Court Opinion

ID: 9701156
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:07:55.90394+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:20.101791
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, Judge:
Appellee, Abat’s Auto Tag Service, Inc. (Abat’s), issued a temporary registration card and plate to one Nolan Brown in November of 1980, allegedly without proof of insurance *352coverage. In April of 1981, appellant Lieberman was struck and injured by Brown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Appellant brought suit in October of 1983, charging that his injuries were a direct result of Abat’s negligence in issuing the registration. Appellee demurred to the complaint, arguing that the temporary registration would have necessarily expired sixty days after it was issued and that appellant’s exclusive remedy would be pursuant to the Pennsylvania No-fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act, 40 P.S. § 1009.101 et seq. In February of 1984, the trial court sustained the preliminary objections and dismissed appellant’s claim, with prejudice, upon a finding that a cause of action had been made out, but that Abat’s liability ceased with the expiration of the temporary registration. We agree with the trial court’s conclusion and affirm accordingly; however, we find that appellant has failed to state a cause of action for negligence and that his only remedy is under the No-fault Act.1
Appellant’s attempt to causally connect the injuries he sustained with Abat’s alleged negligent issuance of the temporary registration is unconvincing. As our courts have stated, “ ‘One who negligently creates a dangerous condition cannot escape liability for the natural and probable consequences thereof, ... ’” Thornton v. Weaber, 380 Pa. 590, 594, 112 A.2d 344, 346 (1955) quoting Mars v. Meadville Tel. Co., 344 Pa. 29, 31, 23 A.2d 856, 857 (1942) (emphasis added). Appellant fails to argue, and it is unclear to us, how his injuries were the natural and probable result of Abat’s action.
Appellant relies upon Lyngarkos v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, et al., 57 Pa.Commw.Ct. 121, 426 A.2d 1195 (1981) to establish that a cause of action does exist against Abat’s, even without proximate cause. In that case, our Commonwealth Court held that “an automobile dealer who issues a temporary *353registration card and plate to a purchaser without first securing proof of No-fault insurance is answerable in trespass to one injured by the dealer’s neglect.” Id. at 125, 426 A.2d at 1198. However, this duty was clearly imposed in furtherance of the concerns of the No-fault Act in order “to protect all motorists by insuring that they will have recourse to the comprehensive, expeditious and equitable No-fault insurance coverage required of all motorists.” Id. at 126, 426 A.2d at 1198.
The Commonwealth Court went on to state that Lyngarkos is not eligible for basic loss benefits precisely because, under the No-fault Act, he is not entitled to receive basic loss benefits since the accident occurred outside of the Commonwealth, Lyngarkos was not insured and he was not the driver or an occupant of a secured vehicle.
Id. at 127, 426 A.2d at 1199 (citation omitted).
The injury suffered by Mr. Lyngarkos, therefore, was not the physical harm from the accident but rather the inability to recover medical expenses under the No-fault Act.
No claim has been made by appellant herein, injured in this Commonwealth, that he is unable to recover through recourse to the No-fault Act. The trial court thus correctly concluded that Abat’s could not be held liable to appellants, and properly dismissed appellant’s complaint.2
Order affirmed.
SPAETH, President Judge, files a concurring opinion.

. This Court may affirm a correct decision of the trial court on any basis. See Lobianco v. Property Protection, Inc., 292 Pa.Super. 346, 359, 437 A.2d 417, 424 (1981) and authorities cited therein.

. Finding this case to be clearly distinguishable from Lyngarkos, we need not address the trial court’s conclusion that liability terminated upon expiration of the temporary registration.