Motheral v. Burkhart

583 A.2d 1180, 400 Pa. Super. 408, 1990 Pa. Super. LEXIS 3403

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: December 14, 1990
• Docket: 1378 and 1824
• Status: Published

Opinions

ROWLEY, Judge:

During the course of a bitter custody dispute between appellant G. Brinton Motheral and his wife, Gretchen Burk-hart, from whom he is now divorced, appellant allegedly threatened his wife’s mother, Ann Burkhart. The incident resulted in the filing of criminal charges against appellant, all of which were later dropped or nolle pressed. As a result of the filing of the criminal charges, which he contends were unfounded, appellant instituted the present civil action. In a multi-count complaint he asserted claims of malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress against appellees Ann Burkhart and Deborah Lesko, who was Gretchen Burkhart’s attorney in the divorce action, as well as claims of malicious prosecution and negligence against appellee Kratzenberg, Shields and Lesko, P.C., Lesko’s law firm. Appellant filed these appeals to challenge the trial court’s dismissal of five of the six counts in his complaint.

Before considering the merits of appellant’s claims, we are required to determine whether the orders dismissing some but not all counts of the multi-count complaint are final and appealable. The case has been certified for en bane consideration of this issue, which was previously considered by the Court en banc in Praisner v. Stocker, 313 Pa.Super. 332, 459 A.2d 1255 (1988).

In order to understand the nature of appellant’s claims, we set forth in greater detail the factual and procedural history of the case. On February 5, 1988, Ann Burkhart was in her daughter’s automobile, waiting for her daughter and granddaughter (appellant’s wife and daughter) to return from a doctor’s appointment, when, she asserted, appellant appeared and threatened to kill her. She reported the incident to the police. As a result, appellant was arrested and charged with simple assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2701, terroristic threats, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2706, harassment, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2709, and intimidation of a witness, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4952. At a preliminary hearing, the magistrate dropped the charges of simple assault and intimidation of a witness. Appellant was bound over for trial on the charges of terroristic threats and harassment, but these charges were subsequently nolle pressed by the district attorney.

On June 1, 1988, appellant filed a six-count complaint against appellees. In Counts I and III of the complaint he alleged malicious prosecution on the part of Burkhart and Lesko, respectively. In Counts II and IV he asserted claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress against Burk-hart and Lesko, respectively. Counts V and VI asserted claims of malicious prosecution and negligence, respectively, against the law firm. At the heart of appellant’s claims against Burkhart was the allegation that she knowingly made false accusations in order to procure the filing of criminal charges against him and thereby “to influence other litigation [i.e., the custody proceeding] ... and ... to intimidate, harass, embarrass and otherwise cause harm to” him. As to Lesko, appellant asserted that in an attempt to influence the custody proceeding she encouraged the police to file charges against him even though she knew or should have known that Burkhart’s allegations were untrue. Appellant sought to hold the law firm liable for Lesko’s allegedly tortious actions on the theories of respondeat superior and negligent supervision.

Burkhart filed preliminary objections in the nature of demurrers to Counts I and II, as well as a motion to strike and a motion for a more specific pleading. Lesko filed preliminary objections in the nature of demurrers to Counts III and IV, along with a motion to strike paragraphs 32 through 36 of Count III. The law firm filed preliminary objections in the nature of demurrers to Counts V and VI and a motion to strike paragraph 56 of Count V.

On August 23, 1988, after argument on the preliminary objections, the trial court entered an order sustaining Burk-hart’s preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer to Count II and dismissing that count. The preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer to Count I was overruled. In addition, the trial court sustained Lesko’s preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer to Count IV and granted her motion for a more specific pleading to Count III, granting leave to appellant to amend Count III.¹ The trial court also sustained the law firm’s preliminary objections in the nature of demurrers to Counts V and VI and dismissed those counts. From this order appellant filed an appeal that has been docketed in this Court at No. 1378 Pittsburgh 1988.

Pursuant to the trial court’s order, appellant filed an amended complaint consisting only of Count III, into which he had incorporated paragraphs 1 through 30 (Counts I and II) and paragraphs 35 through 42 of the original complaint. Lesko then filed preliminary objections to the amended complaint in the nature of a demurrer to Count III and a motion to strike paragraphs 22 through 30. In an order entered October 28, 1988, the trial court sustained Lesko’s preliminary objections and dismissed Count III of the amended complaint. Appellant’s appeal of the order was docketed in this Court at No. 1824 Pittsburgh 1988. The two appeals have been consolidated for our review.

