Court Opinion

ID: 6343074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-05-23 17:11:38.193823+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:21:31.200392
License: Public Domain

J-A12006-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    ALUMISOURCE CORPORATION                    :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                       Appellant               :
                                               :
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    KANTNER IRON & STEEL, INC. AND             :   No. 764 WDA 2021
    JOHN M. TOTH                               :

                   Appeal from the Order Entered June 2, 2021
             In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
                          Civil Division at 5664 of 2014

    ALUMISOURCE CORPORATION                    :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    KANTNER IRON & STEEL, INC. AND             :
    JOHN M. TOTH                               :
                                               :   No. 807 WDA 2021
                       Appellants              :

                 Appeal from the Judgment Entered July 1, 2021
             In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County
                          Civil Division at 5664 of 2014

BEFORE:      MURRAY, J., McCAFFERY, J., and COLINS, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.:                                FILED: MAY 23, 2022

        At 764 WDA 2021, Alumisource Corporation (Appellant) appeals from

the denial of post-trial motions challenging the $300,000 verdict favor of John

____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-A12006-22

M. Toth (Toth or Mr. Toth) for Appellant’s breach of its consulting agreement

(CA) with Toth.1      At 807 WDA 2021, Toth and Kantner Iron & Steel, Inc.

(Kantner) (collectively, Defendants), appeal the $341,869.07 judgment

entered in favor of Appellant for Defendants’ breach of a right-of-first-refusal

agreement (ROFRA) involving Defendants’ sale of scrap aluminum to

Appellant. Toth has filed a cross-appeal at that docket number. Upon careful

review, we affirm the judgments at both dockets.

                                   Factual History

       Appellant operates an aluminum processing facility in Monessen,

Pennsylvania. Appellant purchases scrap aluminum, and after processing and

purifying the aluminum, sells the resulting shredded aluminum to aluminum

product producers. N.T., 6/22/20, at 21-23. At all relevant times, Toth owned

____________________________________________

1 Appellant appealed from the June 3, 2021, order denying the parties’ post-
trial motions. However, an appeal properly lies from judgment entered
following the disposition of post-trial motions. U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Pautenis,
118 A.3d 386, 388 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2015). Our review discloses judgment was
entered against Defendants on the verdict against them for violating the
ROFRA. We have amended the caption accordingly. Although the denial of
post-trial relief on the CA verdict was not reduced to judgment as required by
Pa.R.A.P. 301, in the interests of judicial economy, we “regard as done that
which ought to have been done.” McCormick v. N’eastern Bank of Penna.,
561 A.2d 328, 330 n.1 (Pa. 1989); see also Croydon Plastics Co., Inc. v.
Lower Bucks Cooling & Heating, 698 A.2d 625, 628-29 (Pa. Super. 1997)
(“Were we to quash an appeal from an order which, except for entry of
judgment, is otherwise final, we would expend judicial resources in the
decision to quash, one of the parties would inevitably praecipe the
prothonotary to enter judgment, and a subsequent appeal would be permitted
to follow.” (citation omitted).

                                           -2-
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Kantner and EMF Development Corp. (EMF), two businesses that sell scrap

metal. N.T., 6/25/20, at 610.

     During the fall of 2010, Appellant’s president, Gabriel Hudock (Hudock

or Mr. Hudock), sought to purchase an aluminum shredder (shredder) to meet

increased demand for aluminum. N.T., 6/22/20, at 23-32, 34-35, 63. After

receiving a quote of $1,450,000.00 for a new American Pulverizer shredder,

Appellant entered into negotiations with Toth for the purchase of a used model

of the same shredder. Id. at 33-35.

     The trial court explained:

     Between April and June of 2011, Mr. Hudock and Mr. Toth
     negotiated for the sale of the shredder, in addition to a proposed
     agreement in which Mr. Toth would offer [Appellant] a right of first
     refusal to purchase aluminum scrap from his two scrapyards. The
     initial agreed price to be paid by [Appellant] was [] 2 million
     dollars.

           After seeking financing[, Appellant] was only able to finance
     75% of the purchase price, leaving a deficit of $500,000.00 of
     financing; Mr. Toth offered to finance the remaining balance. Mr.
     Toth and Mr. Hudock met on April 11, 2011 to discuss the
     agreements further; Mr. Hudock presented Mr. Toth with a draft
     [ROFRA], a draft Bill of Sale encompassing the two million dollar
     agreement, and a draft [CA]. Mr. Hudock testified to his belief
     that the [CA] was designed to provide the $500,000 in financing
     by Mr. Toth. Mr. Hudock further testified that upon receiving the
     drafts and discussing them with his counsel, Mr. Toth requested a
     $500,000 judgment note or loan schedule in place of the
     consulting agreement.

           Upon further negotiations with PNC Bank, PNC agreed to
     finance the entire two million-dollar transaction. As the entire
     agreement was financed, Mr. Toth agreed to drop the purchase
     price to $1,900,000.00. As negotiations continued, Mr. Toth
     requested a copy of the proposed ROFRA on April 14, 2011, from
     Tom Adamek, [Appellant’s] Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Toth

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     returned the draft to Mr. Adamek with changes made by counsel
     on May 5, 2011. Mr. Toth sent Mr. Hudock an email stating,
     “Gabe, I cleaned up the changes you wanted and took off the draft
     wording. I will get it signed and sent to you Thursday. Thanks,
     John.” The revised ROFRA was attached. A further June 9, 2011,
     email from Mr. Toth to Mr. Hudock stated, “Gabe, the envelope
     will be at the office at Johnstown with originals. You or Keith can
     pick up. Please get me one signed copy back. Thanks, John.”
     Attached to that email was a copy of the ROFRA agreement,
     executed by Mr. Toth and witnessed.

          Upon receiving this email, Mr. Hudock emailed Mr.
     Toth on June 9, 2011, as follows: “John, as you know, we
     agreed that the right of refusal would apply to all the yards
     owned by you, not just Kantner Iron Metal. I would like
     the agreement to reflect our intentions. Thanks, Gabe.”
     Mr. Toth replied: “Gabe, you’re getting a bit paranoid.
     Read paragraph 1. It gives you the right of refusal for all
     of John Toth’s existing facilities. I can’t give you any more
     than that. John.” Mr. Hudock subsequently signed the
     ROFRA on June 13, 2011, witnessed by Tom Adamek, and
     Mr. Adamek sent him a copy of the executed ROFRA.

           Approximately one week later, Mr. Toth indicated to Mr.
     Hudock that he had not received the executed copy from
     [Appellant], and Mr. Hudock assured Mr. Toth that he would send
     an employee with a physical copy. Gray Gallo, an [employee of
     Appellant], testified that Mr. Hudock gave him an envelope to give
     to Mr. Toth and that he recalls doing so. Testimony from Mr. Toth
     indicates that he did not bring up the executed agreement again
     after this time, and an email to Mr. Toth dated March 15,
     2012, included a copy of the executed ROFRA.

