J-A17016-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

EVERGREEN MANAGEMENT GROUP INC., IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee

v.

COMMERCIAL SNOW & ICE, LLC,

Appellant No. 3486 EDA 2014

Appeal from the Order Entered November 7, 2014

In the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County

Civil Division at No(s): 2012-04425

WILLIAM SMITH, SR. AND EVERGREEN 

MANAGEMENT GROUP INC.,

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

Appellant

v.

BRIAN HEMPHILL AND COMMERCIAL 

SNOW & ICE, LLC,

Appellee No. 3489 EDA 2014

Appeal from the Order Entered November 14, 2014

In the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County

Civil Division at No(s): 2012-04425

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and OTT, J.

MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED JULY 17, 2015

Commercial Snow & Ice, LLC (hereinafter “Commercial”), appeals from 

the trial court’s November 7, 2014 order denying its motion for a new trial.1 

____________________________________________

1 Commercial’s appeal is docketed at 3486 EDA 2014.
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Additionally, William Smith, Sr. and Evergreen Management Group Inc. 

(hereinafter “Evergreen”), appeal from the trial court’s November 14, 2014 

order denying Evergreen’s petition for attorney’s fees.2 We consolidated 

these two appeals by per curiam order dated March 6, 2015. After careful 

review, we affirm both orders at issue in this case.

In an opinion dated June 27, 2014, the trial court set forth detailed 

factual findings and conclusions of law, which we summarize, as follows. In 

November of 2010, Commercial and Evergreen entered a contract pursuant 

to which Evergreen agreed to act as Commercial’s sub-contractor for snow 

and ice removal at Stella Maris Church and two Acme Supermarket locations 

in Philadelphia. From late December of 2010 through late February of 2011, 

Evergreen performed snow and ice removal services at those locations when 

dispatched by Commercial. Based on that service, Evergreen submitted 47 

invoices to Commercial, 20 of which Commercial paid and 27 of which 

remained outstanding. 

In May of 2012, Evergreen filed a complaint against Commercial 

seeking payment of the 27 outstanding invoices. The case was heard by an 

arbitration panel and, on July 29, 2013, Evergreen was awarded judgment in 

the amount of $15,670.40, plus interest in the amount of $2,750.00, 

totaling $18,420.40. Commercial appealed to the Court of Common Pleas of 

____________________________________________

2 Evergreen’s appeal is docketed at 3489 EDA 2014.
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Chester County. After a bench trial, the court found in favor of Evergreen 

and awarded it $16,045.40, plus interest. On August 19, 2014, judgment 

was entered in favor of Evergreen.

Thereafter, and with the trial court’s permission, Commercial filed a 

nunc pro tunc motion for a new trial. Commercial alleged that the court

erred by precluding it from presenting witnesses to testify as to William 

Smith’s (principal for Evergreen) reputation for truthfulness or 

untruthfulness. On November 7, 2014, the trial court issued an order 

denying Commercial’s motion, and it filed a timely notice of appeal. Herein, 

Commercial raises one issue for our review: “Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt 

erred in excluding character witness testimony regarding the reputation of 

William Smith for truthfulness or untruthfulness as authorized by Rule 608 of 

the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence?” Commercial’s Brief at 5.

We also have before us a timely appeal from Evergreen, stemming 

from the trial court’s November 14, 2014 denial of Evergreen’s petition for 

attorney’s fees. Herein, Evergreen solely argues that the court erred by 

denying that petition. 

We will now address both parties’ claims, beginning with Commercial’s 

assertion that the court erred by denying its motion for a new trial. 

Commercial argues that it is entitled to a new trial because the court 

improperly excluded character testimony by two witnesses pertaining to 

William Smith’s reputation for dishonesty. In support of its claim that such 
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evidence was admissible, Commercial relies on several Pennsylvania Rules of 

Evidence, namely Rule 608(a), which states: 

(a) Reputation Evidence. A witness's credibility may be 

attacked or supported by testimony about the witness's 

reputation for having a character for truthfulness or 

untruthfulness. But evidence of truthful character is admissible 

only after the witness's character for truthfulness has been 

attacked. Opinion testimony about the witness's character for 

truthfulness or untruthfulness is not admissible.

Pa.R.E. 608(a). 

In assessing Commercial’s claim, we initially note that: 

Our standard of review of the denial of a motion for a new trial is 

whether the trial court committed an error of law or an abuse of 

discretion that controlled the outcome of the case. Randt v. 

