock Plan did not constitute valuable consideration” for the execution of the
non-compete clause. Trial Ct. Op. at 5. The court opined:
Given that the terms of the restrictive covenant were meant to
survive the end of Dargenzio’s employment with McCarl’s, in order
for the Phantom Stock Plan to constitute valuable consideration,
the Phantom Stock Plan also needed to survive the end of the
employment relationship. McCarl’s cannot argue both that the
Phantom Stock Plan was valuable consideration for the restrictive
covenant, and that Dargenzio is not entitled to any benefit from
enrollment in the Plan. Even assuming that the promise of future
redemption of the Phantom Stock Plan appeared to be adequate
consideration when the agreement was signed, that consideration
failed when Dargenzio’s units were cancelled. Contingent
compensation, where the contingency does not arise, is not
valuable consideration.
Id. at 5-6 (citation omitted).
It is evident the trial court considered Dargenzio’s enrollment in the
Phantom Stock Plan to be the only consideration offered in exchange for the
non-compete clause. However, at trial, Kevin McCarl testified that at the time
Dargenzio signed the 1998 Employment Agreement, he was also given a new
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position as Senior Project Manager, new responsibilities — which included
managing another employee and having the opportunity to earn incentives
based on that employee’s performance — and a 11 to 12% ($7,000 per year)
salary increase. See N.T. Trial at 37-39. Furthermore, although the
Agreement was signed on April 6, 1998, the salary increase took effect
retroactive to January 1st of that year. Id. at 39-40. When asked about
these changes to his employment, Dargenzio testified he was “not sure” if his
job title changed, and could not “verify” that he received a salary increase,
stating he would “have to look at [his] personnel file.” Id. at 386-87.
However, he never provided any evidence to the contrary.
Thus, even if we disregard Dargenzio’s enrollment in the Phantom Stock
Plan,14 we conclude Dargenzio’s new job title, new responsibility, and
increased salary provided sufficient consideration for the execution of the non-
compete clause. See Socko, 126 A.3d at 570-71.
____________________________________________
14 Based upon our disposition, we need not consider whether enrollment in
the Plan constituted sufficient consideration for the non-compete clause. We
note, however, the trial court provides no support for its assertion that
“[c]ontingent compensation, where the contingency does not arise, is not
valuable consideration.” See Trial Ct. Op. at 6. Here, the contingency did not
arise because Dargenzio voluntarily resigned — a disqualifying action under
the Plan — not because McCarl’s refused to pay him. Moreover, while it is
undisputed the phantom stock had no value when Dargenzio first discussed
retirement in 2009, there is no evidence that the shares remained valueless
in the ensuing years.
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The trial court also found, however, that the non-compete clause was
unenforceable because it was replaced by the 2010 Agreement. The court
opined:
[T]he 2010 Agreement materially changed the terms of
Dargenzio’s employment with McCarl’s and thereby replaced the
1998 Agreement. The first paragraph of the 2010 Agreement
reads as follows:
This agreement is to represent the understanding between
McCarl’s . . . and . . . Dargenzio for his changing from a full
time employee to commissioned sales rep. This agreement
goes into effect January 1, 2010 and continues through
December 31, 2010.
The 2010 Agreement provides a new set of duties and obligations
between Dargenzio and McCarl’s. It changed Dargenzio’s position
of employment, it changed his ability [to] quality for sales awards,
it changed the means by which he was compensated, and it
offered him the ability to participate in a deferred compensation
plan in lieu of the Phantom Stock Plan. Most importantly, the 2010
Agreement did not contain any restrictive covenant, nor did it
make any reference to the restrictive covenant in the 1998
Agreement. Indeed, while the 2010 Agreement stated that it
“represent[ed] the understanding between McCarl’s . . . and . . .
Dargenzio,” it did not reference the 1998 Agreement at all. Thus,
without a restrictive covenant in the only operative employment
agreement between Dargenzio and McCarl’s at the time Dargenzio
left McCarl’s to work for Huckstein, Dargenzio did not breach his
employment contract with McCarl’s when he accepted
employment with a competitor.
Trial Ct. Op. at 6-7. We agree.
Both McCarl’s and Dargenzio acknowledged they entered into a new
agreement in 2010. Kevin McCarl testified that he prepared the 2010
Agreement — which reflected a “mutual understanding” between the parties
— after Dargenzio discussed “slow[ing] down a bit.” N.T. Trial at 66-67, 69.