            … [T]he ROFRA period extended for a term of thirty-six (36)
     months, from June 9, 2011, to June 9, 2014. [Appellant] is the
     identified buyer and [] Toth and Kantner are defined as “seller.”
     Under the ROFRA, [Appellant] is provided the right of first
     refusal to purchase “aluminum materials” from “any and
     all of Seller’s existing facilities.” Specifically, Seller agrees to
     provide [Appellant] with any third-party bona fide offer to
     purchase aluminum materials, at which time [Appellant] is
     provided four (4) hours to accept or reject the offer.

                                    -4-
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            Mr. Hudock testified that for the first two (2) years of the
      contract term, the parties apparently complied with the ROFRA as
      written, and each consummated purchase was documented in a
      Purchase Order.      Mr. Hudock also described a summary of
      documents received from Defendants which showed sales records
      to other companies, including competitors of [Appellant,] during
      the period of the ROFRA. He testified that these sales were not
      offered to [Appellant] and [Appellant] would have been interested
      in these sales if they had been offered pursuant to the ROFRA.

                                      *    *   *

            Regarding the [CA], … Mr. Hudock testified that he never
      requested that Mr. Toth actually become a consultant for
      [Appellant]. [Mr. Hudock] testified, however, that he did
      sign the [CA] at Exhibit D. He stated he believed the contract
      was aborted by oral agreement and/or the final agreement of sale
      for the shredder.

Trial Court Opinion, 1/15/21, at 2-6 (citations omitted, emphasis added). At

trial, Hudock further testified that in a December 12, 2012, email, Toth offered

to sell Appellant “irony” aluminum.       See N.T., 6/22/20, at 83; Exhibit 11.

According to Hudock, this was the first offer under the ROFRA from Toth to

Appellant. Id. at 84.

                             Procedural History

      On November 14, 2014, Appellant filed a complaint against Defendants

in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, alleging breach of the ROFRA (the

ROFRA case). Complaint, Westmoreland County Docket No. 5664 of 2014.

      On April 6, 2018, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, Toth filed a

complaint alleging breach of his consulting agreement with Appellant and for

                                      -5-
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unjust enrichment (the CA case).2 Complaint, Somerset County Docket No.

188 of 2018. Appellant filed an answer and new matter demurring to Toth’s

complaint in the CA case, and further asserting Toth’s contract action is barred

by the statute of limitations. On July 17, 2018, Appellant filed a motion for

judgment on the pleadings in the CA case. Motion, 7/17/18. On November

9, 2018, the Somerset court granted in part and denied in part Appellant’s

motion.      The court concluded Toth sufficiently pled a prima facie cause of

action for breach of the CA. Somerset Court Opinion, 11/9/18, at 9.            The

Somerset court further stated:

        [The court] find[s] the [CA] is an installment contract that
        contemplates periodic payments of $100,000.00 on April 15 of the
        years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.FN Following this, it is
        apparent that, applying the four-year statute of limitations for
        causes of action based on contracts, the payments for the years
        2012 and 2013 are outside the limitations period and are time-
        barred.   The payments due in 2014, 2015, and 2016 are
        actionable if the [CA] was still in effect during those times. It is
        this point [Appellant] address[es] in [its] second argument,
        discussed below.

        FN [Appellant] dedicated much of its Reply … [to] discussing the
        doctrine of “continuous contracts” and how, due to the fixed date
        of periodic payments in the Agreement, the doctrine is
        inapplicable in the instant matter. [The court] generally agree[s]
        with [Appellant] on this limited point. However, from [Toth’s]
        Brief, and from representations made at oral argument on the
        [motion for judgment on the pleadings, the court] believe[s
        Toth’s] primary argument is rather that the [CA] is an installment
        contract, which invokes a distinct set of principles, namely that
        each failure to pay an installment is a separate breach and cause

____________________________________________

2   Toth subsequently withdrew his unjust enrichment claim.

                                           -6-
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      of action, with a separate, concomitant, four-year limitations
      period.

      [Appellant] asserts, and [Toth] admits, that the parties did not
      communicate after July 2013. Answer and New Matter ¶ 32; Reply
      to New Matter ¶ 32.        [Appellant] argues that, because all
      communication, and thus all possibility of service, ceased in July
      2013, the contract should be treated as terminated as of that date,
      and the limitations period would have begun then, ending in July
      2017. [Appellant’s] Rely Brief [at] 5-7. …

Somerset Court Opinion, 11/9/18, at 6-7 (footnote and quoted citations in

original, some citations omitted).

      Applying our Supreme Court’s decision in Crouse v. Cyclops

Industries, 745 A.2d 606 (Pa. 2000), the Somerset court concluded:

      [T]aking [Toth’s] allegation that “[he] has performed for and
      provided [] all required services to [Appellant]” as true, under our
      standard of review, and that a provision in the [CA] states that
      “[t]he services … may be rendered by [Toth] without any direct
      supervision by the Company,” [the court] do[es] not find, as a
      matter of law, that the failure of communication between [Toth]
      and [Appellant] after July 2013 unequivocally terminated the
      contract. At the very least, discovery is warranted on the issues
      of [Toth’s] reasonable diligence in discovering whether [Appellant]
      intended to pay [Toth] for his services, what services, if any, were
      provided, and whether communication between the parties after
      July 2013 was necessary or contemplated in order to keep the
      [CA] valid and in effect.

Somerset Court Opinion, 11/9/18, at 8 (citations omitted).

      Thereafter, the CA case was transferred to the Westmoreland County

Court of Common Pleas (the trial court) in accordance with Pa.R.C.P. 213.1

(Coordination of Actions in Different Counties). On October 23, 2019, the trial

                                     -7-
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court consolidated the ROFRA case and the CA case at docket number 5446

of 2014. Trial Court Order, 10/23/19.

      From June 22-26, 2020, the trial court held a bench trial on the

consolidated cases. Regarding the ROFRA case, the trial court determined:

(1) the ROFRA constitutes an enforceable contract, see Trial Court Opinion,

1/15/21, at 15; (2) Toth breached the ROFRA, see id.; and (3) Appellant

sustained damages of $224,501.07 plus prejudgment interest, see Trial Court

Order, 1/15/21, ¶¶ 1-2. Regarding the Somerset case, the trial court entered

a verdict in favor of Toth. The trial court determined: (1) Appellant’s CA with

Toth constituted an enforceable installment contract, see Trial Court Opinion,

1/15/21, at 18; (2) Appellant breached the CA, see id. at 20; and (3) Toth

sustained damages of $300,000 plus prejudgment interest, see id. at 21.

      Appellants filed a notice of appeal at 764 WDA 2021 (the CA case).

Defendants filed a cross appeal at 807 WDA 2021. The parties have complied

with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) at both dockets.

      Preliminarily, we recognize:

      Our appellate role in cases arising from nonjury 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 the 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. However,
      [where] the issue … concerns a question of law, our scope of
      review is plenary.

                                      -8-
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      The trial court’s conclusions of law on appeal originating from a
      non-jury trial are not binding on an appellate court because it is
      the appellate court’s duty to determine if the trial court correctly
      applied the law to the facts of the case.

