Court Opinion

ID: 4258216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-26 18:50:49.149862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:22.181998
License: Public Domain

J-A18036-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

PPG ARCHITECTURAL FINISHES INC.            :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                           :        PENNSYLVANIA
                Appellant                  :
                                           :
                                           :
         v.                                :
                                           :
                                           :
N. SIPERSTEIN WEST-END PAINT               :   No. 1960 WDA 2016
COMPANY INC., SIPERSTEIN WEST              :
END PAINT CORPORATION AND                  :
SIPERSTEIN'S BRICKTOWN PAINT               :
CORPORATION                                :

                    Appeal from the Order December 4, 2016
               In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
                     Civil Division at No(s): GD-11-001095

BEFORE:       BOWES, LAZARUS and OTT, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                                 FILED MARCH 26, 2018

      PPG Architectural Finishes Inc. (“PPG”) appeals from the order entered

December 4, 2016, in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas,

sustaining the preliminary objections of the defendants, N. Siperstein

West-End Paint Company Inc. and Siperstein West End Paint Corporation

(“Long   Branch    store”),   and   Siperstein’s   Bricktown   Paint   Corporation

(“Bricktown store”) (collectively “the 2011 Defendants”), based upon

principles of res judicata and collateral estoppel, and effectively dismissing

PPG’s complaint. PPG presents five issues on appeal, all of which assert the

trial court erred in sustaining the 2011 Defendants’ preliminary objections.

For the reasons below, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.
J-A18036-17

      The facts underlying this appeal are set forth in PPG’s complaint as

follows. PPG is a Pennsylvania manufacturer and distributor of paint and other

coating materials. The Siperstein stores are retail paint stores that operate in

New Jersey. Although the stores are separate business entities, they each

operate under the Siperstein name, and share a “Central Office,” which

performs administrative duties for all the stores.      For many years, PPG

supplied the Siperstein stores with its product. PPG would deliver paint to the

various retail locations, but invoice “Siperstein Paints” at the Central Office.

The Central Office would then send payment to PPG.             See Complaint,

3/16/2011, at ¶¶ 7-12. In 1999, the Siperstein stores began failing to make

timely payment on PPG’s invoices.       The relationship between the parties

continued, however, with PPG placing certain restrictions on delivery of new

product.   In December of 2007, the Siperstein stores terminated their

relationship with PPG. See id. at ¶¶ 13-17. The present action filed by PPG,

seeking damages for breach of contract and quantum meruit from Siperstein’s

Long Branch and Bricktown stores, was instituted by writ of summons on

January 14, 2011 (“2011 action”). A complaint followed on March 16, 2011.

On April 21, 2011, the 2011 Defendants filed preliminary objections seeking

dismissal of the complaint based upon, inter alia, res judicata and collateral

estoppel. See Preliminary Objections Raising Questions of Fact, 4/21/2011,

at ¶¶ 33-41.

      By way of background, in 2009, PPG filed a similar breach of contract

action (“the 2009 action”), naming 15 other Siperstein stores as defendants,

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as well as Siperstein officer, Lawrence Katz, whom PPG alleged acted as a

principal on behalf of the corporate defendants. See Preliminary Objections

Raising Questions of Fact, Exhibit 1, Complaint, PPG v. N. Siperstein, GD09-

10348. That case proceeded to a non-jury trial in December of 2010.1 Prior

to the start of trial, the parties entered into a stipulation as to the debt each

individual Siperstein store owed to PPG. PPG v. N. Siperstein, 60 A.3d 561

[1350 WDA 2011] (Pa. Super. 2012) (unpublished memorandum at 5).

