Middletown Township v. Lands of Stone

882 A.2d 1066
CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedSeptember 13, 2005
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 882 A.2d 1066 (Middletown Township v. Lands of Stone) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Middletown Township v. Lands of Stone, 882 A.2d 1066 (Pa. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinions

OPINION BY

Judge SIMPSON.

This case, which is before the Court a second time, involves a 175-acre farm in Bucks County (Property). The Property was partitioned by stipulated order filed in 1998. During a delay in the approvals and filings contemplated by the stipulated partition order, Middletown Township (Township) condemned the Property.

Currently, there are appeals from three different orders of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County (trial court) in the condemnation action. Francine Lida Stone (Francine) appeals two orders: an October 4, 2002 order determining the effect of the stipulated partition on the subsequent condemnation case; and, a May 9, 2003 order declining to reconsider the October 2002 order. Josef Seegar Stone (Josef) appeals a September 28, 2004 order overruling his Preliminary Objections to the Township’s Declaration of Taking. Because Francine appeals two unappeala-[1069]*1069ble orders, we quash her appeal. Because we discern no error, we affirm the trial court in Josefs appeal.

The partition action was brought by Josef seeking to partition the Property. By stipulation, a judge sitting in orphans’ court ordered the Property partitioned in October 1998. That order stated the Property, “is ORDERED to be partitioned by and between the respective co-tenants whose undivided fee simple interests are as follows: Estate of Ezra Stone 44% Francine Lida Stone 28% Josef Seegar Stone 28%”. Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 22a. Further, the Estate was ordered to file a subdivision plan with the Township, and upon approval of the plan all parties were to cause Parcels A and D (as depicted on an exhibit attached to the stipulation) to be conveyed to the Estate, Parcel B to be conveyed to Francine, and Parcel C to be conveyed to Josef. No appeal was taken from this order.

Almost two years later, the Estate submitted its subdivision plan to the Township for approval at its September 12, 2000 meeting. Two weeks after submission but before approval, the Township filed a Declaration of Taking to take the entire Property under the Eminent Domain Code1 and The Second Class Township Code (Township Code).2 The Township approved the subdivision plan the next month, in October 2000.

No appeal was taken from approval of the subdivision plan. However, both Josef and Francine filed Preliminary Objections to the Declaration of Taking. Francine withdrew her Preliminary Objections in October 2001.

In October 2002, a different trial judge entered a preliminary order determining the effect of the 1998 stipulated partition order on the condemnation action. Essentially, the trial court recognized the unap-pealed partition order as effective despite the delay in the parties’ compliance with it, and the trial court directed the parties to complete the process set forth in the stipulated partition order. This order is the subject of Francine’s appeals.

Francine appealed the October 2002 order to this Court. A single judge of this Court quashed the appeal on the basis that the October 2002 order was a non-final preliminary order determining the effect of the October 1998 partition order. It was not appealable because the October 2002 order did not put Francine out of court in the condemnation case. Stone v. Middletown Township, No. 2630 C.D.2002, 818 A.2d 606 (Pa.Cmwlth. February 21, 2003).

Upon return of this matter to the trial court, Francine sought reconsideration of the October 2002 order. The trial court declined to do so by order of May 2003.

In September 2004, the trial court overruled Josefs Preliminary Objections.3 It is from this September 2004 order that Josef now appeals to this Court.4 Francine, while maintaining her [1070]*1070appeal is timely as to the September 2004 order, does not appeal the September 2004 order. Rather, she appeals only the October 2002 and May 2003 orders.

I. Francine’s Appeal

Francine generally opposes distribution of just compensation according to the stipulated, unappealed 1998 partition order. She argues that the Township’s taking rendered the subsequent subdivision void. Without explanation, she also argues that just compensation should be distributed as set forth in a will, without the passing of title described in the stipulated 1998 partition order. These substantive arguments need not be reached now, however, because neither the October 2002 order nor the May 2008 reconsideration order is ap-pealable.

Francine argues she is entitled to appeal now because the trial court in the condemnation case was not sitting as the orphans’ court, and it therefore lacked subject matter jurisdiction to enter the October 2002 order. She relies on cases holding that subject matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time, even on appeal, and is not waivable.

Francine’s argument ignores this Court’s prior determination that the October 2002 order is not appealable. Issues of subject matter jurisdiction are not waivable, but that does not change the law defining which orders may be appealed. Regardless of the jurisdiction argument, this Court’s prior determination is res ju-dicata 5 that the October 2002 order is not appealable as a final order.6

Francine argues this Court’s prior determination gave her no other route to appellate review than to wait for a final order to be issued. Francine argues, because the September 2004 order overruling Josefs preliminary objections is such a final order, and because she filed her appeal timely with respect to a final order, her appeal is timely.

This argument lacks merit, because Francine does not appeal the September 2004 order. Indeed, as she withdrew her preliminary objections to the taking, she is not aggrieved by that order disposing of preliminary objections. Also, the orders Francine attempts to appeal do not deal with the subject matter of the preliminary objections, the Township’s authority to condemn.

Francine argues the court decisions leave her without any remedy. We disagree. She contests the anticipated manner of distribution, which will be consistent with the stipulated partition order and the approved subdivision. She may appeal any future order setting forth an amount of just compensation and the distribution of that amount. At that time, any questions about preclusion can be addressed.

[1071]*1071Ultimately, because Francine appeals from two unappealable orders, we quash her appeal.

II. Josefs Appeal — Township’s Lack of Authority

Josef raises numerous arguments that the Township was without authority to condemn the Property.

A. Josef first argues the Township exceeded its statutory authority by condemning the Property under the guise of a “recreational” purpose because the true purpose is to prevent development. Josef acknowledges that the Township Code empowers the Township to acquire land by eminent domain for recreational purposes.7 Indeed, the Declaration of Taking states the purpose of the taking is, “to acquire a fee simple interest to the [Property] for recreation and open space purposes pursuant to the [Township Code].”

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Related

In Re Condemnation Proceeding
940 A.2d 624 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2008)
Tamerler v. South Whitehall Township Authority
940 A.2d 624 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2008)
Middletown Township v. Lands of Stone
939 A.2d 331 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2007)
Gilbert v. Economy Borough Municipal Authority
922 A.2d 77 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2007)
Middletown Township v. Lands of Stone
882 A.2d 1066 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2005)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
882 A.2d 1066, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/middletown-township-v-lands-of-stone-pacommwct-2005.