J-S02032-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST CO. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
v.
SAMIR HICKSON
Appellant No. 776 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Order February 9, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at No(s): 150402676 April Term 2015
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST CO. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant No. 780 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Order February 18, 2016 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at No(s): 130404701 April Term 2013
BEFORE: FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E., STABILE, J., and MOULTON, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MOULTON, J.: FILED JUNE 06, 2017
Samir Hickson appeals, pro se, from the February 9, 2016 and
February 18, 2016 orders of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
denying his petitions to open and/or strike default judgment and set aside J-S02032-16
sheriff’s sale. We quash the appeal at 776 EDA 2016 1 and affirm the trial
court’s order at 780 EDA 2016.
Judge Nina Wright Padilla comprehensively set forth the procedural
history of this case in her Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(a)
opinion, which we adopt and incorporate herein. See Opinion, 8/5/16, at 1-
7 (“1925(a) Op.”).
Preliminarily, we must determine whether Hickson has properly
preserved any claims for appellate review. First, Hickson raises 23 issues in
his statement of questions involved; this violates Pennsylvania Rule of
Appellate Procedure 2116(a), which requires that the appellant “state
concisely the issues to be resolved” on appeal. See Hickson’s Br. at 16-19.
Second, Hickson’s Rule 1925(b) statement is four pages long and contains
45 separately numbered sentences in violation of Rule 1925(b)(4), which
provides that the statement “shall concisely identify each ruling or error” and
____________________________________________
1 Hickson filed separate notices of appeal from the February 9, 2016 order entered by Judge Linda Carpenter (776 EDA 2016) and the February 18, 2016 order entered by Judge Nina Wright Padilla (780 EDA 2016). This Court consolidated the appeals for disposition because they involve related issues and the same parties. However, in his principal and reply briefs, which were filed at both dockets, Hickson only challenges Judge Padilla ’s February 18, 2016 order. Neither brief addresses Judge Carpenter’s February 9, 2016 order. Moreover, the cover pages of both briefs identify Hickson’s appeal as being from Judge Padilla’s February 18, 2016 order. See also Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Stmt., 3/24/16, ¶¶ 6-7. Accordingly, because Hickson has effectively abandoned his appeal from Judge Carpenter’s February 9, 2016 order, we quash the appeal at 776 EDA 2016.
-2- J-S02032-16
“should not be redundant or provide lengthy explanations as to any error.”
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(ii), (iv).
Our Court has explained the requirements of Rule 1925(b) as follows: [Rule] 1925(b) is not satisfied by simply filing any statement. Rather, the statement must be “concise” and coherent as to permit the trial court to understand the specific issues being raised on appeal. . . . [W]hen appellants raise an “outrageous” number of issues in their 1925(b) statement, the appellants have “deliberately circumvented the meaning and purpose of Rule 1925(b) and ha[ve] thereby effectively precluded appellate review of the issues [they] now seek to raise.” We have further noted that such “voluminous” statements do not identify the issues that appellants actually intend to raise on appeal because the briefing limitations contained in Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a) makes the raising of so many issues impossible. “Further, this type of extravagant 1925(b) statement makes it all but impossible for the trial court to provide a comprehensive analysis of the issues.”
Tucker v. R.M. Tours, 939 A.2d 343, 346 (Pa.Super. 2007) (alterations in
original; citations omitted), aff’d, 977 A.2d 1170 (Pa. 2009).
While we could find all of Hickson’s claims waived for his filing of a
lengthy, disjointed Rule 1925(b) statement, 2 Judge Padilla was able to
discern the following issues from Hickson’s statement: (1) whether the trial
court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the mortgage foreclosure
action; and (2) whether the trial court erred in denying the petition to open
2 Hickson’s pro se status does not excuse him from complying with the requirements of Rule 1925(b). See Commonwealth v. Schofield, 888 A.2d 771, 773-75 (Pa. 2005) (rejecting more lenient application of Rule 1925(b)’s requirements in pro se cases).
-3- J-S02032-16
and/or strike default judgment and set aside sheriff’s sale. See 1925(a) Op.
at 8-12.3 Because Judge Padilla has addressed these issues, our ability to
conduct meaningful appellate review has not been completely hindered by
Hickson’s deficient filings. See Kern v. Kern, 892 A.2d 1, 6 (Pa.Super.