Abex Corp., 448 Pa. Super. 224, 671 A.2d 228, 232 (1996). 

Our standard of review for evidentiary rulings by the trial court is 

very narrow. Gemini Equipment v. Pennsy Supply, 407 Pa. 

Super. 404, 595 A.2d 1211, 1215 (1991). In general, we may 

reverse only for an abuse of discretion or an error of law. Id.

Cruz v. Northeastern Hosp., 801 A.2d 602, 610 (Pa. Super. 2002).

Here, in its order denying Commercial’s motion for a new trial, the 

court explained its rationale for doing so, as follows:

The court was surprised by [Commercial’s] proffer [of 

character witnesses] and resorted to a quick perusal of Ohlbaum 

on the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence. Ultimately, the court 

decided not to allow the testimony. In the back of the court’s 

mind was the likelihood of confusion of the issues and a concern 

over the waste of the court’s and parties’ time[,] as this action 

had already taken more trial time than the parties had 

anticipated, requiring the court to schedule additional days for 

completion of the trial. See [Pa.R.E.] 403[] ... (stating “although 

relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is 

outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the 

issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue 
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delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative 

evidence.[”]) Furthermore, the court considered [that] the 

proffer was for a relatively low grade of evidence. There being 

no jury, the court decided that it was fully capable of assessing 

credibility for itself for the purposes of this trial.

Even had the two witnesses described the reputation for

untruthfulness of [William Smith] as the worst pathological 

scarlet-red liar in the hemisphere, the court is confident that it 

would not have decided the case differently. The reason is that 

this case turned on the credibility of [Commercial’s] principal, 

[Brian] Hemphill, not on that of [William Smith].

The parties agreed that [Evergreen] had generated 47 

invoices for its services, of which 20 were paid by [Commercial] 

and 27 remained outstanding. The focus then became on the 

reasons [f]or non-payment. The court discussed how 

[Commercial’s] three asserted reasons [for non-payment] were 

unavailing in its [d]ecision [issued on June 27, 2014], pp. 6-8. 

It was likewise the testimony of [Brian Hemphill], or lack 

thereof, which caused the court to find against [Commercial] on 

its counterclaims[.] (Decision, p. 8).

[Commercial], in its Motion for a New Trial, and 

accompanying Memorandum, cites not one case in support of its 

position. The record adequately supports the trial court’s 

reasons for its decision. Nor can it be argued that the trial court 

abused its discretion, nor that harm was ineluctably and 

prejudicially inflicted upon [Commercial] by the exclusion of 

these two witnesses. See Harman ex rel. Harman v. Borah, 

562 Pa. 455, 756 A.2d 1116, 1122 (2000) (holding “[a] new trial 

is not warranted merely because some irregularity occurred 

during the trial or another trial judge would have ruled 

differently; the moving party must demonstrate to the trial court 

that he or she has suffered prejudice from the mistake.”) 

Trial Court Order, 11/7/14, at 1-2 n.1 (unpaginated).

Based on the court’s discussion, we ascertain no abuse of discretion in 

its decision to deny Commercial’s request for a new trial. Most notably, the 

court concluded that the case hinged on the credibility of Brian Hemphill, 

Commercial’s principal, and not on the credibility of William Smith. Thus, we 
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agree with the court that Commercial failed to establish that it was 

prejudiced by the omission of character testimony regarding Smith’s 

reputation for untruthfulness. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s 

November 7, 2014 order denying Commercial’s motion for a new trial.

Next, we assess Evergreen’s claim that the trial court erred by denying 

its petition for attorney’s fees. 

The trial court may, upon motion, require a party to pay another 

participant's counsel fees if the party's conduct in commencing 

the action was arbitrary, vexatious or in bad faith. Santillo v. 

Robinson, 383 Pa. Super. 604, 557 A.2d 416 (1989); Brenckle 

v. Arblaster, 320 Pa. Super. 87, 466 A.2d 1075 (1983); 42 

Pa.C.S.A. § 2503. However, the intent of the rule permitting the 

recovery of counsel fees is not to punish all of those who initiate 

actions which ultimately fail, as such a course of action would 

have a chilling effect upon the right to raise a claim. Santillo v. 

