Court Opinion

ID: 9634420
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 13:11:21.736515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:28.595721
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Mr. Justice Cohen:
At the outset, I question the standing of appellant-trustee, Jerome Schwartz, to prosecute this action. In Noonan v. York School District, 100 Pa. 391, 162 A. 2d 623 (1960), we held that a disappointed bidder in a situation such as this suffers no personal injury which entitles him to legal redress. We stated therein that if there be an injury in such situation, it is an injury *538to the general public which is rectified by means of a taxpayers’ suit. Since Jerome Schwartz brought this action in a private capacity—and not as a taxpayer— his appeal should be dismissed.
Turning to the more important question of the merits, the majority opinion has improperly applied the well established principle that courts will not review actions of governmental bodies that involve acts of discretion in the absence of a showing of bad faith, fraud, arbitrariness, or capriciousness. See Eways v. Reading Parking Authority, 385 Pa. 592, 124 A. 2d 92 (1956), and cases cited in the majority opinion. Since no one contends that the Authority acted fraudulently or in bad faith, we are limited to determining whether plaintiff-appellant presented sufficient evidence to prove, if his evidence is given every favorable inference and is unrebutted, that Authority acted in a capricious or arbitrary manner. A review of the record discloses that he has not satisfied this burden.
The unanimous decision of Authority to reject appellant’s bid was based upon the advice of its technical advisory staff, the report of independent consultants, Griswald and Bigger, who were experts in the area of city planning, and the individual experience of the members of Authority, who were prominent citizens of Pittsburgh and familiar with its problems. All of these individuals concluded that the Schwartz proposal would not be compatible with the existing and contemplated commercial and residential uses in the area. In addition, this was not a bare conclusion unsupported by any reasons. In support thereof it was stated, inter alia, that:
(1) the proposed use would attract transients into the area, a situation which was thought to be undesirable.
(2) residents of the 1000-family apartment structure to be constructed across the street from the site of *539the proposal would be exposed to an unattractive view of the motel surrounded by a large surface parking area.
(3) said proposal was generally not acceptable from an aesthetic point of view.
To upset the decision of Authority, appellant’s evidence and inferences therefrom must show more than a mere error in judgment; it must show no judgment at all. In his attempt to establish that the decision of Authority was arbitrary or capricious, appellant relied mainly on cross-examination of the members of Authority. Evidence of this negative character carries little weight indeed in meeting the high standard of proof necessary to overturn Authority’s decision. To permit otherwise, would encourage parties discontented with administrative action to engage in exploratory litigation with the hope that members of the administrative board will make poor witnesses.
Without passing judgment on the soundness of Authority’s reasons, I conclude that its rejection of appellant’s proposal was not an act of unbridled discretion but, rather, a carefully deliberated decision based upon the reasoned opinion of experts. I would therefore affirm the opinion of the court below.
I dissent.