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However, he claimed that he did not intend the 2010 Agreement to replace
the 1998 Employment Agreement; rather, “[i]t was only to replace the
Attachment A that was in the Employment Agreement[,]” which set forth
Dargenzio’s title, salary and benefits. Id. at 69. See McCarl’s Amended
Complaint, Exhibit A, 1998 Employment Agreement, Attachment A.
Conversely, Dargenzio testified that the 2010 Agreement constituted a “new
agreement” between the parties because “the capacity of what [he] did for
the company changed completely.” Id. at 414. See also id. at 416 (testifying
the 2010 Agreement “replaced” the 1998 Agreement). Indeed, under the
2010 Agreement, Dargenzio’s title, duties, and salary changed considerably.
More importantly, the 2010 Agreement did not include a non-compete clause.
Considering this Agreement reflected a decrease in Dargenzio’s salary and
duties, we conclude it was incumbent upon McCarl’s, as the drafter, to
explicitly include the non-compete covenant in the new employment
agreement – particularly since “some” of the consideration for the non-
compete clause (a new position and increased salary), was absent from the
new agreement. Thus, McCarl’s is entitled to no relief on this claim.15
____________________________________________
15While at various times the parties referred to the 2010 Agreement as a
“novation,” the trial court did not do so. See Dargenzio’s Amended Answer,
New Matter & Counterclaim at ¶¶ 74-86; McCarl’s Brief at 12-14.
Nevertheless, we note:
The required essentials of a novation are “the displacement
and extinction of a valid contract, the substitution for it of a
valid new contract, . . ., a sufficient legal consideration for the new
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Next, McCarl’s contends the trial court erred when it found Dargenzio
was not liable for breach of duty of loyalty. McCarl’s Brief at 16. Specifically,
McCarl’s challenges the court’s determination that it was required to prove
Dargenzio “used confidential information from McCarl’s to gain an edge in
competition.” Id. at 17, quoting Trial Ct. Memorandum and Order at 7.
Rather, McCarl’s insists it was only required to establish that Dargenzio
“perform[ed] acts which are contrary to the interest of his employer.”
McCarl’s Brief at 18. Furthermore, it maintains:
The record is clear and uncontroverted that, while still employed
at McCarl’s, Dargenzio referred sales leads to Huckstein which
involved McCarl’s existing customers; and that he divulged
information to Huckstein relating to McCarl’s customers’ upcoming
contracts, projects and bidding practices, in an effort to steer
business to Huckstein.
Id. at 17 (record citations omitted).
As agents of their employer, employees owe a duty of loyalty, which
requires them to “act solely for the benefit of the [employer] in all matters
____________________________________________
contract, and the consent of the parties . . . .” The party
asserting a novation or substituted contract has the burden of
proving that the parties intended to discharge the earlier contract.
Such intention of the parties to effect a novation or substituted
contract may be shown by other writings, or by words, or by
conduct or by all three.
Buttonwood Farms, Inc. v. Carson, 478 A.2d 484, 486–87 (Pa. Super.
1984) (citations omitted). Here, the trial court found the parties intended for
the 2010 Agreement to replace the 1998 Employment Agreement, even if they
did not say so expressly. Moreover, the consideration for the new agreement
was Dargenzio’s reduced workload and office hours.
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connected with [their employment].” SHV Coal, Inc. v. Continental Grain
Co., 545 A.2d 917, 921 (Pa. Super. 1988), rv’d on other grounds, 587 A.2d
702 (Pa. 1991).16 “To prevail on a claim of breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty,
[an employer] must demonstrate that his [employee] acted for a person or
entity whose interests conflicted with the [employer].” Reading Radio, Inc.
v. Fink, 833 A.2d 199, 211 (Pa. Super. 2003), citing Restatement (Second)
of Agency § 394 (1958).
Here the trial court concluded Dargenzio did not breach any duty of
loyalty owed to McCarl’s, his employer. The court found:
Dargenzio credibly testified that he did not have access to
McCarl’s full customer list. Dargenzio also testified that he did not
need to, and in fact did not, use any confidential information of
McCarl’s at Huckstein. The only customer that McCarl’s presented
as “stolen” due to Dargenzio’s departure was the Mark West
Project. Dargenzio testified that he did not solicit the repair job
with Mark West. Rather, Dargenzio explained that a project
manager at Mark West sought Dargenzio out to do the repair work
because McCarl’s performed the work on the original system that
now needed premature repairs. Furthermore, Kevin McCarl
testified that McCarl’s did not utilize exclusive contracts with its
customers. Thus, McCarl’s customers were free to hire Huckstein
without violating any existing agreements with McCarl’s.