Robinson, supra. Rather, the aim of the rule is to sanction 

those who knowingly raise, in bad faith, frivolous claims which 

have no reasonable possibility of success, for the purpose of 

harassing, obstructing or delaying the opposing party. See

Brenckle v. Arblaster, supra. Upon review, the denial of a 

request for counsel fees is a matter within the sound discretion 

of the trial court and will be reversed on appeal only when there 

is a clear abuse of that discretion. Szillery v. Wheaton, 382 Pa. 

Super. 394, 555 A.2d 237 (1989); American Mut. Liability 

Ins. v. Zion and Klein, 339 Pa. Super. 475, 489 A.2d 259 

(1985).

Dooley v. Rubin, 618 A.2d 1014, 1018 (Pa. Super. 1993).

Evergreen maintains that attorney’s fees were warranted under 

Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1 and 42 Pa.C.S. § 2503(7) and/or (9). First, Rule 1023.1 

states, in pertinent part:

(c) The signature of an attorney or pro se party constitutes a 

certificate that the signatory has read the pleading, motion, or 

other paper. By signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating 
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such a document, the attorney or pro se party certifies that, to

the best of that person's knowledge, information and belief, 

formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances,

(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, 

such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or 

needless increase in the cost of litigation,

(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions 

therein are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous 

argument for the extension, modification or reversal of 

existing law or the establishment of new law,

(3) the factual allegations have evidentiary support or, if 

specifically so identified, are likely to have evidentiary 

support after a reasonable opportunity for further 

investigation or discovery; and

(4) the denials of factual allegations are warranted on the 

evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably 

based on a lack of information or belief.

(d) If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the 

court determines that subdivision (c) has been violated, the 

court may, subject to the conditions stated in Rules 1023.2 

through 1023.4, impose an appropriate sanction upon any 

attorneys, law firms and parties that have violated subdivision 

(c) or are responsible for the violation.

Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(c), (d). 

Additionally, the at-issue portions of section 2503 state:

The following participants shall be entitled to a reasonable 

counsel fee as part of the taxable costs of the matter:

***

(7) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees as a sanction 

against another participant for dilatory, obdurate or vexatious 

conduct during the pendency of a matter. 

***

(9) Any participant who is awarded counsel fees because the 

conduct of another party in commencing the matter or otherwise 

was arbitrary, vexatious or in bad faith. 
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42 Pa.C.S. § 2503(7), (9). In discussing section 2503(7) and (9), this Court 

recently stated:

A suit is vexatious, such as would support an award of counsel 

fees, if it is brought without legal or factual grounds and if the 

action served the sole purpose of causing annoyance. In re the 

Barnes Foundation, 74 A.3d 129 (Pa. Super. 2013) 

(interpreting 42 Pa.C.S. § 2503(7)). “Behavior that protracts 

litigation may nonetheless not rise to the level of obdurate, 

vexatious and dilatory conduct within the meaning of the 

statute.” 17 West's Pa. Prac., Family Law § 13:2 (7th ed.) (citing 

Gardner v. Gardner, 371 Pa. Super. 256, 538 A.2d 4 (1988)). 

Section 2503(9) serves not to punish all those who initiate legal 

actions that are not ultimately successful, or which may seek to 

develop novel theories in the law, as such a rule would have a 

chilling effect on the right to bring suit for real legal harms 

suffered. Rather, the statute focuses attention on the conduct of 

the party from whom counsel fees are sought and on the relative 

merits of that party's claims.

Dong Yuan Chen v. Saidi, 100 A.3d 587, 592 (Pa. Super. 2014) (some 

citations omitted).

Here, Evergreen claims that attorney’s fees are appropriate under Rule 

1023.1 and/or section 2503 for several reasons. For instance, it maintains 

that Commercial “signed verifications of facts which were found to be 

untrue.” Evergreen’s Brief at 27. It also avers that Commercial’s principal, 

Brian Hemphill, committed perjury at trial. Finally, Evergreen contends that 

Commercial’s counterclaims “were not warranted by existing law[,] ... had no 

evidentiary support,” and “were being presented for the improper purpose of 

delay, [to] harass and to needlessly increase the cost of litigation.” 

