Court Opinion

ID: 9412794
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-01 17:09:12.97017+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:25.734395
License: Public Domain

J-A06019-23
J-A06020-23
                           2023 PA Super 145

 MICHAEL D. TOTH AND LINAWATI          :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 TOTH                                  :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
              v.                       :
                                       :
                                       :
 BRYAN E. TOTH, EUGENE W. TOTH,        :
 MARIE TOTH, AND LEARNING              :   No. 266 WDA 2022
 SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, LLC           :
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: BRYAN E. TOTH,             :
 EUGENE W. TOTH, AND MARIE TOTH        :

            Appeal from the Order Entered February 15, 2022
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                         No(s): GD-21-000372

 MICHAEL D. TOTH AND LINAWATI          :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 TOTH                                  :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
              v.                       :
                                       :
                                       :
 BRYAN E. TOTH, EUGENE W. TOTH,        :
 MARIE TOTH, AND LEARNING              :   No. 267 WDA 2022
 SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, LLC           :
                                       :
                                       :
 APPEAL OF: BRYAN E. TOTH,             :
 EUGENE W. TOTH, AND MARIE TOTH        :

            Appeal from the Order Entered February 15, 2022
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                         No(s): GD-21-000372

 MICHAEL D. TOTH AND LINAWATI          :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
 TOTH                                  :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                       :
                                       :
              v.                       :
J-A06019-23
J-A06020-23

                                                 :
                                                 :
  BRYAN E. TOTH, EUGENE W. TOTH,                 :
  MARIE TOTH, AND LEARNING                       :   No. 403 WDA 2022
  SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, LLC                    :
                                                 :
                                                 :
  APPEAL OF: BRYAN E. TOTH,                      :
  EUGENE W. TOTH, AND MARIE TOTH                 :

                 Appeal from the Order Entered April 5, 2022
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                           No(s): G.D. 21-000372

  MICHAEL D. TOTH AND LINAWATI                   :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
  TOTH                                           :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                                 :
                                                 :
                v.                               :
                                                 :
                                                 :
  BRYAN E. TOTH, EUGENE W. TOTH,                 :
  MARIE TOTH, AND LEARNING                       :   No. 846 WDA 2022
  SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, LLC                    :
                                                 :
                                                 :
  APPEAL OF: BRYAN E. TOTH,                      :
  EUGENE W. TOTH, AND MARIE TOTH                 :

                 Appeal from the Order Entered July 21, 2022
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Civil Division at
                            No(s): GD-21-000372

BEFORE:      OLSON, J., NICHOLS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

OPINION BY NICHOLS, J.:                              FILED: August 1, 2023

____________________________________________

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

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       Appellants Bryan E. Toth, Eugene W. Toth, and Marie Toth appeal from

four separate orders: the February 15, 2022 order granting partial summary

judgment in favor of Appellees Michael D. Toth and Linawati Toth (266 WDA

2022); the February 15, 2022 order denying Appellants’ motion for summary

judgment against Appellees (267 WDA 2022); the April 5, 2022 order granting

Appellees’ petition to dissolve Learning Sciences International, LLC, (LSI) (403

WDA 2022); and the July 21, 2022 order appointing a custodian for LSI (846

WDA 2022).1        Appellants contend that the trial court erred in granting

summary judgment in favor of Appellees, ordering the dissolution of LSI, and

in appointing a custodian. After review, we affirm the order on appeal at 266

WDA 2022, affirm the order on appeal at 267 WDA 2022, vacate the order on

appeal at 403 WDA 2022 and remand for further proceedings consistent with

this opinion, and vacate the order on appeal at 846 WDA 2022.

       The trial court summarized the relevant facts and procedural history of

this matter as follows:

       I. THE PARTIES & BACKGROUND.

       Plaintiff Michael Toth (“Michael”) is the founder, President, Chief
       Executive Officer, and owner of 50% voting interest and 25%
       equity interest of [LSI,] a Pennsylvania educational training LLC
       operating in and servicing multiple states. Linawati Toth (“Lina”),
       Michael’s wife, is an LSI manager and employee. Bryan Toth
____________________________________________

1 The appeals at 266 WDA 2022, 267 WDA 2022, and 403 WDA 2022 were

consolidated sua sponte at Superior Court Journal No. J-A06019-23. See
Order, 6/28/22. The related appeal at 846 WDA 2022 was assigned Superior
Court Journal No. J-A06020-23, and it was consolidated with the appeals at
266 WDA 2022, 267 WDA 2022, and 403 WDA 2022, in an order filed on
August 1, 2022.

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     (“Bryan”), Michael’s brother, owns 50% voting interest and 25%
     equity interest of LSI. Eugene Toth (“Eugene”), Michael’s father,
     and Marie Toth (“Marie”), Michael’s mother, are each 25% owners
     in equity interest of LSI.

     After founding LSI in 2002, Michael gifted Marie, Eugene, and
     Bryan their respective interests. Around the Thanksgiving holiday
     in 2020, relations between the parties began to deteriorate. On
     January 8, 2021, Bryan, Eugene, and Marie met with Florida legal
     counsel and executed three legal agreements: a “Written Consent
     to Actions Taken Without a Meeting by the Members of Learning
     Sciences International, LLC” (“First Written Consent”) an
     “Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Learning
     Sciences International, LLC” (“2021 [Operating] Agreement”),
     and an additional “Written Consent to Actions Taken Without a
     Meeting by the Members of Learning Sciences, International, LLC”
     (“Second Written Consent”).

     The First Written Consent, signed only by [Appellants],
     acknowledged that LSI was a Pennsylvania LLC governed by a
     2012 Operating Agreement (“2012 [Operating] Agreement”) and
     allegedly allowed [Appellants] “ratify, approve, and adopt” the
     2021 [Operating] Agreement in Michael’s absence pursuant to
     Section 13.5 of the 2012 [Operating] Agreement, which provides
     that the 2012 [Operating] Agreement “may not be amended
     except by the written agreement of Members holding Two-Thirds
     Interest of the Company.” By “adopting” the 2021 [Operating]
     Agreement in light of the First Written Consent, [Appellants]
     aimed to “approve LSI’s change of its headquarters and subject
     laws to Florida.”

     The Second Written Consent, signed only by [Appellants],
     acknowledged Michael and Lina’s then-current status as LSI
     “officers and/or management personnel,” yet allegedly allowed
     [Appellants] to terminate Michael and Lina, having determined
     that “it was in the best interests of LSI to change some of its
     current officers and management personnel.”

     Despite executing the First Written Consent, the 2021 [Operating]
     Agreement, and the Second Written Consent under the guise of
     having met the Two-Thirds Interest requirement of Section 13.5
     of the 2012 [Operating] Agreement, [Appellants] overlook Section
     1.37 of the 2012 [Operating] Agreement which states “Two-thirds
     Interest shall mean one or more Voting Interests of Members

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     which taken together exceed 66.67% of the aggregate of all
     Voting Interests.”   Section 1.39 of the 2012 [Operating]
     Agreement further provides that Bryan and Michael each have
     50% Voting Interest.

     II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

     On December 12, 2021, [Appellees] filed a Complaint seeking
     injunctive relief and damages against Marie, Eugene, Bryan, and
     LSI (collectively referred to herein as “ Defendants”) including the
     following counts: Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary
     Injunction, and Permanent Injunction (Count I), Breach of
     Contract (2012 Operating Agreement) (Count II), Breach of
     Fiduciary Duty and Common Law Duty of Loyalty (Count III),
     Conversion, fraud and Defamation (Count IV, V, & VI),
     Declaratory Judgment (Count VII), and Constructive Trust and
     Accounting (Count VIII).

     With respect to Count VII, [Appellees] sought judgment declaring
     that:

        (a) The 2012 . . . Operating Agreement remains in full force
        and Effect, and that the purported Written Consents and
        2021 Operating Agreement are null and void and therefore
        without lawful import, authority or legitimacy;

        (b) Mr. Michael Toth remains the President, Chief Executive
        Officer and employee of LSI, with all of the right, title and
        privileges of those positions;

        (c) Ms. Linawati Toth remains a manager and employee of
        LSI, with all of the right, title and privileges of these
        positions;

        (d) Defendant LSI is Pennsylvania corporation and must
        remain so, and any action taken to changes that must be
        undone as without authorization or legal justification.

     In response to [Appellees’] request for injunctive relief, on
     January 19, 2021, [the trial c]ourt granted [Appellees’]
     Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order pending
     resolution of the preliminary injunction, which was scheduled for
     argument on February 5, 2021. On February 2, 2021, [the trial
     c]ourt entered an order staying all case activity pending the
     parties’ engagement in alternative dispute resolution [(ADR)] —
     later deemed to be unsuccessful. While the case was stayed in

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       [the trial c]ourt, [Appellants] brought an additional lawsuit against
       [Appellees] in Florida state court.

