Court Opinion

ID: 9385297
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-06 15:07:56.186328+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:00.780045
License: Public Domain

April 6, 2023
                                                    Supreme Court

                                                    No. 2021-111-Appeal.
                                                    (PC 19-5440)

 Michael H. Hayden, D.O., et al.     :

                 v.                  :

Integra Community Care Network,      :
           LLC, et al.

         NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision
         before publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers
         are requested to notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme
         Court of Rhode Island, 250 Benefit Street, Providence,
         Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone (401) 222-3258 or
         Email      opinionanalyst@courts.ri.gov,      of     any
         typographical or other formal errors in order that
         corrections may be made before the opinion is published.
      April 6, 2023
                                                           Supreme Court

                                                           No. 2021-111-Appeal.
                                                           (PC 19-5440)

     Michael H. Hayden, D.O., et al.       :

                      v.                   :

    Integra Community Care Network,        :
               LLC, et al.

             Present: Suttell, C.J., Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long, JJ.

                                   OPINION

      Chief Justice Suttell, for the Court. The plaintiffs, Michael H. Hayden,

D.O., Gary G. King, D.O., and John M. Corsi, D.O., appeal an order of the

Superior Court granting a motion to stay proceedings and compel arbitration

brought by the defendant, Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corporation

(RIPCPC).1     This case came before the Supreme Court pursuant to an order

directing the parties to appear and show cause why the issues raised in this appeal

should not be summarily decided. After considering the parties’ written and oral

submissions and reviewing the record, we conclude that cause has not been shown

and that this case may be decided without further briefing or argument. For the

1
 We note at the outset that we refer to plaintiffs collectively throughout this
opinion for the sake of fluidity and because they brought this suit jointly. We are
aware, however, that there is some variation amongst each plaintiff’s claims, and
we differentiate where appropriate.

                                        -1-
reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm in part and vacate in part the order of

the Superior Court.

                                         I

                                Facts and Travel

      The plaintiffs filed a complaint in Providence County Superior Court on

May 7, 2019, alleging counts of breach of contract (counts one and two), unjust

enrichment (counts three and four), breach of the implied covenant of good faith

and fair dealing (counts five and six), conversion (count seven), and anticipatory

breach/repudiation (counts eight and nine) against Integra Community Care

Network, LLC (Integra)2 and RIPCPC. According to plaintiffs’ complaint, Integra

is an accountable-care organization pursuant to the Medicare Shared Savings

Program (the MSSP),3 and RIPCPC is an independent practice association of

physicians located in Rhode Island.      Specifically, plaintiffs asserted in their

2
  Integra filed a counterstatement pursuant to Article I, Rule 12A of the Supreme
Court Rules of Appellate Procedure indicating that it “has no stake in the outcome
of the appeal” and that it “is not a party to the arbitration agreements between
[plaintiffs] and RIPCPC[.]” Neither plaintiffs nor RIPCPC dispute Integra’s
position.
3
  According to plaintiffs’ complaint, an accountable-care organization is “an entity
that agrees to be held accountable by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services * * * for the quality, cost and experience of an assigned group of
Medicare beneficiaries.” Additionally, “[t]he MSSP offers health care providers
and suppliers (including physicians, hospitals, and others involved in patient care)
an opportunity to participate in” accountable-care organizations. RIPCPC does not
contest these explanations.

                                       -2-
complaint that Integra and RIPCPC owed plaintiffs certain payments and shared

savings for 2017 and 2018.

      The plaintiffs are “primary care physicians who, up until various points in

2018, operated their own independent practices.” Each plaintiff participated in

Integra from some time in 2014 or 2015 until various dates in 2018, when plaintiffs

terminated their respective agreements upon the sale of their respective

independent practices (the Integra agreements).4       At or about the same time,

plaintiffs additionally terminated their relationships with RIPCPC.

      At issue in this case are the 2017 and 2018 RIPCPC payments, which

plaintiffs allege were “earned, in part, as a result of the efforts of the [p]laintiffs

which benefitted RIPCPC.” Also at issue are the 2017 and 2018 shared savings,

which “were earned by Integra, in part, as a result of the efforts of [p]laintiffs

which benefitted Integra.” According to plaintiffs, “some and/or all of” plaintiffs’

share of the 2017 shared savings were distributed by Integra to RIPCPC.

