Court Opinion

ID: 4296388
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-20 19:51:30.163022+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:39:46.953138
License: Public Domain

J-A03005-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

RUSSELL BERTINO                         :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                        :        PENNSYLVANIA
                  Appellant             :
                                        :
             v.                         :
                                        :
MICHELLE CLARK DOUGHERTY                :
                                        :
                  Appellee              :         No. 2150 EDA 2016

                      Appeal from the Order June 22, 2016
            In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
                Civil Division at No(s): 01793 Feb. Term, 2016

BEFORE:    GANTMAN, P.J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and PLATT*, J.

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.:                                 Filed July 20, 2018

     Appellant, Russell Bertino, appeals from the order entered in the

Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which sustained the preliminary

objections of Appellee, Michelle Clark Dougherty, and dismissed Appellant’s

complaint in this Mechanics’ Lien enforcement action. We affirm.

     The trial court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant facts and

procedural history. Therefore, we have no need to restate them.

     Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

          DID [APPELLEE]’S PAYMENT OF $61,000 INTO COURT AND
          DISCHARGE OF [THE] MECHANICS’ LIEN ON JANUARY 29,
          2016, PURSUANT TO 49 P.S. [§] 1510 RESULT IN THE
          WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO FILE PRELIMINARY
          OBJECTIONS TO [APPELLANT]’S COMPLAINT ON APRIL 22,
          2016 FOR IMPROPER SERVICE?

          DID [APPELLEE], BY [HER] ATTORNEYS, WAIVE SERVICE
          OF [APPELLANT’S] MECHANICS’ LIEN CLAIM BY ITS
          ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THIS CASE?
____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-A03005-18

          DID THE COURT ERR IN [SUSTAINING] [APPELLEE’S]
          PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS DISMISSING [APPELLANT]’S
          COMPLAINT WHERE AN AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE WAS
          FILED ON JANUARY 26, 2016, WITHIN 50 DAYS AFTER
          FILING OF THE MECHANICS’ LIEN AND WHERE [APPELLEE]
          HAD RECEIVED USPS NOTICE ON JANUARY 22, 2016?

          DID THE COURT ERR IN FINDING THAT [APPELLANT]’S
          AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE ON JANUARY 26, 2016, DATED
          DECEMBER 22, 2015, WAS UNTIMELY REGARDING
          SERVICE ATTEMPTS BY MAIL PURSUANT TO PA.R.C.P. 403,
          ET SEQ., AND 404?

          DID [APPELLANT] SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLY WITH 49 P.S.
          [§] 1502 AND PA.R.C.P. 404, WHERE THESE PROVISIONS
          ARE INCONSISTENT WITH EACH OTHER AND [APPELLEE]
          RECEIVED ACTUAL NOTICE AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED
          IN THE CLAIM?

(Appellant’s Brief at 6-7).1

       After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the

applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Abbe F.

Fletman, we conclude Appellant’s issues merit no relief. The trial court fully

discusses and properly disposes of the questions presented.        (See Trial

Court Opinion, filed July 31, 2017, at 1-7) (finding: (issues 2-4) Appellant’s

December 2015 attempts at service of notice of mechanics’ lien initially via
____________________________________________

1 “Issues not raised in the [trial] court are waived and cannot be raised for
the first time on appeal.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(a). Also, issues not raised in a Rule
1925 concise statement of errors will be deemed waived. Linde v. Linde
Enterprises, Inc., 118 A.3d 422, 430 (Pa.Super. 2015), appeal denied, 634
Pa. 736, 129 A.3d 1243 (2015). Here, Appellant raises for the first time on
appeal his claim that 49 P.S. § 1502 and Pa.R.C.P. 404 are in conflict.
Therefore, to the extent Appellant raises this issue on appeal, it is waived.
See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a); Linde, supra.

