Court Opinion

ID: 9942608
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-21 16:14:29.553868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:48:17.820378
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Brian Yanoviak, Gregory Stenstrom,       :
Paul G. Celentano, Anne C. Celentano,    :
and John Cornell,                        :
                   Appellants            :
                                         :
             v.                          :
                                         :
Chester County, Chester County           :   No. 1523 C.D. 2023
Board of Elections                       :

OPINION NOT REPORTED

MEMORANDUM OPINION
PER CURIAM                                           FILED: February 21, 2024

             Brian Yanoviak, Gregory Stenstrom, Paul G. Celentano, Anne C.
Celentano, and John Cornell (collectively, Appellants) appeal from the Chester
County (County) Common Pleas Court’s (trial court) December 8, 2023 order
sustaining the County’s and the County Board of Elections’ (collectively, Appellees)
preliminary objections (Preliminary Objections) to Appellants’ Petition to Open
Ballot Box and Recanvass Voting Machines (Petition), and dismissing the Petition.
After review, this Court affirms.
             On November 15, 2023, Appellants filed the Petition in the trial court.
On November 29, 2023, Appellees filed a Motion for Consolidation and their
Preliminary Objections. On December 1, 2023, Appellees filed a Motion for
Expedited Consideration of Appellees’ Motion for Consolidation and Preliminary
Objections (Motion to Expedite). By December 4, 2023 order, the trial court granted
the Motion to Expedite. On December 8, 2023, the trial court denied the Motion for
Consolidation, sustained the Preliminary Objections, and dismissed the Petition. On
December 13, 2023, Appellants appealed from the trial court’s order.
               On December 18, 2023, the trial court directed Appellants to file of
record and serve on the trial court judge a Concise Statement of Errors Complained
of on Appeal pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure (Rule) 1925(b)
(Rule 1925(b) Statement). On January 17, 2024, the trial court issued its opinion
pursuant to Rule 1925(a), wherein it stated, in pertinent part:

               On December 18, 2023, [the trial court] directed
               [Appellants] to file a [Rule 1925(b) Statement] within [21]
               days. The [Rule 1925(b) Statement] was due January 8,
               202[4].[1] On January 12, 202[4], [Appellants] delivered a
               [Rule 1925(b) Statement] to my chambers; however, the
               [Rule 1925(b) Statement] has not been filed of record.
               Pursuant to [Rule] 1925(b), all issues on appeal are waived
               upon failure to timely file a [Rule 1925(b) Statement]. J.P.
               v. S.P., 991 A.2d 904, 908 (Pa. Super. 2010) (failure to
               timely file court[-]ordered Rule 1925(b) [S]tatement
               results in waiver of all issues on appeal); Greater Erie
               Indus. Dev. Corp. v. Presque Isle Downs, Inc., 88 A.3d
               222, 224 (Pa. Super. 2014) (Rule 1925 is a bright[-]line
               rule and failure to comply with the minimal requirements
               results in automatic waiver of issues raised). Accordingly,
               [Appellants] have failed to preserve any issues for review.

Original Record (O.R.) at 190-191.2
               By January 24, 2024 Order, this Court directed the parties to “address
in their principal briefs on the merits whether Appellants preserved any issues on
appeal considering their apparent failure to file a Rule 1925(b) Statement as directed
by the trial court.” Id. On February 1, 2024, Appellees filed their brief. On February
2, 2024, Appellants filed their brief. Appellants did not address the issue of whether

