HomeMy WebLinkAbout00-04993
In::Me."
F:\Fll.BS\DATAFll.E\Gendoc.cur\9901_COM l/tde
Created: 06113/00 10: 12:44 AM
Revised: 07/13/00 08:45:55 AM
9901.1
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
v.
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
NO.2000- -</CRJ
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
NOTICE
You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the
following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this Complaint and Notice are
served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court
your defenses or obj ections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to
do so, the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the court
without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint or for any other claim or relief
requested by the Plaintiffs. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LA WYERAT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET
FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP:
Cumberland County Bar Association
2 Liberty Avenue
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Telephone (717) 249-3166
, ~
C"., ,
. ~-- " -'~O.'
F:\FILES\DATAFILE\Gendoc.cur\9901-COM.l
Created: 06/13/00 10:15:30 AM
Revised: 07/13f0008:46:2SAM
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
NO.2000- L!9<J.;J
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
COMPLAINT
AND NOW, comes Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky, by and through his attorneys,
MARTSON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO, and avers as follows:
1. Plaintiffis Thomas P. Cekovsky, an adult individual with a mailing address of P.O.
Box 344, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701.
2. Defendant is Bernard Baker, an adult individual residing at 397 Center Street, Enhaut,
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 17113.
3. On June 22, 1999, at about 1:50 p.m., a 1994 Dodge Ram pickup operated by
Defendant collided with the Plaintiff while a pedestrian, pinning the Plaintiff against the side of his
car. This collision occurred in a temporary parking lot at the State Correctional Institution, 2500
Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
4. This collision was due solely to the negligence and/or carelessness of the Defendant
in failing to observe the point and position of Plaintiff and operating his vehicle without due care for
the safety of pedestrians.
5. The said collision caused injury to the Plaintiff for which he continues to treat, which
has not yet been fully diagnosed and which is believed to be permanent in nature. As a result of said
injury, Plaintiff has suffered, and continues to suffer pain and disability for which Plaintiff has
received, and continues to receive medical treatment.
6. As a result of the said injury, Plaintiff has suffered, or may suffer, a loss of earnings
and earning capacity.
7. As a result of the said injury, Plaintiff has incurred medical and other health care
expenses.
8. On the date of the said collision, Plaintiff had elected the full tort option under his
personal auto insurance policy.
, ' -"",.. - '~
~~, ' '1"1
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant for pain, suffering,
and loss of life's pleasure, as well as reimbursement for present and future work loss and medical
expenses, together with costs.
MARTSON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO
By '1~ I f/vJt~
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
(717) 243-3341
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Date: July 17, 2000
i
r l1uj;j
VERIFICATION
The foregoing Complaint is based upon information which has been gathered by my counsel
in the preparation of the lawsuit. The language of the document is that of counsel and not my own.
I have read the document and to the extent that it is based upon information which I have given to
my counsel, it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief To the extent
that the content of the document is that of counsel, I have relied upon counsel in making this
verification.
This statement and verification are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa. C. S. Section 4904
relating to unsworn falsification to authorities, which provides that if I make knowingly false
averments, I may be subject to criminal penalties.
F:\FILES\DATAFILE\Gendac.cur\9901-COM.l
"i::",~', "~. ,
. ,,' ~
.,.-m'r~' ~ .......-
1WJ._~i'~ ~''''$1l1ft~
'''''''''''''j,. :A
^.;'o.-r."<,'",, ,...t.-.
"_...._~".,'~"',,,.~ _'r>'. " ".', ,"-, .,,",..j,~,~, ....,.. ".~ ,_" ,,,,,,,..
,..,
'~'''~~~~~JU,~.JI ~ ~
"M~~-
~ .'~
."v'
"'",
,
.'.<. '""".,;."
,
"I,;
-p ~ ~ C) -
~ C . ,
~ ~i
~ '-.
~ ."1 ~~- ;c:: :-:.2
".,- ;;"'-0
<:oG ~ ~ p ,
~ ~~L -J ,':':::l
0i 2 i e
~ ~c; ,::S"?,
t ~,-: ::;.~'-'
.o-"r'''- <~R
z~...::
~ r"--)
~ U ;>c '-P. ,:,--rn
fQ c)
~ -l
p.: ? 55
<1' '<
-J i
'- ~, '"
Sf
".,
'"'
.
'.'.,hj
.,
SHERIFF'S RETURN - OUT OF COUNTY
t
CASE NO: 2000-04993 P
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
CEKOVSKY THOMAS P
VS
BAKER BERNARD
R. Thomas Kline
, Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff who being
duly sworn according to law, says, that he made a diligent search and
and inquiry for the within named DEFENDANT
, to wit:
BAKER BERNARD
but was unable to locate Him
in his bailiwick. He therefore
deputized the sheriff of DAUPHIN
County, Pennsylvania, to
serve the within COMPLAINT & NOTICE
On August
7th , 2000 , this office was in receipt of the
attached return from DAUPHIN
Sheriff's Costs:
Docketing
Out of County
Surcharge
Dep. Dauphin Co
18.00
9.00
10.00
26.75
.00
63.75
08/07/2000
MART SON , DEARDORFF,
~
R. homas Kl :~~///
Sheriff of Cumberland County
WILLIAMS
Sworn and subscribed to before me
this 1</t3::: day of Q"ruY
~ A.D.
~C. fl1,'p'F;~, . LOp..tS
Prothonotary
-""""",,,,,-,,,,,,,- -
"
- .
.~"
~.. . -
-
._'"~-~
"'"'"~
~
@ffire of tq~ ~4~t'iff
I
William T. Tully
Solicitor
Ralph G. McAllister
Chief Deputy
Mary Jane Snyder
Real Estate Deputy
Michael W. Rinehart
Assistant Chief Deputy
Dauphin County
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 1710 1
ph: (717) 255.2660 fax: (717) 255-2889
Jack Lotwick
Sheriff
Comnumwealth of Pennsylvania
CEKOVSKY THOMAS P
vs
County of Dauphin
BAKER BERNARD
Sheriff's Return
No. 1625-T - -2000
OTHER COUNTY NO. 2000-4993
AND NOW: July 27, 2000
at 1:45PM served the within
COMPLAINT
upon
BAKER BERNARD
by personally handing
to JULIE CARR, WIFE OF DEFENDANT
1 true attested copy(ies)
of the original
COMPLAINT
and making known
to him/her the contents thereof at 397 CENTER ST.
ENHAUT, STEELTON, PA 17113-0000
,~o,QCIAMrAJ
So Answers,
JRp-
Sworn and subscribed to
before me this 28TH day of JULY, 2000
Sh ri f
, Pa.
Sheriff's
07/25/2000
139257
TW/MK
'"- ,-,'.
I ~ In The Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland COlmty, Pennsylvania
Thomas P. Cekovsky
VS.
Bernard Baker
No. 20-4993 Civil
Now,
7/17/00
, 20 0 (j , I, SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, P A, do
hereby deputize the Sheriff of Dauphin
County to execute this Writ, this
deputation being made at the request and risk of the Plaintiff., // ,:At '.
, ' r/J;?~~~-#
Sheriff of Cumberland County, PA
Affidavit of Service
Now,
,20' ,at
o'clock
M. served'the
within
upon
at
by handing to
a
copy ofthe original
and madelmown to
the contents thereof.
So answers,
Sheriff of
County, PA
Sworn and subscribed before
me this day of
20
'-
COSTS
SERVICE
MILEAGE
AFFIDA VIT
$
$
-
"
ROLF E. KROLL, ESQillRE
. Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 47243
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-0932
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
[717] 975-8114
[717] 975-8124
rkroll 2000@vahoo.com
Attorney for:
DEFENDANT
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
NO. 2000-4993 CNIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PRAECIPE
TO THE PROTHONOTARY:
Kindly enter the undersigned's appearance on behalf of Defendant, Bernard Baker in the
above-captioned action.
Respectfully submitted,
By:
11, Esquire
Attorn I.D. #47243
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
Attorney for Defendant
-, ~
llU",
'.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Jessica Bates, an authorized representative of Margolis Edelstein, hereby certify that I have
served a true and correct copy of the foregoing document upon all counsel and parties of record this
I 0 ~y of August, 2000, by placing the same in the United States First Class Mail, postage prepaid,
at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, P A 17013-3093
By:
: ';" --~ iltiD"'"
_- ..U1I1:u'IiUY- _1l'Ii~~" -i-"W"
',,;,' ~~"'1i4fj(ij!tn
,
"_,.'''_~., _~_"".r~'_' ,'~_, .---,.>" ''''1'
.^",'-'
-'.',
'-'-"-I~
" ",~.
~, ~~
-,-' ,"'
~ ~.-
...,;,-Ij
.
() 0 0
C Cl '"
;s: >
-Om c: ~}J
rnrri t"
Z~' .~;;p:i
-~,
ZC:
CD~., u; ~~!?6
-<.,--
'-0::;; 0>> :;~~
<:
~o ::x:
.-0
)>'C 'f? 0
'h!
-7 ,::::> ~
~ ':rJ
0:> -<
,.., "-'""
,"'
n .....~""'- It jij~ I '.,"
..
ROLF E. KROLL, ESQUIRE
Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 47243
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Peunsylvania 17108-0932
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
[717] 975-8114
[717] 975-8124
rkroll 2000(a)vahoo.com
Attorney for:
DEFENDANT
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
NO. 2000-4993 CNIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
NOTICE TO PLEAD
TO: Thomas P. Cekovsky, Plaintiff
c/o Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED to plead to the enclosed NEW MATTER within
twenty (20) days of service hereof, or a default judgment may be entered against you.
Date: September~, 2000
By:
olfE.
Attorne .D. #47243
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
Attorney for Defendant
."
-~ .
.
ROLF E. KROLL, ESQillRE
Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 47243
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-0932
Telepboue:
Fax:
E-mail:
[71 71 975-8114
[71 7] 975-8124
rkroll 2000(a)vahoo.com
Attorney for:
DEFENDANT
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYL VANIA
NO. 2000-4993 CNIL ACTION - LAW
v.
