Court Opinion

ID: 9895578
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-07 19:09:05.925103+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:34.962362
License: Public Domain

J-S34012-23

                               2023 PA Super 229

 DEBORAH L. LESKO, ESQUIRE,              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 ADMINISTRATRIX D.B.N.C.T. A. OF         :        PENNSYLVANIA
 ESTATE OF GEORGIA C.DAWSON,             :
 DECEASED                                :
                                         :
                                         :
              v.                         :
                                         :
                                         :   No. 1201 WDA 2022
 CHARLES BRENNING AND GAY C.             :
 BRENNING                                :
                                         :
                                         :
              v.                         :
                                         :
                                         :
 PNC BANK, GARNISHEE                     :
                                         :
                                         :
 APPEAL OF: DEBORAH L. LESKO,            :
 ESQUIRE                                 :

            Appeal from the Order Entered September 28, 2022
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                        No(s): No. GD-22-010318

 DEBORAH L. LESKO, ESQUIRE,              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 ADMINISTRATRIX D.B.N.C.T.A. OF          :        PENNSYLVANIA
 ESTATE OF GEORGE C. DAWSON              :
                                         :
                   Appellant             :
                                         :
                                         :
              v.                         :
                                         :   No. 1440 WDA 2022
                                         :
 CHARLES BRENNING AND GAY C.             :
 BRENNING, HIS WIFE                      :
           v.                            :
                                         :
                                         :
 PNC BANK, GARNISHEE                     :
J-S34012-23

              Appeal from the Order Entered November 14, 2022
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                            No(s): GD-22-010318

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., STABILE, J., and MURRAY, J.

OPINION BY LAZARUS, J.:                          FILED: NOVEMBER 7, 2023

       Deborah L. Lesko, Esquire, Administratrix D.B.N.C.T.A. of the Estate of

Georgia C. Dawson, Deceased (“Administratrix”), appeals from two orders,

entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. The first order,

dated September 28, 2022, exempted from attachment by Administratrix the

sum of $30,000.00 contained in PNC Bank (“PNC”) account XX8221, titled in

the name of Charles C. Brenning and Gay C. Brenning (“the Brennings”), and

ordered the remaining funds released to Administratrix. The second order,

dated November 14, 2022, clarified—but did not vacate—an earlier order,

entered on September 13, 2022, which partially lifted a freeze on the Account

to permit the use of certain funds by the Brennings.1 After our review, we

____________________________________________

1 The September 13, 2022 order      stated, in relevant part: “I am lifting the
freeze on the account in question to permit [the Brennings] to use the funds
only to pay their taxes and insurance owed on their home[. T]he garnishment
remains in effect otherwise.” Trial Court Order, 9/13/22, at 1. The November
14, 2022 order clarified that order as follows:

       1. The September 13, 2022 [o]rder unfroze the following amounts
       in Account XX8221:

          a. $3,215.68 for [the Brennings] to pay taxes on their
          home; and

(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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conclude that the Civil Trial Division lacked subject matter jurisdiction to

adjudicate this matter. Accordingly, we vacate the orders of the trial court

and remand for proceedings in the Orphans’ Court Division.

       This matter arises from a judgment entered on March 14, 2022, in the

Orphans’ Court Division, in favor of Administratrix and against the Brennings,

in the matter of the Estate of Georgia C. Dawson, Deceased. On August 19,

2022, Administratrix filed in the Civil Division a “Praecipe to File and Docket

Certified Copy of Judgment Rendered in Orphans’ Court Division at No. 4295

of 2018 Pursuant to 20 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 786(a).”      Thereafter, on August 19,

2022, Administratrix filed a praecipe for writ of attachment against the

Brennings and PNC, as garnishee. On August 26, 2022, PNC filed answers to

interrogatories and new matter. In its answer to interrogatories, PNC stated,

in relevant part, as follows:

____________________________________________

          b. $419.00 for [the Brennings] to pay for insurance on their
          home.

          c. Totaling $3,634.68 to be allocated to [the Brennings’]
          taxes and insurance on their home.