Although the Long Branch and Bricktown stores were not named defendants

in the 2009 action, the detailed stipulation included the debts owed by those

two stores.     On June 15, 2011, after the 2011 action was filed, the court

entered a verdict finding the 2009 Siperstein defendants jointly and severally

liable to PPG in the amount of $794,747.60. See PPG v. N. Siperstein, 60
A.3d 561 [1350 WDA 2011] (Pa. Super. 2012) (unpublished memorandum at

2).2 However, because the Long Branch and Bricktown stores were not named

defendants in that action, the trial court found “the amounts alleged to be

owed to PPG by Long Branch ($165,783.10) and Bricktown ($41,475.18) did

____________________________________________

1 It merits emphasis that the trial court judge who presided over the 2009
action is the same judge who sustained the 2011 Defendants’ preliminary
objections.

2  The trial court entered a separate judgment of $43,901.25 against the
Bergenfield store, which it found, at some point, “withdrew itself from the
practice of common negotiations, thereby insulating itself from any common
liability on future transactions.” Id. (unpublished memorandum at 20)
(citation omitted).

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not form part of the original non-jury verdict rendered [in the 2009 action].”

Trial Court Opinion, 3/10/2017, at 7.

       Thereafter, on July 26, 2011, the court in the 2011 action entered the

following order:

       [I]t is the Court’s belief that the issues for resolution in the
       Preliminary Objections in the above matter are inextricably bound
       up with certain issues in the companion case of PPG [] vs. N.
       Siperstein [] at No. GD 09-10348, a Verdict having been entered
       in said companion case and the possibility of an appeal looming,
       it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that resolution
       of the Preliminary Objections filed in the above case, as well as
       other matters, shall be stayed pending final resolution of the case
       at GD 09-10348.

Order, 7/26/2011.

       As anticipated, both parties in the 2009 action appealed.             In an

unpublished decision filed on August 7, 2012, a panel of this Court, affirmed

in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings. See PPG,

supra, 60 A.3d 561. Relevant to the appeal sub judice, the panel affirmed

the trial court’s determination that the Siperstein companies, while separate

business entities, “caused PPG to have the reasonable belief that they were a

single entity, or a de facto partnership of companies.”3         Id. (unpublished

memorandum at 22).             Specifically, relying upon Section 2.05 of the

____________________________________________

3 The panel also affirmed the trial court’s ruling that it had personal jurisdiction
over Katz and the Siperstein companies, and its decision to grant Katz a
compulsory nonsuit based upon PPG’s failure to present sufficient evidence
that Katz was personally liable for the Siperstein companies’ debts. See PPG
v. N. Siperstein, 60 A.3d 561 [1350 WDA 2011] (Pa. Super. 2012)
(unpublished memorandum at 8-15).

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Restatement (Third) of Agency, the trial court found the companies were

“estopped to deny that [Bruce] Cozewith, [chief financial officer] for all of the

Siperstein Companies, had the authority to bind the companies as a group”

and “PPG entered into transactions with the Siperstein stores upon a justifiable

belief that the network of stores afforded a failsafe as to any individual

default[.]” Id. (unpublished memorandum at 19, 20-21) (citations omitted).

Nevertheless, the panel reversed in part because it determined the trial court

erred in excluding the stipulated debts of the Long Branch and Bricktown

stores – the defendants named in the 2011 action - from the verdict because

“neither the corporate names nor the store locations appear[ed] in PPG’s

complaint.”     Id. (unpublished memorandum at 23). The panel opined:

             Because we affirm the trial court’s determination that each
       and all of the Siperstein Companies whose orders were billed to
       the main PPG account are jointly and severally liable for the entire
       debt of that account, the entire debt of that account should be
       included in the verdict. Whether all of the legal entities that had
       outstanding debts on the account were parties to the action is
       immaterial. See, e.g., Halsband v. Union Nat. Bank of
       Pittsburgh, 465 A.2d 1014, 1018 (Pa. Super 1983) (“[W]here
       responsibility is shared by two or more parties, the plaintiff may
       sue all of them jointly, but is not compelled to do so.”).

