Court Opinion

ID: 4162021
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-20 19:18:37.396046+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:56.730084
License: Public Domain

J-A28025-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

J.K., A MINOR, BY B.K., GUARDIAN,               IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
B.K., R.K. AND A.O., AND HIS PARENTS                  PENNSYLVANIA
G.O. AND S.O.,

                            Appellants

                       v.

THE HILL SCHOOL AND ZACHARY G.
LEHMAN,

                            Appellees                No. 842 EDA 2016

                 Appeal from the Order Entered March 4, 2016
             In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
                      Civil Division at No(s): 2016-03886

BEFORE: PANELLA, SHOGAN, and PLATT,* JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.:                            FILED APRIL 20, 2017

       Appellants, J.K., a minor, by B.K. Guardian, B.K., R.K. and A.O., and

his parents G.O. and S.O., appeal from the order that granted the request of

Appellees, The Hill School and Zachary G. Lehman, to dissolve a special

injunction.1 We affirm.

       The trial court summarized the factual and procedural history of this

case as follows:

              I. FACTS
____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
  An order dissolving an injunction is appealable pursuant to Pennsylvania
Rule of Appellate Procedure 311(a)(4).
J-A28025-16

            [J.K.] and [A.O.] (“Appellants,” collectively, or “[J.]” or
     “[A.],” individually) were senior students at The Hill School
     (“Hill”), Appellee, a residential private educational institution in
     Pottstown, PA. On February 14, 2016, dorm parent Nathanial
     Yinger (“Yinger”) found Appellants and another student,
     nonparty “G,” in a closet in the basement of Wendell Dormitory.
     Yinger testified that he was taking his trash out when he noticed
     somebody entering the closet, an area off-limits to students.
     When he opened the door, he smelled marijuana and found
     Appellants and G inside, spraying air freshener. [A.] was in
     possession of a vaporizer, an apparatus commonly used to
     consume marijuana. The vaporizer was loaded with a “very
     small amount of marijuana.” Appellants walked away from the
     scene while G remained with Yinger.

            Appellants reported hearing that G invoked the “I Care”
     system on behalf of himself and Appellants. I Care is a system
     set forth in the Student Handbook, and is incorporated by
     reference in the Re-enrollment Contracts (“Contracts”) signed by
     Appellants’ parents. I Care is short for “Immediate Care” and
     allows students to “care for each other by seeking the assistance
     of an adult in dangerous situations without fear of dismissal or
     other disciplinary action.” Under the I Care system, students
     may bring him/herself or another student under the influence of
     a substance to any adult in the school community without
     fearing a disciplinary response. I Care must be student initiated.
     A student’s attempt to initiate the I Care system is invalid if “an
     adult has already observed, obtained evidence, or is
     investigating that a violation has occurred.” Accordingly, the I
     Care system may only be invoked “before any adult discovers or
     is investigating that a violation has occurred.” Outside of I Care,
     Headmaster Zachary Lehman, Appellee, testified that it is Hill’s
     policy to immediately dismiss students found in violation of Hill’s
     drug policies.     As discussed infra, the evidence presented
     supports his testimony.

           Based on G’s representations, Appellants were under the
     impression that they were under the protection of I Care. As a
     result, they cooperated with Yinger and the other faculty,
     voluntarily handing over contraband from their rooms and
     consenting to a urine test. No faculty member ever expressly
     stated to the students that they were accepted into the I Care
     system.     Appellants were instructed to compose written
     statements describing the event.         Headmaster Lehman

                                    -2-
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     instructed the deans to conduct a proper and thorough
     investigation of the incident. Thereafter, Headmaster Lehman
     informed Appellants that they were officially dismissed from the
     Hill School.    [J.] admitted that he “attempted” to smoke
     marijuana, and that the closet smelled of marijuana when Yinger
     opened the door. [A.] and [J.] have both used marijuana in the
     dormitory on multiple occasions.