       On May 3, 2021, [Appellants’] Preliminary Objections were
       overruled and [the trial c]ourt ultimately appointed Mr. John
       McGinley, Jr. as the Interim Custodian Pendente Lite (“[Interim]
       Custodian”) on August 4, 2021.[2] More specifically, [the trial
       c]ourt tasked the [Interim] Custodian with the purpose of
       providing interim findings of fact and conclusions of law as to
       whether the Members were deadlocked in the management of
       LSI’s affairs and whether it would be reasonably practicable for
       LSI’s Members to carry on the business . . ., as well as other
       recommendations regarding LSI’s management, direction, and
       ownership. In accordance with the [c]ourt’s August 4th order, the
       [Interim] Custodian filed Interim Finding of Fact and Conclusions
       of Law (“[Interim] Custodian’s Report”) on October 22, 2021.
       Amongst other things, the [Interim] Custodian found that, in light
       of [Appellants’] failed attempt to adopt the 2021 [Operating]
       Agreement without Michael’s consent, the 2012 Operating
       Agreement continues to govern LSI and the rights of its Members.

       After determining that the dispute as to LSI’s governing document
       was a legal issue capable of resolution via summary judgment,
       [the trial c]ourt ordered the parties to file cross-motions for
       summary judgment. On January 12, 2022, [Appellees] filed a
       Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and [Appellants] filed a
       Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, both which are the focus of
       this appeal. Following argument on the motions, [the trial c]ourt
       entered two orders — one denying [Appellants’] Cross-Motion for
       Summary Judgment [(the order at 267 WDA 2022)] and another
       granting [Appellees’] Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [(the
       order at 266 WDA 2022)].

Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 1-5 (some formatting altered and footnotes

omitted).

       Appellants filed timely and separate notices of appeal from the February

15, 2022 orders.       See Docket No. 266 WDA 2022 (appeal from the order

granting partial summary judgment relief in the form of declaratory judgment
____________________________________________

2 On May 25, 2021, Appellees filed a motion to dissolve and wind-up LSI.

                                           -6-
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in favor of Appellees that the 2012 Operating Agreement controls); Docket

No. 267 WDA 2022 (appeal from the order denying Appellants’ motion for

summary judgment).      Both the trial court and Appellants complied with

Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

     On March 11, 2022 and March 16, 2022, the trial court held hearings on

Appellees’ motion to dissolve and wind-up LSI. The trial court subsequently

entered an order stating:

     AND NOW, this 5th day of April, 2022, having considered
     [Appellees’] Amended Petition to Dissolve and Wind-Up Learning
     Sciences International, LLC, [Appellants’] response thereto, and
     following a hearing thereupon, the court makes the following
     factual findings and legal conclusions:

        A. Michael D. Toth (“Michael”), Bryan E. Toth (“Bryan”),
           Eugene W. Toth (“Eugene”) and Marie Toth (“Marie”) are
           each owners of 25% of the issued and outstanding units
           of Learning Sciences International, LLC (“LSI”).

        B. Michael and Bryan each control 50% of the voting rights
           of LSI.

        C. Michael, Bryan, Eugene and Marie are collectively
           referred to as the “Members.” LSI and the Members are
           parties to [the 2012 Operating Agreement].

        D. The Members are and have been engaged in a series of
           disputes concerning the management, operation and
           future direction of LSI, which disputes are the subject of
           litigation with this court in the above captioned case.

        E. The Members have been unable to resolve their
           differences despite efforts to do so at the request of the
           court through multiple formal mediations and informal
           settlement discussions.

        F. The court has determined that the disputes, divisiveness
           and litigation among the Members of LSI that currently
           exist are and will continue to have a lasting and

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            significant adverse consequence upon the viability of LSI
            to operate as an ongoing concern.

        G. LSI is not currently profitable in the current year but for
           one-time Government assistance, and was barely above
           break-even for 2020.

        H. The court has determined that the Members are
           irrevocably deadlocked in the management of [LSI’s]
           affairs, and that it is not otherwise reasonably practicable
           to carry on the business in conformity with LSI’s
           Certificate of Incorporation and Operating Agreement.

        I. The Court has determined that [LSI] should begin a
           process of dissolution under Pennsylvania law applicable
           to LSI, including, without limitation, the provisions of 15
           Pa.C.S. § 8872.

        J. The court, having found good cause, hereby exercises its
           discretion to appoint a liquidating trustee for LSI
           pursuant to 15 Pa.C.S. § 8872(e) to accomplish such
           dissolution.

        K. The court hereby appoints James Chiafullo, Esq., of
           Dentons, Cohen & Grisby (the “Liquidating Trustee”) to
           serve as Liquidating Trustee of LSI, with all power,
           authority, protection and duty of a Liquidating Trustee
           appointed under . . . 15 Pa.C.S. § 8872(e) for the
           purpose, inter alia, of consummating such dissolution,
           and to carry out such dissolution with all possible
           deliberation and speed.

Order, 4/5/22, at 1-2. Appellant filed a timely appeal from the trial court’s

order, which was docketed at 403 WDA 2022. Thereafter, Appellants moved

for a stay pending appeal, and this Court granted the motion for stay on June

16, 2022.

     Thereafter, the trial court explained:

     During the pendency of the appeal, Michael Toth initially continued
     to manage the company as CEO. However, the uncertainty
     surrounding this litigation and the future existence of LSI have

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     created roadblocks to maintaining business as usual. Employees,
     some of whom are key personnel, have been leaving LSI and it
     has become understandably difficult to recruit and retain new
     employees. Due to LSI’s primary clients being school districts, its
     contracts typically begin in August and last for the entire school
     year. The uncertainty and low retention of employees has made
     it impossible to anticipate whether LSI is able to enter into and
     perform new contracts for the school year or whether such
     contracts would create greater liability for the company. As such,
     LSI formed no new contracts and currently has no new income.
     The litigation and deadlock has gone so far as to cause hesitancy
     among LSI’s existing clients about its ability to perform. Also
     contributing to this de facto slowing down and winding up of LSI
     is Michael’s stepping down as CEO. Despite the stay of [the trial
     c]ourt’s dissolution order, Michael has allegedly taken steps to
     form a new company in anticipation of LSI’s eventual dissolution,
     such as creating a website and hiring former LSI employees.

     As a result of these developments, on June 28, 2022[, Appellees]
     sought temporary relief from the Superior Court’s stay order so as
     to petition [the trial c]ourt to appoint a receiver to manage the
     company’s remaining affairs and pay its debts as they come due
     pending the resolution of [Appellants’] appeal. By order dated
     June 29, 2022, the Superior Court granted the relief and
     temporarily lifted the stay order for the limited purpose of having
     [the trial c]ourt rule on [Appellees’] petition to appoint a receiver.
     On July 15, 2022[, the trial c]ourt heard argument on the petition
     to appoint the receiver. Despite the numerous allegations of
     Michael’s apparent conflict of interest in running LSI and winding
     up its affairs, [Appellants] astonishingly opposed the appointment
     of an impartial receiver to run the company. By order dated July
     21, 2022, [the trial c]ourt granted the petition and appointed a
     receiver.

Trial Ct. Op., 9/2/22, at 1-2. Appellants subsequently filed a timely appeal

from the July 21, 2022 order appointing the custodian which was docketed at

846 WDA 2022.

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      In sum, the instant matter involves four separate docket numbers: 266

WDA 2022, 267 WDA 2022, 403 WDA 2022, and 846 WDA 2022. Appellants

and the trial court have complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925 in all four matters.

      In these consolidated and related appeals, Appellants raise the following

issues:

      1. [Appeals at 266 WDA 2022 and 267 WDA 2022:] Whether the
         trial court committed reversible error by granting, on a motion
         for summary judgment, a declaratory judgment in [Appellees’]
         favor insofar as: (1) as a matter of law, [Appellants] were
         entitled to judgment in their favor on [Appellees’] declaratory
         judgment claim; and (ii) alternatively, at a minimum, genuine
         issues of material fact remained as to [Appellees’] declaratory
         judgment claim and [Appellants’] defenses thereto?

      2. [Appeal at 403 WDA 2022:] Whether the trial court committed
         reversible error by ordering the dissolution of LSI, insofar as:
         (i) the decision was inextricably linked to the trial court’s
         erroneous declaratory judgment; and (ii) alternatively, even if
         the declaratory judgment was proper, myriad other
         independent factual and legal deficiencies precluded the trial
         court’s order as a matter of law?

      3. [Appeal at 846 WDA 2022:] Whether the trial court committed
         reversible error by appointing James Chiafullo as custodian of
         LSI insofar as: (i) the decision was directly at odds with this
         Court’s Orders staying the Plan of Dissolution ordered
         previously by the trial court; and (ii) independent of this Court’s
         Stay Order, the factual and legal predicates for said
         appointment were unsatisfied as a matter of law?