Allegheny Energy Supply Co., LLC, v. Wolf Run Min. Co., 53 A.3d 53, 60-

61 (Pa. Super. 2012) (ellipses and brackets in original; citation and quotation

marks omitted). “[T]he trial court acts as the factfinder in a bench trial and

may believe all, part or none of the evidence presented.” Ruthrauff, Inc. v.

Ravin, Inc., 914 A.2d 880, 888 (Pa. Super. 2006). “Issues of credibility and

conflicts in evidence are for the trial court to resolve; this Court is not

permitted to reexamine the weight and credibility determination or substitute

our judgment for that of the factfinder.” Id. (citation and quotation marks

omitted).

                  Appellant’s Appeal at 764 WDA 2021
                             (The CA Case)

      Appellant presents the following issues for our review:

      1. Whether Toth’s claim for breach of a purported [CA] is barred
         by the statute of limitations where Toth did not file his
         complaint until more than four years after [Appellant] failed to
         make multiple annual payments allegedly owed to Toth under
         the agreement, explicitly repudiated the purported agreement,
         and Toth severed all communication and relations with
         Appellant[?]

      2. Whether the trial court erred in finding [Appellant] liable for
         failing to make annual payments allegedly due under the
         purported [CA] in April of 2014, 2015 and 2016, where Toth
         had admittedly severed all communications and relations with
         [Appellant] during those years, there is no evidence that Toth
         performed any consulting services for [Appellant] at any time,
         and the trial court improperly reversed the parties’ respective
         burdens of proof by concluding that Toth had proved his breach

                                     -9-
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         of contract claim because the trial court was “not convinced
         that Toth did not perform the minimum requirements” under
         the [CA?]

      3. Whether the trial court erred in failing to find that the doctrines
         of waiver, estoppel and/or laches bar Toth’s claim for payments
         ostensibly due under the [CA] in April of 2014, 2015 and 2016,
         where Toth had admittedly severed all communications and
         relations with [Appellant] and forgot about the [CA] during
         those years, did not assert an alleged right to payment despite
         [Appellant’s] explicit repudiation of the [CA] in 2012 and 2013
         until he filed his complaint in 2018, at which point [Appellant’s]
         case had been pending in the trial court for 3.5 years, and Toth
         made no mention of the [CA], including in verified discovery
         responses in 2015, even though a year ostensibly remained on
         the term of the [CA] at the time[?]

      4. Whether the trial court erred in refusing to modify its award of
         $397,500 in damages and interest to Toth for payments
         ostensibly due under the purported [CA], where such an award
         greatly exceeds any appropriate measure of contract damages
         or amount arguably supported by the evidence, unconscionably
         provides Toth a windfall for damages he did not actually suffer
         and [Appellant] has been greatly prejudiced by Toth’s years of
         silence and delay in asserting his alleged contractual rights[?]

      5. Whether the trial court erred in awarding Toth prejudgment
         interest as of right and in an amount greater than necessary to
         fully compensate Toth[?]

Appellant’s Brief at 3-5 (emphasis in original).

                                    Issue 1

      Appellant first challenges the trial court’s determination that Toth’s

claim is not barred by the statute of limitations. Id. at 21. Appellant claims

it expressly repudiated the CA in 2012 “and again in 2013, and all

communications and relations between the parties were entirely terminated

after July of 2013.” Id. According to Appellant, Toth’s cause of action accrued

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no later than August 2013; consequently, the action is barred by the four-

year statute of limitations. Id. (citing, inter alia, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5525(a)).

      Appellant further disputes the trial court’s analysis of the Somerset

court’s decision regarding the CA case. Appellant states,

      [t]he Somerset [c]ourt did not hold that Toth’s claim for payments
      allegedly due in 2014, 2015 and 2016 was timely. To the
      contrary, the Somerset [c]ourt acknowledged [Appellant] set forth
      a “sound” basis to conclude the [CA] was terminated as of July
      2013, but was reluctant to dismiss the entire claim at the pleading
      stage….

Id. at 24. Appellant asserts it repudiated the CA by failing to tender payment

in 2012 and 2013, and by Hudock’s response, “I don’t know what you’re

talking about,” when Toth requested payment.            Id. (citation omitted).

Appellant posits:

      Even assuming arguendo that the [c]onsulting [a]greement was
      not effectively repudiated, the statute of limitations was triggered
      when Toth refused to communicate with [Appellant] after July of
      2013, completely terminating the parties’ relationship and with it
      their purported contract.

Id. at 27. Appellant also claims Toth did not act with due diligence. Id. at

27-28.

      Our Supreme Court described our scope and standard of review as

follows:

      Our scope of review with respect to whether judgment n.o.v. is
      appropriate is plenary, as with any review of questions of law. Our
      standard of review when examining the lower court’s refusal to
      grant a judgment n.o.v. is whether, when reading the record in
      the light most favorable to the verdict winner and granting that
      party every favorable inference therefrom, there was sufficient
      competent evidence to sustain the verdict. Although we accord

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     deference to a trial court with regard to its factual findings, our
     review of its legal conclusions is de novo. The trial court’s
     determination regarding the scope of the term “actual damages”
     under the Law constitutes a legal conclusion and issues of
     statutory interpretation present this Court with questions of law
     for which our standard of review is de novo, and our scope of
     review is plenary.

Bailets v. Pa. Tpk. Comm’n, 181 A.3d 324, 332 (Pa. 2018) (citations

omitted).

     To prove breach of contract, a plaintiff must prove that a contract

existed; it was breached; and damages resulted from the breach. Liss &

Marion, P.C. v. Recordex Acquisition Corp., 983 A.2d 652, 665 (Pa. 2009).

The statute of limitations for an action asserting breach of contract is four

years. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5525(a). The limitation period is “computed from

the time the cause of action accrued.” Fine v. Checcio, 870 A.2d 850, 857

(Pa. 2005). “[A] cause of action accrues when the plaintiff could have first

maintained the action to a successful conclusion.” Id.

     The parties do not dispute the existence of a contract, i.e., the CA. The

CA provided in relevant part:

     1. [Toth] shall, as more fully set forth below in this Paragraph 1,
     assist [Appellant] in developing aluminum market intelligence and
     analyses in furtherance of [Appellant’s] business strategic
     initiatives and goals.

     More specifically, [Toth] agrees to share aluminum industry
     related information generally available in the public domain, as
     well as other information, including but not limited to general
     pricing formulae, hedging strategies, potential supplier/customer
     contacts, and the like; provided however, no such information
     shall be provided if the release thereof would violate a non-
     competition or other proprietary agreement to which [Toth] is

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     bound. [Toth] will assist [Appellant] in identifying, structuring,
     and developing strategic data relating to the aluminum industry.

     [Toth] will be available on request, with appropriate notice,
     to meet with [Appellant’s] Management/professional advisors,
     potential customers, investors and capital sources, and strategic
     partners.

     The services described in this Paragraph 1 may be rendered by
     [Toth] without any direct supervision by [Appellant] and at such
     time and place in such manner (whether by conference,
     telephone, letter or otherwise) as [Toth] and [Appellant] may
     reasonably determine.

