Flam v. Smith

37 Pa. D. & C.3d 575, 1984 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 115
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Beaver County
DecidedOctober 19, 1984
Docketno. 153 of 1981
StatusPublished

This text of 37 Pa. D. & C.3d 575 (Flam v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Beaver County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flam v. Smith, 37 Pa. D. & C.3d 575, 1984 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 115 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1984).

Opinion

KUNSELMAN, J.,

Defendant’s preliminary objections and plaintiffs’ complaint raise somewhat unusual and interesting legal questions. Plaintiffs, Morris S. Flam and Hannah R. Flam (hereinafter Flam) and Louis Rosenberg Auto Parts, Inc. (hereinafter Rosenberg), filed their complaint in trespass against defendant on January 22, 1981. The suit stems, from a transaction which involved the sale of land and the construction of a building thereon.

Rosenberg is in the business of sélling used vehicle parts to the public. It conducted its business on property in Beaver Falls which was condemned by the Big Beaver Falls Area School District in December 1974. Around that time, Rosenberg hired architects Wallover and Mitchell to design and assist in the construction of a new building for use as [576]*576its office and plant. Wallover and Mitchell designed a building to contain 22,000 square feet including two bays to be used to strip parts from used vehicles and to be constructed on a parcel of land in Darling-ton Township.

Because bids to construct the budding exceeded Rosenberg’s budget and because the land in Darlington Township was not suitable, it apparently abandoned that project in April 1975. At about the same time, defendant advised Rosenberg that he and his wife owned a parcel of land in Chippewa Township which was suitable and that they would sell the land to plaintiffs if plaintiffs awarded the contract to construct the building to defendant. Plaintiffs then requested Wallover and Mitchell to design a budding with only one bay but in such a way that a second bay could be added at a later date.

At the request of Wallover and Mitchell, defendant prepared a site plan of the redesigned building on the land in Chippewa Township. This was done sometime subsequent to April 24, 1975. On June 17, 1975, Flam entered into a contract with defendant for the construction of the redesigned building. While plaintiffs’ complaint incorporates the contract as Exhibit A, a copy of the contract was not attached to the complaint as an exhibit. On June 18, 1975, Flam entered into an agreement with defendant and his wife to purchase the land in Chippewa Township upon which the building was to be constructed. The complaint incorporates this agreement as Exhibit B but it likewise is not attached to the complaint as an exhibit. Sometime later, Flam assigned all their right, title and interest in the agreement of.sale of the land to the Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority.

On October 3, 1975, the Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority purchased the land from [577]*577defendant and his wife. The complaint incorporates the deed as Exhibit C but it too is not attached as an exhibit. On November 25, 1975, a number of transactions took place:

1. The Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority leased the property to Flam with an option to purchase. (The lease is not attached to the complaint although it is incorporated as Exhibit D.)

2. Flam subleased the property to Rosenberg. (The lease is not attached to the complaint although it is incorporated as Exhibit E.)

3. Flam assigned all their right, title and interest in the construction contract with defendant to the Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority (the assignment is not attached to the complaint although it is incorporated as Exhibit F).

4. Tower Federal Savings & Loan Association entered into a Construction Loan Agreement with the Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority to finance the construction of the building. (The agreement is not attached to the complaint although it is incorporated as Exhibit G.)

Construction of the building began sometime after November 25, 1975. However, in March 1976, plaintiffs learned that Pennsylvania Power Company owned a right-of-way along the northerly border of the property, 100 feet in width. A portion of the building was located within 21 feet from the center line of the right-of-way. As a result of negotiations, Pennsylvania Power Company agreed to convey by quit claim deed, a portion of the right-of-way for the consideration of $1,100. On June 30, 1978, Pennsylvania Power Company gave the Quit Claim Deed to the Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority and on September 1, 1978, Flam paid the consideration to the power company.

[578]*578Neither the agreement nor the' quit claim deed are attached to the complaint although they are incorporated as Exhibits H and I respectively. The complaint alleges that, under the terms of the agreement, no additional structure may be constructed on that portion of the building that is presently within 50 feet of the center line of the right-of-way.

In Count I, captioned “Morris S. Flam and Hannah R. Flam, his wife v. Charles W. Smith, t/d/b/a C.W. Smith Contracting,” Flam seeks to recover the money paid to Pennsylvania Power Company. In Count II, captioned “Louis Rosenberg Auto Parts, Inc. vs. Wallover and Mitchell, Inc.,” Rosenberg seeks to recover damages for loss of income resulting from its inability to expand its operations by including a second bay.

In support of their right of recovery, plaintiffs allege specific acts of negligence. The acts of negligence complained of fall into four categories:

1. In Paragraph 25 (A), (B) and (H), plaintiffs complain that defendant failed to advise plaintiffs of the existence of the right-of-way, either directly or by providing a survey which failed to disclose it.

2. In Paragraph 25 (C) and (D), plaintiffs complain that defendant failed to obtain a survey prior to preparing the site plan and failed to advise plaintiffs to obtain a survey from a registered surveyor.

3. In Paragraph 25 (E), (F) and (G), plaintiffs complain that defendant failed to determine the extent, size and scope of the right-of-way before preparing the site plan; failed to prepare the site plan in such a way that the building could be erected on the property with room for expansion; and failed to take the right-of-way into account in preparing the site plan.

[579]*5794. In Paragraph 25 I, plaintiffs complain that defendant failed to advise plaintiffs that the land was inadequate for the building and that the addition of a second bay was not possible. Subparagraph (J) contains a general allegation that defendant failed to otherwise use due care under the circumstances.

Defendant’s preliminary objections raise four questions. First, defendant has demurred, alleging that plaintiffs have failed to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. Second, defendant raises a question as to plaintiffs’ lack of capacity to sue or to join a necessary party, alleging that plaintiffs’ rights were assigned to the Beaver Falls Industrial Development Authority which is the owner of the property. Third, defendant raises a question of jurisdiction, alleging that the construction contract contained a clause requiring all disputes to be subject to arbitration. Fourth, defendant raises the statute of limitations as a defense.

THE DEMURRER

Of course no negligence claim can be based upon facts upon which the law does not impose a duty upon defendant and in favor of plaintiff. Boyce v. U.S. Steel Corporation, 446 Pa. 226, 285 A.2d 459 (1971). Therefore, in order to rule on the demurrer we must determine whether or not.

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Marzella v. King
389 A.2d 659 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1978)
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85 A.2d 24 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1951)
Thompson v. Peck
181 A. 597 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1935)
Boyce v. United States Steel Corp.
285 A.2d 459 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
37 Pa. D. & C.3d 575, 1984 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 115, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flam-v-smith-pactcomplbeaver-1984.