Rivers End Animal Sanctuary v. Eckhart, D. ( 2021 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
RIVERS END ANIMAL SANCTUARY : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
AND LEARNING CENTER, INC. : PENNSYLVANIA
:
Appellant :
:
:
v. :
:
: No. 1848 MDA 2019
DERBE ECKHART :
Appeal from the Order Dated October 4, 2019,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County,
Civil Division at No(s): 19-01701.
BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MURRAY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.: FILED: APRIL 16, 2021
Rivers End Animal Sanctuary and Learning Center, Inc. (“Rivers End”)
appeals from the order vesting title to a horse in Vera Nederostek, a non-party
to this declaratory-judgment action. This Court need not address that order,
because the trial court previously abused its discretion by opening a default
judgment against Derbe Eckhart, the named defendant. We therefore reverse
that decision, vacate all the orders entered thereafter (including the order
granting title to Ms. Nederostek),1 and remand with instructions.
Rivers End filed this case asking the court to declare that whatever
rights, titles, and interest that Eckhart may have had in nine horses had
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1 During oral argument, counsel for Rivers End made clear that Rivers End
never asserted an interest in the horse superior to Ms. Nederostek’s claim in
this action. We therefore offer no opinion on that issue. Any dispute between
Ms. Nederostek and Rivers End must await future litigation for resolution.
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transferred to Rivers End. Allegedly, On January 13, 2019, Eckhart’s agent
transferred to Rivers End any rights, titles, or interests Eckhart may have
possessed in those animals. See Complaint at 1. Rivers End Rivers End took
possession of the nine horses and placed them in 30-day-quarantine facilities.
During the quarantine period, Eckhart and his agents contacted the facilities
to dispute Rivers End’s ownership and possession. Thus, Rivers End filed this
declaratory-judgment action to resolve Eckhart’s claim, if any, to the horses.
See id. at 3-4.
Eckhart failed to enter an appearance or to file any pleadings opposing
Rivers End’s Complaint. The Prothonotary of Berks County therefore entered
a default judgment against him.
That same day, Rivers End moved for the trial court to enjoin Eckhart
and his agents “from claiming or asserting any right, title, or interest in (or
to) any of the nine horses [and] transferring all such claims to [Rivers End]
. . . .” Rivers End’s Motion, 4/2/19, at 1. Rivers End also asked the trial court
to decree that Eckhart’s “ownership (if any) of the said nine horses did transfer
to [Rivers End] on January 13, 2019, and [to bar] his agents . . . and his
assignees . . . from claiming any title, or interest in (or to) any of the said
nine horses.” Id.
Ten days later, on April 12, 2019, Eckhart filed a petition to open the
default judgment and to quash Rivers End’s motion. That petition did not
have preliminary objections or an answer to the Complaint attached to it.
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Without awaiting a reply from Rivers End, the trial court opened the default
judgment and quashed Rivers End’s motion.
The case proceeded through five “status conferences” that the trial court
scheduled to monitor the location and wellbeing of the horses. The court
never convened a trial or heard oral argument, but, on October 4, 2019, it
inexplicably issued two orders that disposed of all claims and all parties.2
The first order granted Rivers End injunctive relief against Eckhart
regarding eight of the horses. See Trial Court Order, 10/4/19 filed at 11:44
am. It also granted relief Rivers End did not seek, namely, quiet title to the
eight horses. Furthermore, the trial court established itself as trustee of the
living chattels by forbidding Rivers End from selling or transferring title to the
eight horses without court approval.3
The second order vested ownership of the ninth horse, Sahara, in a third
party. The court held:
the horse known as Sahara shall remain in the permanent
possession of Vera Nederostek. Moreover, Vera Nederostek
is hereby vested with sole legal and equitable ownership of
Sahara.
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2Because the trial court entered the two orders prior to trial, those orders are
grants of summary judgment. Thus, Rivers End did not need to file post-trial
motions to preserve its claims for appeal under Pennsylvania Rule of Civil
Procedure 227.1, as the trial court asserts. See Trial Court Opinion, 1/15/20,
at 1. Rivers End correctly filed an immediate notice of appeal, because Rule
227.1 only applies “After trial . . . .” Pa.R.C.P. 227.1 (emphasis added).
3 The trial court cited no law empowering it to do this, and we know of none.
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Vera Nederostek shall remain responsible for the care
of Sahara for the remainder of the horse’s lifetime. Should
Sahara need to be placed into the care of another individual
or otherwise adopted or sold, Vera Nederostek shall seek
the permission of this Court before doing so.
Trial Court Order, 10/4/19 filed at 4:01 pm.
A timely notice of appeal followed.4
Rivers End asks, “Was it an error of law to open a default judgment,
when [Eckhart] did not even try to show a meritorious defense, as is required
by Rule [of Civil Procedure] 237.1(a) and as is required by the 3-pronged
test?” Rivers End’s Brief at 4 (capitalization removed).5
“The decision to grant or deny a petition to open a default judgment is
within the sound discretion of the trial court, and we will not overturn that
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4Eckhart did not participate in this appeal, and Ms. Nederostek did not file a
petition to intervene.