See N.T., 6/24/20, at 393 (Defense Exhibit D (CA)) (emphasis added).

     Appellant claims repudiation of the CA. Appellant’s Brief at 24. The

Pennsylvania Commercial Code provides:

     When either party repudiates the contract with respect to a
     performance not yet due the loss of which will substantially impair
     the value of the contract to the other, the aggrieved party may:

     (1) for a commercially reasonable time await performance by the
     repudiating party; or

     (2) resort to any remedy for breach (section 2703 or 2711), even
     though he has notified the repudiating party that he would await
     performance by the latter and has urged retraction; and

     (3) in either case suspend his own performance or proceed in
     accordance with the provisions of this division on the right of the
     seller to identify goods to the contract notwithstanding breach or
     to salvage unfinished goods (section 2704).

13 Pa.C.S.A. § 2610.

     Where a claim accrues from “anticipatory repudiation or breach,” the

breaching party must have expressed “an absolute and unequivocal refusal to

perform or a distinct and positive statement of an inability to do

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so.” Andrews v. Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, Inc., 158 A.3d 123, 130

(Pa. Super. 2017) (en banc) (quoting Harrison v. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.,

110 A.3d 178, 184 (Pa. 2015)).

     At trial, Toth testified: “The [CA] calls that I be paid a hundred thousand

dollars a year annually beginning on April 5, 2012, continuing to April 5,

2016.” N.T., 6/24/20, at 393. Toth testified he complied with the CA:

     I did all I could for [Hudock]. He had to ask me. I wasn’t required
     to provide anything to him. He had to let me know what he
     wanted.

                                   *   *   *

     I met him any time he called to have a meeting. And I would have
     met with him and had any meeting he wanted to have, go any
     place he wanted me to go.

                                   *   *   *

     … In fact, I started to send him pricing formula [sic] from metal
     conversions, and I sent it a couple times. Then he told me in a
     phone conversation, you know, it’s nice you’re sending that, but I
     already get that, I really don’t need that. So I stopped sending it.

Id. at 548-49. Toth attempted to advise Appellant regarding procedures and

practices for as-is and recovery basis purchases:     “I did.   I attempted to.

Sometimes they just didn’t want to listen to you.” Id. at 550. Toth confirmed

he made himself available throughout the entire consulting period. Id.

     Toth testified he requested payment on the CA after the first year of the

ROFRA:

     [Hudock] simply said, I don’t know what you’re talking about. And
     I said, Gabe, you know what I’m talking about, I’m talking about

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      the [CA] we signed last year. … He acted like he didn’t know
      what I was talking about.

Id. When Hudock requested a copy of the agreement, Toth could not find his

copy. Id. at 551. Toth testified he asked for payment the second year, and

periodically mentioned the agreement to Hudock. Id. Hudock would respond,

“Show me what you’re talking about, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Id.

      Toth indicated he consulted with Appellant’s employee, Keith Miller

(Miller), regarding “[s]hredder disassembly, shredder installation, shredder

this, shredder that. [Miller] must have had some kind of work involved with

putting a shredder in. I really don’t know what his job was.” Id. at 432.

According to Toth, following the sale of the shredder to Appellant, he received

telephone calls from Appellant’s employee, Gary Gallo (Gallo): “[Gallo] was

calling for consulting in place on matter of the shredder, how to put the

shredder in.”   Id. at 485.   Toth also stated he had “consulting calls” with

Hudock. Id.

      Our review discloses no statement or action by Appellant or Toth

repudiating the CA. Hudock’s nonpayment and response, “I don’t know what

you’re talking about,” see id. at 550, falls short of an “absolute and

unequivocal” refusal to perform, or a distinct and positive statement of an

inability to do so. Andrews, 158 A.3d at 130. Further, we cannot conclude

Toth’s cause of action accrued in July 2013, when the parties’ communications

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ceased. Toth confirmed he made himself available throughout the consulting

period. N.T., 6/24/20, at 550. The trial court explained:

       While the relationship of the parties certainly deteriorated,
       [Appellant] presented no affirmative evidence to show an
       unequivocal repudiation of the [CA], and so it cannot meet its
       burden of showing the same in a way which would begin the tolling
       of the [s]tatute of limitations in July of 2013.

Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 2. As we agree with the trial court, Appellant’s

first issue fails.

                                   Issue 2

       Appellant next challenges the sufficiency of the evidence underlying the

trial court’s finding that Appellant owes the 2014, 2015 and 2016 payments

under the CA. Brief for Appellant at 29. Appellant asserts the damages award

“is not based on any services rendered by Toth, but rather merely on his

testimony that he was available to provide services during that time period.”

Id. (emphasis in original).   According to Appellant, the CA did not require

mere availability and “only requires payment when services are rendered.”

Id.   Appellant argues: “The ‘services’ contemplated by the [CA] include

sharing    aluminum   industry   information   and   assisting   in   identifying,

structuring, and developing strategic data.” Id. at 29-30. Although the CA

requires Toth “will be available on request,” Appellant claims “availability” in

and of itself is not a “service” under the agreement. Id. at 30. Appellant

directs our attention to the lack of evidence regarding services Toth rendered

in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Id.

                                     - 16 -
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      Appellant acknowledges: “While it is technically true that Toth’s phone

records reflect calls from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2014, they

do not in fact evidence anything like a ‘continued stream’ of communication

after July 2013.” Id. at 32. Appellant acknowledges Toth placed three phone

calls to Gallo on December 12, 2014. Id. However, Appellant argues Gallo

had not been employed by Appellant for over a year by that date.            Id.

Appellant emphasizes the lack of communication between Toth and Appellant

after July 2013. Id. at 32-33.

      As set forth above, the CA expressly required Toth “be available on

request[.]” See N.T., 6/24/20, Defense Exhibit D. At trial, Toth testified he

consulted   with   Appellant’s   employees,   responded   to   questions   from

Appellant’s employees, and remained available throughout the term of the

contract. N.T., 6/24/20, at 548-50. The trial court reasoned:

      Toth [] testified that he did provide guidance to [Appellant’s]
      employees regarding operation of the shredder and the aluminum
      market, especially during the initial process of the sale and
      movement of the shredder. Toth presented into evidence phone
      records which show a continued stream of phone correspondence
      with [Appellant] and its employees, even past the time in July of
      2013 whe[n] he ceased selling materials to [Appellant]. Looking
      at the evidence in sum, the [c]ourt is not convinced that [] Toth
      did not perform his minimum requirements under the contract,
      and so the [c]ourt finds the contract was breached by [Appellant].

Trial Court Opinion, 1/15/21, at 21. The trial court’s findings are supported

by the record and its reasoning is sound.       As “the fact-finder is free to

believe all, part, or none of the evidence, and to assess the credibility of the

                                     - 17 -
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witnesses,” we cannot grant Appellant relief on its second issue.      Berg v.

Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 235 A.3d 1223, 1228 (Pa. 2020).

                                   Issue 3

      Appellant next challenges the trial court’s failure to apply the doctrines

of waiver, estoppel and/or laches to bar Toth’s breach of contract action.