           II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

            On February 29, 2016, Appellants initiated the above-
     captioned matter by filing a Complaint styled as a “Complaint in
     Equity” despite the abolishment of a separate action in equity
     and recognition of the “consolidated civil action” providing the
     vehicle for appropriate relief, be it legal or equitable. On the
     same day, Appellants filed a Petition for Special and Preliminary
     Injunctive Relief pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1531(a). Both filings
     requested an injunction ordering Appellees to 1) immediately
     reinstate Appellants in the 12th grade at Hill, 2) to refrain from
     notifying any prep school or college to which Appellants may
     apply or have appl[ied] of the dismissals, 3) to provide the
     teacher recommendations [J.] needed to apply to post-graduate
     educational programs at other prep schools, and 4) to not
     interfere with Appellants’ education or opportunities to further
     their educations.

           In support of the request for special relief, Appellants
     asserted that they had been summarily dismissed from Hill after
     they had invoked the protection of the I Care Program.
     Appellants impressed upon the Court the severe consequences of
     dismissing Appellants just three (3) months before their
     graduation with possible ramifications on their pursuit of post-
     secondary education.

            After reviewing all filings and appreciating the gravity and
     alleged arbitrariness of the situation as alleged in the petition for
     special relief, this Court issued an order providing temporary
     relief and, pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1531(d) scheduled a hearing for
     March 2, 2016 to determine whether the Court should continue
     to exercise jurisdiction over the matter and consider whether the
     order granting temporary relief should remain in place in its
     original form.1

                                     -3-
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              1
                The March 1, 2016 Scheduling Order (docketed on
              March 2, 2016) scheduling arguments makes
              reference to the Emergency Petition for Special and
              Preliminary Injunctive Relief filed by Plaintiffs on
              February 29, 2016.      The record reflects that all
              parties understood the purpose of the hearing was to
              address     Defendants’   Emergency     Motion    to
              Reconsider and Dissolve Ex Parte Mandatory
              Injunction.

             On March 1, 2016, Appellees filed an Emergency Motion to
        Reconsider and Dissolve Ex Parte Mandatory Injunction.

Trial Court Opinion, 5/5/16, at 2-4 (internal citations omitted).      The trial

court held hearings on March 2, 3, and 4, 2016. On March 4, 2016, the trial

court entered an order dissolving the special injunction dated February 29,

2016.     This timely appeal followed.    Appellants and the trial court have

complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

        Appellants present their issues for our review as follows:

               Whether this Court should vacate the Trial Court’s Order
        dissolving the Special Injunction . . . because Appellants
        demonstrated substantial legal questions and/or that they were
        likely to prevail on the merits of their breach of contract claim,
        where: (A) the Headmaster’s unilateral dismissal of [J.] and [A.],
        based on suspected drug use that did not take place in a
        dormitory, violated the Campus Regulations and other portions
        of The Hill School Handbook; (B) the School failed to conduct a
        “proper investigation” to determine if [J.] and [A.] were guilty
        “beyond a reasonable doubt” prior to dismissal, in further
        violation of the Campus Regulations; and (C) [J.] and [A.] relied
        to their detriment on a request for Immediate Care (a “system”
        relating to controlled substance use promulgated by the School
        “to allow students to get help for themselves or other students
        without the threat of a disciplinary response”) by fully
        cooperating with school personnel (providing inculpatory
        materials and statements as requested), only to find themselves
        expelled with eight weeks of classes remaining, and with a
        permanent record of dismissal that removed them from

                                       -4-
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      consideration by most universities, and eliminated any possibility
      that [J.] could attend a post-graduate year at a different college
      preparatory school to further develop his skills in soccer before
      enrolling at a university.

Appellants’ Brief at 5-6.    Appellants argue that the trial court erred in

dissolving the injunction that had been granted in their favor.      Appellants’

Brief at 34-37.      Essentially, Appellants contend that the trial court

improperly concluded that Appellants failed to demonstrate that they were

likely to prevail on the merits of their breach of contract claim.

      Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1531 governs injunctions and

provides that:

             (a) A court shall issue a preliminary or special injunction
      only after written notice and hearing unless it appears to the
      satisfaction of the court that immediate and irreparable injury
      will be sustained before notice can be given or a hearing held, in
      which case the court may issue a preliminary or special
      injunction without a hearing or without notice. In determining
      whether a preliminary or special injunction should be granted
      and whether notice or a hearing should be required, the court
      may act on the basis of the averments of the pleadings or
      petition and may consider affidavits of parties or third persons or
      any other proof which the court may require.

Pa.R.C.P. 1531(a).

      The rule further requires the following in the event that the court

grants an ex parte injunction:

            (d) An injunction granted without notice to the defendant
      shall be deemed dissolved unless a hearing on the continuance
      of the injunction is held within five days after the granting of the
      injunction or within such other time as the parties may agree or
      as the court upon cause shown shall direct.

                                      -5-
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Pa.R.C.P. 1531(d).    Then, “[a]fter a preliminary hearing, the court shall

make an order dissolving, continuing or modifying the injunction.” Pa.R.C.P.

1531(e).

      We have stated that “[a] preliminary injunction’s purpose is to

preserve the status quo and to prevent imminent and irreparable harm that

might occur before the merits of a case can be heard and determined.”

Ambrogi v. Reber, 932 A.2d 969, 976 (Pa. Super. 2007).             A petitioner

seeking a preliminary injunction must establish every one of the following

prerequisites; if the petitioner fails to establish any one of them, there is no

need to address the others.     Kessler v. Broder, 851 A.2d 944, 947 (Pa.

Super. 2004) (citing Summit Towne Centre, Inc. v. Shoe Show of Rocky

Mt., Inc., 828 A.2d 995 (Pa. 2003)).

      First, a party seeking a preliminary injunction must show that an
      injunction is necessary to prevent immediate and irreparable
      harm that cannot be adequately compensated by damages.
      Second, the party must show that greater injury would result
      from refusing an injunction than from granting it, and,
      concomitantly, that issuance of an injunction will not
      substantially harm other interested parties in the proceedings.
      Third, the party must show that a preliminary injunction will
      properly restore the parties to their status as it existed
      immediately prior to the alleged wrongful conduct. Fourth, the
      party seeking an injunction must show that the activity it
      seeks to restrain is actionable, that its right to relief is
      clear, and that the wrong is manifest, or, in other words,
      must show that it is likely to prevail on the merits. Fifth,
      the party must show that the injunction it seeks is reasonably
      suited to abate the offending activity. Sixth and finally, the
      party seeking an injunction must show that a preliminary
      injunction will not adversely affect the public interest.

                                     -6-
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Id. (emphasis added).      In addition, we have held “that the relationship

between a private educational institution and an enrolled student is

contractual in nature; therefore, a student can bring a cause of action

against said institution for breach of contract where the institution ignores or

violates portions of the written contract.” Swartley v. Hoffner, 734 A.2d
915, 919 (Pa. Super. 1999).

      Further, we are mindful that “an appellate court reviews an order

granting or denying a preliminary injunction for an abuse of discretion.”

SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth, 104 A.3d 495, 501

(Pa. 2014). We do not examine the merits of the lawsuit and instead, must

determine if “there were any apparently reasonable grounds for the action of

the court below.”     Id. (citation omitted).     “[T]he scope of review in

preliminary injunction matters is plenary.” Warehime v. Warehime, 860
A.2d 41, 46 n.7 (Pa. 2004).

      Initially, Appellants assert that their dismissal by the headmaster was

improper because the violation of school rules did not occur in a dormitory.

Appellants’ Brief at 37-42. Appellants claim that the area where they were

discovered with the marijuana was merely an off-limits closet area in the

basement of the building that did not meet the definition of a dormitory. As

such, Appellants believe that a Discipline Committee should have handled

the matter, not the headmaster.

