Ruparcich v. Borgman

• Decision Date: 23 September 1988
• Citation: 119 Pa.Cmwlth. 640,547 A.2d 1279
• Parties: , 49 Ed. Law Rep. 283 Violet RUPARCICH v. Mary Lou BORGMAN and Keystone Oaks School District, jointly and/or severally. Appeal of Mary Lou BORGMAN.
• Court: Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court

Page 1279

547 A.2d 1279

119 Pa.Cmwlth. 640, 49 Ed. Law Rep. 283

Violet RUPARCICH v. Mary Lou BORGMAN and Keystone Oaks School District, jointly and/or severally Appeal of Mary Lou BORGMAN.

Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

Argued May 26, 1988.

Decided Sept. 23, 1988.

[119 Pa.Cmwlth. 642] Daniel R. Delaney, Pittsburgh, for appellant.

Robert Rade Stone, Richard J. Freyvogel, Jr., Charles Steele, Pittsburgh, for appellee.

Before DOYLE, PALLADINO and McGINLEY, JJ.

PALLADINO, Judge.

Mary Lou Borgman (Appellant) appeals an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County (trial court) denying her motions for a new trial and judgment notwithstanding the verdict and affirming a non-jury verdict in favor of Violet Ruparcich (Appellee). For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

Appellant and Appellee were both employed as physical education teachers by the Keystone Oaks School District (School District). On October 2, 1981, a new typewriter was delivered to the office which Appellant and Appellee shared with several other physical education teachers. When the new typewriter was delivered, it was placed on Appellant's desk instead of the "common desk" which all of the teachers in the office shared. Appellee testified at trial that when she returned to the office after a class, the office was empty. Appellee further testified that she noticed the new typewriter and began to move it to her own desk to type a note. Appellee stated that Appellant then returned to the office and a tugging match ensued over the typewriter. Appellee alleged that Appellant pushed her, knocked her off balance, and used the typewriter as a "ramming rod," thereby causing Appellee to fall backwards against a plate glass wall.

Appellant disputed this version of the incident, alleging that she was in the office first and was examining the typewriter when Appellee entered the room, screamed, and pushed her away from the typewriter. According to both versions of the events, the typewriter fell to the floor and broke. The parties did not agree on which one of them last touched the typewriter.

Appellee brought an action in trespass and assumpsit against Appellant for personal injuries and lost wages. Appellee joined the School District as an additional defendant, contending that the School District was liable for failing to provide a safe workplace. By order dated January 6, 1987, the trial court entered a non-jury verdict in favor of Appellee in the amount of $7,137.18, finding both the School District and Appellant liable. ¹

Appellant filed post-trial motions for a new trial and/or judgment n.o.v. Appellant alleged that the trial court erred in declining to apply principles of res judicata and collateral estoppel based upon an earlier lawsuit between Appellee and the School District. Appellant also contended that Appellee's action was barred by the exclusive remedy provisions of The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act (Act). ² Finally, Appellant argued that the verdict was excessive and unsupported by the evidence. The trial court denied Appellant's post-trial motions by order dated September 10, 1987. On appeal to this court, ³ Appellant raises the same allegations of error. Additionally, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to apply the doctrine of comparative negligence.

In reviewing whether judgment n.o.v. is warranted, the evidence must be considered in the light most favorable to the verdict winner, who must be given the benefit of all reasonable inferences of fact arising from the evidence. Sacco v. City of Scranton, 115 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 512, 540 A.2d 1370 (1988). Further, any conflict in the evidence must be resolved in favor of the verdict winner. Township of Bensalem v. Press, 93 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 235, 501 A.2d 331 (1985). A judgment n.o.v. will be granted only in clear cases. Id.

With respect to new trial motions, a trial court's ruling on the motion will not be reversed where the ruling turns on the weight of the evidence absent an error of law or an abuse of discretion. See Cabell v. City of Hazleton, 96 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 129, 506 A.2d 1001 (1986).

