Court Opinion

ID: 9754384
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 19:58:02.217356+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:52.912803
License: Public Domain

CIRILLO, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. In my opinion it was error for the Honorable Eugene E.J. Maier to overrule the preclusion order entered by the Honorable Bernard J. Avellino. I would find in favor of appellant Steiman on this claim, rendering further review of this appeal unnecessary.
The majority finds that due to Boyle’s counsel’s failure to respond to Steiman’s discovery requests and Judge Avellino’s sanctions orders, the fact that the discovery materials were in the possession of Steiman at the time of Judge Avellino’s order constituted “new evidence” before Judge Maier and that the preclusion order was properly rescinded. I disagree.
There is no evidence in the record which establishes that Steiman ever had actual possession of all the discovery materials in question. Additionally, Steiman contends that he did not have possession. Even given possession, the majority loses sight of the fact that preclusion of the bills and invoices was secondary to Boyle’s failure to comply. In other words, evidence of possession does not excuse Boyle’s failure to comply with a court order or prohibit Steiman from requesting the proper discovery materials, regardless of whether the materials were subsequently found to be mere duplicates of already existing material in Steiman’s possession. Steiman *19was entitled to not only fully answered interrogatories but also all documentary evidence in pursuit of a defense to the litigation. The issue of possession is collateral to the real issue in this case: whether Judge Maier abused his discretion in rescinding an interlocutory order of a predecessor judge where the party sanctioned failed to abide by the predecessor’s prior orders?
Boyle’s counsel’s failure to respond to the interrogatories cannot constitute “new evidence.” I find no authority which states that an innocent party shall bear the brunt of an opposing party’s counsel’s mistakes. The majority’s reasoning effectuates a transfer of the prejudice of the preclusion order onto the innocent third party here and undermines both the interlocutory nature of a preclusion order and the trial court’s power of contempt. Boyle still maintains the right to appeal Judge Avellino’s order at the conclusion of the case. To hold otherwise condones piecemeal determinations which serve only to consume both time and money.
Assuming these facts do constitute new evidence, the majority fails to recognize the sole factor which determines whether or not the successor judge may rule on the earlier order based upon the discovery of the new evidence — availability of the predecessor judge. Although the majority fails to address the issue of “unavailability,” Boyle correctly acknowledges that the claim for rescission of the preclusion order based upon new evidence is proper only if Judge Avellino was unavailable at the time the motion to rescind was filed. Here, Judge Avellino was not unavailable.
Judge Maier’s order mentions nothing about new evidence but only that Judge Avellino’s order be rescinded in the “interest of justice.” Any inference of Boyle’s counsel’s inaction does not constitute “new evidence” and the consequences of any such conduct is properly borne by Boyle.
At trial, the evidence was admitted and judgment was entered in favor of Boyle in the amount of $23,475.00. The trial court in its Pa.R.AF.1925(a) opinion states that Steiman, although raising this issue in his post-trial motion, waived this *20issue by his counsel’s failure to object at trial to the admission of the previously precluded evidence. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has held it to be fundamental that the parties in a civil trial make timely and specific objections to alleged violations of evidentiary or trial procedure. The failure to do so results in a waiver of that ground on appeal. Pa.R.A.P. Rule 302; Dilliplaine v. Lehigh Valley Trust Co., 457 Pa. 255, 322 A.2d 114 (1974).
Prior to trial, Steiman’s counsel objected at oral argument to the petition to rescind the earlier discovery order granting preclusion. Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 227.1(b) provides that post-trial relief may be granted when the grounds alleged were properly objected to at trial or where the grounds, if then available, were raised in pretrial proceedings by objection or by other appropriate method. As Steiman properly raised his objection at oral argument on the petition to rescind, I. would find this issue properly included in the post-trial motion and on appeal.1
*21Further, the order entered by Judge Avellino as discovery judge was interlocutory. A pretrial discovery order which effectively precludes a party from asserting certain defenses or presenting claims is not a final and appealable order. See Bruno v. Elitzky, 515 Pa. 47, 526 A.2d 781 (1987) (sanction order for failure to respond to interrogatories is interlocutory); Joyce & Associates v. Pivirotto, 358 Pa.Super. 50, 516 A.2d 763 (1986) (preclusion orders imposed as discovery sanctions are not appealable until the conclusion of the case). At the time the disputed order was rescinded, it retained its interlocutory nature. See Pennsylvania Human Relations Comm’n v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 483 Pa. 35, 394 A.2d 525 (1978). Because the order is interlocutory, the trial court has the inherent power to reconsider its own ruling outside the 30-day limit for appeal and the trial court retains jurisdiction over the matter up until the rendition of a final disposition. Pa.R.A.P. 903; 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5505; Daywalt v. Montgomery Hosp., 393 Pa.Super. 118, 573 A.2d 1116 (1990); Atlantic Richfield Co. v. J.J. White, Inc., 302 Pa.Super. 276, 448 A.2d 634 (1982). As such, the appellate court may properly review the order only after trial. Joyce, supra.
