Shippen Township v. Portage Township

551 A.2d 409 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1988

Opinion by

Senior Judge Narick,

This is an appeal by Shippen Township (Shippen) from an $18,801.20 verdict of the Court of Common Pleas of Cameron County rendered against Shippen and in favor of Portage Township (Portage). For the reasons set forth herein, we vacate and remand.

The parties are in agreement as to the following facts. On February 16, 1984, a Shippen garbage truck weighing approximately 121/2 tons sank into a depression which was directly over what has been referred to as a bridge, said bridge located in Portage. This bridge consisted of two sixty-inch pipes or culverts which crossed underneath the roadway. The posted weight limit for the bridge .was five tons. Portage thereafter filed a negligence action against Shippen for damages allegedly caused by the Shippen truck to the bridge.

There are two issues presented for our resolution on appeal: (1) whether the negligence of Shippen was a substantial factor in causing damage to the Portage bridge and (2) whether the trial courts reliance on Commonwealth v. Estate of Crea, 92 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 242, 483 A.2d 996 (1977) in its calculation of damages was proper.

Initially, we note that our scope of review is confined to a determination of whether the trial court based its findings of fact on substantial evidence or committed an error of law. Hando v. Commonwealth, 84 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 63, 478 A.2d 932 (1984). Thus, the trial court serving as factfinder is responsible for making credibility determinations and resolving testimonial conflicts. Id. Also see Miller v. C. P. Centers, Inc., 334 Pa. Superior Ct. 623, 483 A.2d 912 (1984).

As to the first issue raised by Shippen, in order to hold a municipality liable it is not enough to show negligence. It must be shown that the negligence was the proximate cause of the harm, or stated .another way, a substantial factor in causing the harm. Farnell v. Winterloch Corp., 106 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 542, 527 A.2d 204 (1987). Unless the evidence clearly establishes the causal connection, it is the duty of the factfinder (the trial court herein) to determine whether an actors conduct was a substantial factor in causing the harm. See Farnell.

Without setting forth any factual findings on the issue of causation or damages,, the. trial court awarded Portage the replacement value of the bridge or $18,801-.20, stating that the damage award was based upon the reasoning of Crea.¹ It is provided in Pa. R.A.P. 1925:

Upon receipt of the notice of appeal the judge who entered the order appealed from, if the reasons for the order do not already appear of record shall forthwith file of record at least a brief statement, in the form of an opinion, of the reasons for the order, or for the rulings or other matters complained of, or shall specify in writing the place in the record where such reasons may be found.

Thus, because factfinding and resolution of testimonial conflicts are not a review prerogative of this Court, we must remand to the trial court with direction to make findings of feet.

We now turn to the application of Crea to the case sub judice. It is well settled law in Pennsylvania that the measure of damages for injury to property is the cost of repairs where the injury is repairable; but is the decrease in the feir market value where the injury is permanent. Miller; Wade v. S. J. Groves & Sons Co., 283 Pa. Superior Ct. 464, 424 A.2d 902 (1981); Marlowe v. Lehigh Township, 100 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 201, 514 A.2d 304 (1986); Crea. However, the courts have recognized that where the injury is partially repairable and partially permanent, damages have been allowed for reduction in feir market value in addition to the cost of repairs. See Wade. Proof of damages must be established with reasonable certainty. Crea.

In the Crea case, a bridge collapsed when the decedent negligently drove his automobile against the bridge superstructure. The evidence in Crea established that the bridge, which had been totally destroyed, was not repairable or restorable to its prior condition before the accident, and that a bridge such as the bridge in question would not be designed today. Judge Bowman stated in Crea that application of the general damage formula to property in the public domain which had been totally destroyed was not proper because of the impossibility of placing a fair market value on such propérty. For this reason, the replacement value of the bridge was awarded to the Commonwealth.

Lastly, based upon our decision herein, we need not address Portages request for counsel fees, costs and delayed damages.

Accordingly, we remand this matter to the trial court for the purpose of issuing findings of fact consistent with this opinion and a new decision based thereon.

Order

And Now, this 21st day of December, 1988, the order in the above-captioned matter is hereby vacated and the matter is remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Cameron County for the purpose of issuing findings of fact consistent with this opinion and a new decision based thereon.

Jurisdiction relinquished.

1 The trial court also denied Portages petition for delay damages.