Court Opinion

ID: 4432756
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-23 16:13:28.823429+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:24:47.553198
License: Public Domain

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 ALL BUT FURGOTTEN, INC.                  :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                          :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                          :
              v.                          :
                                          :
                                          :
 RICHARD KLOCHAK, YVONNE                  :
 KLOCHAK, AND ALEXSANDRIA                 :
 KLOCHAK                                  :   No. 44 WDA 2019
                                          :
                    Appellants            :

            Appeal from the Order Entered December 19, 2018
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County Civil Division at
                        No(s): No. 4188 of 2018

BEFORE: BOWES, J., NICHOLS, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY BOWES, J.:                           FILED AUGUST 23, 2019

      Richard, Yvonne, and Alexsandria Klochak (collectively “the Klochaks”)

appeal from the order that granted the petition for reasonable costs of care

for certain seized animals filed by All But Furgotten, Inc. (“ABF”). We affirm.

      ABF is “a non-profit corporation that utilizes the services of Humane

Society Police Officers (“Officers”) in enforcing Pennsylvania’s Animal Cruelty

laws.” Trial Court Opinion, 2/27/19, at 4. On March 8, 2018, Officer Andrea

Palmer of ABF received complaints about the neglect of animals at the

Klochaks’ residence. On March 14, 2018, Officers knocked on the door of the

Klochaks’ home to investigate, but no one answered.       However, from that

location outside the home they experienced an overwhelming stench of feces

and urine coming from inside.     After further investigation, a warrant was

obtained and executed on March 16, 2018, resulting in the discovery of ninety-
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nine animals in the seven-room house: thirty dogs, sixty-seven cats, one

turtle, and one deer. The Pennsylvania Game Commission removed the deer

and the turtle, while the cats and dogs were seized by ABF and seen by

veterinarians for required medical care. The condition of six of the animals

required that they ultimately had to be euthanized. The rest were fostered in

volunteers’ homes, kept at ABF, or boarded elsewhere.

      On September 17, 2018, with criminal charges for animal cruelty

pending against each of the Klochaks, ABF filed a petition for reasonable costs

of care pursuant to the Costs of Care of Seized Animals Act (“the Act”), 18

P.S. §§ 30.1–30.10.     After mishaps with service of the petition and a

continuance, a hearing was held on December 14, 2018, at which ABF and the

Klochaks, who proceeded pro se, presented witnesses.        On December 19,

2018, the trial court issued an order granting ABF’s petition and entering a

costs order.   The order required the Klochaks to pay within seven days

approximately $260,000 in past expenses for the seized animals, plus

continuing costs of care of at the rate of $15 per day for each of the ninety-

one animals that remained directly or indirectly under ABF’s control.

      When the Klochaks did not pay pursuant to the order, ABF moved to

enforce the order, and, later, served a notice of default pursuant to the Act.

See 18 P.S. § 30.6(b)(3). On January 15, 2019, the Klochaks filed a timely

notice of appeal from the costs order. On February 1, 2019, the trial court

denied ABF’s motion for possession of the animals based upon the Klochak’s

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failure to pay, and granted the Klochaks a stay of the costs order pending

appeal.

      On May 15, 2019, this Court sua sponte dismissed the appeal for failure

to timely order and pay for transcripts, but later reinstated the appeal upon

motion of the Klochaks.        This Court granted ABF’s subsequent motion to

expedite consideration of the case, and scheduled oral argument to take place

shortly after briefing had been completed.          The appeal is now ripe for

disposition.

      The Klochaks present the following questions for our consideration:

      [1.]     Whether the trial court abused its discretion by entering an
               order, dated December 19, 2018, providing the sum of
               $261,191.57 due to [ABF], and an additional $15 per day
               for continuing costs of care of ninety-one (91) animals,
               pursuant to [the Act] when [ABF] failed to present evidence
               and/or invoices to prove what specific costs it has incurred,
               and continues to incur for each animal.

      [2.]     Whether [the Act] violates Article 1, section 1 of the
               Pennsylvania constitution, as the act requires [the Klochaks]
               to pay the costs of care of their seized property upon being
               charged, but not convicted, of a criminal offense; their
               property will be subject to forfeiture to [ABF] upon
               nonpayment of said costs of care; and [ABF] would have all
               rights and privileges over said property, notwithstanding the
               fact that failure to obtain a criminal conviction against [the
               Klochaks] would entitle [them] to repossession of said
               property and the return of all reasonable costs of care paid.

