Court Opinion

ID: 4106549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-12 20:11:16.500415+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:33:33.261884
License: Public Domain

J-A28044-16

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

HEATH N. KAHRS AND MARCIE KAHRS,                     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                           PENNSYLVANIA
                            Appellants

                       v.

A.M. BRADY STUCCO & STONE, LLC
A/K/A AIDAN BRADY STUCCO & STONE
AND ENVIRONSPEC, LTD. AND MARK
LEZANIC AND SANDRA LEZANIC,

                            Appellees                       No. 984 EDA 2016

                 Appeal from the Judgment Entered May 10, 2016
                 in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County
                         Civil Division at No.: 10322-C 13

BEFORE: PANELLA, J., SHOGAN, J., and PLATT, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY PLATT, J.:                             FILED DECEMBER 12, 2016

        Appellants, Heath and Marcie Kahrs, husband and wife, appeal from a

jury verdict in their favor in the amount of $166,010.00, which they consider

inadequate, and a bench trial judgment denying their assertion of violations

of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL).1 Their

complaint chiefly claimed various failures by A.M. Brady Stucco & Stone, LLC

a/k/a    Aidan    Brady     Stucco   &   Stone   (Brady),   and   Environspec,   Ltd.

(Environspec) (Appellees), and Mark and Sandra Lezanic, to repair moisture

____________________________________________

*
    Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1
    73 P.S. §§ 201-1 ─ 201-9.3.
J-A28044-16

penetration and leakage behind the stucco exterior of their home.2 Besides

their common law claims, Appellants alleged breach of contract, negligence,

and deceptive practices in violation of the UTPCPL. We affirm.

       We derive the pertinent facts of the case from the findings of the trial

court and our independent review of the certified record.

       The ongoing course of conduct among the principals of this case is

prolonged and convoluted. Briefly summarized, a pre-sale inspection report,

(the Cogent report), identified water penetration behind the stucco of the

house Appellants wanted to buy.                As part of the agreement of sale,

Appellants entered into a pre-sale arrangement with the Lezanics, the

sellers, for the remediation of the leakage.           (See Decision Pursuant to

Pa.R.C.P. 1038, 2/02/16, at 2).

       The Lezanics (not the Kahrs) engaged Brady to make the necessary

repairs, to be paid out of an escrow account from the proceeds of the sale of

the house.      Brady expressly provided in the agreement that “you” (the

Lezanics) would be responsible for the removal and reinstallation of any

windows which needed to be removed to correct the water penetration.

       Shortly before the sale was scheduled to close (on January 15, 2010),

the Kahrs sent Brady a letter regarding the completion of the remaining
____________________________________________

2
  The trial court sustained preliminary objections in favor of Mr. and Mrs.
Lezanic, sellers of the home Appellants purchased. They are not parties to
this appeal.

                                           -2-
J-A28044-16

stucco services.    (See Complaint, 1/27/14, Exhibit “D”, Letter to Aidan

Brady, 1/13/10). The letter specified ─ twice ─ that it was intended to serve

merely as a “clarification” of the original agreement.          (Id. at 1)

(“Note─these services do not supersede the original scope of services.

They [sic] merely serve as additional clarification and understanding.”)

(emphasis added). The Kahrs signed the letter, as did Brady. (See id. at

3).

      The Kahrs maintain that a major issue at the trial was whether the

windows needed to be removed, and who had responsibility for the removal.

(See Appellants’ Brief, at 35). One can reasonably infer from the totality of

the evidence that removal and reinstallation of windows was a critical

component of the remediation process. The Kahrs also maintain that it was

Brady’s and Environspec’s responsibility to determine if the windows needed

to be removed, and both failed to advise them (the Kahrs) of this

requirement. (See id.).

      In any event, things proceeded without further serious incident from

the completion of the original services in 2010, until Hurricane Sandy hit in

2012, when water leaked into the basement, apparently from a kitchen

window.   Appellants summoned Brady, who agreed to perform corrective

remedial work (at no additional cost to the Kahrs) under the warranty for the

original work.     For a fee of $600.00 Mr. Kahrs also engaged Appellee

Environspec to perform five inspections of Brady’s work. Environspec found

                                    -3-
J-A28044-16

minor problems, which Brady addressed, but its final report indicated that

the stucco looked good and noted no major concerns.                    (See Decision

Pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1038, at 5; see also Opinion Pursuant to Rule 1925,

5/06/16, at 6).