       1
          This Court acknowledges that because, according to the trial court’s docket entries, the
trial court’s Rule 1925(b) order was not mailed until December 19, 2024, the due date for filing
and service was January 9, 2024. See generally Rule 108(a)(1) (“[T]he day of entry shall be the
day the clerk of the court or the office of the government unit mails or delivers copies of the order
to the parties[.]” Pa.R.A.P. 108(a)(1)).
        2
          Because the Original Record pages are not numbered, the page numbers referenced herein
reflect electronic pagination.
                                                 2
Appellants preserved any issues on appeal considering their apparent failure to file
a Rule 1925(b) Statement, as this Court directed.3
              Initially, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared in Commonwealth
v. Lord, 719 A.2d 306 (Pa. 1998): “[I]n order to preserve their claims for appellate
review, [a]ppellants must comply whenever the trial court orders them to file a [Rule
1925(b) Statement]. Any issues not raised in a [Rule] 1925(b) [S]tatement will be
deemed waived.” Id. at 309. Our Supreme Court reaffirmed in Commonwealth v.
Butler, 812 A.2d 631 (Pa. 2002): “[A]ny issues not raised in a Rule 1925(b)
[S]tatement are waived.” Id. at 634. Finally, in Commonwealth v. Castillo, 888
A.2d 775 (Pa. 2005), the Supreme Court explained:

              [T]he Lord/Butler rule remains necessary to [e]nsure trial
              judges in each appealed case [have] the opportunity to
              opine upon the issues which the appellant intends to raise,
              and thus provide appellate courts with records amen[]able
              to meaningful appellate review. See Lord, 719 A.2d at
              308. This firm rule avoids the situation that existed prior
              to Lord where trial courts were forced to anticipate which
              issues the appellant might raise and appellate courts had to
              determine “whether they could conduct a ‘meaningful
              review’ despite an appellant’s failure to file a [Rule]
              1925(b) [S]tatement or to include certain issues within a
              filed statement.” Butler, 812 A.2d at 633. Moreover, the
              system provides litigants with clear rules regarding what
              is necessary for compliance and certainty of result for
              failure to comply.

Castillo, 888 A.2d at 779-80; see also Commonwealth v. Schofield, 888 A.2d 771
(Pa. 2005) (companion case to Castillo).

       3
         Specifically, in their “Statement of Questions Presented,” Appellants included: “Did
Appellants comply with [the trial court’s] Rule 1925 [o]rder? Suggested answer: YES.”
Appellants’ Br. at 5, ¶23. However, the only mention of the Rule 1925(b) order was in their
“Summary of Argument,” wherein they state: “Pro Se Appellants timely complied with [the trial
court’s] Rule 1925 [o]rder, and do not waive any rights to appeal on all germane aspects.”
Appellants’ Br. at 6, ¶26.
                                             3
             The Castillo Court expounded:

             [W]e specifically voice our disapproval of prior decisions
             of the intermediate courts to the extent that they have
             created exceptions to Lord and have addressed issues that
             should have been deemed waived. See, e.g.,
             Commonwealth v. Alsop, 799 A.2d 129 (Pa. Super. 2002)
             (declining to waive issues raised in [an] untimely [Rule]
             1925(b) [S]tatement based on finding of no impediment to
             appellate review given trial court’s discussion of issues);
             Commonwealth v. Ortiz, 745 A.2d 662 (Pa. Super. 2000)
             (same).

Castillo, 888 A.2d at 780; see also Schofield.
             “[I]n determining whether an appellant has waived his issues on appeal
based on non-compliance with [Rule] 1925[(b)], it is the trial court’s order that
triggers an appellant’s obligation under the rule, and, therefore, we look first to the
language of that order.” Berg v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., Inc., 6 A.3d 1002, 1007-
08 (Pa. 2010) (plurality). In Berg, one of the issues before the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court was “[w]hether the [Pennsylvania] Superior Court erred in finding waiver of
all appellate issues for failing to serve the trial judge with a [Rule 1925(b)
Statement], when the trial judge’s order directing a [Rule 1925(b) Statement] to be
filed, failed to include language mandated by paragraphs (b)(3)(iii) and (iv) of []
Rule 1925(b)[.]” Berg, 6 A.3d at 1005.
             The Pennsylvania Supreme Court explained:

             [T]he trial court’s order instructed [the a]ppellants to ‘file
             with the [c]ourt, and a copy with the trial judge, a [Rule
             1925(b) Statement] within twenty-one (21) days of the
             issuance of this order.’ Order, 1/3/[20]08 (emphasis
             added). Despite any suggestion to the contrary, the
             express language of [its] order did not instruct [the
             a]ppellants to serve a copy of their [Rule] 1925(b)
             Statement on the trial judge; rather, it directed [the
             a]ppellants to file copies of their [Rule] 1925(b) Statement
             with the court and with the trial judge. Although the

                                           4
             instruction to file a document with a trial judge is an
             oddity, we conclude [the a]ppellants substantially
             complied with this directive by presenting a copy to the
             prothonotary of Berks County.

