Court Opinion

ID: 4522469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-03 17:10:41.235956+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:00.781178
License: Public Domain

J-S08031-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    FREDERICK W. KARASH,                       :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :      No. 1084 WDA 2019

         Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered June 24, 2019
                  in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-25-SA-0000091-2016

BEFORE: OLSON, J., McCAFFERY, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                               FILED APRIL 3, 2020

        Frederick W. Karash (“Karash”) appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered following his citation for having an insufficient number of personal

flotation devices aboard his boat.1 After review, we conclude that this case

falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court. Therefore,

we transfer this appeal to the Commonwealth Court.

        In a prior appeal, an en banc panel of this Court summarized the history

underlying the instant appeal as follows:

        On May 23, 2016, Waterways Conservation Officer (WCO) James
        Smolko observed people fishing from [Karash’s] boat while on
        patrol on Lake Erie. After confirming the individuals’ compliance
        with fishing license requirements, WCO Smolko conducted a
        safety inspection of [Karash’s] boat. WCO Smolko determined
        that there were an insufficient number of personal flotation
        devices aboard the vessel. He cited [Karash] for violating 30
        Pa.C.S.A. § 5123(a)(5). WCO Smolko provided an additional
____________________________________________

1   See 30 Pa.C.S.A. § 5123(a)(5).
J-S08031-20

     personal flotation device and permitted [Karash] to continue
     boating.

           … On June 23, 2016, a magisterial district judge found
     [Karash] guilty of the charged offense. [Karash] filed a timely
     [N]otice of [A]ppeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County.
     Prior to the trial de novo, [Karash] filed a suppression Motion
     arguing that the stop constituted an unreasonable search and
     seizure under the federal and state constitutions.

            The trial court conducted a combined suppression hearing
     and trial de novo on September 9, 2016. The trial court denied
     [Karash’s] suppression [M]otion, found him guilty, and sentenced
     him to a $75.00 fine. [Karash] timely filed a [N]otice of [A]ppeal
     to this Court. A divided three-judge panel reversed [Karash’s]
     conviction and found that the stop violated [Karash’s]
     constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches and
     seizures. Thereafter, this Court granted the Commonwealth’s
     reargument [P]etition and vacated the three-judge panel’s
     decision. [Karash], who previously [had] appeared pro se, was
     represented by counsel for our en banc proceedings. Moreover,
     amici curiae filed briefs in support of the Commonwealth and
     participated in oral argument.

Commonwealth v. Karash, 192 A.3d 285 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en banc)

(unpublished memorandum at 1-2).

     Before the en banc Court, Karash challenged the denial of his

suppression Motion. Id. (unpublished memorandum at 3). Concluding that

deficiencies in the record precluded review, the en banc Court vacated

Karash’s judgment of sentence and remanded for a new suppression hearing

so that a record could be developed on the issues. Id. (unpublished

memorandum at 4-5).     However, in so holding, this Court pointed out that

the Commonwealth Court has jurisdiction over such appeals:

     Jurisdiction over this appeal properly lies with the Commonwealth
     Court. See 42 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 762(a)(2)(i) (“[T]he Commonwealth

                                   -2-
J-S08031-20

       Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of appeals from final orders
       of the courts of common pleas … [for] … [a]ll criminal actions or
       proceedings for the violation of any … [r]ule, regulation or order
       of any Commonwealth agency[.]”). However, this Court has the
       authority to assume jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant
       to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 741(a).[2]           We
       caution the parties, however, that we may transfer any
       future appeal in this case to the Commonwealth Court.

Karash, 192 A.3d 285 (Pa. Super. 2018) (unpublished memorandum at 5

n.1) (emphasis and footnote added). Notwithstanding, the instant appeal was

filed in the Superior Court.

       The Commonwealth Court has expertise in the law regarding the state

agencies involved in this case.         Additionally, we seek to avoid the risk of

establishing conflicting lines of authority between this Court and the

Commonwealth          Court.        Consequently,    we    deem     it   necessary

to transfer Karash’s appeal to the Commonwealth Court for disposition.

       Case transferred to the Commonwealth Court.                Superior Court

jurisdiction relinquished.

____________________________________________

2Rule 741 provides, in relevant part, that the failure of an appellee “to file an
objection to the jurisdiction of an appellate court on or prior to the last day
under these rules for the filing of the record shall, unless the appellate court
shall otherwise order, operate to perfect the appellate jurisdiction of such
appellate court, notwithstanding any provision of law vesting jurisdiction of
such appeal in another appellate court.” Pa.R.A.P. 741(a).

                                           -3-
J-S08031-20

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/3/2020

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