2005) (stating that appellate court may address issues when appellant’s
failure to follow Rules of Appellate Procedure does not hamper review).
Thus, we limit our review to the issues identified and addressed by Judge
Padilla.
Based on our review of the certified record, the parties’ briefs, and the
relevant law, we conclude that the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction
over the mortgage foreclosure action and did not err in denying Hickson’s
petition to open and/or strike default judgment and set aside sheriff’s sale.
We reach these conclusions for the reasons stated in Judge Padilla’s wel l-
reasoned opinion, which we adopt and incorporate herein. See 1925(a) Op.
at 7-12.
Appeal quashed at 776 EDA 2016. Order affirmed at 780 EDA 2016.
3 Hickson also addresses these issues in his brief, albeit circuitously.
-4- J-S02032-16
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 6/6/2017
-5- Circulated 05/12/2017 08:35 AM
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL DMSION
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY SUPERIOR COURT No. 780 EDA 2016 v. April Term 2013, No. 4701 SAMIR HICKSON, et al
OPINION
Appellant, Samir Hickson, appeals from this court's denial of his Petition to Open, Strike, and
Set Aside Sheriff's Sale, docketed February 18, 2016. Although the Notice of Appeal was filed by $amir
Hickson, the Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal was filed by "Khalil Hakim, on behalf of
Samir Hickson." It is unclear from the pleadings whether "Khalil A. Hakim" is an alias of Samir Hickson,
or a separate party.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This case commenced April 30, 2013 with the filing of a Complaint in Mortgage Foreclosure. The
Complaint averred that Appellant, Samir Hickson, is the owner of the Proeprty located at 4611 Wayne
Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19144, and that on March 16, 2007, Appellant executed a
mortgage in favor of IndyMac Bank, F.S.B., for a principal sum of $130,000.00. See Complaint, ,i,i 1-4.
The Complaint further averred that the mortgage was in default as of December 1, 2007. See
Complaint, ,i 5. Appel lee sought a total judgment amount of $231,840.87. See Complaint, ,i 6.
On June 19, 2013, Appellee filed a Motion for Alternative Service.
On June 21, 2013, Judge Leon Tucker granted Appellee's Motion for Alternative Service.
On August 7, 2013, Appellee filed an Affidavit of Service of the Complaint upon Appellant by
posting the premises on July 13, 2013.
On August 12, 2013, Appellee filed an Affidavit of Service upon Appellant by certified mail and
first class regular mail.
Deutsche Bank Illauorial Tn,s1 CompanyVs Hic~-OPfLO
1/IIIIII IIJ I/I Ill /1111111111111 On August 14, 2013, Appellant flied an Answer to the Complaint. The Answer, which alternately
referred to Appellant as a Plaintiff and Defendant, accused Appellee of "purposeful fraud in attempting
to appear as CREDITOR .. , they are not the CREDITOR and therefore NOT the Real Party in
interest in this instant matter." See Answer, ~ 1. The Answer also requested a "temporary restraining
order for (Appellee's] fraud; and [Appellee's] use of void contract pursuant to American jurisprudence
Second Edition 46 ,i 203 and Pennsvlvanla Revised Statutes ... '' The Answer accused Appellee of
destroying the "genuine oriqinal promissory note to 'securltize' the note/land averred that Appellee's
use of "legalese" in the mortgage documents was a "criminal act of 'conversion through fraudulent
means' and therefore the mortgage documents are evidence of a criminal act and cannot be used by
this court in the instant matter." See Answer, ,i~ 1-10. The Answer raised other alleged counterclaims,
and questioned the jurisdiction of this court, in a disjointed and rambling fashion, alternately citing
Federal and State Rules of Civil Procedure and case law.
On August 30, 2013, Appellee filed Preliminary Objections to Appellant's Answer, arguing the
Answer should be dismissed for failure to conform to a number of laws or rules of court, and by
demurrer, as the counterclaims were legally deficient, as Appellee was in possession of a true and
correct copy of the endorsed promissory note; See Preliminary. Objections, ,~ l-40.
