J. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 THOMAS J. LYNCH , : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA Appellant :

: v. : : No. 2936 EDA 2017 MICHAEL GERACE, G. WORLD, INC., AND GERACE ENTERPRISE, INC. : : Appeal from the Judgment Entered October 18 , 2017, in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County

Civil Division at No. 15 - 1092
THOMAS J. LYNCH : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA v. : : MICHAEL GERACE, G. WORLD, INC., AND GERACE ENTERPRISE, INC., : : No. 2940 EDA 2017 : Appellants : Appeal from the Judgment Entered October 18, 2017, in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County

Civil Division at No. 2015 - 1092 BEFORE: OLSON , J., STABILE , J., AND FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.: FILED NOVEMBER 21, 2018 Appellant/cross - appellee Thomas J. Lynch (“Lynch” ) and appellees/ cross - a ppellants Michael Gerace, G. World, Inc., and Gerace Enterprise, Inc. (collectively, “Gerace” ) each appeal from the October 18,J. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

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2017 judgment entered in favor of Lynch and against G. World, Inc. and Gerace Enterprise, Inc., in this breach of contract action . 1 Afte r careful review, we affirm on the basis of the comprehensive November 17, 2017 opinions of the Honorable Spiros E. Angelos . The trial court summarized the relevant facts and procedural history of this case as follows:

[Lynch] initiated this action with t he filing of a Complaint on February 6, 2015. [Lynch] alleged claims against [Gerace] in breach of contract and unjust enrichment. [Lynch] alleged that, pursuant to an oral agreement between the parties, [Lynch] performed human resources related consultin g services at the request of Defendant, Michael Gerace. [Gerace] filed an Answer on November 17, 2015. A bench trial was held on December 6, 2016 and the undersigned Judge entered a Decision and supporting Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law on Dece mber 19, 2017 in favor of [Lynch] against [Gerace] in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00). [Lynch] filed a post - trial motion to amend the verdict to include prejudgment interest on December 28, 2016. [Gerace] filed a post - trial motion to vacate the Trial Court [’] s December 19, 201 [6] Decision on January 20, 2017,[ Footnote 1 ] arguing that [ Defendant Michael] Gerace was not a party to the alleged oral agreement between the parties. A hearing was held on [the parties’] post - trial motions on April 5, 2017. Following said hearing, the undersigned Judge issued an Amended Order on 1 Both parties purport to appeal from the August 8, 2017 order denying their respective motions for post - trial relief. “[H]owever, an appeal properly lies from the entry of judgment, not from the denial of post - trial motions.” Cro yle v. Dellape , 832 A.2d 466, 470 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation and int ernal quotation marks omitt ed). We have amended the caption accordingly.J. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

- 3 - April 12, 2017, finding in favor of [Lynch] and against two defendants, G World Inc. and Gerace Enterprise, Inc. in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ( $ 30,000.00) plus prejudgment interest in the amount of Five Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Seven Dollars and Twelve Cents ($5,837.12). [Footnote 1] [Gerace’s] Post - Trial Motion was well past the 10 day period to file a post - trial motion under Pa.R.C.P. 227.1(c)[.] Ho wever, [Lynch’s] Post - Trial Motion on December 28, 2016 provided a cover - page that incorrectly stated [Gerace] had twenty (20) days to respond to [Lynch’s] post - trial motion. The Trial Court has broad discretion to dismiss an untimely post - trial motion or to overlook its untimeliness. See Kennel v. Thomas , 804 A.2d 667, 668 - [6]69 (Pa.Super. 2002). Due to the error on the cover - page of [Lynch’s] post - trial motion, the Trial Court exercised its discretion and considered the merits of [Gerace’s] post - trial motion. The parties filed post - trial motions on the April 12, 2017 Amended Order, which were denied by Order on August 7, 2017, docketed August 8, 2017. [Lynch] and [Gerace] each filed a Notice of Appeal on September 6, 2017. The Court directed [Lynch] a nd [Gerace] to file a Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) on September 8, 2017. [Gerace] filed [its] 1925(b) statement on September 29, 2017 and served a copy on the undersigned Judge. [Lynch] failed to timely file a 1925(b) statement within twenty - one (21) days and fail ed to serve a copy on the court ,[ Footnote 2 ] as prescribed by the Trial Court’ s September 8, 2017 Order and pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). [ Footnote 2 ] [Lynch’s] failure to serve a copy o n the trial court is furtherJ. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

