Court Opinion

ID: 9713997
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:28:17.722919+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:22.002570
License: Public Domain

*406Justice BAER,
concurring.
I join the Majority Opinion, reversing the Superior Court, based upon the Majority’s conclusion that H & R Block did not waive its challenge to class certification and that the trial court had the authority to decertify the class following the Superior Court’s eventual decision reversing summary judgment. Although I agree with the Majority that protective cross-appeals are not required, I write separately to second Justice Saylor’s inclinations to deem protective cross-appeals impermissible. Concurring Op. at 408-05, 973 A.2d at 424-25 (Saylor, J.). However, unlike Justice Saylor, I believe the Court should make that determination in this case. Given that the Superior Court premised its holding on H & R Block’s alleged failure to file a protective cross-appeal, the issue of protective cross-appeals is squarely before us, allowing us to consider the validity, as well as necessity, of such appeals for the bench and bar according to our rules of appellate procedure.
Based on Pa.R.A.P. 501, I conclude that a non-aggrieved party should not be permitted, let alone required, to file a protective cross-appeal. Chapter Five of our appellate rules is entitled “Persons who may take or participate in appeals” and Rule 501 provides that an aggrieved party may appeal. Pa. R.A.P. 501.1 The rules do not mention any other method of having standing to take an appeal. Indeed, nothing in Rule 511 providing for cross-appeals suggests that a non-aggrieved party can appeal.2 This conclusion is also supported by our longstanding respect for the aggrieved party doctrine in other *407contexts: “[W]here a person is not adversely affected in any way by the matter challenged, he is not aggrieved and thus has no standing to obtain a judicial resolution of that challenge.” Hospital and Healthsystem Ass’n of Pa. v. Dept. of Public Welfare, 585 Pa. 106, 888 A.2d 601, 607 (2005); see also Wm. Penn Parking Garage, Inc. v. City of Pittsburgh, 464 Pa. 168, 346 A.2d 269, 280-281 (1975) (plurality).
Moreover, refusing to hear protective cross-appeals will streamline cases on appeal and prevent prevailing parties from deluging the courts with unnecessary protective cross-appeals. Additionally, the prohibition of protective cross-appeals eliminates the question of whether a non-aggrieved party filing a protective cross-appeal must raise every potential appealable issue for fear of waiver. I note, in closing, that to the extent permissive cross-appeals would deluge our courts, requiring every potential issue to be raised by a non-aggrieved party in a protective cross-appeal, on pain of waiver, would turn such deluge into a full-fledged tsunami.

. In full, Pa.R.A.P. 501 entitled, "Any Aggrieved Party May Appeal," provides, "Except where the right of appeal is enlarged by statute, any party who is aggrieved by an appealable order, or a fiduciary whose estate or trust is so aggrieved, may appeal therefrom.”

. In full, Pa.R.A.P. 511, entitled, "Cross Appeals,” provides:
The timely filing of an appeal shall extend the time for any other party to cross appeal as set forth in Rules 903(b) (cross appeals), 1113(b) (cross petitions for allowance of appeal), and 1512(a)(2) (cross petitions for review). The discontinuance of an appeal by a party shall not affect the right of appeal of any other party regardless of whether the parties are adverse.