       2. Following the application of the September 13, 2022, [o]rder,
       there is $34,641.04 in Account XX8221.

       3. Following the application of the September 28, 2022 [o]rder,
       there is $4,641.04 in Account XX8221 in excess of the exempted
       $30,000.00 and amounts attributable to social security. This
       amount should be turned over to [Adminstratrix].

Trial Court Order, 11/14/22, at 1-2.

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     The Bank has four accounts of the judgment defendants. The
     account, XX8181, on which an “account review” was conducted,
     receives a “benefit payment.” The account is not attached
     because the funds in the account do not exceed the amounts
     protected under federal and/or state law. See id.; 231 Pa. Code
     § 3525[.] See New Matter. Two accounts are jointly titled in the
     names of two nonjudgment defendants.

     After deduction of the Bank’s $100.00 legal process service
     charge, there is an aggregate available balance of $39,314.33 as
     of the date of verification[.]

Answer to Interrogatories, 8/26/22, at ¶ 1.

     On August 29, 2022, Administratrix filed a praecipe for judgment

against the Brennings and PNC in the amount of $39,314.33, the available

amount PNC stated it held on behalf of the Brennings. On September 7, 2022,

Administratrix filed a reply to PNC’s new matter and a counterclaim against

PNC, asserting that the two jointly-titled accounts referenced by PNC in its

answer to interrogatories were also attached and requesting a hearing for the

court to determine “the amount of money in each account which was owned

by [the Brennings] at the time of service [of the writ of execution].”

Counterclaim, 9/7/22, at 2 (ad damnum clause).

     On September 9, 2022, the trial court held a hearing, at which Charles

Brenning testified that the account at issue here—number XX8221—was an

escrow account that he used to pay his taxes. He further testified that the

account also contained $30,000.00 belonging to his son. Brenning testified

that the funds were proceeds from the sale of his son’s house that his son had

set aside for the payment of capital gains taxes. See N.T. Hearing, 9/9/22,

at 11-12.   At the end of the hearing, the court took the matter under

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advisement and stated, “if I need further evidence, I will schedule it for further

hearing.” Id. at 20.

      On September 13, 2022, the court issued an order partially lifting the

freeze on account XX8221, see supra, n. 1, and scheduling a further hearing

for September 22, 2022, stating, “I want to hear testimony from Mr.

Brenning’s son regarding the sale of his house and [the] nature of the cash in

the disputed account.” Trial Court Order, 9/13/22. On September 19, 2022,

Administratrix filed a petition for reconsideration of the September 13, 2022

order, asserting that she was entitled to the full amount on deposit in account

XX8221. The court did not act on the petition for reconsideration. Instead,

following the September 22, 2022 hearing, the court entered its September

28, 2022 order, in which it exempted the sum of $30,000.00 from attachment

and directed that “[a]ll remaining funds held in [account XX8221,] with the

exception of any Social Security funds[,] shall be released to [Administratrix]

and applied to the judgment balance.”            Trial Court Order, 9/28/22.

Administratrix filed a timely notice of appeal to the September 28, 2022 order

on October 5, 2022.     The court thereafter directed her to file a Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, which

Adminstratrix filed on October 20, 2022.

      On November 1, 2022, PNC filed a “Motion to Clarify the September 13,

2022 Order,” in which it stated it was “unable to interpret and apply the

September 13, 2022 [o]rder because [it] did not identify specific monetary

amounts to unfreeze for taxes and insurance on the [Brennings’] home.”

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Motion to Clarify, 11/1/22, at ¶ 5. PNC requested that the court enter an

order specifying the amounts to be unfrozen, as well as the balance to be

turned over to Administratrix pursuant to the September 28, 2022 order.

