Court Opinion

ID: 4305778
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-21 18:20:22.013401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:16.685318
License: Public Domain

J-A13041-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 GEORGE H. SHOUGH,                     :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                       :         PENNSYLVANIA
                   Appellant           :
                                       :
                                       :
              v.                       :
                                       :
                                       :
 LAWRENCE SIDONIS, BYLLYE L.           :       No. 1658 WDA 2017
 SIDONIS, DONALD R. HOPKINS,           :
 SUSAN HOPKINS, KYLE ROBSON,           :
 JARRETT ROBSON, BARBARA               :
 STEWART, JAMIE SHOUGH, DONALD         :
 ROBSON, JANE M. ROSS-SHOUGH,          :
 MARK FAULKNER, MARY FAULKNER,         :
 LEROY EASTIN, SUSAN M. EASTIN,        :
 JOYCE DAY, LINDA L. RIVERS,           :
 RONALD L. KRAUSE, CATHY L.            :
 KRAUSE, AND THEIR UNKNOWN             :
 HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, AND                :
 ASSIGNS, AND VANTAGE ENERGY           :
 APPALACHIA LLC, SUCCESSOR IN          :
 INTEREST TO TANGLEWOOD                :
 EXPLORATION, LLC                      :

               Appeal from the Judgment December 11, 2017
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County,
                  Civil Division at No(s): A.D. No. 949, 2012

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

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                     FILED AUGUST 21, 2018

     George H. Shough (“Shough”) appeals from the Judgment declaring the

ownership interests of Shough and others in oil and gas underlying certain

property in Gilmore Township, Pennsylvania (“the Property”). We affirm.

     Jennie D. Shough (“Grantor”) owned an interest in oil and gas

underlying the Property. In 1964, Grantor executed a deed (“the 1964 Deed”)
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severing one thirty-second (1/32) of her interest in the oil produced on the

Property, and one-fourth (1/4) of her interest in gas royalties and rentals

derived from the Property (the severed oil and gas interests hereinafter

referred to as “the Oil and Gas Estate”). At the time she executed the 1964

Deed, Grantor had three children: Mildred K. Elliman (“Elliman”), George H.

Shough (“George”), and Mary F. Lampert (“Lampert”).              The 1964 Deed

expressly conveyed equal one-third (1/3) interests of the Oil and Gas Estate

to Elliman (“the Elliman Interest”), Lampert (“the Lampert Interest”), and

“George Shough, of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan” (“the Shough

Interest”). See Plaintiff’s Trial Exhibit “A” (the 1964 Deed).

       Grantor’s son, George, died in 1993. George was survived by his wife,

Jamie Shough (“Jamie”), his daughter, Byllye Sidonis (“Sidonis”), and his son,

Shough. George had three other children, each of whom predeceased him:

Melba Jo Nichols (“Nichols”), Karen Robson (“Robson”) and Ronald D. Shough

(“Ronald”). Nichols was survived by her son, Donald R. Hopkins (“Hopkins”).

Karen was survived by her sons, Kyle Robson (“Kyle”) and Jarrett Robson

(“Jarrett”). Ronald had no surviving issue.1

____________________________________________

1 We hereinafter refer to George’s surviving wife, children and grandchildren,
including Shough, as “the Shough Heirs.”

                                           -2-
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       Lampert is now deceased.           The heirs of Lampert are Mary Faulkner

(“Faulkner”), Susan M. Eastin (“Eastin”), Joyce Day (“Day”), Linda L. Rivers

(“Rivers”), and Cathy L. Krause (“Krause”) (collectively, “the Lampert Heirs”).2

       Elliman, a resident of Connecticut, died intestate on July 30, 2001. She

had no surviving parent, grandparent, spouse or issue. At the time of her

death, Elliman had incurred $500,000 in medical expenses. In 2012, upon

discovering additional assets of Elliman, a representative of Connecticut’s

Department of Administrative Services (“the Department”) was appointed as

the administrator of the Elliman Estate.