                                           -2-
J-A03005-18

regular   mail   and   then   via   certified   mail,   return   receipt   requested,

respectively, were insufficient; certified mail to Appellee was returned

“unclaimed”; Appellant’s initial attempt at service via regular mail was

improper under Pa.R.C.P. 403; Appellant also could not alternatively serve

Appellee via regular mail, because Pa.R.C.P. 403 permits service via regular

mail only after service was attempted via certified mail and is returned as

“refused,” not as “unclaimed”; further, Appellant filed his January 26, 2016

affidavit of service more than 20 days after his December 2015 service

attempts, in violation of Mechanics’ Lien Law, 49 P.S. § 1502(a)(1); (issue

5) doctrine of substantial compliance in mechanics’ lien cases applies only

where notice of mechanics’ lien was properly served; Appellant’s service of

notice of mechanics’ lien upon Appellee was untimely and technically

deficient; even if court had applied doctrine of substantial compliance, there

is no evidence Appellee received notice of mechanics’ lien; (issue 1) trial

court lacked jurisdiction, because Appellant failed to effectuate proper

service on Appellee of notice of mechanics’ lien; that Appellee eventually

became aware of lien does not negate Appellant’s failure to effectuate proper

service of lien). The record supports the trial court’s decision. Accordingly,

we affirm on the basis of the trial court’s opinion.

      Order affirmed.

                                        -3-
J-A03005-18

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 7/20/2018

                          -4-
                                                                                                           Circulated 06/26/2018 02:26 PM

             IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY FIRST JUDICIAL
                                 DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                                                    TRIAL DIVISION             - CIVIL
            BERTINO
                                                                                   FEBRUARY TERM, 2016
                                                                                   NO. 01793
                    V,
                                                                                   2150 EDA 2016                   411   -:

           CLARK-DOUGHERTY

                                                                    OPINION

                   This appeal arises from an order this Court entered on June 20, 2016, sustaining the                       (1..?

           preliminary objections of defendant Michelle Clark-Dougherty to plaintiff Russel Bertino's

           complaint to enforce a mechanics' lien and striking the mechanics' lien claim in its entirety. Mr.

           Bertino filed a timely appeal to the Superior Court on July 7, 2016, arguing that this Court

           committed an error of law and/or abused its discretion in sustaining Ms. Clark-Dougherty's

           preliminary objections. The Court committed no error nor abused its discretion in entering its

           June 20, 2016 order, and respectfully requests that the Superior Court affirm its decision for the

           reasons set forth in this opinion,

                                                                     FACTS

                   On February 11, 2016, Mr. Bertino filed the underlying complaint (the "Complaint"),

           seeking to enforce a mechanics' lien on property located at 219 Moore Street, Philadelphia, PA

           19148 ("the Property"). Complaint at ¶ 4. Mr. Bertino alleged that Ms. Clark-Dougherty, the

           owner of the Property, hired him to conduct renovations. Id. at113-5. Ms. Clark-Dougherty was

           allegedly to pay Mr. Bertino "for general contractor services as well as time and material

           furnished by him and his subcontractors plus 2% of profits from the sale of the property when

           sold due at the time of settlement." Id. at ¶ 6.

                                                                                    Bert no Vs Clark-Dougherty-OPFLD

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          Mr. Bertino alleged that starting on December 5, 2014, he began work on the Property

and stopped on July 3, 2015. Id. at 118-9. Mr. Bertino claims that. Ms. Clark -Dougherty initially

paid Mr, Bertino through PayPal but subsequently filed claims disputing the costs and

withdrawing all payments. Id at 1110. Mr. Bertino claims that Ms. Clark -Dougherty still owes

him payments for his materials and services. Id. Mr. Bertino further alleges that Ms. Clark -

Dougherty entered into an agreement for sale of the Property with settlement set for December

 17, 2015. Id. at   1I   11.

          Mr. Bertino filed a mechanics' lien' against the Property on December 16, 2015, after

sending notice of his intent to file the lien on the same day. Id at 1112-13. On January 26, 2016,

Mr. Bertino filed an affidavit of service in the mechanics' lien matter, swearing that Ms. Clark -

Dougherty was served at a California address by regular mail on December 18, ims,, and by

certified mail, return receipt requested on December 21, 2015. See Affidavit of Service dated

January 26, 2016, Bertino      v.   Clark-Dougherty, December Term, 2015, No. M0004. The affidavit

was signed on December 22, 2015. Id. On February 8, 2016, Mr. Bertino filed another affidavit

of service in the mechanics' lien matter. See Affidavit of Service dated February 8, 2016, Bertino

v.    Clark-Dougherty, December Term,       -2:0-1   No. M0004, In the second affidavit, Mr. Bertino's

lawyer verified that the certified mail to the California address was returned "unclaimed." Id. Mr.

Bertino's lawyer further verified that a copy of the mechanics' lien was sent to the same

California address on February 8, 2016. Id. Mr. Bertino also claims to have served Ms. Clark -

Dougherty by email as early as December 16, 2615. Mr. Bertino's response to Ms. Clark -

Dougherty' s Preliminary Objections, dated May 12 2016, at 14 (the "Response to Preliminary

Objections").