- 4 - evidenced by the Certification of Service, which certifie s that a copy was served via email and regular mail to [Gerace’s] counsel only. Trial court opinion, 11/7/17 at 1 - 3 (some citations and footnotes omitted) . On October 18, 2017, the trial court entered judgment in favor of Lynch and against G. World, Inc. , and Gerace Enterprise, Inc., in the amount of $35,837.12 . Thereafter, on November 17, 2017, the trial court fi led separate Rule 1925(a) opinions with respect to the issues raised by Lynch and Gerace. Lynch raises the following two issues for our review: I. The trial court had no basis to vacate the judgment and dismiss Michael Gerace from the case via post[ - ]trial m otion. II. The trial court erred in failing to grant [Lynch] leave to correct the designation of [] Gerace Enterprise, Inc. to M. Gerace Enterprise, Inc. Lynch’s brief at 9, 14 (full capitalization and emphasis omitted). The crux of Gerace’s argument on appeal is that the trial court erred in entering judgment in favor of Lynch in the amount $35,837.12 because the record did not establish that the parties entered into an oral contract . (Gerace’ s brief at 8 - 14 .) Gerace further avers that all of Lynch’s claims should be dismissed for failure to file a timely Rule 1925(b) statement . ( Id. at 17.) Alternatively, Gerace argues that,

[t]he trial court correctly denied Lynch’s post - trial motion to amend the name of Defendant Gerace Enterprise, Inc.[; and]J. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

- 5 - [ t]he trial court . . . correctly determined judgment should not be entered . . . against Michael Gerace individually. Id. at 19, 21 (emphasis and unnecessary capitalization omitted). 2 Our standard of review in nonjury cases is as follows: Our appellate r ole in cases arising from nonjury trial verdicts is to determine whether the findings of the trial court are supported by competent evidence and whether the trial court committed error in any application of the law. The findings of fact of the trial judge must be given the same weight and effect on appeal as the verdict of a jury. We consider the evidence in a light most favorable to the verdict winner. We will reverse the trial court only if its findings of fact are not supported by competent evidence i n the record or if its findings are premised on an error of law. However, where the issue . . . concerns a question of law, our scope of review is plenary. The trial court’s conclusions of law on appeal originating from a non - jury trial are not binding on an appellate court because it is the appellate court’s duty to determine if the trial court correctly applied the law to the facts of the case. Allegheny Energy Supply Co., LLC v. Wolf Run Min. Co. , 53 A.3d 53, 60 - 61 (Pa.Super. 2012) (citations and int ernal quotation marks omitted), appeal denied , 69 A.3d 599 (Pa. 2013).

2 The record reflects that Gerace waived its claim with regard to the trial court’s award of $5 ,837.12 in prejudgment interest ( see Gerace’s brief at 14 - 16) by failin g to raise this specific issue in his Rule 1925(b) statement. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(vii) (“[i]ssues not included in [an appellant’s 1925(b)] Statement . . . are waived”); see also Hess v. Fox Rothschild, LLP , 925 A.2d 798, 803 (Pa.Super. 2007) (stating, “any issue not raised in an appellant’s Rule 1925(b) statement will be deemed waived for purposes of appellate review[]”), appeal denied , 945 A.2d 171 (Pa. 2008).J. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

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Instantly, the trial court found that “[Gerace] failed to prove that the Trial Court abused its discretion or committed an error of law by finding a breach of oral agreement between th e parties.” ( See trial court opinion, 11/7/17 at 1; certified record at 41.) In reaching this decision, the trial court indicated that it carefully weighed the evidence presented by both parties at trial and found Lynch’s testimony to be credible. ( Id. at 6 - 8.) The trial court further noted that “[Lynch] failed to properly preserve all claims on appeal by failing to timely file and serve on the court a concise statement of matters complained of on appeal pursuant to [Rule] 1925(b) and as ordered by the Trial Court.” ( See trial court opinion, 11/7/17 at 1; certified record at 42.) After a thorough review of the record, as well as the briefs of the parties and the applicable law, and in light of this court’s scope and standard of review, we find that the record supports the trial court’s determination that an oral contract existed between the parties for human resources - related consulting services and Gerace’s claims to the contrary are meritless. Moreover, we agree with the trial court that Lynch’s fail ure to timely comply wi th Rule 1925(b) results in waive r of his issues on appeal . Accordingly, we adopt the trial court’s November 7, 2017 Rule 1925(a) opinions as our own for purposes of this appellate review. Judgment affirmed.J. S 5 5 0 35 /1 8

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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 1 1 /21/18Circulated 10/31/2018 12:15 PM

