Friday, November 20, 2009

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. RAYMOND E. HAUN

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. RAYMOND E. HAUN,
No. 1980 MDA 2008 2009 PA Super 223 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/20/2009

Appeal from the PCRA Order November 4, 2008
In the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County
Criminal Division at No. CP-14-CR-0001493-2004
Before: BENDER, FREEDBERG and POPOVICH, JJ.
Opinion by: BENDER, J.
Raymond E. Haun (Appellant) appeals from the order dismissing his petition for relief filed under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). See 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546. Appellant claims that the PCRA court erred in relying on our decision in Commonwealth v. Lantzy, 712 A.2d 288 (Pa. Super. 1998) (en banc), reversed, 736 A.2d 564 (Pa. 1999). For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

IN RE: T.C., S.C., and H.C., MINOR CHILDREN APPEAL OF: R.C., NATURAL FATHER

IN RE: T.C., S.C., and H.C., MINOR CHILDREN
APPEAL OF: R.C., NATURAL FATHER,

No. 2017 MDA 2008 2009 PA Super 222 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/18/2009

Appeal from the Order Dated October 14, 2008,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County,
Orphans’ Court Division, No. 6080 ADOPTIONhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=725292761438552781
Before: GANTMAN, FREEDBERG, JJ. and McEWEN, P.J.E.
Opinion by: FREEDBERG, J.
R.C. (“Father”) appeals from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County involuntarily terminating his parental rights to T.C., S.C., and H.C., pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”), 25 U.S.C. § 1912. We affirm.
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ESTATE OF LOUIS A. HICKS, DECEASED v. DANA COMPANIES, LLC F/K/A DANA CORPORATION, ET AL. APPEAL OF: DANA COMPANIES, LLC F/K/A DANA CORPORATION APPEAL

ESTATE OF LOUIS A. HICKS, DECEASED v. DANA COMPANIES, LLC F/K/A DANA CORPORATION, ET AL.
APPEAL OF: DANA COMPANIES, LLC F/K/A DANA CORPORATION
APPEAL OF: JOHN CRANE, INC., F/K/A CRANE PACKING

No. 3088 and 3089 EDA 2006 2009 PA Super 220 2009 PA Super 220 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/18/2009

Appeal from the Judgment entered April 12, 2005,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at December Term, 2002 No. 3509
Before: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J., STEVENS, ORIE MELVIN, LALLY-GREEN, KLEIN, BOWES, PANELLA, DONOHUE, AND SHOGAN, JJ.
Opinion by: ORIE MELVIN, J.
Concurring Opinion by: KLEIN, J.
This is a consolidated appeal from the judgment entered against Appellants, Dana Companies, LLC f/k/a Dana Corporation (Dana) and John Crane, Inc., f/k/a Crane Packing (Crane), in this products liability action initiated by Appellee, the Estate of Louis A. Hicks, for his contracting malignant mesothelioma from alleged occupational exposure to the Appellants’ asbestos-containing products. Following the denial of post-trial motions and entry of judgment, an appeal to this Court was filed in which a panel of this Court affirmed the trial court. We have granted reargument en banc, however, for the principal reason of determining the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Gregg v. V-J Auto Parts Company, 596 Pa. 274, 943 A.2d 216 (2007). After review, we affirm.
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EUGENE COBBS v. SEPTA, DAVID ABELL, JOHN BLEILER, and SUSAN FLOWER-GRIFFIN

EUGENE COBBS v. SEPTA, DAVID ABELL, JOHN BLEILER, and SUSAN FLOWER-GRIFFIN
No. 1198 EDA 2008 2009 PA Super 221 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/18/2009

Appeal from the Order entered March 25, 2008,
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County,
Civil Division at No. 031203651
Before: ORIE MELVIN, BOWES and DONOHUE, JJ.
Opinion by: DONOHUE, J.
Eugene Cobbs (“Cobbs”) appeals from the order of court entered granting the motion for judgment on the pleadings filed by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (“SEPTA”), David Abell, John Bleiler, and Susan Flower-Griffin (collectively, “Appellees”). Finding no error by the trial court, we affirm.
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Friday, November 13, 2009

JOHN SZYMANOWSKI AND MICHAEL A. WHEELING, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF BSW vs. ROBERT H. BRACE AND BCD PROPERTIES, INC.