Appellants’ Brief at 6-7.

      Appealability of Orders - 266 WDA 2022 & 267 WDA 2022

      As an initial matter, we first address whether the appeals at 266 WDA

2022 and 267 WDA 2022 are properly before this Court. It is well settled that

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      the appealability of an order directly implicates the jurisdiction of
      the court asked to review the order. Knopick v. Boyle, 189 A.3d
      432, 436 (Pa. Super. 2018) (internal citation omitted). As a
      general rule, appellate courts have jurisdiction only over appeals
      taken from a final order. In re Bridgeport Fire Litigation, 51
      A.3d 224, 229 (Pa. Super. 2012). A final order is one that
      disposes of all the parties and all the claims; or is entered as a
      final order pursuant to the trial court’s determination under Rule
      341(c). Pa.R.A.P. 341(b)(1), (3). An appeal may also be taken
      from an order that is made final or appealable by statute or
      general rule, even though the order does not dispose of all claims
      and of all parties. Pa.R.A.P. 311(a)(8).

Schmitt v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., 245 A.3d 678, 681 (Pa.

Super. 2021) (quotation marks omitted).

      Additionally, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7532 provides:

      Courts of record, within their respective jurisdictions, shall have
      power to declare rights, status, and other legal relations whether
      or not further relief is or could be claimed. No action or proceeding
      shall be open to objection on the ground that a declaratory
      judgment or decree is prayed for. The declaration may be either
      affirmative or negative in form and effect, and such declarations
      shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree.

42 Pa.C.S. § 7532.

      “Although the [Declaratory Judgments] Act provides that the declaration

shall have the ‘force and effect of a final judgment or decree,’ . . . . It is the

nature of the order at issue that dictates whether it is final and appealable.”

Schmitt, 245 A.3d at 682 (citation omitted). This Court has summarized the

case law regarding declaratory judgment actions that do not dispose of all

claims and all parties as follows:

      In Bolmgren v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 758 A.2d 689
      (Pa. Super. 2000), the appellee brought an action against State
      Farm for a declaration of coverage under a homeowner’s policy

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     and for damages. Specifically, Counts I-III of the appellee’s
     amended complaint sought relief in the form of declaratory
     judgment, and Count IV sought damages, attorney’s fees, interest
     and costs. Following competing motions for summary judgment,
     the court granted summary judgment in favor of the appellee on
     Counts I-III. State Farm appealed. As a prefatory matter, this
     Court considered whether the appeal was properly before us,
     where the damages claim in Count IV of the amended complaint
     remained outstanding.

     In addressing whether the appeal was proper under Rule
     311(a)(8) by way of the Declaratory Judgments Act, this Court
     explained:

       Although the Act provides that the declaration shall have the
       “force and effect of a final judgment or decree,” this partial
       adjudication does not become appealable merely because it
       is cast in the form of a declaratory judgment. Appellee’s
       complaint in this matter, although captioned a declaratory
       judgment, sought ordinary civil relief and remedies in the
       form of a declaration of coverage and damages.[FN1] Her
       request for further relief, in the form of damages, has yet to
       be determined. Because an appeal will not lie from an
       interlocutory order, the present appeal must be quashed.
          [FN1] It is the nature of the order at issue that dictates

          whether it is final and appealable. In this case, the
          order is not final since it does not dispose of the claim
          of damages raised in the complaint, in addition to the
          request for declaratory judgment.          This case is
          different than that in Redevelopment Authority of
          Cambria County v. International Insurance Co.,
          [685 A.2d 581 (Pa. Super. 1996), appeal denied, 695
          A.2d 787 (Pa. 1997)]. In that case the complaint
          sought relief in the form of declaratory judgment that
          Erie [Insurance Group] and International [Insurance
          Co.] owed a duty to defend and to indemnify the
          Authority in an action filed by a third party. In that
          case, the order was final because the trial court’s
          determination that Erie [Insurance Group] had a duty
          to defend the third-party claim effectively ended the
          litigation. Here, in addition to the declaration of
          rights, the trial [c]ourt was asked to award damages
          under the policy. Under these circumstances, the

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           [trial] court is required to address this request.
           Without doing so, the order is not final.

     Id. at 691. . . .

     This Court has repeatedly applied Bolmgren when discussing the
     appealability of orders that resolve declaratory judgment claims
     but leave other claims outstanding. See, e.g., Bombar v. West
     American Ins. Co., 932 A.2d 78, 85-86 (Pa. Super. 2007)
     (holding that trial court’s initial January 19, 2005 order granting
     summary judgment on declaratory judgment count of complaint
     was not final and appealable, where that order did not determine
     amount of damages for remaining bad faith claim; appeal from
     later December 30, 2005 order resolving outstanding bad faith
     claim was proper); Cresswell v. Pennsylvania Nat. Mut. Cas.
     Ins. Co., 820 A.2d 172, 176 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2003) (determining
     trial court’s initial December 20, 2001 order granting partial
     summary judgment in favor of appellee on declaratory judgment
     claim was interlocutory and unappealable, where court’s order left
     unresolved additional bad faith claim; trial court’s later order of
     May 28, 2002, which disposed of sole remaining bad faith claim,
     was final and appealable); Moore Motors, Inc. v. Beaudry, 775
     A.2d 869, 870 (Pa. Super. 2001) (per curiam) (quashing appeal
     from order granting appellees’ motion for partial summary
     judgment as interlocutory and unappealable; although court
     granted summary judgment in favor of appellees on all nine
     counts of appellants’ amended complaints, and on count I of
     appellees’ counterclaim seeking declaratory judgment, court’s
     order left unresolved counts II and III of appellees’ counterclaim;
     holding “absent an express determination of finality under Rule
     341(c), the dismissal of a complaint with the concomitant
     dismissal of only one count of a multi-count counterclaim is
     interlocutory and unappealable. . . . To hold otherwise would
     permit the kind of piecemeal litigation that the Supreme Court
     specifically tried to eliminate when it enacted Rule 341”).

     Simultaneous to this Court’s continued application of Bolmgren,
     our Supreme Court has issued a line of cases also dealing with the
     appealability of orders resolving declaratory judgment claims,
     beginning with Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Wickett, 763 A.2d
     813 (Pa. 2000). In Wickett, our Supreme Court explained that
     under Section 7532, “an order in a declaratory judgment action
     that either affirmatively or negatively declares the rights and
     duties of the parties constitutes a final order.” Id., 763 A.2d at
     818. Consequently, the Court held that an order sustaining the

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     preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer of some
     defendants in a declaratory judgment action, and dismissing those
     defendants from the case, was a final, appealable order, even
     though claims against other defendants remained outstanding.

     In Pennsylvania Bankers Ass’n v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of
     Banking, 948 A.2d 790 (Pa. 2008), the Court limited the breadth
     of Wickett. In that case, certain banks filed a complaint against
     the Pennsylvania Department of Banking asserting different
     theories for declaratory relief, including several constitutional
     claims. The Commonwealth Court, which had original jurisdiction
     in the case, sustained the Department of Banking’s preliminary
     objections in the nature of a demurrer regarding some of the
     banks’ claims.      Our Supreme Court quashed the appeal as
     interlocutory, distinguishing Wickett as follows:

       The Banks . . . argue that the Commonwealth Court’s order
       constitutes a final, appealable order pursuant to Wickett.
       We find Wickett distinguishable, however, for the following
       reasons. In Wickett, the trial court’s order put certain
       defendants out of court by dismissing all of the plaintiff’s
       claims against them. In so doing, the order prevented the
       plaintiffs from obtaining any relief against these parties. It
       would therefore be appropriate in this context to
       characterize the trial court’s order as a final order under 42
       Pa.C.S. § 7532 because it, in essence, declared that the
       plaintiffs did not have any viable theory of recovery against
       such defendants.

       In contrast . . . , the Commonwealth Court’s order in this
       case did not dismiss any party, but merely narrowed the
       scope of the Banks’ declaratory judgment action, which
       raised alternative theories of relief. Because the Banks
       might still obtain the relief they are seeking based on one of
       the remaining constitutional theories, the Commonwealth
       Court’s order sustaining the [Department of Banking’s]
       preliminary objections has no certain effect upon the
       ultimate relief to which the Banks may be entitled. Thus,
       we find that the Commonwealth Court’s order in this case
       did not declare the parties’ rights within the meaning of 42
       Pa.C.S. § 7532, and therefore, it is not a final order under
       Wickett.[FN16]
          [FN16] Notably, the intermediate appellate courts have

          limited Wickett to contexts where at least one party

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          has been dismissed from the case. See Wimer v. Pa.
          Employees Benefit Trust Fund, 868 A.2d 8, 13 (Pa.
          Super. 2005), aff’d, 939 A.2d 843 (Pa. 2007) (finding
          Wickett applies when a complaint is dismissed and
          the plaintiffs are put out of courts); Consolidation
          Coal Co. v. White, 875 A.2d 318, 325 (Pa. Super.
          2005) (holding an order is only final under Wickett
          when there is “no conceivable legal theory under
          which Appellants could prevail”); Creswell, [820 A.2d
          at 176 n.2] (granting partial summary judgment was
          not a final order under Wickett because one claim
          remained); Independ. Oil & Gas Ass’n of Pa. v. Pa.
          Pub. Util. Comm’n, 804 A.2d 693, 701 (Pa. Cmwlth.
          2002) (determining that Wickett does not apply
          unless the plaintiffs are put out of court).

