Court Opinion

ID: 9764544
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:26:52.442362+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:58.012157
License: Public Domain

PELLEGRINI, Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent. The majority finds that an unsigned Statement of Financial Interest can be cured after the time for filing those Statements has expired. I believe such a finding is directly contrary to Section 5(a) of the Ethics Act,1 65 P.S. § 405(a).
Section 5(a) of the Ethics Act provides that:
The statement of financial interests filed pursuant to this act shall be on a form prescribed by the commission. All information requested on the statement shall be provided to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the person required to file and shall be signed under oath or equivalent affirmation. (Emphasis added.)
I believe that an unsigned form is the equivalent of filing “no form” in that the Ethics Act requires that the Statement of Financial interest form must be signed prior to filing.
Accordingly, because failure to file is a fatal defect pursuant to Section 405(a) of the Ethics Act, I would set aside the Nominating Petition of A1 Smith.

. Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 883, No. 120, as re-enacted and amended, June 26, 1989, P.L. 26, 65 P.S. §§ 401-413.