Ardolino, R. v. BR Associates

J-A23036-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
RODNEY D. ARDOLINO AND TAMMY L. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
ARDOLINO, HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND OF PENNSYLVANIA
MARIGOLD MANAGEMENT, LLC,
A PENNSYLVANIA LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY
v.
B.R. ASSOCIATES, A PENNSYLVANIA
PARTNERSHIP AND DOLLAR BANK
FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
APPEAL OF: MARIGOLD MANAGEMENT,
No. 314 WDA 2018
LLC
Appeal from the Order entered November 2, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Civil Division at No: GD-15-017627
BEFORE: BOWES, J., SHOGAN, J., and STABILE, J.
MEMORANDUM BY STABILE, J.: FILED JANUARY 7, 2019
Appellant, Marigold Management, LLC (“Marigold”),1 appeals from the
November 2, 2017 order entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny
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1 Although Rodney and Tammy Ardolino are listed as parties in the caption,
they were dismissed from the action on March 7, 2016. Appellant, Marigold,
is the sole Appellant.
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County, denying Marigold’s request for declaratory relief relating to an
easement.2 As the trial court explained:
The case involves the right of Marigold to use an easement on a
portion of [Appellee BR Associates’] real estate, known as and
hereinafter referred to as Maple Lane. Maple Lane is adjacent and
parallel to the boundary between Marigold’s property and
[Appellee’s] property. The issues are whether a storm sewer
inside the easement was contemplated by the Common Grantor[3]
at the time the easement was created and whether Marigold may
run a sewer line across that easement and tie into a storm sewer
installed by [Appellee].
Trial Court Rule 1925 Opinion, 5/4/18, at 2.
In its declaratory judgment action, Marigold sought a declaration that it
could run a sewer line across Appellee’s property and tie into Appellee’s sewer
line. Following a September 13, 2017 bench trial, the trial court denied
Marigold’s requested relief and granted Appellee’s counterclaim. The court
“declare[d] that no easement exists for the benefit of [Marigold’s] property
which includes a right to install a stormwater drainage line across Maple Lane.”
Trial Court Decision, 11/2/17, at 5. Marigold sought post-trial relief, which
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2 Appellant purports to appeal from the order of February 8, 2018, denying its
post-trial motion. While a party must file post-trial motions to preserve claims
the party wishes to raise on appeal, an appeal after disposition of the required
post-trial motion is properly taken from the order of declaratory judgment,
which is the final order. Peters v. Nat’l Interstate Ins. Co., 108 A.3d 38,
41 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2014). We have amended the caption accordingly to reflect
that this appeal is from the order entered November 2, 2017. See 42
Pa.C.S.A. § 7532.
3The “Common Grantor” is a reference to John F. Boyce and Grace A. Boyce,
conveyors of a 1951 deed (the “Boyce Deed”) to Leroy J. Opferman and Helen
M. Opferman.
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the trial court denied on February 8, 2018. This timely appeal followed. Both
Marigold and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
Marigold asks us to consider five issues in this appeal:
I. Did the trial court err by finding as fact, contrary to the
evidence presented at trial, the findings of fact contained in
its decision at Findings of Fact No. 2, 4, 6, and that the
parties agree that the controlling language is in the 1951
deed from Boyce to Opferman, and that [Marigold’s]
property has a drainage easement created the same time as
the separate easement known as Maple Lane by the
Common Grantor (Boyce), thereby eliminating necessity?
II. Did the trial court err by admitting evidence relating to
stormwater conditions on [Appellee’s] property and prior
incidents of flooding of [Appellee’s] property, over the
objection of Marigold [] and considering such evidence in
the decision?
III. Did the trial court err in ignoring the decision and
precedential value, in attempting to distinguish PARC
Holdings, Inc. v. Killian, 785 A.2d 106 (Pa. Super. 2001),
from the within matter, while acknowledging the law, as set
forth in PARC Holdings, quoting Dowgiel v. Reid, 59 A.2d
115 (Pa. 1948), decided by the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court, that provides that “an easement expressed in general
terms may be used in any manner that is reasonably
required for the complete and beneficial use of the dominant
estate?”