      [3.]     Whether [the Act] violates Article 1, section 9 of the
               Pennsylvania constitution as it requires [the Klochaks] to
               pay the costs of care of their seized property upon being
               charged, but not convicted, of a criminal offense; their
               property is subject to forfeiture upon nonpayment of said
               costs of care and thus deprives them of their property before
               they have an opportunity to be judged by their peers in a

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             criminal proceeding; and [ABF] would have all rights and
             privileges over said property prior to trial, notwithstanding
             the fact that failure to obtain a criminal conviction against
             [the Klochaks] would entitle [them] to repossession of said
             property and the return of all reasonable costs of care paid.

      [4.]   Whether [the Act] constitutes a bill of attainder and
             therefore violates Article 1, sections 9 and 18 of the
             Pennsylvania constitution as it punishes [the Klochaks]
             without judicial process; specifically, subjecting [their]
             property to forfeiture upon nonpayment of costs of care
             before they have an opportunity to be judged by their peers
             in a criminal proceeding.

Klochaks’ brief at 4-5 (unnecessary capitalization omitted).

      We begin our consideration of the Klochaks’ questions with a review of

the pertinent legal principles. “In evaluating a trial court’s application of a

statute, our standard of review is plenary and is limited to determining

whether the trial court committed an error of law.”        Commonwealth v.

Morris, 958 A.2d 569, 578 (Pa.Super. 2008) (cleaned up).           Similarly, “a

challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence presents a pure question of law[.]”

In re Vencil, 152 A.3d 235, 243 (Pa. 2017).

      The statute in question provides that if animals are seized upon criminal

charges relating to animal cruelty, a society, association, or other nonprofit

organization providing care for the animals may file a petition for the

reasonable costs of care for the seized animals.         18 P.S. § 30.3(a)(2).

Reasonable costs of care are defined as follows:

      (1) The reasonable costs of caring for seized animals, including
      the provision of food, water, shelter and medical care, beginning
      at the date of the seizure and continuing until the earlier of one of
      the following:

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            (i) At least 30 days following a hearing on a petition for costs
            of care.

            (ii) The seized animals are no longer under the control of
            the petitioner.

            (iii) The owner and defendant have relinquished all interests
            in the seized animals.

      (2) Reasonable costs of care shall be limited to $15 per day per
      animal, in addition to necessary medical care, as determined by a
      licensed veterinarian and documented by invoices.

18 P.S. § 30.2.

      Upon the filing of the petition, the court is to schedule a hearing, at

which the petitioner has the burden of producing evidence to demonstrate the

amount of reasonable costs and that the seizure was warranted.             18 P.S.

§ 30.5(c). No more than five days after the hearing, the court is required to

enter an order granting or denying the petition. If it grants the costs of care,

“the order shall include any filing fees paid by the petitioner to file the petition

. . . and the amount of reasonable costs of care, both of which shall be paid

by the defendant.” 18 P.S. § 30.5(e)(1). The order further must contain “a

schedule of monthly payments for costs of care to be paid by the defendant

beginning 30 days after the initial payment designated in the order.” 18 P.S.

§ 30.5(e)(2).     “The defendant’s ability to pay shall not affect the court’s

determination as to the amount of the reasonable costs of care.” Id.

      The costs order continues in effect until final judgment is issued on the

criminal charges, the defendant/owner surrenders all rights to the animals, or

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the animals are no longer under the petitioner’s control. 18 P.S. § 30.7(a).

If the criminal charges do not result in a conviction and the costs were timely

paid pursuant to the order, the owner is entitled to return of all costs of care

paid and of the animals. 18 P.S. § 30.7(b)(2). However, if the defendant

does not pay the initial amount within seven days of service of the order, or

fails at any time to make payment in accordance with the continuing order,

all legal rights and privileges in the animals are forfeited to the petitioner. 18

P.S. § 30.6(a), (b).

      In the case sub judice, ABF attached to its petition an affidavit from

Officer Catherine Wilson indicating that the animals seized from the Klochaks

had been subject to animal cruelty. Petition for Costs of Care, 9/17/18, at

Exhibit B. ABF also produced invoices detailing medical costs for the animals,

as well as a calculation of the cost to feed and shelter each of the animals at

$15 per day, adjusted to account for the six animals that were euthanized at

various times while in ABF’s care. Id. at Exhibits C, F. ABF further included

another affidavit of Officer Wilson, its shelter manager, attesting that the cost

of food, water, and shelter for each animal exceeds $15 per day. Id. at Exhibit

E.

