Stimpson v. Myers

18 Pa. D. & C.5th 490
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Clearfield County
DecidedSeptember 9, 2010
Docketno. 2010-916-CD
StatusPublished

This text of 18 Pa. D. & C.5th 490 (Stimpson v. Myers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Clearfield County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stimpson v. Myers, 18 Pa. D. & C.5th 490 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010).

Opinion

AMMERMAN, P.J.,

This action arises out of a motor vehicle accident, which occurred at the intersection of Bigler Road and U.S. Route 322 in Bradford Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, on March 29, 2010. Plaintiff Jamie Stimpson (hereinafter “plaintiff’) alleges she suffered injuries when her vehicle was struck by a vehicle operated by defendant Jason L. Myers and owned by defendant R.W. Frazee, LLC.

On May 24, 2010, plaintiff filed a complaint in civil actionagainstboth defendants. On June 21,2010, defendants filed preliminary objections to plaintiff’s complaint. On August 31, 2010, counsel for all parties appeared before this court for arguments on said preliminary objections. Counsel previously submitted briefs to the court in support of or in opposition to defendants’ preliminary objections.

Defendants raise numerous preliminary objections to plaintiff’s complaint. First, it alleges that punitive damages were improperly pleaded as a separate count. Second, defendants seek all references to “recklessness,” “wantonness,” or “willful, wanton and reckless actions” be struck from the complaint because it does not support a claim for punitive damages. Next, defendants allege insufficient specificity in violation of Rule 1028(3) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Lastly, defendants request the court strike reference to the West Virginia Commercial Driver’s Manual. The court considers each of these issues in turn.

I. Punitive damages as a separate count

Count III of plaintiff’s complaint improperly claimed [492]*492punitive damages as a separate and distinct count. Punitive damages, however, are not a separate cause of action. Nix v. Temple Univ., 596 A.2d 1132, 1138 (Pa. Super. 1991). Plaintiff acknowledged in its brief that punitive damages were not a separate cause of action and offered to amend its complaint to comply with the rules. Because the court has the discretion to grant leave to amend pleadings and because the amendment does not add a new cause of action, the court grants plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint.

II. References to “willful,” “wanton” or “reckless” conduct

Defendants also ask the court to strike any and all reference to willful, wanton, or reckless conduct in the remaining counts. The court, however, is satisfied that plaintiff has averred sufficient material facts to support a claim for punitive damages and thus refuses to strike such language.

Pennsylvania is a fact pleading state. Pa. R.C.P. 1019(a). Not only should a complaint give the defendant notice of what the plaintiff’s claims are, it should also summarize the facts essential to that claim. Smith v. Brown, 423 A.2d 743,745 (Pa. Super. 1980). To support a claim for punitive damages, the essential fact is the outrageousness of the defendant’s conduct. Id.

Pennsylvania law looks to the restatement of torts for guidance: outrageous conduct is an “act done with a bad motive or with a reckless indifference to the interests of others. Focht v. Rabada, 268 A.2d 157, 159 (Pa. Super. 1970) (citing Restatement of Torts § 908 Comment (b) The court in Focht went on to define “reckless indifference,” or wanton misconduct, as it is commonly referred, as:

[493]*493The actor has intentionally done an act of an unreasonable character, in disregard of a risk known to him or so obvious that he must be taken to have been aware of it, and so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow. Id. (quoting Evans v. Phila. Trans. Co., 418 Pa. 567, 212 A.2d 440 (1965).

To support a claim for punitive damages, a plaintiff must aver facts in the complaint sufficient to put the defendant on notice of what outrageous conduct was alleged. Facts, not conclusions, must be pleaded. Smith, supra, at 121. See also Brownawell v. Bryan, 40 Pa. D. & C. 3d 604 (Ct. C.P. 1985) (“The mere pleading of outrageous conduct” does not satisfy the standard.). The court is required to accept as true all well pleaded material facts, as well as inferences reasonably deduced from them. Webb Manuf. Co. v. Sinoff, 674 A.2d 723 (Pa. Super. 1996). Because the finder of fact is responsible for determining whether the defendant acted in an outrageous manner, “the court should decide the viability of a punitive damages claim ‘only when no reasonable inference from the facts alleged support a punitive award.’” Rivero v. Timblin, 2010 WL 2914400 (Ct. C.P. 2010) (quoting F. Supp. 200 (E.D. Pa. 1995).

Here, the court is satisfied that the plaintiff averred sufficient material facts in her complaint. As to count I, the plaintiff avers that defendant Myers was speeding, traveling too fast for conditions, disobeyed traffic signals, failed to drive in an attentive manner, violated numerous laws, and knew or should have known that his vehicle was unsafe or improperly maintained. Complaint ¶ 26. Although the court is not convinced that allegations of speeding, disobeying traffic signals, and inattentive driving alone would bring this case outside the realm of [494]*494ordinary negligence into the world of outrageous conduct and punitive damages, it is conceivable that a trier of fact would find driving a vehicle with actual or constructive knowledge of defects is outrageous and warrants punitive damages.

Similarly, in count II, the plaintiff alleges defendant Frazee failed to properly train its employees, including Mr. Myers; knew or should have known about Myers’s unsafe driving record; failed to properly maintain and inspect vehicles; and developed routes and deadlines that encouraged unsafe driving. Complaint ¶29. Again, if taken as true, as is required, this court finds that such conduct may support a claim for punitive damages. See George v. Caravan Express, Inc., 9 Pa. D. & C. 4th 593, 594 (Pa. C.P. 1990) (finding allegation of inadequate training by defendant trucking company is sufficient for punitive damages); Zaborowski v. Hospitality Care Ctr. of Hermitage, Inc., 2002 WL 32129508 (Pa. Ct. C.P. 2002) (finding allegation that health care provider failed to properly train and supervise employees is sufficient for punitive damages).

Because the court finds there is a reasonable inference from which a fact finder could conclude a punitive damage award is supported, the court declines to strike language such as “willful,” “wanton,” or “reckless” from plaintiff’s complaint.

III. Insufficient specificity regarding statutes/ regulations

Next, defendants argue that certain paragraphs — specifically, paragraphs 26(bb)-(dd); 29(b), (x), (y); 32(e); and 34(f) — should be stricken because they [495]*495lack specificity.1 As stated above, Pennsylvania is a fact pleading state, and sufficient facts must be pleaded to put the defendant on notice of what claims plaintiff assert. Pa.

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Related

Yacoub v. Lehigh Valley Medical Associates, P.C.
805 A.2d 579 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2002)
Focht v. Rabada
268 A.2d 157 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1970)
Webb Manufacturing Co. v. Sinoff
674 A.2d 723 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1996)
Smith v. Brown
423 A.2d 743 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1980)
Nix v. Temple University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
596 A.2d 1132 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
Evans v. Philadelphia Transportation Co.
212 A.2d 440 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1965)
Goldberg v. Friedrich
124 A. 186 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1924)
Commonwealth v. Shipley Humble Oil Co.
370 A.2d 438 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1977)
Brownawell v. Bryan
40 Pa. D. & C.3d 604 (Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, 1985)
Brueckner v. Stewart
82 Pa. D. & C.4th 454 (Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, 2006)
George v. Caravan Express Inc.
9 Pa. D. & C.4th 593 (Fayette County Court, 1990)

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Bluebook (online)
18 Pa. D. & C.5th 490, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stimpson-v-myers-pactcomplclearf-2010.