THE COURTS
Title 246—MINOR
COURT CIVIL RULES
PART I. GENERAL
[ 246 PA. CODE CHS. 500 AND 1000 ]
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515—516 and the Official Note to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 1007
[46 Pa.B. 984]
[Saturday, February 27, 2016]The Minor Court Rules Committee is planning to propose to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania the amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515—-516 and the Official Note to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 1007, adding a cross-reference regarding termination of a supersedeas and making stylistic changes, for the reasons set forth in the accompanying explanatory report. Pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(a)(1), the proposal is being republished in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for comments, suggestions, or objections prior to submission to the Supreme Court.
Any reports, notes, or comments in the proposal have been inserted by the Committee for the convenience of those using the rules. They neither will constitute a part of the rules nor be officially adopted by the Supreme Court.
Additions to the text of the proposal are bolded; deletions to the text are bolded and bracketed.
The Committee invites all interested persons to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in writing to:
Pamela S. Walker, Counsel
Minor Court Rules Committee
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
PO Box 62635
Harrisburg, PA 17106-2635
FAX: 717-231-9526
minorrules@pacourts.usAll communications in reference to the proposal should be received by April 27, 2016. E-mail is the preferred method for submitting comments, suggestions, or objections; any e-mailed submission need not be reproduced and resubmitted via mail. The Committee will acknowledge receipt of all submissions.
By the Minor Court Rules Committee
DONNA R. BUTLER,
Chair
Annex A
TITLE 246. MINOR COURT CIVIL RULES
PART I. GENERAL
CHAPTER 500. ACTIONS FOR THE RECOVERY OF POSSESSION OF REAL PROPERTY Rule 515. Request for Order for Possession.
A. If the magisterial district judge has rendered a judgment arising out of a non-residential lease that the real property be delivered up to the plaintiff, the plaintiff may, after the 15th day following the date of the entry of the judgment, file with the magisterial district judge a request for an order for possession. The request shall include a statement of the judgment amount, return, and all other matters required by these rules.
B. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph [(2)] B(2), if the magisterial district judge has rendered a judgment arising out of a residential lease that the real property be delivered up to the plaintiff, the plaintiff may after the 10th day but within 120 days following the date of the entry of the judgment, file with the magisterial district judge a request for an order for possession. The request shall include a statement of the judgment amount, return, and all other matters required by these rules.
(2) In a case arising out of a residential lease, if before the plaintiff requests an order for possession,
(a) an appeal or writ of certiorari operates as a supersedeas; or
(b) proceedings in the matter are stayed pursuant to a bankruptcy proceeding; and
(c) the supersedeas or bankruptcy stay is subsequently stricken, dismissed, lifted, or otherwise terminated so as to allow the plaintiff to proceed to request an order for possession,
the plaintiff may request an order for possession only within 120 days of the date the supersedeas or bankruptcy stay is stricken, dismissed, lifted, or otherwise terminated.
Official Note: The [fifteen days in subdivision] 15 days in paragraph A of this rule, when added to the [16 day] 16-day period provided for in Rule 519A, will give the defendant time to obtain a supersedeas within the appeal period. See Rules 1002, 1008, 1009, and 1013.
The 1995 amendment to section 513 of The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P. S. § 250.513, established a [ten-day] 10-day appeal period from a judgment for possession of real estate arising out of a residential lease; therefore, the filing of the request for order for possession in subparagraph B(1) is not permitted until after the appeal period has expired. In cases arising out of a residential lease, the request for order for possession generally must be filed within 120 days of the date of the entry of the judgment.
Subparagraph B(2) provides that in a case arising out of a residential lease, if a supersedeas (resulting from an appeal or writ of certiorari) or bankruptcy stay is stricken, dismissed, lifted, or otherwise terminated, thus allowing the plaintiff to proceed with requesting an order for possession, the request may be filed only within 120 days of the date the supersedeas or bankruptcy stay is stricken, dismissed, lifted, or otherwise terminated. See Rule 1008B, C(7)—(8), and Rule 1013B, C(7)—(8) and the notes thereto regarding termination of the supersedeas. After a court of common pleas enters judgment, the judgment of the magisterial district judge is extinguished and may no longer be executed upon in any magisterial district court. All further process must take place in the court of common pleas.
The time limits in which the plaintiff must request an order for possession imposed in [subdivision] paragraph B apply only in cases arising out of residential leases and in no way affect the plaintiff's ability to execute on the money judgment. See Rule 516, Note, and Rule 521A.
At the time the plaintiff files the request for an order for possession, the magisterial district court should collect server fees for all actions through delivery of possession. Thereafter, if the order for possession is satisfied 48 hours or more prior to a scheduled delivery of possession, a portion of the server costs may be refundable. See Rules 516 through 520 and [Section 2950(d) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 2950(d)] 44 Pa.C.S. § 7161(d).
Rule 516. Issuance and Reissuance of Order for Possession.
