C&K Enterprises Inc. v. Dallas Area Municipal Authority

16 Pa. D. & C.4th 195, 1992 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 172
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Luzerne County
DecidedAugust 12, 1992
Docketno. 4670-C
StatusPublished

This text of 16 Pa. D. & C.4th 195 (C&K Enterprises Inc. v. Dallas Area Municipal Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Luzerne County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
C&K Enterprises Inc. v. Dallas Area Municipal Authority, 16 Pa. D. & C.4th 195, 1992 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 172 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992).

Opinion

TOOLE, P.J.,

This matter comes before the court on preliminary objections by defendant, Dallas Area Municipal Authority, Kingston Township, Kingston Township Board of Supervisors, Dallas Township, Dallas Township Board of Supervisors, Dallas Borough, (township defendants), to the complaint filed by plaintiffs, C&K Enterprises Inc., Searles Sanitation and Dave Wojciechowicz, t/a Dave’s Sanitation (plaintiffs).1 Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges claims for tortious interference of contract and prospective contracts, deprivation [197]*197of substantive due process under 42 U.S.C. §1983, and Article 1 and 17 of the Pennsylvania Constitution and deprivation of procedural due process under 42 U.S.C. §1983 and Article 1, section II of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Timely objections and briefs were filed. Oral argument was entertained by the court and the matter is ripe for resolution at this time.

Plaintiffs’ complaint arises out of the actions taken by each township defendant to enact ordinances which regulate the collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste in each of the municipalities. Prior to the ordinances taking effect on July 1,1991, each resident of these municipalities was free to arrange for the disposal of their waste. Plaintiffs were all licensed businesses in the solid waste disposal business and had each entered into oral agreements with residents to dispose of the waste. The agreements were for one calendar year periods with practically assured renewals. Simply stated, after the ordinance went into effect, their business with residents in the municipalities terminated completely.

Upon enacting the ordinances, the municipalities named defendant DAMA as their agent to properly carry out the terms of the ordinances. Defendant DAMA then contracted with Danella Environmental Technologies Inc., to actually collect, transport and dispose of the solid waste.2 Since the ordinances had exclusivity provisions, under these terms, it was impossible for individual residents [198]*198to use any other waste hauler other than through defendant DAMA.

As a result of the termination of their agreements with the residents, plaintiffs filed this suit alleging wrongful interference with existing or prospective contracts and that they have been deprived of their ability to earn a living and run a business. Specifically, plaintiffs argue that the actions of the township defendants constituted an invalid exercise of police power under color of state law and that they have been deprived of the rights of liberty to contract and engage in lawful occupation.

Defendants demur to and ask that we dismiss the complaint on the basis that the allegations fail to state any cause of action upon which relief can be granted.

The law in Pennsylvania when considering the preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer is well known. A demurrer should only be sustained in those cases which are free and clear from doubt. Legman v. Scranton School District, 432 Pa. 343, 247 A.2d 566 (1968). Where any doubt exists as to whether or not preliminary objections should be sustained, that doubt should be resolved by refusing to sustain the objections. Commonwealth v. Creamer, 464 Pa. 2, 345 A.2d 702 (1975). To sustain a demurrer it must appear with certainty that upon the facts alleged the law will not permit recovery by plaintiffs. Creamer, supra. Preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer admit as true all well pleaded material, factual averments and inferences fairly deducible therefrom, but no conclusions of law. Greenspan v. United Services Auto Assn., 324 Pa. Super. 315, 471 A.2d 856 (1984). Further, if a demurrer is sustained, [199]*199the court must evaluate whether or not there is a reasonable possibility that the plaintiffs can amend the complaint to cure the deficiency. If so, the plaintiffs must be given that opportunity. Harley Davidson Motor Co. Inc. v. Hartman, 296 Pa. Super. 37, 442 A.2d 284 (1982). With the above as our guide, we shall evaluate defendants’ proposals.

Defendants initially demur to Count I of plaintiffs’ complaint claiming “tortious interference of contract and prospective contracts.” The elements of tortious interference with contractual relations are set out in Restatement 2d of Torts, §766. They are: (1) an intentional or improper interfering with a performance of a contract; (2) between another and a third person; (3) inducing or otherwise causing the third person not to perform the contract; and (4) pecuniary loss. The issue before us is the propriety of defendants’ actions or, as stated by the defendants, the absence of justification or privilege on the part'of defendants.

A review of the case law cited in the briefs convinces us that municipalities do have the right to regulate, transport and dispose of the solid waste within their boundaries.3 Clearly, the process of enacting the ordinances and entering into the agreements with defendant DAMA and Danella is not in and of itself grounds for the lawsuit filed by plaintiffs. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully review the allegations of the complaint to determine if in fact [200]*200plaintiffs have factually pled the requirements of tortious interference of contract and prospective contracts. In so doing, we are of the opinion that plaintiffs have not met their burden on this issue.

Plaintiffs’ complaint alleges only that “through the adoption and enforcement of the aforesaid ordinance, intentionally and willfully engaged in misconduct with actual malice, by intentionally and improperly interfering with the existing contracts and prospective contractual relations between plaintiffs and adult residents and taxpayers....” Further, allegations again state only that the conduct of the township defendants acted willfully, intentionally, and with actual malice.4 The allegations are conspicuously devoid, however, of factual averments to support the legal conclusions that are alleged. Nowhere in their complaint do plaintiffs allege the manner of impropriety conducted by the township defendants. Since the law does not prohibit the enactment of the ordinances, the lack of factual averments is sufficient to cause this court to agree with defendants that the demurrer to Count I of plaintiffs’ complaint should be sustained.

To further bolster defendants’ arguments and confirm our decision that the demurrer to Count I should be sustained, we take note of the language of the ordinance which is attached to plaintiffs’ complaint.5 Clearly, the regulation of the waste by the township defendants bears [201]*201a real and substantial relationship to the health, safety and welfare of the residents.

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Related

Gardner v. Michigan
199 U.S. 325 (Supreme Court, 1905)
Harley Davidson Motor Co., Inc. v. Hartman
442 A.2d 284 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1982)
Greenspan v. United Services Automobile Ass'n
471 A.2d 856 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1984)
Commonwealth Ex Rel. Saunders v. Creamer
345 A.2d 702 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1975)
Legman v. Scranton School District
247 A.2d 566 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
16 Pa. D. & C.4th 195, 1992 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ck-enterprises-inc-v-dallas-area-municipal-authority-pactcomplluzern-1992.