Court Opinion

ID: 9516598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 23:46:47.275261+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:41:02.107865
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, Judge,
concurring.
I join the excellent Majority Opinion of our esteemed colleague, Judge Olszewski. I wish to emphasize, however, that the question of who may ultimately be responsible for the payment of Rule 238 delay damages in this case is not before this court at this time. The analysis of the proper assessment of delay damages by my distinguished colleague appears to go further than should be necessary to dispose of this appeal.
I join with the majority in acknowledging that, under Berry v. Anderson, 348 Pa.Super. 618, 502 A.2d 717 (1986), a defendant must offer all assets that she or he has available for payment in order to escape liability for delay damages. It is also clear, as Judge Olszewski points out, that whether defendant has tendered all available assets is determined by the trial judge at an evidentiary hearing.
*153In this case, the trial judge found that Tarasovich had personal assets which he transferred to his son for nominal consideration after the accident. I agree with the majority that, on these facts alone, Tarasovich cannot seek the protection which Berry provides impecunious defendants. Since this is sufficient to decide the issue of Tarasovich’s liability for delay damages, I would refrain, at this time, from reviewing his arguments concerning whether the insurance company, during its negotiations on Tarasovich’s behalf, offered the policy limits under Tarasovich’s insurance policy and whether an offer of less than full policy limits has any effect on the liability of the insured to the injured plaintiffs. Majority op., at 308-309.