I. APPEALABILITY

A.

The Judicial Code provides that this Court “shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction of all appeals from final orders of the courts of common pleas____” Act of July 9, 1976, P.L. 586, No. 142, § 2, effective June 27, 1978, 42 Pa.C.S. § 742 (emphasis added). Pursuant to the Rules of Appellate Procedure promulgated by our Supreme Court, an appeal may be taken as of right (except by the Commonwealth, which may appeal in criminal matters only in the circumstances provided by law) from any final order of the trial court, and such an appeal, if desired, shall be taken by filing a notice of appeal within thirty (30) days after the entry of the order from which the appeal is taken. Pa.R. A.P. 341(a), (c), 902, 903(a); see also Sweener v. First Baptist Church of Emporium, 516 Pa. 534, 533 A.2d 998 (1987).

By legislative and judicial mandate, therefore, this Court is required to determine in each case whether the order appealed from is final. Indeed, it is a fundamental principle of law that an appeal will lie only from a final order unless otherwise permitted by statute or rule. Fried v. Fried, 509 Pa. 89, 93, 501 A.2d 211, 213 (1985). The purpose of this rule is to preclude “piecemeal determinations and the consequent protraction of litigation.” Sweener v. First Baptist Church, 516 Pa. at 538, 533 A.2d at 1000 [quoting Sullivan v. Philadelphia, 378 Pa. 648, 649, 107 A.2d 854, 855 (1954)]; Fried v. Fried, 509 Pa. at 97, 501 A.2d at 215 (quoting same). Because the question of appealability implicates the jurisdiction of the appellate court, a non-waivable matter, the failure of the parties to raise such an issue does not preclude this Court from doing so sua sponte. Fried v. Fried, 509 Pa. at 91, 501 A.2d at 212.

Our Supreme Court has “variously defined a final order as one which ends the litigation, or alternatively disposes of the entire case. Conversely phrased, an order is interlocutory and not final unless it effectively puts the litigant ‘out of court.’ ” Id., 509 Pa. at 93-94, 501 A.2d at 213 [quoting T.C.R. Realty, Inc. v. Cox, 472 Pa. 331, 337, 372 A.2d 721, 724 (1977) ] (additional citations omitted). Whether an order is final and appealable is a judicial determination which cannot be made without an examination of the order’s practical ramifications. Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission v. Atlantic Richfield Company, 482 Pa. 615, 618, 394 A.2d 491, 493 (1978) [quoting Bell v. Beneficial Consumer Co., 465 Pa. 225, 228, 348 A.2d 734, 735 (1975) ]. In making this determination, we are guided by the Supreme Court’s statement that

[a] pivotal consideration in determining whether an order is final and appealable is whether the plaintiff aggrieved by it has, for purposes of the particular action, been put “out of court” on all theories of recovery asserted against a given defendant for a given loss.

Sweener v. First Baptist Church, 516 Pa. at 539, 533 A.2d at 1000.

In the present case the trial court dismissed five counts of a six-count complaint. “As a general rule, an order dismissing some but not all counts of a multi-count complaint is interlocutory and not appealable.” Praisner v. Stocker, 313 Pa.Super. at 337, 459 A.2d at 1258. The same is true of an order granting partial summary judgment. Id. With respect to appellees Lesko and the law firm, however, the finality of the orders in question is nevertheless apparent. In its order of August 23, 1988, the trial court dismissed both counts (V and VI) against the law firm, as well as the counts alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress against Burkhart (II) and Lesko (IV). In its order of October 28, 1988, the court dismissed the remaining count (III, alleging malicious prosecution) against Lesko. Therefore, appellant is “out of court” with respect to Lesko and the law firm, as all counts against them have been dismissed. As suggested by the Supreme Court’s observation in Sweener v. First Baptist Church, quoted above, the dismissal of a complaint as to one of several defendants is a final and appealable order. United States National Bank in Johnstown v. Johnson, 506 Pa. 622, 629, 487 A.2d 809, 813 (1985). Accordingly, the appeals from the order of October 23, 1988 and from the August 23, 1988 order insofar as it dismissed the counts against Lesko and the law firm are properly before us.