Berg, 6 A.3d at 1008. The Berg Court’s holding was limited to its facts, as explained
therein:

             [The Berg Court] hold[s] that the issues raised in [the
             a]ppellants’ [Rule] 1925(b) Statement were not waived,
             despite the fact that the [Rule 1925(b) S]tatement was not
             personally served on the trial judge, where personal
             service was attempted by counsel and thwarted by the
             prothonotary, and where the [trial] court’s Rule
             1925([b]) order specified ‘filing’ and not ‘service.’

Berg, 6 A.3d at 1012 (emphasis added).
             Here, the trial court’s order specified:

             [P]ursuant to [Rule] 1925(b)(1), Appellants are
             ORDERED to file of record and serve a [Rule 1925(b)
             Statement] no later than twenty-one (21) days after
             entry of this [o]rder.
             The [Rule 1925(b)] Statement must be served on the
             undersigned [p]ursuant to [Rule] 1925(b)(1) in person or
             by mail directed to Chester County Justice Center, 201
             West Market Street, Suite 6218, West Chester,
             Pennsylvania, 19380.
             Service on all counsel of record and unrepresented parties
             shall be made concurrent with filing by any means of
             service specified under [Rule] 121(c).
             Any issue not properly included in the [Rule 1925(b)]
             Statement timely filed and served pursuant to [Rule]
             1925(b) shall be waived.
O.R. at 185 (emphasis added).
             Rule 1925(b) expressly provides, in relevant part:
             Direction to File Statement of Errors Complained of on
             Appeal; Instructions to the Appellant and the Trial
                                           5
Court. If the judge entering the order giving rise to the
notice of appeal ([]judge[]) desires clarification of the
errors complained of on appeal, the judge may enter an
order directing the appellant to file of record in the trial
court and serve on the judge a concise statement of the
errors complained of on appeal ([Rule 1925(b)]
Statement[]).
(1) Filing and Service. The appellant shall file of record
the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement and concurrently shall
serve the judge. Filing of record shall be as provided in
[Rule] 121(a) and, if mail is used, shall be complete on
mailing if the appellant obtains a United States Postal
Service [(USPS)] Form 3817 Certificate of Mailing, Form
3800 Receipt for Certified Mail, Form 3806 Receipt for
Registered Mail, or other similar [USPS] form from which
the date of deposit can be verified in compliance with the
requirements set forth in [Rule] 1112(c). Service on the
judge shall be at the location specified in the order, and
shall be either in person, by mail, or by any other means
specified in the order. Service on the parties shall be
concurrent with filing and shall be by any means of service
specified under [Rule] 121(c).
(2) Time for filing and service.
(i) The judge shall allow the appellant at least 21 days from
the date of the order’s entry on the docket for the filing and
service of the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement. Upon application
of the appellant and for good cause shown, the judge may
enlarge the time period initially specified or permit an
amended or supplemental [Rule 1925(b)] Statement to be
filed. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, delay in
the production of a transcript necessary to develop the
[Rule 1925(b)] Statement[,] so long as the delay is not
attributable to a lack of diligence in ordering or paying for
such transcript by the party or counsel on appeal. In
extraordinary circumstances, the judge may allow for the
filing of a [Rule 1925(b)] Statement or amended or
supplemental [Rule 1925(b)] Statement nunc pro tunc.
....