On September 231 2013, Appellant filed an Answer i.n Opposition to Appellant's Preliminary
Objections, which again contained disjointed and rambling accusations that accused Appellees of
conduct such as "altering the Promissory Note [causing) said Promissory Note to become a 'check" as
well as 'Tcommitt:ing] numerous felonies against [Appe.llant] and the State of Pennsylvania when
[Appellee) ... filed said forged, fraudulent, and/or false documents into the Philadelphia County
Recorder's Office." See Answer in Opposition to Preliminary Objections, ,i,i 1-13.
On October 9, 2013, Judge Tucker sustained Appellee's Objections and dismfssed the Answer to
the Complaint without prejudice, ordering that any New Matter or Counterclaim shall comply with the
applicable Rules of Pennsylvania Civil Procedure.
2 On October 9, 2013, Appellant filed a Motion to Dismiss the Complaint, averring that: the
complaint alleged a cause bf action for breach of contract but Appe!lee failed to allege "ultimate facts"
to establish that it had suffered damages; that service was not proper as all indispensable parties had
not been named: that the Complaint had not been filed in the proper venue; "statute of fraud -
unlawful conversion without full disclosure and/or disclaimer;" that the Complalnt violated ''the doctrine
of acumen;" that the Complaint lacked a "daim in which relief can be granted and subject matter
jurisclction" and that the Complaint did not "identify the mortgage as an investment contract;" that
Appellee was notthe real party in interest; and "breach of ftoudarv duties by the trustees in making
modifications of the original contract by converting the promissory note •.. to securities and endorsing
the note without recourse therefore leaving no true holder in due course." Appellant's Memorandum of
Law repeated the arguments of his Answer to. the Complaint and response to Appellee's Preliminary
Objections.
On October 29, 2013, Appellee filed Preliminary Objections to Appellant's Motion to Dismiss, for
failure to conform to laws and rules of court, as it was not a proper pleading pursuant to the
Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure; because the Motion was pied with insufficient speclficity; and
because the Motion was legally insufficient.
On October 31, 2013, Appellant filed an Amended Answer to the Complaint. The Answer denied
all of Appellee's allegations and "specifically denie[d]" "that conditions precedent to Plaintiff's Standing,
Party of Real Interest, Holder in Due Course, and Right of Action." The Answer raised a number of
affirmative defenses. The Answer requested this court enter judgment in his favor, quieting title to the
Property, and awarding costs and attorney's 'fees.
On November 5, 2013, Judge Tucker sustained Appellee's Preliminary Objections and dismissed
Appellant's Motion to Dismiss with prejudice.
On November 14, 2013, Judge Tucker denied Appellant's Motion to Dismiss,
---------·········· On November 19, 2013, Appellee filed Preliminary Objections to Appellant's Amended Answer,
for failure to conform to laws and rules of court; for defenses pied with insufficient specificity; by
demurrer for lack of supporting factual allegations; and that a number of Appellant's affirmative
defenses were legally insufficient.
On December 13, 2013, Judge Tucker sustained the Preliminc;iry Objections end struck
Appellant's Answer and Affirmative Defenses with prejudice.
On December 26, 2013, Appellant filed a second Motion to Dismiss, averring that "in light of
Defendant's NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGMENT, FINAL EXPRESSION IN A RECORD,
AND PRESENTMENT OF EVIDENCE UNDER NOTARY SEAL, THAT AN agreement having
being reached between the parties" [sic], the Complaint should be dismissed with prejudice.
On January 15, 2014, Appel1ee filed Preliminary Objections to Appellant's Motion to Dismiss, as
it did not comply with the laws or rules of the court; that it did not plead its allegations with sufficient
specificity; and that the Motion was legally insufficient.
On January 21, 2014, Judge Tucker denied Appellant's Motion to Dismiss,
On February 10, 2014, Appellant filed a Memorandum, requesting that.this court dismiss
Appellee's Preliminary Objections to its Motion to Dismiss "with prejudice as the issue before the Court
ls Res Judicata/Estoppel and without Jurisdiction of the Court as there is no dispute and the matter is
privately sett! ed."
On February 21, 2014, Appellee's Preliminary Objections were dismissed as moot
On April 17, 2014, Appel1ee entered a Judgment by Default against Appellant in the amount of
$231,128.61. That same day, Appeilee filed a Praecipe to issue Writ of Execution.
