Court Opinion

ID: 9701804
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:38:50.672849+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:29.852256
License: Public Domain

HOFFMAN, Judge
(concurring):
I join in the majority’s disposition of the instant case. However, considerable confusion has resulted in this area because two lines of cases involving judgments of non pros have developed. I take this opportunity to identify the applicability of each.
The first line of cases declares that “[a] lower court properly enters a judgment of non pros ‘when a party to the proceedings has shown a want of due diligence in failing to proceed with reasonable promptitude, and there is no compelling reason for the delay, and the delay has caused some prejudice to the adverse party . . . ’ James Bros. Co. v. Union Banking Co. of Dubois, 432 Pa. 129, 132, 247 A.2d 587 (1968).” Kennedy v. The Bulletin Company, 237 Pa.Super. 66, 68, 346 A.2d 343, 344, 345 (1975). See also, Gallagher v. Jewish Hospital Association of Philadelphia, 425 Pa. 112, 228 A.2d 732 (1967); Aldridge v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, 394 Pa. 57, 145 A.2d 695 (1958); Rizzo v. Pittsburgh Railways Company, 226 Pa.Super. 566, 323 A.2d 174 (1974); Poluka v. Cole, 222 Pa.Super. 500, 205 A.2d 132 (1972). The second line of cases states that the criteria for opening a judgment of non pros are “ ‘(1) the petition should be timely filed; (2) the reason for the default reasonably explained or excused; (3) that facts constituting grounds for a cause of action be alleged.’ Thorn v. Clearfield Borough, 420 Pa. 584, 586, 218 A.2d 298, 299 (1966).” Goldstein v. Graduate Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania, 441 Pa. 179, 182, 272 A.2d 472, 473 (1971). See also, Mazer v. Sargent Electric *86Company, 407 Pa. 169, 180 A.2d 63 (1962); White v. Alston, 231 Pa.Super. 438, 331 A.2d 765 (1974) ; Boyles v. Sullivan, 230 Pa.Super. 453, 326 A.2d 440 (1974) ; Matyas v. Albert Einstein Medical Center, 225 Pa.Super. Ct. 230, 310 A.2d 301 (1973). Superficially, it appears that when a plaintiff appeals from the entry of a judgment non pros, the judgment of non pros will be affirmed if the defendant has been prejudiced by the delay. When the plaintiff appeals from an order denying a petition to open a judgment of non pros, normal opening judgment rules, which do not include a showing of prejudice, apply. If the cases are analyzed further, however, it becomes apparent that the necessity for demonstrating prejudice will depend on the reason that the judgment of non pros was entered.
A judgment of non pros will be entered in two basic situations. First, a judgment of non pros may be imposed as a sanction pursuant to the rules of civil procedure. See Rules 1037(a) and 4019(c)(3), Pa.R.C.P. In this situation, the non pros is imposed because the plaintiff has failed to comply with a court order; there is no requirement that prejudice be demonstrated. If the plaintiff files a petition to open, he need only show that his petition to open was timely filed, that his non-compliance is explainable or excusable, and that facts exist which constitute grounds for his cause of action. See e. g., Goldstein v. Graduate Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania, supra; Thorn v. Clearfield Borough, supra; White v. Alston, supra; Boyles v. Sullivan, supra; Matyas v. Albert Einstein Medical Center, supra.
A judgment of non pros may also be entered when the plaintiff has failed to prosecute his action within a reasonable time. In order to demonstrate that he is entitled to a judgment of non pros under these circumstances, the defendant must not only show a want of due diligence in the prosecution of the action, but also that he has suffered prejudice as a result of the delay. See, e. g., Gal*87lagher v. Jewish Hospital Association of Philadelphia, supra; James Bros. Co. v. Union Banking Co. of Dubois, supra; Aldridge v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, supra; Gaito v. Matson, 228 Pa.Super. 288, 323 A.2d 753 (1974); Rizzo v. Pittsburgh Railways Company, supra; Poluka v. Cole, supra. Prejudice is a prerequisite to securing a judgment of non pros under these circumstances. When one challenges the entry of a judgment of non pros under this situation, therefore, prejudice necessarily is an element that must be considered. If the plaintiff files a petition to open, he must demonstrate that he meets the three tests for opening a judgment, and also that the defendant has not been prejudiced.
In the instant case, the judgment of non pros was entered as a sanction for not answering the supplemental interrogatories. Thus, the appellant was not required to demonstrate prejudice in order to secure the judgment of non pros. In determining whether this judgment should be opened, therefore, prejudice is not a relevant factor. Because the majority correctly applied the principles governing the opening of judgments, I concur.