       Shough subsequently contacted the Department, offering $36,000 “to

settle Connecticut’s claim on [Elliman’s] [E]state[,] so that I and the other

heirs of the extended family can proceed with pursuing the Pennsylvania

Parcel’s mineral rights.”       Lampert Trial Exhibit A (emphasis added).     The

Department accepted the offer, and stated the following: “In consideration of

thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000.00), the State of Connecticut hereby

relinquishes to [] Shough all claims to the mineral rights to the parcel in

Western Pennsylvania to the [Elliman Estate].” Plaintiff’s Trial Exhibit 2.

       On September 17, 2012, Shough filed the instant action seeking a

declaratory judgment and to quiet title to the Shough Interest and the Elliman

____________________________________________

2Ownership of the Lampert Interest is not in dispute. The spouses of Eastin,
Day and Rivers are named as parties in Shough’s declaratory judgment and
quiet title action.

                                           -3-
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Interest. Shough named as parties the above-captioned appellees, including

the Elliman Heirs, the Lampert Heirs and their respective spouses (collectively,

“the Faulkner Defendants”), and the remaining Shough Heirs. By his Amended

Complaint, Shough asserted that the 1964 Deed’s reference to “George

Shough, of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan,” referred to him, and not

to George. Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 39-41. Thus, Shough claimed that he is

the owner of the Shough Interest, in its entirety, pursuant to the 1964 Deed.

         Shough also claimed that he owns one-fifth (1/5) of the Elliman Interest,

by virtue of Pennsylvania’s intestacy laws.      Shough posited that the other

owners of the Elliman Interest are as follows:          Sidonis (one-fifth (1/5)

interest); Hopkins (one-fifth (1/5) interest); Kyle and Jarrett (an equally

divided one-fifth (1/5) interest); and the remaining grandchildren of Elliman

(a one-fifth (1/5) interest, to be divided equally among them).

         Kyle, Jarrett, Jamie and Donald Robson filed an Answer to Shough’s

Complaint.

         The Faulkner Defendants filed an Answer and Counterclaim, averring

that Connecticut intestacy law applies to the Elliman Interest, which results in

the equal division of the Elliman Interest among Elliman’s siblings or their

heirs.    Because Elliman had two siblings, George and Lampert, Appellees

averred that one-half (1/2) of the Elliman Interest belongs to the Lampert

Heirs, and one-half (1/2) to the Shough Heirs.

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      The trial court described the subsequent relevant procedural history as

follows:

      There are three distinct one-third (1/3) interests involved—
      namely[,] the Lampert Interest, the Elliman Interest and the
      Shough Interest.

            On December 12, 2016, the [trial court] held a non-jury trial
      on the matter.

            On August 1, 2017, docketed August 2, 2017, the [trial
      court] issued its verdict. In its verdict, the [trial court] found as
      follows:

           (1) [T]he Grantee in the November 1964 deed referred to
           as “George Shough, of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County,
           Michigan,” is George …, son of [Grantor]; (2) the Elliman
           [I]nterest in its entirety passed pursuant to Connecticut
           intestate laws in the following manner: one-half (1/2)
           interest to the heirs of [George], son of [Grantor], and one-
           half (1/2) interest to the heirs of [] Lampert; (3) [] Kyle
           [], Jarrett [], Jamie [], and [] Robson own their individual
           share of a one-half (1/2) share of the Elliman Interest as
           beneficiaries, devisees, legatees or heirs of George [], son
           of [Grantor], or his respective beneficiaries, devisees,
           legatees, or heirs; (4) [] Faulkner, [] Eastin, [] Day, []
           Rivers and [] Krause own their individual share of a one-
           half (1/2) share of the Elliman Interest as beneficiaries,
           devisees, legatees or heirs of [Lampert], or her respective
           beneficiaries, devisees, legatees or heirs; (5) [Shough]
           and all remaining [d]efendants, and all persons, claiming
           under them, are directed to execute and record with the
           Greene [C]ounty, Pennsylvania Office of the Recorder of
           Deeds, any and all documents reasonably required so that
           all such party’s claimed right, title and interest in Elliman
           and Shough Interests that are contrary to [the trial court’s]
           Opinion and Order, are relinquished of record; (6)
           [Shough] is barred from seeking reimbursement from the
           [Faulkner] Defendants for any portion of the Thirty-Six
           [Thousand] Dollars ($36,000) paid to the State of
           Connecticut for the release of its claim against the [E]state
           of Mildred S. Elliman; (7) Rice Energy, on behalf of Vantage
           Energy Appalachia, LLC, a successor in Interest to

                                       -5-
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           Tanglewood Exploration, LLC and/or other leaseholder is
           directed to pay bonus moneys, royalties, or any other
           payment due to the Defendants commensurate with
           interests pursuant to this Opinion and Order.