Trial Ct. Op. at 7-8.
Upon our review of the record, we detect no basis to disagree with the
trial court. Preliminarily, we emphasize the trial court found Dargenzio was
not bound by the non-compete clause in the 1998 Employment Agreement —
____________________________________________
16 The Supreme Court’s reversal in SHV Coal on appeal pertained only to the
issue of punitive damages. See SHV Coal, 587 A.2d at 702.
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a decision with which we agree. See supra. Moreover, the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court has explained:
[T]he solicitation of customers and use of customers lists is
permissible unless there is a breach of an express contract or
violation of some confidence. There must be some element of
fraud or trade secrecy involved . . . But equity is not
protecting mere names and addresses easily ascertainable by
observation or by reference to directories.
Spring Steels, Inc. v. Molloy, 162 A.2d 370, 372–73 (Pa. 1960) (citation
omitted).
In the instant case, the trial court credited Dargenzio’s testimony that
he did not use any confidential information he obtained while working for
McCarl’s to solicit clients for Huckstein. See N.T. Trial at 493. In support of
its claim, McCarl’s directs this Court to emails between Dargenzio and Staso,
Huckstein’s President and CEO, during the two-month period before Dargenzio
resigned. See McCarl’s Brief at 17. It insists these emails prove Dargenzio
“set out to divert business, which he was being paid to acquire for [McCarl],
to a competitor with whom he had agreed to accept employment.” Id. at 17,
quoting SHV, 545 A.2d at 921. However, with regard to one large client,
FedEx, Dargenzio denied soliciting it, and testified instead that the client
asked him to obtain a quote from Huckstein because it “did not want to do
business with McCarl’s anymore.” N.T. Trial at 498-99. Further, while another
email mentioned the Hospital Council’s maintenance contract, Kevin McCarl
conceded that Dargenzio renewed that contract for McCarl’s before he left.
Id. at 235. See also id. at 440-43 (Dargenzio explaining that client for Mark
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West project reached out to him when McCarl’s was not able to fix a problem).
Thus, because we conclude the trial court’s findings are supported by the
record, no relief is warranted.
Lastly, McCarl’s contends the trial court erred when it found Dargenzio
was not liable for civil conspiracy. It maintains Dargenzio and Huckstein
“conspired to engage in unfair competition by . . . diverting sales leads from
McCarl’s to Huck[ ]stein, and utilizing confidential information which Dargenzio
had acquired at McCarl’s to further the business interests of Huckstein.”
McCarl’s Brief at 19-20. Specifically, McCarl’s insists it lost a boiler
replacement contract at Hospital Council to Huckstein after Dargenzio — while
still employed at McCarl’s — informed Huckstein of the upcoming project. Id.
at 20-21.
This Court has explained the tort of civil conspiracy as follows:
[A] civil conspiracy is a combination of two or more persons to do
an unlawful or criminal act or to do a lawful act by unlawful means
or for an unlawful purpose. A conspiracy becomes actionable
when some overt act is done in pursuance of the common purpose
or design held by the conspirators, and actual legal damage
results.
Baker v. Rangos, 324 A.2d 498, 506 (Pa. Super. 1974). Furthermore,
“[p]roof of malice, i.e., an intent to injure, is essential in proof of a
conspiracy.” Thompson Coal Co. v. Pike Coal Co., 412 A.2d 466, 472 (Pa.
1979).
The trial court briefly disposed of this claim as follows: “Having already
determined that McCarl’s failed to prove that Dargenzio or Huckstein used
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confidential information to obtain an unfair advantage over McCarl’s, this
Court correctly held that McCarl’s claim for Civil Conspiracy also failed.” Trial
Ct. Op. at 8. We agree. Regardless of whether Dargenzio provided Huckstein
with sales leads while still employed by McCarl’s, McCarl’s presented no
evidence that Huckstein and Dargenzio agreed together to divert clients away
from McCarl’s in an effort to undermine its business. See Baker, 324 A.2d
at 506; Thompson Coal Co., 412 A.2d at 472. Thus, we conclude the trial
court did not err in entering a verdict for Dargenzio on McCarl’s civil conspiracy
claim.
Thus, because we conclude the trial court’s verdict is both supported by
the record, and free of legal error, we affirm the judgments entered in favor
of Dargenzio on McCarl’s claims, and in favor of McCarl’s on Dargenzio’s
counterclaims.
Judgments affirmed.
Judge Murray joins this Memorandum.
Judge Olson concurs in the result.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/25/2021
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