                               *     *      *

       For the reasons outlined above, we conclude that the
       Commonwealth Court’s order in this case, which sustained
       the [Department of Banking’s] preliminary objections in the
       nature of a demurrer with respect to some, but not all, of
       the Banks’ constitutional claims, is not a final, appealable
       order. Our conclusion today is not only informed by our
       well-established policy of avoiding piecemeal litigation, it
       also recognizes that such an order does not represent an
       affirmative or negative declaration of the parties’ rights
       within the meaning of 42 Pa.C.S. § 7532 because alternate
       avenues of relief can still be pursued against the same
       parties in the courts below.

       Accordingly, we quash the instant appeal as interlocutory.

     Pennsylvania Bankers Ass’n, 948 A.2d at 799-800 (some
     internal footnotes omitted).        See also United States
     Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives, Inv. v.
     Department of Banking (“USOBA”), 26 A.3d 474 (Pa. 2011)
     (quashing appeal from Commonwealth Court’s order striking two
     provisions of Debt Management Services Act (“Act 117”) as
     unconstitutional; Commonwealth Court did not address several of
     USOBA’s arguments and did not ultimately decide whether USOBA
     was entitled to full relief originally requested, which remains
     available via USOBA’s alternate arguments; essentially,
     Commonwealth Court simply narrowed scope of USOBA’s
     declaratory judgment action, without ultimately deciding case;

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     Department of Banking appealed order which, in light of USOBA’s
     original challenge to Act 117, granted USOBA only partial
     declaration of parties’ rights, status, or legal relations).

     Most recently in the Wickett line of cases, our Supreme Court
     summarized these holdings in Pennsylvania Manufacturers’
     Assoc. Ins. Co. v. Johnson Matthey, Inc., 188 A.3d 396 (Pa.
     2018), stating:

        This Court last expounded upon the appealability of an order
        declaring the rights of parties in [USOBA]. In that decision,
        the Court provided a rather straightforward two-part test for
        appellate courts to apply when considering whether an order
        declaring the rights of parties is final and appealable: (1)
        what is the effect of the lower court’s decision on the scope
        of the litigation; and (2) what practical effect does the
        court’s decision have on the ultimate outcome of the case. .
        . . If the order in question merely narrows the scope of the
        litigation and does not resolve the entirety of the parties’
        eligibility for declaratory relief, then the order is
        interlocutory and not immediately appealable.

     Pennsylvania Manufacturers’, 188 A.3d at 399-400 (quashing
     appeal as interlocutory where Commonwealth Court entered order
     that effectively denied appellant’s claim for declaratory relief but
     left unresolved appellee’s related but broader counterclaim for
     declaratory relief; as order on appeal does not resolve parties’
     competing claims for declaratory relief but merely narrowed
     dispute, order is not appealable at this time). See also Titeflex
     Corp. v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, 88
     A.3d 970 (Pa. Super. 2014) (holding order declaring that
     appellant-insurer had duty to defend appellee-corporation in
     underlying actions was appealable because order resolved
     declaratory judgment action for all practical purposes; only
     conclusion left for trial court to reach was amount of
     indemnification, which could not be made until underlying actions
     were completed; once trial court determined that insurer had duty
     to defend, underlying actions could continue; thus, this case is
     analogous to Redevelopment Authority, and not subject to
     limitation on Wickett announced in Pennsylvania Bankers
     Ass’n).

Schmitt, 245 A.3d at 682-85 (some formatting altered).

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      In    sum,    applying     the    two-part    test    from    Pennsylvania

Manufacturers’ requires this Court to determine (1) the effect of the trial

court’s decision on the scope of the litigation; and (2) the practical effect the

trial court’s decision has on the outcome of the case.              Pennsylvania

Manufacturers’, 188 A.3d at 400. As noted, if an order “merely narrows the

scope of the litigation and does not resolve the entirety of the parties’ eligibility

for declaratory relief, then the order is interlocutory and not immediately

appealable.” Id. (citation omitted).

      In the instant case, Appellants appealed from the trial court’s February

15, 2022 orders granting declaratory judgment in favor of Appellees at 266

WDA 2022 and denying Appellants’ cross-motion for summary judgment at

267 WDA 2022. In its June 24, 2022 opinion, the trial court concluded that

neither order was appealable. See Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 9.

      While the instant appeals were pending, this Court issued a rule

directing Appellants to show cause why the appeals at 266 WDA 2022 and 267

WDA 2022 should not be quashed as interlocutory.             See Order, 3/23/22.

Appellants filed a response asserting that the February 15, 2022 orders are

appealable pursuant to Rule 311(a)(8), and asserting that Schmitt is

distinguishable. Resp. to Rule, 4/1/22, at 1-2. On June 28, 2022, this Court

discharged the rule to show cause and informed the parties that the issue

would be decided by the merits panel. Order, 6/28/22.

      As noted previously, with respect to the appeal at 266 WDA 2022,

Appellees sought partial summary judgment in the form of declaratory relief

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concerning which operating agreement was LSI’s governing document and

whether Michael Toth would continue to remain president and CEO of LSI.

See Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 4; Appellees’ Mot. for Partial Sum. Jud.,

1/12/22, at 3, 14.

     In granting Appellees’ motion, the trial court issued an order stating:

     AND NOW, to wit, this 15th day of February, 2022, upon due
     consideration of [Appellees’] Motion for Partial Summary
     Judgment, all filings relevant thereto, and after hearing oral
     argument on the same, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
     DECREED that said motion is GRANTED. Accordingly, the Court
     enters a declaratory judgment as follows:

     (1) The 2012 [Operating Agreement for LSI] remains in full force
     and effect; and

     (2) The purported 2021 [Operating Agreement for LSI] was, from
     its inception, null and void, without lawful import, authority, or
     legitimacy.

Order on Appeal at 266 WDA 2022, 2/15/22.

     Following our review, we conclude that the trial court’s order at 266

WDA 2022 meets the two-part test for an appealable order.                         See

Pennsylvania Manufacturers,’ 188 A.3d at 400. We recognize that the trial

court’s order did not address whether Michael Toth should continue as LSI’s

president. However, because the trial court found that the 2012 Operating

Agreement     was    controlling,   the    order   effectively   resolved   Appellees’

declaratory judgment claims for all practical purposes.           Therefore, the trial

court’s interlocutory order was appealable as of right.           See id.; see also

Titeflex Corp., 88 A.3d at 976; Pa.R.A.P. 311(a)(8); 42 Pa.C.S. § 7532.

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Accordingly, we are constrained to disagree with the trial court’s conclusion

that the appeal at 266 WDA 2022 should be quashed.

      With respect to the order on appeal at 267 WDA 2022, Appellants filed

a cross-motion for summary judgment requesting that the trial court dismiss

Appellees’ petition to dissolve and wind-up LSI and asking the court to make

a determination that the 2021 Operating Agreement should control.          See

Appellants’ Cross-Mot. for Sum. Jud., 1/12/22 at 12-44, 45. Unlike Appellees,

Appellants did not request summary judgment in the form of declaratory relief.

In denying Appellants’ motion, the trial court issued an order stating:

      AND NOW, to wit, this 15th day of February, 2022, upon due
      consideration of [Appellants’] Cross-Motion for Summary
      Judgment, all filings relevant thereto, and after hearing oral
      argument on the same, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
      DECREED that said motion is DENIED.

Order on Appeal at 267 WDA 2022, 2/15/22.

      We recognize that the trial court’s order at 267 WDA 2022 did not

explicitly resolve Appellants’ dispute concerning Appellees’ motion to

involuntarily dissolve LSI and that Appellants did not seek declaratory relief.

However, because the trial court denied Appellants’ motion in its entirety, the

order had the practical effect of denying declaratory relief concerning the 2021

Operating Agreement and the dissolution of LSI, see, e.g., Coticchia v.

Malcovery Security, LLC, 143 WDA 2021, 2021 WL 5827318, at *4 (Pa.

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Super. 2021),3 both of which were critical issues at the center of this litigation

and the outcome of this case. See Schmitt, 245 A.3d at 683; Pennsylvania

Manufacturers’, 188 A.3d at 400; Titeflex Corp., 88 A.3d at 976.

