Opinion
No. 2147 C.D. 2014
12-18-2015
Anthonee Patterson, Appellant v. Kenneth Shelton, individually and in his capacity as President of the Board Of Trustees, of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.
BEFORE: HONORABLE BERNARD L. McGINLEY, Judge HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge HONORABLE JAMES GARDNER COLINS, Senior Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION BY JUDGE McGINLEY
Anthonee Patterson (Patterson) appeals from the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (trial court) which granted Bishop Kenneth Shelton's (Shelton) motion to dismiss on the trial court's determination that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
This procedural and factual history is recounted in this Court's memorandum opinion in the case of Patterson v. Shelton, (Pa. Cmwlth., No. 2396 C.D. 2011, filed March 6, 2013), slip opinion, appeal denied, 78 A.3d 1092 (Pa. 2013).
This marks the [fifth] time this Court has been called upon to review action by the [trial court] in the underlying tangle of controversies involving a religious schism which has spanned over two decades. In all,
seven lawsuits were instituted by various parties against a church, its corporate trustee and various officials in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, and United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The key players involved in the present offshoot of the controversy are: (1) the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith (the "Church"), an unincorporated association, founded in 1919; (2) the "Trustees of the General Assembly of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.", (the "Corporate Trustee"), a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation formed in 1947 to act as the trustee and hold property in trust for the Church ; (3) Patterson, a life-long member, elder, and minister of the Church; and (4) Shelton, the current "Bishop" and/or "Overseer" of the Church and "President" of the Corporate Trustee.
The dispute began in 1991 when then-Bishop S. McDowall Shelton, died, leaving vacancies in the offices of "Overseer" of the Church and "President" of the Corporate Trustee. Immediately upon Bishop S. McDowall Shelton's death, Shelton and his "faction" took control of the accounts, trusts and properties of the
Church and Corporate Trustee. After extensive litigation initiated by two other dissident factions of the Church congregation over the leadership of the Church and Corporate Trustee, the trial court ultimately determined, and this Court later affirmed, that Shelton and his Board of Trustees were in control.
These lawsuits are recounted in more detail in this Court's previous opinion in Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. v. Shelton, (Pa. Cmwlth. Nos. 376 C.D. 2000 and 559 C.D. 2000, filed April 10, 2001). See also Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., et al, v. Roddy Shelton, II, 740 A.2d 751 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1999), for an insightful history of this complex and protracted dispute. See also Joseph Askew v. Trustees of the General Assembly of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., 644 F.Supp. 2d 584 (E.D. Pa. 2009) ("Askew I") and Joseph Askew v. Trustees of the General Assembly of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc., 776 F.Supp. 2d 25 (E.D. Pa. 2011) ("Askew II").
The Corporate Trustee's Charter provided that the purpose for which it was formed was to "take, receive, have and hold and manage real and personal property in trust for the uses and purposes specified by the General Assembly of the Church" and that said purposes did "not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit incidental or otherwise to its members." Charter, June 27, 1947, at 1; Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 266a.
Patterson was the leader of one such faction.
See Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. v. Shelton, (Pa. Cmwlth. Nos. 376 C.D. 2000 and 559 C.D. 2000, filed April 10, 2001).
[II. Patterson's Prior Appeal To This Court]
On July 24, 1995, Patterson, as life-long member, elder and minister of the Church, commenced an action in equity against Shelton, in Shelton's individual capacity and as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Corporate Trustee. Patterson alleged that since taking control of the Church and Corporate Trustee in 1991, Shelton and his Board of Trustees have misappropriated funds, "looted the Church's assets," paid themselves salaries in contravention of Church By-Laws, and funded private expenditures, lavish vacations, lingerie, cars, homes and other personal incidentals with assets which were donated and designated for Church religious and charitable missions.
Patterson requested, inter alia: (1) the appointment of a receiver to take control of the assets of the Church held
by the Corporate Trustee; (2) an order requiring Shelton to issue annual financial reports for the years 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994; and (3) an accounting.