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
DEFENDANT'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT
AND NOW comes Defendant Bernard Baker, by and through his counsel, Margolis Edelstein,
to Answer the Complaint of Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky and in support thereof avers the following:
1. Denied.
2. Admitted.
3-8. Denied pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1029(e).
NEW MATTER
9. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
10. Plaintiff's claims are barred by the doctrines of contributory and comparative
negligence.
11. Plaintiff's claims are barred by the doctrine of assumption of risk.
12. Defendant Baker was confronted with a sudden emergency not of his own
creation to which he responded reasonably under the circumstances.
~ ~ ...
13. Plaintiff's claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
14. The named insured of the automobile insurance policy covering Plaintiff elected
coverage under the limited tort option offered under that policy in accordance with the terms of
the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law.
15. Plaintiff's claims are barred in whole or in part by the terms and conditions of the
Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law, Act of February 12, 1984, 75 Pa.
Cons. Stat., 9 1701 et seq., as amended. Specifically, Plaintiff's claims for medical expenses
and/or wage loss may be barred in whole or in part by 75 Pa. Cons. Stat., 9 1722. Moreover,
Plaintiff's claim for non-economic damages may be barred by virtue of an election of the limited
tort option of Plaintiff's motor vehicle insurance policy.
16. Plaintiffs claims are barred in whole or in part by the terms and conditions of the
Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act, 77 P.s. 91 et seq.
Respectfully submitted,
By:
olfE. 1, E 'quire
Attorney I.D. #47243
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
Attorney for Defendant
"I
,
VERIFICATION
I, Bernard Baker, have read the foregoing Answer with New Matter which has been
drafted by my counsel. The factual statements contained therein are known by me and are true
and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
This statement and verification is made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa, C,S,A. Section
4904, relating to unsworn falsifications to authorities, which provides that, if I knowingly make
false averments, I may be subject to criminal penalties,
Bernard Baker
Date:
, "
I . - ..
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Jessica Bates, an authorized representative of Margolis Edelstein, hereby certify that I have
served a true and correct copy of the foregoing docwnent upon all counsel and parties of record this
Jl/!!'day of September, 2000, by placing the same in the United States First Class Mail, postage
prepaid, at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
By:
L'IMitfL Aaw
essica Bates
'~1.1'~f
-.'" ~-F, ",_,
~ ,- ;P'~j~~HI-rL".,
1Ml!l.&!WlI.Lii;jl;l~'~
ill~~IU_{~jiO l ]lUilm '
. ".~",~'- " ". . ''''-'
-.1
",>
,-,.
i~1IiiiIIiIiri1
;;, '""11.
,J.,
(') ~~
C c.'
~ ~
-orD ,~~:)
11'1 f -~' ; --< -
z-
~S~ I
f')
-< ,"':
~d ~v
~-:c:
~n "
PC':: " .:.;--:':;
:z
~ """;1 5
-.J -<
""
F: \FILES\DATAFILE\Gendoc.cur\990 l-rep.l/tde
Created: 06113/00 10: 12:44 AM
Revised: lOfI2l0005:09:23PM
990U '
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYL VANIA
v.
NO, 2000-4993 CIVIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PLAINTIFF'S REPLY TO DEFENDANT'S NEW MATTER
AND NOW, comes Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky, by and through his attorneys,
MARTS ON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO, and answers Plaintiffs New Matter as follows:
9-16. These allegations are conclusions oflaw to which no answer is required. To the
extent an answer is required, the allegations are denied.
MARTS ON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO
By -rfw- t~ ~.1l. '* -
Thomas J, Willi s, Esquire
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, P A 17013-3093
(717) 243-3341
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Date: October 13, 2000
VERIFICATION
I, Thomas J. Williams, Esquire, counsel for Plaintiff depose and say, subject to the penalties
of 18 Pa. C.S.A. Section 4904, that the facts set forth in the foregoing pleading are true and correct
to the best of my knowledge; that my client is presently unavailable; that I am authorized to execute
this Verification on his behalf, and that I will supplement this Verification in the near future with
one executed by my client.
..L~ w.JL -
Thomas J. Will s, EsqUIre
Date: October 13, 2000
1>"
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Tricia D. Eckenroad, an authorized agent for Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto, hereby
certify that a copy of the foregoing Reply to New Matter was served this date by depositing same
in the Post Office at Carlisle, P A, first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
RolfE. Kroll, Esquire
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
P,O. Box 932
Harrisburg, P A 171 08
MARTSON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO
c5!ri:t~ () ()~
Tricia D. Eckenroad
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, P A 17013
(717) 243-3341
Dated: October 13, 2000
~" - ~ ~
iiil ~-~--~~_ ,<~L>-
,_. " . ~ - "" _'..0 ""
~~
~ ,~~.)",-,~ .., --,,~/- <-~. -~,.--
_..(-'~._n__
~ ..
"iii""
,,"."
,.
-"-~' '.
'0 .,'
o
~
-ort:
rllf-;",
Z:O
ZC.
en,,-: ~
~;.:.
~>.:,
5;:S~
~7
~'.2
w,
I
o
Cl
(J
Or'!
o
n
-;
,
,-
,)8]
;-!~i~;
G..~'
:;:;)
...J
'- ,
~~(~
~:::5In
.:;:::J
:1:.J
-<
till
)
<
~,
.
LAURALEE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 58874
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-0932
Telephone: [717] 975-8114
Fax: [717] 975-8124
E-Mail: Ibaker@margolisedelstein.com
Attorney for Defendant:
BERNARD BAKER
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
v.
NO. 2000-4993
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE
TO THE PROTHONOTARY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY:
Kindly withdraw my appearance for Defendant, Bernard Baker,
in the above referenced matter.
Date: ,/ejlojw
17108-0932
PRAECIPE TO ENTER APPEARANCE
TO THE PROTHONOTARY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:
Kindly enter my appearance on behalf of Defendant, Bernard
Baker, in the above-captioned matter.
Date:
WfL![ 00
Respectfully submitted,
EDE~
By: l"'ZL-
L E B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
P torney I.D. No. 58874
Attorney for Defendant,
BERNARD BAKER
P. O. Box 932
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I served a true and correct copy of
the foregoing WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE and ENTRY OF APPEARANCE on
all counsel of record by placing the same in the United States
mail at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, first-class postage prepaid, on
the L..J'Z;{day of rP~ 2000, and addressed as
follows:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
~;:
~<-.
t'
PRAECIPE FOR LISTING CASE FOR ARGUMENT
(Must be typewritten and submitted in duplicate)
TO THE PROTHONOTARY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY:
Please list the within matter for the next Argument Court:
CAPTION OF CASE
(ENTIRE CAPTION MUST BE STATED IN FULL)
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
5 .
NO. 2000-4993
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
1. State matter to be argued (i.e., plaintiff's motion for new
trial, defendant's demurrer to complaint, etc.):
Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant, Bernard Baker
2. Identify counsel who will argue the case:
(a) Plaintiff:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson, Deardorff, Williams & Otto
Ten West High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(b) Defendant:
Lauralee B. Baker, Esquire
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
3510 Trindle Road
Camp Hill, PA 17011
3. I will notify all parties that this case has been listed for
argument.
4. Argument Court Date: March 28, 2001
February 7. 2001
Date
. Baker Es .
for ( )Plaintiff
(X) Defendant
(717) 975-8114
Phone Number
.. .~
"ti-
~
I
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I served a true and correct copy of
the foregoing PRAECIPE FOR LISTING CASE FOR ARGUMENT on all
counsel of record by placing the same in the united States mail
at Camp Hill, pe~~vania, first-class postage prepaid, on the
7d day Of~.J''' _~_ 2001, and addressed as follows:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Nelson,
"
s'._'~, ,"',; '~Iltit~6iiiiH!Ilim~-ifim'~~~ "
~_0'~""-'~ _~~__~
",
'11f ., lil'" - - - lilil"
_." "._"r.
L
,,'"' ,-,,,,, ~. ",,-," )'-'f
>"
'-.1
:i-;"
~
[
(') c' ,....
~
C "','1
:-;: ....,.,
"'""0'--"', ~1l
'..
CDrT GJ
/..__.J,' !
LC
en,,:': co -
-<~<- c:
r:n
~- -0 -1"-
'. -n
_ir"'r--, -,,,, ... (::>
:i;g N C:irn
Z ~
::<! ...J :5:J
-~
t]
LAURALEE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 58874
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-0932
Telephone: [717] 975-8114
Fax: [717] 975-8124
E-Mail: Ibaker@margolisedelstein.com
Attorney for Defendant:
BERNARD BAKER
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
v.
NO. 2000-4993
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
PRAECIPE
TO THE PROTHONOTARY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY:
Kindly file of record the attached deposition transcripts of
Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky, and Defendant, Bernard Baker.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Date:
F,(.~ 71 Ulo(
By:
f?f?--
URA EE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
P ttorney I.D. No. 58874
Attorney for Defendant,
BERNARD BAKER
P. O. Box 932
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
llll
, Thomas P. Cekovsky
1 THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
PLAINTIFF
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
v.
BERNARD BAKER,
4 DEFENDANT
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
NO. 2000-4993
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
9 DEPOSITION OF: THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY
10 TAKEN BY: DEFENDANT
11 BEFORE : SUSAN M. SIMON
REPORTER-NOTARY PUBLIC
12
PLACE: MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
13 3510 TRINDLE ROAD
CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA
14
DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2000
15 BEGINNING 11:38 A.M.
16
17
18
19 APPEARANCES:
20 Ml'lRTSON, DEARDORFF, WILLI1\MS , OTTO
BY: THOMAS J. WILLIAMS, ESQUIRE
21 FOR - PLAINTIFF
22 MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
BY: LAURALEE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
23 FOR - DEFENDANT
24
25
I N 0 E X
2 WITNESS
EXAMINATION
3 THOMAS P. Cekovsky
4 By Ms. Baker
By Mr. williams
3
52
7
8 EXHIBITS:
9 1. Sketch
10
11
12
13
14
15
<'
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
PRODUCED
AND MARKED
~~1P;~1
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
"
,
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15,2000
Page 3
I STIPULATION
2 It is hereby stipulated by and between counsel
3 for the respective parties that reading, signing, sealing,
4 filing and certification are wal ved; and that all
5 objections except as to the form of the question are
6 reserved until the time of triaL
7 THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY. called as a witness, being
8 duly sworn, testified as follows:
9 EXAMINATION
10 BY MS. BAKER:
II Q Mr. Cekovsky?