IV. Did the trial court err by determining that the PARC
Holdings Court addressed easement by necessity, citing to
New York Central Railroad Co. v. Yarian, 39 N.E.2d 604(Ind. 1942), and determining that no necessity existed,
because “[Marigold] already has a drainage easement”
when Marigold[’s] property is encumbered by an easement
reserved to Boyce, Marigold[’s] predecessor in title?
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V. Did the trial court err by permitting the testimony of
[Appellee’s] engineering expert, over the objection of
Marigold [] beyond the scope of his expertise as an
engineer?
Appellant’s Brief at 4-6 (some capitalization omitted and citation formats
corrected).
With regard to declaratory judgment actions,
[o]ur scope and standard of review is well established. In Fred
E. Young, Inc. v. Brush Mountain, 697 A.2d 984 (Pa. Super.
1997), we noted:
When reviewing the decision of the trial court in a
declaratory judgment action, our scope of review is narrow.
O'Brien v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., 455 Pa.
Super. 568, 689 A.2d 254, 257 (1997). Consequently, we
are limited to determining whether the trial court’s findings
are supported by substantial evidence, whether an error of
law was committed or whether the trial court abused its
discretion, Walker v. Ehlinger, 544 Pa. 298, 300 n. 2, 676
A.2d 213, 214 n. 2 (1996).
The test is not whether we would have reached the same
result on the evidence presented, but whether the trial
court’s conclusion can reasonably be drawn from the
evidence. Where the trial court’s factual determinations are
adequately supported by the evidence we may not
substitute our judgment for that of the trial court.
Clearfield Volunteer Fire Department v. BP Oil, 412 Pa.
Super. 29, 602 A.2d 877, 879 (1992), appeal denied, 531
Pa. 650, 613 A.2d 556 (1992) (citations omitted).
Id. at 987. Moreover, the
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 on appeal absent error of law or
abuse of discretion. When this court reviews the findings of
the trial judge, the evidence is viewed in the light most
favorable to the victorious party below and all evidence and
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proper inferences favorable to that party must be taken as
true and all unfavorable inferences rejected.
Lane Enters. v. L.B. Foster Co., 700 A.2d 465, 470 (Pa. Super.
1997) (citations omitted).
PARC Holdings, Inc. v. Killian, 785 A.2d 106, 110 (Pa. Super. 2001).
The easement language at issue originally appeared in the Boyce Deed.
That deed conveyed a 1.097-acre parcel and included the following easement:
TOGETHER WITH the right of way over and across the within
described Thirty (30) foot private street[4] for purposes of access
to a public road[5]; together with a right of way in said Thirty (30)
foot street to lay, repair and maintain a water line to the within
described property from the main water line, said line to be buried
at least Three (3) feet below the surface and to be located over
the Northeasterly side of said private street.
EXCEPTING and reserving to the grantors herein, their heirs and
assigns a right of way Five (5) feet wide along the present water
line on the Easterly side of said line and along the Westerly side
of property herein described for the purpose of laying, maintaining
and repairing a drainage pipe line and gas line, the same to be
buried at least Three (3) feet below the surface from the two lots
still owned by the grantors herein, immediately to the South of
the property herein conveyed.
Boyce Deed, 7/26/51.
As noted above, the trial court considered the effect of the easement in
the bench trial conducted on September 13, 2017. At the conclusion of the
trial, the court made seven findings of fact, three of which (Findings of Fact
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The street referenced in the deed is Maple Lane. The public road is Boyce
4-5
Road.
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Nos. 2, 4 and 6) are among the factual findings challenged by Marigold in its
first issue.
In Findings of Fact 2, 4, and 6, the court determined:
2. The Boyce deed created Maple Lane for purposes of
“access to a public road.”
4. [Appellee] constructed a storm water drainage system
on its own property and, we believe, off the easement that is
Maple Lane.
6. [Marigold] has permission from all relevant governmental
entities for its proposed use, a restaurant with parking, subject
only to the condition that it get permission from [Appellee] to tie
into its storm water drainage pipe.
Findings of Fact, Decision, 11/2/17, at ¶¶ 2, 4, and 6.
