Opinion
June 8, 1970.
September 18, 1970.
Liquor Law — Licenses — Suspension — Permitting use of premises in furtherance of narcotics traffic — Citation of board alleging violations on five dates — Order of lower court reversing suspension after reinstatement by Superior Court — Reconsideration by lower court on ground that no evidence was adduced as to a violation on one of the five dates.
In this case, in which it appeared that, on appeal by the Liquor Control Board from an order of the court below reversing a thirty-day suspension which the board had based on its findings that the licensee had permitted use of the premises in the furtherance of narcotics traffic on five specified dates, the Superior Court reversed the court below and reinstated the board's decision; and that thereafter the court below granted the petition of the licensee to reconsider the appeal on the ground that there was no evidence adduced as to a violation on one of the five dates, sustained the licensee's appeal as to the one date, again vacated the board's suspension and ordered payment of a fine; it was Held that the order of the court below should be reversed and the board's order again reinstated; (a) the fact that violations occurred on four dates instead of five was not a "significant and material" change in the basis for the board's action, and (b) the Superior Court, as indicated in its opinion, was fully aware in its consideration of the prior appeal that proof was lacking as to a violation on the one particular date.
Before WRIGHT, P.J., WATKINS, MONTGOMERY, JACOBS, HOFFMAN, SPAULDING, and CERCONE, JJ.
Appeal, No. 59, Oct. T., 1970, from order of Court of Common Pleas, Trial Division, of Philadelphia, Jan. T., 1967, No. 1682, in re suspension of Restaurant Liquor License No. 13502 issued to Ada Sobel, Incorporated. Order of court below reversed and board's order reinstated.
Proceedings upon petition by licensee for reconsideration of appeal after order entered on appeal from decision of Liquor Control Board suspending restaurant liquor license.
Order entered vacating suspension and imposing fine, opinion by GREENBERG, J. Commonwealth appealed.
Albert B. Miller, Special Assistant Attorney General, with him I. Harry Checchio, Special Assistant Attorney General, Thomas J. Shannon, Assistant Attorney General, and William C. Sennett, Attorney General, for Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, appellant.
Ronald N. Rutenberg, with him Harry A. Rutenberg, and Rutenberg, Rutenberg, Rutenberg and Rutenberg, for appellee.
Argued June 8, 1970.
This appeal is a sequel to Sobel Liquor License Case, 211 Pa. Super. 129, 235 A.2d 623. That case involved an appeal by the Board from an order of the court below reversing a thirty day suspension which the Board based on its finding that the licensee had permitted use of the premises in the furtherance of narcotics traffic. On November 16, 1967, we reversed the court below and reinstated the Board's decision. On December 31, 1967, our Supreme Court refused allocatur.
Thereafter, January 22, 1968, the licensee petitioned the court below to reconsider the appeal on the ground that the Board's original citation averred violations on April 27, May 13, June 19, July 22, and September 10, 1965, whereas there was no evidence adduced as to a violation on May 13, 1965. The court below, September 25, 1968, granted this petition. On October 17, 1969, the licensee's appeal as to the one date, May 13, 1965, was sustained. The court below again vacated the Board's suspension, and ordered payment of a $250.00 fine. The Board has appealed.
We find no justification whatever for reconsideration by the lower court. In the first place, the fact that violations occurred on four dates instead of five is not a "significant and material" change in the basis for the Board's action. Cf. Noonday Club of Delaware County, Inc. Liquor License Case, 433 Pa. 458, 252 A.2d 568. In the second place, this court was fully aware in our consideration of the prior appeal that proof was lacking as to a violation on May 13, 1965. An examination of our opinion will reveal that only four dates, not including May 13, 1965, were mentioned therein. It is clear that the court below erred in disturbing our prior order.
The order of the court below is reversed and the Board's order of December 14, 1966, is again reinstated.