C O U R T O F C O MM O N P L E A S O F D E L A WARE C O U N T Y , P ENN S Y L VA

N I A C IVI L A C T I O N - L A W

N o . 1 5 - 10 9 2 v . M I C L G E RA C E , G W O RL D , IN C. ,

C E EN TE RP RI S E , IN C . K e v i n R B o y l e , E s qui r e - C o un s e l fo r Ap p e ll ant s /D e f e n d ant s M ic h e ll e H . B a d o l at o , E s qu i r e - C o un s e l f o r Ap p e l l ant s /De f

e n d ant s E ri c M a th e w H urw itz, E s qu i r e - C o un s e l f o r Ap p e ll ant s /D e f

e n d ant s D av i d Av e d is s i an , E s qu i r e - C o un s e l f o r C r o s s - Ap p e ll ant

/P l a intif f D A TE : 

### O P INI O N N o v e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 7



### p e ll- ants /D e fe n d ant s , M i c h a e l G e r a c e , G W o r l d , I n c ., an d G e r a c e E nt e rp ri e , I n c . , app e a l fr o m th e Au gu s t 7 , 2 0 1 7 Or d e r , d o c k e t e d Au gu s t 8 , 2 0 1 7 , d e ny i n g th e i r m o t i o n fo r p o s t - tr i a l r e l i e f i n th e i n s t ant b r e a c h o f c o ntr a c t a c t i o n . Ap p e ll a t s fa il e d to 

### p r o v e th at th e T ri al C o urt ab u s e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n o r c o mm i tt e d an e rr o o f l aw b y fi n d i n g a b r e a c h o f o r al a gr e e m e nt b e tw e e n th e p arti e s . T h e T ri al C urt ' s fi n d i n g s ar e b a s e d u p o n c o mp e t e nt e v i d e n c e an d th e r e fo r e , th e Au g u s t , 2 1 7 O r d e r , d o c k e t e d Au g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 7 , s h o u l d n o t b e di s tur b e d . P R O C E D U RA L AN D F A C T UA L H I S T O R Y P l i nt i ff / C r o s s - Ap p e ll ant , T h o m a s L yn c h 

### ( " Mr
. L yn c h " ) , i n i t i at e d th i s a c t i o n ' th th e fi li n g o f a C o mp l a i nt o n F e b ru ary 6 , 2 0 1 5 . P l a i nt i ff al l e g e d c l a i m s 

### a g a i n s t e fe n dant s , M i c h a e l G e r a c e , G W o rl d , I n c . an d G e r a c e E nt e rp ri s e , I n c . i n 1b r e a c h o f c o ntr a c t an d un j u s t e nr i c hm e nt. 

### S

e e Am e n d e d C o mp l a i nt. P l a i nt i ff a ll e g e d th at , p ur s u ant t o an o r a l a gr e e m e nt b e tw e e n th e p art i e s , P l a i nt i ffp e r fo rm e d hum an r e s o ur c e s r e l at e d c o n s u l t i n g s e rv i c e s at th e r e qu e s t o f D e fe n d ant , M i c h a e l G e r a c e ( " M r . G e r a c e " ) . 

### I d
. at 

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### in th e am o unt o f

l a i nt i ff fi l e d a p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n t o am e n d th e v e r d i c t t o i n c l u d e p r e j u d e nt i nt e r e s t o n D e c e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 . D e f e n d ants fi l e d a p o s t - tri al m o t i o n t o v a c at e e T ri a l C o urt s D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 7 D e ci s i o n o n J anu ary 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 , 1 ar guin g th at 

### Mr G e r a c e w a s n o t a p arty t o th e a ll e g e d o r a l a g r e e m e nt b e tw e e n th e p art i e s . A h e ar g w a s h e l d o n P l ai nt i ff an d D e fe n d ants ' p o s t - tri al m o t i o n s o n Ap ri l 5 , B o w i n g s a i d h e ar i n g , th e un d e r s i gn e d Ju d g e i s s u e d an Am e n d e d O r d e r o n Ap r i l 1 , 2 0 1 7 , fi n d i n g i n fav o r o f P l a i nt i ff an d a g a i n s t tw o d e fe n d ant s , G W o rl d

G e r a c e E nt e rp ri s e , I n c, i n th e am o unt o f T h i rty T h o u s an d D o ll ar s

1 De f e n d t s P o s t - T ri a l M o ti o n w as w e ll p as t th e l O d ay p e ri o d t o fi l e a p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n un d e r P a . R . C . P 2 2 7 .l ( c ) H o w e v e r , P l ai nt i ff s P o s t - T ri al M o t i o n o n D e c e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 p r o v i d e d a c o v e r - p a e th at in c o rr e c t l y s tat e d D e f e n d ant s h a d tw e nty ( 2 0 ) d ay s t o r e s p o n d t o P l ai nt i f f s p o s t - tri a l m o ti o n . T h e T ri aJ C o urt h a s b ro a d d i s c r e t i o n t o d i s m i s s an unt im e l y p o s t - tri al m o t i o n o r t o o v e l o o k i t s unti m e l in e s s . S e e K e nn e l v . T h o m a s , 8 04 A. 2 d 6 6 7 , 6 6 8 -6 9 (P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 2 ) . D u e t o err o r o n th e c o v e r - p a g e o f P l a i nt i ff s p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n , th e T ri al C o urt e x e r ci s e d i ts d i s c r et i o an d c o n s i d e r e d th e m e ri t s o f D e f e n d ant s p o s t - tri a l m o ti o n . 2

