West Mifflin Area School District v. Board of Property Assessment

802 A.2d 687, 2002 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 514

• Court: Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: June 26, 2002
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION BY

Judge FRIEDMAN.

Tech One Associates (Tech One) appeals from the July 17, 2001, order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County (trial court), which dismissed Tech One’s objections to the Masters’ Report (Report) and adopted the Report as the final adjudication of Tech One’s tax assessment appeal. We affirm.

Tech One owns a certain parcel of real estate located in the Borough of West Mifflin (Borough) and known as Lot and Block 312-L-50 (the Property) in the Deed Registry Office of Allegheny County. The Property can be characterized as the out parcel acreage surrounding a commercial development known as Century Three Mall. The Property is a reclaimed slag pile that has been developed as commercial property. Over the years, Tech One has subdivided the Property into a series of distinct, contiguous parcels, many of which are occupied by commercial tenants who have varying degrees of responsibility for the payment of real estate taxes. (Trial court op. at 2-3.)

Tech One filed tax assessment appeals with the trial court contesting the tax assessment decision of the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Board) with respect to the tax years 1986 through 1999. The trial court consolidated the appeals. A number of Tech One’s tenants have intervened in the appeals because the tenants’ leases require them to pay additional rents based on the tax assessments. The tenants who have intervened are: (1) National City Bank, formerly Equibank; (2) Giant Eagle; (3) Wendy’s; (4) McKnight Family Center No. 3, or Chuck E. Cheese; and (5) Ames Department Stores, Inc. (collectively, Intervenors). Ames has settled its dispute and is no longer a party to the appeals. (Trial court op. at 3.)

The trial court appointed Masters, who conducted three evidentiary hearings on the matter. Tech One, the Borough and the West Mifflin Area School District (School District) presented a stipulation of the fair market value and assessment for each parcel from 1986 to 1999 (Stipulation). {See R.R. at 62a-142a.) Interve-nors offered expert testimony as to the value of their own individual parcels.

After considering the evidence, the Masters issued the Report, recommending fair market values and assessed values for each parcel for the tax years 1986 through 1999. With respect to Intervenors’ parcels, the Masters accepted the expert testimony presented by Intervenors and recommended fair market values and assessed values that were less than those set forth in the Stipulation. As for the other parcels, the Masters adopted the Stipulation and incorporated it into the Report. Tech One filed objections with the trial court, which the trial court dismissed. Tech One then filed an appeal with this court.¹

Subsequently, Giant Eagle filed an application to participate as a real party in interest in the appeal. Tech One filed objections, which this court treated as a motion to strike Giant Eagle’s application. By order dated April 11, 2002, this court granted Tech One’s motion because Giant Eagle failed to file a response. Giant Eagle filed a petition for reconsideration, arguing that: (1) this court never notified Giant Eagle prior to issuance of the April 11, 2002, order that it was treating Tech One’s objections as a motion to strike; (2) no procedural rule required Giant Eagle to respond to Tech One’s objections; and, (3) by granting the motion to strike, this court prematurely decided one of the issues before this court on appeal, i.e., Giant Eagle’s status as a party before the trial court. We agree with Giant Eagle. Therefore, we strike this court’s April 11, 2002, order, reinstate the application to participate as a real party in interest and, for the reasons that follow, grant the application.

I. Standing of Giant Eagle

Tech One argues that Giant Eagle lacked standing in the appeal before the trial court once Ames discontinued its claim because Giant Eagle was a subtenant of Ames.² We disagree.

A. Effect of Ames Discontinuance

Allegheny County Local Rule A503(e) states that “[t]he filing of an appeal by any party shall act as an appeal by all parties.” (S.R.R. at 2b.) That being the case, the discontinuance of the appeal by Ames had no effect on the continuance of the assessment appeal by other parties. Indeed, Giant Eagle itself was a party, having intervened separately from Ames,³ and Giant Eagle did not discontinue its appeal. (See R.R. at 59a-60a, 181a-82a.)

B. Giant Eagle’s Sub-tenant Standing

As to whether Giant Eagle had standing as a sub-tenant to appeal a tax assessment, section 518.1(a) of the General County Assessment Law (Law), Act of May 22, 1933, P.L. 853, added by section 2 of the Act of December 28, 1955, P.L. 917, as amended, 72 P.S. § 5020-518.1(a) (emphasis added), states:

Any owner of real estate or taxable property in this Commonwealth, who may feel aggrieved by the last or any future assessment or valuation of his real estate or taxable property, may appeal from the decision of the ... Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review ....

