Court Opinion

ID: 9759152
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:07:16.968547+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:59.826784
License: Public Domain

HOFFMAN, Judge,
concurring:
Although I agree with the majority’s disposition of this case, I would hold that appellant has waived any objection to the jury charge by failing to take specific exceptions at trial.
Appellant concedes that he did not specifically except to the court’s charge and, in fact, did not even discover the purported misstatement of the evidence until after the notes of testimony were transcribed. He contends, however, that *8his general exception to the court’s summary of the evidence was sufficient to notify the court of his objection and preserve it for review. I disagree. “A general exception to the charge to the jury will not preserve an issue for appeal. Specific exception shall be taken to the language or omission complained of.” Pa.R.A.P. 302(b). A specific exception must be lodged to preserve an objectionable charge for post-trial motions, Tagnani v. Lew, 493 Pa. 371, 426 A.2d 595 (1981), as well as for appellate review, Commonwealth v. Clair, 458 Pa. 418, 326 A.2d 272 (1974); Dilliplaine v. Lehigh Valley Trust Co., 457 Pa. 255, 322 A.2d 114 (1974). Accordingly, because appellant failed to take a specific exception to the alleged misstatement, I would find the issue waived.