                                     -7-
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      Our review of the record reflects that the parents of Appellants entered

into contracts on behalf of Appellants. The contracts state:

      I agree to the policy of the School which reserves the right to
      dismiss any student whose behavior or academic performance is
      decreed unsatisfactory. I acknowledge that my child/ward and I
      are aware that the School has issued certain rules and
      regulations, and that a student is subject to them as they may
      be revised from time to time.

Exhibits P-1 and P-3.    Furthermore, the Hill Student Handbook, offers the

following, in pertinent part, with regard to “Level 3 Offenses:”

      A student who fails to fulfill the basic responsibilities may lose
      the privilege of attending The Hill School, either temporarily in
      the case of suspension, or permanently in the case of required
      withdrawal.     The Headmaster, without convening the
      Discipline Committee, has the right to require the
      immediate withdrawal of any student at any time.

                                     * * *

      Substance Use. Students are expected to remain drug and
      alcohol free at all times. The use of illegal drugs and/or alcohol
      and the misuse of over-the-counter or prescription drugs by
      students on or off campus harm both individuals and the
      community (refer to Medication Policy, p. 48).           It violates
      federal, state, and local laws; it adversely affects the individual’s
      physical, mental, and emotional development; and it lowers the
      expectations of other students by setting a poor example of what
      it is to be a student at The Hill. The School is committed to
      preventing the use of drugs and alcohol by Hill students,
      especially in our dormitories. The School must ensure
      that our dormitories are safe havens for all residents.
      Every student in school must be assured that his or her
      residence will be a safe, wholesome place, free of alcohol
      and illegal drugs.          Therefore, a student found in
      possession of alcohol or illegal drugs, or under their
      influence in the dormitory, will be required to withdraw
      from the School immediately.

                                      -8-
J-A28025-16

      The Discipline Committee will not review violations of our
      alcohol and drug rules in the dormitory. Instead, in such
      cases the student will be immediately dismissed,
      following a proper investigation (that determines his or
      her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt).

The Hill School Handbook at 41 (emphases added).

      In addressing this contention by Appellants that their dismissal by the

headmaster was improper because they were not in a dormitory, we observe

that the trial court offered the following cogent analysis:

      These “rules and regulations” [in the contracts signed by
      Appellants’ parents] refer to those set forth in the Student
      Handbook. The Student Handbook endows the headmaster with
      the authority to immediately dismiss students without convening
      the Discipline Committee. (Exhibit D-1 at 41). This power is
      described under the section entitled “Level 3 Offenses,” which
      includes substance use rules.       (Id.).    The “Substance Use”
      subsection states, “Therefore, a student found in possession of
      alcohol or illegal drugs, or under their influence in the dormitory,
      will be required to withdraw from the school immediately.” (Id.).
      If a student is caught with drugs in the dormitory, the student
      will be “immediately dismissed, following a proper investigation
      (that determines his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt).”
      (Id.). If a student is caught outside the dormitory, the Discipline
      Committee “will have discretion to respond appropriately to
      violations of these school rules.” (Id.).

             Appellants contend that because they were caught with
      marijuana in the basement of a dormitory, they were technically
      not within a “dormitory” and therefore beyond the reach of this
      rule. (N.T. 3/3/16, 12:8-13-7). They argue that the basement
      was a common area accessible by female students, while the
      dormitories were gender-restricted. Therefore, the basement
      was separate and apart from the dormitory and not subject to
      the same rules. This argument is without merit. Regardless of
      whether the violation took place in the dormitory proper is
      irrelevant because the headmaster has plenary authority “to
      require the immediate withdrawal of any student at any time.”
      (Exhibit D-1 at 41). If the headmaster decides to not dismiss, as
      is his right, then the Discipline Committee may take action in

                                      -9-
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       cases of violations outside the dormitory.       In addition, the
       Student Handbook sets forth steps that will be “automatically
       implemented” in “substance use cases where the Headmaster
       decides that a student may remain part of the community.”
       (Id.) (emphasis added). The structure of Level 3 Offenses
       section of the Student Handbook clearly provides the
       headmaster the authority to expel in any substance use case.
       Therefore, the Court finds the classification of the basement to
       be irrelevant.