Trial Court Opinion, 12/19/17, at 2-3.

       Shough filed a Motion for post-trial relief and, thereafter, a Motion for

Leave to Amend Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint and Answer to Defendants’

Counterclaim. On October 19, 2017, the trial court denied both Motions. On

October 30, 2017, Shough filed a Motion for reconsideration of the denial of

leave to amend his Amended Complaint and an Answer to Defendants’

Counterclaim.       On that same date, the trial court expressly granted

reconsideration.     Notwithstanding, Shough filed two Notices of Appeal on

November 7, 2017, followed by two Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Concise Statements of

matters complained of on appeal.3 On December 18, 2017, the trial court

denied, on the substantive merits, Shough’s Motion for reconsideration.

Judgment subsequently was entered, on December 11, 2017, upon an inquiry

from this Court. Thus, the appeal is properly before this Court for disposition.

See Pa.R.A.P. 905(a)(5) (providing that “[a] notice of appeal filed after the

announcement of a determination but before the entry of an appealable order

shall be treated as filed after such entry and on the date thereof.”).

       Shough presents the following claims for our review:

____________________________________________

3 This Court subsequently dismissed the appeal docketed at 1657 WDA 2017,
as duplicative, while allowing all properly preserved issues to be presented in
the instant appeal, docketed at 1658 WDA 2017.

                                           -6-
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      1. Whether the trial court erred in determining that an estate
         administrator appointed pursuant to Section 4a-16 of the
         General Statutes of Connecticut cannot sell or transfer the
         personal property of a decedent that owed money to the State
         of Connecticut[?]

      2. Alternatively, whether the [trial court] erred by failing to
         recognize Shough’s priority claim (over all unsecured creditors
         and intestate heirs) to the Elliman [] Interest and declaring that
         the Elliman [] Interest transferred to the heirs of Mildred
         Elliman, deceased, despite finding that the decedent had an
         outstanding debt to the State of Connecticut of over
         $500,000.00; that said debt takes priority over all unsecured
         claims against the Estate; and that Connecticut’s claim against
         the Estate was relinquished to Shough[?]

      3. Whether the trial court erred by its sua sponte decision to bar
         Shough from seeking reimbursement of the $36,000.00 he
         paid to the Estate for [] Elliman for the purchase of the Elliman
         [] Interest because he did not seek reimbursement from
         additional heirs, although Shough did not request any such
         reimbursement in the underlying proceedings[?]

      4. Whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying
         Shough’s Post-[T]rial Motion for Leave to Amend his pleadings
         to conform them to the evidence offered and admitted at trial
         pursuant to [Pa.R.C.P.] 1033, … solely upon a finding of the
         potential for additional delay given Pennsylvania’s liberal
         amendment policy, and the absence of any evidence
         supporting the Faulkner [Defendants’] claim of undue
         prejudice[?]

Brief of Appellant at 7-8.

      Shough first claims that the trial court improperly concluded that the

administrator of Elliman’s estate (“the Elliman Estate”) could not sell or

transfer the personal property of Elliman, who owed money to the state of

Connecticut.   Id. at 19.     According to Shough, Christopher M. Roberts

(“Roberts”) was appointed as the administrator of the Elliman Estate, pursuant

                                      -7-
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to General Statutes of Connecticut § 4a-15 (2012). Brief for Appellant at 19.

Shough asserts that, in this capacity, Roberts had the authority to pay the

expenses of Elliman’s last illness, her funeral and burial expenses, and to

reimburse the State of Connecticut for care and assistance rendered to

Elliman. Id.

