Court Opinion

ID: 4117109
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-19 20:13:17.413102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:40.191683
License: Public Domain

J. S72017/16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

REGINALD C. SCOTT,               :               IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                 :                    PENNSYLVANIA
                    Appellant    :
                                 :
                v.               :
                                 :
JOHN KERESTES, EDWARD M. MARSICO :
JR., KATHLEEN KANE,              :
                                 :
                    Appellees    :               No. 785 MDA 2016

               Appeal from the Order Entered February 22, 2013
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County
                    Civil Division at No.: 2013-CV-1243-MP

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., DUBOW, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                          FILED JANUARY 19, 2017

        Appellant, Reginald C. Scott, appeals from the February 22, 2013

Order entered in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his

“Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Subjiciendum.” We affirm.

        The Commonwealth Court described the tortured procedural history of

the instant case, so we need not repeat it here. See Scott v. Kersetes, No.

1123 C.D. 2015 (Pa. Cmwlth. Jan. 5, 2016) (unpublished memorandum). 1

In summary, Appellant is serving a life sentence following his conviction by a

jury in 1975 for Second-Degree Murder and Robbery.         Appellant filed the

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
  We direct the parties to attach a copy of the Commonwealth Court’s
January 5, 2016 memorandum to all future filings. We attach a copy of the
Commonwealth Court’s memorandum to this memorandum.
J. S72017/16

instant Petition, which he titled as a Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Subjiciendum,

on February 12, 2013.       The trial court denied Appellant’s Petition on

February 22, 2013.    Relevant for our purposes, the Commonwealth Court

concluded that Appellant filed a timely Notice of Appeal on March 5, 2013.

Both Appellant and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

      As an initial matter, we must address the proper nature of Appellant’s

Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Subjiciendum and the instant appeal.2 The trial

court concluded Appellant’s Writ constituted an improper attempt to

circumvent the PCRA’s timeliness requirements and denied Appellant’s Writ

without treating the filing as a PCRA Petition.3 We agree in part and address

Appellant’s filing fundamentally challenging the legality of his sentence as a

PCRA Petition rather than a Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Subjiciendum.4 See

Commonwealth v. Taylor, 65 A.3d 462, 466 (Pa. Super. 2013) (holding

2
  We note that the Appellee’s Brief filed by District Attorney Edward M.
Marsico, Jr. characterizes Appellant’s filing as a PCRA Petition, while the
Appellee’s Brief filed by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
characterizes Appellant’s filing as a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad
Subjiciendeum.
3
  The Commonwealth Court did not resolve the issue or opine on the nature
of Appellant’s filing.
4
  Insofar as one aspect of Appellant’s sentencing claim is arguably properly
presented as a Writ of Habeas Corpus—his issue alleging the “lack of
sentencing order”—we direct Appellant to Joseph v. Glunt, 96 A.3d 365,
372 (Pa. Super. 2014) (holding that the fact that the Department of
Corrections did not possess sentencing order did not entitle prisoner to
habeas relief).

                                    -2-
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that “a defendant cannot escape the PCRA time-bar by titling his petition or

motion as a writ of habeas corpus.”).

      Appellant presents the following four issues on appeal, reordered for

ease of disposition:

      (1) Did the trial court abuse [its] discretion where on record
      evidence for purposes of United States Constitution, Fifth
      Amendment Double Jeopardy Clause, clearly shows that
      Appellant’s conviction and sentence are patently illegal and as a
      question of federal law entitled [A]ppellant to relief?

      (2) Does the trial court’s failure to conduct a proper hearing
      upon the Supreme Court’s grant of original process constitute
      contempt of an order of the court?

      (3) Does the trial court’s reopening of this case through an Order
      for settlement, arbitration, trial[,] or other disposition and
      subsequent failure to follow [its] own mandate/instructions
      constitute a second issue of contempt?

