Czarkowski v. Jennings

34 Pa. D. & C.5th 303
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lackawanna County
DecidedNovember 18, 2013
DocketNo. 13 CV 5188
StatusPublished

This text of 34 Pa. D. & C.5th 303 (Czarkowski v. Jennings) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lackawanna County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Czarkowski v. Jennings, 34 Pa. D. & C.5th 303 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013).

Opinion

NEALON, J.,

Glenbum Township property owners have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin their neighbor from asserting any interest in a six foot portion of the twelve foot wide alley which separates their properties, and to bar that neighbor from entering or using six feet of the alley which is allegedly owned by them. The movants assert that as abutting landowners, they have acquired title in fee to one-half of the alley pursuant to 36 P.S. § 1961, and that their neighbor has trespassed and caused irreparable water damage to their property by performing excavation activity within that alley.

[305]*305Based upon the credible evidence presented, the movants have not adequately established that they possess title in fee to the center of the alley, or that their neighbor does not, at a minimum, have an implied easement right with respect to the entire alley. Furthermore, the movants failed to demonstrate that their water damage was caused by their neighbor’s trespass or tortious conduct, and that their alleged harm is irreparable. Consequently, their request for injunctive relief will be denied and the special, ex parte injunction granted on September 23, 2013, will be dissolved.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On September 23, 2013, plaintiffs, Paul Czarkowski and Roberta J. Czarkowski (“the Czarkowskis”), filed a complaint against defendant, David Jennings (“Jennings”), charging Jennings with trespass onto their property, seeking to recover compensatory and punitive damages for surface water runoff damage allegedly caused by Jennings’ removal of a berm on their land, and requesting that Jennings “be preliminary and permanently enjoined from asserting any possessory, legal or equitable interest in the subject property.” (Docket entry no. 1 at pp. 2-3). On that same date, the Czarkowskis filed a “motion for preliminary injunction” in which they averred that Jennings had “trespassed and caused damage to [the Czarkowskis’] property with the use of excavating equipment, most notably removing a berm to the rear of [their] property which controlled water and sedimentation runoff.” (Docket entry no. 3 at ¶¶ 1-2). The Czarkowskis further alleged that they had “suffered water and sedimentation damage to their property due to [Jennings’] actions,” and seek “to exercise control of this property and repair the damage caused by [Jennings] without [Jennings’] [306]*306continued trespassing and interference.” {Id. at ¶¶ 3-4).

Based upon the finding “that immediate and irreparable injury will be sustained before notice can be given or a hearing held,” a special injunction under Pa.R.C.P. 1531(a) was granted on September 23, 2013, and Jennings was “immediately ordered to remove any and all equipment from [the Czarkowskis’] property and to no longer trespass on [the Czarkowskis’] six feet of the undeveloped alley, which abuts both [parties’] property, until further order of court.” (Docket entry no. 5). The Czarkowskis were directed to post bond or deposit legal tender pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1531 (b), and since the special injunction had been issued on an ex parte basis, a hearing on the Czarkowskis’ request for a preliminary injunction was scheduled for September 30, 2013, in accordance with Pa.R.C.P. 1531(d). (Docket entry no. 4).

During the hearing on September 30, 2013, testimony was presented by plaintiff, Paul Czarkowski, and a title searcher, Gino V. Mori. In addition, the Czarkowskis introduced eight exhibits and Jennings offered nine exhibits into evidence. At the request of the parties, the record remained opened until October 7,2013, and Jennings filed a “submittal” and “supplemental submission” on that date. (Docket entry nos. 9-10). The Czarkowskis filed their response to those submissions on October 11, 2013, and Jennings submitted a “rebuttal brief’ on October 15,2013. (Docket entry nos. 13-14). Following Jennings’ filing of his answer to the Czarkowskis’ motion for a preliminary injunction on October 18, 2013, this matter became ripe for disposition. (Docket entry no. 17).

When considering requests for injunctive relief, the trial judge acts as the factfinder and makes credibility determinations in resolving any conflicts in the evidence [307]*307presented. See Shepherd v. Pittsburgh Glass Works, LLC, 25 A.3d 1233, 1245 (Pa. Super. 2011); Hunter v. Bowman, 159 Pa. Cmwlth. 222, 225-226, 633 A.2d 655, 656 (1993). As the factfinder who personally heard the witnesses testify, the trial judge is “in the sole position to observe the demeanor of the witnesses and assess their credibility.” Hirsch v. EPL Technologies, Inc., 910 A.2d 84, 88 (Pa. Super. 2006), app. denied, 591 Pa. 727, 920 A.2d 833 (2007). As a result, the trial judge “may believe all, part or none of the evidence presented.” Ruthrauff, Inc. v. Ravin, Inc., 914 A.2d 880, 888 (Pa. Super. 2006), app. denied, 599 Pa. 711, 962 A.2d 1197 (2008); Rizzo v. MSA, Inc., 18 Pa. D. & C. 5th 233, 245 (Lacka. Co. 2010), aff’d, 32 A.3d 830 (Pa. Super. 2011). The factual findings set forth in section II below are based upon the evidence which has been deemed to be competent, credible and relevant.

II. FINDINGS OF FACT

In April 1925, a licensed surveyor, A. E. Seamans, surveyed the “South Ackerly” plot in Glenbum Township that was owned and developed by Archibald R. Stetler. (Plaintiffs’ exhibit no.l; defendant’s exhibit no. 8). The survey map of the South Ackerly plot was later recorded on September 8,1953, in Lackawanna County Map Book 7 at page 136. (Id.). Lots 23 through 42 of the South Ackerly plot are fronted by Farview Avenue and abutted in the rear by an unnamed, twelve foot wide alley. (Id.). Lots 43 through 57 of that development are fronted by Arch Avenue and abutted in the rear by the same twelve foot wide alley. (Id.).

The Czarkowskis are the current owners of Lots 43, 44, 45 and 46 in the South Ackerly plot, and Jennings is the present owner of Lots 40 and 41. (Plaintiffs’ exhibit no. 2; docket entry nos. 13-14). The rear portions of the [308]*308Czarkowskis’ Lots 45 and 46 and Jennings’ Lots 40 and 41 are separated by the unnamed, twelve foot wide alley depicted on A.E. Seamans’ survey of the South Ackerly plot that was recorded on September 8, 1953. (Plaintiffs’ exhibit no.l; defendant’s exhibit no. 8). The deeds of conveyance in the Czarkowskis’ chain of title all identify Lots 45 and 46 as “being each Fifty (50) feet in front on Arch Avenue, One Hundred Fifty (150) feet in depth, and rectangular in shape, with an alley in the rear Twelve (12) feet in width as shown on said [South Ackerly] Plot.” (Docket entry no. 9 at pp. 12,27,31,36). Although certain streets in the South Ackerly plot have been formerly dedicated to Glenbum Township or otherwise used by the public, the unnamed alley separating the rear portions of the Czarkowskis’ Lots 45 and 46 and Jennings’ lots 40 and 41 has never been opened to the public and has become a wooded area containing brush and other vegetation. (Plaintiffs’ exhibits nos. 3-7; defendant’s exhibit nos. 2-5, 9).

In early September 2013, Jennings admittedly engaged in excavating or landscaping activity in the twelve foot wide alley separating the rear portions of Lots 45 and 46 and Lots 40 and 41.

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Bluebook (online)
34 Pa. D. & C.5th 303, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/czarkowski-v-jennings-pactcompllackaw-2013.