5 Rivers End raises two other appellate issues. They are:
B. Was it an error of law, in a declaratory-judgment case
between one plaintiff and one defendant (involving
title to nine horses), for the court to give permanent
“sole legal and equitable ownership” of one of the nine
horses to a non-party . . .?
C. Was it error to render a decision on the merits, on Oct.
1 during a settlement conference, leading up to an
Oct. 15 trial, by issuing an order “vesting” “sole legal
and equitable ownership” of one of the horses in a
non-party, when the case was simply a case between
one plaintiff and one defendant . . .?
Rivers End’s Brief at 4-5 (capitalization omitted). We dismiss these issues as
moot, given our resolution of the first claim of error.
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decision absent a manifest abuse of discretion or error of law.” Smith v.
Morrell Beer Distributors, Inc., 29 A.3d 23, 25 (Pa. Super. 2011). “An
abuse of discretion is not a mere 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.” Id. If “the
question presented involves interpretation of rules of civil procedure, our
standard of review is de novo.” Coulter v. Ramsden, 94 A.3d 1080, 1086
(Pa. Super. 2014).
“In general, a default judgment may be opened when the moving party
establishes three requirements: (1) a prompt filing of a petition to open the
default judgment; (2) a meritorious defense; and (3) a reasonable excuse or
explanation for its failure to file a responsive pleading.” Smith, 29 A.3d at
25. Additionally, Rule of Civil Procedure 237.3 dictates that “A petition for
relief from a judgment . . . by default . . . shall have attached thereto a copy
of the complaint, preliminary objections, and/or answer which the petitioner
seeks leave to file. All grounds for relief shall be raised in a single petition.”
Pa.R.C.P. 237.3(a).
Rivers End contends Eckhart’s petition to open the default judgment
failed to meet the second prong of the test, and that it violated the Rule 237.3
governing such petitions. We agree.
Eckhart’s petition, on its face, failed to establish a meritorious defense,
as Smith, supra, requires. His claim of a defense was boilerplate language,
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i.e., “Your Petitioner believes and therefore asserts that he has meritorious
defenses and counterclaims which, in the interest of substantial justice and
fairness, he should be granted leave to present under the circumstances.”
Eckhart’s Petition to Open Default Judgment at 2. This bald assertion of belief
does not indicate what allegedly “meritorious defenses and counterclaims”
Eckhart would have advanced, much less establish them under the law of
property or at equity.
Accordingly, the trial court’s decision to grant Eckhart’s petition was
manifestly unreasonable, because there is nothing in his petition that could
lead a reasonable person to conclude he had established a meritorious defense
or alleged a colorable counterclaim. Eckhart merely stated he believed these
unidentified legal theories existed. Unsubstantiated statements of personal
beliefs do not establish legal defenses or counterclaims, either in fact or at
law. Therefore, the trial court had no rational basis for opening the default
judgment.
Furthermore, the trial court overrode Pa.R.C.P. 237.3(a), which required
Eckhart to attach preliminary objections or an answer to his petition. He did
not fulfil that requirement. Hence, the trial court misapplied Rule 237.3(a),
because it overlooked Eckhart’s clear failure to attach preliminary objections
or an answer to the petition to open the default judgment.
The trial court therefore abused its discretion when it ordered that the
default judgment against Eckhart be opened. As such, we reverse the order
opening the default judgment that the prothonotary entered in favor of Rivers
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End, and we vacate all orders that the trial court subsequently entered in this
matter. We remand with instructions for the trial court to enter the following
order:
AND NOW, this ____ day of ____________, 2021,
upon consideration of Plaintiff Rivers End Animal Sanctuary
and Learning Center, Inc.’s Motion of April 2, 2019, it is
hereby ORDERED AND DECREED that Defendant Derbe
Eckhart’s rights, titles, and interests (if any) in or to the
following horses:
1. Dixie, a Black Mare
2. Luna, a Cremello Mare
3. Magic, a Sorrel/White Mare
4. Cuddles, a Grey Mare
5. Becca, a Sorrel Mare
6. Abbey, a Black and White Paint Mare
7. Penny, a Spotted POA Mare
8. Poco, a Bay Paint Mare
9. Sahara, a Buckskin Quarter Mare
are divested of Eckhart and transferred to Rivers End Animal
Sanctuary and Learning Center, Inc.; transfer of Eckhart’s
ownership interests (if any) in or to the horses is deemed
effective as of January 13, 2019.
It is further ORDERED AND DECREED that Eckhart,
his agents, heirs, successors, and assigns are forever and
permanently ENJOINED from claiming or asserting any
rights, titles, or interests in or to any of the nine horses.
Order opening default judgment reversed; subsequent orders vacated;
case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
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Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 04/16/2021
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