In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court conceded that its findings of
fact may have been “inartfully stated,” but countered that its
“significant findings” are supported by a review of the evidence. Rule 1925(a)
Opinion, 5/4/18, at 5. With respect to Finding 2, the court explained that the
finding was taken from language of the deed itself and noted that the deed
did not limit the grant to access only, but also granted a right of way “to lay,
repair and maintain a waterline.” Id.Regarding Finding 4, the court acknowledged ignorance as to the exact
location of Appellee’s storm sewer. However, the exact location was not at
issue. Rather, at issue was whether the easement entitled Marigold to build
a short connecting sewer across Maple Lane and tie it into Appellee’s private
storm sewer. Id. As Appellee correctly observes, “[b]oth documentary and
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testimonial evidence was presented indicating that the location of that private
sewer line is on Appellee’s property and outside of Maple Lane.” Appellee’s
Brief at 21 (citing Notes of Testimony (“N.T.”), 9/13/17, at 125 and Trial
Exhibit 15).
As for Finding 6, the court recognized that Marigold obtained permission
from the relevant governmental agencies for its proposed use—a restaurant
with parking. However, that permission was implicitly subject to receiving
permission from either Appellee or the court to tie into Appellee’s water
drainage pipe, an issue the municipality properly refused to consider. As the
court explained, “Although the permission of [Appellee] may technically not
be a ‘condition’ set by the municipality, it is still undisputedly crucial to
[Marigold’s] ability to provide the storm water system the municipality
requires.” Id.Marigold contends the trial court also erred in stating the parties agreed
the Boyce Deed contained the controlling language. As the trial noted,
Marigold has not suggested any other deed includes language that controls.
Moreover, Marigold’s expert agreed that the Boyce Deed is the “operative
document . . . for purposes of what was granted originally.” Id. (quoting N.T.,
9/13/17, at 34; see also id. at 58.)
Marigold also challenged the trial court’s assertion that Marigold’s
property already had a drainage easement created at the same time Maple
Lane was created. The trial court admitted its error in this regard, noting
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there was not an easement but rather a reservation to the grantor of a five-
foot right of way for the purpose of laying, maintaining, and repairing a pipe
line and gas line. “Importantly, at the time of the [Boyce Deed], the issue of
drainage was considered by the Common Grantor to be separate from the
Maple Lane easement. The clear implication is that there was no
contemplation at the time that Maple Lane would also be used for storm water
drainage.” Id. (emphasis in original).
We find support in the record for the challenged factual findings, with
the exception of the trial court’s admitted “ignorance” regarding the location
of Appellee’s sewer and its admitted misstatement regarding the existence of
a drainage easement prior to the Boyce Deed. However, we agree with the
court’s own assessment that its “significant findings” do find support in the
record, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Appellee as we are
required to do. Therefore, Marigold’s first issue fails for lack of merit.
In its second issue, Marigold asserts trial court error for admitting
evidence relating to stormwater conditions on Appellee’s property.
“Generally, our standard of review of a trial court’s evidentiary ruling is
whether the trial court abused its discretion. Zieber v. Bogert, [773 A.2d
758, n.3. (Pa. 2001)]. [If] the evidentiary ruling at issue turns on a question
of law, however, our review is plenary. Id.” Schroeder v. Jaquiss, 861
A.2d 885, 889 n.8 (Pa. 2004).
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We find no error in the trial court’s admission of evidence regarding
stormwater conditions. As the trial court explained:
While some background testimony describing serious flooding of
[Appellee’s] property in 2013 was permitted over Marigold’s
objection, the court only viewed this as an explanation by
[Appellee] that it is not objecting to Marigold’s proposed use for
frivolous or “dog in the manger” type reasons. [Appellee’s]
arguments and the court’s decision rest strictly on the language
of the [Boyce Deed].
Id. at 7 (some capitalization omitted). Appellant’s second issue fails.
In its third issue, Marigold argues the trial court erred by distinguishing
PARC Holdings, Inc. v. Killian, 785 A.2d 106 (Pa. Super. 2001), in which
this Court examined various easement cases, including Dowgiel v. Reid, 59
A.2d 115 (Pa. 1948). We find no legal error in this regard, recognizing that
the easement language in PARC Holdings is different from the easement
language in the Boyce Deed.