### ( $ 3 0 , 0 0 . .0 0 ) p l u s p r e j u d g m e nt i nt e r e s t i n th e am o unt o f F i v e T h o u s an d E i ght H un dr d Th i rty S e v e n D o ll ar s an d T w e l v e C e nt s ( $ 5 , 8 3 7 . 1 2 ) . h e p arti e s fi l e d p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n s o n th e Ap r i l 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 Am e n d e d O r d e r , wh i c h e r e d e ni e d 

### b y O r d e r o n Au gu s t 7 , 2 0 1 7 , d o c k e t e d Au g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 7 . P l a i nt i ff an d D e e n d ant s e a c h fi l e d a N o ti c e o f Ap p e a l o n S e p t e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 7 . T h e C o urt

P l a inti ff an d D e fe n d ant s t o fi l e a C o n ci s e S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l i n e d o f o n Ap p e a l p ur s u ant t o P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 (b ) o n S e p t e mb e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 . D e fe n d nt s fi l e d th e i r l 9 2 5 ( b ) s t at e m e nt o n S e p t e mb e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 7 an d s e rv e d a c o p y o n th e n d e r s i gn e d Ju d g e . P l a i nt i ff fa il e d t o t i m e l y fi l e a l 9 2 5 ( b ) s t at e m e nt w i thi n tw e nty - n e ( 2 1 ) day s an d fa i l e d t o s e rv e a c o p y o n th e c o urt' , a s p r e s c ri b e d b y th e T r i a l C urt ' s S e p t e mb e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 O r d e r an d p ur s u ant t o P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 (b ) . 3 

### T A T E M E N T O F M A T T E R S C O M P L A I N E D O F O N A P P E A L e i s s u e s ra i s e d i n D e fe n d ants ' S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l ai n e d o f o n r e a s f o l l o w s : "

2 P l a i nt i f s fa il ur e t o s e rv e a co p y o n th e tri a l c o urt i s furth e r e vi d e n c e d b y th e C e rt i fi cat i o n o f S e rv i c e , h i c h c e rti fi e s th at a c o p y w a s s e rv e d v i a e m ai l an d r e g ul ar m ai l t o D e fe n d ant s ' c o un s e l o n l y . 3 I n d e t e i n i ng wh e th e r an Ap p e ll ant h a s w a i v e d i s s u e s o n a p p e al b a s e d o n n o n - c o mp l i an c e w i th P a . . A. P . 1 9 2 5 , th e tri a l c o urt ' s o r d e r tri g g e r s Ap p e ll ant' s o b li g ati o n un d e r th e rul e . S e e I n re Es ta te 

### f

B oy le , 7 7 A . 3 d 6 7 4 , 6 7 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 13 ) . F ai l ur e t o c o mp l y w i th th e s e rv i c e r e qu i r e m nt s an d v e ri fi e d a dm i s s i o n o fr e c e i v i n g n o ti c e o f th e s am e h as b e e n fo un d s u ffi c i e nt t o fi n d w ai v r o f i s s u e s o n a p p e al . S e e F o res t H i g h la n d s C m ty. A s s ' n v. H a m m e r , 8 7 9 A . 2 d 2 2 3 � P a . S u p e . 2 0 0 5 ) . D e f e n d t s ' C o n ci s e S t ate m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l ai n e d o fo n Ap p e a l i s anyth i n g b ut c o n c i s e . A R u l e 1 9 2 (b ) " s tat e m e nt mu s t b e ' c o n c i s e ' an d c o h e r e nt a s t o p e rm i t th e tr i al c o urt t o

th e s pe ci fi c i s s u e s b e i n g r ai s e d o n a p p e a l. " Ji r ic ko v. G e i c o I n s . C o . , 9 4 7 A . 2 d 2 0 6 , 3T h e C o urt e rr e d i n e nt e ri n g j u d g m e nt a g a i n s t D e fe n d ant s G W o r l d , I n c . an d G e r a c e E nt e rp ri s e , I n c . b e c au s e a d d it i o n a l fa c t s w e r e e li c i t e d at tri a l b ut w e r e n o t m e nt i o n e d o r d i s c u s s e d i n th e C o urt ' s F i n d i n g s o f F a c t an d C o n cl u s i o n s o fL aw ; an d T h e C o urt e rr e d i n fi n d i n g th e f o rm at i o n o f an o r a l c o ntra c t b e tw e e n 