       However, before the work was completed, Mr. Kahrs ordered Brady

and his work crew off the premises and instructed him not to return. This

lawsuit followed.

       The trial court bifurcated the proceedings into a bench trial on

Appellants’ UTPCPL claims and a jury trial on the other claims.             The trial

court denied Appellants’ UTPCPL claims. The jury found a breach of contract

by Brady and awarded the Kahrs $166,010.00.                  This appeal followed the

denial of the Kahrs’ post-trial motions. Counsel for Appellants filed a non-

compliant    statement      of   errors   on   April   19,   2016.    See   Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b)(4)(iv).3      The trial court filed an opinion pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.

1925(a) on May 6, 2016.4

____________________________________________

3
  In disregard of the pertinent rule, counsel for Appellants provides a lengthy
explanation of each purported error asserted.          (See Appellants’ Brief,
Appendix C, “Statement of the Matters [sic] Complained of on Appeal
Pursuant to Order of Court Dated March 29, 2016 and Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b),” at
1-11); see also Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(iv) (“The Statement should not be
redundant or provide lengthy explanations as to any error.”).
4
  Among other procedural lapses, counsel for Appellants omits a copy of the
trial court’s Rule 1925(a) opinion in their brief. See Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(10),
(b). Both Appellees included a copy of the opinion in their briefs.

                                           -4-
J-A28044-16

     Appellants raise sixteen claims on appeal, framed as ten questions

and six over-lapping sub-questions:

            1. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt’s decision on the Kahrs’
     UTPCPL claim was contrary to the weight of the evidence and the
     [t]rial [c]ourt erred as a matter of law and/or abused its
     discretion in reaching this decision?

           2. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
     discretion in failing to mold the verdict or grant additur with
     respect to the undisputed evidence of contract damages?

           3. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
     discretion in failing to grant judgment notwithstanding the
     verdict as to damages with respect to the undisputed evidence of
     contract damages?

           4. Whether the jury verdict as to liability and damages was
     contrary to the weight of the evidence and the [t]rial [c]ourt
     erred in failing to grant [Appellants’] motion for new trial?

           5. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
     discretion in failing to grant [Appellants] a new trial on the
     following errors of law:

              1.) the finding of deception was not submitted to the
        jury and evidence related to deception was not permitted at
        the jury trial;

              2.) [Appellants] were prohibited from presenting their
        negligence claim to the jury when Counts I and IV of the
        Complaint remained in the case prior to [Appellee] Brady’s
        Motion for Compulsory Nonsuit;

               3.) the [t]rial [c]ourt erred in permitting witnesses to
        testify about the Cogent [r]eport, which constitutes
        impermissible hearsay;

             4.) Daniel Honig should not have been admitted as an
        expert as he had no experience in the field of stucco
        remediation;

                                      -5-
J-A28044-16

             5.) the [t]rial [c]ourt erred in not providing a copy of
        [Appellants’] Exhibit 35 to the jury as requested; and

             6.) the [t]rial [c]ourt erred in finding in favor of
        [Appellees] on [Appellants’] UTPCPL claim?

            6. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
      discretion in not permitting evidence of deception to be
      introduced at the jury trial and permitting the jury to make a
      finding as to whether the [Appellees’] conduct was deceptive in
      accordance with the [UTPCPL]?

            7. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
      discretion in prohibiting [Appellants’] from presenting their
      negligence claim to the jury when Counts I and IV of the
      Complaint remained in the case prior to [Appellee] Brady’s
      Motion for Compulsory Nonsuit?

            8. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
      discretion in permitting witnesses to testify about the Cogent
      [r]eport, which constitutes impermissible hearsay?

            9. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
      discretion in permitting Daniel Honig to be admitted as an expert
      when he had no experience in the field of stucco remediation?