      (4) Does the trial court’s failure to render a proper opinion
      pursuant to [Pa.R.A.P.] 1925(a) constitute an abdication of duty
      or abuse of discretion?

Appellant’s Brief at 3.

      We review the denial of a PCRA Petition to determine whether the

record supports the PCRA court’s findings and whether its Order is otherwise

free of legal error.      Commonwealth v. Fears, 86 A.3d 795, 803 (Pa.

2014). There is no right to a PCRA hearing; a hearing is unnecessary where

the PCRA court can determine from the record that there are no genuine

issues of material fact. Commonwealth v. Jones, 942 A.2d 903, 906 (Pa.

Super. 2008).

                                     -3-
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        In his first issue, Appellant claims that his sentence is illegal and he

presents a Brady5 claim. Before addressing the merits of Appellant’s claims,

we must first determine whether we have jurisdiction to entertain the

underlying PCRA Petition. See Commonwealth v. Hackett, 956 A.2d 978,

983 (Pa. 2008) (explaining that the timeliness of a PCRA Petition is a

jurisdictional requisite).

        Under the PCRA, any Petition “including a second or subsequent

petition, shall be filed within one year of the date the judgment becomes

final[.]” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1). A Judgment of Sentence becomes final

“at the conclusion of direct review, including discretionary review in the

Supreme Court of the United States and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania,

or the expiration of time for seeking the review.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(3).

The PCRA’s timeliness requirements are jurisdictional in nature, and a court

may not address the merits of the issues raised if the PCRA petition was not

timely filed.    Commonwealth v. Albrecht, 994 A.2d 1091, 1093 (Pa.

2010).

        It is well-settled that the PCRA is intended to be the “sole means of

achieving    post-conviction   relief.”     42   Pa.C.S.   §   9542;   see   also

Commonwealth v. Peterkin, 722 A.2d 638, 640 (Pa. 1998). So long as

the PCRA provides a potential remedy to a given claim, “the PCRA statute

5
    Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).

                                          -4-
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subsumes the writ of habeas corpus.” Commonwealth v. Taylor, 65 A.3d
462, 465-66 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citation omitted).

      A challenge to the legality of sentence is cognizable under the PCRA.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2)(vii); see also Commonwealth v. Beck, 848 A.2d
987, 989 (Pa. Super. 2004).        Similarly, a Brady claim is also cognizable

under the PCRA. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2) (vi); see also Commonwealth

v. Simpson, 66 A.3d 253, 264 (Pa. 2013). When raising a challenge to the

legality of his sentence, “a defendant cannot escape the PCRA time-bar by

titling his petition or motion as a writ of habeas corpus.” Commonwealth

v. Taylor, 65 A.3d 462, 466 (Pa. Super. 2013).

      Here, Appellant presents two claims that are cognizable under the

PCRA. Appellant conceded in his initial Petition that the trial court sentenced

Appellant to a term of life imprisonment on June 23, 1975. Appellant did not

file a direct appeal, thus, his Judgment of Sentence became final on July 23,

1975. In order to be timely, Appellant needed to submit any PCRA Petition

by July 23, 1976. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(3). Appellant filed this Petition on

February 12, 2013, more than 36 years after the one-year deadline. Thus,

Appellant’s Petition is facially untimely.

      Pennsylvania courts may consider an untimely PCRA petition, however,

if the appellant pleads and proves one of the three exceptions set forth in 42

Pa.C.S. § 9545(b), which provides the following:

      (b) Time for filing petition.

                                       -5-
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     (1) Any petition under this subchapter, including a second or
     subsequent petition, shall be filed within one year of the date the
     judgment becomes final, unless the petition alleges and the
     petitioner proves that:

           (i) the failure to raise the claim previously was the
           result of interference by government officials with
           the presentation of the claim in violation of the
           Constitution or laws of this Commonwealth or the
           Constitution or laws of the United States;

           (ii) the facts upon which the claim is predicated were
           unknown to the petitioner and could not have been
           ascertained by the exercise of due diligence; or

           (iii) the right asserted is a constitutional right that
           was recognized by the Supreme Court of the United
           States or the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after
           the time period provided in this section and has been
           held by that court to apply retroactively.