On June ll, 2014, Appellee filed an Affidavit of Service of Notice of Sale upon Appellant by first
class regular mail, by certified mail, and by posting the premises. ·
On July 3, 2014, the Property was sold at Sheriffs Sale for $35,000.00.
4 On January 9, 2016, Appellant1 filed a Miscellaneous Motion titled "Mandatory Judicial Notice
Pursuant to 45 Pa.C.S. § 506,2 Pa.R,E. 201(b)(d)(e)(f)."3 This Motion requested that this court take
judicial notice of the fact that Appellant "[did) not believe that Salvatore Carollo and/or UDREN LAW
OFFICES, P.C. SUCCESSORS/ASSIGNShave the authority to act for the Plaintiff and hereby and herein
make a substantive challenge as a matter of right as to associated fundamental principles of LAW both
State and Federal." The Motion further demanded that Appellee's counsel provide "proof" of their
"euthority," and requested a hearing by this court to dedare "specifically whether it presumes that
Salvatore Carollo and/or UDREN LAW OFFICES .•. are employees, agents OR independent
contractors." The Motion accused Appellee's counsel of violating the Constitution and proceeding in the
"criminal cover up of criminal acts."
That same day, "Khalil A. Hakim," on behalf of Appellant, filed a Petition to Open Judgment.
The Petition requested that this court strike the default judgment, set aside the sheriffs sale, and allow
Appellantto file an Answer and New Matter and Affidavit in Support of his Motion. The Motion further
argued that plaintiff did not allege how or why this court had jurisdiction over the parties or the case:
that Appellee had not attached a promissory note; and further rambling allegations that had been
previously argued in other Motions filed by Appellant, regarding Appellee's alleged lack of"injury" or
standing.
On January 29, 20i6, Appellee filed a Brief in Opposition to Appellant's Petition to Open
Judgment, arguing that this court should deriv the Petition to Open as it was not promptly filed;
I On the docket, this Motion was filed by "Khalil A. Hakim on behalf of Sarrur Hickson." tt Is unclear from the pleadings, and from the docket, who Khalil A. Hakim is. Hakim is not a party to the lit1gation. He is mentioned nowhere in the motion. Additionally, the filings are still signed by Appellant. 2 "The contents of the code, of the permanent supplements thereto, and of the bulletin, shall be judicially noticed."'45 P. S. § 506. 3 a Appellant cited Rule of Evidence referring to this court's ability to take judici;:il notice of adjudicative facts, where. a fact Is generi:!IIY known within the trial court's territorial jurisdiction; or can be accurately and reaoily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned. Pa.R.E. 201(a)-(b). The sections Appellant cites are that this court may take judicial notice at any time in the proceeding and that "on timely request" a party is en_titled to be heard on the propriety of taking judici.al notice, and th~t the court may instruct a jury regarding judicially noticed facts. ·
- --- . ----~- ·-·--··--------- .. - Appellant had not provided a reasonable excuse for the delay; and that Appellant had not pleaded a
meritorious defense to the allegations contained in the Complaint, Further, Appellee argued that the
court should deny the Petition to Set Aside the Sheriff's Sale as the deed had already been recorded on
November 19, 2014; and that since the delivery of the Sheriff's Deed, Appellee had obtained judgment
in possession in a separate ejectment action, and that Appellant had not averred allegations of fraud
which would provide the basis for the setting aside of the sheriff's sale post-delivery of the deed, and
that the Motion was full of conclusions of law, indecipherable arguments, and unfounded challenges to
Appellee's standing to bring the foreclosure action.
On February 8, 2016, this court dismissed Appellant's Miscellaneous Motion as procedurally
improper, and denied his Motion to Open Judgment.
On February 23, 2016, "Khalil A. Hakim" on behalf of Appellant filed a second Miscellaneous
Motion entitled "Mandatory Judicial Notice." It was substantially similar to his previous Miscellaneous
Mot;on entitled "Mandatory Judicial Notice," which this court had already dismissed as procedurally
improper.