12 A Cekovsky.
13 Q Would you give us your full name and address
14 please.
15 A Thomas Peter Cekovsky. P. O. Box 344,
16 Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701-0344.
17 Q Mr. Cekovsky, I'm going to try to say your
18 name right, but if I say it improperly, please for give me.
19 As you know, I'm Lauralee Baker, and I
20 represent Mr. Baker in this lawsuit. I'm here today to ask
21 you some questions about what you recall from that accident
22 and any injuries you sustained from that accident.
23 During the course of this deposition, if I ask
24 you a question that you don't understand, I encourage you
25 to let me know and I'll be glad to rephrase the question.
Page 2 Page 4
I All right?
2 A Yes.
3 Q Likewise, if you don't hear me -- sometimes we
4 have a little too much activity in our hallway out here --
5 let me know and I'll be glad to speak more loudly.
6 All right?
7 A Okay.
8 Q I'm going to assume then that if you answer a
9 question, you both heard and understood it. Is that fair?
10 A Yes,
II Q Okay. Please let me know if you need to take
12 a break at any time, You're welcome to do that. And
13 please also try to remember to make your responses to
14 questions verbally so that our court reporter can get down
15 yes or no as opposed to a nod or shake of the head.
16 All right?
17 A Yes,ma1am.
18 Q Okay. Can you give us your date of birth,
19 please.
20 A September 22nd, 1963.
21 Q Your social security number?
22 A 208-42-8259.
23 Q Now, you gave us a P. O. Box number as your
24 address. Do you live at a certain location in Indiana,
25 Pennsylvania?
Page 1 - Page 4
1.1
1.1
, Thomas P. Cekovsky
I A Yes, I did live with my girlfriend in Indiana,
2 Pennsylvania. We split up a couple years ago,
3 MS. WILLIAMS: She didn't ask you about your
4 girlfriend, She asked you where you lived in Indiana.
5 1HE Wl1NESS: In Indiana, Pennsylvania.
6 MR. WILLIAMS: You live there?
7 THE Wl1NESS: No, not actually.
8 BY MS. BAKER:
9 Q Okay, where actually are you residing?
10 A At the present time, I am residing in
II Dillsburg.
12 Q Okay. What is the address there?
13 A It's Young's Grove Trailer Court, I'm staying
14 with a friend because my transfer date has been put back.
15 I'm not really sure of the lot number.
16 Q Okay. In June of 1999, where were you
17 residing?
18 A I was residing at 101 Harrisburg Pike,
19 Dillsburg.
20 Q Were you living with anyone at that address?
21 A Yes,
22 Q With whom you were you living?
23 A Another officer, Sean Hudzel. H-u-d-z-e-I, I
24 think. There were several officers sharing this place from
25 time to time from out of town,
I Q Okay. Other than Sean, do you recall the
2 names of any other officers would have would be residing
3 there around June of '99?
4 A At that time, no.
5 Q Okay. Do you know where Sean Hudzel is
6 located now?
7 A No, ma'am.
8 Q He no longer works at the correctional
9 institution here?
10 A Yes, he still works there.
]] Q Okay. So you just don't know what his address
12 is now, but you know he still works there?
13 A That's correct.
14 Q Okay. Now, you said in response to one of my
15 earlier questions that your transfer date was moved back.
16 Can you tell me what you meant by that?
17 A I was offered a lateral transfer at Pine Grove
18 institution in Indiana, Pennsylvania. That date, formal
19 transfer, has been moved back three times because the
20 completion of the institution wasn't, you know, up to
21 schedule.
22 Q Is Pine Grove not open yet?
23 A It will be open on the 26th of this month.
24 Q Okay. Does your transfer then go in effect on
25 December 26th?
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
~ - """""'- ."
CondenseIt! 1M
Page 5
December 15,2000
Page?
1 A Yes, ma'am.
2 Q Do you have an address where you will be
3 located after that transfer?
4 A Mailing address or residing?
5 Q Well, I assume the mailing will remain the
6 same.
7 A Yes. I'll be staying at 600 Logan Street,
8 Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
9 Q When was the first date that your transfer was
10 to go into effect?
II A I think it was July of this year.
12 Q Okay.
13 A I think it was the 23rd.
14 Q So all of this took place this year? 1bere
15 were no plans to transfer as of last year?
16 A Oh, certainly there were. It takes quite a
17 while to transfer.
18 Q When did you first put in for a transfer?
19 A When I was first able to according to policy,
20 two years after being employed at Sel Camp Hill.
21 Q When approximately was that?
22 A 1995.
23 Q Okay. So this is the first lateral transfer
24 you have had offered since 19971
25 A Since 19971
Page 6
Page 8
I Q At any time since you were eligible for
2 transfer, this the first transfer that you have been
3 offered?
4 A Yes.
5 Q Okay. What was it that led you to request a
6 transfer?
7 A I want to be closer to home.
8 Q Okay. Let's talk about your educational
9 background. Can you give me an idea of what type of
10 schooling you have had?
II A I went to Punxsutawney Area High School.
12 After that I attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
13 Department of Corrections academy, certain trainings at SCI
14 Camp Hill.
15 Q Training --
16 A Certain trainings at SCI Camp Hill, such as
17 RHU school, things of that nature.
18 Q And RHU is what?
19 A Restricted housing unit.
20 Q Okay, You said that you went to Indiana
21 University of Pennsylvania, Did you obtain a degree or
22 certification from there?
23 A No, ma'am.
24 Q Okay. Did you take a number of credits?
25 A Yes.
Page 5 - Page 8
~..' .
-"-,
~
. Thomas P. Cekovsky
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15,2000
,
-- Page 9
I Q Do you know about how many credits you have?
2 A It's been quite a while. I was at !Up
3 probably two and a half years.
4 Q Do you remember what years you were there?
5 A '83, '84, some of '85.
6 Q What year did you graduate from high school?
7 A 1982.
8 Q The Department of Corrections academy, you
9 attended the academy what years?
10 A I think it was '93.
II Q Following graduation from high school, where
12 were you first employed?
13 A I've had several jobs.
14 Q Just give me an idea of what type of jobs you
15 had before SCL
16 A Okay. I've done a lot of physical jobs, labor
17 jobs. I wanted to work with the state. I worked as an
18 hourly for the state stores. Up to this point, is that
19 what you --
20 Q Right.
21 A I worked for the Department of Public Welfare
22 in the state mental hospitals, and then to SCI Camp Hill.
23 Q What did do you for DPW?
24 A I was a security officer I at W oodville State
25 Hospital and Torrance State Hospital.
Page 10
I Q What led you to leave there?
2 A The Department of Corrections paid better, and
3 there was more room to advance.
4 Q When did you start with the Department of
5 Corrections?
6 A I think it was about '93.
7 Q Okay. And were you first assigned to SCI?
8 What was your first assignment with the Department of
9 Corrections?
10 A Camp Hill.
II Q Okay. What was your position there?
12 A Everyone starts out as corrections officer
13 trainee. After your training is complete, you graduate to
14 corrections officer I.
15 Q And then do you work up 1,2,3, and so forth?
16 A Providing you take the examinations.
17 Q Okay. In June of 1999, had you worked up to a
18 different position?
19 A No.
20 Q Okay. You were still a corrections officer
21 number I?
22 A Yes.
23 Q Okay. Do you remember how much you were
24 earning in June of '99?
25 A Are you speaking hourly or yearly?
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page II
I Q You can give it to me either way, Hourly is
2 fine.
3 A $17 an hour,
4 Q Okay. And were you working any particular
5 shift in that time frame?
6 A 2 p.m, to 10 p,m.
7 Q Had you been working that shift for a period
8 of time?
9 A A period of time?
10 Q Do you rotate shifts, or do you always work
II 2:00 to 10:00?
12 A You bid shifts.
13 Q Okay. You'd been working the 2:00 to 10:00
14 shift for how long as of June of 1999?
15 A Month and a half maybe.
16 Q In the 2:00 to 10:00 shift, in addition to the
17 $17 an hour you were earning, did you have the capacity to
18 earn overtime?
19 A Yes,
20 Q Okay. Can you give me an idea in a month how
21 much time you would work overtime?
22 A Not really, If there's a shift available, you
23 know n if there's a shift available, you take it, if you
24 can, if you're selected.
25 Q So you need to go put your name in with other
Page 12
I people, and then a certain person is selected for the
2 overtime?
3 A Yes.
4 Q Do you have an idea in the time that you were
5 off as a result of this accident whether or not you would
6 have had the opportunity to earn overtime?
7 A Could you please ask that question again?
8 Q What I'm trying to learn now is what wages you
9 contend were lost as a result of the injuries you sustained
10 from the accident. And I understand that you earned $17 an
II hour, but I'm trying to learn, on top of that, if you would
12 have had any losses of income.
13 Can you give me an idea as to whether or not
14 you would have had the opportunity to have any other
15 income, including overtime, during that time frame?
16 A There's a lot of vacations at that time of
17 year. It's been a rule that I would try to get three
I g shifts per pay period, if that was possible.
19 Q How long are your pay periods?
20 A 14 days.
21 Q How many days, if you know, did you miss work
22 as a result of injuries from this accident?
23 A I really can't tell you that. I don't bave it
24 in front of me.
25 Q Okay. I understand you don't have it in front
Page 9 - Page 12
<
'I......
~b
,
,-- ~~.-"~
- Thomas P. Cekovsky
CondenseIt! TM
December 15,2000
Page 15
Page 13
I of you. Do you have a general number. a general time
2 frame, that you were told to stay home?