              From the record before us, which does not include the
       stipulation as to the debt of each Siperstein store billed to the
       main account,[4] we are unable to discern whether PPG offered
       sufficient proof of the debts of the Long Branch and Bricktown
       stores. Believing that their absence from the complaint excluded
       the debts of these companies, the trial court apparently did not
       consider the adequacy of the evidence that Long Branch and
____________________________________________

4 The panel noted that while the stipulation was “discussed and accepted by
the trial court on the record[,]” the document was not included in the certified
record on appeal. Id. (unpublished memorandum at 5 n.3).

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       Bricktown were part of the Siperstein “chain.” Therefore, we
       remand for the trial court to determine whether the stipulated
       amounts of the Long Branch and Bricktown debts should be
       included in the verdict as part of the debt of the Siperstein “chain.”

Id. (unpublished memorandum at 23-24).               The Siperstein defendants

promptly petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for allowance of appeal.

       Shortly after the panel’s decision, PPG filed a motion in the trial court to

vacate the stay previously entered in the 2011 action.          By order entered

September 28, 2012, the court granted the motion conditionally, stating it

would not “take effect until the Supreme Court either denies the Petition for

Allowance of Appeal or makes a decision on the merits of [the 2009 action].”

Order, 9/28/2012.

       On June 27, 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the petition

for review of the 2009 action. See PPG v. N. Siperstein, 70 A.3d 812 (Pa.

2013).     Thereafter, the trial court scheduled argument on the 2011

Defendants’ preliminary objections, which was held on December 17, 2013.

Subsequently, on March 19, 2014, the court entered an order in the 2009

action modifying the original verdict to “include the amounts stipulated to be

owed by the Long Branch store ($165,783.10) and the amount stipulated to

be owed by the Bricktown store ($41,475.18), both of which were invoiced to

the main PPG account.”5 No. GD 09-10348, Order, 3/19/2014.

____________________________________________

5 Consequently, the same debts PPG seeks in the 2011 action were
subsequently added to the verdict in the 2009 action.

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       The 2011 action laid dormant for more than two years until PPG moved

for a status conference in July of 2016. Thereafter, on December 2, 2016, the

trial court entered the order now on appeal, sustaining the Siperstein stores’

preliminary objections “asserting the defenses of collateral estoppel and res

judicata[.]”6 Order, 12/2/2016. This timely appeal followed.7

       Preliminarily, PPG contends the trial court erred in sustaining the

preliminary objections because the defenses of collateral estoppel and res

judicata are not proper grounds for preliminary objections, but rather, must

be raised in new matter.8 See PPG’s Brief at 13, citing Pa.R.C.P. 1028(a).

Although PPG is technically correct, we conclude it has waived this argument

by failing to object at the trial court level.

       Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1028(a) lists eight limited, and

inclusive, grounds which may be raised via preliminary objections.         See

Pa.R.C.P. 1028(a)(1)-(8). The affirmative defenses of collateral estoppel and

res judicata are not among them. Rather, Rule 1030 provides that all other

____________________________________________

6 Although the order did not specifically dismiss PPG’s complaint, the clear
implication of the court’s ruling, including the ensuing appeal, was that it did
so.

7On January 11, 2017, the trial court ordered PPG to file a concise statement
of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). PPG
complied with the court’s directive, and filed a concise statement on February
1, 2017. Furthermore, we note the 2011 Defendants declined to file an
appellee brief on appeal.

8 This argument appears as PPG’s fourth claim in its brief. We have reordered
the issues, however, for ease of disposition.

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affirmative defenses must be raised in new matter. See Pa.R.C.P. 1030(a).

Nevertheless, it is well-established:

      Where a party erroneously asserts substantive defenses in
      preliminary objections rather than to raise these defenses by
      answer or in new matter, the failure of the opposing party to file
      preliminary objections to the defective preliminary objections,
      raising the erroneous defenses, waives the procedural defect
      and allows the trial court to rule on the preliminary
      objections. Duquesne Slag Products v. Lench, 490 Pa. 102,
      415 A.2d 53 (1980); Button v. Button, 378 Pa. Super. 142, 548
A.2d 316 (1988).