Therefore, we conclude that the trial court’s order had the effect of doing more

than narrowing the scope of the litigation. See Schmitt, 245 A.3d at 683;

Pennsylvania Manufacturers’, 188 A.3d at 400; Titeflex Corp., 88 A.3d at

976.

       For these reasons, we conclude that the order denying Appellants’ cross-

motion for summary judgment at 267 WDA 2022 is an interlocutory

appealable order as of right pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 311(a)(8).4 Accordingly,

we are constrained to disagree with the trial court’s conclusion that the appeal

at 267 WDA 2022 should be quashed. See Pennsylvania Manufacturers’,

188 A.3d at 400; see also Titeflex Corp., 88 A.3d at 976; Pa.R.A.P.

311(a)(8); 42 Pa.C.S. § 7532.

       In sum, because we conclude that the appeals at both 266 WDA 2022

and 267 WDA 2022 are properly before this Court, we will address the merits

of Appellants’ claims.

____________________________________________

3 See Pa.R.A.P. 126(b) (non-precedential Superior Court decisions filed after

May 1, 2019, may be cited for their persuasive value).

4 We note that the order on appeal at 403 WDA 2022, which orders the
dissolution of LSI, and the order on appeal at 846 WDA 2022, which appoints
a custodian, both affect the possession or control of property, therefore these
orders are interlocutory appeals as of right. See Pa.R.A.P. 311(a)(2).

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                         Appeal at 266 WDA 2022

      On the merits, Appellants contend that the trial court erred in concluding

that the 2012 Operating Agreement controlled and that the 2021 Operating

Agreement was a nullity.       Specifically, Appellants argue that the 2012

Operating Agreement’s provision regarding voting rights permitted Appellants

to amend LSI’s governing documents, and therefore the 2021 Operating

Agreement is valid. Appellants’ Brief at 31-37. Alternatively, Appellants claim

that the language concerning voting rights in the 2012 Operating Agreement

is ambiguous and subject to different but reasonable interpretations, and

therefore presents a genuine issue of fact, accordingly summary judgment

was entered in error. See id. at 38-39.

      When reviewing a trial court’s decision granting or denying a motion for

summary judgment, we adhere to the following standard and scope of review:

      We view the record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving
      party, and all doubts as to the existence of a genuine issue of
      material fact must be resolved against the moving party. Only
      where there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and it is
      clear that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter
      of law will summary judgment be entered. Our scope of review of
      a trial court’s order granting or denying summary judgment is
      plenary, and our standard of review is clear: the trial court’s order
      will be reversed only where it is established that the court
      committed an error of law or abused its discretion.

Siciliano v. Mueller, 149 A.3d 863, 864 (Pa. Super. 2016); see also Jones

v. Unitrin Auto and Home Insurance Co., 40 A.3d 125, 127 (Pa. Super.

2012) (noting that “ordinary summary judgment procedures are applicable to

declaratory judgment actions”).

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     This Court has explained that where an agreement contains definitions

for the words contained therein, the court will apply those definitions in

interpreting the agreement. See Monti v. Rockwood Ins. Co., 450 A.2d 24,

25 (Pa. Super. 1982). Moreover,

     [i]f the contractual terms are clear and unambiguous on their face,
     then such terms are deemed to be the best reflection of the intent
     of the parties. If, however, the contractual terms are ambiguous,
     then resort to extrinsic evidence to ascertain their meaning is
     proper. A contract’s terms are considered ambiguous if they are
     subject to more than one reasonable interpretation when applied
     to a particular set of facts.

Commonwealth ex rel. Kane v. UPMC, 129 A.3d 441, 463 (Pa. 2015)

(formatting altered and citations omitted). Further,

     our review is guided by certain principles, or canons, of contract
     interpretation. . . . First, the entire contract should be read as a
     whole . . . to give effect to its true purpose. Second, a contract
     must be interpreted to give effect to all of its provisions. Thus,
     our Court will not interpret one provision of a contract in a manner
     which results in another portion being annulled. Third, a word
     used by the parties in one sense is to be interpreted as employed
     in the same sense throughout the writing in the absence of
     countervailing reasons, such as thwarting the intent of the
     agreement. And, finally, a party’s performance under the terms
     of a contract is evidence of the meaning of those terms.

Id. at 463-64 (formatting altered and citations omitted).

     Finally, when reviewing an LLC’s operating agreement, we note that

“[a]n operating agreement may specify that its amendment requires the

approval of a person that is not a party to the agreement or the satisfaction

of a condition. An amendment is ineffective if its adoption does not include

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the required approval or satisfy the specified condition.” 15 Pa.C.S. § 8817(a)

(citations omitted).

      Instantly, in Appellants’ appeal at 266 WDA 2022, they argue that the

language from the 2012 Operating Agreement permitted Appellants to amend

the agreement and create the 2021 Operating Agreement. Appellants assert

that “Section 13.5 of the 2012 Operating Agreement provided that the

agreement ‘may not be amended except by the written agreement of Members

holding Two-Thirds Interest of the Company.’” Appellants’ Brief at 32 (quoting

2012 Operating Agreement at Section 13.5). Appellants claim that the 2012

Operating Agreement establishes the following:

      • Section 1.22: Membership Interest means “A Member[‘]s entire
      interest in the Company, including such Member’s Economic
      Interest and such other rights and privileges that the Member may
      enjoy . . . .”

      • Section 1.24: Ownership Interest means: “in the case of a
      Member, the Member’s Membership Interest . . . .”

      • Section 1.39: Voting Interests are held by Michael Toth and
      Bryan Toth, each said interest carrying 50% weight, i.e., each
      individual holds an equal Voting Interest.

      • Section 1.37: Two-Thirds Interest means: “one or more Voting
      Interests of Members which taken together exceed 66.67% of the
      aggregate of all Voting Interests.”

      • Section 1.20: Majority Interest means “one or more Voting
      Interests of Members which taken together exceed fifty percent
      (50%) of the aggregate of all Voting Interests.”

Appellants’ Brief at 32 (formatting altered and citations omitted).

      Appellants claim that this language supports the conclusion that

Appellants were members holding a combined interest in 75% of LSI, and

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therefore, Appellants’ total votes constituted more than 66.67% allowing

Appellants to vote to amend the 2012 Operating Agreement. Appellants’ Brief

at 32-35. Appellants assert that “it was absolutely the parties’ intent that a

decision as fundamental as amending the [2012 O]perating [A]greement

would be reserved for all of the company’s owners.” Appellants’ Brief at 34

(emphasis omitted).

      Appellants allege that the language from Section 13.5, which sets forth

the requirements to amend the 2012 Operating Agreement, states that the

agreement “may not be amended except by the written agreement of

Members holding Two-Thirds Interest of the Company.”           Id. at 37-38.

Appellants assert that the inclusion of the words “of the company” modifies

and expands the definition of “Two-Thirds Interest” from Sections 1.37 and

1.39, and it allows for the conclusion that “Voting Interest” includes Eugene

and Marie, in addition to Bryan and Michael. Id. at 33-38; Appellants’ Reply

Brief at 5-6.

      In resolving Appellants’ claims, the trial court concluded that (1)

Appellants did not satisfy the voting requirements necessary to amend the

2012 Operating Agreement; and (2) the terms of the 2012 Operating

Agreement were unambiguous. See Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 11-12.

      As noted previously, Section 13.5 of the 2012 Operating Agreement

states: “This Agreement may not be amended except by the written

agreement of Members holding Two-Thirds Interest of the Company.” 2012

Operating Agreement at Section 13.5. The 2012 Operating Agreement defines

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a “Two-Thirds Interest” as follows: “Two-thirds Interest shall mean one or

more Voting Interests of Members which taken together exceed 66.67% of

the aggregate of all Voting Interests.”            Id. at Section 1.37.   The 2012

Operating Agreement specifically and exclusively limited “Voting Interest” to

Bryan and Michael. See id. at 1.39. Indeed, Michael has 50% Voting Interest,

and Bryan has 50% Voting Interest. See id. Further, Section 1.39 expressly

states that Eugene and Marie have “0%” Voting Interest. Id. at Section 1.39.