With respect to the counts involving Burkhart, the situation is more complicated. Count II, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, has been dismissed; Count I, alleging malicious prosecution, remains. In Praisner v. Stocker, supra, this Court, considering the finality question in the context of an order entering summary judgment on two counts of a three-count complaint, approached the problem as follows:

Where separate and distinct causes of action have been joined under permissive joinder standards of Pa.R.C.P. 1020(a) or Pa.R.C.P. 1044(a), the appealability of a judgment entered on one or more but not all counts must be distinguished from the situation in which separate counts have been used to state alternate theories for recovery on the same cause of action. In the former situation the summary judgment has terminated litigation upon a separate and distinct cause of action. In the latter, an order dismissing or entering judgment on one or more but not all counts of a complaint is interlocutory, for the plaintiff can, nevertheless, proceed to a determination on the underlying cause of action____ In [the latter situation] the plaintiff is not out of court when one of several counts has been dismissed, and it is procedurally preferable to delay appellate review until the entire action has been determined.

Id. 313 Pa.Super. at 341-42, 459 A.2d at 1260 (citations omitted).² In other words, if the dismissed count states a cause of action that is separate and distinct from the remaining counts, the order dismissing that count is final and appealable; if the dismissed count merely states an alternate theory of recovery, the order dismissing it is interlocutory and not appealable.

As noted earlier, a pivotal factor to consider in analyzing whether an order is final is whether the order has put the aggrieved plaintiff out of court, “on all theories of recovery asserted against a given defendant for a given loss.” Sweener v. First Baptist Church, 516 Pa. at 539, 533 A.2d at 1000 (emphasis added).³ Praisner itself emphasizes the importance of the measure of loss:

Thus, the dismissal of a count alleging damages for breach of an express contract is not appealable if an alternate count seeking to recover the same damages based on quantum meruit remains undecided. Similarly, there is no final order where a count averring negligence has been dismissed but there remains undetermined a count alleging liability for a defective product under Section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts.

313 Pa.Super. at 341, 459 A.2d at 1260 (citation omitted; emphasis added). Thus, a plaintiff seeking to recover monies allegedly owed for services rendered—the “given loss” -—may attempt to prove that the defendant breached an express contract or, if no express contract can be proven, that compensation is owed on the basis of quantum meruit [“as much as he deserves,” Black’s Law Dictionary 1119 (5th ed. 1979) ]. If the first of these theories is foreclosed by the trial court, the plaintiff is still able to seek compensation, via the second theory, for the loss suffered. Similarly, a plaintiff seeking compensation for an injury caused by a defective product may argue that the defendant was negligent or, alternatively, that the defendant was strictly liable pursuant to Section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. Should the first of these theories of recovery be dismissed, the action for damages will continue with the plaintiff relying on the second theory. In neither of these cases would the plaintiff be allowed to recover on both theories; in each case, the plaintiff has merely proffered alternative theories for the recovery of a given loss.

The significance of the plaintiff’s loss was recently noted by this Court in Daywalt v. Montgomery Hospital, 393 Pa.Super. 118, 573 A.2d 1116 (1990). In that case the plaintiff had filed a two-count complaint alleging defamation and wrongful suspension, and the latter count was dismissed. The order dismissing the claim for wrongful suspension was final and appealable, this Court held, because “[t]hese claims request different relief for different harms____” Id., 393 Pa.Superior Ct. at 121, 573 A.2d at 1118.

As this Court en bane has observed in Garofolo v. Shah, 400 Pa.Super. 456, 460, 583 A.2d 1205, 1207, (1990), and Trackers Raceway, Inc. v. Comstock Agency, Inc., 400 Pa.Super. 408, 415-417, 583 A.2d 1180, 1184 (1990), while an analysis of the relief requested will lead to resolution of the finality issue in many cases, other cases will require the consideration of additional factors. The analysis required in such cases will be similar to that required of our courts in many analogous situations, as when, for example, we review a decree of equitable distribution in light of the eleven factors enumerated by the legislature, 23 P.S. § 401, or an award of alimony in light of the seventeen factors similarly enumerated, 23 P.S. § 501. See also John M. v. Paula T, 524 Pa. 306, 571 A.2d 1380 (1990) (in determining whether there is “good cause” for court-ordered blood tests under Pa.R.C.P. 4010(a), the court balances interests); Commonwealth v. Dollman, 518 Pa. 86, 541 A.2d 319 (1988) (in deciding whether to admit potentially inflammatory evidence, the trial court is required to balance alleged prejudicial effect against probative value); Hutchison v. Luddy, 398 Pa.Super. 505, 581 A.2d 578 (1990) (in deciding whether to grant a motion to seal records or proceedings under the common law approach, the court weighs factors for and against access).

