Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors v. Errichetti

269 A.2d 758, 440 Pa. 40, 1970 Pa. LEXIS 528

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: October 9, 1970
• Docket: Appeal, No. 37
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion

Per Curiam,

Upon information obtained from the Maine Board of Medical Examiners, the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors issued a citation charging that Victor Errichetti, appellant, had violated §13(b) of the Funeral Director Law, Act of January 14, 1952, P. L. (1951) 1898, as amended, 63 P.S. §479.13(b) which states that, “No person other than a licensed funeral director or a resident trainee shall prepare or embalm the body of any deceased person.” After a hearing, the Board found that appellant had violated that section, and it ordered that his funeral director’s license be revoked. On appeal the Commonwealth Court affirmed, 89 Dauph. 378 (1968), as did the Superior Court, 215 Pa. Superior Ct. 461, 258 A. 2d 534 (1969). We granted allocatur.

After a careful reading of the record, we conclude that there is substantial evidence to support the finding that appellant violated §13 (b). As to the penalty, however, at oral argument, counsel for the Board admitted that in making its decision to revoke appellant’s license the Board considered matters outside the record in this action. As this was clearly improper, we must vacate the order of the Superior Court and remand the record to the Commonwealth Court which under the Administrative Agency Law, Act of June 4, 1945, P. L. 1388, §44, 71 P.S. §1710.44, has the power to affirm, modify or set aside the revocation order.

The order is vacated, and the record is remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Mr. Justice Roberts dissents and would affirm the order of the lower court. Mr. Justice Jones took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.