Parrish v. Taystee Baking Co.

72 Pa. D. & C.4th 184
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedDecember 28, 2004
Docketno. 0115; no. 1902
StatusPublished

This text of 72 Pa. D. & C.4th 184 (Parrish v. Taystee Baking Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Parrish v. Taystee Baking Co., 72 Pa. D. & C.4th 184 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2004).

Opinion

QUIÑONES ALEJANDRO, J,

INTRODUCTION

These appeals are from two separate orders dated September 13,2004, which enforced a settlement agreement reached by the parties prior to the commencement of a jury trial. Briefly, the pertinent facts and procedural history are as follows:

On October 12,1999, while exiting Interstate 476 (the Blue Route) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Maria Parrish Tungol was rear-ended by a Stroehmann Bread truck being driven by Gilberto Wilson (defendant Wilson). On July 17,2001, as a result of the alleged injuries suffered, including, inter alia, spinal strain, somatic dysfunction, myofascial pain, and exacerbation of an inflammatory bowel disease,1 John Parrish and Maria Parrish Tungol (husband and wife, both attorneys, plaintiffs) filed a motor vehicle/civil action against defendant Wilson and his employer, Stroehmann’s Bakeries, LC.2

On October 1,2001, plaintiffs filed a writ of summons against Taystee Baking Co., and Stroehmann Line-Haul LP, Stroehmann Bakeries Inc. a/k/a Stroehmann Bread Company t/a Stroehmann Line-Haul LP (collectively, [186]*186defendant Stroehmann) for the same alleged injuries.3 Although a complaint was never filed on the latter action, plaintiffs filed a motion to consolidate these actions. By order dated March 5, 2002, the Honorable Esther R. Sylvester consolidated the civil actions under the lead case captioned October term 2001, no. 0115.

From the official record (docket), it appears that plaintiffs were initially represented by Alan M. Herman, Esquire. By an order dated February 20, 2003, which was issued by the Honorable Jacqueline F. Allen, paid counsel was allowed to withdraw his representation. On April 10, 2003, John M. Dodig, Esquire, entered his appearance on behalf of plaintiffs. He, too, requested leave to withdraw as counsel, which was granted by an order dated December 2,2003, and issued by Judge Allen. On March 1, 2004, Robert B. White Jr., Esquire, entered his appearance on behalf of plaintiffs.

As previously stated, on March 4, 2004, prior to the commencement of the jury trial, the parties, represented by counsel, entered into a settlement agreement, and the jury was excused. The general basic terms of the agreement were made part of the court record.4

On June 21, 2004, defendant Stroehmann filed a motion to enforce the settlement agreement. In response, on July 21,2004, plaintiffs filed a motion for sanctions pursuant to the provisions of Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 229.1.5 On July 23,2004, plaintiffs filed their own motion to enforce the settlement.

[187]*187This trial judge scheduled oral arguments on these three motions for August 26, 2004. On that date, counsel and all parties except Maria Parrish Tungol were present. Plaintiffs’ counsel advised this trial judge that the parties’ misunderstandings were resolved and oral argument would not be needed. Pursuant to the request of both parties’ counsel, this trial judge held the motions in abeyance until September 13, 2004, to ensure that the terms of the settlement agreement had, in fact, been satisfied.6

On September 13, 2004, this trial judge was advised that plaintiffs refused to sign the release form, contraiy to their previous assertions to the court. After entertaining argument, by orders dated September 13,2004, this trial judge granted defendant Stroehmann’s motion to enforce the settlement agreement and directed defendant Stroehmannto deliver the settlement proceeds of $68,000 to plaintiffs within 10 days of receipt of the signed general release agreement provided by defendant Stroeh-mann. Specifically, this trial judge issued two separate orders which contained, in its pertinent part, the following:

“Plaintiffs are directed to execute a general release in the form requested by defendants within 10 days of the date of this order. Plaintiffs’ failure to comply with this order will result in the imposition of appropriate sanctions upon application to the court;”7 and
“Plaintiffs [ ] sign[ ] the general release provided by defendant’s counsel.”8

[188]*188Dissatisfied with this trial judge’s orders, plaintiffs, who for the purpose of this appeal appear to be acting pro se, filed two distinct appeals to the Superior Court arguing that the orders dated September 13, 2004, were entered in error. This trial judge disagrees and, in the interest of judicial efficiency, has consolidated plaintiffs’ arguments in this opinion.

ISSUES

In response to an order issued in accordance with Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b), plaintiffs, on November 1, 2004, filed of record a statement of matters complained of on appeal and argued that this trial judge erred in that:

“(1) Plaintiffs cannot be compelled to execute a written agreement that is not in all respects consistent with the oral settlement agreement recorded in the transcript of the trial proceedings of March 4, 2004;
“(2) the requirement that plaintiffs execute defendants’ version of the general release is contrary to basic principles of contract law and at odds with the court’s finding that there is a binding and enforceable agreement to settle the above actions in the amount of $68,000;
“(3) the order of September 13, 2004 (control no. 074579) is indefinite since, in fact, the court granted plaintiffs’ petition only to the extent that the court found that there was a binding and enforceable settlement agreement on March 4, 2004.
“(4) Defendants’ contentions of potential liability to plaintiffs’ prior counsel should not have been given any weight by the court since the contentions have no basis in either the facts or the law;
[189]*189“(5) the court’s addition of a condition precedent to the oral settlement agreement recorded in the transcript of March 4, 2004, is contrary to basic principles of contract law;
“(6) as a matter of law, the court cannot rewrite an agreement made by the parties by adding a condition precedent to defendants’ obligation to pay the settlement funds;
“(7) the requirements in the order of September 13, 2004 (control no. 074579) that defendants’ version of the general release must be signed by plaintiffs prior to payment of the settlement funds is contrary to established Pennsylvania law;
“(8) the requirement in the order of September 13,2004 (control no. 074579) that defendants’ version of the general release must be signed by plaintiffs prior to payment of the settlement funds is unreasonable and unfairly detrimental to plaintiffs; and
“(9) defendants’ arguments regarding the need for indemnification against liens are contradicted by the admissions and actions of defendants’ counsel whereby defendants waived indemnification by plaintiffs.
“(10) As a matter of law, extrinsic evidence such as defendants’ allegations of statements and/or agreements made during preliminary discussions of March 3 and 4, 2004, may not be considered to determine the intent of the parties;

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Bluebook (online)
72 Pa. D. & C.4th 184, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parrish-v-taystee-baking-co-pactcomplphilad-2004.