Before addressing the finality of the orders appealed from in the present case, we note, finally, that additional guidance is provided by the numerous cases that have followed the rationale of Praisner. See, e.g., Hineline v. Stroudsburg Electric Supply, 384 Pa.Super. 537, 559 A.2d 566 (1989) (order dismissing counts of wrongful discharge and intentional interference with contractual relations was final, where claim for breach of fiduciary duty remained); Danko Development Corporation v. Econocast Corporation, 369 Pa.Super. 120, 534 A.2d 1108 (1987) (order dismissing claim based on implied warranty of habitability was not final, where claims of negligence, breach of contract, and misrepresentation remained); Gabriel v. O’Hara, 368 Pa. Super. 383, 534 A.2d 488 (1987) (where plaintiffs’ complaint alleged breach of contract and warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation, order denying petition to add claim for violation of Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL) was final); Hardy v. Pennock Insurance Agency, 365 Pa.Super. 206, 529 A.2d 471 (1989) (where claim of breach of agreement to provide insurance remained, order was not final insofar as it dismissed claim for “negligent breach of contract,” but was final insofar as it dismissed claims of misrepresentation, fraud, and deceit and claims based on alleged violations of Unfair Insurance Practices Act and/or UTPCPL); Newman v. Thom, 359 Pa.Super. 274, 518 A.2d 1231 (1986) (order granting partial summary judgment to defendants on plaintiffs’ claim for retaliatory discharge was final even though other claims, including malicious investigation of plaintiffs’ private affairs, remained); Halliday v. Beltz, 356 Pa.Super. 375, 514 A.2d 906 (1986) (order dismissing plaintiffs’ own claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress was final, even though executor could still proceed on estate’s medical malpractice claim); Post v. Mendel, 336 Pa.Super. 467, 485 A.2d 1176 (1984), rev’d on other grounds, 510 Pa. 213, 507 A.2d 351 (1986) (counts of libel, involving letters to certain individuals, and slander, involving statements to other individuals, set forth separate causes of action); Ellis v. Sherman, 330 Pa.Super. 42, 478 A.2d 1339 (1984), aff'd, 512 Pa. , 515 A.2d 1327 (1986) (order dismissing claim for wrongful life brought on child’s behalf was final, where claims for negligence and breach of contract brought on parents’ behalf remained).

The finality of an order that dismisses a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress but leaves the plaintiff free to proceed on a claim for malicious prosecution (or vice versa) is an issue that has not yet been addressed by this Court. In Field v. Philadelphia Electric Company, 388 Pa.Super. 400, 565 A.2d 1170 (1989), this Court held that an order dismissing some but not all of the plaintiff’s claims, including those for intentional infliction of emotional distress, intentional exposure to radiation, and wrongful discharge, was final. The remaining claims were not specified, however. Id., 388 Pa.Superior Ct. at 404 n. 1, 565 A.2d at 1171 n. 1.

In Ganassi v. Buchanan Ingersoll, 373 Pa.Super. 9, 540 A.2d 272 (1988), an order dismissing claims of defamation, libel, and invasion of privacy (false light) was held to be final, even though plaintiffs remained in court on claims of conspiracy, fraud and deceit, breach of contract, interference with prospective contractual relations, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This Court stated without discussion that the complaint stated separate causes of action. Id., 373 Pa.Superior Ct. at 12 n. 2, 540 A.2d at 274 n. 2.

In Winterhalter v. West Penn Power Company, 355 Pa.Super. 17, 512 A.2d 1187 (1986), the plaintiffs filed a complaint demanding compensation for damages to their property by the defendant’s employees and, on behalf of their minor daughter, for the employees’ intentional infliction of emotional distress during the same incident. This Court held, again without discussion, that the complaint stated separate causes of action and that the order of the trial court striking plaintiffs’ allegation of intentional infliction of emotional distress was therefore final. Id., 355 Pa.Superior Ct. at 21 n. 3, 512 A.2d at 1189 n. 3.