3 A No, and I would hate to estimate.
4 Q I have Ihe medical records. You have no idea
5 how much time you missed?
6 A When you're talking about that period of time,
7 explain to me what you mean.
8 Q Well, let me ask you, following this accident,
9 were you off work at all because of your injuries?
10 A Yes.
II Q How long were you off work?
12 A That I did not go to work at all? Maybe a
13 week and a half to two weeks I was in bed.
14 Q After you got out of bed, did you go back to
15 work?
16 A I went back in a limited duty capacity which
17 means that I was stationary.
18 Q In your limited duty capacity, were you
19 earning $17 an hour?
20 A I'm not really sure what I was earning at that
21 time.
22 Q Well, did you notice any decrease in your
23 paycheck when you were on the limited duty as opposed to
24 before that?
25 A Yes.
Page 14
I Q About how much less was it in your paycheck?
2 A I'm not certain.
3 Q How long were you on limited duty?
4 A Couple of months, but I'm not really certain.
5 Q After you came off limited duty, were you able
6 to resume your nonnal job responsibilities?
7 A Could you restate that please?
8 Q What were your job responsibilities prior to
9 your injuries?
10 A That would depend on the area that I was
II assigned to. My job responsibilities are care, custody and
12 controL I am to "" how should I state this. I am to
13 control the movement of my block
14 I don't feel that I could do that at the level
15 that I was before the injury, if that's what you're asking
16 me.
17 Q Okay, Were you put in that position to do
18 tbat by your employers?
19 A Yes, I was,
20 Q And were you paid your $17 an hour to do that
21 by your employers?
22 A Yes.
23 Q What was it that makes you believe that you
24 weren't able to control your block as well after you were
25 returned from limited duty?
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I A Because I could not at the time "" I find it
2 very difficult to concentrate on what's in front of me.
3 I'm supposed to be observant of everything around me. I
4 was not getting the sleep. I'm in pain constantly. I
5 can't respond quickly to situations, and my fellow
6 officers' lives depends on my response and my judgments and
7 my reaction.
8 Q At any time following the accident, do you
9 feel that you were able to return to the degree of control
10 that you had of your cellblock prior to accident?
II A Could you please "" this is the first day
12 with"" my medication makes me a little slow. Could you
13 please repeat that?
14 Q And I should ask you, are you taking any
15 medication today that's going to affect your ability to
16 answer questions truthfully and accurately?
17 A Not -- no, not truthfully and accurately.
18 Q What medication are you taking?
19 A Right now I'm taking -- I'm on the transdermal
20 patch. It's called -" it's from the Norgesic company. I
21 don't want to look at it. FentanyL
22 Q Fentanyl?
23 A It's a class 2 narcotic.
24 Q Any other medications you're taking?
25 A Currently, no.
Page 16
I Q Okay. When did you start applying the patch?
2 A Oh, I would say the beginning of November.
3 Q Who prescribed that for you?
4 A Dr. Albright.
5 Q Do you know Dr. Albright's first name?
6 A I think William Albright, the Third.
7 Q Where is William Albright, the Third, located?
8 A Highspire area.
9 Q What type of doctor is Dr. Albright?
10 A Family physician.
II Q Okay. Now, getting back to my question that
12 led us into this, you indicated that following your
13 injuries you had a difficulty, you believe, concentrating
14 and therefore controlling your cellblock.
15 And my question to you was, was there at any
16 time since the injuries that you feel that you have been
17 able to exert the control in your cellblock that you did
18 before your injuries?
19 A No.
20 MR. WILLIAMS: I'm going to object to the fonn
21 of the question as far as you asked him solely as to his
22 concentration limitations, and he did testify that there
23 were other limitations in addition to that.
24 MS. BAKER: Well, originally when we started
25 he talked about control and care and one other word.
Page 13 - Page 16
J
'...-
,,~" . ._l
~-'''J
, Thomas P. Cekovsky
CondenseIt! TM
Page 17
December 15,2000
Page 19
I MR. WILLIAMS: Care, custody and controL
2 BY MS. BAKER:
3 Q What I want to know is, are you able to exert
4 the care, custody and control now that you were prior to
5 your accident?
6 MR. WILLIAMS: I'm going to have to object to
7 the form of the question for this reason, I only know this
8 from having spoken with Mr. Cekovsky extensively on that
9 point, but control of the inmates is in large part based on
10 the psychology that you're there, and if you do anything n
II if they do anything, you're going to be able to respond,
12 And he has been trying to keep his physical
13 limitations hidden from them so they don't realize he has
14 these weaknesses that these inmates can prey upon.
15 But he is worried that he would not be able to
16 respond physically and speedily in the event that something
17 happened if this control didn't work.
18 MS. BAKER: And certainly I understand what
19 you're saying. What I'm trying to learn is if he has at
20 any point been able to resume his pre-injury abilities to
21 do that.
22 I understand that you're telling me -- you're
23 answering the question for him, but I need to have it on
24 the record his response.
25 I believe it's no, but I need to hear that
Page 18
I from him.
2 MR. WILLIAMS: He can answer this, but I think
3 as far as the question goes, the form of the question needs
4 to make a distinction as to the fact that he, whether he
5 was able to control the inmates or as opposed to if
6 something had happened that he is trained to intercede on,
7 whether he would have been able to do that.
8 BY MS. BAKER:
9 Q Why don't you just tell me now what you
10 believe your situation is at work as far as your
II interactions with the inmates, your ability to respond to
12 emergencies, that sort of thing.
13 Tell me how it is tlow?
14 A I feel limited.
15 Q Explain please,
16 A I feel that I can not quickly respond
17 physically to any kind of problem or altercation. I don't
18 have that movement. A large part of my control of my
19 cellblock or my yard is a mental game. I have to be on top
20 of things,
21 I'm preoccupied with what I feel, and with the
22 effects of the medication, so I can feel anything but
23 pain. Do you understand what I'm saying? Go ahead.
24 Q No, I want you to finish all your thoughts
25 before I respond.
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I A Instead of being to the power of observance
2 and control that I normally have over a large area, I'm
3 more focused on myself and what I'm feeling because of
4 this. Whether it's the pain, the nausea from the
5 medication, the feeling of being high from the medication,
6 or the thought that I may not be able to respond as quickly
7 as I should or effectively as I should.
8 Q Have you spoken with one of your supervisors
9 about those concerns?
10 A I can think of one occasion where I did, yes.
II Q Can you tell me who you spoke with?
12 A I had spoken to Lieutenant Flowers. I was
13 supposed to be in a tower one day, and I told her I was
14 extremely dizzy and I'd appreciate it if she'd put me
15 somewhere else. I didn't think I could climb the stairs,
16 the ladder.
17 Q When did that assigmnent occur?
18 A Maybe a week and a half ago.
19 Q What was Lieutenant Flowers' response?
20 A She accommodated me,
21 Q Other than the dizziness that you expressed to
22 her, did you tell her anything else ahout your symptoms and
23 these feelings that you just expressed to me?
24 A Nothing else was relevant. There's nothing
25 she could have done for me other than eradicate that
Page 20
I situation.
2 Q And you have told me your concerns about
3 controlling your block. Have you ever expressly discussed
4 those thoughts with any of your supervisors?
5 A I don't think so.
6 Q Okay. Are your supervisors aware that you
7 have the patch on your arm?
8 A Yes, they have to be.
9 Q Okay. Did you discuss that with a particular
10 supervisor?
II A Yes.
12 Q Which one?
13 A Major Steve Sunday. I had to submit an
14 incident report to him.
15 Q An incident report telling him that you had
16 the patch?
17 A Yes, that I had this patch and that it could
18 show up positive for morphine and the effects that I would
19 be under.
20 Q I just want to make sure that we have covered
21 all the areas that you feel you might have lost income as a
22 result of your injuries.
23 You told me you were off one to two weeks,
24 that you were then on limited duty but you weren't sure how
25 long, that you missed some overtime potentially.
Page 17 - Page 20
.' "
>,;.'
J ~
d' . ""~
-.'.,<:.
'-";;
Page 21
Condenselt! 1M
December 15,2000
, Thomas Po Cekovsky
I Is there any other way that you might have
2 lost income as a result of your injuries?
3 A Promotional exam,
4 Q Tell me about that?
5 A The sergeant's test was scheduled several days
6 after this occurrence. I was in extreme pain, I couldn't
7 concentrate. At that point I hadn't slept but maybe a
8 hour, hour and a half each nighl. I normally do very well
9 on tests, I did pretty poorly on this one,
10 Q Was this the fIrst time you had taken the
II sergeant's test?
12 A Yes.
13 Q Have you taken it at any time since that time?
14 A It's only offered every few years.
15 MR. WILUAMS, SO your answer is no?
16 THE WITNESS: No,
17 BY MS. BAKER:
18 Q Has it been offered at all, to your knowledge,
19 since that time?
20 A No, it hasn'1.
21 Q Now, your position at Pine Grove institution,
22 what exactly will you be doing there?
23 A I can 'ttell you what exactly I'll be doing
24 there because I haven't be there yel. It's a lateral
25 transfer, I would assume that my duties are quite similar.
Page 23
I Q Okay. 5 percent over what you had been
2 earning you had hoped to make?
3 A Yes.
4 Q Prior to this accident in June of '99, were
5 you involved in any other motor vehicle accidents?
6 A Not that I'm aware of. Fender benders?
7 Q Yes.
8 A I hit a deer the year before.
9 Q Did you have any injuries as a result of that?
10 A No.
II Q Other than hitting the deer the year before,
12 any other accidents?
13 A Not that I can recall.
14 Q Okay. Any motor vehicle accidents since this
15 one we're here about today?
16 A Not that I can recall.
17 Q Okay. Ever file a claim for workers'
18 compensation?
19 A No, I haven't.
20 Q Okay. Ever collected unemployment?
21 A Unemployment?
22 Q Yes.
23 A I think I might have.
24 Q Do you know when that was?
25 A Not off the top of my head.
Page 22 Page 24
I Q Does Pine Grove have the same type of inmates I Q Do you know how long?