Administratrix filed an answer and new matter, asserting that her petition for

reconsideration acted to stay the September 13, 2022 order and requesting

that the court enter an order: (1) stating that the September 28, 2022 order

superseded and terminated the “temporary interim order” of September 13,

2022; (2) finding that the petition for reconsideration acted to stay the

September 13, 2022 order “until said [o]rder was terminated by the [o]rder

of September 28, 2022; and (3) directing PNC to pay to Administratrix the

sum of $8,275.72 from account XX8221.          See Answer and New Matter,

11/7/22 (proposed order). That same day, Administratrix filed an application

for a stay of the portion of the September 28, 2022 order unfreezing the sum

of $30,000.00. On November 14, 2022, the court entered an order clarifying

its September 13, 2022 order. See supra, n. 1. On November 15, 2022, the

court entered an order granting, in part, the stay requested by Administratrix.

Specifically, the court stayed its ruling that the $30,000.00 was exempt from

attachment, but stated that the Brennings “may file a motion to release the

stay on all or a portion of the $30,000.00 to pay Justin Brenning’s 2022 tax

liability . . . after [those] tax liabilities have been determined.” Trial Court

Order, 11/15/22.    On December 8, 2022, Administratrix filed a notice of

appeal of the trial court’s November 14, 2022 order. On December 12, 2022,

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the court directed the filing of a Rule 1925(b) statement, with which

Administratrix did not comply.

      Administratrix raises the following claims for our review:

      1. Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in exempting the sum of
      $30,000.00 located in [the Brennings’] PNC Bank Account No.
      XXX8221 from attachment execution by [Administratrix] because
      said money was owned by [the Brennings’] son at the time of its
      deposit in said account.

      2. Whether the [trial c]ourt erred in exempting the sum of
      $3,634.68 located in [account number XXX8221] from attachment
      execution by [Administratrix] without any legal basis whatsoever
      for doing so and simply because the [Brennings] intended to use
      this money to pay their real estate taxes and insurance.

Brief of Appellant, at 4.

      Prior to reaching the merits of Administratrix’s claims, we must

determine whether the Civil Division possessed subject matter jurisdiction

over this dispute.    “It is well-settled that the question of subject matter

jurisdiction may be raised at any time, by any party, or by the court sua

sponte.” In re Estate of Ciuccarelli, 81 A.3d 953, 958 (Pa. Super. 2013),

quoting B.J.D. v. D.L.C., 19 A.3d 1081, 1082 (Pa. Super. 2011).

      Pursuant to statute, the Orphans’ Court Division has mandatory
      and exclusive jurisdiction over “[t]he administration and
      distribution of the real and personal property of decedents’
      estates.” 20 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 711(1). The Orphans’ Court Division
      also has mandatory and exclusive jurisdiction over “[t]he
      appointment, control, settlement of the accounts of, removal and
      discharge of, and allowance to and allocation of compensation
      among, all fiduciaries of estates and trusts[.]” 20 Pa.C.S.[A.] §
      711(12). Taken together, these provisions mandate that the
      Orphans’ Court Division has “exclusive jurisdiction of the
      administration and distribution of decedents’ estates, of the
      control of estate fiduciaries, and of the settlement of their

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       accounts.” Ostroff v. Yaslyk, [] 213 A.2d 272, 274 ([Pa.] 1965)
       (citing Horner v. First Penna. Banking & Trust Co., [] 194 A.2d
       335, 338–39 ([Pa.] 1963); Cole v. Wells, [] 177 A.2d 77, 81
       ([Pa.] 1962); Trout v. Lukey, [] 166 A.2d 654, 655 ([Pa.]
       1961)).

In re Estate of Ciuccarelli, 81 A.3d at 958.

       Here, the underlying judgment originated in the Orphans’ Court in a

matter involving the administration of a decedent’s estate—a matter over

which the Orphans’ Court possesses “mandatory and exclusive jurisdiction.”