Trial Court Opinion 5/5/16, at 8-9.

       We are constrained to agree with the trial court that whether the

violation occurred in the basement of the building or in a sleeping room of

the building is of no moment.            As the Commonwealth Court, our sister

appellate court, has aptly noted, “A University dormitory is not exclusively

residential; it is an integral part of the overall educational experience.”

Greaton Properties, Inc. v. Lower Merion Township, 796 A.2d 1038,

1044 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002).2 We discern no error on the part of the trial court

in concluding that the basement area of the building where Appellants were

discovered qualifies as part of the dormitory and that the headmaster, not a

discipline committee, had the right to make a decision regarding dismissal

for violation of the drug policies set forth in the student handbook.

       Appellants next contend that they were improperly dismissed because

Appellees failed to conduct a proper investigation. Appellants’ Brief at 42-
____________________________________________

2
  “Although decisions of the Commonwealth Court are not binding on this
Court, we may rely on them if we are persuaded by their reasoning.”
NASDAQ OMX PHLX, Inc. v. PennMont Secs., 52 A.3d 296, 308 n.7 (Pa.
Super. 2012).

                                          - 10 -
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45.    Appellants note that dismissal would be preceded by a proper

investigation and a determination of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

      As the trial court observed:

      The spirit of the [Hill School’s anti-drug] policy is clear: students
      found in possession of marijuana are liable for immediate
      expulsion.     See Boehm [v. University of Pennsylvania
      School of Veterinary Medicine, 573 A.2d 575,] 579 [Pa.
      Super. 1990)] (“The general rule, therefore, has been that
      where a private university or college establishes procedures for
      the suspension or expulsion of its student, substantial
      compliance with those established procedures must be had
      before a student can be suspended or expelled.”) (emphasis
      added).

Trial Court Opinion, 5/5/16, at 9.

      Here, after hearing three days of testimony, the trial court concluded

that Appellants failed to establish that the right to relief is clear and failed to

show that they will likely prevail on the merits.        Appellants entered into

contracts with Appellees, and courts have characterized the relationship

between a private school and its students as contractual in nature.           See

Boehm, 573 A.2d at 579 (observing that “[a] majority of the courts have

characterized the relationship between a private college and its students as

contractual in nature.”) “Therefore, students who are being disciplined are

entitled only to those procedural safeguards which the school specifically

provides.” Id.

      Again, our review of the record reflects that the Student Handbook

offers the following, in pertinent part, with regard to “Level 3 Offenses”:

                                      - 11 -
J-A28025-16

     A student who fails to fulfill the basic responsibilities may lose
     the privilege of attending The Hill School, either temporarily in
     the case of suspension, or permanently in the case of required
     withdrawal.     The Headmaster, without convening the
     Discipline Committee, has the right to require the
     immediate withdrawal of any student at any time.
     Students who are required to withdraw from the School, or
     withdraw in the face of disciplinary action, may not return to
     campus until a year after their form is graduated.

     The following are major School rules; infractions of either the
     letter or the spirit of these rules are serious disciplinary matters
     and often lead to suspension or dismissal. Students knowingly
     in the presence of these rule violations add support by their
     presence and may also be held accountable.

     Substance Use. Students are expected to remain drug and
     alcohol free at all times. The use of illegal drugs and/or alcohol
     and the misuse of over-the-counter or prescription drugs by
     students on or off campus harm both individuals and the
     community (refer to Medication Policy, p. 48).           It violates
     federal, state, and local laws; it adversely affects the individual’s
     physical, mental, and emotional development; and it lowers the
     expectations of other students by setting a poor example of what
     it is to be a student at The Hill. The School is committed to
     preventing the use of drugs and alcohol by Hill students,
     especially in our dormitories. The School must ensure that
     our dormitories are safe havens for all residents. Every student
     in school must be assured that his or her residence will be a
     safe, wholesome place, free of alcohol and illegal drugs.
     Therefore, a student found in possession of alcohol or
     illegal drugs, or under their influence in the dormitory,
     will be required to withdraw from the School immediately.