        Shough contends that under Connecticut law,4 Roberts had the authority

to sell Elliman Estate assets in order to settle claims against the Elliman

Estate.    Id. at 21.    According to Shough, pursuant to General Statutes of

Connecticut § 45a-235(5) (2012), Roberts had the power “to sell, lease, or

otherwise hypothecate any or all rights to oil, natural gas, and minerals,

including, but not limited to oil and gas royalties.” Brief for Appellant at 21

(internal quotation marks omitted).              Shough asserts that Elliman died

indebted to the State of Connecticut; the Elliman Estate was worth less than

$40,000; and Roberts, the appointed administrator of the Elliman Estate, had

the authority to sell estate assets to satisfy Connecticut’s claim. Id.

        We consider this issue mindful of our standard of review.

        Our appellate role in cases arising from non-jury trial verdicts is
        to determine whether the findings of the trial court are supported
        by competent evidence and whether the trial court committed
        error in any application of the law. The findings of fact of the trial
        judge must be given the same weight and effect on appeal as the
        verdict of a jury. We consider the evidence in a light most
        favorable to the verdict winner. We will reverse the trial court
        only if its findings of fact are not supported by competent evidence
        in the record or if its findings are premised on an error of law.
____________________________________________

4   Shough does not dispute, in this section, the applicability of Connecticut law.

                                           -8-
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     However, [where] the issue ... concerns a question of law, our
     scope of review is plenary.

     The trial court’s conclusions of law on appeal originating from a
     non-jury trial are not binding on an appellate court because it is
     the appellate court’s duty to determine if the trial court correctly
     applied the law to the facts of the case.

Stephan v. Waldron Elec. Heating & Cooling LLC, 100 A.3d 660, 664-65

(Pa. Super. 2014) (citation omitted).

     Under Connecticut law,

     [w]hen construing a statute, [o]ur fundamental objective is to
     ascertain and give effect to the apparent intent of the legislature….
     In other words, we seek to determine, in a reasoned manner, the
     meaning of the statutory language as applied to the facts of [the]
     case, including the question of whether the language actually does
     apply…. In seeking to determine that meaning, General Statutes
     § 1-2z directs us first to consider the text of the statute itself and
     its relationship to other statutes. If, after examining such text
     and considering such relationship, the meaning of such text is
     plain and unambiguous and does not yield absurd or unworkable
     results, extra[-]textual evidence of the meaning of the statute
     shall not be considered.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.)
     Bender v. Bender, 975 A.2d 636 (Conn. 2009).

Connery v. Gieske, 147 A.3d 94, 101 (Conn. 2016).

     At the time of Elliman’s death, General Statutes of Connecticut § 4a-16

provided for the Commissioner of Administrative Services to be appointed as

administrator of a decedent’s estate, where the decedent was supported or

cared for under a program of public assistance. CONN. GEN. STAT. § 4a-16.

Section 4a-16 provided that

     [t]he commissioner shall have authority to claim such
     estate, the commissioner’s receipt for the same to be a valid
     discharge of the liability of any person turning over the same, and
     to settle the same by payment of the expense of last illness

                                     -9-
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       not exceeding three hundred seventy-five dollars, expense
       of funeral and burial in accordance with section 17b-84 and
       the remainder as partial or full reimbursement of the claim
       of the state for care or assistance rendered to the
       decedent. The commissioner shall file with said probate court a
       statement of the settlement of such estate as herein provided.

CONN. GEN. STAT. § 4a-16 (2001) (emphasis added).

       Interpreting this section, the trial court addressed Shough’s claim and

concluded that it lacks merit.         See Trial Court Opinion, 8/2/17, at 10-16

(unnumbered). We agree with the trial court’s rationale and conclusion, and

affirm on this basis with regard to Shough’s claim, with the following

addendum.5

       In his January 13, 2012 letter to Kevin Nodwell, the representative of

the Department, Shough made the following offer:

       While the value of [Elliman’s oil and gas interests] is undetermined
       at this time & will only be certain if & when the drilling commences
       and is successful over the coming years, I am making an
       immediate offer of $36,000 to settle Connecticut’s claim on
       [Elliman’s] [E]state so that I and the other heirs of the extended
       family can proceed with pursuing the Pennsylvania Parcel’s
       mineral rights. In exchange for the $36,000 payment, we are
       asking for a release to all claims from the State of Connecticut
       against [Elliman’s] share.