            10. Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred and/or abused its
      discretion when he [sic] refused to provide a copy of
      [Appellants’] Exhibit 35 to the jury after it was specifically
      requested by the jury?

(Appellants’ Brief, at 4-5) (sub-questions re-formatted).

             Preliminarily, we are reminded of the observation by the
      [late] Honorable Ruggero J. Aldisert, Senior Circuit Judge of the
      United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, that this
      Court has previously cited in Kenis v. Perini Corp., 452 Pa.
      Super. 634, 682 A.2d 845 (1996), as well as other cases:

         When I read an appellant’s brief that contains ten or
         twelve points, a presumption arises that there is no merit
         to any of them. I do not say that it is an irrebuttable
         presumption, but it is a presumption that reduces the

                                    -6-
J-A28044-16

         effectiveness of appellate advocacy. Appellate advocacy is
         measured by effectiveness, not loquaciousness.

      Id. at 847 n.3 (citations omitted); see also Commonwealth v.
      Snyder, 870 A.2d 336, 340 (Pa. Super. 2005) (“[T]he
      effectiveness of appellate advocacy may suffer when counsel
      raises numerous issues, to the point where a presumption arises
      that there is no merit to any of them.”) (citations omitted).

J.J. DeLuca Co. Inc. v. Toll Naval Associates, 56 A.3d 402, 409–10 (Pa.

Super. 2012).

      In this appeal, many of Appellants’ issues and arguments in the sixty-

three page brief overlap or simply duplicate each other by raising the same

issue, sometimes in a virtually identical form, sometimes in a slightly

alternative way. Also, the argument section of the brief reformats and re-

orders the questions, in virtually random sequence, inconsistently numbered

and lettered, without apparent distinction between questions and sub-

questions. (See Appellants’ Brief, at 11-62). In so doing, Appellants fail to

comply with Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2119:

             (a) General rule. The argument shall be divided into as
      many parts as there are questions to be argued; and shall
      have at the head of each part-in distinctive type or in type
      distinctively displayed-the particular point treated therein,
      followed by such discussion and citation of authorities as are
      deemed pertinent.

Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (some emphasis added).

      We could find all of Appellants’ claims waived on this basis. But we

decline to do so, on grounds of judicial economy. Notably, in addition to the

briefs, oral argument has already occurred. Therefore, for clarity of analysis

                                    -7-
J-A28044-16

and   to   avoid   unnecessary    duplication   and   further   confusion,   when

appropriate we will address similar claims together.

      We first address Appellants’ challenges to the weight of the evidence

for the trial court’s verdict on the UTPCPL claims, and the jury verdict. We

begin with our standard and scope of review in an appeal from a non-jury

verdict.

                 Our appellate role in cases arising from non-jury trial
           verdicts is to determine whether the findings of the trial
           court are supported by competent evidence and whether
           the trial court committed error in any application of the
           law. The findings of fact of the trial judge must be given
           the same weight and effect on appeal as the verdict of a
           jury. We consider the evidence in a light most favorable to
           the verdict winner. We will reverse the trial court only if
           its findings of fact are not supported by competent
           evidence in the record or if its findings are premised on an
           error of law.

            We will respect a trial court’s findings with regard to the
      credibility and weight of the evidence unless the appellant can
      show that the court’s determination was manifestly erroneous,
      arbitrary and capricious or flagrantly contrary to the evidence.

DeLuca, supra at 410 (citations and quotation marks omitted). Similarly,

            Where, as here, the appellant asserts the weight of the
      evidence as grounds for the award of a new trial, our review is
      exceptionally limited:

                 Appellate review of a weight claim is a review of the
           exercise of discretion, not of the underlying question of
           whether the verdict is against the weight of the evidence.
           Because the trial judge has had the opportunity to hear
           and see the evidence presented, an appellate court will
           give the gravest consideration to the findings and reasons
           advanced by the trial judge when reviewing a trial court’s
           determination that the verdict is against the weight of the
           evidence. One of the least assailable reasons for

                                       -8-
J-A28044-16

         granting or denying a new trial is the lower court’s
         conviction that the verdict was or was not against
         the weight of the evidence and that a new trial
         should be granted in the interest of justice.

