Opinion ID: 1467926
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Petition to Open Judgment

Text: Appellants argue that the judgment should have been opened because they have a meritorious defense  that the bank breached its agreement to lend them enough money to renovate their home and attract student lessees. Ordinarily, three factors must be present for a court to open a default judgment: (1) the petition to open must be timely filed, (2) the failure to file a timely answer must be excused, and (3) the party seeking to open must have a meritorious defense. Maiorana v. Farmers & Merchants Bank, 319 Pa.Super. 338, 466 A.2d 188 (1983); Sines v. Packer, 316 Pa.Super. 500, 463 A.2d 475 (1983). By our reasoning in the first part of this opinion, Robert and Sybil Rapp had no excuse for their failure to respond to the mortgage complaint. They had notice of the pending action, and yet failed to file an appearance or do anything to answer the complaint. Appellants' request that we overturn the trial court's refusal to open must be denied. The order of the lower court denying the motion to opening judgment and dismissing the petition to strike is affirmed.