____________________________________________

5 Contrary to Shough’s assertions, the Connecticut Supreme Court’s decision
in Bender is not applicable, as that case involved the sale of real estate, and
not personal property. See Bender, 975 A.2d at 643 (describing the
underlying petition as seeking an order directing the execution of a real estate
purchase contract); 652 (discussing the authority of an executor to sell real
property with the permission of the testator, but not the permission of the
beneficiaries).

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             The release should stipulate that acceptance of this
       offer constitutes full and final settlement of all claims of
       the State of Connecticut against the [Elliman Estate].

Lampert Trial Exhibit A (emphasis added). By its express terms, Shough’s

letter requested the settlement of Connecticut’s claim against the Elliman

Estate, so that he, and the other heirs, could pursue the mineral rights. The

letter includes no offer by Shough to purchase the Elliman Interest. See id.

       Further, Connecticut’s Department of Administrative Services issued the

following response to Shough: “In consideration of thirty-six thousand dollars

($36,000.00), the State of Connecticut hereby relinquishes to [] Shough all

claims to the mineral rights to the parcel in Western Pennsylvania to the

[Elliman Estate].” Plaintiff’s Trial Exhibit 2. Connecticut’s response does not

reflect that it sold the Elliman Interest to Shough.       Rather, the State of

Connecticut relinquished its claim against the Elliman Interest. See id.

       At trial, Shough acknowledged that his January 13, 2012, letter did not

include an offer to purchase the Elliman Interest.       N.T., 12/12/16, at 79.

Shough also confirmed that he had sent an email to Donald Robson,6 which

stated the following, in relevant part: “With regard to that one[-]third interest,

it is my hope and expectation that I will be reimbursed in proportion for the

$36,000 I had to send to the State of Connecticut to gain release of the

____________________________________________

6According to Shough’s Amended Complaint, Donald Robson is believed to
be the attorney-in-fact for Jamie, Kyle and Jarrett. Amended Complaint at
¶ 11.

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state’s lien on the mineral rights in [the Elliman Interest].” N.T., 12/12/16,

at 114 (emphasis added).

      Further, we observe that as the representative of Elliman’s Estate, the

Commissioner was “subject to the same duties and obligations as are

possessed by and imposed upon … administrators and other fiduciaries.”

CONN. GEN. STAT. § 4a-15 (2012).       As a fiduciary, the Commissioner was

required to file an inventory prior to the sale of any property, other than real

estate. Id. § 45a-341. The Commissioner filed no inventory for the sale of

the Elliman Interest. Thus, the record clearly supports the trial court’s finding

that Connecticut did not effectuate a sale of the Elliman Interest to Shough.

Accordingly, we cannot grant Shough relief on this claim.

      In his second claim, Shough argues that, even if the trial court had

properly interpreted General Statutes of Connecticut Section 45a-16, it erred

in concluding that Section 45a-439 (applying to the residue of the estate)

controls the disposition of the Elliman Interest, “notwithstanding Shough’s

priority claim (over all unsecured creditors and intestate heirs) to the Elliman

[] Interest.” Brief for Appellant at 22 (some capitalization omitted). Shough

asserts that the trial court improperly disregarded Shough’s “priority” claim,

when it concluded that, pursuant to Section 45a-439, the Elliman Interest

passed, in accordance with Connecticut intestacy law, to Elliman’s intestate

heirs. Id. at 23. According to Shough, Section 45a-439 requires an estate

administrator to settle the debts of the estate prior to making any payments

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to intestate heirs. Id. Under the trial court’s analysis, Shough argues, the

inheritance rights of the intestate heirs improperly would have superseded

even the claims of the State of Connecticut.7 Id. at 24.

       As set forth above, in his letter to the Department, Shough offered the

sum of $36,000 “to settle Connecticut’s claim” to the Elliman Interest.