Appellant’s Brief at 34. Appellant relies on Toth’s testimony that Appellant

“failed and outright refused to make the first payment allegedly due in April

2012.” Id. Toth did not enforce his right to payment until April 2018. Id.

Appellant states, “[d]uring this period, [Appellant] specifically asked Toth if

there were any other agreements between the parties, aside from the ROFRA,”

and Toth did not disclose the CA. Id. at 35. According to Appellant, Toth

mislead and prejudiced Appellant through “his years of silence and inaction[.]”

Id. at 38.    Appellant asserts it could have mitigated the prejudice and

damages had Toth disclosed or asserted his CA claim earlier. Id. Appellant

argues the doctrines of waiver, estoppel and laches are designed to address

this situation. Id.

      The doctrines of waiver and estoppel are defenses to a breach of

contract claim:

      Waiver is the voluntary and intentional abandonment or
      relinquishment of a known right. Waiver may be established by a
      party’s express declaration or by a party’s undisputed acts or
      language so inconsistent with a purpose to stand on the contract
      provisions as to leave no opportunity for a reasonable inference
      to the contrary.

                                    - 18 -
J-A12006-22

MetroClub Condo. Ass’n v. 201-59 N. Eighth St. Assocs., L.P., 47 A.3d

137, 154 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation omitted).         Estoppel is “a doctrine

sounding in equity, [which] recognizes that an informal promise by one’s

words deeds, or representations which leads another to rely justifiably thereon

to his own injury or detriment ....” Novelty Knitting Mills, Inc. v. Siskind,

457 A.2d 502, 503 (Pa. 1983).3

       The trial court found “[a]t no point did [Appellant] present any evidence

which would indicate a clear an unequivocal action on the part of [] Toth

waiving his rights under the consulting agreement.”        Trial Court Opinion,

6/3/21, at 3.

       There was no inducement or misdirection regarding the CA on the
       part of Toth directed at [Appellant]—rather, [Appellant] knew of
       and had possession of the [CA] at all times. In fact, [Appellant]
       is the sole party asserting that the [CA] is relevant to its
       contractual claims, yet [Appellant] did not produce the [CA] in
       discovery. “A court may deprive a party of equitable relief where,
       to the detriment of the other party, the party applying for such
       relief is guilty of bad conduct relating to the matter at issue.”
       Terraciano v. Dept. Of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing,
       753 A.2d 233, 237 (Pa. 2000). As such, laches and estoppel are
       inapplicable here.

____________________________________________

3 Laches is an affirmative defense to an equitable claim. Fulton v. Fulton,
106 A.3d 127, 131 (Pa. Super. 2014) (doctrine of laches is an equitable bar
to the prosecution of stale claims and is “the practical application of the maxim
that ‘those who sleep on their rights must awaken to the consequence that
they have disappeared.’”). Laches is not a defense to an action at law. See
Leedom v. Spano, 647 A.2d 221, 228 (Pa. Super. 1994) (recognizing laches
was not a proper defense to action at law). Consequently, laches is not a
defense to Toth’s action at law for breach of contract.

                                          - 19 -
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Trial Court Opinion, 8/9/21, at 3-4.      The record supports the trial court’s

determination.

      Rather than waiving his rights under the CA, the record reflects Toth

repeatedly   requested   Appellant’s    compliance,   and   remained   available

throughout the CA’s term to consult. See N.T., 6/24/20, at 548-50. Further,

the record reflects no informal promise, words, deeds, or representations by

Toth on which Appellant relied to its detriment.      Rather, Toth repeatedly

requested payment and brought this action as to the 2014, 2015 and 2016

payments within the statute of limitations.       See id.   Because competent

evidence of record supports the trial court’s determination, we cannot grant

Appellant relief on its third issue. See Bailets, 181 A.3d at 332.

                                        Issue 4

      Finally, Appellant claims the evidence does not support the award of

damages incurred after 2013.     Appellant’s Brief at 40.    Relying on Toth’s

testimony that he “had forgotten about” the CA, Appellant asserts the parties

litigated the ROFRA during this timeframe, “acting as if no CA existed.” Id.

at 41.   Appellant argues it could have mitigated its damages by seeking

declaratory relief or utilizing Toth’s services during this time period.    Id.

Appellant argues there is no evidence Toth rendered any consulting services,

or that he was “available” for consultation after severing communications with

Appellant. Id. According to Appellant, even if Toth had communicated with

Appellant in 2014, there is no evidence to support an award of damages

                                       - 20 -
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thereafter. Id. at 42. “Thus, Toth’s damages should be reduced by $200,000,

or by $100,000 at a minimum, with a commensurate reduction in pre-

judgment interest.” Id.

     Contrary to Appellant’s claim, the record supports the damages awarded

for breach of the CA in 2014, 2015 and 2016. As the trial court explained,

     Toth testified that he did hold himself available during the period
     of the consulting agreement to provide on demand consulting
     services to [Appellant]. … [] Toth testified that he did provide
     guidance to [Appellant’s] employees regarding operation of the
     shredder and the aluminum market, especially during the initial
     process of the sale and movement of the shredder.             Toth
     presented into evidence phone records which show a continued
     stream of phone correspondence with [Appellant] and its
     employees, even past the time in July of 2013 where he ceased
     selling materials to [Appellant]. Looking at the evidence in sum,
     the [c]ourt is not convinced that [] Toth did not perform his
     minimum requirements under the contract, and so the [c]ourt
     finds the contract was breached by [Appellant].

Trial Court Opinion, 1/15/21, at 21. We agree with and adopt the trial court’s

reasoning. See id.

     Regarding the award of prejudgment interest, we review the award for

an abuse of discretion. Cresci Constr. Servs. v. Martin, 64 A.3d 254, 258

(Pa. Super. 2013).   An abuse of discretion is more than a mere error in

judgment; rather, it requires a finding that the trial court overrode or

misapplied the law, or that the decision was manifestly unreasonable or the

result of bias,   prejudice,   partiality,    or   ill-will as   evidenced   by the

record. Kraisinger v. Kraisinger, 34 A.3d 168, 175 (Pa. Super. 2011).

                                     - 21 -
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        Pennsylvania has followed the Restatement (Second) of Contracts

§ 354, which provides:

        If the breach consists of a failure to pay a definite sum in money
        or to render a performance with fixed or ascertainable monetary
        value, interest is recoverable from the time for performance on
        the amount due less all deductions to which the party in breach is
        entitled.

Krishnan v. Cutler Group, Inc., 171 A.3d 856, 874 (Pa. Super. 2017)

(quoting Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 354)).           The comments to

Section 354 state: “Unless otherwise agreed, interest is always recoverable

for the non-payment of money once payment has become due and there has

been a breach. … The sum due is sufficiently definite if it is ascertainable

from the terms of the contract….” Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 354

cmt. c; accord Krishnan, 171 A.3d at 874.

        Our review discloses the CA definitively set the amount due for Toth’s

consulting services, and the annual dates for payment.           The trial court

properly awarded Toth prejudgment interest at the statutory rate for each of

Appellant’s breaches of the CA (2014, 2015 and 2016).