     (2) Any petition invoking an exception provided in paragraph (1)
     shall be filed within 60 days of the date the claim could have
     been presented.

42 Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1)-(2).    See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Lark, 746
A.2d 585, 588 (Pa. 2000) (reviewing specific facts that demonstrated the

claim had been timely raised within 60-day timeframe).

     As long as this Court has jurisdiction over the matter, a legality of

sentencing issue is reviewable and cannot be waived. Commonwealth v.

Jones, 932 A.2d 179, 182 (Pa. Super. 2007).          However, a legality of

sentencing issue must be raised in a timely filed PCRA Petition.      See 42

Pa.C.S. § 9545(b)(1); Commonwealth v. Fahy, 737 A.2d 214, 223 (Pa.

1999) (“Although legality of sentence is always subject to review within the

                                    -6-
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PCRA, claims must still first satisfy the PCRA’s time limits or one of the

exceptions thereto.”).

      After concluding that Appellant failed to plead and prove the

applicability of one of the timeliness exceptions, the PCRA court properly

dismissed this aspect of Appellant’s Writ as an untimely PCRA Petition

without a hearing. The PCRA court’s dismissal is supported by the evidence

of record and free of legal error. His attempts to obtain relief by titling his

filing a Writ of Habeas Corpus, thus, fail.

      In his second issue on appeal, Appellant argues that the trial court

abused its discretion when it failed to conduct a hearing after the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted his “Application for Leave to File

Original Process” on September 4, 2013.

      Appellant misconstrues our Supreme Court’s Order. On September 4,

2013, our Supreme Court issued a per curiam Order that granted Appellant’s

Application for Leave to File Original Process and denied Appellant’s Petition

for Writ of Habeas Corpus on the merits. See Scott v. Kerestes, No. 82

MM 2013 (Pa. filed September 4, 2013) (per curiam). Since the Supreme

Court denied his Petition on the merits, Appellant could not return to the trial

court to relitigate his Petition because the Supreme Court issued a final

Order rejecting his claims completely. Cf. Garwood v. Court of Common

Pleas Philadelphia County, 88 A.3d 969 (Pa. 2014) (per curiam) (granting

“Application for Leave to File Original Process[,]” granting “Petition for Writ

                                      -7-
J. S72017/16

of Mandamus and/or Extraordinary Relief [to the extent the Petition]

requests mandamus relief[,]” and directing the trial court “to adjudicate

Petitioner’s pending petition for writ of habeas corpus within 90 days of this

order.”).

      In his third issue, Appellant avers that the trial court improperly

refused to hold a contempt hearing or impose any sanctions for opposing

counsel’s failure to comply with the trial court’s April 8, 2015 Order directing

the parties to submit a “Joint Status Report.”

      A trial court always retains inherent contempt powers to ensure

compliance with its orders. See Lachat v. Hinchcliffe, 769 A.2d 481, 488

(Pa. Super. 2001) (“The purpose of a civil contempt proceeding is remedial.

… Judicial sanctions are employed to coerce the defendant into compliance

with the court’s order”).

      Here, the trial court’s April 8, 2015 Order directed the parties to file a

Joint Status Report and proposed Case Management Order after observing

“there has been no docket activity for at least two years.” Trial Court Order,

4/8/15, at 1. The Order stated, in relevant part:

      Failure of each counsel for a party and/or pro se parties to fully
      and meaningfully participate in the filing of a comprehensive
      Joint Status Report will result in such party and/or counsel being
      compelled to attend a formal Sanctions/Contempt Hearing to
      determine appropriate civil sanctions including fines, sanction
      fees, preclusion orders, disciplinary referral, case dismissal, etc.

Id. at 2.