Pennsylvania courts have determined that the word “owner” includes not only the registered owner of the real estate, but also an equitable owner or owner of a taxable interest in the property. In re Baltimore & O.R.R, 405 Pa. 349, 175 A.2d 841 (1961); Filbern Manor Apartments v. Board of Assessment Appeals, 138 Pa.Cmwlth. 660, 589 A.2d 279 (1991), appeal denied, 529 Pa. 626, 600 A.2d 541 (1991); In re Blue Knob Recreation, Inc., 122 Pa.Cmwlth. 156, 551 A.2d 9 (1988), appeal denied, 522 Pa. 597, 562 A.2d 321 (1989).

In In re West Allegheny School District, 797 A.2d 414 (Pa.Cmwlth.2002), this court held that the holder of a commercial sublease that obligates the sub-lessee to pay the real estate taxes has standing to challenge a tax assessment. This court stated that the sub-lessee “is the ‘owner’ of a non-freehold, possessory interest in the taxable property for a term of years, something less than legal or equitable ownership, but ownership nonetheless for the purposes of Section 518.1.” Id., 797 A.2d at 418 (footnotes omitted). Thus, here, Giant Eagle has standing as a sub-tenant of Ames for purposes of section 518.1 of the Law.

II. Motion to Strike

Tech One argues next that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to sustain Tech One’s motion to strike the valuation testimony of National City Bank. We disagree.

National City Bank presented expert testimony regarding the value of its building, but not the value of the land upon which the building is situated.⁴ However, the expert testified clearly that the value of the land was set forth in the lease, i.e., $18,000 per year for all of the years in question. (R.R. at 337a.) Because the testimony did include the value of the land, it was not an error to deny the motion to strike.

III.Bias

Tech One also claims that the Masters manifested a predisposed bias to “come down with decisions for one side or the other at its own valuations.” (Tech One’s brief at 26.) In other words, Tech One maintains that the Masters had a habit of simply picking one side’s figures and adopting that side’s valuations. Tech One asserts that, instead of ignoring the evidence of one side or the other, the Masters should have weighed the evidence. Tech One contends that, here, the Masters ignored the Stipulation with respect to the parcels of Wendy’s and McKnight Family Center No. 3/Chuck E. Cheese.

We are not persuaded by this argument. The Masters did not ignore the Stipulation. In fact, except for the valuations of Intervenors’ properties, the Masters adopted the Stipulation and incorporated it into its decision. (R.R. at 480a.) Thus, we are unable to conclude that the Masters manifested bias against Tech One or the Stipulation.⁵

IV.McKnight Remodeling

Tech One further argues that the trial court erred by ignoring evidence of extensive remodeling done to the McKnight Family Building in 1998 and 1999. We disagree.

In 1998 and 1999, the McKnight Family Center No. 3/Chuck E. Cheese property was converted into a gym called Power House. The Stipulation shows an increase in value for those years, but Intervenors’ expert testimony indicated that the conversion resulted in a decrease in value. The trial court’s function in a tax assessment appeal is to determine a value for the property based upon competent and credible evidence. Green v. Schuylkill County Board of Assessment Appeals, 730 A.2d 1017 (Pa.Cmwlth.1999), aff'd, 565 Pa. 185, 772 A.2d 419 (2001). In that regard, the trial court may accept all, none or part of an expert’s testimony. Id. Here, the fact finder believed expert testimony that the value of the property decreased after the conversion to a gym. That was not improper.

V.Individual Parcel Evidence

Tech One next objects to the fact that Intervenors presented evidence only with respect to the value of their individual parcels. Tech One argues that Interve-nors were required to present evidence as to the value of every parcel, or the total value of the entire Property. We disagree.

In making this argument, Tech One relies on case law holding that the concern of the court in a tax assessment appeal is the total assessment of the property as a whole. In re Rieck Ice Cream Co., 417 Pa. 249, 209 A.2d 383 (1965). Courts have stated that separate assessments are but an intermediate step towards ascertainment of the taxable value of the property as a whole. Id. However, such statements do not preclude intermediate partial assessments of the property; the case law requires only that there be a final valuation of the entire property.⁶ See McKnight Shopping Center, Inc. v. Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review of County of Allegheny, 417 Pa. 234, 209 A.2d 389 (1965) (noting that the proper assessment procedure is to value the property as a whole; however, separate values may be required for portions of the property).