                    Toth’s Cross-Appeal at 807 WDA 2021
                               (The CA Case)4

        Toth presents the following issue:

        Whether the trial court erred in concluding Toth waived his ability
        and rights to request that [the] trial court modify the decision of
        the Somerset County Court barring portions of Toth’s claims under
        the [CA] due to the statute of limitations because [Appellant]
____________________________________________

4   Toth’s cross-appeal in the CA case is argued at Issue E in Defendants’ brief.

                                          - 22 -
J-A12006-22

      fraudulently concealed the existence of the CA and the alleged
      relationship between the CA, ROFRA and an Agreement of Sale
      (“AOS”)?

Defendants’ Brief at 5 (some capitalization omitted).

      Toth claims the trial court erred in concluding he waived his right to

request modification of the Somerset Court’s decision, “as a result of

[Appellant’s] fraudulent concealment of the existence and the alleged

relationship of the CA, ROFRA and the [Agreement of Sale (AOS)] during

discovery.”   Defendants’ Brief at 50.    Specifically, Toth alleges Appellant’s

fraudulent concealment of the CA to toll the statute of limitations to his claims

regarding breaches of the CA in 2012 and 2013. Id. at 54. According to Toth,

the Somerset Court’s decision was unappealable as an interlocutory order, and

under the coordinate jurisdiction rule, the decision barring his claims for 2012

and 2013 became the law of the case. Id. at 50-51.

      Toth claims Appellant first raised the relationship between all of the

parties’ agreements during trial. Id. at 51. Toth acknowledges “the trial court

correctly concluded that the three agreements were in fact wholly separate

agreements despite [Appellant’s] argument that all three agreements were

related.” Id. at 52. However, Defendants argue,

      [g]iven its position, [Appellant] should have not only disclosed but
      should have supplied the CA in its discovery response.
      [Appellant’s] failure to disclose the alleged relationship between
      the CA and the ROFRA and its failure to produce the CA in
      response thereto, during discovery, was a fraudulent concealment
      of the CA, which caused Toth to relax his pursuit of his claims
      under the CA. If Toth had been provided a copy of the CA at that

                                     - 23 -
J-A12006-22

      time, which was within the statute of limitations for that claim,
      Toth would have pursued those claims under the CA.

Id.   Thus, Toth claims the statute of limitations should have been tolled

regarding his claims under the CA. Id. at 54-55.

      This Court has addressed fraudulent concealment as follows:

      Where, “through fraud or concealment, the defendant causes the
      plaintiff to relax his vigilance or deviate from his right of inquiry,”
      the defendant is estopped from invoking the bar of the statute of
      limitations. Moreover, defendant’s conduct need not rise to fraud
      or concealment in the strictest sense, that is, with an intent to
      deceive; unintentional fraud or concealment is sufficient. Mere
      mistake, misunderstanding or lack of knowledge is insufficient
      however, … and the burden of proving such fraud or concealment,
      by evidence which is clear, precise and convincing, is upon the
      asserting party.

Rice v. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, 255 A.3d 237, 248 (Pa. 2021)

(quoting Molineux v. Reed, 532 A.2d 792 (Pa. 1987) (citations and quotation

marks omitted)). However, “even affirmatively misleading acts do not estop

a defendant from invoking the statute of limitations if the party has failed to

act with reasonable diligence.” Rice, 255 A.2d at 249 (citation omitted).

      Instantly, the trial court determined:

      Fraudulent concealment cannot apply where, as here, the party
      asserting the concealment was aware of the thing that is alleged
      to have been concealed. It is undisputed [] Toth was aware at all
      times of the Consulting Agreement. He has made no assertion
      that [Appellant] caused him to relax his vigilance or deviate from
      his right of inquiry into the facts. There is thus no practicable way
      for [] Toth to assert that [Appellant] was engaging in any form of
      concealment ….

                                      - 24 -
J-A12006-22

Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 12 (citation and quotation marks omitted). We

agree with and adopt the reasoning of the trial court. See id. Accordingly,

no relief is due.

                    Defendants’ Appeal at 807 WDA 2021
                            (The ROFRA Case)

      In their cross-appeal, Defendants present the following issues:

      A.   (1) … [W]hether the trial court erred by finding that an
      ambiguity existed as to any term in the written ROFRA such that
      the parties intended to include the aluminum sales of EMF
      [Development Corporation (“EMF”)] facilities?

            (2) Whether the trial court erred in failing to apply the
      equitable remedy of reformation to the [ROFRA,] where the trial
      court found an ambiguity and a mutual mistake in the written
      ROFRA and found that the parties intended that the ROFRA include
      the sales of Aluminum of EMF … facilities?

      B. Whether the trial court erred by failing to recognize and follow
      well established corporate law and corporate formalities in
      awarding damages against [Defendants] arising solely from EMF’s
      failure to offer its aluminum for sale to Appellant, when EMF is a
      non-party to the ROFRA and a non-party to the action?

      C. Whether the trial court abused its discretion in failing to
      conclude that the ROFRA was repudiated and thereafter whether
      the trial court also erred in concluding that the doctrine was not
      legally applicable to this type of contract, thus failing to apply the
      doctrine of anticipatory repudiation?

      D. Whether the trial court erred in awarding damages and/or
      prejudgment interest computed from the date the ROFRA was
      signed rather than upon the dates upon which [Appellant] suffered
      an actual loss?

Defendants’ Brief at 5 (Issue A subsections renumbered).

                                     - 25 -
J-A12006-22

                                 Issue A (1)

      Defendants first claim the trial court erred in concluding the ROFRA

contained an ambiguity. Defendants’ Brief at 22. Defendants challenge the

court’s interpretation of the ROFRA provisions so as to apply to all facilities

owned by Toth, including EMF.      Id. at 22-23. Upon finding an ambiguity,

Defendants argue, the court erred in not correcting the ambiguity and the

parties’ mutual mistake by reforming the ROFRA. Id. at 23.

      In support, Defendants argue Toth could not bind EMF, a separate

entity, to the terms of the ROFRA, or force EMF to offer its assets for sale. Id.

at 24.   According to Defendants, “EMF can be made a party only by the

application of the equitable doctrine of reformation of the contract to include

EMF as a party.” Id. at 25. Defendants further claim mutual mistake by the

parties. Id. at 26. Defendants assert that given the mutual mistake, the trial

court erred by not reforming the ROFRA. Id. Defendants argue they cannot

be legally subject to damages for EMF’s breach, and the entire action must fail

because Appellant failed to join EMF as an indispensable party. Id. at 27, 30.

      Established law provides that

      [d]etermining the intention of the parties is a paramount
      consideration in the interpretation of any contract. The intent of
      the parties is to be ascertained from the document itself when the
      terms are clear and unambiguous.             However, … where
      an ambiguity exists, parol evidence is admissible to explain or
      clarify or resolve the ambiguity, irrespective of whether
      the ambiguity is created by the language of the instrument or by
      extrinsic or collateral circumstances.