                                     -8-
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      First, Appellant never filed a Petition for Contempt, so Appellant

arguably waived this issue. See Pa.R.A.P. 302(a) (“Issues not raised in the

lower court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.”).

Second, the trial court was not obligated to impose sanctions based on the

plain terms of the Order. Rather, the trial court simply left open the door to

contempt proceedings to ensure compliance with its Order.            The Order

served to clarify the court’s expectations and to put the parties on notice

that sanctions exist to ensure compliance with the trial court’s Order “to fully

and meaningfully participate” in filing a Joint Status Report.       Trial Court

Order, 4/8/15, at 2. The trial court retained the discretion to decide whether

the parties complied with the Order, and if not, whether sanctions would be

appropriate.

      We discern no error of law regarding the trial court’s refusal to conduct

contempt proceedings or impose sanctions, particularly where Appellant

failed to file a Petition for Contempt stating how any party failed to comply

with the Order. Accordingly, Appellant’s third issue is meritless.

      In his fourth issue, Appellant complains that the trial court failed to

submit a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion, which “constitute[d] an abdication of

duty [and an] abuse of discretion.” Appellant’s Brief at 3.

      Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) states, in relevant part, as follows:

      (a) Opinion in support of order.

      (1) General rule.--Except as otherwise prescribed by this rule,
      upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the judge who entered the

                                     -9-
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      order giving rise to the notice of appeal, if the reasons for the
      order do not already appear of record, shall forthwith file of
      record at least a brief opinion of the reasons for the order, or for
      the rulings or other errors complained of, or shall specify in
      writing the place in the record where such reasons may
      be found.

Pa.R.A.P. 1925 (emphasis added).

      The trial court filed its Rule 1925(a) Opinion on June 14, 2016, which

incorporated its February 22, 2013 Order and stated “the issues raised by

Appellant … are adequately addressed in the February 22, 2013 Order, and

no additional opinion will be filed.” Trial Court Opinion, filed 6/14/16, at 1.

      The trial court’s formal Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) Opinion directed this Court

to the place in the record where the reasons for the Order may be found,

namely, the February 22, 2013 Order.          Accordingly, Appellant’s claim is

frivolous, unsupported by the record, and merits no relief.

      In sum, Appellant’s PCRA Petition was facially untimely and he did not

plead and prove the applicability of any of the three statutory timeliness

exceptions.    Accordingly, the PCRA court properly dismissed Appellant’s

PCRA Petition. We, thus, affirm the denial of PCRA relief.

      Order affirmed.

      President Judge Gantman joins the memorandum.

      Judge Strassburger concurs in the result.

                                     - 10 -
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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 1/19/2017

                          - 11 -
                                            IMAC-ED              Circulated 01/09/2017 12:32 PM

          IN THE COMMONWEAL TH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Reginald C. Scott,
                         Appellant            {7, 0/3   c v'   !cl c./3   /J7i
             V.                             No. 1123 C.D. 2015         ... ~
                                            Submitted: November 6~2015 1      (...)
John Kersetes, Edward M. Marsico, Jr.
and Kathleen Kane

BEFORE:      HONORABLE BERNARD L. McGINLEY, Judge                              u,
                                                                               .....J
             HONORABLE ROBERT SIMPSON, Judge
             HONORABLE ROCHELLE S. FRIEDMAN, Senior Judge

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE SIMPSON                        FILED: January 5, 2016

            Reginald C. Scott (Scott), representing himself, appeals from an order
of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County (trial court) affirming the
dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum (petition)
because he did not file an appropriate appeal to the appropriate appellate court
within the relevant timeframe and directing the Prothonotary to mark the case
closed.   Scott claims the trial court erred by closing his case without                first

conducting a hearing or entering an opinion pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1925(a). Upon
review, we are constrained to vacate and remand.

            Scott is an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy
(SCI-Mahanoy).    He is serving a life sentence based on a 1975 conviction for
second degree murder and robbery.
                                                    -                                -   ..

