Court Opinion

ID: 9754972
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 20:19:53.110691+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:01.168139
License: Public Domain

POMEROY, Justice,
concurring.
The trial court sustained Atlantic Richfield’s (ARCO) preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer (that “the term of the agreement sued upon has expired”) and concluded that ARCO had an absolute right to recover possession of the service station at the end of the stated term. The complaint had alleged, however, that ARCO, despite the language of the lease with respect to expiration of the term, had created the understanding “by statements, warranties and ... by the conduct and actions of the said defendant that: the agreements were to be in full force indefinitely . . . [and] that the agreements would not be terminated without cause.” If such facts are proved, I believe that despite expiration of the term ARCO would be estopped from arbitrarily refusing to renew the agreement. See Atlantic Richfield Co. v. Razumic, 480 Pa. 366, 390 A.2d 736 (1978) (concurring opinion of POMEROY, J.). Accordingly, I agree that the order sustaining ARCO’s demurrer must be reversed and the case remanded for a determination of the legal issues therein presented.
NIX, J., joins in this opinion.