On February 24, 2016, "Khalil A. Hakim"filed a Motion for Reconsideration, repeating the same
allegations of previous motions, and, among other accusations, accusing this court of having "partiality
regarding pro se litiqants and mortgage foreclosures." The Motion was rife with falsehoods and other
misstatements of law, as when Appellant claimed that "[tnls court] transferred Defendants property to
DBNT as a taxable event," referring to this court's order denying Appellant's Motion to Open Judgment.
Appellant's memorandum of law relied largely upon quotations from the Bible.
On February 25, 2016, "Khalil A. Hakim" filed a Praecipe to Supplement his Motion for
Reconsideration. The Praecipes contained requests for Appel lees to provide him with "counter
affidavits" otherwise AppelJees' "silence stands as consent and as implied and tacit a pproval of the
factual declarations herein being established as fact as a matter of law."
6 On March I, 2016, Appellant filed a timely Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court of
Pennsylvania.
On March 2; 2016, Appellee filed a brief in opposition to Appellee's Motion for RecohSideration,
arguing that his motion had not provided any basis upon which relief should be entered in his favor, as
it did not provide new facts or law.
On March 3, 2016, this court issued its Order pursuant to Pa .. R.A.P. 1925(b)1 directing
Appellant to file his Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal within twenty-one (21)
days.
On March 10, 2016, Appellee filed a Briefin opposition of Appellant's Miscellaneous Motion.
On March 16, 2016, this court denied "Khalil A. Hakir:n"'s Motion for Reconsideration.
On March 24, 2016, "Khalil A Hakim" on behalf of Samir Hickson filed his Statement of Matters
Complained of on Appeal. The Statement of M~tters Complained of is not concise, but lists forty-five
(45) alleged errors. Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) states that: the statement shall set forth only those rulings or
errors the appellant intends to challenge; that the statement shall concisely identify each ruling or error
that the appellant intends to challenge with sufficient detail to identify all pertinent issues to the trial
judge; the statement should not be redundant or provide lengthy explanations as to any error and
where non-redundant,non-frivolous issues are set forth in an appropriately concise manner, the
number of errors raised will not alone be the grounds for finding a waiver of said issues; however,
issues not raised fn accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b)(4) are waived. Pa.R.A.P.
1925(b)(i)-(vii) (emphasis added).
DISCUSSION
Appellant attacks, on a number of grounds, this court's denial of his petition to strike and/or
open judgment and set aside' sherlff's sale, As a first note, Appellant's petition contained a procedural
flaw in that it improperly joined two requests for relief; though all grounds for relief in a petition to
strike and/or open judgment must be asserted in a single petition.fhe motion to set aside sheriff's sale
7 . I I /should have been filed separately. See Us Bank N.A. v. r,tallory, 2009 PASuper 182, 982 A.2d 986, 988
'(Pa, Super. Ct. 2009); Mother's Rest. Inc. v. Krystkiewicz,2004 PA Super411, 861 A.2d 327, 336 (Pa.
Super. Ct. 2004); Pa.R.C.P. 206.1.
r In order to obtain relief from the entry of a default judgment, the law provides two distinct I / remedies - an aggrieved party may file a petition to strike the default judqment and/or a petition to I .
open the default judgment. Mother's Rest. Inc; v. Krystkiewicz,2004 PA Super 411, 861 A.2d 327, 336 ,,. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2004). They are generally not interchangeable; a petition to strike does not involve the
discretion of the court but is a demurrer to the record. Id. A petition to open judgment, on the other
hand, is an appeal to the equitable powers of the court. Id. The standard of appellate review is that of
/ abuse of discretion with regard to the petition to open only; the court's decision will not be reversed
I absent an abuse of discretion or error of law. Erie Ins. co. 11, Bullard, 2003 PA Super 448, 839 A.2d
1 383, 386 (200~3).
I. SUBJECT MATIER JURISDICTION
First, this court would address the issue of subject matterjurtsoict'on. At all times, this court
had subject matter jurisdiction to hear this case. "Jurisdiction is the capacity to pronounce a judgment of the law on an issue brought before the
court through due process of law. It is the right to adjudicate concerning the subject-matter in a given
case, .. Without such jurisdiction, there rs no authority to give judgment and one so entered is without i ! force or effect." Bernhardv. Bernhard, 447 Pa. Super. 118, 124, 668 A.2d 546, 548-49 (1995). The trial
I court has jurisdiction if it ls competentto hear and determine controversies of the general nature of the
I matter involved; it lies if the court "had power to enter upon the inquiry." Id. The question of subject
i matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time, by any party, or by the court sua sponte. Grom v.