A. Upon the timely filing of the request form, the magisterial district judge shall issue the order for possession and shall deliver it for service and execution to the sheriff of, or any certified constable in, the county in which the office of the magisterial district judge is situated. If this service is not available to the magisterial district judge, service may be made by any certified constable of the Commonwealth. The order shall direct the officer executing it to deliver actual possession of the real property to the plaintiff. The magisterial district judge shall attach a copy of the request form to the order for possession.
B. (1) Except as otherwise provided in [subdivision] paragraph C, upon written request of the plaintiff the magisterial district judge shall reissue an order for possession for one additional [60 day] 60-day period.
(2) If an order for possession is issued and subsequently superseded by an appeal, writ of certiorari, supersedeas, or a stay pursuant to a bankruptcy proceeding, and
(a) the appeal, writ of certiorari, or supersedeas is stricken, dismissed, or otherwise terminated; or
(b) the bankruptcy stay is lifted; and
(c) the plaintiff wishes to proceed with the order for possession,
the plaintiff must file with the magisterial district judge a written request for reissuance of the order for possession in accordance with subparagraph [(1)] B(1).
C. In a case arising out of a residential lease a request for reissuance of an order for possession may be filed only within 120 days of the date of the entry of the judgment or, in a case in which the order for possession is issued and subsequently superseded by an appeal, writ of certiorari, supersedeas, or a stay pursuant to a bankruptcy proceeding, only within 120 days of the date the appeal, writ of certiorari, or supersedeas is stricken, dismissed, or otherwise terminated or the bankruptcy stay is lifted.
D. A written request for reissuance of the order for possession filed after an appeal, writ of certiorari, or supersedeas is stricken, dismissed, or otherwise terminated, or a bankruptcy stay is lifted, must be accompanied by a copy of the court order or other documentation striking, dismissing, or terminating the appeal, writ of certiorari, or supersedeas, or lifting the bankruptcy stay.
Official Note: The order for possession deals only with delivery of possession of real property and not with a levy for money damages. A plaintiff who seeks execution of the money judgment part of the judgment must proceed under Rule 521A, using the forms and procedure there prescribed. The reason for making this distinction is that the printed notice requirements on the two forms, and the procedures involved in the two matters, differ widely.
[Subdivision] Paragraph B provides for reissuance of the order for possession for one additional [60 day] 60-day period. However, pursuant to [subdivision] paragraph C, in cases arising out of a residential lease, the request for reissuance of the order for possession must be filed within 120 days of the date of the entry of the judgment or, in a case in which the order for possession is issued and subsequently superseded by an appeal, writ of certiorari, supersedeas, or a stay pursuant to a bankruptcy proceeding, only within 120 days of the date the appeal, writ of certiorari, or supersedeas is stricken, dismissed, or otherwise terminated, or the bankruptcy stay is lifted. The additional [60 day] 60-day period need not necessarily immediately follow the original [60 day] 60-day period of issuance. The written request for reissuance may be in any form and may consist of a notation on the permanent copy of the request for order for possession form, ''Reissuance of order for possession requested,'' subscribed by the plaintiff. The magisterial district judge shall mark all copies of the reissued order for possession, ''Reissued. Request for reissuance filed ______ (time and date).'' A new form may be used upon reissuance, those portions retained from the original being exact copies although signatures may be typed or printed with the mark ''/s/.'' There are no filing costs for reissuing an order for possession, for the reissuance is merely a continuation of the original proceeding. However, there may be additional server costs for service of the reissued order for possession.
See Rule 1008B, C(7)—(8), and Rule 1013B, C(7)—(8) and the notes thereto regarding termination of the supersedeas. After a court of common pleas enters judgment, the judgment of the magisterial district judge is extinguished and may no longer be executed upon in any magisterial district court. All further process must take place in the court of common pleas.
The time limits in which the plaintiff must request reissuance of an order for possession imposed in [subdivision] paragraph C apply only in cases arising out of residential leases and in no way affect the plaintiff's ability to execute on the money judgment. See Rule 521A.
CHAPTER 1000. APPEALS
APPEAL Rule 1007. Procedure on Appeal.
A. The proceeding on appeal shall be conducted de novo in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure that would be applicable if the action was initially commenced in the court of common pleas.
B. Except as otherwise provided in [subdivision] paragraph C, the action upon appeal may not be limited with respect to amount in controversy, joinder of causes of action or parties, counter-claims, added or changed averments or otherwise because of the particulars of the action before the magisterial district judge.
C. When an appeal is taken from a supplementary action filed pursuant to Rule 342, only those issues arising from the Rule 342 action are to be considered.