Preiser v. Rosenzweig, 614 A.2d 303 (Pa. Super. 1992), aff’d, 646 A.2d
1166 (Pa. 1994). See also Soto v. Nabisco, Inc., 32 A.3d 787 n.2 (Pa.

Super. 2011) (finding plaintiff’s failure to object to defendant’s improper

assertion of statutory immunity via preliminary objections waived procedural

default on appeal), appeal denied, 50 A.3d 126 (Pa. 2012).

      Here, PPG did not file its own preliminary objections challenging the

procedural defect of the 2011 Defendants’ preliminary objections. Likewise,

PPG did not challenge the improper filing in the answer and new matter it filed

on May 18, 2011, in response to the preliminary objections.       See [PPG’s]

Answer and New Matter to Preliminary Objections Raising Questions of Fact,

5/18/2011, at ¶¶ 33-46. Therefore, we conclude PPG has failed to preserve

this issue for our review.

      All of PPG’s remaining claims assert the trial court erred in sustaining

the Siperstein stores’ preliminary objections based upon res judicata and/or

collateral estoppel.    When considering a trial court’s order sustaining

preliminary objections, “the standard of review is de novo and the scope

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of review is plenary.” Jones v. Bd. of Directors of Valor Credit Union, 169
A.3d 632, 635 (Pa. Super. 2017) (quotation omitted).                 Furthermore,

“[w]hen sustaining the trial court’s ruling will result in the denial of claim or a

dismissal of suit, preliminary objections will be sustained only where the case

is free and clear of doubt.”        Id. (quotation omitted).    Although a court’s

consideration of a demurrer is limited to a review of the allegations in the

complaint,9 Rule 1028(c)(2) permits a court to consider other evidence “[i]f

an issue of fact is raised.”        Pa.R.C.P. 1028(c)(2).      See also id., Note

(explaining preliminary objections raising issues of lack of jurisdiction, lack of

capacity to sue, pendency of prior action, failure to exhaust statutory remedy,

and adequate non-statutory remedy available at law “cannot be determined

from facts of record.”).10

       Here, the Siperstein stores contend PPG’s present action is barred by

res judicata and/or collateral estoppel. The doctrine of res judicata bars a

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9 See 412 N. Front St. Assocs., LP v. Spector Gadon & Rosen, P.C., 151
A.3d 646, 656 (Pa. Super. 2016) (“Preliminary objections in the nature of
a demurrer require the court to resolve the issues solely on the basis of the
pleadings; no testimony or other evidence outside of the complaint may be
considered to dispose of the legal issues presented by the demurrer.”)
(quotation omitted).
10 Accordingly, to the extent PPG asserts the trial court erred by considering
exhibits and/or evidence not pled in, or attached to, the complaint, we
disagree. See PPG’s Brief at 14. The Siperstein stores’ claim that the action
is barred by collateral estoppel and/or res judicata is similar to those
preliminary objections which “cannot be determined from facts of record.”
Pa.R.C.P. 1028(c)(2), Note. Otherwise, PPG could avoid the preclusive effect
of a prior verdict simply by failing to mention the prior action in its complaint.

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subsequent action when both lawsuits contain the following elements in

common:

      (1) identity of the thing sued upon; (2) identity of the cause of
      action; (3) identity of the parties; (4) identity of the capacity of
      the parties. Additionally, res judicata will bar subsequent claims
      that could have been litigated in the prior action, but which
      actually were not[.]

Robinson Coal Co. v. Goodall, 72 A.3d 685, 689 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations

and internal punctuation omitted). Closely related to res judicata, the doctrine

of collateral estoppel, or issue preclusion,

      applies if (1) the issue decided in the prior case is identical to one
      presented in the later case; (2) there was a final judgment on the
      merits; (3) the party against whom the plea is asserted was a
      party or in privity with a party in the prior case; (4) the party or
      person privy to the party against whom the doctrine is asserted
      had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the prior
      proceeding and (5) the determination in the prior proceeding was
      essential to the judgment.