In PARC Holdings, this Court recognized that the language in the deed
reserved to the grantor a right of way “for ingress and egress” to certain lands
owned by the grantor. PARC Holdings, 785 A.2d at 108. The issue was
whether the scope of the easement included installation of utilities. Based on
its review of relevant case law, the Court determined that the cases provided
nothing more than examples of the application of the general rules
of construction applicable to the grant of an easement. These
rules provide that if the location, size or purpose of an
easement is specified in the grant, then the use of an
easement is limited to the specifications. See Lease v. Doll,
485 Pa. 615, 403 A.2d 558 (1979) and Zettlemoyer v.
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corp., 540 Pa. 337, 657 A.2d
920 (1995). If, however, the language of a granting deed is
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ambiguous regarding these matters, then the intent of the parties
as to the original purpose of a grant is a controlling factor in
determining the extent of an easement. Zettlemoyer, 657 A.2d
at 926.
Id. at 111 (emphasis added). As for the language at issue in PARC Holdings,
the Court found that
the wording of the reservation as to its purpose [is] ambiguous,
as it generally defines its purpose in terms of providing mere
access to the dominant estate by extension of a public road. The
language does not specify a limited purpose to the access, such
as “for the purpose of maintaining a water system” or “for
pedestrian a vehicular travel only.”
Id. at 112. In contrast, the Boyce Deed was specific in granting a right of
way over and across Maple Lane for access to Boyce Road and an easement
for a water line, while also explicitly reserving to Boyce “a right of way Five
(5) feet wide along the present water line on the Easterly side of said line . . .
for the purpose of laying, maintaining and repairing a drainage pipe line and
gas line.” As such, it was specific, in contrast to the general, ambiguous
language in PARC Holdings, and “the use of [the] easement is limited to the
specification.” PARC Holding, 785 A2d at 111 (citations omitted).
The trial court considered, and ultimately rejected, Marigold’s contention
that PARC Holdings controls, finding it was not on point. The court
explained:
In PARC Holdings, the question was whether or not the words
“for ingress and egress” permitted the grantee to extend its
existing utility lines along the easement to the parcel it had
acquired from the grantor for further development. The parties
had originally agreed that the grantee would purchase a bigger
parcel, but the grantor wanted to retain a smaller part of it for
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herself. This resulted in the remaining parcel being landlocked.
The easement at issue there was then created to solve that
problem and the transaction was completed.
The grantor later opposed grantee’s plans to lay utility lines within
the easement, which lines were extensions of ones that already
existed on the other land owned by the grantee. The trial judge
held that credible evidence showed that both parties knew of the
intent of the grantee and rejected the grantor’s argument that the
easement could only be used for pedestrians and vehicles. That
decision was upheld.
The facts of this case are vastly different. First and foremost,
there is no ambiguity in the [Boyce Deed]. It creates Maple Lane
for access to a street (Boyce Road) from all the properties abutting
it, and specifies the utility line (water) that may be placed inside
the easement. Another utility, gas, is described as being off the
easement as is the reserved drainage system.
***
[E]ven assuming the instant easement is regarded as being
expressed in general terms, PARC Holdings states that such an
easement “may be used in any manner that is reasonably required
for the complete and beneficial use of the dominant estate” as it
existed at the time of the grant, not “in this day and age.” See
PARC Holdings, [785 A.2d at 114, quoting Dowgiel 59 A.2d at
118 (1948) (emphasis in original)]. Here, the supposed dominant
estate, Marigold’s property, already had a drainage easement
reserved at the same time as the separate non-drainage
easement on Maple Lane. Since the Common Grantor separately
reserved a separate storm water drainage easement, off Maple
Lane, leading to a creek somewhat further north of Boyce Road,
the obvious intent was not to have storm water drainage from
Marigold’s property within the Maple Lane easement which is on
[Appellee’s] property. See also [N.T., 9/13/17, at 121-123] for a
clear and credible explanation from [Appellee’s] expert of why the
drainage easement was reserved to the grantor.