JOHN SZYMANOWSKI AND MICHAEL A. WHEELING, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF BSW vs. ROBERT H. BRACE AND BCD PROPERTIES, INC.
No. 1703 WDA 2008 2009 PA Super 218 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/13/2009

Appeal from the Order entered October 9, 2007
In the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
Civil Division at No. 10478-05
Before: BENDER, BOWES AND CLELAND, JJ.
Opinion by: CLELAND, J.
Appellants John Szymanowski and Michael A. Wheeling (Szymanowski/Wheeling) appeal the trial court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of Appellees Robert H. Brace (Brace) and BCD Properties, Inc. (BCD). The parties formed a partnership known as BSW to drill two gas wells in Erie County on leaseholds previously acquired by and still titled to Brace. The parties dispute whether their partnership encompasses two later developed gas wells not mentioned in their partnership agreement but drilled on the same leasehold titled to Brace and on which one of the partnership’s own wells was located. For reasons that follow, we affirm.
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IN THE INTEREST OF J.G., A MINOR Appeal of: CHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES No. 585 EDA 2008 2009 PA Super 217 Atlantic:

IN THE INTEREST OF J.G., A MINOR
Appeal of: CHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

No. 585 EDA 2008 2009 PA Super 217 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/13/2009

Appeal from the Order Entered January 2, 2008,
In the Court of Common Pleas, Chester County,
Domestic Relations, Juvenile No. 55CS07
Before: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J., MUSMANNO, ORIE MELVIN, BENDER, BOWES, PANELLA, DONOHUE, SHOGAN AND ALLEN, JJ.
Opinion by: ALLEN, J.
The Chester County Department of Children Youth and Families (“CYF”) appeals from the trial court’s order denying the motion of the guardian ad litem to reject the recommendation of the hearing master or, alternatively, to conduct a rehearing. Finding that CYF was the prevailing party in the proceedings below, we dismiss the appeal under Pa.R.A.P. 501 because CYF was not aggrieved by the trial court’s order.
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STUART J. MACKAY vs. JAMIE K. MACKAY (at 192) JAMIE K. MACKAY vs. STUART J. MACKAY

STUART J. MACKAY vs. JAMIE K. MACKAY (at 192)
JAMIE K. MACKAY vs. STUART J. MACKAY (at 193)

No. 192 and 193 WDA 2009 2009 PA Super 219 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/13/2009

Appeal from the Order Entered January 26, 2008
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Civil Division at Nos.:
05-03738-001
PACSES No. 105107428
Before: BENDER, BOWES and CLELAND, JJ.
Opinion by: BENDER, J.
In these consolidated appeals, Jamie K. Mackay (“Mother”) appeals from the orders entered on January 22, 2009 and January 26, 2009, respectively, wherein the trial court directed Stuart J. Mackay (“Father”) to pay a monthly child support obligation of $810.00 for three minor children and denied Mother’s “Petition to Enforce Agreement” and her claim for counsel fees. We affirm.
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Thursday, November 12, 2009

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA vs. COLLIN M. ROWE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA vs. COLLIN M. ROWE
No. 986 MDA 2008 2009 PA Super 215 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/12/2009