     December Term, 2015 No. M0004.
                                                        2
       On January 28, 2016, Ms. Clark -Dougherty filed an emergency motion to release the

mechanics' lien, which the Court granted, allowing Ms. Clark -Dougherty to deposit $61,000 into

escrow with the Court and discharge the lien against the Property. See Order of the Honorable

Judge Carpenter, dated July 29, 2016, Bertino      v.   Clark-Dougherty, December Tenn, 2015, No.

M0004.

       On April 22, 2016, Ms. Clark -Dougherty filed preliminary objections to Mr. Bertino's

complaint, arguing that the complaint should be dismissed because Mr. Bertino failed to properly

serve notice of the mechanics' lien. Ms. Clark -Dougherty' s Preliminary Objections, dated April

22, 2016 ("the Preliminary Objections") at ¶ 9. Mr. Bertino responded to the preliminary

objections on May 12, 2016. After review, this Court sustained the preliminary objections and

dismissed the Complaint by order of June 20, 2016. Mr. Bertino timely appealed the order to the

Superior Court and filed a Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P.

1925(b), dated August   1,   2016 ("Appellant's Statement").

                                              DISCUSSION

       On appeal, Mr. Bertino argues that the Court committed an error of law and/or abused its

discretion in sustaining the preliminary objections, Appellant's Statement at ¶ 3. Mr. Bertino

argues that Ms. Clark -Dougherty had actual notice of the mechanics' lien within the time frame

required by statute and therefore was not prejudiced. Id. Mr. Bertino further argues that because

he took steps to ensure that Ms. Clark-Dougherty had actual notice of the lien, this Court erred

by not applying the doctrine of substantial compliance with the service provisions of the

Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963, 49 P.S.      §   1505 (West 2016). Id. at ¶ 4.

       A reviewing court will reverse the trial court's decision to sustain preliminary objections

only when there has been an error of law or an abuse of discretion. Barton    v.   Lowe 's Home

                                                    3
Center, 124 A.3d 349, 354 (Pa. Super. 2015). Under the Mechanics' Lien Law, preliminary

objections are proper to assert lack of conformity with the Mechanics' Lien Law. 49 P.S.         §   1505

(West 2016). Preliminary objections that will result in dismissal should be sustained only in

cases that are "clear and free from doubt." Chambers       v.   Todd Steel Pickling, Inc., 470 A.2d 159,

162 (Pa. Super. 1983)(internal citations omitted).

    1.    Mr. Bertino Failed to Comply with the Service Requirements
          Of the Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963 and the Pennsylvania Rules          of Civil Procedure.

          The Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963 states that (1) written notice of the lien must be served

within one month after filing, (2) an affidavit of service must be filed within 20 days after

service, and (3) failure to serve the notice or to file the affidavit is grounds for striking the claim.

49 P.S.   §   1502(a)(2). The statute further requires that service of the notice of filing be made in

the same matter as a writ of summons in assumpsit or by posting. 49 P.S.         §   1502(c).

          Because Ms. Clark -Dougherty lives outside the Commonwealth, service upon her is

complete upon delivery of mail "where a copy of the process [is] mailed to the defendant by any

form of mail requiring a receipt signed by the defendant or his authorized agent." Pa. R. Civ. P.

403. If the certified mailing was refused, Mr. Bertino would then be permitted to make service

by ordinary mail. Pa. R. Civ. P. 403(1). Where the mailing is returned as unclaimed, "plaintiff

shall make service by another means pursuant to these rules." Pa, R. Civ. P. 403(2).

          Service was not proper in this matter for several reasons. First, since service under Pa.

R. Civ. 403 is not permitted by regular mail, Mr. Bertino's service of Ms. Clark -Dougherty on

December 18, rojs", by regular mail is not proper as a matter of law.

          Second, Mr. Bertino was not permitted to alternatively serve Ms. Clark -Dougherty by

regular mail because the certified mailing was returned unclaimed. Pa. R. Civ. P. 403(1) allows

service by first-class mail only if the mailing is refused. ("If the mail is returned with notation by

                                                     4
the postal authorities that the defendant refused to accept the mail, the plaintiff shall have the

right of service by mailing a copy to the defendant at the same address by ordinary       mail...."

Pa.R.Civ.P. 403)(1)(emphasis added). There has been no such refusal in this case. The certified

mailing of December 21, 2015 was merely returned "unclaimed," and therefore, Mr. Bertino

failed to ever effectuate original service of the mechanics' lien on Ms. Clark -Dougherty.