     The Discipline Committee will not review violations of our
     alcohol and drug rules in the dormitory. Instead, in such
     cases the student will be immediately dismissed,
     following a proper investigation (that determines his or
     her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt).

The Hill School Handbook at 41 (emphases added).          The above language

explains that the headmaster may immediately dismiss a student for

                                    - 12 -
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possession or use of illegal drugs following a proper investigation that

determines guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

      The record further reflects that Zachary Lehman, the headmaster at

The Hill School, offered the following testimony regarding the investigation

leading up to his ultimate decision to dismiss Appellants:

      I looked at the statements of all three boys. I looked at all the
      contraband that had been produced. I talked to both deans,
      asked them to relay the entire incident up to that point. And I
      talked to the nurse to make sure that she was conducting the
      drug test.

N.T., 3/4/16, at 41. In addition, Mr. Lehman testified as follows concerning

the timing of his decision to dismiss Appellants:

      Q. When did you make the decision that they be terminated or
      dismissed?

      A. I made that decision after I spoke with the boys one by one.

      Q. So not before?

      A. Not before.

      Q. You’re certain.

      A. I was coming to a conclusion, but I always talk to the boys
      before I let them know that they’re going to be dismissed. The
      dismissal is my decision.

Id. at 41-42 (emphasis added). Mr. Lehman further reiterated:

      Q. Your testimony is, before they were spoken with the decision
      had not been made to dismiss them as students; is that right?

      A. The only person that can dismiss students in a[n] immediate
      dismissal is me.

      Q. That is not my question.

                                    - 13 -
J-A28025-16

      A. I don’t know what other people said to them. I wasn’t in the
      room. I didn’t ask [Dean] Allain. I didn’t ask [Dean] Eccleston
      whether they had told them about dismissal.

      Q. Had you told [Dean] Allain or anyone else that they were
      going to be dismissed?

      A. I said in all likelihood they would be dismissed because this is
      an immediate dismissal situation because it was in the
      dormitory. It was very clear, beyond a reasonable doubt,
      and a proper investigation had been conducted.

      Q. And this was before you spoke with the boys, correct?

      A. Correct.

      Q. So the decision really had been made before you spoke with
      them?

      A. No. No.

Id. at 43-44 (emphasis added).          Mr. Lehman offered the following

explanation for his decision to dismiss Appellants:

      I look at the total of the evidence. But the primary reason that I
      terminated them was that they were in possession of, using and
      admitted to using marijuana in the dormitory.           That’s an
      immediate dismissal.

Id. at 59.

      Mr. Lehman also offered the following testimony regarding his

discussion with Appellants:

      Q. Did you hear them admit to using marijuana in the dormitory
      room?

      A. Yes.

      Q. You heard them say that?

      A. Yes.

                                    - 14 -
J-A28025-16

     Q. Did you hear them say that they used it in the dorm that
     day?

     A. Yes.

     Q. Did you make notes about that?

     A. I put it in my report to my attorneys that I mentioned
     previously.

     Q. And did you ask him or did they make those statements after
     you made the decision to terminate them?

     A. No.

     Q. So their admissions according to you was that they were
     smoking that day on the premises. They confessed to you and
     you decided to terminate them, is that how it went?

     A. No.

     Q. Tell me how it went then?

     A.   I asked my deans to conduct a proper and thorough
     investigation.   I reviewed all the evidence with the deans,
     including their statements, the contraband and their report --
     their verbal report on the incident that happened. I was
     contemplating all of this. It’s [a] difficult matter to dismiss
     students immediately. It’s a very serious matter. I’ve done it
     numerous times.

                                 * * *

            I make the decision. I try not to make the decision. I do
     not like dismissing students. It’s my least favorite part of the
     job.