                                      - 26 -
J-A12006-22

       We first analyze the contract … to determine whether an ambiguity
       exists requiring the use of extrinsic evidence. A contract is
       ambiguous if it is reasonably susceptible of different constructions
       and capable of being understood in more than one sense….

Hutchison v. Sunbeam Coal Corp., 519 A.2d 385, 389-90 (Pa. 1986)

(citations and quotation marks omitted). “While unambiguous contracts are

interpreted by the court as a matter of law, ambiguous writings are interpreted

by the finder of fact.” Ins. Adjustment Bureau, Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co.,

905 A.2d 462, 469 (Pa. 2006). “Under ordinary principles of contract

interpretation, the agreement is to be construed against its drafter.” Id. at

468.

       Here, the ROFRA stated:

       Seller hereby grants to Alumisource the right of first refusal to
       purchase aluminum materials, including but not limited to, UVC,
       aluminum siding, aluminum clips, aluminum extrusions,
       aluminum heat and cast aluminum from any and all of Seller’s
       existing facilities during the term of this Agreement.

N.T., 1/15/21, Exhibit 1 (ROFRA); see also id. at 54-55 (Hudock quoting the

ROFRA). The ROFRA defined “Seller” as Toth and Kantner, collectively. N.T.,

Exhibit 1.

       The trial court concluded the ROFRA’s reference to “any and all of

Sellers’ existing facilities” is ambiguous, stating:

       Here, it is clear that the term “any and all of Seller’s existing
       facilities” is ambiguous and indefinite, as it is not explained
       anywhere within the four corners of the contract what
       facilities fall within this categorization. Parol evidence is thus
       required to clarify which facilities Toth is required to include in his
       offers to Alumisource.

                                       - 27 -
J-A12006-22

Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 13-14 (emphasis added). We agree with and

adopt the trial court’s conclusion that the ROFRA is ambiguous as to the scope

of “seller’s existing facilities.” See id.

      Mindful of our standard of review, the record evidence establishes that

when the parties executed the ROFRA, Hudock was aware of two scrap yards

owned by Kantner and one (EMF) owned by Toth. N.T., 6/22/20, at 52. After

receiving the signed ROFRA, Hudock emailed Toth for clarification of the

“existing facilities,” stating:

      [A]s you know, we agreed that the right of refusal would apply to
      all the yards owned by you, not just Kantner Iron Metal. I would
      like the agreement to reflect our intentions….

Id., Exhibit 15; see also id. at 52 (Hudock’s testimony quoting Exhibit 15).

Toth responded:

      “Gabe, you’re getting a bit paranoid. Read paragraph 1. It gives
      you the right of refusal for all of John Toth’s existing facilities. I
      can’t give you any more than that. John.

Id. at 53 (quoting response from Toth).         In interpreting “Seller’s existing

facilities,” the trial court found:

             Parol evidence in the form of the emails between Mr. Toth
      and Mr. Hudock … is helpful in clarifying the intention of the
      parties. It is undisputed that Mr. Toth’s facilities at the time of
      contracting were exclusively Kantner and EMF, although this is not
      made known through the plain language of the ROFRA. The emails
      directly address this issue, with Mr. Hudock requesting
      confirmation that the ROFRA pertains to all yards owned by Mr.
      Toth, not just Kantner. Mr. Toth replies in the affirmative,
      admonishing Mr. Hudock for being “paranoid.” This exchange,
      taken together with the language of the ROFRA, shows a clear
      meeting of the minds on all terms of the contract, including the
      inclusion of EMF as one of “Seller’s existing facilities.” …

                                       - 28 -
J-A12006-22

Trial Court Opinion, 1/15/21, at 13-14. As the record supports the trial court’s

interpretation, and we discern no abuse of discretion or error. See Bailets,

181 A.3d at 332.

      Defendants also failed to establish a “mutual mistake” which would

invalidate the ROFRA or compel reformation.

      Mutual mistake will afford a basis for reforming a contract. Mutual
      mistake exists, however, only where both parties to a contract
      [are] mistaken as to existing facts at the time of execution.
      Moreover, to obtain reformation of a contract because of mutual
      mistake, the moving party is required to show the existence of the
      mutual mistake by evidence that is clear, precise and convincing.

Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. O’Hanlon, 968 A.2d 765, 770-71 (Pa. Super. 2009)

(citations omitted). Here, Defendants failed to establish both parties were

mistaken as to facts when they executed the ROFRA.         Defendants at best

established their mistaken belief as to the scope of the ROFRA.        Because

Defendants’ claim of mutual mistake is not supported by clear and convincing

evidence, reformation of the ROFRA was not warranted. See id.

      Defendant’s assertion that Appellant failed to join EMF as an

indispensable third party likewise fails. An indispensable party is one whose

“rights are so connected with the claims of the litigants that no decree can be

made without impairing or infringing upon those rights.” Sprague v. Casey,

550 A.2d 184, 189 (Pa. 1988) (citations omitted). See also Commercial

Banking Corp. v. Culp, 443 A.2d 1154, 1156 (Pa. Super. 1982) (“A person

is a necessary and indispensable party only when his rights are so connected

                                     - 29 -
J-A12006-22

with the claims of the litigants that no decree can be made without impairing

his rights.”). “If no redress is sought against a party, and its rights would not

be prejudiced by any decision in the case, it is not indispensable with respect

to the litigation.” Orman v. Mortgage I.T., 118 A.3d 403, 406 (Pa. Super.

2015) (citation omitted).

      Appellant did not seek redress against EMF. Further, Defendants failed

to demonstrate EMF’s rights would be prejudiced by any decision of the trial

court, including the judgment against Defendants. Consequently, this issue

fails. See id. In summary, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to

Appellant, as required by our standard of review, Defendants are not entitled

to relief as to Issue A. See Bailets, 181 A.3d at 332.

                                       Issue B

      Defendants argue the trial court improperly failed to apply corporate law

and formalities when it awarded damages for sales of aluminum by EMF, a

nonparty to the ROFRA and related legal proceedings. Defendants’ Brief at

35. Defendants claim the evidence “fails to support a finding that Toth owns

any facilities or aluminum individually.”        Id. at 36-37.     According to

Defendants, the trial court misapplied this Court’s decision in PNC Bank v.

Kerr, 802 A.2d 634 (Pa. Super. 2002), in concluding “that by Toth’s signature

to the ROFRA, Toth [wa]s binding himself to obligate EMF’s facilities and assets

to the ROFRA.” Defendants’ Brief at 37. Defendants challenge the court’s

                                     - 30 -
J-A12006-22

failure to recognize that a corporation’s assets are not the property of its

shareholders. Id. at 35-36. Defendants assert:

        The trial court disregards all legally applicable corporate principles
        by imposing liability on [Defendants]. … EMF is a corporation
        and, even though Toth owns the shares of EMF, this does not
        make Toth the owner of EMF’s facility or assets, rather than EMF….

Id. at 36. According to Defendants, the trial court erred in holding Defendants

liable for EMF’s actions or inactions, as they do not have authority to bind EMF

or pledge assets owned by EMF under the ROFRA. Id. at 37.