Official Note: As under earlier law, the proceeding on appeal is conducted de novo, but the former rule that the proceeding would be limited both as to jurisdiction and subject matter to the action before the magisterial district judge (see Crowell Office Equipment v. Krug, [213 Pa. Super. 261,] 247 A.2d 657 (Pa. Super. 1968)) has not been retained. Under [subdivision] paragraph B, the court of common pleas on appeal can exercise its full jurisdiction and all parties will be free to treat the case as though it had never been before the magisterial district judge, subject of course to the Rules of Civil Procedure. The only limitation on this is contained in [subdivision] paragraph C, which makes clear that an appeal from a supplementary action filed pursuant to Rule 342 is not intended to reopen other issues from the underlying action that were not properly preserved for appeal.
See Rule 1008B, C(7)—(8), and Rule 1013B, C(7)—(8) and the notes thereto regarding termination of the supersedeas. After a court of common pleas enters judgment, the judgment of the magisterial district judge is extinguished and may no longer be executed upon in any magisterial district court. All further process must take place in the court of common pleas.
REPORT
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515—516 and the Official Note to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J.
No. 1007
Request for Order of Possession I. Introduction
The Minor Court Rules Committee (''Committee'') is planning to propose to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania the amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515—516 and the Official Note to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 1007. These rules address the timeframe for requesting an order for possession, and the procedure on appeal from a judgment of a magisterial district court, respectively. The Committee is proposing to add cross-references regarding termination of a supersedeas and to make stylistic changes.
II. Discussion
Currently, Rules 515 and 516 address a request for an order for possession, as well as issuance and reissuance of the order. In a residential landlord tenant case, when a judgment for possession has been rendered by a magisterial district judge, the plaintiff may request an order for possession after the 10th day and within 120 days following the date of entry of the judgment. See Rule 515B. In the event an appeal of the judgment operates as a supersedeas or the matter is stayed pursuant to bankruptcy proceedings, the plaintiff may request an order for possession only within 120 days of the date the supersedeas or bankruptcy stay is stricken, dismissed, lifted, or otherwise terminated. See Rule 515B(2). An order of possession is valid for a 60-day period, and may be reissued for one additional 60-day period. See Rules 516B(1), 519C. In residential lease cases, a plaintiff must file a written request for reissuance of an order for possession when the order has been issued, and, subsequently, an appeal operates as a supersedeas or bankruptcy proceedings stay the matter. See Rule 516C. Rule 1007 sets forth the procedures for the appeal in the court of common pleas.
The Committee received correspondence suggesting that it review the rules governing the filing of a request for an order for possession when an appeal has been filed. Specifically, the Committee was asked to review the following hypothetical situation: a magisterial district judge enters judgment in a residential landlord tenant case, the tenant appeals and obtains a supersedeas, the appeal goes before a board of arbitrators pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. Nos. 1301—1314, an arbitration award is entered, and the supersedeas is terminated for nonpayment of rent into escrow prior to expiration of the thirty day period for entry of the award in the court of common pleas. In this scenario, it was suggested that there is ambiguity about where the plaintiff should file a request for an order for possession, in light of the termination of the supersedeas.
The Committee discussed the scenario described above, and agreed that only a judgment entered by the court of common pleas should preclude the plaintiff from requesting an order for possession from the magisterial district court in the absence of a supersedeas or stay. Once the court of common pleas has entered a judgment on an appeal (including entry of judgment of a compulsory arbitration award pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1307(c)), the judgment of the magisterial district court is extinguished, and may no longer be executed upon in any magisterial district court. However, prior to the entry of judgment by the court of common pleas, the plaintiff may request an order for possession from the magisterial district court, so long as no supersedeas or bankruptcy stay remains in effect. The Committee published a proposal for public comment that attempted to clarify the suggested ambiguity, as well as update a statutory reference to constable fees. See 45 Pa.B. 1111 (Mar. 7, 2015).
After reviewing comments received on the proposal, the Committee decided to modify and republish it for public comment. Rule 1008B, C(7)—(8) and Rule 1013B, C(7)—(8)set forth the procedure for termination of a supersedeas. The notes to Rules 1008 and 1013 provide that upon termination of the supersedeas by a prothonotary for failure to deposit the monthly rent when due, ''[a] copy of the praecipe [with the termination notated by the prothonotary] may thereupon be displayed to the magisterial district judge who rendered the judgment, and a request for issuance of an order for possession under Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 515 may be made.'' Cross-references to these notes will clarify the procedure for seeking an order for possession after the termination of a supersedeas.
III. Proposed Changes
The Committee plans to propose the amendment of the Official Notes to Rules 515—516 and 1007 by adding the following language:
See Rule 1008B, C(7)—(8), and Rule 1013B, C(7)—(8) and the notes thereto regarding termination of the supersedeas. After a court of common pleas enters judgment, the judgment of the magisterial district judge is extinguished and may no longer be executed upon in any magisterial district court. All further process must take place in the court of common pleas.The Committee also plans to propose minor stylistic changes to Rules 515—516 and 1007, as well as an amendment of the Official Note to Rule 515 to reflect that constable fees are governed by 44 Pa.C.S. § 7161(d).
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-313. Filed for public inspection February 26, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]
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