Court Opinion

ID: 9369758
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-09 17:08:04.567056+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:16.888585
License: Public Domain

J-A05016-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL                   :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 SYSTEMS, INC.                            :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                          :
                                          :
              v.                          :
                                          :
                                          :
 MYLISA VANBUSKIRK                        :
                                          :   No. 1666 EDA 2022
                    Appellant             :

               Appeal from the Order Entered June 24, 2022,
           in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
                    Civil Division at No(s): 040702887.

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., KUNSELMAN, J., and MURRAY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.:                    FILED FEBRUARY 09, 2023

      Mylisa Vanbuskirk appeals from the order denying her petition to open

an 18 year-old default judgment entered against her in this collection action.

Upon review and request of the trial court, we vacate the order and remand

for further proceedings.

      On   July    21,     2004,   Commonwealth   Financial   Systems,    Inc.

(“Commonwealth Financial”) filed this collection action against Vanbuskirk.

The affidavit of service indicated that Vanbuskirk was personally served on

August 10, 2004. Vanbuskirk did not file any responsive pleading.

      On October 1, 2004, Commonwealth Financial filed a praecipe for entry

of a default judgment in the amount of $17,417.56. The then Prothonotary
J-A05016-23

(now Office of Judicial Records) sent notices to Vanbuskirk in accordance with

Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 236 and 237.5.1

       Almost 18 years later, Commonwealth Financial filed a praecipe to issue

a writ in attachment, a writ of execution in attachment and summons issued

upon garnishee Citizens Bank with interrogatories in attachment.       Citizens

Bank was served on March 31, 2022. Citiziens Bank admitted that it

maintained an account for Vanbuskirk with an available balance of $9,636.05.

Following the filing of a praecipe, judgment by admission was entered against

Citizens Bank in the amount of $9,636.05 on April 28, 2022.

       On April 28, 2022, Vasbuskirk filed a petition to open the judgment.

Therein, she claimed that she never was served with the complaint or notice

of the 2004 default judgment. She further claimed that she was unaware of

any garnishment proceedings until she was denied access to her Citizens Bank

account on April 1, 2022.          Lastly, Vanbuskirk claimed she never had an

account with Commonwealth Financial and did not owe any debt.

       On May 25, 2022, upon review of the record and without a hearing, the

trial court denied Vanbuskirk’s petition.

       Vanbuskirk filed this timely appeal.      Vanbuskirk and the trial court

complied with Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925.

____________________________________________

1Copies of the original supporting document are no longer available from the
Office of Judicial Records. This information is taken from the Civil Docket
Report in this case.

                                           -2-
J-A05016-23

        On appeal, Vanbuskirk raises several issues.2 In particular, she claims

that the trial court erred in failing to hold an evidentiary hearing regarding

service of the complaint. In its Rule 1925(a) opinion, the trial court questions

Vanbuskirk’s ability to overcome the strong presumption that she was served

with notice and therefore not entitled to the relief she seeks. Nevertheless,

the court requests the opportunity to conduct an evidentiary hearing in order

to evaluate the credibility and merit of Vanbuskirk’s claims.       Trial Court

Opinion, 10/14/22 at 5. Based upon our review and the court’s request, we

vacate the trial court’s order denying Vanbuskirk’s petition to open the default

judgment and remand for further proceedings. In light of this disposition, oral

argument is cancelled.

        Order vacated.     Case remanded for further proceedings.   Jurisdiction

relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 2/9/2023

____________________________________________

2   Commonwealth Financial did not file a brief.

                                           -3-