Wolf v. Tominac
Wolf v. Tominac
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
On December 2,1971, appellants commenced the two actions in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny
The transcript of the testimony and exhibits were filed in the equity action. On July 7, 1972, the learned court below dismissed the complaint in equity. On July 20, 1972, extensive exceptions were filed by the appellants to the “Findings, Conclusions, Determinations and Decree Nisi, filed July 7, 1972.” On August .11, 1972, the parties filed a formal stipulation that the “record, exhibits, and testimony” in the equity action be incorporated into the statutory appeal. On December 6, 1972, reciting that the parties had agreed and stipulated that the statutory appeal could be determined on the basis of the same testimony taken in the equity action, the court entered an order dismissing the statutory appeal.
Procedurally, these two cases were presented in a very informal manner with regard to whether there was one or two particular cases before the court at any one time; nevertheless, at all critical times in the record, as
Pursuant to a petition filed by appellants on January 2, 1973, alleging that the facts, circumstances, and issues were identical in both appeals, the President Judge of this Court entered an order consolidating the appeals, thereby requiring only one record and one set of briefs, each in the required number, to be prepared covering both cases.
In view of the fact that quite clearly no steps were taken in the court below to establish a right of appeal in the statutory appeal 1245 C.D. 1972, we would be justified in quashing that appeal sua sponte. However, since the parties, especially the appellants, and the court below treat the statutory appeal as rising or falling on the decision in the equity case, and since the result in this instance is the same, we will do likewise.
Stated as briefly as practical, in the fall election of 1971, what would appear to have been a heated campaign was conducted for the office of Township Commissioner. Much of the evidence and exhibits that constitute the record were presented by appellants in an effort to show that a corporal on the township police force improperly campaigned in support of one of the
The appellants’ case really is based on the proposition that Ordinance 598 was enacted in bad faith and is, therefore, invalid. The trial judge, confirmed by the court en banc, found otherwise and there is more than sufficient evidence in the record to support his finding. In the amicus curiae brief, filed on behalf of the Western Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, it is pointed out that under the law established in Carey v. Altoona, 339 Pa. 541, 16 A. 2d 1 (1940), and Schearer v. Reading, 346 Pa. 27, 28 A. 2d 790 (1942), even if there is no bad faith, if offices are abolished and new positions created with the same duties and
The other major positions of appellants, which were ruled adversely to them in the court below, relate to the status of appellants to bring this action in equity, first because their position is no different from that of any other taxpayers, and second because there is an adequate remedy at law. In view of our affirmation of the court below on the main issue, it is not necessary to discuss these two in detail. It seems appropriate to observe that it is very unusual that none of the individual members of the police force, nor either of the commissioners who voted against the Ordinance, joined in this action. As revealed in the testimony, those individual police officers who were dissatisfied have instituted various actions of their own. Some of these are now pending. These individuals have certainly adopted the appropriate procedure. See Merrick v. Jennings, 446 Pa. 489, 288 A. 2d 523 (1972), and Clodi v. Kremens cmd Wohlgemuth, 4 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 350 (1972). Since these individuals have availed themselves of the other remedies, it seems futile for the appellants to argue that there are none. The other arguments of the appellants are without merit and were adequately dealt with by the court below.
Affirmed.
However, subsequently, on January 17, 1972, appellees filed additional preliminary objections in the equity action, alleging that appellants had an adequate remedy at law.
The issue of whether the attempt to implement the Ordinance prior to proper advertisement was cured by proper advertising was properly and adequately disposed of by the court below. It was properly advertised prior to being put into effect.
Concurring Opinion
Concurring Opinion by
I concur in the result solely upon the majority’s holding that in view of the obvious adequate remedies
I am concerned, however, that the result of this case may be utilized by other municipalities in the Commonwealth as a means of support for a course of action, following a political election, to circumvent the civil service laws as they apply to municipal employees. From my point of view, we have not passed upon, in this case before us, the methods utilized by the governing body of O’Hara Township as being the proper method for being rid of police officials to the political disliking of a newly elected municipal governing body. I am concurring in the result on the basis stated above, with the firm belief that justice will be done in the other pending suits, and specifically, not on the basis that the change in titles of the police officers, and the realignment of the police department in O’Hara Township was proper, or legally supportable. That issue has yet to be determined.
I believe it equally important to note at this place that this writer has deep reservations on the legality of the O’Hara Township ordinance reorganizing its police department, as was done in this case, in view of the Act of June 24, 1968, P. L. 237, Act No. 111, 43 P.S. §217.1 et seq. To permit the governing body of a municipality to circumvent a binding collective bargaining agreement by such unilateral reorganization appears to defeat the purpose of Act No. 111. Once again, however, I must admit that the pleadings in this case do not support this action in equity by these plaintiffs to determine this possible additional issue. If the com
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John S. Wolf, James S. Brewster, Henry E. Simone, Glenn Eastland, Earl H. Stockdale, J. K. Kessler, William S. Dyson, Richard L. Rigatti, Samuel Joseph Fair, Mary Ann Fair, William Downing, Melvin F. Woods, Charles A. Nix, Peter E. Midock, for Themselves and All Others Similarly Situated, Appellants, v. Frank M. Tominac, Raymond Staniszewski, William J. Barnes, M.D., John L. Ferber, Richard J. Stampahar and the Township of O’Hara, a Municipal Corporation, Appellees
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published