Opinion ID: 1989304
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged Inadequacy of Property Description in Handbills

Text: Braunstein next contends that the vague description of the personal property to be sold as set forth in the handbills of the Sheriff of Allegheny County warranted setting aside the sale, or the issuance of a rule to show cause why the sale should not be set aside, because it detracted prospective bidders. Braunstein argues that a vague description is equal to or worse than a misdescription. Misdescription of the property to be sold at a sheriff's sale may be grounds for setting aside the sale if the property is `misdescribed' in some material respect. Calhoun v. Commercial Credit Corp., 151 Pa.Super. 589, 591, 30 A.2d 735, 736 (1943) (emphasis added). It is conceivable that descriptions of property in sheriff's sale handbills, in particular cases, could be so vague as to achieve the same effect as a material misdescription in detracting potential bidders. Nonetheless, as with alleged misdescription, the burden would remain upon the applicant to establish by clear evidence that the alleged under -description was material. Cf. Bornman v. Gordon, supra ; Calhoun v. Commercial Credit Corp., supra . Instantly, Braunstein has failed to show that the description of the personal property actually deterred prospective bidders. The Corporation, in its reply to Braunstein's motion to set aside the Sheriff's sale, states that the Sheriff's Levy specifically listed approximately 21 items and also referred to all other personal property of the Defendant. (Reply to Motion to Set Aside Sheriff's Sale, filed 2/16/88). This assertion has not been contested by Braunstein. As with the prior claim, Braunstein has failed to demonstrate that his bare assertion of prejudice has any basis in fact. Hence, we find the claim to be without merit.