Evergreen’s Brief at 27. 
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The trial court found Evergreen’s arguments in support of attorney’s 

fees unconvincing, and we agree. First, while it is true that the court did not 

credit Brian Hemphill’s testimony, the court did not consider it as amounting 

to perjury. See Trial Court Opinion, 1/5/15, at 1 (“Evergreen continues in 

the use of the same sort of hyperbole its counsel engaged in at trial, such 

[as] declaring Commercial[’s] ... principal, Mr. Hemphill, as a ‘fabricator’ and 

a ‘perjurer[.’] The court did not see it that way.”). Additionally, in regard to 

Commercial’s counterclaims, the court explained:

The court sat through three hearing days listening to [this] 

dispute. Having practiced trial law for 34 years before attaining 

the bench, and in the three years since, the court believes it 

knows a frivolous case when it sees it. The defense of this case 

was not frivolous; neither was it arbitrary or vexatious. The 

court draws a necessary distinction between an unsuccessful 

defense and one that is merely frivolous and interposed for 

delay. Indeed, the defense had some chance of success. The 

counterclaims, one for breach of contract and the other for 

tortious interference with contractual relations, were dubious in 

retrospect. Had [Commercial] but remembered to bring [its] 

documentary evidence to trial, [it] might have fared better.

[Commercial’s] counsel was [also] no dilettante. Lawrence 

E. Wood, Jr., Esquire is an esteemed member of the trial bar as 

well as a former judge who spent a quarter-century on this 

bench. He is a quiet and reflective individual, and the last 

person to engage in baseless litigation. The court cannot ignore 

these facts when deliberating on this request for sanctions. The 

court believes that [Commercial] did no more than carry out its 

claim to conclusion.

[Evergreen] is to be blamed for naming [Commercial’s] 

principal, Brian Hemphill, as an individual party defendant 

through the end of trial, for no reason apparent to the court. 

This could well rise to the level of obdurate conduct. 

In sum, [Commercial’s] actions were not sufficiently 

sinister to support an award of attorney’s fees.
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Trial Court Order, 11/14/14, at 6 n.1 (emphasis omitted). The court’s 

reasoned discussion is sufficient to demonstrate that the court did not abuse 

its discretion in denying Evergreen’s petition for counsel fees.3

____________________________________________

3 Before concluding, we note that Commercial filed a petition with this Court 

requesting that we allocate to Evergreen the cost of copying the reproduced 

record ($682.50 in total). The following portion of Pennsylvania Rule of 

Appellate Procedure 2154 is pertinent to Commercial’s request:

(a) General rule.--Except when the appellant has elected to 

proceed under Subdivision (b) of this rule, or as otherwise 

provided in Subdivision (c) of this rule, the appellant shall not 

later than 30 days before the date fixed by or pursuant to Rule 

2185 (service and filing of briefs) for the filing of his or her brief, 

serve and file a designation of the parts of the record which he 

or she intends to reproduce and a brief statement of issues 

which he or she intends to present for review. If the appellee 

deems it necessary to direct the particular attention of the court 

to parts of the record not designated by the appellant, the 

appellee shall, within ten days after receipt of the designations of 

the appellant, serve and file a designation of those parts. The 

appellant shall include in the reproduced record the parts thus 

designated. In designating parts of the record for 

reproduction, the parties shall have regard for the fact 

that the entire record is always available to the court for 

reference and examination and shall not engage in 

unnecessary designation.

Pa.R.A.P. 2154(a) (emphasis added). Commercial claims that Evergreen did 

not “have regard for the fact that the entire record is always available,” id., 

and improperly requested that Commercial include superfluous documents in 

reproducing the record, causing unnecessary photocopying costs to 

Commercial. Thus, Commercial requests that we allocate the entire cost of 

the reproduced record to Evergreen.

We decline to do so. Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 

2155(b) states that “if either party shall cause material to be included in the 

reproduced record unnecessarily, the appellate court may on application 

filed within ten days after the last brief is filed, in its order disposing of 

(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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Order affirmed in the case docketed at 3486 EDA 2014. Order 

affirmed in the case docketed at 3489 EDA 2014. 

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 7/17/2015

(Footnote Continued) _______________________

the appeal impose the cost of reproducing such parts on the designating 

party.” Pa.R.A.P. 2155(b) (emphasis added). Here, our docket indicates 

that the last brief (Commercial’s reply brief) was filed on May 21, 2015. 

Commercial’s instant request that the cost of reproducing the record be 

allocated to Evergreen was not filed until June 24, 2015, well beyond the 

ten-day requirement of Rule 2155(b). Accordingly, we deny Commercial’s 

request for costs.