RES JUDICATA/COLLATERAL

ESTOPPEL

Appellant first contends that the trial court erred in declining to apply principles of res judicata and/or collateral estoppel. Appellant asserts that these principles are applicable because, in a prior action brought by the School District against Appellee, she was found liable for one-half of the damage to the typewriter. ⁴

The doctrine of res judicata will bar a proceeding if four conditions are met: (1) identity of the thing sued for; (2) identity of the cause of action; (3) identity of the parties; and (4) identity of the capacity of the parties suing or being sued. Kurtz v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Allied Chemical Corp.), 95 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 110, 504 A.2d 428 (1986).

With these requirements in mind, we note that in the first action brought by the School District, the School District sought recovery for damage to its personal property. In the action before us on appeal, Appellee sought recovery for personal injuries and lost wages. Hence, there is no identity of causes of action. See McCarthy v. Township of McCandless, 7 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 611, 300 A.2d 815 (1973). Further, the parties to the two actions are not identical--Appellant was not a party to the first action brought by the School District. Accordingly, the trial court committed no error in determining that res judicata did not bar the proceedings in the instant case.

Next, Appellant asserts that the doctrine of collateral estoppel is applicable to prevent the relitigation of the issue of "fault" in the present case because Appellee was found liable in the prior action. In order for collateral estoppel to preclude relitigation of a particular issue, four conditions must be met: (1) the issue decided in the prior adjudication was identical to the one presented in the later action; (2) there was a final judgment on the merits; (3) the party against whom the plea is asserted was a party or in privity with the party to the prior adjudication; and (4) the party against whom it is asserted has had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in question in the prior action. E-Z Parks, Inc. v. Philadelphia Parking Authority, 103 Pa.Commonwealth Ct. 627, 521 A.2d 71, petition for allowance of appeal denied, 517 Pa. 610, 536 A.2d 1334 (1987).

Upon close examination of both proceedings, we conclude that the requisite identity of issues is lacking for the application of collateral estoppel. The issue of which party was at "fault" for the damage to the typewriter is not identical to or determinative of the issue of which party was at "fault" for the altercation and resulting injuries to Appellee. Further, Appellee did not have a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of "fault" during the prior proceedings because Appellant was not a party to that action and had already paid to the School District one-half of the damage to the typewriter. Thus, the fact that Appellee was found liable in the first action did not establish that Appellant was not also at fault. Hence, the trial court did not err in refusing to apply collateral estoppel to bar relitigation of "fault."

EXCLUSIVE REMEDY

Appellant also argues that Appellee's action against her is barred by the exclusive remedy provisions of the Act. Section 205 of the Act provides:

If disability or death is compensable under this act, a person shall not be liable at common law or otherwise on account of such disability or death for any act or omission occurring while such person was in the same employ as the person disabled or killed, except for intentional wrong.

77 P.S. § 72. Appellant contends that her conduct was, at most, negligent and did not rise to the level of intentional conduct. ⁵

In her complaint, Appellee alleged that Appellant "did ... willfully, maliciously, and wrongfully assault, strike, beat, and bruise the Plaintiff." Appellee's Complaint at 3-4. Having reviewed Appellee's pleadings and the evidence adduced at trial in the light most favorable to Appellee, we conclude that Appellant's conduct was not the type which a co-employee would normally expect to find in the workplace. See McGinn v. Valloti, 363 Pa.Superior Ct. 88, 525 A.2d 732 (1987), petition for allowance of appeal denied, 517 Pa. 618, 538 A.2d 500 (1988). Accordingly, the trial court committed no error in determining that Appellee was not precluded by the exclusive remedy provisions of the Act from bringing an action against Appellant at common law.

COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE

Next, Appellant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to apply the doctrine of comparative negligence either to bar Appellee's recovery or to reduce her award in proportion to the negligence attributable to Appellee. ⁶ However, we note that Appellant did not raise this issue in her post-trial motions. Accordingly, this ground for post-trial relief is deemed waived. Pa.R.C.P. No. 227.1. JUDGMENT N.O.V.

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