The parties engaged in discovery. Patterson retained James A. Stavros, CPA (Stavros), a forensic financial investigator, to analyze the finances and expenditures of the Church and the Corporate Trustee. Stavros authored a report which detailed his findings that Shelton and his Board of Trustees withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars from Church accounts with no accounting of where the funds went and that they expended Church funds on a significant amount of "personal" items and expenditures that appeared to be outside the normal course of business and outside Church laws and customs. He concluded that Church accounts had declined by nearly $1 million under Shelton's control.
In January 2006, the parties agreed to submit to binding arbitration. The Arbitrator concluded that the credible evidence established that Shelton had engaged in various acts of fraud, mismanagement, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary responsibilities, [and] violations of By-laws and the Articles of Incorporation in seizing corporate funds and assets and depleting bank accounts designated for Church-related purposes. The Arbitrator concluded that Shelton had diverted Church funds and assets to himself and others for his and their benefit. The Arbitrator appointed a receiver and directed Shelton to account for all Church funds removed by him or those acting with him.
Shelton filed a motion to vacate the award which the trial court denied. On appeal, this Court overturned the arbitration award because the arbitrator went beyond the
scope of his authority in fashioning relief. See Shelton v. Patterson, 942 A.2d 967 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2008). This Court remanded the matter to the trial court to determine whether Patterson was entitled to relief under the [Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, 15 Pa. C.S. §§ 5101-5997] NCL.
On remand, Shelton moved for summary judgment on the ground that Patterson lacked "statutory standing" under Section 5782 of the NCL, 15 Pa.C.S. §5782. Shelton argued that only an officer, director, or member of a nonprofit corporation has "statutory standing" to enforce a right of a nonprofit corporation through a derivative action. Section 5782 of the NCL, 15 Pa. C.S. § 5782, which is contained in Subchapter F governing "derivative actions," provides:
Actions against directors, members of an other body and officers
(a) General rule - Except as provided in subsection (b), in any action or proceeding brought to enforce a secondary right on the part of one or more members of a nonprofit corporation against any present or former officer, director or member of an other body of the corporation because the corporation refuses to enforce rights that may properly be asserted by it, each plaintiff must aver and it must be made to appear that each plaintiff was a member of the corporation at the time of the transaction of which he complains. (Emphasis added.)
15 Pa. C.S. § 5782.
Shelton pointed to the Corporate Trustee's Articles of Incorporation which limited its membership in the nonprofit corporation to its Board of Trustees. Shelton asserted that because Patterson was never a member of the Board of Trustees he was never a "member" of the Corporate Trustee, and thus, he had no "statutory standing" to bring claims that are derivative of the Corporate Trustee's rights.
The trial court agreed that under Section 5782 of the NCL, Patterson could only bring suit if he was a member of the Corporate Trustee at the time of the alleged events outlined in the Complaint. The trial court looked to Article IX of the Articles of Incorporation which states: "membership in the corporation [Corporate Trustee] shall consist of those persons serving as members of the Board of Trustees." The trial court concluded that because Patterson had never been a member of the Board of Trustees he was not a member of the Corporate Trustee. The trial court reasoned that because the NCL created the cause of action and designated who may sue; standing was a jurisdictional prerequisite to any action. Grom v. Burgoon, 672 A.2d 823 (Pa. Super. 1996). The trial court "finding no possible way to affirm that [Patterson] has standing" granted the motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case. Trial Court Opinion, January 25, 2012, at 3.Patterson, slip opinion at 1-6.
Erik Shelton was also named as a Defendant but on November 30, 2005, he was voluntarily dismissed from the lawsuit.
Specifically, Patterson alleged that Shelton took physical possession of cash offerings designated for the Church from churches throughout the Eastern United States and converted them to his own use; converted $111,537 from the Gresham Trust, a fund held for the benefit of Church members in need of social services; converted $111,533 from a Church account held at Fidelity National Bank; converted $10,585 from the Church's "Bus Rally Money Account;" converted $64,000 from a Church account at Commonwealth Federal and Loan which was dedicated for youth studies; and converted $8,000 from two accounts at Mid Atlantic Bank donated by Church members for the purpose of financially assisting the Church's international missions. Complaint, ¶¶12(a)-(f) at 5-7; R.R. at 127a-129a.
This included vacations all over the world including, but not limited to: Cannes, France, Disney World, Switzerland, and purchases from stores such as Victoria's Secret.