In Cloverleaf Development, Inc. v. Horizon Financial F.A., 347 Pa.Super. 75, 500 A.2d 163 (1985), the trial court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims of wrongful withholding of funds, wrongful interference in negotiations, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, leaving them in court on their claim for breach of contract. This Court held that the order was not final insofar as it dismissed the first of these claims but was final insofar as it dismissed the second and third, which stated separate causes of action. Id,, 347 Pa.Superior Ct. at 81-82, 85, 500 A.2d at 167, 168. The alleged acts of the defendants which formed the basis of the wrongful interference claim were not the same as those upon which plaintiffs based their claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress.

There is even less case law discussing malicious prosecution in a Praisner context. In Bell v. City of Philadelphia, 341 Pa.Super. 534, 491 A.2d 1386 (1985), the trial court had dismissed plaintiffs’ claim for malicious prosecution on the ground that it was barred by the statute of limitations. A claim for damages resulting from an alleged assault and battery remained in the case. This Court held that the trial court’s order was a final determination of the cause of action for malicious prosecution. Id., 341 Pa.Superior Ct. at 541 n. 4, 491 A.2d 1389 n. 4, 491 A.2d 1389 n. 4. In addition, in Robinson v. Robinson, 362 Pa.Super. 568, 525 A.2d 367 (1987), appeal dismissed, 518 Pa. 63, 540 A.2d 529 (1988), an order denying the plaintiff’s petition to amend a complaint to include a count for wrongful use of civil proceedings, a tort similar to malicious prosecution, was held to be final, where the existing counts were for conversion and defamation. Id., 362 Pa.Superior Ct. at 573, 525 A.2d at 369-70.

B.

We turn, then, to the facts of the present case. In order to prevail on a claim of malicious prosecution, the plaintiff must show that the defendant maliciously instituted proceedings against the plaintiff, that the defendant did not have probable cause to institute the proceedings, and that the proceedings terminated in favor of the plaintiff. Kelley v. Local Union 249, 518 Pa. 517, 520-21, 544 A.2d 940, 941 (1988). In Count I of his complaint, appellant asserted that Burkhart caused a criminal complaint to be issued against him by making accusations that were false and unsupported by probable cause, that she did so maliciously and with the intent to cause him harm and to influence other litigation, and that the proceedings terminated in his favor. He also maintained that she “has, in the past, engaged in similar types of conduct and perceivably will continue to engage in said conduct in the future.” As a result of Burkhart’s actions, appellant alleged, he suffered humiliation, embarrassment, incarceration, severe emotional and physical distress, severe damage to his business reputation and his reputation in the community, and great financial expense in the form of health care, both physical and mental, and litigation costs. Burkhart’s actions, appellant asserted, “constitute[d] outrageous conduct.” He made a demand for damages in excess of $25,000.00, plus punitive damages and interest.

To prevail on a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, such as that raised in Count II of appellant’s complaint, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant, by extreme and outrageous conduct, intentionally or recklessly caused the plaintiff severe emotional distress. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46. Comment d of § 46 provides guidance as to what constitutes extreme and outrageous conduct:

It has not been enough that the defendant has acted with an intent which is tortious or even criminal, or that he has intended to inflict emotional distress, or even that his conduct has been characterized by ‘malice,’ or a degree of aggravation which would entitle the plaintiff to punitive damages for another tort. Liability has been found only where the conduct has been so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. Generally, the case is one in which the recitation of the facts to an average member of the community would arouse his resentment against the actor, and lead him to exclaim, “Outrageous!”

Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46, comment d, quoted in Field v. Philadelphia Electric Company; 388 Pa.Super. at 428, 565 A.2d at 1183-84. It is for the court to determine initially whether the defendant’s conduct can be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to permit recovery. Dawson v. Zayre Department Stores, 346 Pa.Super. 357, 359, 499 A.2d 648, 649 (1985). Where reasonable persons may differ, it is for the jury to determine whether the conduct is sufficiently extreme and outrageous so as to result in liability. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46, comment h. Although our Supreme Court has “[left] to another day the question of the viability of section 46 in this Commonwealth,” Kazatsky v. King David Memorial Park, 515 Pa. 183, 185, 527 A.2d 988, 989 (1987), this Court has recognized the existence of a cause of action based on intentional infliction of emotional distress, Field v. Philadelphia Electric Company, supra; Bartanus v. Lis, 332 Pa.Super. 48, 480 A.2d 1178 (1984).⁴