2 as Camp Hill? 2 A It wouldn't have been very long. I've always
3 A No, they don't. 3 worked.
4 Q What types of inmates do they have? 4 Q Other than this lawsuit, have you ever been a
5 A Juvenile. 5 plaintiff in another lawsuit?
6 Q Is there a certain age? 6 A No.
7 A That depends on the severity of the crime. 7 Q Did you grow up in the Indiana area?
8 Q Is there a certain cutoff of the age group for 8 A I grew up in the Punxsutawney area.
9 Pine Grove? Is it 18? 9 Q Okay. Did you have a particular family
10 A Yes, I would imagine it's 18. 10 physician that cared for you as you were growing up?
II Q You will be earning the same salary at Pine II A Yes.
12 Grove since it's a lateral transfer? 12 Q Who was that?
13 A Yes, the same pay scale. 13 A Dr. Bizousky.
14 Q Okay. Are you still earning $17 an hour? 14 Q Could you spell that for us?
15 A No, I'm earning a bit more than that. 15 A Absolutely. B-i-z-o-u-s-k-y,
16 Q What are you earning now? 16 Q Do you know Dr. Bizousky's first name?
17 A RougWy 18. 17 A No, I don't.
18 Q Okay. Did you move up in the salary as you 18 Q Do you know if Dr. Bizousky is still-- is he
19 normally would have expected to, even if the accident 19 from Punxsutawney?
20 hadn't occurred? 20 A Yes, he is.
21 A Barring the possibility of the promotion, yes. 21 Q Is he still there?
22 Q How much do sergeants make an hour generally? 22 A I think he's still practicing, yes.
23 A It's a percentage raise. 23 Q For what sorts of things did you see
24 Q Do you have any idea how much percentage? 24 Dr. Bizousky?
25 A I would say 5 percent. 25 A Normal childhood things, vaccinations,
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 21 - Page 24
" ,
-~""""""&':
Page 25
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15,2000
. Thomas P_ Cekovsky
I physicals.
2 Q Since Dr. Bizousky, have you seen any other
3 family medicine physicians or family doctors?
4 A Dr. Albright, as far as a family doctor,
5 Q Anybody between Dr. Bizousky and Dr, Albright?
6 A For family doctors?
7 Q Right.
8 A I've been to specialists, but not family
9 doctors,
10 Q Ever been admitted to the hospital?
II A Yes.
12 Q When was that?
13 A I would say approximately 1990.
14 Q For what reason?
15 A To have a cyst removed from my right hand.
16 Q Any other admissions?
17 A No.
18 Q Ever been seen in the emergency room for any
19 type of problem?
20 A Yes.
21 Q Can you give me an idea what that was about?
22 A I broke my hand. I had my eye checked.
23 Q Where, what emergency room did you go to for
24 that?
25 A I believe Indiana, and Holy Spirit.
Page 26
I Q How did you break your hand?
2 A I was -- I tripped.
3 Q Okay. Any other times you were seen in the
4 emergency room?
5 A Yes, when I was in high school for like a
6 basketball injury or baseball, things of that nature.
7 Q Okay. Did you ever have any injuries to your
8 hip or your back prior to June of '99?
9 A No,
10 Q Had you ever seen a chiropractor prior to June
II of '99?
12 A Yes, I did,
13 Q Who was that?
14 A I saw the chiropractor that I see now,
15 Dr, Shannon Walters,
16 Q Where is Dr. Walters located?
17 A Dillsburg.
18 Q For what sorts of things did you see
19 Dr. Walters prior to June of '99?
20 A I saw her on one occasion, I had twisted -- I
21 had pulled my neck. That was the fIrst time I was ever at
22 a chiropractor.
23 Q Okay. Ever see any specialists for any reason
24 prior to June of '99?
25 A Not that I recall.
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 27
I Q Ever see a psychologist or psychiatrist prior
2 to June of '99?
3 A Yes,
4 Q Who did you see?
5 A I can't recall his name, but he was in this
6 area.
7 Q Okay. Can you give me an idea where in this
8 area?
9 A Not really. It was one of these hit-and-miss
10 kinds of things. You know, you have -- at work you have
II six free visits a year, and I wanted to take advantage of
12 that and see what it was all about.
13 Q When was it you fIrst saw this person?
14 A Two, approximately two years ago.
15 Q Okay. Before June of '99?
16 A Yes.
17 Q Okay. Did you get this person from a list
18 that was available at the prison?
19 A I think someone that worked with me at the
20 time referred me.
21 Q Okay. For what reason did you fool you nooded
22 to see this person?
23 A Well, we were discussing work stress. It's a
24 different type of job. And I thought maybe I could
25 alleviate some work stress.
Page 28
1 Q Okay. How many times did you see this person?
2 A What do you mean? I wasn't satisfied, so I
3 just discontinued it.
4 Q Okay. Have you ever been married?
5 A No.
6 Q Do you have any children?
7 A The woman that I was seeing -- no, no.
8 Q You have no children, okay. There seemed to
9 be a question there.
10 MR. WILLIAMS: That's the one thing you
II shouldn't have any question about.
12 THE WITNESS: Well, no, I was seeing a woman
13 years ago that had two children, and I was very close to
14 them.
15
16
17 kids.
18 BY MS. BAKER:
19 Q Ever been convicted of or pled guilty to a
20 crime?
21 A No, Oh, wait. What do you mean, like a
22 felony crime?
23 Q A crime,
24 A Oh, yes. I had a nUl.
25 Q When was that?
MS. BAKER: Okay.
MR. WILLIAMS: You'd know it, if you had
Page 25 - Page 28
. Thomas P. Cekovsky
"
Page 29 Page 31
I A Oh, couple years ago, two years ago. ] A To my knowledge.
2 Q Do you remember when two years ago? 2 Q Can you give me an idea of how far it was from
3 A What month? 3 where you parked that day to the actual prison building?
4 Q Yes. 4 A From where I parked to the prison building?
5 A November. 5 Are you referring to the main gate entrance?
6 Q Of 1989? 6 Q I'm referring to whatever entrance you would
7 A I think it was '89, yeah. 7 enter.
8 Q In what county did the court pro=dings take 8 A 300, 400 yards.
9 place? 9 Q Okay. Was the walk you would take from where
10 A York. lO you parked your car on June 22ml, '99, to the prison the
II Q And your sentence from that was what? II same general walk that you and others would make every
]2 A ARD. I guess the normal probation. 12 other day in going and coming from work?
13 Q Okay, Let's talk about the day of the 13 A Yes,
] 4 accident. What shift were you working that day? 14 Q Okay. Can you draw me a picture, if you
15 A 2:00 to 10:00, 15 would -- and certainly we have the police report here, if
16 Q Can you tell me what parking lot you intended 16 you'd like to look at that -- but where it was that you
17 to park in or near? 17 parked that day in conjunction with this staked-off area
18 A I intended to park in the visitors' parking 18 that you have said was going to be made into a parking
19 lot which is the parking lot that we have always parked in. 19 lot.
20 Q Was there any construction or anything going 20 A This would be the east tower.
21 on at that parking lot at the time? 21 Q "m" you put inside of that for east tower.
22 A Not in the visitors' parking lot. 22 A The parking lot that was staked out, that they
23 Q Was there construction in any of the parking 23 just constructed is here. There was a road between --
24 lots at that time? 24 Q Before you go on, that rectangle area that you
25 A There was an area staked out that they were 25 put just put there, please put parking lot staked out
Page 30 Page 32
I going to make into a parking lot. I or "SO" inside of there.
2 Q Did anybody park in that staked-out area? 2 A (Witness complies with request of counse1.)
3 A No. 3 Q Okay. And you just put a roadway between the
4 Q How far had they gotten in preparing that 4 parking lot and the east tower, is that correct?
5 staked-out area for a parking lot? 5 A Yes.
6 A They put the stakes up. 6 Q Between that you drew a line.
7 Q That was it? Okay. Had anyone parked in that 7 A Urn-hum.
8 area before it was staked-out? 8 Q We have to state these things so that we know
9 A Previously to this? 9 later when we come back to this what we're referring to.
lO Q Yes. lO A Fine.
II A Previously to this day? Yes. II Q Go ahead.
12 Q Okay. How long had people been parking in 12 A Okay, you wanted to know where I parked?
13 that area, to your knowledge? 13 Q Yes.
14 A I have no way of knowing. 14 A Okay. The visitors' lot would be over here
]5 Q Okay. Was it for more than a month prior? 15 that we normally park in.
16 A I have no way of knowing. 16 Q Can you put "VL" in there.
17 Q You worked there, correct? 17 A (Witness complies with request of counse1.)
18 A Yes. 18 We would enter the institntion through this
19 Q Did you see people parking in that area prior 19 way.
20 to June of '99? 20 Q And through this way, just make a line with an
21 A Yes. 21 arrow, if you would.
22 Q Okay. For how long do you recall generally 22 A (Witness complies with request of counse1.)
23 people parked in that area? 23 Q Okay.
124 A For quite a while. 24 A I came in, and I noticed that there was no
b Q Was this property part of the prison property? 25 parking signs in the visitors' lot, and I saw other people
Condenselt! 1M
December 15,2000
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 29 - Page 32
, Thomas P. Cekovsky
,
"' '0<1
CondenseIt! 1M
Page 33
December 15, 2000
Page 35
I parking on the grass.
2 Q Make us an arrow of where you came in, if you
3 would. And from what road was that?
4 A That would be Lisburn, from right out in front
5 of the prison.
6 Q Do you want to write "Lisburn" out there on
7 your right.
8 A (Witness complies with request of counseL)
9 Q So you drove in, saw there were no parking
10 signs at the visitors' lot?
II A Urn-hum.
12 Q Could you just keep drawing with your arrow
13 where you then next proceeded?
14 A Okay. There were a bunch of cars in this area
15 here.
16 Q Put X's where there were a bunch of cars,
17 A So I drove up here, and around the back. And
18 I parked behind the last automobile up here.
19 Q Okay. Could you put a circle around the X
20 where you parked.
