Anderson v. Cummings

41 Pa. D. & C.3d 199, 1986 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 290
Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Warren County·Decided October 31, 1986·No. no. 300 of 1986·Published

Opinion

WOLFE, P.J.,

For disposition is plaintiffs’ motion to amend their complaint by substituting as a party defendant Louis K. Cummings in place of defendant Doris K. Cummings. The defense opposes the motion, arguing plaintiffs are attempting to evade PaR.C.P. 1033, by substituting a distinct and separate party from the parties named in plaintiffs’ writ of summons after the statute of limitations has expired.

Plaintiffs rely upon Gregg v. Gacon Construction Co., 249 Pa. Super. 377, 378 A.2d 344 (1977), wherein it held the caption of a complaint may be amended despite expiration of the statute of limitations if the correct party defendant was served but the complaint has a technical error in naming the party. See also Govora v. Ross, 20 D.&C. 3d 411 (1981), holding when the complaint clearly shows the correct party, notwithstanding the caption is in error, an amendment should be permitted; as well as Cheza v. Repas, 50 D.&C.2d 158 (1970), and Mitchell v. Hendricks, 68 F.R.C. (E.D., Pa.) 1975.

Defendant rebuts plaintiffs’ cited cases by pointing out plaintiffs filed no complaint but rather commenced their action by summons and plaintiffs’ complaint was filed subsequent to the running of the .statute, the summons being filed five days before the statute of limitations expired.

We are hard pressed to conclude, as plaintiffs argue, there was a “typographical error” in naming female defendant Doris K. Cummings for proffered defendant Louis K. Cummings. Typographical errors are the responsibility of the party, not the person who typed the caption; here, plaintiffs are represented by counsel.

[201]*201The sheriffs return in the instant case shows that on June 26, 1986:

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Anderson v. Cummings, 41 Pa. D. & C.3d 199, 1986 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 290 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1986).

41 Pa. D. & C.3d 199 (Anderson v. Cummings) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

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189 A.2d 864 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1963)
Cianchetti v. Kaylen
361 A.2d 842 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1976)
Gregg v. Gacon Construction Co.
378 A.2d 344 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1977)
Saracina v. Cotoia
208 A.2d 764 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1965)