Trial Court Rule 1925(a) Opinion, 5/4/18, at 7-8 (emphasis in original).
Appellant’s third issue, relying on PARC Holdings and cases cited therein,
does not provide any basis for relief.
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Marigold next argues that the trial court committed legal error by
determining PARC Holdings addressed easement by necessity and by
determining that no necessity existed because Marigold already had a
drainage easement. The trial court rejected the assertion of legal error,
noting, “Marigold has never contended that it does have an easement by
necessity. This is not an issue in the case. We alluded to it only because the
case cited by Marigold, PARC Holdings, also discussed easements by
necessity and states that that law would also support its decision there[.]”
Id. at 9 (citing PARC Holdings, 785 A.2d at 114, in turn citing New York
Central Railroad Co. v. Yarian, 39 N.E. 2d 604, 605 (Ind. 1942)).6
As Appellee observed, Marigold’s complaint did not request a declaration
relating to an easement by necessity, and the trial transcript does not reflect
the introduction of any evidence in support of such an easement. Because
Marigold first raised the issue in its post-trial motion, the issue was not
properly preserved. Moreover, even if Marigold had timely raised the issue of
easement by necessity, it would have borne the burden of proving the
existence of such an easement. It did not do so. Further, other than in
circumstances where the property is landlocked, such as in PARC Holdings,
an easement by necessity has not been recognized in Pennsylvania “for any
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6As a point of clarification, this Court in PARC Holdings actually quoted
Dowgiel, 59 A.2d at 118, which in turn quoted the Indiana case of New York
Central Railroad Co. v. Yarian.
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other purpose than for ingress to a piece of land and egress from the piece of
land.” Youst v. Keck’s Food Service, Inc., 94 A.3d 1057, 1076 (Pa. Super.
2014) (citation omitted). See also Phillippi v. Knotter, 748 A.2d 757, 760
(Pa. Super. 2000) (“the existence of an easement by necessity contemplates
a situation in which a parcel of land is landlocked”). Ingress and egress are
not at issue here and Marigold’s property is not landlocked. Marigold’s fourth
issue, even if not waived, lacks merit.
In its fifth and final issue, Marigold claims the trial court erred by
permitting Appellee’s expert to testify beyond the scope of his expertise as an
engineering expert. Again, as a challenge to an evidentiary ruling, we employ
an abuse of discretion standard of review.
We find no abuse of discretion here. After the expert explained that he
typically reviewed deeds in the course of surveying property, Appellee’s
counsel asked the expert if he reviewed the Boyce Deed. The following
exchange took place:
Q. And what was the importance of that deed in terms of your
analysis?
A. The importance of that deed is it marks the original creation
or origination of several encumbrances that have been discussed
here already. The creation of Maple Lane and also references of
a five-foot drainage right-of-way to be reserved as well. So that’s
where we first see a description of the easement[s] that are the
subject of today’s issue.
Q. In your opinion is that document concerning the creation of
the rights at issue in this case?
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A. Definitely. Here we see it and very clearly describes the
intentions and –
N.T., 9/13/17, at 112.
At that point, Marigold’s counsel objected, contending the expert was
offering a legal opinion. Id. The trial court sustained the objection and
suggested that counsel rephrase the question. Counsel explained that he was
merely asking his expert if the Boyce Deed was a key document. The trial
judge responded, “I will let that testimony in but move on.” Id. at 113.
Counsel continued his examination without further objection by Marigold’s
counsel. Therefore, we find Marigold’s assertion of error without merit.
Further, the expert’s acknowledgement of the importance of the Boyce Deed
was consistent with Marigold’s own expert’s testimony quoted above.
Responding to Marigold’s contention of error, the trial court suggested
that Marigold was implying the court should have given greater weight to
Marigold’s expert, an attorney, than to Appellee’s expert, an engineer. The
court dismissed that implication, stating it “did not rely on the legal opinions
of either expert as it is the court’s function and duty to make legal
conclusions.” Trial Court Rule 1925(a) Opinion, 5/4/18, at 9. As with its
previous issues, Marigold’s fifth provides no basis for relief.
Order affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/7/2019
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