Court Opinion

ID: 9705916
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 01:26:25.474313+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:17.423059
License: Public Domain

CIRILLO, President Judge
concurring and dissenting.
I join in Part I of the majority’s decision on the issue of liability. However, I must respectfully dissent to the majority’s resolution of the delay damages issue in Part II.
In my opinion, rule 238, because it operates to modify the substantive rights of the parties, exceeds the rule-making authority of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and is therefore unconstitutional.1 In my view, the supreme court did not have the authority to promulgate a rule which does not consider the fault of both the defendant and the plaintiff. Were a truly fault-based rule to be implemented, which would determine the fault of either party, assessment of damages against a defendant according to his or her fault would be seen as a sanction, a constitutionally permitted act on the part of the supreme court. This rule, however, as *492conceded by this court, is a prejudgment interest rule which works, not only to facilitate settlement, but to make the plaintiff whole by reimbursing him or her for inability to use funds rightfully his or hers. No other conclusion may be drawn from the assessment of damages against the defendant for delay not caused by that defendant. As such, the rule modifies the substantive rights of the parties involved. Prior to rule 238, prejudgment interest was not permitted in tort actions seeking to recover unliquidated damages. See Girard Trust Corn Exchange Bank v. Brinks, Inc., 422 Pa. 48, 220 A.2d 827 (1966).2
Penalizing a plaintiff for his or her fault in delaying the trial process does not insure that a faultless defendant will be insulated from punishment. The rule, as it is now applied, will punish a defendant simply because he or she chooses to litigate a case by assigning to him or her the responsibility for all delay regardless of fault which cannot be directly attributed to the plaintiff. Under new rule 238, the defendant is punished simply because he or she is a defendant. This is an obvious enlargement of the substantive duties owed, an enlargement which, under the constitution of this Commonwealth, requires legislative action. I find the rule as presently written is therefore invalid.
I would reverse the award of delay damages.

. I believe that the new rule is also unconstitutional because it is unfair to defendants. See Schrock v. Albert Einstein Medical Center, Daroff Division, 386 Pa.Super. 215, 562 A.2d 875 (1989) (en banc) (Cirillo, P.J., dissenting) (constitutional issues must be reached because there was no mechanism in place for issue preservation).

. It should be noted that in Marrazzo v. Scranton Nehi Bottling Co., Inc., 438 Pa. 72, 263 A.2d 336 (1970), the supreme court vacated a judgment and remanded for a determination by the trial court of whether damages for delay should be included in the compensation awarded the plaintiff. Id., 438 Pa. at 77, 263 A.2d at 338. The court made it clear, however, that it envisioned a finding of fault on the part of the defendant before he or she could be liable for that delay:
“If the fault in nonpayment of the claim rests with the defendant, he cannot complain if he is required to compensate for the delay. If on the other hand the fault lies with the plaintiff by reason of an excessive and unconscionable demand, one which the defendant is required to protect himself against by litigation, he should not be penalized for the unwarranted conduct of the plaintiff, and required to pay damages for the delay in the settlement of the claim.”
Id., 438 Pa. at 75, 263 A.2d at 338 (quoting Pierce v. Lehigh Valley Coal Co. (No. 2), 232 Pa. 170, 172, 81 A. 142, 143 (1911)).