         Furthermore, Mr. Bertino filed his affidavit of service on January 26, 2016, more than 20

days after his service attempts on December 18, 2015 and December 21, 2015, as required by the

Mechanics' Lien Law. 49 P.S.      §   1502(a)(1).

         For these reasons, the Court did not err in its conclusion that service was defective under

the applicable statute.

    2.   The Doctrine of Substantial Compliance Is Not Properly Applied in this Case.

         The Court further did not err in determining not to apply the doctrine of substantial

compliance in this case. While the Superior Court has applied the doctrine of substantial

compliance in mechanics' lien cases, it has done so only in distinguishable cases when notice

was properly served. See Tesauro v. Baird, 335 A.2d 792 (Pa. Super 1975). In Tesauro, the

plaintiff had properly served a notice of the lien on the defendant in compliance with the

Mechanics' Lien Act, but the notice omitted the term number and the date of filing of the claim.

Id. at 795. The Superior Court held that the plaintiff had substantially complied with the

Mechanics' Lien Act when the notice is "sufficiently definite to enable the owner to ascertain the

amount of the lien claimed, its date and the nature and amount of the labor and material out of

which it arises." Id.

         The facts of this case are more similar to Regency Investments Inc.   v.   Inlander Ltd., 855
A.2d 75 (Pa. Super. 2004). In Regency, the plaintiff effectuated personal service upon the

                                                    5
defendant in accordance with Pa. R. Civ. P. 400, but it was 34 days after the mechanics' lien was

initially filed. Id. at 77-78. The Superior Court held that substantial compliance does not apply

where notice was served, but it was untimely: "Here, the timeliness of service was at issue. The

defect was directly violative of the statutory time period for the service of notice of the claim.

Thus, the doctrine of compliance is inapposite." Id. at 80.

        As in Regency, the service in this case was defective as untimely in direct contravention

of the Mechanics' Lien Act. Mr. Bertino's service was not only untimely, but it also was

technically deficient because it was not made by the proper method. Even if this Court had

applied the doctrine of substantial compliance, there is no evidence that Ms. Clark -Dougherty

ever received notice "sufficiently definite to enable the owner to ascertain the amount of the lien

claimed, its date and the nature and amount of the labor and material out of which it arises."

Tesauro, 335 A.2d at 795.

   3.   Ms. Clark-Dougherty's Actual Notice of the Lien is Irrelevant,

        Mr. Bertino finally argues that Ms. Clark -Dougherty had actual notice of the mechanics'

lien evidenced by the filing of Ms. Clark-Dougherty's January 28, 2016 emergency motion to

discharge the mechanics' lien upon payment into escrow. In his response to Ms. Clark -

Dougherty' s preliminary objections, Mr. Bertino does not cite any precedent beyond          Tesauro,

335 A.2d 792, to stand for the proposition that actual, untimely notice of the lien excuses the

requirements of 49 P.S.   §   1502(a)(2).   Tesauro,   however, addresses the issue of substantial

compliance with the Mechanics' Lien Law and does not address a situation where notice was

never perfected but defendant eventually became aware of the existence of the lien. Appellant's

Statement at ¶ 3-4.

                                                       6
       The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held that rules regarding the service of process

"must be strictly followed, and jurisdiction of the court over the person of the defendant is

dependent on proper service being made." Sharp       v.   Valley Forge Medical Center and Heart

Hospital, Inc., 221 A.2d 185, 187 (Pa. 1966). Improper service "is not merely a procedural defect

which can be ignored when defendant, by whatever means, becomes aware that an action has

been commenced against him or her." Frycklund        v.   Way, 599 A.2d 1332, 1334 (Pa. Super. 1991).

       Since Mr. Bertino never properly effectuated service upon Ms. Clark -Dougherty under

the Mechanics' Lien Act and the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court was divested

of jurisdiction over the underlying mechanics' lien. The fact that Ms. Clark -Dougherty

eventually became aware of the lien does not negate that she was never properly served.

                                         CONCLUSION

       For the reasons stated above, this Court respectfully requests that the Superior Court

affirm its decision to sustain defendant's preliminary objections and strike the underlying

mechanics' lien.

                                                                 BY THE COURT:

                                                                 ABBE   F.   FLETMAN, JUDGE

                                                                 Dated: July 31, 2017

                                                 7