      At the hearing, ABF produced witnesses who testified to all of the above.

Officer Wilson described the conditions in which the animals were found, with

filth and debris everywhere, and reviewed photographs of the scene ABF

encountered when the warrant was executed. N.T., 12/14/18, at 14-28. The

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animals “suffered multiple degrees of neglect one way or another, covered

with feces, urine, overgrown nails. There was urine burns on dogs, hot spots,

flea dermatitis, ear infections, eye infections, missing hair, fearfulness.” Id.

at 15. Officer Wilson confirmed the accuracy of the invoices attached to the

petition, and discussed the medical, grooming, and boarding costs. Id. at 34-

36. Officer Palmer agreed with Officer Wilson’s testimony, and added that the

people executing the warrant had to wear masks because the stench in the

Klochak’s house was so bad, and that she herself had to leave the residence

a number of times to vomit. Id. at 83-84. Veterinarians provided updated

totals for medical costs, and discussed the necessary care they provided to

the animals, including     testing for infectious diseases;     treatment for

respiratory, ear, dental, and skin ailments; and the supply of fluids and pain

medications. Id. at 91-98, 110-12.

      Through cross-examination of ABF’s witnesses and the presentation of

their own, the Klochaks attempted to establish that the animals were beloved

pets that were not neglected, and that the conditions encountered by the

Officers in March 2018 were not typical. For example, specifying the various

dogs and cats by name, they sought to prove that the animals that did not

move well or had organ problems suffered from ailments common to animals

of that age and breed, that a dog deemed “unresponsive” at the time the

warrant was executed was deaf, and that the animals did receive medications

for their conditions. Id. at 58-59, 99-104, 116-17. Dr. Constance Matson

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testified that Alexsandria Klochak brought animals to her for treatment, that

she generally followed through with treatment and care recommendations,

that the animals she saw were in good spirits, and that Ms. Klochak always

“tried to do the very best [she] could for them.” Id. at 136, 151. However,

Dr. Matson conceded that Ms. Klochak should not have tried to care for that

many animals in her home, which was the result of Ms. Klochak’s “difficulty

turning animals away.”    Id. at 142-43.    Magdalen Anderson testified the

Klochaks “love animals” and “would sacrifice their lives before they would hurt

or harm an animal.” Id. at 172. Ms. Anderson explained that the conditions

at the house were the result of “a perfect storm that just came towering down

on top of them,” in that there had been a fire at the residence in December,

explaining the debris, that the elder two Klochaks had been ill, delaying plans

to leave the residence to move to New Jersey. Id. at 169-72.

      The trial court credited ABF’s witnesses and concluded that the seizure

of the animals was warranted and that ABF established its entitlement to $15

per day per animal plus medical expenses. Order, 12/19/18, at 1.

      The Klochaks present two challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence

to sustain the trial court’s findings. First, they contend that the trial court

failed to make a determination as to when the timing of the euthanizing of

animals in ABF’s care, such that no further costs were incurred for those

animals. Klochak’s brief at 9. Second, the Klochaks argue that, now that

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most of the animals are in foster care, ABF no longer bears the costs of caring

for those animals. Id. Neither argument merits relief.

      As   to   the    six   animals   that   veterinarians   determined   required

euthanizing, the dates of death were provided in the petition, and the $15 per

day for each of those animals was deducted for the relevant time periods.

See Petition for Costs of Care, 9/17/18, at Exhibit F. Regarding the continuing

care, Ms. Wilson testified that $15 per day per animal is not enough to pay for

boarding, food, shelter, and water for each of them. N.T., 12/14/18, at 36.

She indicated that when one takes an animal for boarding, it typically costs

$25 per day. Id. Further, she indicated that ABF is responsible for the cost

of food, medication, and enrichment items, such as beds, treats, and toys,

even when the animal is fostered by a volunteer. Id. at 75, 79.

      While we may question whether, excluding medical care, ABF actually

expends $1,380 per day to care for the now ninety-one animals within its

control, given that the cats are being maintained on ABF’s premises, and all

but five of the dogs are being fostered by volunteers, the trial court’s findings

to that effect are supported by the record based upon its credibility

determinations.       Further, while the Act requires that medical expenses be

documented by invoices, there is no such requirement for non-medical costs

of care. See 18 P.S. § 30.2(2). We are unwilling to hold that $15 per day is

per se unreasonable, even in the instant circumstances wherein the sheer

number of animals involved may suggest a volume discount.             As such, we

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cannot conclude that the evidence was insufficient to support the trial court’s

costs order.