VI. Waiver of Right to Appeal

Tech One next argues that Intervenors waived their right to appeal because they did not appeal themselves; instead, they sought intervention after Tech One filed an appeal. However, as indicated above, Allegheny County Local Rule A503(e) states that “[t]he filing of an appeal by any party shall act as an appeal by all parties.” (S.R.R. at 2b) (emphasis added). Thus, when Tech One filed an appeal, it acted as an appeal by Intervenors. As such, Intervenors did not waive their right to appeal.

Moreover, Tech One’s argument presupposes that Intervenors had a right to appeal the assessment as an “owner” under section 518.1 of the Law. The local rules specifically allow for intervention pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, i.e., where the person could have joined, or been joined, as an original party in the action. Pa. R.C.P. No. 2327(3). As “owners,” Intervenors could have joined, or been joined, as an original party in the action. Thus, although Intervenors did not file their own appeal, Intervenors had a right to intervene.

VII. Weight of Evidence

Finally, Tech One argues that the assessments for Wendy’s and McKnight Family Center No. 3/Chuck E. Cheese are against the weight of the evidence. We disagree.

As for Wendy’s, Tech One points out that Wendy’s expert used an exotic capitalization methodology instead of the usual straight-line capitalization. (Tech One’s brief at 39.) However, the expert explained his reasons for using the methodology he chose, and the expert’s testimony was accepted by the fact-finder. (See R.R. at 251a.) With respect to McKnight Family Center No. 3/Chuck E. Cheese, Tech One again contends that the expert testimony ignored remodeling that enhanced the value of the parcel. However, this was simply another credibility determination by the fact-finder. As such, it was not improper.

Accordingly, we affirm.

ORDER

AND NOW, this 26th day of June, 2002, the petition for reconsideration filed by Giant Eagle is granted, and this court’s April 11, 2002, order in this case is stricken. Giant Eagle’s reinstated application to participate as a real party in interest is granted. In addition, the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, dated July 17, 2001, is hereby affirmed.

1 . This court's scope of review in a tax assessment appeal is limited to a determination of whether the trial court abused its discretion, committed an error of law or whether its decision is supported by substantial evidence. Wilson Area School District v. Easton Hospital, 561 Pa. 1, 747 A.2d 877 (2000).

2 . When Ames filed its Praecipe to Settle and Discontinue with Prejudice, the cover sheet stated that it was filed on behalf of Ames and Giant Eagle. (R.R. at 499a.) However, the actual praecipe stated, "Kindly settle and discontinue the above action on behalf of Ames....” (R.R. at 500a.) Counsel for Giant Eagle subsequently wrote a letter to counsel for Ames, pointing out that Giant Eagle was not a party to the settlement, was not bound by it and would insist on full reimbursement of its pro rata share of any tax refund. (S.R.R. at 193b.) In response, counsel for Ames stated that putting Giant Eagle on the cover sheet was an oversight and that the praecipe itself pertained only to Ames. (S.R.R. at 195b.)

3 . To the extent that Tech One contends that the trial court erred in allowing Giant Eagle to intervene in this matter, that issue is waived. The record indicates that all parties consented, either by telephone or letter, to Giant Eagle’s intervention in this tax assessment appeal. (R.R. at 58a.)

4 . This is because National City Bank's lease with Tech One requires that National City Bank pay the real estate taxes on the building only. In other words, National City Bank needed a finding of the assessment on the building alone in order to know its liability under the lease. Despite its lease with National City Bank, Tech One moved to strike the valuation testimony of National City Bank’s expert because it did not take into account the value of the land.

5 . We note that, in tax assessment appeals, a stipulation as to the fair market value of land or improvements is merely an evidentiary expedient and does not alter the court’s obligation to pass upon and to determine the correctness of the property assessment as a whole. Pittsburgh Miracle Mile Town & Country Shopping Center, Inc. v. Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review of Allegheny County, 417 Pa. 243, 209 A.2d 394 (1965).

6 . Moreover, we note that a challenge to the valuation of one parcel is a challenge to the total valuation because, as the valuation of one parcel changes, so does the total valuation.