An order issued by a court with proper jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties must be followed unless the order is subsequently reversed by orderly and proper proceedings. Philadelphia M.T. Ass’n v. International Long. Ass’n, 453 Pa. 43, 308 A.2d 98 (1973). Where a party fails to obey a court order concerning discovery, a court on proper motion may bar the disobedient party from introducing into evidence any support for claims or defenses, the subject matter of which was covered under the order. Pa.R.C.P. 4019; Hutchison By Hutchison v. Luddy, 417 Pa.Super. 93, 611 A.2d 1280 (1992). The imposition of sanctions against a party for failing to obey a discovery order is solely within the discretion of the trial court. Feingold v. Philadelphia National Bank, 313 Pa.Super. 579, 460 A.2d 339 (1983). Here, we *22are presented with the complex nature of an interlocutory discovery order entered by a predecessor judge which was subsequently reconsidered and overruled by another judge of equal jurisdiction.
It is improper for a judge of coordinate jurisdiction to overrule an interlocutory order entered by another judge in the same case. Hainsey v. Com. Pa. Liquor Control Bd., 529 Pa. 286, 602 A.2d 1300 (1992); Okkerse v. Howe, 521 Pa. 509, 556 A.2d 827 (1989); Commonwealth v. Brown, 485 Pa. 368, 402 A.2d 1007 (1979); Hutchison, supra; Golden v. Dion & Rosenau, 410 Pa.Super. 506, 600 A.2d 568 (1991); Vincent v. Fuller, Co., 400 Pa.Super. 108, 582 A.2d 1367 (1990); Salerno v. Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., 377 Pa.Super. 83, 546 A.2d 1168 (1988). It is an abuse of discretion for one judge to overrule another judge based upon the same record facts. Hainsey, supra; Commonwealth v. Griffin, 257 Pa.Super. 153, 390 A.2d 758 (1978). The rule is not based upon the second judge’s lack of power or jurisdiction to decide the matter, Atlantic Richfield, supra; rather it is founded upon sound jurisprudence based on a policy of fostering finality of pretrial applications to insure that judicial economy and efficiency can be maintained, Hainsey, supra, Hutchison, supra, Salerno, supra, Golden, supra, Vincent, supra, and preventing a coequal judge from overruling a colleague, Commonwealth v. Madden, 342 Pa.Super. 120, 492 A.2d 420 (1985); Marmara v. Rawle, 264 Pa.Super. 229, 399 A.2d 750 (1979).
The rule is also applicable to discovery orders. Roseman v. Hospital of U. of PA, 377 Pa.Super. 409, 547 A.2d 751 (1988) allocatur denied, 524 Pa. 610, 569 A.2d 1369, and 525 Pa. 619, 577 A.2d 891 (1989). However, it is not without exceptions. As the majority notes, a successor judge can reconsider and rescind a predecessor’s interlocutory order based upon a presentation of new evidence. Brown, supra; Hutchison, supra; Golden, supra; Vincent, supra; Griffin, supra; Gabovitz v. State Auto Ins. Assn., 362 Pa.Super. 17, 523 A.2d 403 (1987), appeal denied, 516 Pa. 634, 533 A.2d 92 (1987). Or, a successor judge can act on a predecessor’s order when the predecessor is unavailable due to death, retirement, expiration *23of a judicial commission, or where the predecessor is appointed to a higher court, Hutchison, supra, Duffy v. Gerst, 286 Pa.Super. 523, 429 A.2d 645 (1981), or where any relevant legal authority has been decided in the interim period that would change the outcome of the prior order. Vincent, supra; Golden, supra. Boyle argues that where a successor judge is asked to reconsider the legal conclusions of an “unavailable” predecessor, it is not improper for the second judge to reach a different conclusion than his or her colleague where “new evidence” is presented on the record.