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of May 19, 2008, in
the Court of Common Pleas of Centre County, Criminal
Division, at No. CP-14-CR-0002110-2007
Before: BOWES, DONOHUE, and FREEDBERG, JJ.
Opinion by: BOWES, J.
It was a dark and stormy night on June 8, 2007, when the wind howled and rain fell in State College, Pennsylvania. Corporal William Muse of the State College Police Department was in the area of East Foster Avenue at 10:38 p.m. assisting with downed power lines in an adjacent alley when he noticed the open rear door of 420 East Foster Avenue, the residence of Collin M. Rowe, Appellant. Corporal Muse walked the perimeter of the house, noticed lights on upstairs and down, but observed nothing out of the ordinary. He chose to enter the home, called out his identity, and searched the first floor and the basement. The officer thereafter proceeded to the second floor, where he entered Appellant’s bedroom, looked in the trash can, and examined the inside of the closet. He found a glass pipe sitting on the desk next to Appellant’s computer. He took the pipe, left his business card requesting Appellant to contact him, and left the home.
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JOAN P. WHITAKER AND BARBARA V. LEEZER, GUARDIANS AD LITEM FOR CAROLINE MONAGHAN vs. THE FRANKFORD HOSPITAL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

JOAN P. WHITAKER AND BARBARA V. LEEZER, GUARDIANS AD LITEM FOR CAROLINE MONAGHAN vs. THE FRANKFORD HOSPITAL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA D/B/A FRANKFORD HOSPITAL—FRANKFORD, THE FRANKFORD HOSPITAL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA D/B/A FRANKFORD HOSPITAL—TORRESDALE, ROBERT T. SMITH, M.D., HAROLD J. GAUTHIER, M.D. AND DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, INC.,
APPEAL OF: ROBERT T. SMITH, M.D. (at 819 EDA 2006) CAROLINE MONAGHAN vs. FRANKFORD HOSPITAL, FRANKFORD DIVISION, FRANKFORD HOSPITAL TORRESDAKE DIVISION, CARL S. RUBIN, D.O., MEDICAL IMAGING ASSOCIATES, HOSPITAL MEDCIAL IMAGING, INC., ROBERT T. SMITH, M.D., NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA VASCULAR SURGEONS, P.C., FAROUQ A. SAMHOURI, M.D., HAROLD J. GAUTHIER, M.D., ABC EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES CORP., MICHAEL J. ROSNER, M.D., JOSEPH NABONG, M.D., NEUROCARE DIAGNOSTICS, INC., AND RANDY M. ROSENBERG, M.D.
APPEAL OF: DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, INC. (at 933 EDA 2006)

No. 819 and 933 EDA 2006 2009 PA Super 216 Atlantic: n/a Filed: 11/12/2009

Appeal from the Judgment Entered April 28, 2006, in the
Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Civil
Division, at No. 0202-01557 and February Term, 2002, No. 1557.
Before: ORIE MELVIN, BOWES, and DONOHUE, JJ.
Opinion by: BOWES, J.
Appellants, Diagnostic Imaging, Inc. and its agent Dr. Robert T. Smith, appeal from the judgment entered on a jury verdict in this medical malpractice action. The verdict was entered in favor of the plaintiffs, Appellees Joan P. Whitaker and Barbara V. Leezer, in their capacity as guardians ad litem for Caroline Monaghan. The jury determined that Dr. Smith and Dr. Harold J. Gauthier, who had previously settled with Appellees, were equally responsible for causing the injuries at issue in this case, and it awarded $5,200,000 in damages. After careful review of the record and the arguments presented on appeal, we affirm.
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Monday, November 9, 2009

DIANE C. O’HARA AND JOSEPH O’HARA, H/W vs. THE FIRST LIBERTY INSURANCE CORP. D/B/A LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE GROUP

DIANE C. O’HARA AND JOSEPH O’HARA, H/W vs. THE FIRST LIBERTY INSURANCE CORP. D/B/A LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE GROUP
No. 3054 EDA 2008 2009 PA Super 214 Atlantic: n/a Petition for Reargument Filed 11/13/2009 Filed: 11/9/2009

Appeal from the Order entered October 6, 2008
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil No. August Term 2008, No. 03032
Before: FREEDBERG, CLELAND and KELLY, JJ.
Opinion by: KELLY, J.
Diane C. O’Hara and Joseph P. O’Hara, Appellants, appeal from the order entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas sustaining the preliminary objection raised by The First Liberty Insurance Corp., d/b/a/ Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Appellee, on the basis of venue and transferring the case to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County. We affirm, finding that the trial court properly enforced the forum selection clause contained in the couple’s insurance policy.
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