As the basis for his claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress against Burkhart, set forth in Count II of the complaint, appellant incorporated the allegations concerning malicious prosecution stated in Count I and averred that Burkhart had also encouraged unknown persons to telephone his friends and neighbors and accuse him of other unspecified crimes. Burkhart’s intent, he maintained, was to cause him emotional distress, inconvenience, embarrassment, humiliation, and injury to his business reputation. Appellant asserted that as a result of Burkhart’s conduct he suffered sleeplessness, nervousness, irritability, nausea, and severe emotional distress, all of which necessitated continuing treatment by health care professionals. As in Count I, he requested damages in the amount of $25,000.00, plus punitive damages and interest.

In determining whether the portion of the August 23, 1988 order dismissing Count II was final and appealable, we focus upon the loss or losses for which appellant, in Counts I and II, sought recovery. Because appellant’s allegations in this regard, as well as in regard to Burkhart’s actions, are general in nature, we are unable to perceive any significant difference between the losses described in Count I and those described in Count II. To the contrary, it is apparent that the harm alleged in both counts is substantially the same, namely, humiliation and embarrassment, injury to reputation, and physical and emotional distress. Moreover, appellant’s reference in Count I to “similar types of conduct” that Burkhart had engaged in in the past and was likely to repeat in the future could reasonably be read to include the conduct complained of in Count II. This interpretation is strengthened by appellant’s reference in Count I to the “outrageous” nature of Burkhart’s conduct. On the basis of the facts discernible in this case, therefore, we conclude that appellant has not requested “different relief for different harms” but has instead sought recovery for “a given loss.” Accordingly, we hold that the trial court’s order of August 23, 1988, insofar as it dismissed Count II of appellant’s complaint, was interlocutory rather than final and that appellant’s appeal therefrom must be quashed.

II. COUNTS III AND IV: APPELLEE LESKO

We turn next to the merits of appellant’s appeal from the orders dismissing Counts III through VI of his complaint. In doing so, we are mindful of our scope of review as set forth in Field v. Philadelphia Electric Company, supra:

When preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer are filed, we must accept as true all the well-pleaded material facts set forth in the complaint and all reasonable inferences deducible from those facts. Accepting these facts and inferences, we then determine whether the pleader has failed to state a claim for which relief may be granted, and we will affirm the grant of a demurrer only if there is certainty that no recovery is possible. All doubts are resolved in favor of the pleader.

Id. 388 Pa.Super. at 405, 565 A.2d at 1172 (footnote and citations omitted).

Appellant argues, first, that the trial court erred in sustaining Lesko’s preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer to Count III, which alleged malicious prosecution.⁵ In his amended complaint, appellant makes broad allegations that Lesko provided information to Officer Blodgett, the police officer who filed the criminal complaint. Appellant claims that Lesko knew, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that the information which she provided was false and that her actions were done “solely for her benefit and for the anticipated beneficial effect on the pending custody proceedings and not with any reasonable belief that any criminal conduct had actually occurred.” Appellant specifically alleges that Lesko falsely informed Officer Blodgett that appellee Burkhart was to testify in the impending custody proceeding and that appellant had sexually molested his daughter.

Even accepting as true the allegation that Lesko made these statements to Officer Blodgett, we agree with the trial court that appellant has not pled sufficient facts to support a cause of action for malicious prosecution against Lesko. In order to prevail in an action for malicious prosecution, as noted earlier, the plaintiff must show, inter alia, that the defendant instituted the criminal proceedings against the plaintiff. Appellant was arrested for intimidation of a witness, simple assault, terroristic threats, and harassment. The allegations of Count III do not suggest that Lesko initiated these proceedings against appellant or that she provided information concerning the incident between appellant and Burkhart upon which the criminal charges were based. The only connection between the criminal charges against appellant and the allegedly false statements made by Lesko is Lesko’s alleged verification of Ann Burkhart’s status as a prospective witness. As the trial court noted, the only criminal conduct that Lesko allegedly attributed to appellant was the sexual molestation of his daughter; appellant has not been charged with such an offense. We conclude, therefore, that the trial court did not err in dismissing Count III of appellant’s complaint.