21 A (Witness complies with request of counseL)
22 Q Okay. Now, when you parked there, were there
23 any vehicles to your left? Were there any parked vehicles
24 to your left?
25 A Down here, yes. Was there anyone directly
Page 34
1 immediately across from me? No, there wasn't.
2 Q Okay. Did you at any time see Mr, Baker's
3 vehicle before the impact?
4 A Yes.
5 Q Okay. Where was Mr. Baker's vehicle when you
6 fIrst saw him?
7 A Right about here or here, I saw him pull
8 around my vehicle,
9 Q Okay, By here, you drew two circles on the
10 page which are immediately right of the X circle that you
II made to depict where you parked, is that right?
12 A Right.
13 MR. WILLIAMS: He also drew a line.
14 TIlE WITNESS: I saw him coming in.
15 BY MS. BAKER:
16 Q You saw Mr. Baker driving intn the lot?
17 A Yes, it's very unmistakable. It was
18 unmistakably him.
19 Q Why was it unmistakably him?
20 A Because his style of driving. He's reckless,
21 to say the least. He's been issued several warnings.
22 There's been several complaints med against this man.
23 Q Okay. We'll get into that in a minute.
24 That day, can you describe for me how
25 Mr. Baker drove into the parking lot?
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I A Quickly and carelessly.
2 Q Tell me what you mean by that.
3 A The dust was flying. He wasn't slowing down
4 for bumps the way anyone normally would that cares about
5 their vehicle or pedestrians. He was just -- I'm getting
6 from here to there as quickly as I can.
7 Q Okay. Where were you when you saw him drive
8 in?
9 A When I saw him drive in, I was just getting
10 out of my vehicle.
II Q Okay. So you were standing up outside your
12 vehicle on the driver's side?
13 A Yes.
14 Q And saw Mr. Baker drive in to the parking lot
15 in this manner that you have described?
16 A Yes.
17 Q Okay. And Mr. Baker then drove up to the
18 right of you, and what happened next?
19 A He drove around my vehicle.
20 Q Can you show us where he drove?
21 A He drove this way around my vehicle. And he
22 was up here, he stopped,
23 Q Can you make a circle there where he stopped,
24 so we know?
25 A Actually he stopped past these vehicles, right
Page 36
I about here he stopped. For a minute, I thought he was
2 going to go into the staked-out area. He looked all around
3 up here. I didn't pay any attention to him at that point.
4 Q Okay. Now, before you move on, did you watch
5 him drive past your vehicle up to where you thought he was
6 going to go into the staked-out area?
7 A Yes,
8 Q Okay. You said for a minute it looked like he
9 was going to drive in there, and he looked all around.
10 Can you tell me how you saw him when he was
II looking around? How did you know he was looking all
12 around?
13 A Well. let me rephrase that. He came up here,
14 and I thought he was going to pull into this area,
15 therefore, I kind of guessed that he was looking all
16 around. He stopped his car there. What else was he doing,
17 you know,
18 Q So you don't know what he was doing there?
19 A No.
20 Q Did you actually see him looking around?
21 A No, I didn't see him look around.
22 Q Okay. Now, what happened after that?
23 A I closed my car door. And I gave myself a
24 little patdown, you know, make sure I have my keys and the
25 things I'm taking to the gate with me. And I realized I
Page 33 - Page 36
Thomas P. Cekovsky
.
~
CondenseIt! TM
December 15, 2000
Page 39
Page 37
I didn't have my rosary beads. They were lying on the
2 dashhoard of my car,
3 So I opened my door, Took my key off my belt,
4 opened my car door. Put my rosary beads in my right
5 pocket.
6 Q Okay.
7 A And I wasn't paying any attention to
8 Lieutenant Baker at that point. I figured he was done
9 parking, whatever he was doing, So I closed my car door,
10 I'm locking it with the key, and I hear this noise, this
II rev of an engine.
12 At that moment I look over my shoulder, and
13 all I saw was this truck coming right for me. And you
14 think weird things in a split second. And what I thought
15 is, if I don't jump up in the air, I'm going to have my
16 legs cut off by this big bumper that he had.
17 So I jumped up in the air, and I curled my
18 legs up, I curled myself into a ball.
19 Q Okay, let's move back. How did you pull your
20 vehicle into that parking space there? Can you put an F
21 where the front of your vehicle was.
22 A I guess -- yes, that's correct. The front
23 would have been -- I'm try to think now. Yes, the front --
24 then I must have been up a little bit. I must have been
25 here. Disregard that.
Page 38
I Q Now, you just made another X in a circle and
2 crossed out the X in the circle that you had,
3 A Right, and the reason I did that was
4 because -- and add another line.
5 Q Now, you made another line around where
6 Mr. Baker drove, correct?
7 A Right. I'm not real good with drawing things,
8 Q And this doesn't have to be exact. What I
9 just need to know now is how you pulled your car into this
10 parking space that you told me about.
11 A It would have been kind offacing that way.
12 The F that you asked for.
l3 Q All right. So you have your car parked at an
14 angle?
15 A I had my car parked in the manner that
16 everyone else had their cars parked.
17 Q Was that an angle, or did you pull straight
18 in?
19 MR. W1LUAMS: At an angle to what?
20 MS. BAKER: Well, he's drawing it two separate
21 ways. It appears here that the X is straight in to a spot,
22 and then you drew an angle here.
23 THE W11NESS: I'm not really good with
24 drawing. My car was parked uniform with the other cars,
25
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I BY MS. BAKER:
2 Q How were the other cars parked?
3 MR. WILLIAMS: Instead of an X, perhaps we can
4 just make a little box with a little point on it to
5 indicate the front. So we get an idea of direction.
6 THE WI1NESS: All right, then I guess I would
7 have been this way. And then Lieutenant Baker would have
8 been more toward this area
9 BY MS. BAKER:
10 Q All right. So you're saying the front of your
II vehicle was facing the direction that Mr. Baker had
12 traveled?
l3 A Yes,
14 Q Okay. When you heard this rev of an engine
15 that you told me about, you said you curled up into
16 a ball --
17 A I jumped in the air and curled up in a ball to
18 avoid getting my legs taken off.
19 Q Did you jump on to something to curl up into a
20 ball, or you just jumped up in the air and what happened?
21 A I jumped up in the air and curled up. His
22 vehicle hit me. Not my vehicle, His vehicle hit me here
23 and pushed my vehicle backwards. Not backwards, but
24 sideways, probably the length of this table which is ten
25 feet.
Page 40
1 See, this was all slow motion, but it was
2 happening in a split second, you know, at that time,
3 I was caught between both vehicles. My
4 vehicle was pushed sideways. I'm hearing things break.
5 I'm thinking I'm getting killed. I can't yelL I had the
6 wind knocked out of me.
7 The only think I could possibly do was I was
8 beating on the sides of his truck trying to yell, At this
9 time I'm seeing his tires spinning sod, throwing sod. It
10 was -- he never put the brakes on. He just let off the
11 gas, He never -- at the rate that he drove back and
12 impacted me and the distance -- it was, I'm late for work,
l3 I can't park here, and go. Not check -- I don't how be
14 checked anything.
15 Q All right. How far was Mr. Baker's vehicle
16 when you last saw him from you? How far from you was he?
17 MR. WILLIAMS: What do you mean when he last
18 saw him?
19 MS, BAKER: He testified that he saw Mr. Baker
20 stop over here and that's the last time he looked at him
21 until prior to impact. That was his testimony,
22 MR. WlLUAMS: Right, but the last time he saw
23 him would have been during the impact and immediately
24 after.
25
Page 37 - Page 40
_J........ ~
Page 41
CondenseIt! TM
. Thomas P. Cekovsky
...
"~'.
December 15,2000
I BY MS. BAKER:
2 Q Prior to the impact, how far was Mr. Baker's
3 vehicle from you?
4 MR. WILLIAMS: You mean, before he reversed
5 himself?
6 MS, BAKER: Correct.
7 THE WITNESS: The distance from here to that
8 house, is what? 30 yards?
9 BY MS, BAKER:
10 Q 30 yards, okay.
II A I'm guessing.
12 Q And you did not see his vehicle again then
13 until when he was in contact with you and your body?
14 A Yes.
15 Q Okay. You said you jumped up and curled into
16 a ball. Did you jump on to something?
17 A There was -- no, I jumped up and -- 1 jumped
18 up, and was I was caught in midair and his truck. I was
19 the bumper between the vehicles.
20 Q What part of your body was against his truck?
21 A My right hip -- against his truck? That would
22 be my left hip, left leg, left ann, ankle. When you curl
23 up like this (indicating).
24 Q Which part of your body was impacting your
25 vehicle?
Page 43
I vehicle impacted my body. That impact tore the sole off of
2 my boot and bent my handcuffs that were right here
3 (indicating).
4 Q Okay. So I'm clear, there was no part of
5 Mr. Baker's vehicle directly in contact with your vehicle?
6 A To my knowledge, there wasn't.
7 Q Okay. How long was it that you believe your
8 car was pushed back over this time?
9 A How long in distance?
10 Q Correct.
II A 1 would imagine ten feet maybe. You know,
12 give or take a foot. The photographs from the security
13 office at the prison would show that.
14 Q Okay.
15 A The state police, they took photographs that
16 would show that, as well as the spin marks from when his
17 vehicle was kicking up sod after it impacted my vehicle.
18 Q And it's your recollection that the state
19 police took photographs of the area after this?
20 A I was in a lot of pain at the time. I was in
21 shock. I was very disoriented. I know the state police
22 generally take photographs. I don't know if they did. I
23 know our security department did.
24 Q Who do you know in the security department
25 took the photographs?
Page 42
I A The other side, right hip, leg, arms,
2 Had it not been for my handcuff case in my
3 duty belt with everything on, I think my hip would have
4 been shattered. I don't know,
5 Q How was it that you weren't crushed into your
6 vehicle?
7 MR. WILLIAMS: Object to the form of the
8 question. That assumes he wasn't.