Lampert Trial Exhibit A (emphasis added). By its acceptance letter, the State

of Connecticut relinquished any claim it had to the Elliman Interest. Plaintiff’s

Trial Exhibit 2. In its Opinion, the trial court found that Shough voluntarily

had paid the State of Connecticut to release any lien it had against the Elliman

Interest. Our review of the record discloses no evidence that Shough paid

these funds at the request of, or on behalf of, the heirs of the Elliman Estate.

See N.T., 12/12/16, at 67 (wherein Shough testified that he sent a check for

$36,000 to the State of Connecticut), 111 (wherein Shough acknowledged

Stewart’s refusal to contribute in advance to the $36,000 payment), 70

(wherein Shough indicated that no other heir contributed to the $36,000

payment), 75 (wherein Shough stated that he did not discuss the matter with

the other extended heirs of Elliman). Thus, there is no evidence establishing

____________________________________________

7  Shough additionally argues that, following his transaction with the
Department, there were no remaining assets left to distribute pursuant to
Section 45a-439. Brief for Appellant at 24. As set forth above, the record
supports the trial court’s finding that Shough did not purchase the Elliman
Interest from the State of Connecticut.

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that Shough possessed a priority claim against the Elliman Estate, or that the

Elliman Estate owed $36,000 to Shough.

      Under these circumstances, we agree with the trial court’s determination

that the Elliman Interest passed through intestate succession, under

Connecticut law, and that no payments were due to Shough. See Trial Court

Opinion, 8/2/17, at 16-17 (referring to N.T., 12/12/16, at 110-13, and

Shough’s admission that he voluntarily tendered the $36,000 payment and

never sought reimbursement from all of the Elliman Interest heirs).

Accordingly, we cannot grant Shough relief on this claim.

      In his third claim, Shough argues that the trial court erred by barring

Shough from seeking reimbursement of the $36,000 that he paid to the State

of Connecticut. Brief for Appellant at 25. Shough contends that the trial court

did not refer to any pleading or testimony in support of its assertion that

Shough asked for reimbursement in this proceeding. Id. Shough contends

that it is manifestly unjust to make such a ruling, based upon a request in the

Faulkner Defendants’ proposed findings and conclusions. Id. at 26.

      Our review of the record discloses that the characterization of Shough’s

$36,000 payment was at issue throughout this litigation. In his Response to

Motion for Summary Judgment filed on October 23, 2013, Shough asserted

that he paid $36,000 to the State of Connecticut for the Elliman Interest.

Response to Motion for Summary Judgment, ¶ 28. At trial, Shough testified

regarding his $36,000 payment to the State of Connecticut.          See N.T.,

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12/12/16, at 67 (wherein Shough testified that he sent a check for $36,000

to the State of Connecticut), 70 (wherein Shough indicated that no other heir

contributed to the $36,000 payment), 75 (wherein Shough testified that he

did not discuss the matter with the other extended heirs of Elliman), 114

(wherein Shough testified regarding his email to Donald Robson stating that

he hoped for reimbursement of the $36,000).

      Our review also discloses that Shough’s Amended Complaint asked the

trial court to “provide[] for such other and further relief as [the c]ourt

deem[ed] just and proper.” Amended Complaint at 11. In their Answer to

Amended Complaint and Counterclaim, the Faulkner Defendants asked the

trial court to “[p]reliminarily and permanently enjoin and forever bar [Shough]

… from asserting any estate, right, title, lien or interest in or to the one-half

(1/2) Elliman Interest, in whole or in part[.]” Defendants’ Counterclaim for

Action to Quiet Title at 4 (unnumbered) (emphasis added).          The Faulkner

Defendants additionally sought “[s]uch other and further relief that the [trial

c]ourt deems just and proper.” Id. at 5 (unnumbered).

      Thus, the characterization of the $36,000 payment was at issue

throughout these proceedings, and Shough’s claim to the contrary lacks

support in the record. Because the trial court’s findings are supported in the

record, and its legal conclusions are sound, we cannot grant Shough relief on

this claim.

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      In his fourth claim, Shough argues that the trial court abused its

discretion by denying Shough’s Motion for leave to conform his pleadings to

the evidence. Brief for Appellant at 26. Shough cites relevant case law holding

that the right to amend pleadings should be liberally allowed.       Id. at 27.