       Accordingly, Appellants’ voting rights claims are belied by the record

and are meritless.      Although the 2012 Operating Agreement provides that

Bryan, Eugene, and Marie each have a 25% sharing ratio pursuant to Section

1.33, the 2012 Operating Agreement does not provide Eugene nor Marie with

voting interests.       The 2012 Operating Agreement unambiguously and

expressly states that only Bryan and Michael have voting interests to amend

the 2012 Operating Agreement. See id. at Sections 1.20, 1.37, 1.39, and

13.5. Contrary to Appellants’ assertions, there is no support in the record for

their claim that Bryan, Eugene, and Marie’s aggregate 75% economic interest

and sharing ratio pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.175 and 1.33, could

____________________________________________

5 Pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, and 1.17, Eugene and Marie have
limited interests in LSI, and they are Equity Owners with an Economic Interest.
See 2012 Operating Agreement at Sections 1.14, 1.15, and 1.17. The
Agreement specifies that Equity Owners and Economic Interest Owners are
not “Members” such as Bryan and Michael, and expressly lack “the right to
participate in the management or affairs of the Company, including the right
to vote on, consent to or otherwise participate in any decision of the Members
or Officers.” 2012 Operating Agreement at Section 1.14; see also id. at
Sections 1.15, 1.17, and 1.33.

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be combined to satisfy the “Two-Thirds Interest” required to amend the 2012

Operating Agreement.     On this record it is clear that the 2012 Operating

Agreement does not provide voting interests to Eugene and Marie such that

they cannot parlay their economic interests into voting interests. See id. at

Section 1.39. In sum, we agree with the trial court that Appellants have not

satisfied the voting requirements necessary to amend the 2012 Operating

Agreement. See Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 11-12.

     Further, we agree with the trial court that the terms of the 2012

Operating Agreement are unambiguous. The trial court explained as follows:

     [Appellants] also go on to assert that, in the alternative, [the trial
     c]ourt erred in entering a declaratory judgment in [Appellees’]
     favor on a motion for summary [judgment and alleged] the
     existence of ambiguous language in Section 13.5 of the [2012
     Operating Agreement] and the existence of a genuine issue of
     material fact concerning what the parties’ intended under
     [Section] 13.5 of the 2012 [Operating] Agreement.

     When construing agreements involving clear and unambiguous
     terms, courts need only examine the writing itself to give effect to
     the parties’ understanding. Stephan v. Waldron Elec. Heating
     & Cooling LLC, 100 A.3d 660, 665 (Pa. Super. 2014) (“This Court
     must construe the contract only as written and may not modify
     the plain meaning under the guise of interpretation.”)[.] As
     discussed above, [Section] 13.5 of the 2012 [Operating]
     Agreement was not ambiguous. In examining [Section] 13.5 of
     the Agreement, requiring “Two-Thirds Interest” for a valid
     amendment with [Section] 1.37, defining Two-Thirds Interest to
     be the excess of 66.67% of all Voting Interest, defined as the
     interests belonging only to Michael and Bryan in equal share in
     [Section] 1.[3]9, the parties’ understanding is clear under the
     2012 [Operating] Agreement’s plain meaning as written. See
     Stephan, 100 A.3d at 665. Thus, given the absence of any
     genuine issue of material fact, [the trial c]ourt properly entered
     a declaratory judgment on [Appellees’] . . . Motion for Partial
     Summary Judgment.

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Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 12 (some formatting altered and footnote omitted).

      On this record, we agree with the trial court and conclude that there is

no ambiguity in the language of the 2012 Operating Agreement.          The trial

court concluded that “Voting Interest” was defined in the 2012 Operating

Agreement and unambiguously reflected that the only voting interests were

held by Bryan and Michael, each holding a 50% interest. As such, the 2012

Operating   Agreement    unambiguously       precluded   the   2021   Operating

Agreement, and the trial court correctly concluded that the 2012 Operating

Agreement is LSI’s governing document.

      For these reasons, Appellants lacked sufficient voting interests to amend

the 2012 Operating Agreement.       Because Appellants lacked the votes to

amend the 2012 Operating Agreement, we agree with the trial court that the

2021 Operating Agreement is a legal nullity. Accordingly, we discern no error

in the trial court entering partial summary judgment on this issue in favor of

Appellees, finding that the 2021 Operating Agreement was a nullity, and

concluding that the 2012 Operating Agreement remained in force. On this

record, we affirm the order on appeal at 266 WDA 2022 and no relief is due.

                         Appeal at 267 WDA 2022

      Appellants next argue that the trial court erred in denying their cross-

motion for summary judgment and concluding that the 2012 Operating

Agreement controlled and that the 2021 Operating Agreement was a nullity.

Appellants’ Brief at 31-39.

      In addressing Appellants’ claim, the trial court explained:

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     Although [Appellants] argue that this court erred by failing to
     grant . . . summary judgment in [Appellants’] favor, asserting that
     this court was required to determine, as a matter of law, that the
     2021 Agreement was lawfully adopted, displaced the 2012
     Agreement, and now governs LSI’s affairs — this court disagrees.

                                  *   *   *

     With respect to the 2012 Agreement, Article 13.5 provides in
     pertinent part that the agreement may not be amended except by
     the written agreement of Members holding two-thirds interest of
     the Company. Two-thirds interest is defined as one or more
     voting interests of Members which taken together exceed 66.67%
     of the aggregate of all voting interests. Voting interest is further
     defined as those interests belonging only to Michael and
     [Appellant] Bryan Toth in equal share (50% each) under Art. 1.19.
     Although Article 1.19 makes clear that Eugene and Marie have 0%
     voting interest, [Appellants’] assertion that their collective 75%
     economic interest as members meets the requirements of Article
     13.5 to allow for amendment in the absence of Michael flies in the
     face of the only reasonable interpretation of the 2012 Agreement.
     Seeing that there was certainly evidence to allow a factfinder to
     render a verdict in favor of [Appellees], this court did not err by
     [denying Appellants’ motion for summary judgment].

See id. at 10-11 (formatting altered and internal citations and footnotes

omitted).

     Following our review, we agree with the trial court that “Voting Interest”

was defined in the 2012 Operating Agreement and unambiguously reflected

that the only voting interests were held by Bryan and Michael, each holding a

50% interest.     See id. at 10-12.          The 2012 Operating Agreement

unambiguously precluded the 2021 Operating Agreement, and the trial court

correctly concluded that the 2012 Operating Agreement is LSI’s governing

document.     See Kane, 129 A.3d at 463.         Therefore, Appellants lacked

sufficient voting interests to amend the 2012 Operating Agreement, and the

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2012 Operating Agreement remains in control. On this record, we discern no

error in the trial court’s order denying Appellants’ motion for summary

judgment, and we affirm the order on appeal at 267 WDA 2022.

                             Appeal at 403 WDA 2022

       In the appeal at 403 WDA 2022, Appellants contend that the trial court

erred in entering the April 5, 2022 order.              Appellants first argue that

dissolution was foreclosed by the terms of the 2021 Operating Agreement.

Appellants’ Brief at 39. Appellants also assert that dissolution was not raised

properly in the trial court.       Id. at 40.      Further, Appellants contend that,

assuming the 2012 Operating Agreement remains in force, the trial court erred

in dissolving LSI because Section 7.11 of the 2012 Operating Agreement

mandated binding mediation.6 Id. at 41-46.

       We reiterate here that we agree with the trial court that the 2012

Operating Agreement remains in effect, and that the 2021 Operating

Agreement is a nullity. Therefore, Appellants’ argument that the dissolution

of LSI was foreclosed by the terms of the 2021 Operating Agreement is

meritless and no relief is due.

____________________________________________

6 Binding mediation is a form of ADR.  See Armstrong World Indus., Inc.
v. Travelers Indem. Co., 115 A.3d 342, 346 (Pa. Super. 2015) (stating that
ADR is defined as “[a] procedure for settling a dispute by means other than
litigation, such as arbitration or mediation.” (quoting BLACK’S LAW
DICTIONARY (9th ed. 2009))). Moreover, ADR is a matter of contract. See,
e.g., Humphrey v. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, 263 A.3d 8, 14 (Pa. Super.
2021).

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      Next, Appellants assert that the issue of LSI’s dissolution was not

properly raised before the trial court. Appellants’ Brief at 40. Appellants argue

that dissolution must be specifically pleaded as a cause of action in a complaint

or in a counterclaim. See id. Appellants contend that the issue of dissolution

was not before the trial court until Appellees raised it in a motion for

dissolution on May 25, 2021. See id. at 41.

      It is well settled that Pennsylvania is a fact pleading jurisdiction. See

Griffin v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., 843 A.2d 393, 395 (Pa. Super. 2004) (per

curiam). Indeed, this Court has explained:

      Pennsylvania is a fact pleading rather than a notice pleading
      jurisdiction. As a result, courts are presumed to know the law and
      plaintiffs need only plead facts constituting the cause of action and
      the courts will take judicial notice of the statute involved. The
      plaintiff is not required to specify the legal theory . . . underlying
      the complaint.

Griffin, 843 A.2d at 395 (formatting altered and citations omitted).

      With respect to dissolution of an LLC, 15 Pa.C.S. § 8871 provides that

an LLC may be dissolved and its activities and affairs wound up when “it is not

reasonably practicable to carry on the company’s activities and affairs in

conformity    with   the   certificate    of      organization   and   the   operating

agreement[.]” 15 Pa.C.S. § 8871(a)(4)(ii).