      With      their   remaining   arguments,   the   Klochaks    challenge    the

constitutionality of the Act under Article I, §§ 1, 9, and 18 of the Pennsylvania

constitution.     The trial court concluded that the Klochaks waived these

arguments by failing to raise them prior to filing their 1925(b) statement. Trial

Court Opinion, 2/27/19, at 6-7. We agree.

              Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 302(a) provides
      that “issues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot
      be raised for the first time on appeal.” Hence, only claims properly
      presented in the lower court are preserved for appeal. Indeed,
      even issues of constitutional dimension cannot be raised for the
      first time on appeal.

Coulter v. Ramsden, 94 A.3d 1080, 1089 (Pa.Super. 2014) (cleaned up).

      The closest the Klochaks came to alluding to any of their appellate

counsel’s arguments while they proceeded pro se before the trial court is found

in the following exchange at the hearing.

             [A. Klochak]:     . . . [The Act], after reviewing it, I feel in
      some aspects it leads some unconstitutionality to the person. We
      haven’t even been formally proven of a crime yet--charged with a
      crime. But yet as to these people that may not even have legally
      had the right to seize our pets to hand over hundreds of thousands
      of dollars.

            THE COURT:        For clarification, this act triggers upon the
      charging of a criminal animal cruelty charge under the criminal
      code under Title 18. Then that causes the seizure which triggers
      [the Act]. So regardless of where you stand in your proceeding,
      arraigned or not, you have already been charged, a seizure has
      already been completed. So this is the appropriate place in civil
      court to address [the Act] in accordance with the statute.

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             [A. Klochak]:     With the statute. But -- and I think what
       hasn’t been proven completely is that they have an active shelter
       under their organization, and they have used our case to bring in
       funds to substantiate their own cause. It’s like a self-serving
       cause. Let’s hardball these citizens and we will get paid and
       hopefully we will win the criminal case.

               Meanwhile, we forfeiture [sic] all this money ahead of it,
       without even proving. They have used this case -- and we don’t
       even know where our pets are still to this day, which I thought
       when we left today, we would know where they are. And there’s
       -- if they are safe and where they are put up.

N.T., 12/14/18, at 185-86.

       The above does not in any way resemble the constitutional arguments

the Klochaks now present on appeal.                The mere utterance of the word

“unconstitutional” was not sufficient to preserve any and all constitutional

challenges that might be raised once the Klochaks obtained counsel. 1

“[A]lthough this Court is willing to construe liberally materials filed by a pro

se litigant, a pro se appellant enjoys no special benefit.” Commonwealth v.

Tchirkow, 160 A.3d 798, 804 (Pa.Super. 2017). “Any layperson choosing to

____________________________________________

1 The Klochaks’ failure to properly raise a constitutional challenge in the trial
court is further evidenced by their lack of notice to the Attorney General at
the trial court level as is required by Pa.R.C.P. 235 (providing that a party
challenging the constitutionality of a statute in a case in which the
Commonwealth is not a party “shall promptly give notice thereof by registered
mail to the Attorney General of Pennsylvania”). However, as they provided
the notice when raising the issue on appeal, we do not base our waiver finding
upon Rule 235. See, e.g., Dranzo v. Winterhalter, 577 A.2d 1349, 1354
(Pa.Super. 1990) (explaining that the prompt notice requirement of Rule 235
may be satisfied “where the trial court did not address the constitutional issue
and where the Attorney General was duly notified when the issue was raised
on appeal”).

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represent himself in a legal proceeding must, to some reasonable extent,

assume the risk that his lack of expertise and legal training will prove his

undoing.” Commonwealth v. Gray, 608 A.2d 534, 550 (Pa.Super. 1992)

(cleaned up). As such, despite the Klochaks’ pro se status in the trial court,

we hold that the Klochaks’ constitutional challenges to the Act are waived.

      Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order. We also hereby lift the

stay on the December 19, 2018 costs order.         The Klochaks shall make

payment in accordance with the order within seven days of service of this

memorandum, or be subject to the consequences for nonpayment pursuant

to 18 P.S. § 30.6(b).

      Order affirmed. Stay order lifted.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 8/23/2019

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