      It is not the role of an appellate court to pass on the credibility
      of witnesses; hence we will not substitute our judgment for that
      of the factfinder. Thus, the test we apply is not whether we
      would have reached the same result on the evidence presented,
      but rather, after due consideration of the evidence which the
      trial court found credible, whether the trial court could have
      reasonably reached its conclusion.

Fazio v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 62 A.3d 396, 413 (Pa. Super.

2012), appeal denied, 72 A.3d 604 (Pa. 2013) (citations and internal

quotation marks omitted; emphasis added).

      Here, aside from the mere bald assertion that the verdicts shock the

conscience, Appellants, in a rambling, disconnected, and frequently opaque

presentation, simply fail to develop any persuasive argument that the

finders of fact could not have reached their respective conclusions on the

weight of the evidence presented. (See Appellants’ Brief, at 23, 30-31, 42,

45-46). At most, Appellants invites us to an impermissible re-weighing of

the evidence. We decline to do so.

      Notably, while Appellants insist repeatedly that their evidence was

“undisputed,” Appellees maintain, and the trial court confirms, that

Appellants’ “damages were hotly contested.” (Order 3/1/16, n.1 at 2; Rule

1925(a) opinion, 5/06/16, at 18). We will not substitute our judgment for

that of the factfinders. We consider the evidence in the bench trial in a light

most favorable to the Appellees as verdict winners.      The trial court could

                                     -9-
J-A28044-16

have reasonably reached its conclusion that the jury’s verdict was supported

by the evidence. All of Appellants’ weight claims fail.

      Next, Appellants claim a right to a jury trial on their UTPCPL claims.

(See Appellants’ Brief, at 11-14). This Court has concluded that there is no

right to a jury trial for private causes of action under the UTPCPL.      See

Fazio, supra:

             Accordingly, we conclude that there is no right to a jury
      trial for private causes of action under the UTPCPL. The statute
      does not specifically enumerate that right. Moreover, based
      upon the foregoing analysis, we find that the UTPCPL did not
      merely codify common law claims of fraud. The UTPCPL created
      a distinct cause of action for consumer protection. While a
      plaintiff is required to prove elements of common law fraud to
      support certain UTPCPL claims, he/or she would still have to
      prove the elements of a consumer-based transaction or
      relationship. Moreover, fraud and UTPCPL claims have different
      statutes of limitations, which provides further support that such
      claims are separate causes of action. In sum, the Fazios were
      not entitled to a jury trial on their stand-alone UTPCPL claim;
      hence, their first issue on appeal fails.

Id. at 411–12.

      Appellants’ citation to caselaw preceding Fazio or to cases from other

jurisdictions ignores the doctrine of stare decisis.      See Dixon v. GEICO,

1 A.3d 921, 925-26 (Pa. Super. 2010). Appellants’ assertion of a right to a

jury trial for their UTPCPL claims fails.

      Next, we address Appellants’ challenge to the jury’s award of

damages.     They maintain they are entitled to $302,286.00, instead of

$166,010.00. (See Appellants’ Brief, at 42). We disagree.

                                      - 10 -
J-A28044-16

            Where an appellant’s claim arises from a challenge to the
      jury’s determination of damages, our review is highly
      circumspect:

                The duty of assessing damages is within the province
         of the jury and should not be interfered with by the court,
         unless it clearly appears that the amount awarded resulted
         from caprice, prejudice, partiality, corruption or some
         other improper influence.       In reviewing the award of
         damages, the appellate courts should give deference to the
         decisions of the trier of fact who is usually in a superior
         position to appraise and weigh the evidence.

      If the verdict bears a reasonable resemblance to the damages
      proven, we will not upset it merely because we might have
      awarded different damages.

Helpin v. Trustees of Univ. of Pennsylvania, 969 A.2d 601, 616 n.9 (Pa.

Super. 2009), affirmed, 10 A.3d 267 (Pa. 2010) (citations and internal

quotation marks omitted).

      Here, as previously noted, Appellants’ claim that their evidence of

damages was undisputed is flatly contradicted by the trial court. We defer

to the trial court on findings of fact.   The trial court notes that the jury’s

award of damages is nearly four times the original contract amount. (See

Rule 1925(a) opinion, at 6). There is no evidence that the jury acted out of

caprice, prejudice, partiality, corruption or some other improper influence.

