Patel v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Sauquoit Fibers Company)
Patel v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Sauquoit Fibers Company)
Opinion of the Court
Before this Court in this workmens compensation case comes Manojkumar D. Patel, Claimant, seeking review of an order of the Workmens Compensation Appeal Board (Board) which affirmed a referees dismissal of his most recent petition on the ground of res judicata.
We are further convinced that this appeal is wholly frivolous and that costs of this appeal shall be taxed to the Claimant pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 2741(2). Our Supreme Court has held that an appeal is “wholly frivolous” if there is a complete lack of points present that might arguably support an appeal. See Commonwealth v. McClendon, 495 Pa. 467, 472, 434 A.2d 1185, 1188 (1981). The initial appeal to this Court, filed in 1981, adjudicated Claimants workmens compensation case on the merits. See Patel v. Sauquoit Fibers Co., 56 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 279, 424 A.2d 621 (1981) (Patel I). Claimant then filed a second claim petition on the same injury which was dismissed before the referee, the Board and this Court on the basis it was barred by the principles of collateral estoppel and res judicata. See
Additionally, we believe that the repetitious and frivolous nature of this protracted litigation, particularly as regards this appeal would entitle respondent to an award of reasonable counsel fees pursuant to Section 2503(7) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §2503(7) and Pa. R.A.P. 2744(1) had such a petition been filed. Under 42 Pa. C. S. §2503(7), a party is entitled to recover reasonable counsel fees where the opposing party’s conduct in commencing the action was arbitrary, vexatious or in bad faith. Brenckle v. Arblaster, 320 Pa. Superior Ct. 87, 466 A.2d 1075 (1983); Bowers v. Valley Mutual Insurance Co., 28 Pa. D. & C. 3d 327 (C.P.Franklin 1983). Pa. R.A.P. 2744 permits an appellate court to impose an award of reasonable counsel fees against a party where the appellate court determines an appeal is wholly frivolous or taken solely for delay. See Gossman v. Lower Chanceford Township Board of Supervisors, 503 Pa. 392, 469 A.2d 996 (1983). Where a party insists upon raising before this Court a claim that
. . . We feel disposed to remand this case pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 2744, for determination of the delay damages and attorneys fees due to the Department of Transportation. However, since the Department has not requested such action, we will not in this case sua sponte do so. We wish to call the attention of the members of the bar to our concern in this area and alert them to the possibility of future sanctions if, in the future, the courts are misused by litigants.
Therefore, we shall affirm the order of the Board that dismissed Claimants petition on the ground of res judicata and impose upon Claimant costs of this appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 2741(2).
Order
Now, January 21, 1987, the order of the Workmens Compensation Appeal Board at Docket No. A-89694, dated June 4, 1985, is hereby affirmed. Costs of this appeal are taxed to the Petitioner, Manojkumar D. Patel, under Pa. R.A.P. 2741(2). Respondent shall submit its bill of costs pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 3751.
In passing, we note that Claimant is barred in any event: if not barred as decided on the basis of the same case, once finally, the claim if pressed as a new one and not previously determined most assuredly would be barred by the limitation in Section 315 of The Pennsylvania Workmens Compensation Act, Act of June 2, 1915, P.L. 736, as amended, 77 P.S. §602, as Referee Olexy concluded in his opinion of January 22, 1985. The injury occurred on October 12, 1975. The instant Claim Petition was filed November 28, 1984.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Manojkumar D. Patel v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Sauquoit Fibers Company)
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- 10 cases
- Status
- Published