9 TIlE WITNESS: I don't understand,
10 BY MS. BAKER:
II Q Was there anything that was making contact
12 with Mr. Baker's vehicle and your vehicle that kept you
13 from being even more impacted than you were?
14 MR. WILLIAMS: I object to the form of the
15 question. But you can answer, if you're able to.
16 TIlE WITNESS: I'd like to answer that. Please
17 ask it again.
18 BY MS. BAKER:
19 Q Was Mr. Baker's bumper or any part of his
20 vehicle directly in contact with your car?
21 A Mr. Baker's bumper from his vehicle was in
22 contact with my left foot. There's a dent approximately
23 this big in the bumper of his car which was made from my
24 left boot imprint.
25 His vehicle did not impact my car. His
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 44
I A I'm not sure who,
2 Q Okay. How do you know that they took
3 photographs?
4 A I remember them coming out with a camera. I
5 was at the main gate area holding ice on my hips between my
6 legs and on my knees. And they brought the camera out with
7 their -- the rest of their investigative equipment.
8 Q How did you know it was from your security
9 department?
10 A Because I knew the men that work there.
II Q Okay. You don't know specifically who did it
12 though?
13 A I don't know who was assigned to that
14 particular task.
15 Q Are there video cameras that keep track of
16 what's happening in the parking lots around the prison, to
17 your knowledge?
18 A No, not to my knowledge.
19 Q Are you aware of any witnesses to this
20 incideot?
21 A To my recollection, there were no witnesses to
22 the impact. This tower, this east tower, is manned 24-7.
23 His job at that time, like always at that hour, is to watch
24 the officers in this yard and make sure they're safe.
25 Periodically, he would check the area for
Page 41 - Page 44
-
~- ,.
, .~
Thomas P. Cekovsky
Condenselt! TM
December 15,2000
Page 45 Page 47
1 suspicious vehicles, But I spoke with this man, and his 1 don't recall what I said,
2 attention was this way. He said he heard the noise and 2 Q Okay. Do you recall what happened in those
3 turned afterwards. 3 initial minutes?
4 Q Who was that man you're refemng to? 4 A I was feeling all over trying to assess what
5 A Tom Heckert, Officer Thomas Heckert. 5 had happened to me. And he said something about getting to
6 H-e-c-k-e-r-t. 6 tbe gate, we have to get to the gate. So I walked and he
7 Q Now, you told me about your boot. I believe 7 half carried me up to the gate. We notified the proper
8 you said the sole of your boot was pulled off. 8 authorities. I wanted the state police called.
9 What else occurred that you can relate to me 9 Q Did you at any time indicate that you didn't
10 at the time of the impact? 10 want the accident reported?
11 A My car keys that were hooked to my belt, one 11 A No, I wanted the state police called.
12 of the keys -- I don't know if it was a car key, one of my 12 Q Okay,
13 keys broke, My handcuffs bent. My wrist watch -- my wrist 13 A That vehicle was very important to me. That
14 watch shattered. 14 vehicle -- I just bought it from my dad, and that was
15 What else are you looking for? 15 always his baby, you know. And I wanted the car fixed.
16 Q I'm looking for whatever else you have to tell 16 Q How much were the repairs?
17 me as to what actually occurred to you at the time of the 17 A Roughly a thousand dollars. It was an older
18 impact. 18 car, It was an '86.
19 A What actually occurred to me at the time of 19 Q An '86 what?
20 this impact was I looked over my shoulder, I jumped 20 A Pontiac 6000.
21 straight up in the air, I curled up. 21 Q Prior to the state police arriving, do you
22 Lieutenant Baker never put his brakes on. 22 recall anything that happened?
23 Lieutenant Baker never took his foot off that gas pedal. 23 A I recall I wanted security there, and I wanted
24 The tires were still throwing sod, He pushed my car that 24 a nurse.
25 way. 25 Q You asked for security to be called?
Page 46 Page 48
1 I was the buffer between both of these 1 A Yes.
2 vehicles. When he let off the gas, I fell to the ground, 2 Q Who did you ask to call them?
3 and I rolled like a log away from both vehicles, He put 3 A The gate sergeant I believe was Ed Noms,
4 his car in drive, moved up very quickly, and put it in 4 Sergeant Ed Noms,
5 reverse. I thought the man was trying to run me over. 5 Q And were you seen by the nurse?
6 Q You're saying -- 6 A Yes, I was. They came out with ice and
7 A In my mind, I thought he was because of the 7 whatever first aid they were able to grab.
8 way it happened. No one looked at that situation could 8 Q Okay. Were there any medical records or did
9 understand how that happened the way it happened. In my 9 the nurse write anything down as to what your injuries were
10 mind at that time -- I have had no animosity toward 10 at the time, to your knowledge?
11 Lieutenant Baker whatsoever -- but in my mind at that time 11 A Maybe just on scratch paper.
12 I was -- what's the word I'm looking for? I was in shock, 12 Q Okay, Does the prison infumary keep medical
13 I was feeling pain like I never felt before in 13 records on you guys?
14 my life, from places I never thought would hurt that way. 14 A They do. In an accident, yes, I do recall the
15 I was afraid to look down for fear things wouldn't he 15 fonn she had, She had a fonn.
16 there, that's how bad I hurt. 16 Q What did the nurse suggest you do?
17 Q So Mr, Baker pulled forward and then began to 17 A Go to the emergency room.
18 reverse again? 18 Q Okay. Did you go to the emergency room?
19 A Urn-hum. 19 A I went where my employer directed me to go.
20 Q How far did he then go in reverse? 20 Q Okay, Which emergency room, did you go to?
21 A Not far. Maybe five feet. I saw his face in 21 A I didn't go to an emergency room. I went to a
22 the mirror at that time. He saw me. Put the vehicle in 22 little clinic, Concentra.
23 park, shut it off, came out. 23 Q You were told to go there by your employer, is
24 Q What was the conversation that took place? 24 that what you're telling me? I
125 A I don't recall. I was in shock. I really 25 A Yes.
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 45 - Page 48
i: ~ ,
I ~~'-':!ii
. Thomas P _ Cekovsky
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15, 2000
Page 51
Page 49
I Q Okay. Were you ever seen by an emergency room
2 following this accident?
3 A Following? No, not in the emergency room,
4 Q Okay. Before going to Concentra but after the
5 nurse evaluated you, did you meet with the state police
6 officer?
7 A Yes.
8 Q Do you remember about how long after the
9 accident it was till he arrived?
lO A Maybe 40 nllnutes, maybe longer.
II Q And in that 40 minutes, what were you doing?
12 A I was kind of sprawled on a chair at the main
13 gate with ice all over me.
14 Q Okay. When the police officer came, what do
15 you recall occurred?
16 A Excuse me, ma'am?
17 Q Did he ask you what happened?
18 A No. He asked me where the vehicles were.
19 Q Did you then walk out to the scene of the
20 accident?
21 A I walked as best as I could out to the front
22 gate. The gate sergeant ordered someone to take us up in a
23 state van.
24 Q Okay. So you were driven up to the area?
25 A Yes.
Page 50
I Q Okay. Was Mr. Baker with you when you were
2 driven up?
3 A Yes, he was.
4 Q Do you reroember what you told the state
5 policeman when he asked you what happened?
6 A State policeman really dido' t ask me what
7 happened. He didn't ask either of us what happened.
8 Q Did the state --
9 A He assessed the situation, and he asked who
lO owned which vehicle.
II Q Okay. And was that all the conversation that
12 occurred with the state policeman?
13 A No. After he assessed the situation, he asked
14 each one of us at that point what had occurred.
15 Q Were you all together when he asked you that?
16 A Yes.
17 Q Okay. And you heard what Mr. Baker said?
18 A Yes.
19 Q Do you reroember what he said?
20 A He said that I had pulled behind him --
21 MR. WILLIAMS: Excuse me, are you asking what
22 Mr. Baker said earlier today or at the time?
23 BY MS. BAKER:
124 Q No, I'm asking you what you heard Mr. Baker
125 tell the state policeman that day.
Susan M. Simon, :Reporter-Notary Public
I A Okay. Lieutenant Baker told the state
2 policeman at that time that I pulled behind him, that I
3 caused the accident, that it was my fault. This is what
4 Lieutenant Baker told the state policeman,
5 The reason I remember that is because the
6 state policeman laughed about it. You know, a little
7 chuckle, you know, because it was like -- I was outside my
8 vehicle. He had pulled up by me. I'm locking my vehicle.
9 I didn't just speed up there and park behind him, I was
lO there before --
II MR. WlLUAMS: The question is what you heard
12 Lieutenant Baker tell the state policeman.
13 mE WITNESS: Lieutenant Baker told the state
14 policeman that I pulled up behind him.
15 BY MS. BAKER:
16 Q Okay. What did you tell the state policeman?
17 A I told him that was untrue. I told him that I
18 came into the parking area, I parked my vehicle. As I
19 closed my door the fIrst time, I saw Lieutenant Baker pull
20 in, I saw him pull over that way.
21 I remembered I forgot my rosaries, I opened my
22 door, got my rosaries, put them in my pocket, locked my
23 door. Then there was impact then.
24 Q So it's your testimony you told the state
25 policeman everything you just told me?
Page 52
I A Right.
2 Q Okay, So you went to Concentra that day.
3 What happened?
4 MR. WILLIAMS: Could I just interrupt you.
5 Are you fInished with the incident itself or the things
6 that we need for summary judgment?
7 MS. BAKER: I think basically.
8 MR, WILLIAMS: We may not be able to finish
9 the deposition because I know damages is going to take a
lO little while.
II (Discussion held off the record.)
12
13 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
14 Q Mr. Cekovsky, your shift that day was supposed
15 to start when?
16 A At 2 o'clock. Our briefIng -- we're required
17 to be there for a briefIng at 1:55,
18 Q That means physically present in the
19 institution along with the other correctional officers
20 whose shifts start at 2 p.m.?