                                      In February 2013, Scott commenced this action by filing the petition
                      with the trial court against John Kerestes, Superintendent at SCI-Mahanoy, Edward
                      M. Marsico, Jr., District Attorney of Dauphin County, and Kathleen Kane,
                      Attorney     General    for   the    Commonwealth    of Pennsylvania      ( collectively,
                      Appellees). In essence, Scott argued his conviction, sentencing and imprisonment
                      were illegal.     Specifically, Scott claimed he was denied due process because
                      authorities charged him with murder generally, not with second degree murder, for
                      which he was convicted.             He also asserted the Department of Corrections
                      (Department) does not possess a copy of his signed sentencing order.            On these
                      grounds, he sought relief from the alleged unlawful restraint of his liberty.

                                      On February 22, 2013, the trial court (through the Honorable
                      Lawrence F. Clark, Jr.) entered an order denying the petition.          The trial court
                      explained Scott did not pay the required filing fee or petition for leave to proceed
                      informa pauperis. Nevertheless, the trial court determined Scott's petition was an
                      improper filing under Section 6503 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C.S. §6503. This
                      Section provides: "an application for habeas corpus to inquire into the cause of
                      detention may be brought by or on behalf of any person restrained of his liberty
                      within this Commonwealth under any pretense whatsoever." 42 Pa. C.S. §6503(a).
                      However, "[ w ]here a person is restrained by virtue of sentence after conviction for
                      a criminal offense, the writ of habeas corpus shall not be available if a remedy may
                      be had by post-conviction hearing proceedings authorized by law." 42 Pa. C.S.
                      §6503(b).

                                                                   2

-·---··   ---·-----    .......   -----------------------------
                        The trial court      found   Scott attempted      to resurrect    an otherwise

          untimely filing through      his petition when the proper vehicle for the averments

          alleged therein was a petition for post-conviction        relief.   Section 9542 of the Post

          Conviction Relief Act (PCRA), 42 Pa. C.S. §9542, provides an "action established
          in this subchapter shall be the sole means of obtaining collateral relief and
          encompasses all other common law and statutory remedies for the same purpose
          that exist when this subchapter takes effect, including habeas corpus." Thus, the
          trial court concluded Scott's exclusive method of recourse was through the PCRA,
          and it denied Scott's petition. Tr. Ct. Order, 2/22/13 (Clark, J.).

                        On March 5, 2013, Scott filed a "notice of objections and appeal" with
          the trial court addressed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. See Certified Record
          (C.R.), Item No. 6.       Then, in May 2013, Scott sought habeas relief from the
          Supreme Court by filing another petition for writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum
          and an application for leave to file original process.1         On September 4, 2013, the
          Supreme Court granted Scott's application for leave to file original process, and it
          denied the petition for writ of habeas corpus. Scott v. Kerestes (Pa., No. 82 M.M.
          2013, per curiam order filed September 25, 2013).                      Scott did not seek
          reconsideration, and the original jurisdiction case before the Supreme Court was
          closed.

                    I
                   See Section 721 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C.S. §721 (the Supreme Court shall have
          original but not exclusive jurisdiction of habeas corpus actions); Pa. R.A.P. 3307 (the initial
          pleading in an original jurisdiction action filed in the Supreme Court must be accompanied by an
          application for leave to file such pleading).

                                                         3

······-    ..•.   · -·-··--------------------------····-·····-·-··
                                         Notwithstanding, the matter initiated in the trial court remained open
                         and inactive for two years. In May 2015, the trial court (through the Honorable
                         Bruce F. Bratton) entered a notice of proposed termination for inactivity.               Scott
                         filed a statement of intention to proceed. The trial court then directed the parties to
                         move the case forward toward settlement, arbitration, trial or other disposition.
                         The trial court ordered the parties to file a comprehensive joint status report, and it
                         advised if any party fails to participate in the filing of a joint status report, such
                         party may be held in contempt.