### th e p art i e s . D I S C U S S I O N h e d e c i s i o n o f th e tr i a l co urt i n a n o n - j ury tri a l w ill b e r e v e r s e d o n l y wh e r e th e tri a co urt h a s ab u s e d i t s di s c r e t i o n o r 

### i f i t s fi n di n g s ar e p r e m i s e d o n an e rr o r o f l aw . 

### A e r iko h l M

i n i ng C o . v. Pe o p les N a tura l G as C

o . , 8 6 0 A . 2 d 5 4 7 , 5 4 9 - 5 0 (P a . S u pe r . t. 2 0 0 4 ) . Th e tri a l c o urt d o e s n o t a b u s e i ts d i s c r e ti o n wh e r e th e r e i s a m e r e di ffe r e n e o f o p in i o n r e g ar d i n g an int e rp r e t at i o n o fth e f ac t s . 

### S e e V i e n e r v . J a c o b s, 8 3 4 A . d 5 4 6 , 5 5 6 (P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 0 3 . R ath e r , an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n i s f o un d o n l y i n fl a gr ant' c as e s wh e r e th e r e i s n o r e a s o n ab l e gr o un d fo r a d i ff e r e n c e o f o p i n i o n . 

### S

e e M i lle r v. K ru g , 3 8 6 A . 2 d 1 2 4 , 1 2 7 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 7 8 ) . Thu s , th e tri a l c o ' s fi n d i n g s ar e c o ntr o lli n g an d w i ll n o t b e r e v e r s e d un l e s s th o s e fi n d in g s ar e n o t a s e d u

p o n c o mp e t e nt e v i d e n c e . 

### Vi e n e r , 8 3 4 A . 2 d at 5 5 4 .

2 1 1 ( P a . u

pe r . 2 0 0 8 ) . Ap pe ll ant s ' S tate m e nt c o n s i s ts o f a r e c i t ati o n o f fa c t s i nt e rw o v e n w i th wh at th e r i a l C o urt c an o n l y d i s c e rn as p o s s i b l e e rr o r s . T h e r e fo r e , th e T ri a l C o urt h a s th o ro u g h ] r ea d thr o u g h D e fe n d ant s ' S t at e m e nt an d di s ce rn e d th e b as i s fo r Ap p e ll ant s ' a p pe al a s num e r at e a

b o v e . 4e nn s y l v an i a R u l e o f C i v i l P r o c e d

ur e l 0 3 8 s t at e s : " T h e d e c i s i o n o f th e tri a l j u d g e ay c o n s i s t o n l y 

### o fg e n e ra l fi n d i n g s a s t o a ll p art i e s b ut s h a ll d i s p o s e o f al l c l a i m s fo r r e li e f

. Th e tri a l j u d g e m ay i n cl u d e a s p art o f th e d e c i s i o n s p e c i fi c o f fa c t an d c o n cl u s i o n s o f l aw w i th a p p ro p ri at e d i s c u s s i o n . " Th e tri al c o urt , h e n h e ari n g a c as e w ith o ut a j ury , i s n o t r e qu i r e d t o s e p ar at e l y li s t s ub s i d i 

### ry an d an c i ll ary fa c t s t o s u p p o rt th e j u d g m e nt , b ut n e e d o n l y fi n d th e m at e r i a fa c t s c o ntr o l li n g i s s u e s r a i s e d . 

### S i nge r v. R e d

e v e lo p m e n t A u t

h. o f Ci ty o f O il Ci , 2 6 1 A . 2 d 5 9 4 , 6 0 2 ( P a . 1 9 7 0 ) , c i t i n g 

### F i r s t N a ti o n a l B a n k v. J

o n es ' E s t a te, 6 A . 2 d 7 3 ( P a . 1 9 3 9 ) . e fe n d ants ' a ll e g e d e rr o r b y th e T r i a l C o urt i n fa i l i n g t o i n c l u d e a d d i t i o n a l fa c t s e i c i t e d at tr i al b ut n o t i n cl u d e d i n th e C o urt ' s F i n d i n g s o f F a c t an d C o n cl u i o n s o fL aw i s w i th o ut m e ri t . Th e D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 F i n d i n g s o fF a c t an d C o n c lu i o n s o f

L aw i n cl u d e d m at e ri a l fa c t s r e l at e d t o th e D e ci s i o n i n th e c a s e . T h e urt n e ed n o t li s t e v e ry fa c t e l i c i t e d at tr i a l , o n l y th o s e m at e ri al fa c t s r e l at e d t o th e e c i s i o n i n th e c a s e . H e r e , th e T ri a l C o urt r e fe rr e d t o t e s t i m o ny th at w a s y b o th P l a i nt i ff an d M r . G e r a c e an d , a ft e r c o n s i d e ri n g a ll o f th e t e s t i m o ny an d e v i e n c e p r e s e nt e d at tri a l , th e un d e r s i gn e d Ju d g e c ar e fu ll y m a d e a d e ci s i o n b a s e d n th e w e i g ht o f th at t e s t i m o ny an d i n cl u d e d F i n d i n g s o f F a c t s an d C o n c l u s o n s o f L aw th at s u p p o rt e d s a i d d e c i s i o n .