      The plaintiffs alleged that RIPCPC had failed to distribute to them a portion

of the 2017 shared savings that Integra had distributed to RIPCPC for plaintiffs’

benefit. Dr. Hayden and Dr. Corsi additionally submit that “RIPCPC * * * failed

4
 According to the complaint, Dr. Hayden’s participation agreement was signed on
or about July 30, 2014; Dr. Corsi’s participation agreement was signed on or about
July 30, 2014; and Dr. King’s participation agreement was signed on or about
August 1, 2015. The specific dates of termination of the Integra agreements do not
appear in the record, although the complaint alleges that each termination took
place at some time in 2018.

                                         -3-
to distribute Dr. Hayden’s and Dr. Corsi’s share of the 2017 RIPCPC [p]ayments

to them.” The plaintiffs requested damages based on the five substantive counts of

the complaint and a declaratory judgment (count ten) to the effect that they were

entitled to the 2018 shared savings and the 2018 RIPCPC payments, on a pro rata

basis.

         Integra filed an answer to plaintiffs’ complaint on July 9, 2019. A default

was entered against RIPCPC on July 15, 2019. On August 2, 2019, RIPCPC

moved to vacate the default, which motion was granted.

         RIPCPC thereafter filed a motion to dismiss counts two, four, six, nine, and

ten of the complaint, based on Rule 12(b)(6) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil

Procedure, to which plaintiffs objected. The hearing justice heard arguments on

the motion to dismiss, and then denied defendant’s motion as to counts two (breach

of contract by RIPCPC), four (unjust enrichment by RIPCPC), and ten (declaratory

judgment) of plaintiffs’ complaint. The hearing justice granted defendant’s motion

as to counts six (breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing by

RIPCPC)       and   nine   (anticipatory   breach/repudiation    by   RIPCPC),      and

“[s]pecifically, but without limitation, [preserved p]laintiffs’ right to replead and/or

amend” those two counts.

         RIPCPC also filed an answer to plaintiffs’ complaint, denying the

allegations in the counts directed towards it and asserting several affirmative

                                           -4-
defenses.    Specifically, RIPCPC submitted that the Superior Court lacked

jurisdiction over the dispute because plaintiffs had agreed to binding arbitration in

their respective agreements with RIPCPC (the RIPCPC agreements). RIPCPC

claimed that, because it violated those agreements, the action “should be dismissed

and/or stayed pending arbitration.”

      On January 29, 2020, RIPCPC filed a motion to stay the proceedings and

compel arbitration as to plaintiffs’ claims against RIPCPC for breach of contract,

unjust enrichment, conversion, and declaratory judgment, to which plaintiffs

objected.   On September 1, 2020, plaintiffs filed a motion to amend their

complaint, to which RIPCPC objected. Both motions were heard together before a

justice of the Superior Court.

      On February 19, 2021, the hearing justice entered an order granting

RIPCPC’s motion to stay proceedings and compel arbitration.              The order

additionally held plaintiffs’ motion to amend in abeyance. The plaintiffs filed a

timely notice of appeal on March 10, 2021.

                                         II

                                 Standard of Review

      We review a hearing justice’s grant of a motion to compel arbitration de

novo. See DeFontes v. Dell, Inc., 984 A.2d 1061, 1066 (R.I. 2009) (“We review the

trial court’s denial of a motion to compel arbitration de novo.”). “[A] duty to

                                        -5-
arbitrate a dispute arises only when a party agrees to arbitration in clear and

unequivocal language; and, even then, the party is only obligated to arbitrate issues

that it explicitly agreed to arbitrate.” Weeks v. 735 Putnam Pike Operations, LLC,

85 A.3d 1147, 1152 (R.I. 2014) (quoting State Department of Corrections v. Rhode

Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, 866 A.2d 1241, 1247 (R.I. 2005)).

      “Because it is a matter of contract, general rules of contract construction

apply and the determination of whether the parties agreed to submit a particular

dispute to arbitration turns upon the parties’ intent when they entered into the

contract from which the dispute ultimately arose.” Town of Johnston v. Rhode

Island Council 94, AFSCME, Local 1491, by and through Prata, 159 A.3d 83, 86

(R.I. 2017) (brackets omitted) (quoting AVCORR Management, LLC v. Central

Falls Detention Facility Corp., 41 A.3d 1007, 1010 (R.I. 2012)).