        Defendants further argue there is no basis for piercing EMF’s corporate

veil.   Id. at 39.   Defendants assert Appellant “neither pled nor presented

evidence that would permit the court to pierce the corporate veil of EMF to

hold Toth personally liable for damages arising from EMF sales.”                 Id.

Defendants claim the trial court should have found mutual mistake and

reformed the ROFRA to include EMF. Id. at 40.

        As discussed above, there is no merit to Defendants’ claim for

reformation of the ROFRA based on mutual mistake. Appellant did not seek

damages from EMF, or attempt to pierce the corporate veil based on EMF’s

nonperformance. As the trial court determined:

        The doctrine against piercing of the corporate veil in a contract
        context generally means that “the breach of the contract is the
        breach of a promise made by the corporation, and not the breach
        of any promise extended by the corporate officer. It follows that
        only the corporation may ordinarily be held liable for contract
        damages.” Loeffler v. McShane, 439 A.2d 876, 879 (Pa. Super.
        1988). This doctrine is inapplicable to the present situation,
        however, where EMF was not a contracting party, but instead
        Defendant Toth was a contracting party under the ROFRA. A

                                       - 31 -
J-A12006-22

     discussion of corporate formalities is irrelevant where Defendant
     Toth personally held himself out as liable under the ROFRA
     regarding sales of all of his presently existing scrap facilities….

Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 7. We agree. Thus, we affirm on the basis of

the trial court’s reasoning with respect to Defendants’ Issue B. See id.

                                  Issue C

     Defendants next argue the trial court improperly failed to conclude the

ROFRA was repudiated.      Defendants’ Brief at 40.    Defendants rely on a

December 11, 2012, aluminum specification sheet Appellant provided, setting

the terms under which Appellant would agree to purchase aluminum in future

offers. Id. at 41. Defendants explain:

     The evidence reveals Kantner packaged aluminum under the ISRI
     standards and sold on a gross weight basis and Tube City, a third
     party, regularly purchased [Kantner’s] aluminum on this gross
     weight basis. On the other hand, [Appellant’s] specification sheet
     dictated to [Kantner] that Alumisource would only purchase
     aluminum in the future on a recovery basis, which involved
     unilateral deductions from the price by [Appellant]. Therefore,
     [Appellant] was not matching the terms offered to [Kantner].

Id. at 41-42 (citations omitted).      Further, Defendants claim Appellant

repudiated the ROFRA in a June 2013 phone conversation. Id. at 42. In that

conversation, Appellant indicated it would never agree to purchase loads on

the terms of the third-party offers presented by Defendants. Id.

     The trial court found no merit to Defendants’ claim:

     Defendants can point to no evidence showing an “absolute and
     unequivocal refusal to perform” on the part of [Appellant].
     Defendants point to a “specification sheet” as alleged evidence of
     this repudiation[;] however this assertion is belied by the follow-
     up email from an [Appellant] representative specifically

                                    - 32 -
J-A12006-22

      requesting more offers.     Plaintiff’s Exhibit “23,” Defendants’
      Exhibit “EE.” Defendants also point to a July 2013 phone call
      between Mr. Hudock and Mr. Toth[;] however the testimony at
      trial regarding the phone call reflects nothing which comes close
      to constituting an unequivocal refusal. TR. P. 126-129….

Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 9. Again, the record evidence supports the

trial court’s determination.

      At trial, Hudock testified Toth offered advice about how Appellant should

pay less, and buy aluminum on a gross basis, rather than a recovery basis.

N.T., 6/22/20, at 124-25. Hudock explained:

      [L]ook, [Toth] can’t tell me how to run my business. We have to
      agree to each load as it comes in. There’s no two loads—it’s like
      a fruit salad. Aluminum comes in all types of grades and
      specifications. You can’t buy it in most cases as-is.

Id. at 125. Hudock testified that some purchases were made on a recovery

basis, others were not. Id. at 127.

      What I told Toth during the call is we … gave him a price and had
      to make deductions because it was over a certain allotment. I
      think we may have bought it with a 2 percent acceptance rate.
      But if it exceeded that, we had bona fide support that we had to
      take deductions. We can’t pay for metal that’s not there.

Id. at 128. When asked whether Toth said he would no longer sell aluminum

to Appellant, Hudock responded:       “It’s my understanding he was upset. I

think we made a significant adjustment and paid him back what he was

concerned about.” Id. at 12.

      This evidence, viewed most favorably to Appellant, supports the trial

court’s determination that Defendant did         not   repudiate   the   ROFRA.

Accordingly, we cannot grant relief on Issue C. See Andrews, 158 A.3d at

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130 (to establish an anticipatory repudiation or breach, the breaching party

must have expressed “an absolute and unequivocal refusal to perform or a

distinct and positive statement of an inability to do so.”).

                                     Issue D

      Defendants next challenge the trial court’s calculation of damages and

pre-judgment interest from the date the ROFRA was signed, rather than from

the date when Appellant suffered actual loss. Defendants’ Brief at 47.

      “[P]re-judgment interest may be awarded when a defendant holds

money or property which belongs in good conscience to the plaintiff, and the

objective   of   the   court   is   to    force   disgorgement    of   his   unjust

enrichment.” Kaiser v. Old Republic Ins. Co., 741 A.2d 748, 755 (Pa.

Super. 1999) (citation and quotation marks omitted). “The fairest way for a

court is to decide questions pertaining to interest according to a plain and

simple consideration of justice and fair dealing.”     Linde v. Linde, 220 A.3d

1119, 1150 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted).

      While the general rule is that a successful litigant is entitled to
      interest beginning only on the date of the verdict, it is nonetheless
      clear that pre-judgment interest may be awarded “when a
      defendant holds money or property which belongs in good
      conscience to the plaintiff, and the objective of the court is to force
      disgorgement of his unjust enrichment.” Dasher v. Dasher, …
      542 A.2d 164, 164-65 (Pa. Super. 1988) (quoting Sack v.
      Feinman, 489 Pa. 152, 164, 413 A.2d 1059, 1065 (1980)). Pre-
      judgment interest in such cases is a part of the restitution
      necessary to avoid injustice. Dasher, at 165.

Kaiser, 741 A.2d at 755.

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      At trial, Appellant presented the expert testimony of James Fellin

(Fellin).   Fellin explained his detailed calculation of prejudgment interest,

which the trial court adopted. See Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 10. Fellin

testified, “we calculated the interest on the lost gross profits by year[.]” N.T.,

6/22/20, at 197. Fellin subsequently recalculated the interest “as of June 30,

2020[.]” Id. at 198. In his expert report, Fellin calculated interest at the

statutory rate, stating, “All losses are deemed to have occurred midway

through the year/period.” Expert Report of Fellin, Exhibit 7 n.2, Attachment

1 n.2.      As the record does not support Defendants’ claim of improper

calculation of pre-judgment interest, Defendants are entitled to relief on Issue

D.

      For the reasons discussed above, we affirm the trial court’s judgment in

favor of Toth in the CA case, and in favor of Appellant in the ROFRA case.

      Judgments affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 5/23/2022

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