      Instantly, the trial court correctly observed that Pennsylvania is a fact

pleading state and that “[a]s such, causes of action and legal theories need

not specifically be alleged in a complaint, as long as the legally operative facts

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underlying those causes of action have been pleaded.” Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22,

at 6 (citation omitted). Further, the trial court explained:

      Here, the legally operative facts upon which [Appellees’] Petition
      to Dissolve was brought were sufficiently plead in [Appellees’]
      Complaint and were sufficient to support a cause of action to
      dissolve the company.         [Appellees] plead that [Appellants]
      attempted to execute [an] agreement[] that would remove
      [Appellees] from LSI in violation of the 2012 Operating Agreement
      and that the personal relations between the parties are
      dissentious.     Further[,] facts to support dissolution were
      developed and litigated as the case progressed. Even if it was
      error for [the trial c]ourt to allow dissolution when that cause of
      action was not specifically pleaded in [Appellees’] Complaint, it
      was harmless error. [Appellants] were aware of legally operative
      facts at issue in this case and had an opportunity to prepare a
      defense and be heard in court on the matter of dissolution. As
      such, [the trial c]ourt’s Order dissolving the company should not
      be reversed for this reason.

Id.

      On this record, we conclude that Appellees pled sufficient operative facts

in their complaint to establish a cause of action for dissolution.     In their

complaint, Appellees pleaded that the 2012 Operating Agreement controlled

the governance of LSI. Compl., 1/12/21, at ¶¶ 21, 59. Appellees complained

that Appellants were in breach of the 2012 Operating Agreement and asked

the trial court to enjoin Appellants from actions taken that were not in

conformity with the 2012 Operating Agreement, and to take further necessary

action at law and equity.    See id. at ¶¶ 36, 46.      Appellees alleged that

Appellants were attempting to wrest control over LSI such that it deprived

Appellees of their rights and property interests. See id. at ¶ 57. Appellees

further requested that the trial court impose a constructive trust to protect

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Appellees’ interests. See id. at ¶¶ 60, 61. As the trial court noted, it was

evident that Appellees alleged that the operations of LSI were impracticable,

the facts asserted a claim for winding up and dissolving LSI, and the trial court

was permitted to take judicial notice of the relevant statute involved. See

Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22, at 6-7; see also 15 Pa.C.S. § 8871(a)(4)(ii). On this

record, we conclude that the trial court did not err in considering the issue of

dissolution and no relief is due.

       Next, we address the propriety of the trial court’s order dissolving LSI.

Appellants argue that, even if the trial court was correct in finding that the

2012 Operating Agreement remains controlling and “assum[ing] arguendo

that the 2012 Operating Agreement governs LSI’s affairs,” dissolving LSI was

premature because of the ongoing conflicts among the parties, and that

consistent with Section 7.11 of the 2012 Operating Agreement binding

mediation is mandated, and that binding mediation has not occurred.

Appellants’ Brief at 40, 41-46.7

       In addressing Appellants’ mediation claim, the trial court concluded that

the parties were “deadlocked,” and that dissolution was warranted. The trial

court considered that Bryan and Michael, as voting members each had 50%

____________________________________________

7 In their May 3, 2021, preliminary objection, Appellants specifically raised the

mediation provisions. See Prelim. Obj., 5/3/21, at ¶¶ 7-15. Accordingly,
Appellants did not waive their right to proceed through alternative dispute
resolution. See, e.g., O’Donnell v. Hovnanian Enter., Inc., 29 A.3d 1183,
1187 (Pa. Super. 2011).

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Voting Interest, and that the governance and decision-making of LSI was

hopelessly deadlocked because they were engaged in highly contentious

conflict. See Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22, at 7-9. As such, the decision-making

authority is split equally. See id. at 8; see also Staiger v. Holohan, 100

A.3d 622, 625 (Pa. Super. 2014) (finding the company was deadlocked where

the voting shares were divided equally between two members, and when the

two members disagreed, it resulted in a deadlock).

     LSI is a Pennsylvania LLC and governed pursuant to the Pennsylvania

Associations Code and Pennsylvania Uniform LLC Act. See 15 Pa.C.S. §§ 101-

102; see also §§ 8102, 8811-8898 (addressing regulation, formation, and

applicability to partnerships, LLCs, and corporate forms of organization).

Section 8871 addresses dissolution of an LLC and provides as follows:

     (a) General rule.—A limited liability company is dissolved, and
     its activities and affairs shall be wound up, upon the occurrence
     of any of the following:

        (1) An event or circumstance that the operating agreement
        states causes dissolution.

        (2) The consent of all the members.

        (3) The passage of 180 consecutive days after the company
        ceases to have any members unless before the end of the
        period:

           (i) consent to admit at least one specified person as a
           member is given by transferees owning the rights to receive
           a majority of distributions as transferees at the time the
           consent is to be effective; and

           (ii) at least one person becomes a member in accordance
           with the consent.

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         (4) On application by a member, the entry by the court of an
         order dissolving the company on the grounds that:

            (i) the conduct of all or substantially all the company’s
            activities and affairs is unlawful;

            (ii) it is not reasonably practicable to carry on the company’s
            activities and affairs in conformity with the certificate of
            organization and the operating agreement; or

            (iii) the managers or those members in control of the
            company:

               (A) have acted, are acting, or will act in a manner that is
               illegal or fraudulent; or

               (B) have acted or are acting in a manner that is
               oppressive and was, is or will be directly harmful to the
               applicant.

      (b) Other remedies.—In a proceeding brought under subsection
      (a)(4)(iii)(B), the court may order a remedy other than
      dissolution.

15 Pa.C.S. § 8871(a)-(b). Moreover, “[a] dissolved [LLC] shall wind up its

activities and affairs, and the company continues after dissolution only for the

purpose of winding up.” 15 Pa.C.S. § 8872(a).

      In the instant case, we have already concluded that the 2012 Operating

Agreement remains in force, and the parties continue to be bound by its terms.

See 15 Pa.C.S. §§ 8815, 8816(a).        With respect to dissolution, the 2012

Operating Agreement states:

      (a) The Company shall be dissolved only upon the occurrence of
      any of the following events:

         (1) by the written agreement of Members holding a Two-Thirds
         Interest;

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        (2) by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action
        commenced by any Member in which the Member can show
        that:

           (i) Except as set forth in Section 7.11 of this Agreement,
           the Members are deadlocked in the management of the
           Company’s affairs, and irreparable injury to the corporation
           is threatened or being suffered, or the business and affairs
           of the corporation can no longer be conducted, because of
           the deadlock;

           (ii) The Officers or other Members in control of the Company
           have acted, are acting, or will act in a manner that is illegal,
           oppressive, or fraudulent;

           (iii) There have been repeated, material breaches of the
           Agreement by the Company or by other Members or
           Officers; or

           (iv) It is otherwise not reasonably practicable to carry on
           the business in conformity with the Operating Agreement.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Act, the Company
     shall not be dissolved upon the death, retirement, resignation,
     expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of an Equity Owner.

        (b) As soon as possible following the occurrence of any of the
        events specified in Section 12.1(a) effecting the dissolution
        of the Company, the appropriate representative of the
        Company shall execute all documents required by the Act at
        the time of dissolution and file or record such statements with
        the appropriate officials.

2012 Operating Agreement at Section 12.1 (emphases in original).

     The above-referenced Section 7.11 of the 2012 Operating Agreement

contemplates a deadlock and provides as follows:

     7.11 Dispute Resolution for Members. In the event that the
     Members are deadlocked and cannot come to an agreement with
     respect to any decision of the Company (including any items
     referred to the Members pursuant to Section 5.15 of this
     Agreement [involving dispute resolution for officers]), the
     Members hereby agree to submit any and all such disputes
     between them to binding mediation in accordance with the

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     provisions set forth on Exhibit 7.11 attached hereto and made a
     part hereof. Any decision reached by the mediator shall be final
     and binding upon the Members.

2012 Operating Agreement at Section 7.11 (some formatting altered).        As

stated, Section 7.11 references Exhibit 7.11, which provides as follows:

                                EXHIBIT 7.11

                          MEDIATION PROVISIONS

     1. The mediator for any and all disputes shall be [___________].
     In the event [___________] is unavailable, the mediator shall be
     chosen in good faith by mutual agreement between the Members.

     2. Each Member shall bear his, her or its own costs of the
     mediation, except that they will share equally all fees and
     expenses of the mediator. The mediator shall be compensated at
     a rate of [amount] per [hour/day].

     3. The mediation shall be held at the office of the Company, or as
     the Members may otherwise mutually agree.

     4. The mediator shall have the authority to impose a binding
     settlement on the Members, and will attempt to help them reach
     a satisfactory resolution of their disputes. The mediator is
     authorized to conduct joint and separate meetings with the
     Members and to make oral and written recommendations for
     settlement.