                                         III

                                    Discussion

      On appeal, plaintiffs submit that the hearing justice erred in granting

RIPCPC’s motion to compel arbitration and stay the proceedings because,

according to plaintiffs, they have not agreed to arbitrate the claims. The plaintiffs

further argue that the hearing justice’s order was in error because, they allege,

RIPCPC waived its right to demand arbitration through its actions in this litigation.

                                        -6-
      We begin by addressing plaintiffs’ contention that the hearing justice erred

in granting RIPCPC’s motion to compel arbitration. Specifically, plaintiffs submit

that they did not agree to arbitrate these claims, which they assert “neither arise

under nor relate to” the RIPCPC agreements.            According to plaintiffs, “the

agreements at issue do not control matters related to the RIPCPC [p]ayments.”

Further, plaintiffs allege that the agreements do not address plaintiffs’ “rights to

receive” the shared savings, which they claim RIPCPC “converted and/or

tortiously interfered with.” The plaintiffs argue that the right to receive the shared

savings are governed, instead, by the Integra agreements and, thus, plaintiffs are

not obligated to arbitrate them.

      RIPCPC counters that the claims fall within the “broad scope” of the

RIPCPC agreements’ arbitration clauses.          It submits that, because plaintiffs’

“causes of action have their roots in the relationship created by the contracts, the

arbitration clauses should be enforced.”

      Because arbitration is a matter of contract, “[g]eneral rules of contract

construction apply[,]” and “whether the parties agreed to submit a particular

dispute to arbitration turns upon the parties’ intent when they entered into the

contract from which the dispute ultimately arose.” Radiation Oncology Associates,

Inc. v. Roger Williams Hospital, 899 A.2d 511, 514 (R.I. 2006). Furthermore,

“[w]hen uncertainty exists about whether a dispute is arbitrable, this Court, like the

                                           -7-
United States Supreme Court, ‘has enunciated a policy in favor of resolving any

doubt in favor of arbitration.’” School Committee of Town of North Kingstown v.

Crouch, 808 A.2d 1074, 1078 (R.I. 2002) (quoting Brown v. Amaral, 460 A.2d 7,

10 (R.I. 1983)); see Granite Rock Co. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters,

561 U.S. 287, 298 (2010) (“[T]he ‘law’s permissive policies in respect to

arbitration’ counsel that ‘any doubts concerning the scope of arbitral issues should

be resolved in favor of arbitration.’” (quoting First Options of Chicago, Inc. v.

Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 945 (1995))).

      In light of the hearing justice’s partial grant of RIPCPC’s motion to dismiss,

only four of plaintiffs’ counts against RIPCPC remain:5 first, Dr. Hayden’s claim

and Dr. Corsi’s claim for breach of contract; second, plaintiffs’ claims for unjust

enrichment; third, plaintiffs’ claims for conversion; and fourth, plaintiffs’ claims

for declaratory judgment.

      There are two arbitration clauses at issue. The first is Article 8.0, § 8.1 of

the “RIPCPC Service Organization Agreement” that Dr. Hayden signed with

RIPCPC:

            “Arbitration Any disputes arising during the term of this
            Agreement shall be addressed first through informal
            discussions between the parties. If the parties are unable

5
  The complaint additionally included claims by plaintiffs against RIPCPC for
anticipatory breach/repudiation and for breach of the implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing; however, the hearing justice granted RIPCPC’s motion to
dismiss those claims.

                                       -8-
             to resolve the dispute through such discussions, then any
             claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this
             Agreement, or the breach of it, shall be settled by
             arbitration in accordance with the Commercial
             Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
             Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by
             the Arbitrator(s) may be entered in any Court having
             jurisdiction. Venue shall be at a location in Providence,
             Rhode Island as designated by RIPCPC. Notwithstanding
             the foregoing, this provision shall not include any claims
             by one party concerning the liability of the other in the
             context of a medical malpractice suit.” (Emphasis added.)