Shelton did not retain a financial expert to counter Patterson's report.
III. This Court's Analysis And Disposition Of Patterson's Prior Appeal
[This Court rationalized in Patterson]:
An example of derivative claims previously asserted against the Corporate Trustee and Shelton (and others) is found in the related case commenced by Joseph Askew (Askew) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2009. See footnote 1
In Askew I, Askew, who claimed to be a member of the Church, brought an eight-count complaint against Shelton, the Corporate Trustee and the other managers of the Corporate Trustee (collectively "Defendants"). In Count II, Askew alleged breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporate Trustee. In Count IV, Askew alleged that the Board of Trustees failed to present the members of the Corporate Trustee with an annual report containing specific financial information under Section 5553 of the
NCL. In Count V, Askew sought the removal of Shelton as President of the Corporate Trustee.
Defendants moved to dismiss these counts because Askew lacked standing under the NCL to bring derivative claims.
The [United States] District Court agreed that these claims were derivative because any alleged failure to satisfy a supposed duty of loyalty and care owed to the Corporate Trustee would "injure[] only that corporation." Askew I, 644 F.Supp. 2d at 590. The United States District Court determined Count IV was also a derivative claim because that section guarantees a nonprofit corporation "the right to self-knowledge" and that "[a]ny right that Section 5553 may confer is a right of the corporation , and a claim to encore [sic] this section necessarily falls within the ambit of Section 5782." Askew I, 644 F.Supp 2d at 590 (Emphasis added.) As for Count V, the [United States] District Court found that under Section 5726 of the NCL, a court is only empowered to remove a director "upon petition of any member or director" of the nonprofit corporation. Id.
. . . .
The [United States] District [C]ourt concluded that since Askew was not a member or director of the Corporate Trustee, he did not have "statutory standing" to seek these kinds of relief.
Even though the [United States] District Court found that Counts II, IV and V were derivative claims, the [United States] District Court explained that Askew's claims in Counts I and VI for breach of fiduciary duty to the Church and unjust enrichment for misappropriation of Church funds were not derivative of the Corporate Trustee's rights. Therefore, they were not claims "that only the Corporation's [Corporate Trustee] members directors or officers can bring." Askew I, 644 F.Supp. at 590.
. . . .
Similarly, in Askew I, the [United States] District Court determined, and this Court concurs, that the members of a Church's congregation suffer injury when the Church's assets, which were held in trust, are misused. Askew I, 644 F.Supp. 2d at 591. The [United States] District Court clarified that only through Askew's membership in the Church was he qualified to bring an action on behalf of the Church under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23.1 (governing standing to bring derivative actions on behalf of unincorporated associations).Patterson, slip opinion at 9-10 and 16-17.
Here, there is no question that Patterson was a member of the Church when he instituted the action. As a member of the Church congregation, Patterson was part of the beneficiary class for which the Corporate Trustee held the Church's assets in trust. As such, he has standing to bring this action to enforce his own rights and the rights commonly held by all beneficiaries to obtain restoration to the Church of its full losses. Thus, the action should not have been dismissed due to lack of standing under the NCL.
As noted, the Church is an unincorporated association. This Court notes that its conclusion that Patterson has standing is also wholly consistent with principles governing standing to sue on behalf of an unincorporated association. See Pa.R.C.P. No. 2152 (action by unincorporated association must be brought in name of member as trustee ad litem).
In Askew II, the District Court went on to find that Askew was not a "member" of the Church because he was expelled through the procedures in Article XIII of the Church's By-Laws.
Shelton argues that Patterson was not a member of the Church congregation because he "abandoned" the Church. However, the record demonstrates that the Church never took any action to remove Patterson. Article XIII of the Church By-laws provided a method for the expulsion or suspension of members. The Church could have used those procedures to remove Patterson who Shelton alleges abandoned the Church, but it did not do so.
To hold otherwise would, as a practical matter, insulate these most serious allegations from judicial review.
This court reversed the order of the trial court and remanded to the trial court to conduct a trial on the remaining factual and legal issues raised in Patterson's complaint.
