Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Superior Court - COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. RHANEL ROBERTS

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. RHANEL ROBERTS
No. 693 EDA 2008 2009 PA Super 56 Atlantic: 969 A.2d 594 Filed: 3/31/2009

Appeal from the Order Entered January 31, 2008
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal at No(s): CP-51-CR-00002619-2007, CP-51-CR-1003541-2005,
CP-51-CR-1003551-2005, CP-51-CR-1003561-2005
Before: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J., ALLEN, and FREEDBERG, JJ
Opinion by: FREEDBERG, J.
The Commonwealth appeals from the order entered on February 1, 2008, which granted the motion to suppress evidence filed by Appellee Rhanel Roberts. After review, we reverse and remand.
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Monday, March 30, 2009

Superior Court - COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. ANTONIO GUTIERREZ

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. ANTONIO GUTIERREZ
No. 710 and 806 MDA 2008 2009 PA Super 55 Atlantic: 969 A.2d 584 Filed: 3/30/2009

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence of April 2, 2008,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County,
Criminal Division, at No. CP-06-CR-0000329-2007.
Before: BOWES, SHOGAN and KELLY, JJ.
Opinion by: BOWES, J.
Antonio Gutierrez and the Commonwealth have both filed appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed in this case. The Commonwealth complains about the sentencing court’s failure to impose a mandatory minimum sentence that it contends is applicable herein. Gutierrez, who we will refer to as Appellant, assails the adequacy of the warrant utilized to search his residence and the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction for possession of a prohibited offensive weapon. We reject the allegations of error raised by Appellant, but conclude that the Commonwealth’s position is meritorious. We vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for a new sentencing hearing.
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Superior Court - DOUGLAS L. THOMPSON v. T.J. WHIPPLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

DOUGLAS L. THOMPSON v. T.J. WHIPPLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
No. 324 WDA 2008 2009 PA Super 57 Atlantic: n/a Petition for Reargument Denied 5/29/2009 Filed: 3/30/2009

Appeal from the Order of January 17, 2008,
in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County,
Civil Division, at No. 2005-13538.
Before: BOWES, FREEDBERG AND POPOVICH, JJ.
Opinion by: BOWES, J.
Null
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Friday, March 27, 2009

Superior Court - IN RE: ESTATE OF BRUCE E. JOHNSON, DECEASED APPEAL OF: VALERIE S. GAYDOS, EXECUTOR APPEAL OF: DEBORAH ROGERS JOHNSON

IN RE: ESTATE OF BRUCE E. JOHNSON, DECEASED
APPEAL OF: VALERIE S. GAYDOS, EXECUTOR
APPEAL OF: DEBORAH ROGERS JOHNSON

No. 1836 and 1922 MDA 2007 2009 PA Super 54 Atlantic: 970 A.2d 433 Filed: 3/27/2009

Appeal from the Decree entered on September
21, 2007, in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County,
Orphans' Court Division, at No(s). 278 Year 2002.
Before: LALLY-GREEN, GANTMAN and ALLEN, JJ.
Opinion by: LALLY-GREEN, J.
Appellant/Cross-Appellee, Valerie S. Gaydos (“Executor”), executor of the Estate (the “Estate”) of Bruce E. Johnson (the “Deceased”), and Appellee/Cross-Appellant Deborah Rogers Johnson (“Johnson”), appeal from the trial court’s order and decree of September 21, 2007. We affirm in part and vacate in part.
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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Superior Court - ADP, INC. v. MORROW MOTORS INC., T/D/B/A MORROW FORD

ADP, INC. v. MORROW MOTORS INC., T/D/B/A MORROW FORD
No. 863 WDA 2008 2009 PA Super 52 Atlantic: 969 A.2d 1244 Filed: 3/26/2009

Appeal from the Judgment May 6, 2008,
In the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County,
Civil Division at No. 10352-2006.
Before: BOWES, FREEDBERG, and POPOVICH, JJ.
Opinion by: POPOVICH, J.
Appellant Morrow Motors, Inc., t/d/b/a Morrow Ford, appeals the entry of summary judgment in the amount of $131,340.60 in favor of Appellee ADP, Inc. We reverse.
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Superior Court - IN RE: PRIVATE CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS OF JOHN O’BRIEN RAFFERTY APPEAL OF: JOHN O’BRIEN RAFFERTY

IN RE: PRIVATE CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS OF JOHN O’BRIEN RAFFERTY
APPEAL OF: JOHN O’BRIEN RAFFERTY

No. 194 MDA 2008 2009 PA Super 53 Atlantic: 969 A.2d 578 Filed: 3/26/2009

Appeal from the Order Entered December 6, 2007
In the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
Criminal at No(s): CP-22-CR-0000839-2000
Before: STEVENS, KLEIN, and KELLY, JJ.
Opinion by: STEVENS, J.
This is a pro se appeal from the December 6, 2007 order entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County affirming the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s denial of Appellant’s three private criminal complaints. We affirm.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Superior Court - COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. BLAKE TENNISON