           I went in the room and asked them had they been smoking
     marijuana and using marijuana in the dorm.

     Q. That day?

     A. That day.

                                    - 15 -
J-A28025-16

      Q. Or any other day?

      A. That day.

      Q. That day. Okay.

      A. I continued to ask them had they smoked marijuana in the
      past. They admitted to doing that as well, all three of them,
      multiple times.

      Q. They told you multiple times. That is what they said?

      A. Yeah.

Id. at 59-61.

      This testimony reveals that the decision to dismiss Appellants was

made by Mr. Lehman, as headmaster of the school, in accord and in

compliance with the provisions of the Student Handbook. As his testimony

establishes, it was Mr. Lehman who made the decision to dismiss the

students following a proper investigation that determined Appellants’ guilt,

i.e., violating the possession and drug use policies of the institution, beyond

a reasonable doubt.      This was not a departure from the established

procedure of the institution. In light of this testimony, we are constrained to

agree with the trial court that Appellants, as the party seeking an injunction,

did not show that the activity to be restrained is actionable, that the right to

relief is clear, and that the wrong is manifest, or in other words, shows a

likelihood of prevailing on the merits. Thus, we discern no error on the part

of the trial court.

                                     - 16 -
J-A28025-16

      Appellants’ final claim is that they cooperated with the investigation

only because they believed that they were immune from dismissal due to the

third student’s attempted invocation of the provisions of I Care. Appellants’

Brief at 46-50.     Appellants allege that, under a theory of promissory

estoppel, they cooperated with the investigation on the belief that they were

protected from dismissal by I Care. We conclude that such assertion fails.

      The doctrine of promissory estoppel is the law in Pennsylvania.

Thatcher’s Drug Store v. Consolidated Supermarkets, 636 A.2d 156,

160 (Pa. 1994).    A party asserting a claim of estoppel has the burden of

establishing all the essential elements. Id.

      One of those elements is that enforcement of the promise must
      be necessary to avoid injustice. Significantly,

             satisfaction of [this] requirement may depend on the
             reasonableness of the promisee’s reliance, on its
             definite and substantial character in relation to the
             remedy sought, on the formality with which the
             promise is made, on the extent to which the
             evidentiary, cautionary, deterrent and channeling
             functions of form are met by the commercial setting
             or otherwise, and on the extent to which such other
             policies as the enforcement of bargains and the
             prevention of unjust enrichment are relevant.

      Restatement (Second) Contracts § 90, comment b.

Id. (emphasis added).

      Concerning the I Care system, The Hill School Handbook provides the

following:

      Getting Help for Yourself or Another (I Care)

                                    - 17 -
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     While we believe our policies around drugs and alcohol work to
     deter student use and help the School maintain a safer
     community, we do know that a percentage of students will
     continue to experiment with substance use. Students who do
     this endanger their lives and their Hill School careers. With the
     ultimate priority of students’ physical well-being in mind we have
     created the I Care (Immediate Care) system that will allow
     students to get help for themselves or other students without
     the threat of a disciplinary response. I Care allows students to
     care for each other by seeking the assistance of an adult in
     dangerous situations without fear of dismissal or other
     disciplinary action.

     Basic Principles of I Care

     1. A student may bring him/herself or another student under
     the influence of a substance, or information concerning risky
     behavior related to substance use, to any adult in the
     community without fear of a disciplinary response.

     2. Must be student initiated.

           a. Not valid if an adult has already observed,
           obtained evidence, or is investigating that a
           violation has occurred.      In other words,
           students are bringing information to adults that
           they do not already have or would not
           otherwise become available to adults.

           b. Faculty who observe or discover a violation
           are expected to follow established disciplinary
           procedures.

     3. Students who take advantage of this system will be put on a
     no-use contract, randomly drug tested, and assessed and
     counseled as recommended by the Counseling Office.

     4. When a faculty member is following up on an I Care report,
     the student in question must cooperate fully and be honest
     about their situation. If a student denies being under the
     influence or refuses to cooperate with the faculty member, they
     will be subject to discipline.