We conclude that Dr. Hayden’s claims for damages certainly fall within the bounds

of the arbitration clause. Although plaintiffs contend that the claims do not arise

out of Dr. Hayden’s RIPCPC agreement, each of Dr. Hayden’s claims quite clearly

relate to Dr. Hayden’s RIPCPC agreement and the relationship created thereby.

See Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. v. 96-108 Pine Street LLC, 286

A.3d 838, 847-48 (R.I. 2023) (holding that the language “or relating to the

Contract * * * cannot be ignored” and that, although the “unjust-enrichment claim

does not arise from the contract, it nevertheless is inextricably related to the

contract”). Notably, the only exception carved out by the arbitration provision

relates to medical malpractice claims.     Accordingly, Dr. Hayden’s claims for

breach of contract, conversion, and unjust enrichment are subject to arbitration.

      The second arbitration clause at issue is found in Article X, § 10.01 of the

“Participating Physician Agreement” that Dr. King signed with RIPCPC and

                                        -9-
Article X, § 10.01 of the “Participating Physician Agreement” that Dr. Corsi

signed with RIPCPC. Those clauses are identical and provide:

             “The parties agree to meet informally to resolve disputes
             arising under this Agreement, prior to submitting such
             disputes to formal arbitration. Each party shall designate
             an individual responsible for resolving the dispute. In the
             event the parties are unable to satisfactorily resolve a
             dispute within ninety (90) days of designating an
             individual, the dispute shall be submitted to formal
             arbitration.” (Emphasis added.)

Our review directs that, while one of Dr. Corsi’s claims for damages falls within

the bounds of the RIPCPC agreements, Dr. King’s claims do not.

      We begin by noting that the language employed in the arbitration clause is

rather broad, pertaining simply to “disputes arising under this [a]greement[.]” In

their complaint, plaintiffs allege that “RIPCPC would negotiate and enter into

contracts with third party insurers on behalf of its members[,]” including plaintiffs.

They further allege that, under these negotiated contracts, the insurers agreed to

make certain payments to RIPCPC, which “RIPCPC agreed with its members,

including [p]laintiffs, to distribute * * * amongst them based upon the members

achieving certain performance criteria.”

      The plaintiffs’ complaint includes a claim for breach of contract against

RIPCPC, alleging that it “has breached, and continues to breach, its agreements

with Dr. Hayden and Dr. Corsi by its failure to distribute Dr. Hayden’s and Dr.

Corsi’s shares of the 2017 RIPCPC Payments to them.” (Emphasis added.) The

                                        - 10 -
complaint also includes a claim for conversion against RIPCPC, alleging that it

“wrongfully converted to its own use and possession the [p]laintiffs’ share of the

2017 Shared Savings.”

      We first address whether Dr. Corsi’s claim for breach of contract is subject

to arbitration.   The record reveals that the RIPCPC agreements are the only

contracts between RIPCPC and plaintiffs and thus create the relationship between

RIPCPC and plaintiffs. It stands to reason, therefore, that the breach of contract

claim alleged by Dr. Corsi against RIPCPC arises under his agreement with

RIPCPC. Significantly, this Court has continuously applied a presumption in favor

of arbitration. See, e.g., City of Newport v. Local 1080, International Association of

Firefighters, AFL-CIO, 54 A.3d 976, 981 (R.I. 2012) (“[T]his Court resolves

doubts as to the arbitrability of disputes in favor of arbitration.”).

      As to the conversion claim, plaintiffs argue before this Court, as they did in

Superior Court, that RIPCPC “either wrongfully converted the [shared savings] or

tortiously interfered with [plaintiffs’] right to receive them.”         The plaintiffs

indicate in their argument before this Court, however, that the RIPCPC agreements

do not address plaintiffs’ “rights to receive” the shared savings.          Therefore,

although the conversion claim “relates to” Dr. Corsi’s and Dr. King’s respective

RIPCPC agreements and the relationships created thereby, the claim certainly does

not “arise under” those agreements. Accordingly, Dr. Corsi’s claim and Dr. King’s

                                          - 11 -
claim for conversion are not subject to the arbitration clause of their RIPCPC

agreements.