IV. Patterson's Present Appeal
On July 15, 2014, the trial court commenced a non-jury trial. Patterson offered the following proof regarding Rita Bolognese's (Bolognese) testimony, a senior paralegal and records custodian for BNY Mellon. "She will testify to bank records which we have in our possession, that they're authentic, and that from there, certain transactions we will be questioning with other witnesses once we've established that they are true and correct copies of those records." Trial Transcript, July 15, 2014, (T.T. 7/15/14) at 29; Reproduced Record (R.R.) at 694a. The trial court responded "[s]o your argument is that she is going to testify about these records . . . [a]nd I assume it's the operative time of 91 to 94?" T.T. 7/15/14 at 30; R.R. at 695a. Patterson's attorney responded "[t]hat's correct." T.T. 7/15/14 at 30; R.R. at 695a.
In order to avoid confusion between Bishop Kenneth Shelton and Fincourt B. Shelton, this Court will refer to Fincourt B. Shelton as Patterson's attorney.
Bolognese recounted that she was authorized to serve as records custodian for the bank. T.T. 7/15/14 at 34; R.R. at 699a. Bolognese was provided with an affidavit from Susan McGivern, her supervisor, as to the scope of what she could testify to as custodian of records for BNY Mellon. T.T. 7/15/14 at 35-36; R.R. at 700a-71a. Following a lunch break, the trial court stated that "[t]his case has a real problem in that plaintiff's attorney [Patterson] has not produced all of the records recently to the defendant [Shelton]. This is a 20-year-old case. This case is going slowly." T.T. 7/15/14 at 40-41; R.R. 705a-06a. The trial court adjourned for the day and ordered the parties "to provide to the other side copies of every single document that party intends to introduce into evidence, as well as a list of every single witness that attorney intends to call in this case. Failure to provide copies of the document today to opposing counsel will result in my precluding the document from being introduced into evidence." T.T. 7/15/14 at 41; R.R. at 706a.
On July 16, 2014, before the commencement of Bolognese's testimony, the trial court issued the following order, "I'm denying the motion to deem the admissions admitted for a variety of reasons, including the fact that . . . [y]ou [Patterson's attorney] did not include in this motion even what the request for admissions of the third set were, you included the second set." Trial Transcript, July 16, 2014, (T.T. 7/16/14) at 12; R.R. at 720a. At that time, Bolognese again took the stand and stated that "[w]hen we [took] over the bank [Mellon PSFS], we took over the records of PSFS . . . [a]nd in course of . . . changing over the accounts, we had possession of the PSFS documents." T.T. 7/16/14 at 23; R.R. at 23a. In response to the trial court's query, Bolognese admitted that she was unable to testify that "this document was prepared in the course of business of PSFS." T.T. 7/16/14 at 24; R.R. at 732a.
On cross-examination, defense counsel, Danielle Banks (Banks) asked the following question:
Q: So with regard to this particular document - -
A: Right.
Q: This particular document was not - - you don't have knowledge yourself that it was kept in the normal course, correct?T.T. 7/16/14 at 41-42; R.R. at 749a-50a.
A: No.
Q: And did someone else tell you that it was kept, in the normal course?
A: Well, it would be someone from legal support that would tell me. Someone did tell me, yes.
At the conclusion of Bolognese's testimony, the trial court ruled:
And everyone is in agreement that the testimony from Mrs. Bolognese would be that she does not have any direct knowledge regarding how these documents were made or whether the record was made at or near the time or from information transmitted by someone with knowledge. So based on her inability to provide that testimony, I'm sustaining the objection to any questions or the introduction into evidence of those documents. (Emphasis added.)T.T. 7/16/14 at 76-77; R.R. at 784a-85a.
Joseph Sweeny (Sweeny), an employee of Firstrust Bank, testified that he was familiar with financial transactions at Firstrust Bank. Sweeny stated that the withdrawal process for removal of funds from an account "would be where an individual or individuals would sign a withdrawal order and it would be processed at the teller station and they would either get cash or a check." T.T. at 86; R.R. at 794a.
On cross-examination, Sweeny testified that he had personal knowledge concerning Exhibit B "because my initials are on there." T.T. 7/16/14 at 90; R.R. at 798a.