I Burgoon, 448 Pa. Super. 616, 619, 672 A.2d 823, 824,.25 (1996). Per statute, this Court has unlimited
Origh1al jurisdiction over all actions and proceedings, except where exclusive original jurisdiction of an
I I action or proceeding is by statute or by general rule adopted pursuant to section 503. 42 P,r.c.s. §
8 1 -------·-·-----· .... _ ·------------. 93 L Appellant has provided no authority or argument as to why this Court did not have subject matter
jurisdktlon to hear a mortgage foreclosure.
U. PETITION TO STRIKE DEFAULT JUDGMENT
As noted above, a petition to strike is a demurrer to the record. Mothers Rest., Inc; 861 A.2d
at 336. Such a demurrer "admits all well-pleaded facts for the purpose of testing conclusions of law
, drawn from those facts,'' and the court may only look at the facts of record at the time the judgment
I I Was entered to decide If the record supports the judqrnent. Id. A petition to strtke may be granted only
ifa fatal defect appears on the record. Id. See also U.I<. LaSalle, Inc. v. Lawless, 421 Pa.Super. 496,
618 A.2d 447 (1992). A petition to strike does not involve the discretion of the court. Triangle Printing
Co. v. Image Quest, 730 A.2d 998, 999 (Pa. Super, t999). Many of Appellant's arguments regarding defects in the record are also attempts to argue that
this court did not possess subject matter jurisdiction over the instant matter. Appellant presents a
number of arguments as to why the record reflected defects, namely that Appellee was never the
"holder in due course" associated with the case at bar, that Appellee never owned the promissory note,
and that Appellee "failed to establish the courts' jurisdiction over the Appellee and the Appellant."
Appellant's arguments regarding this court's lack of jurisdiction appear to relate to the fact that he
attempted to "chellenqe" Appellee's jurisdiction and that Appellee allegedly "failed to prove" its
jurlsdictlon. However, these assertions are incorrect. As noted above, this court has original jurisdiction
over all. actions and proceedings. It is notAppellee's responsibility to "prove its jurisdiction." Appellant's
"challenqes" to jurisdiction were properly dismissed as procedurally improper. Further, there were- no
flaws evident from the record that would result in this court's loss of jurisdiction.
Further, Appellee complied with all requirements ofF>a.R.C.P. 1147 in its Complaint, including
naming the parties to. and the date of the mortgage; a description of the land subject.to the mortgage;
the names, addresses, and interests of the defendant in the action; a specific averrnent of default; an
itemized statement of the amount-due; and a demand for judgment of the amount due. That alone
-··---·-- ··----·· -- ·-·---------·-------- -.... ,. /would have been enough to establish thatthe Complaint was properly filed such that this court would
possess jurisdlction. Bank ofNew York Mellon v. Johnson, 2015 PA Super 1741 121 A.3d 1056, 1063
(2015). Additionally, Appellee provided this court with a copy of the Promissory Note, signed by
Appellant. Insofar as could be determined from the record, this mortgage foreclosure and default
judgmentwere properly entered. Appellant's arguments thatthe mortgage and promissory note.were
forged are baseless.
Thus; there was no ground provided on which to strike the judgment.
III. PETITION TO OPEN DEFAULT JUDGMENT
Petitions to openjudqment are appeals to the discretlon of the trial court and will not be
reversed absent a manifest abuse of discretion or error of law. Erie Ins. Co. v. Bullard, 2003 PA Super
448, 839 A.2d 383, '386 (2003). Petitions to open jucigment must show that: the petition was promptly
filed; the failure to appear or file a timely answer must be excusable; the party seeking to open the
judgment must show a meritorious defense. Mother's Rest/ Inc., 861 A.2d at 336. The Court may
consider facts not before lt at the time judgment was entered. Id
a. Prompt Filing
The timeliness of a petition to open is measured from the date that notice of the entry of
default was received; while there is not a specified time period, the court should consider the length of
time between discovery of the entry of default, and reason for the delay .. Myers. v. Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A., 2.009 PA Super 241, 986 A.2d 171, 176 (2009). Appellant avers thatshe discovered the default on
June 20, 2014, f611owing sheriffs sale, and that this Court therefore had no jurisdiction and need not
consider the timeliness of the filing.
