521 A.2d 513 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1987
Opinion by
In this unique case, our Court must rule upon the Petition of the Department of Community Afikirs (Department) to open a peremptory judgment directed to be entered by this Court on May 23, 1986.
It is necessary to review the procedural history of this case.
On April 8, 1986, Colston filed a petition for review in the nature of mandamus in this Courts original jurisdiction, contending that since no stay or supersedeas of the Commissions order had been requested or granted, he was entitled to enforcement of that order. The Departments answer admitted that no stay or supersedeas had been sought but contended inter alia that the filing of its petition for review in our appellate jurisdiction
Thereafter, on May 12, 1986, Colston filed a motion for special relief in the nature of peremptory judgment pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. No. 1098,
The Department requested reconsideration which we denied. The Department then filed the instant petition to open on June 23, 1986 and, on July 3, 1986, also filed a petition for allowance of appeal with our Supreme Court. On January 7, 1987, the Supreme Court denied that petition.
In view of our order in No. 849 C.D. 1986 which vacates the Commissions order and remands the case to the Commission for further consideration, it now appears that this matter is moot. We think, however, that
Although Colston raises procedural objections to our consideration of the application now before us
The issue which we feel we must address notwithstanding mootness is whether an appeal to this Court by a Commonwealth agency from an order of another Commonwealth agency constitutes an automatic stay or supersedeas. We hold that it does not.
It is the Departments contention that Pa. R.A.P. 1736(b) clearly provides that it is entitled to an automatic supersedeas in these circumstances. Rule 1736(b) states:
Unless otherwise ordered pursuant to this chapter the taking of an appeal by any party specified in Subdivision (a) of this rule shall operate as a supersedeas in favor of such party.
The Commonwealth is a party mentioned in Subdivision (a).
In Department of Education v. Postlewait, 84 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 568, 482 A.2d 57 (1979), Judge Blatt,
The Department calls our attention to the definition of an appeal in Pa. R.A.P. 102 as including proceedings on petition for review “[wjhere required by the context” of the rule. Our short answer to this argument is that the definition is not required here because the Rules in Chapter 17 separately delineate civil actions, criminal actions and petitions for review as they relate to the
We have considered the other arguments raised in the Departments brief and find them to be without merit.
We conclude that the decision in Postlewait was correct and that the Departments application to open the judgment must be denied.
Order
The application of the Department of Community Affairs to open or vacate peremptory judgment is denied.
The underlying facts are more fully set out in this Court’s opinion filed concurrently herewith to No. 849 C.D. 1986, 104 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 159, 521 A.2d 509 (1987).
4 Pa. Code §§7.161-7.164.
Act of October 4, 1978, P.L. 883, 65 P.S. §§401-413. The State Ethics Act is an unofficial, but commonly used, title for this statute.
No. 849 C.D. 1986.
The motion more properly should have been filed pursuant to the provisions of Pa. R.A.P. 1532.
We denied Colstons request for costs and back pay pending disposition of the proceedings at No. 849 C.D. 1986.
Colston contends that: the application does not set forth grounds sufficient for us to open the judgment; in view of the Departments petition for allowance of appeal, we lack jurisdiction to address the application; and, the Department has not filed a reproduced record. We note that our Court normally does not record oral arguments, therefore, there is no record to reproduce. It is stated in the memorandum opinion in support of the order of May 23, 1986 that the Department abandoned its contention that its appeal to this Court constituted an automatic supersedeas. The Department, of course, now avers that it did not abandon that argument.
Judge Blatt’s decision, being a one-judge opinion, although not binding upon us, may be cited for its persuasive value. See Section 414 of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Internal Operating Procedures, 210 Pa. Code §67.55.
The fact that the Departments petition for allowance of appeal has been denied by the Supreme Court, while not conclusive of the matter, is at least indicative that the Departments position is not crystal clear.