Commonwealth v. Smalis

545 A.2d 284, 375 Pa. Super. 601, 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 1736
CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 2, 1988
DocketNos. 71, 72, 1546, 1547
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 545 A.2d 284 (Commonwealth v. Smalis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Smalis, 545 A.2d 284, 375 Pa. Super. 601, 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 1736 (Pa. Ct. App. 1988).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

These appeals arise from the trial court’s denial of appellants’ motion to dismiss the charges against them on grounds of double jeopardy following argument. Finding appellants’ claims to be meritless we affirm the orders of the trial court, and remand for further proceedings.

Appellants were charged with criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person, causing a catastrophe and failing to prevent a catastrophe as the result of a fire which destroyed a building they owned on February 12, 1979. Appellant Despina Smalis was also charged with theft by deception. At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case, the trial court sustained demurrers on the charges of murder, voluntary manslaughter and causing a catastrophe. Trial on the remaining charges of involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, failing to prevent a catastrophe and theft by deception (this charge as to appellant Despina Smalis only) was continued to permit the Commonwealth to appeal the order sustaining the demurrers.

The Commonwealth appealed to this court which found that such an appeal was barred by double jeopardy. Commonwealth v. Smalis, 331 Pa.Super. 307, 480 A.2d 1046 (1984). The Commonwealth then appealed our disposition to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which reversed this court’s order and remanded for our review on the merits of the trial court’s order sustaining the demurrers. Commonwealth v. Zoller, 507 Pa. 344, 490 A.2d 394 (1985). Appellants’ petitions for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court were granted, and that court found that the Commonwealth’s appeal was barred by double jeopardy, reversing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Smalis v. Pennsylvania, 476 U.S. 140, 106 S.Ct. 1745, 90 L.Ed.2d 116 (1986). In accordance with the mandate of the United States Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinstated the order of this court quashing the Commonwealth’s appeal. Commonwealth v. Smalis, 511 Pa. 229, 512 A.2d 634 (1986). Attempts to proceed to trial prompted [605]*605appellants to file the aforementioned motion to dismiss the charges against them.

Nos. 71 and 1546 Pittsburgh 1987 Appeal of Despina Smalis

Appellant Despina Smalis raises the following two (2) claims for our review, which will be addressed seriatim:

I. Whether retrial or resumption of a nonjury trial after a protracted “recess”, during which the Commonwealth pursued an appeal from an order ultimately and not altogether unpredictably held to be an unappealable acquittal, subjects appellant to double jeopardy with respect to the charges that were not involved in the previously appealed order?
II. Whether the resumption of a nonjury trial some seven years after it was “recessed” for an impermissible appeal deprives appellant of due process and confrontation rights?

Appellant’s first claim is clearly meritless. We initially note agreement with appellant’s concession that the instant charges were not the subject of the previously sustained demurrers. The Supreme Court of the United States has held that, when a court finds the Commonwealth’s evidence to be so lacking in sufficiency that no rational finder of fact could base a conviction on that evidence, the principles of double jeopardy bar a second trial. United States v. Scott, 437 U.S. 82, 97, 98 S.Ct. 2187, 2197, 57 L.Ed.2d 65, 78 (1978) (cites omitted). Compare, Tibbs v. Florida, 457 U.S. 31, 40-41, 102 S.Ct. 2211, 2217, 72 L.Ed.2d 652, 660 (1982) (cites omitted). No such finding was made regarding the subject charges of the instant appeal; therefore, they do not give rise to the double jeopardy preclusion to further prosecution.

Secondly, we note that the Commonwealth’s appeal from the sustaining of appellant’s demurrers was proper in light of the well-established state of the law of this Commonwealth at the time. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Wimberly, 488 Pa. 169, 172, 411 A.2d 1193, 1194 (1979), citing, [606]*606Commonwealth v. Long, 467 Pa. 98, 354 A.2d 569 (1976) and Commonwealth v. Simpson, 310 Pa. 380, 165 A. 498 (1933). As a result, the Commonwealth’s appeal was not a frivolous delaying tactic, as is suggested by appellant, but an often utilized, properly relied upon process. We, therefore, will not penalize the prosecution for failing to predict a change in the law of this Commonwealth. Specifically, they will not be penalized for failing to foresee that their right to appeal the grant of demurrers would be nullified by the United States Supreme Court.

As to appellant Despina Smalis’ second claim of error, our determination of whether she has been denied her rights to due process and confrontation due to the delay in proceeding to trial on the remaining charges must be guided by the four factors set forth by the United States Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 2192, 33 L.Ed.2d 101, 116 (1972). Cf., Burkett v. Cunningham, 826 F.2d 1208, 1219-1222 (3rd Cir., 1987). These four factors are (1) the length of the delay; (2) the reason for the delay; (3) appellant’s assertion of her right; and, (4) prejudice to appellant. In applying these factors, we note that each is a guide to balancing appellant’s interests and those of the Commonwealth in order to assess whether basic due process requirements of fairness have been satisfied. United States v. $8,850.00, 461 U.S. 555, 564-565, 103 S.Ct. 2005, 2013, 76 L.Ed.2d 143, 152 (1986). Furthermore, no single factor alone is sufficient to indicate a deprivation of the right to a speedy trial. Barker v. Wingo, supra, at 533, 92 S.Ct. at 2193, 33 L.Ed.2d at 118. It is clear that the delay herein of over six (6) years was lengthy. However, since we must make a determination based upon all four of the Barker factors, the lengthy delay standing alone is insufficient to deprive appellant of the right to a speedy trial.

In light of the state of the law at the time the Commonwealth appealed from the grant of appellant’s demurrers and successfully sought a stay of the proceedings on the remaining charges, we find the reason for the delay [607]*607to be reasonable. That finding is buttressed by the fact that the record discloses no evidence of bad faith or dilatoriness on the part of the Commonwealth as is set forth hereinabove in response to appellant’s first claim of error. Cf., United States v. Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 302, 315, 106 S.Ct. 648, 656, 88 L.Ed.2d 640, 654 (1986).

Appellant clearly asserted her right by opposing the request for a stay.

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Related

Commonwealth v. Smalis
592 A.2d 669 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)

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Bluebook (online)
545 A.2d 284, 375 Pa. Super. 601, 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 1736, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-smalis-pasuperct-1988.