     5. The information disclosed to the mediator by the Members or
     by witnesses during the mediation shall not be divulged by the
     mediator. All information, records, reports, or other documents
     received by the mediator shall be treated as confidential. The
     mediator shall not divulge nor be compelled by the Members to
     divulge such information, records, reports, or other documents, or
     to testify in regard to the mediation in any adversary proceeding
     or judicial forum.

     6. There shall be no stenographic or other such record made of
     the mediation proceedings.

     9. Any party may apply to the Mediator seeking injunctive relief
     until the mediation award is rendered or the controversy is
     otherwise resolved. Any party also may, without waiving any

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     remedy under the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement,
     seek from any court having jurisdiction any interim or provisional
     relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that
     party, pending the establishment of the mediation tribunal (or
     pending the mediation tribunal’s determination of the merits of
     the controversy).

2012 Operating Agreement, Exhibit 7.11 (empty brackets in paragraph 1,

omission of paragraph numbers 7 and 8 in original, and emphases omitted).

     We reiterate that when the terms of an agreement are clear and

unambiguous on their face, those terms are the best reflection of the intent

of the parties. See Kane, 129 A.3d at 463. The Company Members, Bryan

and Michael, each have 50% Voting Interest and have been unable to come

to an agreement nor resolution concerning their disputes including the

interests of Bryan, Eugene, and Marie, and Michael’s interests and decisions

in terms of the governance, organization, management, and the decision-

making of LSI.

     Further, the parties have filed additional legal actions in Pennsylvania

and Florida and Appellants purported to amend LSI’s operating agreement in

2021 to realign the parties’ voting interests.   Indeed, there are numerous

disputes and ongoing contentious litigation in several forums among the

parties. See Trial Ct. Op., 6/24/22, at 4 (citing Toth v. Toth, No. 50-2021-

CA 003506-XXXX-MC (Fla. 15th Circuit Court, filed Mar. 16, 2021)); see also

Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22, at 2. Nevertheless, the binding mediation language is

unequivocal and states that if “the Members are deadlocked and cannot come

to an agreement with respect to any decision of the Company . . . the Members

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hereby agree to submit any and all such disputes” to binding mediation. 2012

Operating Agreement at Section 7.11.

      We recognize that Section 8871 of the Pennsylvania Uniform LLC Act

states that a deadlock may lead to dissolution under certain circumstances.

See 15 Pa.C.S. § 8871(a). However, after careful consideration, we conclude

that at this juncture, the trial court’s decision to dissolve LSI was premature

because the 2012 Operating Agreement unambiguously mandates binding

mediation, which has not yet occurred. See 2012 Operating Agreement at

Sections 7.11, 12.1.

      As noted, the parties previously engaged in non-binding mediation.

See Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22, at 11 n.10; see also N.T., 7/20/21, at 10; N.T.,

2/10/22, at 94-95, 115; N.T., 3/11-16/22, at 92. The trial court concluded

that “these attempts at resolution have proved unfruitful, reinforcing the

determination that the parties are deadlocked.” Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22, at 11

n.10. However, although engaged in ongoing disputes, Appellants emphasize

that the parties have not yet followed the requirements of Section 7.11 and

participated in “binding” mediation. Appellants’ Brief at 43-46.

      On this record, we are constrained to conclude that the trial court erred

in finding that there was a deadlock that could result in the dissolution of LSI.

As discussed previously, the parties remain bound by the 2012 Operating

Agreement which requires them to submit to binding mediation. However,

the record reflects that the parties have not yet participated in binding

mediation. See 15 Pa.C.S. §§ 8815, 8816(a). For these reasons, we vacate

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the trial court’s order on appeal at 403 WDA 2022 and remand the matter for

further proceedings.      On remand, the trial court shall direct the parties to

select a mediator and to engage in binding mediation pursuant to the terms

of the 2012 Operating Agreement.8, 9

____________________________________________

8 We are cognizant that Appellees assert potential limitations presented by
binding mediation. See Appellees’ Brief at 42 (citing Interim Custodian’s
Report, 10/22/21). The Interim Custodian opined:

       Section 7.11 may offer some limited vehicle for deciding conflicts
       that arise among members, relating to decisions of the Company,
       but it does not encompass all of the deeper disputes among the
       Members. Section 7.11 is inapplicable to differences on whom to
       elect as Officers. The selection of Officers is the prerogative of
       the owners of the Voting Interests and is deeply divided between
       Michael and Bryan.

Interim Custodian’s Report, 10/22/21, at ¶ 80.      However, under the
circumstances, the terms of the 2012 Operating Agreement are not
discretionary and first require binding mediation. See 2012 Operating
Agreement at Section 7.11. At this juncture, it is purely speculative to
conclude what, if any, disputes may remain unresolved at the conclusion of
binding mediation.

9 The concurring and dissenting opinion (CDO) discussed the distinctions
between decisions “of the company” and “about the company” addressed by
the interim custodian, but concluded that Section 7.11 is not applicable to the
instant disputes. Further, our learned colleague opined that even if Section
7.11 was applicable, further mediation is not necessary under the facts of this
case due to the irreconcilable differences between the parties. See CDO at 7,
8 (quoting Interim Custodian’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,
10/15/21, at ¶78).

Firstly, we understand the highly contentious and acrimonious nature of the
disputes between the parties, and we do not seek to force a fruitless exercise
of futility or a waste of judicial time and resources. On this record, it is
undisputed that the interim custodian’s conclusion that the instant disputes
involve both decisions “of the company” and decisions “about the company.”
(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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                             Appeal at 846 WDA 2022

       In light of our disposition of the appeal at 403 WDA 2022 that dissolution

is premature and that this matter is remanded for binding mediation

consistent with the 2012 Operating Agreement, we vacate the order on appeal

at 846 WDA 2022, appointing a custodian.           We vacate the order without

____________________________________________

Accordingly, because the parties are deadlocked over vociferous disputes
involving decisions of the company, the Section 7.11 binding arbitration
mandate of the 2012 Operating Agreement controls in that the parties
explicitly agreed that “any and all” such disputes would be submitted to
binding arbitration. 2012 Operating Agreement at Section 7.11. Therefore,
at this juncture, despite the painful and convoluted procedural history of this
case, it is premature to conclude that it is not feasible to carry out the business
of LSI and speculative to conclude that binding mediation will be unsuccessful
prior to binding mediation, which has not yet occurred. See 2012 Operating
Agreement at Section 7.11; Section 12.1(a).

As noted in the CDO, this matter involves sophisticated parties and
experienced counsel. See CDO at 9. Further, LSI continues to operate in
some form in another state. See Trial Ct. Op., 6/29/22, at 1-2. Given these
circumstances, it strains credulity to conclude that all hope is lost, and that no
resolution can ever be reached among the parties based on their high level of
business acumen and experience. Indeed, should binding mediation fail, the
2012 Operating Agreement provides an avenue for dissolution “[e]xcept as
set forth in Section 7.11 of this Agreement.” 2012 Operating Agreement at
Section 12.1(a)(2)(i). As stated, disputes involving decisions of the company
as contemplated by Section 7.11 remain unresolved. For these reasons, the
finality of the judicial mandate of dissolution is premature because it is
undisputed that the parties are deadlocked over decisions of the company
which are within the purview of Section 7.11. Importantly, the parties
explicitly agreed to submit to binding mediation to resolve these types of
disputes such that they are not being forced to engage in further unanticipated
legal process. Accordingly, time and resources would not be wasted in
carrying out Agreement provisions crafted by the instant business parties with
experienced counsel who no doubt considered the implications of convening
binding mediation in the event of deadlock over disputes of the company. See
2012 Operating Agreement at Section 7.11.

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prejudice for the trial court to revisit the issue of appointing a custodian should

the trial court, following binding mediation, conclude that the parties are

deadlocked and find that dissolution is appropriate. Accordingly, we need not

reach the parties’ arguments raised on the appeal at 846 WDA 2022,

concerning the appointment of the custodian.

                                      Conclusion

       For the reasons set forth above, we affirm the orders on appeal at 266

WDA 2022 and 267 WDA 2022; vacate the order at 403 WDA 2022 and

remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion;10 and vacate the

order at 846 WDA 2022.11 Jurisdiction is relinquished.

       Judge Pellegrini joins the opinion.

       Judge Olson files a concurring/dissenting opinion.

____________________________________________

10In light of our disposition of the appeal at 403 WDA 2022 vacating and
remanding for binding mediation pursuant to the 2012 Operating Agreement,
Appellants’ Application for Remand, filed on February 24, 2023, is DENIED as
moot.

11 This Court’s June 16, 2022 stay order is hereby LIFTED.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/1/2023

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