The trial court ruled that "I'm going to allow the document [Exhibit 9 was 'copies of two withdrawals, two different account numbers'] to be introduced into evidence. It's not relevant for him to read what's in there. It's already into evidence." T.T. 7/16/14 at 93-95; R.R. at 801a-03a. At the conclusion of Sweeny's testimony, the trial court directed Patterson's attorney to proceed with his next witness. Patterson's attorney was unable to call his next witness because none of his witnesses responded to the subpoenas. The trial court adjourned for the day and stated that "[s]o what we're going to do tomorrow, we'll start court at 10:15 . . . [a]nd Mr. Shelton you'll tell us who your next witnesses are." T.T. 7/16/14 at 121-22; R.R. at 829a-30a.
On July 17, 2014, Patterson's attorney called Bishop Kenneth Shelton to the stand. At that time, Banks stated to the trial court that "I have two objections . . . [o]ne a procedural argument, and one a Constitutional one." Trial Transcript, July 17, 2014, (T.T. 7/17/14) at 3; R.R. at 832a. More specifically, Banks stated that Pa. R.C.P. No. 234.2 "says the notice shall be served reasonably in advance of the date upon which attendance is required." T.T. 7/17/14 at 4; R.R. at 832a. "And here, Your Honor, when we have posed a subject matter jurisdiction challenge to the Bishop being here - - this is not just any trial. This is about a church and the goings-on in the church." T.T. 7/17/14 at 4-5; R.R. at 832a-33a. The trial court responded that "[a]s an initial matter, I need to make a decision whether or not I have subject matter jurisdiction in this case . . . ." (Emphasis added.) T.T. 7/17/14 at 25; R.R. at 838a. Again, the trial court adjourned and reiterated "let me just say this one more time. We'll get an e-mail from [Patterson's attorney] by 7:00 tonight whether or not he'll be calling any factual witnesses to establish subject matter jurisdiction." (Emphasis added.) T.T. 7/17/14 at 33; R.R. at 840a.
On July 28, 2014, the trial court entertained arguments concerning two motions, the "first with the defendant's [Shelton's] motion to strike the portion of the caption that identifies the plaintiff [Patterson] in the capacity as the corporate trustee . . . ." Trial Transcript, July 28, 2014, (7/28/14) at 3, R.R. at 847a. After argument, the trial court ordered that "I will grant the motion to strike the caption. The plaintiff [Patterson] did not ask leave of court, and it could potentially make a difference. However, I will grant leave to amend the caption at this point." T.T. 7/28/14 at 21; R.R. at 852a. The trial court then addressed "the motion for subject matter jurisdiction." T.T. 7/28/14 at 22; R.R. at 852a. After argument, the trial court stated "I'm going to defer my decision on this issue . . . [a]t this point, I'm still struggling, and I think I'm struggling because I don't have that much evidence, at which point I'll let counsel know that I want to hear further argument on this issue." T.T. 7/28/14 at 55; R.R. at 860a.
On July 29, 2014, the trial court continued to hear argument on whether it had subject matter jurisdiction. Patterson argued:
I think there's more than enough here for you to find that there's a neutral principle, that you can look at the bank records, that you can look at what the title on the account is, and if it says bus rally and you find that three or four trustees personally went to the bank, took it out as cash, whatever and however they did it, and the records reflect that, then you would have to, I think, come to the decision that not only did Kenneth Shelton, but those
trustees serving under him were all involved in misappropriation of church funds during those years.Trial Transcript, July 29, 2014, (T.T. 7/29/14) at 20; R.R. at 891a.
Banks responded:
I want to make sure also that the record is clear . . . . It is Article 18, wherein the bylaws specifically say . . . '[t]he tithes and offerings of whatever kind, nature or collection by any elder, local minister, or any officer or member is the property of the general elder, who is the general overseer, and that all tithes and love offerings are the personal property of the general overseer.'. . . .T.T. 7/29/14 at 27; R.R. at 893a.
Here, Your Honor, even without the bylaws, the Court wouldn't have jurisdiction. With the bylaws there can be no question, the Court has no jurisdiction. Under these bylaws, Bishop Shelton as the general overseer is the church's highest adjudicatory body. I submit to you that by denying the allegations, he has spoken to them and that is the end of this matter.
