Court Opinion

ID: 9695837
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 18:30:10.633573+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:16.861436
License: Public Domain

POMEROY, Justice
(concurring).
I join in the opinion of the Court, and add this separate statement only because of the concern of the dissenters that a “grievous error” has been committed in quashing the appeal. This concern, in my view, misconceives the procedural framework of our rules relative to proceedings in equity where preliminary injunctive relief is sought and granted.
As the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Manderino points out, “[a]ny party may move at any time to dissolve an injunction”. Pa.R.C.P. 1531(c). The trial court then, after a preliminary hearing, makes an order dissolving, continuing or modifying the injunction. Id., par. (e). This order, like any other, is not a final one unless it effectively puts the moving party “out of court”. Ventura v. Skylark Motel, Inc., 431 Pa. 459, 246 A.2d 353 (1968); Posternack v. Am. Cas. Co. of Reading, 421 Pa. 21, 218 A.2d 350 (1966); McGee v. Singley, 382 Pa. 18, 114 A.2d 141 (1955). A party is not “out of court” unless he is precluded from “presenting the merits of his claim to the lower court.” Marino Estate, 440 Pa. 492, 494, 269 A.2d 645, 646 (1970). One whose motion to dissolve a preliminary injunction is denied is not *527so precluded; he may continue to move to dissolve the injunction based on a change in circumstances, or may proceed to a final hearing upon the issue of whether the injunction shall be made permanent. Thus, it has long been held that orders denying motions to dissolve preliminary injunctions are interlocutory. Meng v. Meng, 380 Pa. 110, 110 A.2d 225 (1955); Wanamaker v. Wanamaker, 315 Pa. 229, 172 A. 846 (1934); Drum v. Dinkelacker, 262 Pa. 392, 105 A. 509 (1918).1
It is well-established that an interlocutory order, such as the one before us, is not appealable “unless expressly made so by statute.” Ventura v. Skylark Motel, Inc., 431 Pa. 459, 462, 246 A.2d 353, 355 (1968); see P. Agnes, Inc. v. Phila. Police Home Ass’n., 439 Pa. 448, 266 A.2d 696 (1970); Adcox v. Pa. Mfgrs’ Ass’n. Cas. Ins. Co., 419 Pa. 170, 213 A.2d 366 (1965). By statutes of long standing, a party may appeal either the granting or denial of a preliminary injunction even though interlocutory. See Act of February 14, 1866, P.L. 28, § 1, 12 P.S. § 1101 (1953); Act of June 12, 1879, P.L. 177, § 1, 12 P.S. § 1102 (1953). And, of course, a party may appeal the granting or denial of a permanent injunction. But there is no statute which permits appeals from orders denying motions to dissolve preliminary injunctions,2 no doubt *528for the very good reason that we would otherwise be faced with multiple interim appeals from the granting of a single injunction. Thus, the order before us is not appealable, and the appeal is properly quashed.
The dissenting opinion makes two arguments which to me are quite irrelevant as to the appealability of an order refusing to dissolve a preliminary injunction. It is first stated that it would be unreasonable to compel an enjoined party to proceed to a final hearing when that party “desires to accept the adverse judicial determination made at the preliminary hearing”. (Dissenting Opinion, infra, at 280). The point is then made that “appellants cannot be indefinitely bound by an injunction which infringes on their constitutional rights to peaceful picketing.” These arguments appear to me to be antithetical one to the other. But, however, that may be, our procedural rules are not unmindful of the need for speedy resolution of preliminary injunctions involving freedom of expression. When such an injunction is issued, it is mandatory for a trial court to hold a final hearing within three days after demand by the defendant, and to file a final decree within twenty-four hours thereafter; otherwise the injunction is deemed dissolved. Pa.R.C.P. 1581(f)(1). But in all the time that has intervened since the modified preliminary injunction was issued in the case at bar, no such demand has ever been made. If, as the dissenting opinion suggests, there are factors which make such a final hearing undesirable, all the aggrieved party need do is to stipulate that the proceedings on the preliminary injunction be taken as the final hearing and decree. The case would then be immediately ripe for final appellate review.
In view of our holding that the order before the Court is not appealable, the majority opinion quite properly does not reach the merits of appellant’s motion to dissolve or modify the injunction. There is no need, therefore, to discuss the assertion in the dissenting opinion *529that appellants have come forth with a “new claim” based upon “changed circumstances.” For the reasons already stated, the correctness of the lower court’s decision on this question is not reviewable at this juncture.
JONES, C. J., and NIX, J., jcin in this concurring opinion.

. An order refusing to dissolve a permanent injunction does effectively put a party out of court and is therefore appealable. See Pappas v. Local Joint Executive Board, 374 Pa. 34, 96 A.2d 917 (1953).

. Section 501 of the Appellate Court Jurisdiction Act of 1970, Act of July 31, 1970, P.L. 673, No. 223, art. V., § 501, 17 P.S. § 211.-501 (Supp.1974), provides for the discretionary allowance of appeals from interlocutory orders which would not otherwise be appealable. Such appeals, however, may only be taken if the lower court in its order states “that such order involves a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and that an immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the matter. . ” No such certification has been made by the trial court with respect to its order now before us. Therefore, a discretionary allowance of this appeal pursuant to the Act of 1970 is not permissible.