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      5. A student who violates his or her no-use contract by either a
      positive drug test or another use of the I Care system will be
      dismissed.

      Specifics

      • Students may call or go to any adult (Security, dorm parent or
      other faculty member, Health Center) on campus with
      information about another student under the influence. A friend
      who cares will ideally escort his or her friend to an adult, but
      may need to care enough to simply let an adult know about
      another student’s current dangerous situation.

      • The above must be done before any adult discovers or is
      investigating that a violation has occurred.

      • We encourage students to care so much about their friend’s
      health and Hill career that they act immediately when they know
      of or see another student under the influence.

      • Once a student takes advantage of the I Care system, he or
      she will be taken to the Health Center for proper medical care.

The Hill School Handbook at 42 (underlying in original, bold emphases

added).

      Our review of the record reflects that Nathaniel Tuck Yinger, an

employee at The Hill School, testified before the trial court. N.T., 3/4/16, at

9-38. Mr. Yinger explained his involvement in the situation with Appellants

and non-party “G” as follows:

      I was taking my trash out. I was going through the basement of
      Wendell. And I noticed somebody going into a closet that
      students should not have access to. So I went to investigate the
      matter. I opened the closet door and found a third party known
      as G spraying air freshener.     And I detected the scent of
      marijuana.

Id. at 12. Mr. Yinger further testified:

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      I asked them what was going on. They tried to walk away. I
      stood there and insisted that they remain. And only G remained
      to be questioned.

Id. at 13. In addition, Mr. Yinger offered the following testimony:

      Q. Now, Mr. G, I think we’ll call him, he, when you opened the
      door, said I would like to put us all three in I Care, correct?

      A. No, not at that moment.

      Q. When did he say that?

      A. After he had already been questioned and confirmed my
      suspicion.

      Q. And when did that supposedly happen?

      A. So after I insisted that they remain and only [G] stayed, I
      questioned him. I told him my suspicion. [G] confirmed my
      suspicion and became very upset and distraught and demanded
      that they be put in I Care.

Id. at 15-16 (emphasis added).     Upon questioning by the trial court, the

following transpired:

      THE COURT: You said that student G confirmed your suspicion.

      [MR YINGER]: Yes.

                                   * * *

      THE COURT: What was your suspicion?

      THE WITNESS:    My suspicion was that the boys had been
      smoking marijuana and G was spraying air freshener to cover
      the scent.

      THE COURT: Okay.

Id. at 24-25.

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      Regarding actually placing the students on I Care, Mr. Yinger testified

as follows:

      Q. So after you -- did you tell any of the boys that -- did you
      make any reference to I Care when you spoke with any of those
      boys in terms of going into I Care?

      A. I said I would try. I did not promise them I Care.

      Q. You said you were going to try to put them in I Care; is that
      correct?

      A. Yes.

      Q. When did you put it that way, when you said you were going
      to try?

      A. When G became very upset and distraught and demanded
      that I put them in I Care.

Id. at 19 (emphasis added).

      This testimony reflects that the request for the protection of I Care

was initiated after Mr. Yinger had observed and began investigating the use

of illegal drugs by the students.    Under the provisions of I Care in the

Student Handbook, a student must initiate I Care “before any adult

discovers or is investigating that a violation has occurred.”       The Hill

Handbook at 42. (emphasis added).       As the handbook explains, I Care is

“[n]ot valid if an adult has already observed, obtained evidence, or is

investigating that a violation has occurred.”      Id.   (emphases added).

Because Mr. Yinger testified that I Care was requested after he observed

the suspicious behavior and began his questioning of G and his investigation,

the protections of the I Care protocol were not available to Appellants.

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Furthermore, Mr. Yinger testified that he did not promise I Care protection

and that he said he would “try.” Thus, there was no formality to any alleged

promise to initiate I Care protections.   In light of this testimony, we must

conclude that Appellants’ contrary claim fails.

      Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/20/2017

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