The trial court concluded:
Based upon the arguments, based upon the case, I am granting the motion to dismiss. I do not have subject matter jurisdiction. In order for me to make a determination in this case, I would have to interpret religious doctrine of [sic] this court and the First Amendment prohibits me from doing so.T.T. 7/29/14 at 40; R.R. at 896a.
V. Issues
Before this Court, Patterson essentially argues: 1) that the trial court failed to follow this Court's express directive and conduct a trial on the merits; 2) that the trial court erred as a matter of law when it determined it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to address Patterson's claim of mismanagement and diversion of Church assets and funds by Shelton; 3) that the trial court erred when it denied admission of various financial records and documents as business records under Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence 803 (Exception to the Rule against Hearsay); 4) that the trial court erred when it denied Patterson's motion in limine "to deem [Patterson's] request as admitted based upon [Shelton's] inadequate answers"; and 5) that the present matter should be remanded back to the trial court. Brief of Appellant, Statement of Questions Presented at 5-6.
This Court's review is limited to a determination of whether the trial court abused its discretion or erred as a matter of law. Mid Valley Taxpayers v. Mid Valley School, 416 A.2d 590 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1980). Furthermore, the decision of the trial court will stand "if there exists sufficient evidence to justify the findings and logically sound, reasonable inferences and conclusions derived therefrom." Groff v. Borough of Sellersville, 314 A.2d 328, 330 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1984).
The trial court made the following rulings on the evidentiary motions presented by both parties:
Evidentiary Motions
1. The court denied the Plaintiff's [Patterson's] Motion in Limine to Deem as Admitted Plaintiff's Requests for Admissions.
2. The court granted the Defendant's [Shelton's] Motion in Limine to preclude any evidence regarding expenditures beyond the time period of 1991-1994.
3. The court granted Defendant's [Shelton's] Motion in Limine to Preclude any Evidence Regarding the Vacated Arbitration in this Matter.
4. The court deferred until trial its decision in the Defendant's [Shelton's] Motion in Limine to Preclude the Presentation of Testimony by Plaintiff's [Patterson's] Expert. The court now dismisses without prejudice the motion because it is moot.
5. The court deferred until trial its decision in Defendant's [Shelton's] Motion in Limine to Preclude Irrelevant Witness Testimony. The court now dismisses without prejudice the motion because it is moot.
6. The court deferred until trial its decision in the Plaintiff's [Patterson's] Motion in Limine Seeking an Adverse Inference against Defendant's [Shelton's] Due to Spoliation of Evidence. The court now dismisses without prejudice the motion because it is moot.
7. The court denies without prejudice the Plaintiff's [Patterson's] Motion for Reconsideration it [sic] ruling on the Records of Regularly Conducted Business Exception to the Hearsay Rule as moot.
Motions Regarding The Caption
8. The court granted Defendant's [Shelton's] Motion to Strike the Plaintiff's [Patterson's] Unilateral Caption Change and struck the portion of the Caption that refers to the Defendant [Shelton] as the President of the Board of trustees of the General Assembly of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apolistic [sic] Faith, Inc.
9. The court granted Plaintiff's [Patterson's] Motion for Leave to Amend the Caption to include the Defendant [Shelton] in his capacity as the President of the Board of Trustees of the General Assembly of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apolistic [sic] Faith, Inc.
Motions Regarding Subpoenas
10. All subpoenas served for these proceedings and any findings of contempt are hereby vacated.
11. The court dismisses without prejudice the Motion to Quash the subpoena duces tecum of Nathaniel Shelton-Bailey as moot.
The issue of subject matter jurisdiction was raised and argued before the trial court and ably disposed of in the opinion of the Honorable Alice Beck Dubow, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia First District of Pennsylvania Civil Trial Division. Therefore, this Court shall affirm on the basis of Judge Dubow's opinion. Patterson v. Shelton, (July Term, 1995, No. 2945), filed November 10, 2014.
Because the trial court properly determined that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction, Patterson's remaining arguments are moot. --------
/s/_________
BERNARD L. McGINLEY, Judge ORDER
AND NOW, this 18th day of December, 2015, the order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County in the above-captioned matter is affirmed.
/s/_________
BERNARD L. McGINLEY, Judge
Image materials not available for display.
Order of the Trial Court, July 31, 2014, at 1-2.