Case Name: Harry C. Erb, Inc. v. Shell Construction Co., Inc. et al., Appellants
Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1965-09-16
Citations: 206 Pa. Super. 388
Docket Number: Appeals, Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 10
Parties: Harry C. Erb, Inc. v. Shell Construction Co., Inc. et al., Appellants.
Judges: Before Ervin, P. J., Wright, Watkins, Montgomery, Flood, Jacobs, and Hoeeman, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports
Volume: 206
Pages: 388–390

Head Matter:
Harry C. Erb, Inc. v. Shell Construction Co., Inc. et al., Appellants.
September 16, 1965:
Argued June 15, 1965.
Before Ervin, P. J., Wright, Watkins, Montgomery, Flood, Jacobs, and Hoeeman, JJ.
Joseph €f. Manta, with him James M. Marsh, and LaBrum and Do ale, for appellants.
Stephen M. Feldman, with him Joseph C. Feldman, and Feldman é Feldman, for appellees.

Opinion:
Opinion by
Flood, J.,
This appeal is controlled by our decisions in Budde v. Sandler, 204 Pa. Superior Ct. 36, 201 A. 2d 247 (1964) , Fleisher v. Kaufman, 206 Pa. Superior Ct. 378, 212 A. 2d 846 (1965), and Madrid Motor Corporation v. Cashan, 206 Pa. Superior Ct. 383, 213 A. 2d 284 (1965) .
However, the instant case presents an additional issue which we deem advisable to consider here. It has been argued that it is unconstitutional and unfair to apply the rule of Budde and Fleisher retroactively to cases in which appeals were taken prior to the Budde decision. This argument fails because it erroneously equates retroactive application of a judicial decision interpreting an existing statute with retroactive legislation. Judicial construction of a statute becomes part of the legislation from the time of its enactment. Philadelphia v. Schaller, 148 Pa. Superior Ct. 276, 280, 25 A. 2d 406, 409 (1942).
With regard to the payment of costs the language of the Arbitration Act is clear and unambiguous. Certainly judicial construction of this statute is not necessary to constitute fair notice to appellants of the requirements of appealing.
Order and judgment affirmed.
Wright, J., dissents for the reasons set forth in his dissenting opinion in the case of Fleisher v. Kaufman, 206 Pa. Superior Ct. 378, 212 A. 2d 846 (1965).