Shough argues that the trial court denied leave to amend solely because it

determined that “to allow for additional delay one year after [the] end of trial

on a case that is almost six years old will clearly result in prejudice to all

opposing parties.” Id. (quoting Trial Court Order, 12/18/17, at 3). According

to Shough, “[p]rejudice sufficient to deny amendment of the pleadings,

however, must be more than a mere detriment to the other party.” Brief for

Appellant at 27 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).        Shough

argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying his Motion based

solely upon the additional delay. Id.

      Our review discloses that in his proposed Second Amended Complaint,

Shough changed the basis of his cause of action, and his ownership claim to

the Elliman Interest. Sough’s proposed Amended Complaint averred that he

owned 100% of the Elliman Interest, by virtue of his purchase of the Elliman

Interest from the State of Connecticut. See id. ¶¶ 29-36. Shough included

additional averments that, prior to her death, Elliman’s Medicaid-related debt

to the State of Connecticut exceeded $500,000, see Proposed Second

Amended Complaint, ¶ 29; under Connecticut law, a debt to the state of

Connecticut supersedes any will or intestate inheritance as a priority debt, see

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id.; the Elliman Estate owned all personal property, including the Elliman

Interest, upon her death, see id. ¶ 31; Shough contacted the Administrator

of the Elliman Estate concerning the Elliman Interest, see id. ¶ 32; the

Administrator of the Elliman Estate agreed to sell the Elliman Interest to

Shough for $36,000, see id. ¶ 33; the Faulkner Defendants are attempting to

interfere with Shough’s right to 100% of the Elliman Interest, see id. ¶ 35;

and the Faulkner Defendants’ refusal to recognize Shough’s rights constitutes

a cloud on Shough’s rights, title and interest, as a part owner of the Oil and

Gas Estate, see id. ¶ 36.

      In its December 18, 2017 Order, the trial court addressed Shough’s

Motion for leave to file an Amended Complaint as follows:

           Here, [Shough] is asking the [trial court] to vacate its
      October 19, 2017 Order and grant [Shough] leave to file a Second
      Amended Complaint and First Amended Answer to Counterclaim.

            Pursuant to Pa.[]R.C.P. 1033[,] a party may amend his
      pleadings to conform the pleading to the evidence offered or
      admitted. An amendment may be allowed after judgment and
      allowance of an amendment is within the discretion of the trial
      court. Such an amendment, however, must not be for a new
      cause of action or surprise or prejudice the opposing party.

             [Shough] argues that his Motion only seeks to amend his
      pleadings to conform the evidence already offered and admitted
      at trial. [The Lampert Heirs] aver prejudice in that [they] would
      be forced to file preliminary objections at this late stage[,] thereby
      delaying final resolution of this action by requiring additional
      pleadings and hearings. [The Lampert Heirs] allege that the
      pleadings [Shough] seeks to amend “are fraught with errors, lack
      dates, and fail to attach writings supporting the allegations.”

           [The trial court] finds [the Faulkner Defendants’] argument
      persuasive. While amendments are granted liberally, to allow for

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J-A13041-18

       additional delay one year after the end of trial on a case that is
       almost six years old will clearly result in prejudice to all opposing
       parties.

Trial Court Order, 12/18/17, at 1-2 (footnotes omitted).

       Thus, the trial court did not deny Shough’s Motion solely on the basis of

delay, but based upon prejudice the delay caused where the proposed

pleading includes errors, lacks dates, and where the pleading failed to attach

writings to support the new allegations. See id.        We discern no abuse of

discretion by the trial court in denying Shough’s Motion on this basis.8 We

therefore affirm the Judgment of the trial court.

       Judgment affirmed.

____________________________________________

8 Shough relies upon this Court’s holdings in Capobianchi v. BIC Corp., 666
A.2d 344 (Pa. Super. 1995), and Blackwood, Inc. v. Reading Blue
Mountain, 147 A.3d 594, 600 (Pa. Super. 2016), to support his argument.
However, his reliance is misplaced, as the trial court in this case did not deny
the Motion based solely on the delay. Rather, the trial court found prejudice
resulting from the delay, where the proposed amended pleading is deficient,
requiring the filing of new preliminary objections and further proceedings.
See Trial Court Order, 12/18/17, at 1-2. We discern no abuse of discretion in
this regard. See Somerset Cmty. Hosp. v. Allan B. Mitchell & Assocs.,
Inc., 685 A.2d 141, 147 (Pa. Super. 1996) (stating that “[a]n amendment
will not be allowed, however, when it is against a positive rule of law, where
it states a new cause of action after the statute of limitations has run, or when
it will surprise or prejudice the opposing party.”).