The record discloses that Judge Avellino was transferred out of discovery motion court and that Judge Maier was directed to preside over discovery matters. Judge Maier’s replacement of Judge Avellino as discovery judge is insufficient to provide a basis for Judge Maier to reconsider Judge Avellino’s interlocutory order. The majority, in my judgment, has reached the issue of “new evidence” without clearing the hurdle of “unavailability.” Reassignment or transfer of a judge does not make that judge “unavailable” for purposes of reconsideration of those orders. Reifinger v. Holiday Inns, Inc., 315 Pa.Super. 147, 461 A.2d 839 (1983). The exceptions enumerated in Hutchison, supra, and Duffy, supra, do not encompass the reassignment of a judge to another trial division.
In Reifinger, supra, the defendant filed preliminary objections to the plaintiffs complaint based on the lack of personal jurisdiction. These objections were denied by the trial judge. Thereafter, the trial judge was reassigned to the criminal division of the same court and the case was reassigned to a second trial judge. Just prior to trial, the defendant filed a motion for summary judgment. The record before the second judge was in no respect materially different with regard to the issue of personal jurisdiction that went before the first judge. We held that the second judge abused his discretion in granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment as there was no record of new evidence having been presented. Accordingly, we concluded that absent new evidence, one judge may not overrule an interlocutory order of another judge of *24the same court in the same case. Reifinger, 315 Pa.Super. at 151, 461 A.2d at 842.
Moreover, the predecessor judge' in Reifinger, supra, remained “available” at the time the motion for summary judgment was presented. As noted, the predecessor judge had merely been transferred to another division of the same court and thus it was possible to assign the motion to him for disposition. Id. at 153, 461 A.2d at 842-43. I find guidance in this persuasive reasoning and would take this opportunity to clarify the holding of Reifmger, supra. While finding an abuse of discretion by the second judge based upon the absence of new evidence, unavailability should be a significant factor in the determination. Unavailability is always an issue when dealing with a successor judge’s ruling on a predecessor’s interlocutory order. Indeed, the general rule is based upon the presumption that a judge is available to rule on his or her own orders and the logical progression which allows deviation from the rule to permit a second judge to consider new evidence only comes to fruition where the first judge is unavailable. Therefore, rather than characterizing unavailability as an exception to the general rule, I find it is more properly characterized as the threshold question to be determined prior to a determination of the issue of new evidence being presented to successor judges. Applying this reasoning to the instant case, I would find that Judge Avellino’s transfer to another division of the same court did not constitute unavailability and, therefore Boyle’s alleged new evidence presented to Judge Maier is irrelevant.
The impracticality of mandating that a party pursue a predecessor judge who was merely transferred or no longer assigned to a particular case, but who remains “available” for purposes of ruling on a earlier order, is outweighed by the dangers of judge-shopping and the systematic re-filing of a motion or petition. Such a situation is presented when a party who was unsuccessful before one judge purposefully seeks out or re-files and is later able to convince a second judge on the same court that the relief requested be granted. In Golden, supra, the defendants filed preliminary objections to the plain*25tiffs complaint. The objections were denied by the trial judge. The defendant’s motion for reconsideration was summarily denied by the same judge. The defendants then presented their motion to a different judge on the same court and the objections were granted and plaintiffs complaint dismissed. There, the record did not reveal whether the second judge was even aware of the first judge’s order’s denying the relief. Again, we held that the second judge abused his discretion in overruling the first judge, as there was no further development of the facts or positions of the parties between the two decisions and the second judge addressed the same issue that was before the first judge. Golden, 410 Pa.Super. at 513, 600 A.2d at 572. This practice cannot be condoned. The existence of alleged new evidence alone cannot serve as incentive for a party to undermine a prior disposition of a predecessor judge when that same judge is available to hear the new evidence.