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### in a b e n c h tr i a l , i s th e s o l e j u g e o f c r e d ib. i l i ty an d c o n fl ic t s i n th e e v i d e n c e . 

### S e e M i lle r v . B ra ss R a il T a v e rn I n c . , 7 0 2 A . 2 d 1 0 7 2 , 1 0 7 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 9 7 ) ; 

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e e a l s o M a c ka y v. M a c k a , 9 8 4 A . 2 d 5 2 9 , 5 3 3 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 0 9 ) ( " T h e w e i g ht af fo r d e d t o th e t e s t i m o 

### y o f th e w i tn e s s e s a s w e ll a s c r e d i b i l i ty d e t e rm i n at i o n s ar e w i th i n th e e x c lu s i e p r o v in ce o f

th e tri al 

### c o urt " ) . T h e r e f o r e , " [ t) h e fi n d i n g s o f fa c t o f th e tr i a l j u d g e u s t b e gi v e n th e s am e w e i g ht an d e ff e c t o n a p p e al a s th e v e r d i c t o f a j ury . " 

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, 8 6 0 A . 2 d at 5 4 9 - 5 0 . e T ri a l C o urt fo un d th at an o r a l c o ntr a c t e x i s t e d b e tw e e n th e p art i e s f o r hum an e s o ur ce s r e l at e d c o n s u l t i n g s e rv ic e s . 

### S e e D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 F i n d i n g s o f F a c t an C o n c lu s i o n s o f L aw , 

## 1 4 0 - 4 7 . Th i s fi n d i n g w a s b a s e d o n th e t e s t i m o ny an d e v d e n c e e l i c i te d at tri al . P l a i nt i ff t e s t i fi e d th at h e m e t 

### Mr . G e r a c e i n M ar c h/ p r il 2 0 1 3 t o d i s c u s s hum an r e s o ur c e s p o l i c i e s an d p r o c e d ur e s fo r Mr . G e r a c e s b u s i n e s s , b ut th e y d i d n o t d i s c u s s th e c o s t o f s a i d s e rv i c e s at th i s m e e t i n g . N . T. D c . 6 , 2 0 1 6 , p p . 1 3 , 1 8 . I n 

### M ay 2 0 1 3 , P l a i nt i ff p r e p ar e d a wri tt e n p r o p o s a l fo r M r . G e r a c e , wh i c h i n c l u d e d s u p p o rt fo r r e g u l at o ry p o s t e r s t o b e p l a c e d at l o c at i o s fo r 

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. Ge r a c e ' s b u s i n e s s , a n e w h i r e c h e c kl i s t fo r a ll n e w e mp l o y e e s , an d 

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### m anu a l. N . T . D e c . 6 , 2 0 1 6 , p p . 1 9 - 2 2 ; E xh i b i t P - 1 .

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s e rv i c e w o u l d c o s t T h i rty T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) . an d th at 

### Mr . G e r a c e a g r e e d . N . T . D e c . 6 , 2 0 1 6 , p p . 2 2 . 

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. N . T . D e c . 6 , 2 0 1 6 , p . 1 2 0 . H o w e v e r , P l a i nt i ff t e s t i fi e d th at h e p r o v i d 

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o r h i s s e rv i c e s . N . T . D c . 6 , 2 0 1 6 , p p . 3 1 - 3 2 . P l a i nt i ff furth e r t e s t i fi e d th at h e e m a i l e d Mr . G e r a c e o n mu t ip l e o c ca s i o n s a s ki n g fo r c o mp e n s at i o n , an d M r . G e r a c e e v e ntu a ll y r e s p o n e d s t at in g th at h e w a s " r e a l1 y t i e d u p " an d " t i e d u

p w i th y e ar e n d . " N . T . D e c . 6 , 2 0 1 6 , p p . 3 7 , 5 2 - 6 3 ; E xh i b i t P - 8 . 

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o un d th e t e s t i m o ny o f P l a i nt i ff t o b e c r e d i b l e . 