Chada v. Chada, 756 A.2d 39, 42-43 (Pa. Super. 2000) (quotation omitted).

Notably, the doctrine of collateral estoppel does not require either “identity of

causes of action or parties.”        Id. at 43 (citation omitted).        Rather,

“[c]ollateral estoppel may be used as either a sword or shield by a stranger

to the prior action if the party against whom the doctrine is invoked was a

party or in privity with a party to the prior action.” Columbia Med. Grp.,

Inc. v. Herring & Roll, P.C., 829 A.2d 1184, 1190 (Pa. Super. 2003)

(quotation omitted).

      PPG raises four, interrelated and derivative claims challenging the trial

court’s determination that res judicata and/or collateral estoppel bars the

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present action. Primarily, PPG argues that because the 2011 Defendants were

not named defendants in the 2009 action, and, accordingly, no verdict was

entered against them, there is no identity of parties for purposes of res

judicata, and no identity of the issue for purposes of collateral estoppel. See

PPG’s Brief at 9-10. It further insists the fact the indebtedness of the 2011

Defendants was, upon remand, added to the verdict in the 2009 action is

“irrelevant to the instant case,” and PPG “should be afforded the opportunity

to prosecute a case against the 2011 Defendants for breaches of their

obligations to PPG.”11      Id. at 12.     Upon our review of the record and the

relevant case law, we conclude the trial court erred in sustaining the

preliminary objections and effectively dismissing the 2011 action.

       First, we agree with PPG that the argument against the preclusive effect

of res judicata is evident. Because the 2011 Defendants were not named in

the 2009 action, there is no identity of parties.       See Robinson Coal Co.,

supra. However, the effect of collateral estoppel on the present action is not

as clear.12
____________________________________________

11While it is clear the amount owed by the 2011 Defendants was added to the
amended verdict in the 2009 action, it is unclear from the record before us
whether PPG reduced that amended verdict to judgment, and if so, whether
PPG attempted to execute on that judgment. If it did so, this action could
result in a double recovery. However, PPG asserts in its brief “recovery [for
the debts of the Long Branch and Bricktown stores] could not be effected
against the 2009 Defendants.” PPG’s Brief at 8.

12 Although the order on appeal indicates the trial court sustained the
preliminary objections on both collateral estoppel and res judicata grounds,

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       The trial court found both the 2009 and the 2011 actions “seek the same

damages and address the same course of allegedly wrongful conduct by the

same purported unincorporated association.”                Trial Court Opinion,

3/10/2017, at 12 (emphasis supplied). Moreover, the court emphasized that

PPG’s “unincorporated association” claim in the 2009 action was rejected by

this Court on appeal because it was not properly pled.13              Id. at 11.

Accordingly, the trial court opined “[i]t is difficult to see why the determination

made in the [2009 action] of a failed pleading …. should not also apply in the

[2011 action] in which PPG similarly overlooked the mandatory pleading

requirements” for an unincorporated association. Id. at 11-12.

       Furthermore, the trial court pointed out that PPG filed the 2011 action

while the 2009 action was still pending, and “neither amended the [2009]

complaint to include the [Long Branch and Bricktown stores] that had been

____________________________________________

the court’s opinion focuses on the collateral estoppel defense. See Trial Court
Opinion, 3/10/2017, at 10-15.

13 Specifically, the panel explained that, pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 2153(a), “an
action against an unincorporated association must be brought either against
the association by name or against one or more officers as trustee ad litem
for the association.” PPG, supra, 60 A.3d 561 (unpublished memorandum at
18-19). Because PPG failed to name either an association or trustee in its
complaint, the panel found PPG was not permitted to proceed on an
“unincorporated association” theory. See id. (unpublished memorandum at
19). Instead, as noted supra, that determined the Siperstein stores “caused
PPG to have the reasonable belief that they were a single entity or a de facto
partnership of companies.”        PPG, supra, 60 A.3d 561 (unpublished
memorandum at 22).