                              6
             (3) Contents of order. The judge’s order directing the
             filing and service of a [Rule 1925(b)] Statement shall
             specify:
             (i) the number of days after the date of entry of the judge’s
             order within which the appellant must file and serve the
             [Rule 1925(b)] Statement;
             (ii) that the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement shall be filed of
             record;
             (iii) that the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement shall be served on
             the judge pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) and both the place
             the appellant can serve the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement in
             person and the address to which the appellant can mail the
             [Rule 1925(b)] Statement. In addition, the judge may
             provide an email, facsimile, or other alternative means for
             the appellant to serve the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement on the
             judge; and
             (iv) that any issue not properly included in the [Rule
             1925(b)] Statement timely filed and served pursuant to
             subdivision (b) shall be deemed waived.
             (vii) Issues not included in the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement
             and/or not raised in accordance with the provisions of this
             paragraph (b)(4) are waived.
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) (text emphasis added).

             In the instant matter, the trial court’s order clearly specified that
“Appellants are ORDERED to file of record and serve a [Rule 1925(b) Statement]
no later than twenty-one (21) days after entry of this [o]rder” and that “[a]ny issue
not properly included in the [Rule 1925(b)] Statement timely filed and served
pursuant to [Rule] 1925(b) shall be waived.” O.R. at 185. Rule 1925(b) is
mandatory. “Pursuant to [Rule 1925(b)], an appellant must comply whenever the
trial court orders the filing of a [Rule] 1925(b) [S]tatement in order to preserve a
claim for appellate review. . . . Lord . . . .” Egan v. Stroudsburg Sch. Dist., 928 A.2d
400, 402 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2007) (emphasis added); see also Greco v. City of Wilkes-

                                           7
Barre (Pa. Cmwlth No. 1425 C.D. 2019, filed Mar. 2, 2021), slip op. at 12 (“Greco’s
failure to file its Rule 1925(b) Statement with the trial court prothonotary as directed
requires this Court to conclude that the issues raised in Greco’s Rule 1925(b)
Statement were waived.”); Sampson v. Bureau of Admin. Adjudication (Pa. Cmwlth.
No. 1296 C.D. 2019, filed Dec. 8, 2020).4

              This holding comports with [the Pennsylvania Supreme]
              Court’s view on pro se litigants.           See Vann v.
              Unemployment Comp[.] [Bd.] of Rev[.], . . . 494 A.2d
              1081, 1086 ([Pa.] 1985) (pro se litigant must to some
              extent assume the risk that his lack of legal training will
              prove his undoing); Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal, . . . 555
              A.2d 846, 852 ([Pa.] 1989) (pro se litigant ‘is subject to
              same rules of procedure as is a counseled defendant; he
              has no greater right to be heard than he would have if he
              were represented by an attorney’); [s]ee also[] Jones v.
              Rudenstein, . . . 585 A.2d 520, 522 [(Pa. Super. 1991)] . . .
              (pro se litigant not absolved of complying with procedural
              rules and courts have no affirmative duty to walk pro se
              litigant through the rules).

Peters Creek Sanitary Auth. v. Welch, 681 A.2d 167, 170 n.5 (Pa. 1996) (italics
omitted); Sampson, slip op. at 6. Consequently, Appellants’ failure to file their Rule
1925(b) Statement with the trial court prothonotary as the trial court directed requires
this Court to conclude that the issues raised in Appellants’ Rule 1925(b) Statement
are waived.
              For all of the above reasons, the trial court’s order is affirmed.

       4
         Unreported decisions of this Court issued after January 15, 2008, may be cited for their
persuasive value, but not as binding precedent. See Section 414(a) of the Commonwealth Court’s
Internal Operating Procedures, 210 Pa. Code § 69.414(a).

                                               8
         IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Brian Yanoviak, Gregory Stenstrom,      :
Paul G. Celentano, Anne C. Celentano,   :
and John Cornell,                       :
                   Appellants           :
                                        :
            v.                          :
                                        :
Chester County, Chester County          :   No. 1523 C.D. 2023
Board of Elections                      :

PER CURIAM
                                  ORDER

            AND NOW, this 21st day of February, 2024, the Chester County
Common Pleas Court’s December 8, 2023 order is affirmed.