Court Opinion

ID: 6304091
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 17:55:34.11639+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:28.383923
License: Public Domain

McEWEN, Judge,
dissenting:
While the majority has provided a thorough analysis and a clear statement of position, I must nonetheless, very respectfully, dissent. As disposed as an appellate court might be to conclude that the petitioner had a meritorious defense and that the petitioner has provided a reasonable explanation for failure to file a timely answer, an appellate court may not reverse the ruling of the chancellor unless there is a clear, manifest abuse of discretion. Balk v. Ford Motor Company, 446 Pa. 137, 285 A.2d 128 (1971); Kraynick v. Hertz, 443 Pa. 105, 277 A.2d 144 (1971). Therefore, while there may be a sound basis for findings contrary to the conclusions of the chancellor, this court has a limited scope of review and I cannot pronounce as a conclusion that the decision of the Common Pleas Court was a clear, manifest abuse of discretion. For that reason, I would affirm the order of the distinguished Judge Edward Rosenwald.