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named in the [2011] matter nor moved to consolidate the two cases.” Trial

Court Opinion, 3/10/2017, at 13. The court opined:

        PPG insisted at that time that the defendants in the two cases
        were absolutely separate and distinct from one another. PPG
        could have consolidated the cases and designated a trustee or
        otherwise captioned the consolidated case to comply with the
        rules of court, and indeed, to moot [the Siperstein stores’]
        preliminary objections but elected not to do so at the time. Having
        since taken the position that the defendants in both matters are
        members of the Siperstein association and are jointly and
        severally liable for the entire debt owed to PPG by the Siperstein
        association, PPG nonetheless urges that the Superior Court’s
        preclusion of the unincorporated association claim in the GD 09-
        10348 matter should have no consequence in the GD 11-001095
        action. The result reached on appeal in the GD 09-10348 case
        must obtain here.

Id.

        We agree with the trial court that PPG is collaterally estopped from

pursuing an unincorporated association claim against the 2011 Defendants.14

Indeed, this Court rejected that same claim in the 2009 action. PPG does not

deny that it was a party to that action and had a full and fair opportunity to

litigate the “unincorporated association” issue. Nevertheless, we conclude the

trial court erred in dismissing the entire complaint.

        As explained supra, in the 2009 action, this Court found the Siperstein

stores defendants were jointly and severally liable to PPG for each other’s

debts because they “caused PPG to have the reasonable belief that they were

a single entity, or a de facto partnership of companies.” PPG, supra, 60 A.3d
561 (unpublished memorandum at 22). PPG included that same claim in its
____________________________________________

14   See Complaint, 3/16/2011, at ¶¶ 6, 13-15, 17-19.

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2011 action against the Long Branch and Bricktown stores. See Complaint,

3/16/2011, at ¶ 20 (“[D]efendants are jointly and severally liable for the

indebtedness because the defendants represented, by words and conduct,

that they comprised a partnership and that the partners would satisfy the

indebtedness of the entire enterprise.”). Therefore, absent an allegation that

the 2011 action was filed outside the limitations period,15 PPG may pursue its

claim of joint and several liability against the 2011 Defendants based upon a

de facto partnership theory.

       Moreover, to the extent the trial court insists PPG could have sought to

amend the 2009 complaint to add the 2011 Defendants, or to consolidate the

matters, we find PPG’s failure to do so is not dispositive. Indeed, Pennsylvania

Rule of Civil Procedure 213 provides, in relevant part:

       In actions pending in a county which involve a common question
       of law or fact or which arise from the same transaction or
       occurrence, the court on its own motion or on the motion of
       any party may order a joint hearing or trial of any matter in issue
       in the actions, may order the actions consolidated, and may make
       orders that avoid unnecessary cost or delay.

Pa.R.C.P. 213(a) (emphasis supplied). Therefore, Rule 213 places squarely

within the discretion of the trial court the determination of whether the

consolidation of two actions is warranted and necessary. Noticeably absent

from the rule is any suggestion that the failure of a plaintiff to seek

____________________________________________

15 Indeed, no such claim was made in the trial court, and PPG insists the 2011
action was filed within the relevant statute of limitations. See PPG’s Brief at
8.

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consolidation of two related cases, against different defendants, results in the

outright dismissal of the second action based on collateral estoppel.

      Accordingly, we conclude the trial court erred in effectively dismissing

PPG’s complaint.

      Order reversed. Case remanded for proceedings consistent with this

Memorandum. Jurisdiction relinquished.

      Judge Lazarus joins this memorandum.

      Judge Bowes files a dissenting memorandum.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/26/2018

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