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## ,r 3 9 . Th e T r i a l C o urt rth e r fo un d th at P l a i nt i ff an d Mr
. G e r a c e a g r e e d u p o n s e rv i c e s t o b e 

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f s s e rv i c e s w o u l d tak e p l a c e at th e c o mp l e t i o n o f th e p r o j e c t b y 7P l a i nt i , an d P l a i nt i ff c o mp l e t e d th e a g r e e d u p o n w o rk fo r D e fe n d ant s . A c ti n g as th e tr i e o f fa c t i n th i s c a s e , th e un d e r s i g n e d Ju d g e l i s t e n e d t o th e t e s t i m o ny an d e v i d e n 

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8Circulated 10/31/2018 12:15 PM

IN T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F D E L AVVA RE C O U N T Y , P ENN S Y L VA

N I A C I V I L A C T I O N - L A W T H O M A S J . L YN C H

v . M I C H A E L G E RA C E , G W O RL D , IN C. , an d G E RA C E EN T E RP RI S E , IN C. N o . 1 5 - 10 9 2

K e v i n R. B o y l e , E s qu i r e - C o un s e l fo r Ap p e ll ant s /D e f e n d ant s M i c h e ll e H . B a d o l at o , E s qu i r e - C o un s e l fo r Ap p e ll ant s /D ef e n d ant s E ri c M atth e w H ur

w i tz , E s qu i r e - C o un s e l fo r Ap p e ll ant s /D e f e n d ant s D av i d A . Av e d i s s i an , E s qu i r e - C o un s el fo r C r o s s - Ap p e ll ant /P l a i nt i ff A N G E L O S , J . 

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a i l i n g to 

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### th e un d e r s i gn e d Ju d g e e nt e r ed a D e c i s i o n an d s u p p o rt i n g F in d i n g s o f F a c t s an d C o n c l u s i o n s o f L aw o n D e c e mb e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 7 i n fav o r o f P l a i nti ff a g a i n s t a ll D e fe n d ant s i n th e am o unt o f Th i rty Th o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) . P l a i nti ff fi l ed a 

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. 

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### F o il o w i n g s a i d h e ar in g , th e un d e r s i gn ed Ju d g e i s s u e d an Am e n d ed Or d e r o n Ap ri l 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 , fi n d i n g i n fav o r o f P l a i nt i ff an d a g a i n s t tw o d e fe n d ant s , G W o rl d I n c . an d G e r a c e E nt e rp ri s e , I n c . i n th e am o unt o .f T h i rty T h o u s an d D o ll ar s ( $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) p l us p r e

j u d gm e nt i nt e r e s t i n th e am o unt o f F i v e T h o u s an d E i ght H un dr e d T hi rty S e v e n D o ll ar s an d T w e l v e C e nt s ( $ 5 , 8 3 7 . 1 2 ) . I D e f e n d ants P o st - T ri a l M o t i o n w as w e ll p a s t th e 1 0 d a y p e ri od t o fil e a p o s t - tri al m o t i o n un d er P a . R . C . P . 2 2 7 . l ( c ) H o w e v e r , P l a i nt i f f' s Po s t - Tri a l M o t i o n o n D ec e mb e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 p r o v i d e d a c o v e r - p a g e th at i n co rre c t l y stat ed D e f e n d ants h a d tw e nty ( Z O ) d ay s t o r e s p o n d t o P l ai nt i ff' s p o s t tri aJ m o ti o n . Th e T ri al C o urt h a s b r o a d d i s c r e ti o n t o d i s m i s s an unti m e l y po s t - tr i al m o t i o n o r t o o v e r l o o k i t s unt i m e l i n e s s . S e e K e n n e l v. T h o m a s, 8 0 4 A. 2 d 6 6 7 , 6 6 8 -6 9 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 0 2 ) . D u e t o th e e rr o r o n th e co v e r - p a g e o f P l ai nti f f s p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n , th e T ri a l C o urt ex e rc i s e d i t s d i s c r e ti o n 

### an d c o n s i d e r e d th e m e r i t s o f

D e fe n d ant s p o s t - tri al m o ti o n ,

2T h e p art i e s fi l e d p o s t - tri a l m o t i o n s o n th e Ap r il 1 2 , 2 0 1 7 Am e n d e d O r d e r ,

wh i c h w e r e d e n i e d b y O r d e r o n Au gu s t 7 , 2 0 1 7 , d o c k e t e d Au gu s t 8 , 2 0 1 7 . P l ai nt i ff an d D e fe n d ant s e a c h fi l e d a N o t i c e o f Ap p e a l o n S e p t e mb e r 

### 6 , . 2 0 1 7 . Th e C o urt d i r e c t e d P l a i nt i ff an d D e fe n d ant s t o fi le . a C o n c i s e S t at e m e nt o f M att e r s C o mp l a i n e d 

### o f o n Ap pe a l p ur s u ant t o P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) o n S e p t e mb e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 . 