In Count IV of his complaint appellant attempts to state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress based on the actions attributed to Lesko in Count III. Appellant cannot recover on such a claim, as noted earlier, unless the conduct complained of was “so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” The conduct attributed to Lesko—making accusations to a police officer that she knew or reasonably should have known were false—was not of such a character. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal of Count IV.

III. COUNTS V AND VI: APPELLEE KRATZENBERG, SHIELDS AND LESKO, P.C.

In Count V of his complaint, appellant alleges that Kratzenberg, Shields and Lesko, P.C., Lesko’s law firm, is liable for malicious prosecution pursuant to the doctrine of respondeat superior. “Where the master is joined with his servant in an action based wholly on the servant’s negligence or misconduct, the master cannot be held liable unless there is a cause of action against the servant----” Skalos v. Higgins, 303 Pa.Super. 107, 113, 449 A.2d 601, 603 (1982); see also Mamalis v. Atlas Van Lines, Inc., 364 Pa.Super. 360, 528 A.2d 198 (1987), aff'd, 522 Pa. 214, 560 A.2d 1380 (1989). Since, as we have found, appellant has no cause of action for malicious prosecution against Lesko, it necessarily follows that he has none against the law firm. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in dismissing Count V of the complaint.

In Count VI, appellant alleges that the law firm was negligent in failing to train, supervise, and prevent unethical and irresponsible conduct by Lesko. Assuming for the sake of argument that appellant has alleged sufficient facts to show that the law firm owed a duty to him and breached that duty, we have already determined that Lesko’s alleged conduct did not contribute to the commencement of criminal proceedings against appellant. Therefore, as there is no causal relationship between the firm’s allegedly negligent supervision and the harm suffered by appellant, the trial court did not err in dismissing Count VI of appellant’s complaint.

In the appeal at No. 1378, the appeal from the portion of the trial court’s order dismissing Count II is quashed. The order is affirmed insofar as it dismisses Counts IV, V, and VI. In the appeal at No. 1824, the order of the trial court dismissing Count III is affirmed. Jurisdiction is relinquished.

BECK, J„, files a concurring opinion. FORD ELLIOTT, J., concurs in the result of the Majority Opinion.

1 . Although the trial judge states that he granted Lesko’s motion for a more specific pleading, we note, as did the trial judge, that Lesko filed a motion to strike rather than a motion for a more specific pleading. A trial court may, on its own motion, permit or require the amendment of a pleading. Delgrosso v. Gruerio, 255 Pa.Super. 560, 564 n. 6, 389 A.2d 119, 121 n. 6 (1978).

2 . When Praisner was decided, Pa.RX.P. 1020(d)(1) permitted, but did not require, the joinder of more than one cause of action, arising out of the same transaction or occurrence, in a single complaint. Subsequently, Rule 1020(d)(1) was amended so that the joinder of more than one cause of action arising out of the same transaction or occurrence is now mandatory. We conclude, however, that the change in the rule does not require a revision of the Praisner holding.

3 . In Sweener the Supreme Court was required to decide the finality of a summary judgment entered against two out of three defendants who subsequently participated in the trial of the third in order to determine the latter’s liability. The Court held that the summary judgment constituted a final and appealable order. Although the Court’s observations concerning finality were not made in response to a Praisner-type situation, they must nevertheless be accorded great authority, not only because they constitute the views of the Commonwealth’s highest court but also because the Supreme Court has never directly addressed Praisner.

4 . In Ford v. Isdaner, 374 Pa.Super. 40, 542 A.2d 137 (1988), alloc. denied, 520 Pa. 617, 554 A.2d 509 (1988), this Court interpreted Kazatsky as making clear "that the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress is not recognized in Pennsylvania.” Id., 374 Pa.Superior Ct. at 44, 542 A.2d at 139. However, since, as the Court noted, the facts of the case did not support a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress in any event, the Court’s interpretation of Kazatsky is dictum and therefore not binding precedent.

5 . Although the trial court suggests that appellant’s statement of matters complained of on appeal is inadequate with respect to Count III, the statement does not defeat our ability to conduct a meaningful appellate review. Accordingly, appellant has not waived his challenge to the dismissal of Count III. Commonwealth v. Van Jordan, 310 Pa.Super. 516, 524, 456 A.2d 1055, 1059 (1983).