                                          - 18 -
J-A13041-18

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/21/2018

                          - 19 -
                                                           Circulated 07/26/2018 03:23 PM

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR GREENE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
              THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - GREENE
                            CIVIL DIVISION

GEORGE H. SHOUGH,                            )
                                             )
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       PLAINTIFF,                            )                 .   ,'.
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                                             )
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                                        )
LAWRENCE SIDONIS, BYLLYE L. SIDONIS, )
DONALD R. HOPKINS, SUSAN HOPKINS,       )
KYLE ROBSON, JARRETT ROBSON,            )
BARBARA STEWART, JAMIE SHOUGH,          )
DONALD ROBSON, JANE M. ROSS-            )              949 AD 2012
SHOUGH,MARKFAULKNER,                    )
MARY FAULKNER, LEROY EASTIN,            )
SUSAN M. EASTIN, JOYCE DAY,             )
LINDA L. RIVERS, RONALD KRAUSE,         )
CATHY L. KRAUSE, and their              )
unknown heirs, successors, and assigns, )
and VANTAGE ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC, )
successor in interest to TANGLEWOOD     )
EXPLORATION, LLC,                       )
                                        )
      DEFENDANTS.                       )

                       OPINION PURSUANT TO 1925(a)

      AND NOW this    Ji_ day of December, 2017, upon review of the Plaintiff's
Concise Statements of Matters Complained of On Appeal Pursuant to Pennsylvania

Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b ), this Court now issues the following Opinion

and Order:
                                        FACTUAL STATEMENT

              This action arises from a dispute over the parties' respective interest in the

        November 7, 1964 Deed. The parties have also asked the Court to interpret several

        Connecticut Probate Statutes to ascertain whether the Plaintiff is the sole owner of

        the Elliman Royalty Interest.

               There are three distinct one-third (1/3) interests involved--namely the

        Lampert Interest, the Elliman Interest and the Shough Interest.

               On December 12, 2016, the Court held a non-jury trial on the matter.
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               On August 1, 2017, docketed August 2, 2017, the Court issued its verdict. In
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�              (1) the Grantee in the November 7, 1964 deed referred to as "George
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� son of Jennie D. Shough; (2) the Elliman interest in its entirety passed pursuant to
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        Connecticut intestate laws in the following manner: one-half (1/2) interest to the

        heirs of George Herbert Shough, son of Jennie D. Shough, and one-half (1/2)

        interest to the heirs of Mary S. Lampert; (3) Defendants Kyle Robson, Jarrett

        Robson, Jamie Shough and Donald Robson own their individual share of a one-half

        (1/2) share of the Elliman Interest as beneficiaries, devisees, legatees or heirs of

        George Herbert Shough, son of Jennie D. Shough, or his respective beneficiaries,

        devisees, legatees or heirs; (4) Defendants Mary Faulkner, Susan M. Eastin, Joyce

        Day, Linda L. Rivers and Cathy L. Krause own their individual share of a one-half
       (1/2) share of the Elliman Interest as beneficiaries, devisees, legatees or heirs of

       Mary S. Lampert, or her respective beneficiaries, devisees, legatees or heirs; (5) the

       Plaintiff and all remaining Defendants, and all persons, claiming under them, are

       directed to execute and record with the Greene county, Pennsylvania Office of the

       Recorder of Deeds any and all documents reasonably required so that all such

       party's claimed right, title and interest in Elliman and Shough Interests that are

       contrary to this Court's Opinion and Order, are relinquished of record; (6) Plaintiff

       George H. Shough is barred from seeking reimbursement from the Defendants for
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�" any portion of the Thirty-Six Dollars ($36,000) paid to the State of Connecticut for