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### 1 9 2 5 ( b ) s t at e m e nt w i thi n tw e nty - o n e ( 2 1 ) day s an d fa i l e d t o s e rv e a c o p y o n th e c o urt' , a s p r e s c rib e d b y th e C o urt ' s S e p t e mb e r 8 , 2 0 1 7 O r d e r an d p ur s u ant t o P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) . 

### D I S C U S S I O N P ur s u ant t o P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) , a j u d g e e nt e ri n g an o r d e r g i v i n g r i s e t o a n o t i c e o f a

p p e a l " m ay e nt e r an o r d e r d i r e c t i n g th e a p p e ll ant t o fi l e o f r e c o r d i n th e tri a l c o urt an d s e rv e o n th e j u d g e a c o n c i s e s t at e m e nt o f th e e rr o r s c o mp l a i n e d o f o n a p p e a l. " Ap p e ll ant s mu s t c o mp l y wh e n a tri a l c o urt o r d e r s th e m t o fi l e a c o n ci s e s tat e m e nt an d any m att e r s n o t i n c lu d e d i n a t i m e l y fi l i n g ar e d e e m e d w a i v e d . 

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, 7 1 9 A . 2 d 3 0 6 , 3 0 9 ( P a . 1 9 9 8 ) . 3

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### 1 6 A .3 d 4 8 4 , 4 9 4 ( P a . 2 0 1 1 ) (h o l d i n g th at th e p ro v i s i o n s o f 1 9 2 5 ( b ) " ar e n o t s ub j e c t t o a d h o c e x c e p t i o n s o r s e l e c t i v e e n fo r ce m e nt " ) . I n d e t e rm i n i n g wh e th e r an Ap p e ll ant h a s w a i v e d h i s i s s u e s o n a p p e al b a s e d o n n o n - c o mp l i an c e w i th P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ,. i t i s th e tri a l c o urt ' s o r d e r th at tri g g e r s . a p p e ll ant ' s o b l i g at i o n un d e r th e ru l e . S e e I n re E s t a te o f 

### B o y le, 7 7 A .3 d 6 7 4 , 6 7 6 ( P a . S u p e r . 2 0 1 3 ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , th e l an gu a g e o f th e o r d e r s h o u l d b e e x am i n e d t o d e t e rm i n e wh e th e r th e c o urt c o mp l i e d w i th R u l e 1 9 2 5 . B e r

g v. N a t i o nw i d e M u tu a l 

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o m p a n y, I n c . , 

### 6 A .3 d 1 0 0 2 , 1 0 0 7 - 0 8 ( P a . 2 0 1 0 ) . H e r e , th e T ri a l C o urt ' s l 9 2 5 ( b ) o r d e r w a s c o n s i s t e nt w i th a ll th e r e qu i r e m e nt s o f P a . R . A . P . l 9 2 5 ( b ) ( 3 ) . T h e T ri a l C o urt s o r d e r s p e ci fi e d 

### (I ) th e numb e r o f d ay s w i th i n whi c h 4P l a i nti ff w a s t o fi l e a s t at e m e nt o f e rr o r s ; ( 2 ) th at th e ' s t at e m e nt mu s t b e fi l e d ; ( 3 )

th at th e s t at e m e nt mu s t b e s e rv e d o n th e c o urt ; an d ( 4 ) th at 

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, P a . R . A . P . 1 9 2 5 ( b ) ( 3 ) ( i ) - (i v ) ; 

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p .o n D e f e n d ant s ' c o un s e l , b ut n o t u p o n th e tri a l c o urt . 

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f s 1 0 /4 /1 7 1 9 2 5 (b ) S tate m e nt . 

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p p e a l , h e fa il e d t o fi l e 

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j e c t Ap p e al s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d .

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p e r . 2 0 0 5 ) ( fi n d i n g Ap p e ll ant' s fa i l ur e t o co mp l y wi th s e rv i c e r e qui r e m e nt s an d v e ri fi e d a dm i s s i o n t o r e c e i v i n g n o t i c e o f th e s am e su f

fi c i e nt t o fi n d w ai v e r) ; s e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h o f Pe n nsy lv a n i a v. $ 7 6 6 U S. C u rre n cy , 9 4 8 A . 2 d 9 1 2 , 9 1 5 ( P a . C o mmw . 2 0 0 8 ) ( h o l d i n g th at f ai l ur e t o s erv e a 1 9 2 5 ( b ) s t at e m e nt o n th e tr i a l c o urt j u d g e c o n s t i t ut e s a fa tal d e fe c t wh i c h r e s u l t s in th e w a i v e r o f i s s u e s 

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