However, as noted above, based upon the record and affidavits of service provided, this court
found that Appellant did ihdeed have notice of the default. In the instant case, default judgment was
entered April 17, 2014. Appellant filed his petition to open on January 9, 2016. The petition to open
io
.. . . . --- ....·------ ..-~·--·--------·~--~---·~----·~·------··--~··-·····-·-······-· )was I filed six hundred and tbntv-two {632) days after the entry of default. Thus, his petltion to strike . .
I was not timely filed. b. Reasonable Excuse
I Appellant did not provide a reason .as to the lateness of his filing. Additionally, pursuant to the I I .. . . . ri Motion for Alternative Service filed by Appellee, Appellant was properly served per Pa.R.C.P. . 430.
I Appellant did not provide a reasonable excuse, and thus fails on two prongs of the test needed to open I I judgment. j c. MeritoriousDefense l While Appellant did not specifically plead that he had pied a meritorlous defense, he has raised l l a number of affirmative defenses and alleged "new matters" in his Petition to Open, including
numerous allegations of fraud and other arguments, many of them self-contradicting, that Appellee did
not provide him with a mortgage and that he owes Appeltee no money, that Appellee was not the
holder of the note and had no standing. The requirement of a meritorious defense rs only that a
defense must be pleaded that if proved at trial would justify relief. Smith v. Morrell Beer Distributors,
Inc; 2011 PA Super 183, 29 A.3d 23, 26 (2011). A defendant must set forth such a defense ln
"precise, specific, and clear terms." Id However, as noted above, Appellee does indeed holdthe note
and has provided the note to the court, and his defenses, most of Which have been repeated ad
nauseurn in other filings denied by this court, are not meritorious.
Thus, Appellant is not entitled to an opening of the default judgment as he has not met the
requirements of the tripartite test.
IV. PETITION TO SET ASIDE SHERIFF'S SALE
Finally, Appellant avers that this Court improperly denied Appellant's petition to set aside
sheriffs sale, because the judgment should have been stricken and/or opened. Appellant did not plead
with specific;ity why the sale should be set aside, besides his general averrnents of fraud
I I j ! 11 Pursuant to l'a.R.C.P. 31321 "upon petition of any party in interest before delivery of the
personal property or of the sheriffs deed to real property, the court may, upon proper cause shown,
set aside the sale and order a resale or enter any other order which may be just anc proper under the
circumstances." Pa.R,C. P. No. 3132; see etso Netionstsr Mortgage/ LLC v. Lark, 2013 PA Super 233, 73
.A.3d 1265, 1267 (2013), The burden of "proving circumstances warranting the exercise of the court's
equitable powers is on the petition." Id. On appeal, the court's decision will not be reversed absent an
abuse of discretion. Id.
"[A] petition to set aside a sheriff's sale may only be granted when the petition is filed before
the sheriff's delivery of the deed." Mortgage Elec. Registration svs., Int. v. Ralich, 2009 PA Super 163,
. ~ 14, 982 A;2d 77, 79 (2009), Further, a combined reading of Pa.R.C.P. 3132 and Pa.R.C.P. 3135(a)
make clear "a party must raise a challenge to a sheriff's sale within a period oftlme after the sale, but
before the deed is delivered." Id. The sole exception to this time bar is that the. sale may be set aside
based upon fra.ucJ or lack of authority to make the sale. Rc1/ich1 982 A.2d atsu. As discussed above, the
judgment should not have been stricken and/or opened. The deed was recorded November 191 2014i
the motion to set aside was not filed until January 9,. 2016, well beyond the time limit provided by the
rules of civil procedure. However, Appellant's allegations of fraud were conclusory and unfounded, and
consequently, this court properly denied his Motion to Set Aside the Sale.
CONCLUSION
For all of the reasons stated above, this court's decision should be affirmed and the appeal
quashed.
NINA WRIGHTPADILtA, J.
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