Court Opinion

ID: 9749544
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 16:49:48.605777+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:51.321206
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Ms. Justice O’Beien:
I would refuse to entertain the instant appeal because, in my view, the appellant here, Raff, is not a party legally aggrieved by the only order the majority holds to be final, and is certainly not aggrieved by it at the present time, since as to him it is interlocutory. Raff is attempting to appeal the order granting Valley’s petition that it (Valley) be discontinued as a party defendant. While the plaintiff Peterson might properly have appealed this order, I fail to see what *244right the defendant Raff has to appeal it. Thirkell v. Equit. Gas Co., 307 Pa. 377, 380, 161 Atl. 313 (1932). The only possible interest Raff could be seeking to protect would be the right to litigate its claim against Valley in the same suit as its obligations to the plaintiff Peterson were determined. However, as a defendant, Raff has available to it the procedure for joinder of additional defendants provided for in Rules 2251-2275 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Raff did indeed take steps to join Valley as an additional defendant. Since at the present time Valley is still in the case as an additional defendant, Raff has in no way been harmed by the Court’s allowing Valley to be discontinued as a party defendant. The appeal is, at the least, premature.
However, rather than quash the appeal as premature, I would dismiss it because I do not believe that Raff can ever be in the position whereby it has a right to complain about the instant order. Apparently, Raff fears that its third-party complaint against Valley may have run afoul of the Statute of Limitations, a subject on which no decision is now necessary, and thus it wants to keep Valley in the case as a party defendant. Raff’s rights against Valley must arise through Valley’s being joined as an additional defendant, or through a separate suit.
I would dismiss the instant appeal, or at the very least, quash it as premature.
Mr. Justice Eagen joins in this dissenting opinion.