      Addressing plaintiffs’ unjust enrichment claims, this Court has recently said

that “equitable remedies are not causes of actions that generally arise out of

contract[.]” Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., 286 A.3d at 847

(emphasis added). Applying the same principle here, Dr. Corsi’s and Dr. King’s

equitable claims for unjust enrichment do not “arise under” the RIPCPC

agreement. See id. Accordingly, Dr. Corsi’s claim and Dr. King’s claim for unjust

enrichment are not subject to the arbitration clauses of their RIPCPC agreements.

      The plaintiffs further submit that the hearing justice erred because RIPCPC

has waived the right to invoke arbitration “by its activities in this litigation to

date[,]” by filing a motion to dismiss the majority of claims against it, “which was

heard and ruled upon prior to RIPCPC asserting any claim that these matters were

subject to arbitration[.]” The plaintiffs contend that, by making various motions

and filings, RIPCPC manifested a willingness to have the Superior Court “resolve

the controversy.” Newman v. Valleywood Associates, Inc., 874 A.2d 1286, 1289

(R.I. 2005) (quoting North Smithfield Teachers Association v. North Smithfield

School Committee, 461 A.2d 930, 934 (R.I. 1983)). The plaintiffs take issue with

RIPCPC for (1) filing a motion to vacate an entry of default and enlarge time to

answer; (2) filing a motion to dismiss; (3) entering into a stipulation enlarging its

                                       - 12 -
time to respond to plaintiffs’ first request for production; and (4) filing responses to

those requests for production.

      RIPCPC maintains that it has not waived its right to arbitration. RIPCPC

submits that none of the events cited by plaintiffs, either individually or

collectively, amount to a waiver of the right to seek arbitration. Specifically, it

argues that the filing of a motion to dismiss “is a clear manifestation of a party’s

unwillingness to submit to plaintiff’s claims.”

      Our review of the record and relevant caselaw leads us to hold that RIPCPC

has not waived its right to arbitration. This Court has found arbitration to be “a

desirable method of dispute resolution that has long been favored by the courts.”

JHRW, LLC v. Seaport Studios, Inc., 212 A.3d 168, 176 (R.I. 2019) (quoting

Newman, 874 A.2d at 1289). Nevertheless, a party’s right to compel arbitration

may be waived if that party “manifests a willingness, if not a desire, to have the

courts resolve the controversy.” Id. (quoting Newman, 874 A.2d at 1289). “When

determining the precise point at which a party has manifested that willingness to

litigate, we are mindful that general formulations of what constitutes a waiver in a

particular case are of limited usefulness, as the decision normally turns not on

some mechanical act but on all of the facts of the case.” Id. (quoting Newman, 874

A.2d at 1289).

                                         - 13 -
      After the entry of default against it, RIPCPC moved to vacate the entry of

default and to enlarge time within which to answer or otherwise respond to

plaintiffs’ complaint. Because RIPCPC had defaulted, this action was a necessary

step prior to responding to plaintiffs’ complaint. See Super. R. Civ. P. 55(c) (“For

good cause shown the court may set aside an entry of default and, if a judgment by

default has been entered, may likewise set it aside in accordance with Rule

60(b).”). Indeed, RIPCPC thereafter raised its right to arbitrate as an affirmative

defense in its answer, as is required by Rule 8(c) of the Superior Court Rules of

Civil Procedure. See CACH, LLC v. Potter, 154 A.3d 939, 942 (R.I. 2017) (noting

that “[i]t has been our consistent holding that arbitration is an affirmative defense

and that ‘a defending party seeking arbitration must specifically plead the right to

arbitrate in its answer or the defense will be deemed waived’” (quoting Soprano v.

American Hardware Mutual Insurance Co., 491 A.2d 1008, 1010 (R.I. 1985))).