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA v. BLAKE TENNISON
No. 1529 ED 2005 2009 PA Super 51 Atlantic: 969 A.2d 572 Filed: 3/25/2009

Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence May 10, 2005
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal at No(s): 0401-0083
Before: STEVENS, McCAFFERY, and KELLY, JJ.
Opinion by: STEVENS, J.
This is an appeal from the judgment of sentence entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County after the Court denied Appellant’s pre-sentence motion to withdraw his guilty plea. At issue is whether a defendant provides a “fair and just reason” to withdraw his plea prior to sentencing whenever he asserts his innocence. We hold such an assertion does not divest a judge of discretion to weigh its sincerity according to the totality of circumstances known to the judge, and to deny the motion where, as here, the motion is founded not upon a sincere assertion, but upon a desire to delay sentencing in one case in order to obtain a favorable sentence in another.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Superior Court - JEFFREY TINDALL and SILVIA TINDALL, Husband and Wife v. BRAD S. FRIEDMAN, D.O., and MARK SCHWEITZER, M.D. and JEFFERSON IMAGING

JEFFREY TINDALL and SILVIA TINDALL, Husband and Wife v. BRAD S. FRIEDMAN, D.O., and MARK SCHWEITZER, M.D. and JEFFERSON IMAGING and THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL and JEFFERSON HEALTH SYSTEM
APPEAL OF: MARK SCHWEITZER, M.D.
APPEAL OF: BRAD S. FRIEDMAN, D.O.
APPEAL OF: JEFFERSON IMAGING

No. 3390, 3391 and 3422 EDA 2004 3494 EDA 2005 2009 PA Super 50 Atlantic: 970 A.2d 1159 Petition for Reargument Denied 6/1/2009 Filed: 3/24/2009

Appeal from the Judgment Entered November 3, 2004,
in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County,
Civil Division, at No. 4056 January Term, 2001.
Before: BOWES, SHOGAN and FITZGERALD, JJ.
Opinion by: BOWES, J.
Concurring and Dissenting Opinion Opinion by: SHOGAN, J.
Dr. Brad S. Friedman, Dr. Mark Schweitzer, and Jefferson Imaging have filed separate appeals from the judgment entered on a jury award in favor of Jeffrey and Silvia Tindall, and the Tindalls have appealed the trial court’s post-trial entry of judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“n.o.v.”) in favor of Jefferson Imaging. We reverse the entry of judgment n.o.v. in favor of Jefferson Imaging and remand for reinstatement of the judgment against that company. We affirm the jury award in favor of the Tindalls, but remand for recalculation of delay damages imposed on that verdict.
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Superior Court - JACQUELINE NIEVES CRUZ and OSCAR CRUZ v. PRINCETON INSURANCE COMPANY, ALAN S. GOLD, ESQUIRE and GOLD, BUTKOVITZ & ROBINS, P.C.

JACQUELINE NIEVES CRUZ and OSCAR CRUZ v. PRINCETON INSURANCE COMPANY, ALAN S. GOLD, ESQUIRE and GOLD, BUTKOVITZ & ROBINS, P.C.
No. 3191 and 3192 EDA 2004 2009 PA Super 49 Atlantic: 972 A.2d 14 Filed: 3/24/2009

Appeal from the Orders Dated October 18, 2004
In the Court of Common Pleas, Civil Division
Philadelphia County, No. 000415 March Term 2003
Before: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J., STEVENS, MUSMANNO, ORIE MELVIN, LALLY-GREEN, TODD*, BENDER, BOWES, and PANELLA, JJ.
Opinion by: BENDER, J.
Dissenting Opinion by: ORIE MELVIN, J.
This matter comes before us on remand from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for consideration of whether plaintiffs Jacqueline Nieves Cruz and Oscar Cruz (the Cruzes) adduced evidence sufficient to raise a question of material fact concerning the harm element of their claim for Abuse of Process. The Cruzes argue, and we conclude, that the evidence, both direct and circumstantial, does raise such a question. Accordingly, we reverse the order granting summary judgment and remand this matter to the trial court for further proceedings on the Cruzes’ action.
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Monday, March 23, 2009

IN RE: I.J.
APPEAL OF: DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

No. 2989 EDA 2007 2009 PA Super 48 Atlantic: 972 A.2d 5 Filed: 3/23/2009

Appeal from the Order entered September 18, 2007,
Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Family Division
at Nos. D#2795-05-10; J#377285, July Term, 2007 - 90000
Before: BENDER, DONOHUE and FREEDBERG, JJ.
Opinion by: DONOHUE, J.
The Philadelphia Department of Human Services (“DHS”) appeals from the order of court dated September 18, 2007 denying its Petition for Goal Change to Adoption and Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights of S.M. (“Mother”) and D.J. (“Father”), the parents of I.J. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
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