Id. Administratrix seeks to enforce that judgment against the bank accounts

of the judgment debtor, Appellees herein.                The Probate, Estates, and

Fiduciaries (“PEF”) Code grants the Orphans’ Court the power to enforce

compliance with its own orders.                See 20 Pa.C.S.A. § 781 (Methods of

enforcement) (“Compliance with an order or decree of an orphans’ court

division may be enforced by attachment of the person; sequestration of real

or personal property; execution on personal property; attachment execution;

or execution on real estate.”).         Where, as here, a judgment holder seeks

execution against the personal property of a judgment debtor,

       [w]rits of execution on personal property shall be allowed by the
       [O]rphans’ [C]ourt [D]ivision and directed to and executed by the
       sheriff of the proper county. The proceedings thereon shall be the
       same as on execution on personal property issued out of the
       division of the court having jurisdiction over actions at law.

20 Pa.C.S.A. § 784.2

____________________________________________

2 In filing the Orphans’ Court’s judgment in the Civil Division for execution
proceedings against the Brennings’ accounts, Administratrix cited as the basis
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

                                           -8-
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       Here, because the Orphans’ Court possesses mandatory and exclusive

jurisdiction over the administration and distribution of decedents’ estates, see

20 Pa.C.S.A. § 711(1), and where the PEF Code provides the mechanism for

execution against personal property, the civil court lacked jurisdiction to

adjudicate the dispute of the parties in this matter.        The proper remedy

respecting petitions that are under the exclusive jurisdiction of one

Pennsylvania court division, but which are commenced, incorrectly, in a

different Pennsylvania court division, is prescribed by our General Assembly.

In relevant part, the Judicial Code provides as follows:

       § 5103. Transfer of erroneously filed matters.

       (a) General rule. If an appeal or other matter is taken to or
       brought in a court or magisterial district of this Commonwealth
       which does not have jurisdiction of the appeal or other matter, the
       court or magisterial district judge shall not quash such appeal or
       dismiss the matter, but shall transfer the record thereof to the
       proper tribunal of this Commonwealth, where the appeal or other
       matter shall be treated as if originally filed in the transferee
       tribunal on the date when the appeal or other matter was first
       filed in a court or magisterial district of this Commonwealth. A
       matter which is within the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or
       magisterial district judge of this Commonwealth[,] but which is
       commenced in any other tribunal of this Commonwealth[,] shall
       be transferred by the other tribunal to the proper court or
       magisterial district of this Commonwealth where it shall be treated
       as if originally filed in the transferee court or magisterial district
       of this Commonwealth on the date when first filed in the other
       tribunal.

                                          ***

____________________________________________

for the jurisdiction of the Civil Division section 786 of the PEF Code. However,
section 786 governs execution on real estate and is inapplicable here.

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      (c) Interdivisional transfers. If an appeal or other matter is taken
      to, brought in, or transferred to a division of a court to which such
      matter is not allocated by law, the court shall not quash such
      appeal or dismiss the matter, but shall transfer the record thereof
      to the proper division of the court, where the appeal or other
      matter shall be treated as if originally filed in the transferee
      division on the date first filed in a court or magisterial district.

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5103.

      In light of the foregoing, the proper course of action for the civil court

would have been to immediately transfer this matter to the Orphans’ Court

Division, rather than proceeding to adjudicate the dispute. It is well-settled

that “[t]he court of common pleas, even as a court of equity, cannot interfere

in a matter within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Orphans’ Court.” In re

Estate of Ciuccarelli, 81 A.3d at 961–62. Accordingly, we are constrained

to vacate the orders of the civil court entered on September 13, 2022;

September 28, 2022; November 14, 2022; and November 15, 2022.                 We

further remand this case to the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of

Common Pleas of Allegheny County, which may proceed in a manner

consistent with this Opinion.

      Orders vacated.      Case remanded with instructions.          Jurisdiction

relinquished.

DATE: 11/7/2023

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