                                         Thereafter,   Scott,    acting    alone,    filed    a      document     titled
                         "Comprehensive Joint Status Report" report, which the trial court rejected because
                         it did not contain the consent of all parties to the action.         Tr. Ct. Order, 5/4/15
                         (Bratton, J.); see C.R., Item No. 12.

                                         The Department, acting on behalf of Superintendent Kerestes, filed a
                         suggestion of mootness.         It asserted Scott never properly served any of the
                         Appellees when he filed his petition with the trial court.               After the trial court
                         denied Scott's     petition and dismissed the case, Scott sought relief from the
                         Supreme Court by filing another petition, which the Court denied.                         The
                         Department further asserted that Scott attempted to litigate the same issue on
                         several occasions, which was likewise dismissed.2            Insofar as Scott claimed he

                                     2
                                   Specifically, the Department asserted Scott filed a federal complaint against
                         Superintendent Kerestes and District Attorney Marsico, which the federal court dismissed under
                         28 U.S.C. §1915(2)(2)(B)(i) (authorizing dismissal of frivolous or malicious actions). See
                         Certified Record, Item No. 13, at ,r,r9&10 & Ex. E. He also filed another petition against
                         Superintendent Kerestes, which the trial court denied. Id. at ,r,r11 &12 & Ex. G.

                                                                       4

-·······-······   . ···---   .....   ------        ------------------------                                                ......   ......
                                                                          .......

 should be released because the Department lacks a signed sentencing order, the
 Department asserted this argument lacks merit. On these grounds, the Department
 requested dismissal of the case as moot.

                On May 27, 2015, the trial court affirmed the February 22, 2013
order, dismissed the petition, and directed the Prothonotary to mark the case
closed. The trial court explained its "review of the docket shows that [Scott] did
not file an appropriate appeal to the appropriate appellate court within the relevant
time frame." Tr. Ct. Order, 5/27/15. The trial court reaffirmed its reasoning in its
Rule 1925(a) statement, without further analysis. Tr. Ct. Order, 8/18/15 (Bratton,
J.). Scott appealed to this Court.3

                On appeal," Scott asks whether the trial court erred when it dismissed
his petition and closed the docket. He claims the trial court acted in contempt of
the Supreme Court's order, which granted original process, by not conducting a

        3
        We note that jurisdiction over this appeal properly lies with the Superior Court because
the appeal involves an action in the nature of an application for a writ of habeas corpus. See
Section 742 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C.S. §742 (Superior Court has jurisdiction over appeals
from final orders entered by the courts of common pleas unless such classes of appeals are within
the exclusive jurisdiction of Commonwealth Court); Section 762(a)(l)(i) of the Judicial Code,
42 Pa. C.S. §762(a)(l)(i) (Commonwealth Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of appeals
from final orders of the courts of common pleas in original jurisdiction cases except actions or
proceedings in the nature of applications for a writ of habeas corpus); see also Commonwealth v.
Clutter, 615 A.2d 362, 364 (Pa. Super. 1992) (Superior Court has jurisdiction over an appeal
from a final order denying a petition for the writ of habeas corpus). Since neither party objected
to our jurisdiction, we will exercise our discretion to hear the merits of this appeal in the interests
of judicial economy. See Commonwealth v. Snyder, 829 A.2d 783 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003).
       4
         The sole issue for review is whether trial court erred when it dismissed Scott's petition
and closed the docket. As this presents a question oflaw, appellate review is plenary. Skipworth
by Williams v. Lead Indus. Ass'n., Inc., 690 A.2d 169 (Pa. 1997).

                                                  5

     ·-------~-------------------------                                                                   -   .
                                                                                         ·-
              proper hearing. In addition, Scott maintains the trial court violated its own order
              by not taking action                   against     Appellees   for their nonparticipation   in the
              comprehensive joint status report. Finally, Scott asserts the trial court abdicated its
              duty or abused its discretion by not rendering an opinion in accordance with
              Pa. R.A.P. 1925(a).