Adopting the reasoning in Reifinger, supra, as a threshold question does not redefine those factors of the unavailability exception enumerated in Hutchison, supra, and Duffy, supra, but serves to encompass those factors to prevent, once the discovery of new evidence has occurred, the possibility of a judge overruling a colleague’s order, and the burden of ruling on an order without knowledge of a full record. Such actions cannot be said to foster finality sought in pretrial orders or insure judicial economy and efficiency, Hainsey, supra, Hutchison, supra, Salerno, supra, Golden, supra, Vincent, supra, Reifinger, supra, and are consistent with those cases that hold that the practice of granting a rehearing before a judge other than one who was initially involved in the case is not in the best interest of the parties. Commonwealth ex rel. Schulberg v. Hirsch, 236 Pa.Super. 179, 344 A.2d 530 (1975); Common, ex rel. Gershman v. Gershman, 181 Pa.Super. 76, 122 A.2d 813 (1956); Commonwealth ex rel. D’Alfonso v. D’Alfonso, 181 Pa.Super. 71, 121 A.2d 900 (1956).
I conclude, therefore, that those factors which have previously been categorized as falling into the “unavailability” exception — death, retirement, expiration of judicial commis*26sion, appointment to a higher court, and instantly the transfer of a judge to another division of the same court, while not an exclusive list, must be considered prior to placing new evidence before any judge other than the judge that ruled on the original order. Once satisfied, the presentation of new evidence will be permitted to be placed before a successor judge. This result effectuates the sound policy adopted by our courts to prohibit relitigation of an issue by a judge of co-ordinate jurisdiction, minimizing expense and administrative burden and preventing the rescission of an order of a colleague. Hainsey, supra; Hutchison, supra; Reifinger, supra; Madden, supra; Marmara, supra.
Applying this reasoning to the instant case, it is clear to me that Judge Avellino had been transferred to another division of the same court. Thus, for purposes of ruling on his prior interlocutory orders Judge Avellino was not unavailable at the time Judge Maier rescinded the sanction order; new evidence, if any, should have been brought before Judge Avellino. As Judge Avellino was available, I would find that Judge Maier abused his discretion in ruling on the motion. Reifinger, supra.
Even had Judge Avellino been “unavailable,” I would find it necessary to remand for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether new evidence had been presented. The case law does not establish an inflexible rule defining new evidence but rather demands analysis of a party’s contention on a case by case basis. While new evidence may have existed at the time the first order was entered, the only requirement is that this evidence be placed on the record in the interim between the first judge’s ruling and the second judge’s reassessment. Hutchison, supra; Gabovitz, supra. Where a predecessor judge is “unavailable,” consistent with the view I advocate, the new evidence must be such as would more likely than not induce the first judge to make the change in the ruling himself or herself. As such, the record here is problematic; a review of the references given by the trial court reveals little, certainly not enough to judiciously determine this matter. Where it is impossible for this court to decide a case because the record is incomplete, the case should be remanded to the trial court *27for clarification and completion. Pawol v. Pawol, 293 Pa.Super. 29, 437 A.2d 974 (1981); Dickson v. Lewandowski, 224 Pa.Super. 285, 307 A.2d 392 (1973).
The record establishes the reasons for Judge Avellino’s actions, but we have no guidance as to the basis for Judge Maier’s actions other than his notation that he was acting in the “interest of justice.” Instantly, Boyle contends that Judge Maier was presented with new evidence as follows:
Neither Boyle’s children nor the decedent were aware that their prior counsel failed to adequately answer Steiman’s interrogatories or that an order of preclusion had been entered against them.
The originals of the documents requested by Steiman were in Steiman’s possession at the time of Judge Avellino’s order.
Judge Avellino’s order should be rescinded in the interest of justice.
While we are sympathetic to the surprise that may have befallen Boyle upon learning that interrogatories were not fully answered, discovery materials were not given and that a sanction order had been entered, these facts do not establish new evidence. Boyle’s prior counsel was given notice of Steiman’s sanction requests and Judge Avellino’s orders were duly docketed. Boyle’s position is no different from that of a party who is precluded from maintaining a suit for damages against a tortfeasor after discovering that his attorney has settled the cause of action on his behalf without consultation. In this situation, the loss should not be borne by an innocent third party who was diligently defending against the suit. If indeed Boyle had no knowledge of the prior attorney’s alleged dereliction regarding the interrogatories and material discovery requests, then Boyle’s recourse lies in other procedures established in our law to provide recompense and to serve as a deterrent against such conduct. See Rothman v. Fillette, 503 Pa. 259, 469 A.2d 543 (1983). Further, as Judge Avellino’s sanction order was interlocutory, Boyle always retained the right, upon final disposition, to appeal, as the possibility existed that Judge Avellino abused his discretion in entering *28the order. Daywalt, supra; Atlantic Richfield, supra; Joyce, supra. For these reasons, overruling Judge Avellino’s order in the interest of justice under the instant facts perverts justice by punishing Steiman for his counsel’s diligent representation to obtain discovery to defend the suit. Neither contention offered by Boyle establishes that more likely than not, Judge Avellino would have rescinded his order.