We decline to disturb the jury’s award.       Appellants’ claims to additional

damages fail.

      Next, Appellants challenge the trial court’s denial of their request to

provide the jurors during deliberations with an exhibit (Exhibit 35) prepared

by their counsel, which purported to itemize their various claims to

                                    - 11 -
J-A28044-16

damages. (See Appellants’ Brief, at 48-52). Appellants maintain that the

trial court’s refusal constituted an error “as a matter of law.” (Id. at 51).

We disagree.

      Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 223.1, Conduct of the Trial,

provides, in pertinent part, that “[t]he court may . . . make exhibits

available to the jury during its deliberations[.]”     Pa.R.C.P. 223.1(d)(3)

(emphasis added).     However, this Court has long held that “whether an

exhibit should be allowed to go out with the jury during deliberation is within

the discretion of the trial judge, and such decision will not be overturned

absent an abuse of discretion.” Commonwealth v. Manley, 985 A.2d 256,

273 (Pa. Super. 2009), appeal denied, 996 A.2d 491 (Pa. 2010) (citations

omitted).

      In this case, the trial court notes that there were two versions of the

exhibit at issue, raising potential questions as to which version was more

accurate (or which should be provided to the jury).      It is undisputed that

both versions contained one or more items now conceded to be beyond the

scope of permissible damages to be determined by the jury (e.g., premiums

for Appellants’ homeowner’s insurance).

      Appellants cite some courts of other jurisdictions (whose decisions are

not binding on this Court), to the effect that they may have permitted

demonstrative exhibits during jury deliberations. This is of no moment for

our review.    Appellants had the burden to prove that this trial court’s

                                    - 12 -
J-A28044-16

decision not to provide the compromised exhibits was an abuse of

discretion, or, as Appellants claim, an error “as a matter of law.”

(Appellants’ Brief, at 51, 52).          They utterly fail to do so.          Appellants’

challenge to the exclusion of Exhibit 35 from jury deliberations fails.

       Appellants also object to various other evidentiary rulings by the trial

court, most notably testimony with reference to the Cogent report,5 and the

trial court’s acceptance of Daniel Honig as an expert witness for Brady.

             The admission or exclusion of evidence is within the sound
       discretion of the trial court, and in reviewing a challenge to the
       admissibility of evidence, we will only reverse a ruling by the
       trial court upon a showing that it abused its discretion or
       committed an error of law. Thus our standard of review is very
       narrow. To constitute reversible error, an evidentiary ruling
       must not only be erroneous, but also harmful or prejudicial to
       the complaining party.

Commonwealth v. Lopez, 57 A.3d 74, 81 (Pa. Super. 2012), appeal

denied, 62 A.3d 379 (Pa. 2013) (citation and ellipsis omitted).

       Appellants    quote     extensively,    albeit   selectively,   from    the   trial

transcript in support of their objections.         (See Appellants’ Brief, at 15-23;

55-58).     However, Appellants fail to develop an argument supported by

specific pertinent authority to meet their burden of proof that the trial court

abused its discretion or committed an error of law in any of its evidentiary

rulings.
____________________________________________

5
  Appellants concede that the Cogent report was not entered into evidence.
Nevertheless, they maintain that references at trial “constitutes irreversible
[sic] error.” (Appellants’ Brief, at 23).

                                          - 13 -
J-A28044-16

      On independent review we conclude that none of Appellants’ other

claims, whether appropriately or inappropriately developed, merit additur,

molding of the verdict, a new trial, or any other relief.      In particular,

Appellants were not entitled to present evidence of their purported pain and

suffering at trial.   As a practical matter, the gist of the action doctrine

precludes plaintiffs from re-casting ordinary breach of contract claims into

tort claims. See eToll, Inc. v. Elias/Savion Advert., Inc., 811 A.2d 10,

14–17 (Pa. Super. 2002). The trial court properly prevented Appellants from

doing so.

      Judgment affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/12/2016

                                    - 14 -