                                      First, we examine whether the trial court erred when it dismissed
              Scott's petition and closed the docket. According to the trial court, Scott "did not
              file an appropriate appeal to the appropriate appellate court within the relevant
              time frame." Tr. Ct. Order, 5/27 /15. However, our review of the docket reveals
              Scott timely filed a notice of appeal with the trial court on March 5, 2013.                 C.R.,
              Item No. 6, Notice of Appeal.                      March 5, 2013 is well within 30 days of the
              February 22, 2013 final order. See Pa. R.A.P. 903 (the notice of appeal must be
              filed within 30 days of the final order). Scott requested "appellate review in the
              Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for determination of whether or not remand is
              proper and the writ must issue." C.R., Item No. 6, Notice of Appeal, at 3.

                                      Although the proper forum for appeal was the Superior Court, not the
              Supreme Court,' the validity of the appeal was not affected by this defect.
              Pa. R.A.P. 902; see Brown v. Levy, 993 A.2d 364 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010). Rule 902
              of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure provides, with emphasis added:

                                      An appeal permitted by law as of right from a lower court
                                      to an appellate court shall be taken by filing a notice of
                                      appeal with the clerk of the lower court within the time
                                      allowed by Rule 903 (time for appeal). Failure of an

                            5
                                See 42 Pa. C.S. §742; Clutter.

                                                                      6

-······   _   __   ,,,,,,                                                                                          ··--·-   ··
                         appellant to take any step other than the timely filing of a
                         notice of appeal does not affect the validity of the appeal,
                         but it is subject to such action as the appellate court
                         deems appropriate, which may include, but is not limited
                         to, remand of the matter to the lower court so that the
                         omitted procedural step may be taken.

          Id. The timely filing of the appeal constitutes substantial compliance with the rule.
          Stout v. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co., 421 A.2d 1047 (Pa. 1980); Levy.
          Dismissal for failure to take a step other than the timely filing of the appeal is not
          favored. Stout.

                         Upon review, Scott filed a timely notice of appeal with the trial court
          from the February 22, 2013 order. Consequently, we conclude the trial court erred
          by dismissing Scott's petition and closing the docket on the basis that he did not
          "file an appropriate appeal to the appropriate appellate court within the relevant
          time frame." Tr. Ct. Order, 5/27/15.

                         Notwithstanding,     we are unable to discern what happened to Scott's
          appeal. It does not appear that the trial court transmitted the appeal to an appellate
          court pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 905(b)6 as our review of the dockets of the Supreme
          Court, Superior Court, as well as this Court shows no appeal.

                 6
                      Rule 905(b) provides "[t]he clerk shall immediately transmit to the prothonotary of the
          appellate court named in the notice of appeal a copy of the notice of appeal showing the date of
          receipt .... "

                                                          7

··"·-·-     ,,             _ _______________________                                                      _.    .
             Accordingly, we are constrained to vacate the trial court's May 27,
2015 order, and we remand to that court to process Scott's March 5, 2013 notice of
appeal and to transmit it to the prothonotary of the Superior Court as timely filed.

                                                                   '--~~
                                       ROBERT SIMPS        -¥ ~,    udge
                                                           ti

                                         8

    ·----··--         -··----------------------~
           IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Reginald C. Scott,
                          Appellant                                      c...

             v.                           No. 1123 C.D. 2015

John Kersetes, Edward M. Marsico, Jr.
and Kathleen Kane                                                               -.
                                                                                cf\
                                                                                ..J

                                      ORDER

             AND NOW, this 5th day of January, 2016, the order of the Court of
Common Pleas of Dauphin County is hereby VA CA TED and this matter is
REMANDED to the trial court for proceedings consistent with the foregoing
opiruon.

             Jurisdiction relinquished.

                                                                  Certifiedfromthe Record

                                                                      JAN - 5 2016

                                                                      andOrderExJt