      Furthermore, although RIPCPC entered into a stipulation enlarging its time

to respond to plaintiffs’ first request for production, RIPCPC did not, itself, initiate

discovery. RIPCPC also did not waive its right to arbitrate by filing a motion to

dismiss. See Creative Solutions Group, Inc. v. Pentzer Corporation, 252 F.3d 28,

33 (1st Cir. 2001) (finding no waiver where the defendant filed a motion to dismiss

and a single request for production). Here, each of the steps taken by RIPCPC

indicated its unwillingness “to have the courts resolve the controversy.” JHRW,

                                         - 14 -
LLC, 212 A.3d at 176 (quoting Newman, 874 A.2d at 1289); see Creative Solutions

Group, Inc., 252 F.3d at 33 (“It could hardly be said that ‘the litigation machinery

had been substantially invoked and the parties were well into preparation of a

lawsuit by the time an intention to arbitrate was communicated,’ * * * or that [the

defendant] had taken other steps inconsistent with its right to arbitration.” (brackets

omitted) (quoting Jones Motor Co., Inc. v. Chauffeurs, Teamsters, and Helpers

Local Union No. 633, 671 F.2d 38, 44 (1st Cir. 1982))).

      Accordingly, we conclude the following. First, we hold that the hearing

justice did not err in granting RIPCPC’s motion to compel arbitration with regard

to Dr. Hayden’s claims for breach of contract, conversion, and unjust enrichment.

Second, we hold that the hearing justice did not err in granting RIPCPC’s motion

to compel arbitration with regard to Dr. Corsi’s claim for breach of contract.

Third, we hold that the hearing justice erred in granting RIPCPC’s motion to

compel arbitration with regard to Dr. Corsi’s claims and Dr. King’s claims for

conversion and unjust enrichment.6

6
  The plaintiffs additionally sought a declaratory judgment under count ten. This
Court has said that a “proceeding for a declaratory judgment is neither an action at
law nor a suit in equity but a novel statutory proceeding[.]” Newport Amusement
Company v. Maher, 92 R.I. 51, 53, 166 A.2d 216, 217 (1960). General Laws 1956
§ 9-30-1 prescribes power to the Superior Court “to declare rights, status, and other
legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed.” Furthermore,
the declaratory judgment count was brought against both Integra and RIPCPC, and
therefore we decline to address the arbitrability of such a claim here.

                                        - 15 -
      Due to the variety of claims at issue in this case—which involves three

doctors, three RIPCPC agreements, and differing claims among said doctors—we

direct the Superior Court to keep the stay in effect, but to refer Dr. Hayden’s

matters and Dr. Corsi’s claim for breach of contract to arbitration.7 See Napier v.

Epoch Corporation, 971 A.2d 594, 598 (R.I. 2009) (“A stay pending arbitration is

meant to avoid any complications that could arise if duplicative proceedings

progressed simultaneously.”); see also G.L. 1956 § 10-3-3 (“If any suit or

proceeding be brought upon any issue referable to arbitration under an agreement

in writing for arbitration, the court in which the suit is pending, upon being

satisfied that the issue involved in the suit or proceeding is referable to arbitration

under such an agreement, shall, on application of one of the parties, stay the trial of

the action until the arbitration has been had in accordance with the terms of the

agreement[.]”). Pending the result of arbitration, any unresolved claims may then

be addressed by the Superior Court.

7
 We note that our directive that the hearing justice keep the stay in effect should
not bar any plaintiff from arbitrating his remaining claims against RIPCPC.

                                        - 16 -
                                         IV

                                    Conclusion

      For the reasons set forth herein, we affirm in part and vacate in part the order

of the Superior Court.     We remand the matter to the Superior Court with

instruction.

      Justice Goldberg did not participate.

                                       - 17 -
                                              STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
                                         SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
                                               Licht Judicial Complex
                                                 250 Benefit Street
                                               Providence, RI 02903

                                     OPINION COVER SHEET

                                         Michael H. Hayden, D.O., et al. v. Integra Community
Title of Case
                                         Care Network, LLC, et al.
                                         No. 2021-111-Appeal.
Case Number
                                         (PC 19-5440)

Date Opinion Filed                       April 6, 2023

Justices                                 Suttell, C.J., Robinson, Lynch Prata, and Long, JJ.

Written By                               Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell

Source of Appeal                         Providence County Superior Court

Judicial Officer from Lower Court        Associate Justice Maureen B. Keough

                                         For Plaintiffs:

                                         Scott F. Bielecki, Esq.
Attorney(s) on Appeal                    For Defendants:

                                         Greil I. Roberts, Esq. Pro Hac Vice
                                         Richard G. Fallago, Esq.

SU-CMS-02A (revised November 2022)