Boyle contends that the information which was allegedly the focus of the sanction order, copies of reports and bills, were already in Steiman’s possession at the time Judge Avellino entered his order. Steiman denies this. However, while of some import, this does not justify rescission of the order in the instant case. There is no record to determine whether this alleged new evidence would have revealed additional facts, other than those presented before Judge Avellino at the time the sanction order was entered, to suggest that Judge Avellino would have considered the evidence a sufficient basis to overturn his first order. Further, when considering a motion to rescind a predecessor’s order, the second judge must consider the substantive nature of the order. Here, Judge Avellino’s order was entered after two previous discovery orders warning of the possibility of sanctions. Boyle received notice of Steiman’s actions and notice of Judge Avellino’s orders. Obviously, Boyle refused to comply. Thus, the fact that Steiman may have had actual possession of discovery material does not, in my view, change the substance of the facts before Judge Avellino in entering the sanction order — Boyle’s failure to fully answer interrogatories and to participate in discovery.
Allowing a second judge to intervene and overrule a predecessor judge, especially on these facts, undermines the contempt powers of the court and condones deviation from the accepted standards of diligence in initiating and maintaining suit. This is exactly the reason why the motion to rescind the sanction order should have been brought back before Judge Avellino for disposition. Boyle would have suffered no prejudice by allowing Judge Avellino’s order to stand until final disposition of trial. Had there been no rescission of Judge Avellino’s order by Judge Maier, following trial Boyle could have appealed the order and proved that the answers to *29Steiman’s discovery requests were sufficient. If proven, the physical evidence barred by Judge Avellino’s order would be admissible and Boyle would be entitled to the appropriate relief. I fail to see the propriety of allowing subsequent counsel to seek rescission of an interlocutory order that was entered due to his client’s own dereliction and to redirect the intended prejudice and punishment of that order against an innocent party just prior to trial. Such conduct carries the sting of impropriety in that the innocent litigant may be forced to settle at the eleventh hour as the stakes have substantially risen and all prior diligence undertaken in defense of the litigation has been negated. This fact again evidences the importance of having the judge who entered the order determine for himself or herself whether any modification or rescission is appropriate when considering new evidence.
Instantly, the parties acknowledge that Judge Avellino has been merely reassigned to a different division of the same court. Accordingly, he was available for purposes of reconsideration of his order. I would reverse the judgment and reinstate Judge Avellino’s sanction order, allowing for reconsideration of the order by presentation of the alleged new evidence to Judge Avellino. Alternatively, I would find that Steiman is entitled to a new trial, precluding all evidence that is the subject of Judge Avellino’s order.

. The majority notes that this court is without a clue as to what actually transpired before Judge Maier as no transcript was created. The majority states that the failure of Steiman to file an "equivalent picture” of the proceedings pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.1923 results in waiver of the coordinate jurisdiction issue. Most importantly, however, the majority holds that without such a "picture” this court cannot conclude that Judge Maier erred in rescinding Judge Avellino's preclusion order.
After a review of the entire record certified for this appeal, I find ample support for effective appellate review. Additionally, the record contains Boyle’s motion to rescind and Judge Maier’s rescission order. The new evidence alleged by Boyle was as follows:
Neither Boyle’s children nor the decedent were aware that their prior counsel failed to adequately answer Steiman’s interrogatories or that an order of preclusion had been entered against them.
The originals of the documents requested by Steiman were in Steiman's possession at the time of Judge Avellino’s order.
Judge Avellino’s order should be rescinded in the interest of justice. As discussed infra, these allegations do not constitute new evidence. Judge Maier’s order expressly reveals that Judge Avellino’s order was rescinded in "the interest of justice,” and not as a result of new evidence. Further, Judge Maier makes no reference to Steiman’s alleged possession of the disputed discovery materials. Thus, notwithstanding the majority’s concern for the limited record before us, we can readily establish Judge Maier’s abuse of discretion in overruling a predecessor judge’s order where the predecessor judge remains available. As is further discussed, even had Judge Avellino been unavailable, the *21proper procedure would be to remand for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether or not new evidence was placed on the record subsequent to Judge Avellino’s order.