21 A Yes, sir.
22 Q What time was it that this collision occurred?
23 A Approximately 1 :45.
24 Q Which, if I'm understanding your testimony
25 correctly, meant that you had about 10 minutes to get from
Page 49 - Page 52
-
. Thomas P. Cekovsky
'.,'
CondenseIt! 1M
Page 53
1 the parking lot to the location in the institution where
2 the briefmg was to occur?
3 A Yes, sir.
4 Q As far as your pay is concerned, your day
5 starts when?
6 A The paid portion of my day begins at 2 p.m.
7 MR. WILLIAMS: That's all the questions I
8 have.
9 MS. BAKER: 1 have no further follow-up.
10 Just for the record, the damages portion of
11 this deposition is not completed, We may need to reconvene
12 at some point. All parties agree to do that if necessary.
I3 (Sketch produced and marked as Cekovsky
14 Deposition Exhibit Number 1.)
15 (The deposition was continued sine die at
16 1:55 p.m.)
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
'-&.
-...,;,-,;
I
December 15,2000
Page 53 - Page 53
~~
.-, .
54
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA )
) ss
COUNTY OF DAUPHIN
I, Susan M. Simon, do hereby certify that before
me, a Notary Public in and for the County and Commonwealth
aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, personally appeared
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY
who was then by me first duly cautioned and (sworn, affirmed) to
testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in
the taking of (his, her) oral deposition in the cause aforesaid;
that the testimony given as above set forth was reduced to
stenotype by me in the presence of said witness and afterwards
transcribed by me or under my direction.
I do further certify that said deposition was
taken at the time and place in the foregoing caption specified.
I do further certify that I am not a relative,
counselor attorney for either party, nor am I otherwise
interested in the event of this action.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this 4th day of January, 2001.
NOTARIAL SEAL
SUSAN M, SIMON, N-otary Public
Harrisburg, Dauphin County
My Commission Expires Ocl. 30, 2002
~~.O~
Susan M. Simon
Reporter-Notary Public
The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to
any reproduction of the same by any means unless under the
direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.
~,- '<
.,
'-', .,,"-
---,,.',--
E
X
H
I
B
I
T
S
-,;
~ 1 i .,"
:!!
.1
--.:i..
,ii
i;;
'11
:U
" .
,.
;:1
':
"I
\
\
I
\
\
r-
!
'.
------..,
-'C9
.':::'
o
,,~
\
-
-"------ .
'>
x>
y
7". .
X >
'\
\
>-. \
\
\
'.
'>
!
!
~-.
---- -,' ,,'.^-"
<--
:j
......~
..''-.,
/ i
I
i
!
,: /
1\
.7 ( / )
.,,:~/
"
J
"
/;
II
1/
I ~\V
, <.. \)\\
L.\I
,~
//-~
"
I
i
~
~
/
"...::.,
~.-~-':::~-
.....
"'..,~
,,..'.,-
. ~ '"---
<]
w
o
R
o
I
N
o
E
X
-A-
A.M[I] 1:]5
-1- abilities [1] l7 :20
1[6] 2:99:2410:14,]5.21 ability[2] 15:1518:11
53:14 able [15] 7:1914:5.24
10[2] 11:652:25 15:916:1717:3,11,15,20
101 [1] 5:18 18:5.719:642:1548:7
10:00 [4] 11:11.13.]6 52:8
29:15 Absolutely [1] 24:]5
11:38 [1] 1:15 academY[3] 8:139:8,9
14[1] 12:20 accident[18] 3:21,22
15 [1] 1:]4 12:5,10,2213:815:8,10
15701-0344[1] 3.']6 ]7:522:]923:429:]4
47:1048:]449:2,9.20
18 [3] 22:9,]0.17 51:3
1963 [1] 4:20 accidents [3] 23:5.]2,14
1982 [1] 9:7 accommodated [1]
1989 [1] 29:6 19:20
1990 [1] 25:13 according [1] 7:19
1995 [1] 7:22 accurately [2] 15:]6,17
1997[2] 7:24.25 ACTION[I] 1:3
1999[3] 5:]610:1711:14 activity[l] 4:4
1:45[1] 52:23 actual[l] 31:3
1:55 [2] 52:1753:16 add [1] 38:4
addition [2] 11:16 ]6:23
address [7] 3:13 4:24 .
5:12,20 6:11 7:2,4
admissions [1] 25:16
admitted [1] 25:]0
adVanCe[l] 10:3
advantage [1] 27:11
affect [1] 15:]5
afraid [1] 46:]5
afterwards [1] 45:3
again [4] 12:741:12
42:l7 46:18
against[3] 34:224]:20
4]:2]
age [2] 22:6,8
ago [7] 5:2 ]9:]827:14
28:13 29:],],2
agree [1] 53:12
ahead [2] ]8:23 32:11
aid[l] 48:7
air[6] 37:]5,]739:]7,20
39:2] 45:21
"~
Thomas P. Cekovsky
-$-
$17 [6] 11:3.1712:]0
13:19 ]4:2022:14
-'-
'83 [1] 9:5
'84[1] 9:5
'85[1] 9:5
'86 [2] 47:18.19
'89 [1] 29:7
'93 [2] 9:10 ]0:6
'99 [11] 6:3 10:2423:4
26:8,11.]9.2427:2.15
30:2031:10
-2-
2 [6] ]0:15 ] 1:6 ]5:23
52:]6,2053:6
2000[1] 1:14
2000-4993 [1] 1:3
208-42-8259 [1] 4:22
22nd[2] 4:2031:10
23rd [1] 7:13
24-7 [1] 44:22
26th [2] 6:23.25
2:00 [4] 11:11.13.]6
29:]5
-3-
3 [2] 2:4 10:15
30 [2] 4]:8,10
300 [1] 3]:8
344 [1] 3:15
3510 [1] ]:13
-4-
40 [2] 49:10,11
400 [1] 3]:8
-5-
5 [2] 22:2523:]
52[1] 2:4
-6-
600[1] 7:7
6000 [1] 47:20
","', '..:..;.,",-,~
;,i:~~,iJl i"
CondenseIt! 1M
$17 - complete
December 15,2000
Albright[6] 16:4,6,7,9 ]8:8 2]:l7 28:15,18 34:]5 cameras [1] 44']5
25:4,5 34:]6,2535:]4.]737:8 C .
Albright's[l] 16:5 38:6,2039:].7.9.]140:]9 amp[7] ]:13 7:20 8:14
alleviate [1] 27:25 40:]94]:1,6,942:10,18 8.169:2210:10 22:2
along[l] 52:19 45:22,2346:11,1750:] capacIty[3] 11:]713:]6
50:]7,22,23.2451:1,4.12 13:18
altercation [1] 18:l7 5]:13,]5,]952:753:9 Car[20] 3]:10 36:16.23
always [5] 11:10 24:2 Baker's [8] 34:2,540:15 37:2,4,938:9,13,15,24
29:]944:2347:15 41:242:12,19,2143:5 42:20,23,2543:845:11
angle [4] 38:14,17,19,22 ball [5] 37:18 39:16.]7.20 45:12,2446:447:15,18
animosity[l] 46:10 41:16 Care[4] ]4:1116:2517:1
ankle[l] 41:22 Barring[1122:2] 17:4
answeq6] 4:8 15:16 18:2 baseball[l] 26:6 cared [1] 24:10
2]:1542:15,16 based [1] 17:9 carelesslY[I] 35:1
answering [1] 17:23 basketball [l] 26:6 care~ [1] 35:4
APPEARANCES [1] beads [2] 37:1,4 carned [1] 47:7
1:19 . beating [1] 40'8 cars [5] 33:14,1638:16
applymg[l] 16'1 b d ' 38:2439:2
. ' e [2] 13:13 14
apprecIate[l] 19'14 b ' case[l] 42:2
. egan[l] 46:17 ugh
ARD [1] 29:]2 be" ca t [2] 40:3 4]:]8
area[27] 8:11 ]4:]0 ]6'8 b ~nmng[2] ]:1516:2 caused[l] 51:3
]9:224:7.827:6,829:25 eg?IS[I] 53:6 CekOVSky[ll] ].] 9 2'3
30:2,5.8,13,19,233]:]7 bebind[5] 33:]850:20 3:7.1I,12,]5,l7 1'7:8 .
31:2433:1436:2.6,14 51:2,9,14 52:1453:13
39:843:1944:5,2549:24 belt[3] 37:342:345:11 cellblock[4] ]5']0
51:18 benders [1] 23:6 16:14,1718:19 .
areas [1] 20:21 bent [2] 43:245:13 certain [8] 4:248:13,16
amt[2] 20:741:22 BERNARD [1] 1:3 12:114:2,4 22:6,8
~ [1] 42:1 best [1] 49:21 certainlY[3] 7:1617:18
~v~d[1] 49:9 better[l] 10:2 3]:].5..
arnvmg [1] 47:21 between [9] 3:225:5 certifIcatIon [2] 3:4
arrOW[3] 32:2133:2,12 31:2332:3,640:3 41:19 ~2~
assess [1] 47:4 44:546:] C atr[l] 49:12
assesSed[2] 50:9,13 b~d[l] 11:]2 check[2] 40:13 44:25
assigned [3] 10:7 ]4:11 bIg[2] 37:16 42:23 ch~cked[2] 25:2240:]4
44:13 birth [1] 4:]8 childhood [1] 24:25
assignment [2] 10:8 bit [2] 22:]537:24 children [3] 28:6.8,13
]9:l7 Bizousky[S] 24:13.18 chiropractor[3] 26:10
assume [3] 4:87:521:25 24:2425:2,5 26:14,22
assumeS[I] 42:8 Bizousky'S[I] 24:]6 c?UCkle[l] 51:7
attended [2] 8:129:9 block [3] 14:13,2420:3 CIrcle [5] 33:1934:]0
attention [3] 36:337:7 body!4] 41:13,20,24 43:1 ~5:23 38:],2
45:2 boot [4] 42:2443:245'7 CIrcles [1] 34:9
authorities[l] 47:8 45:8 . CIVIL[I] 1:3
automobile[l] 33:18 bOUght[l] 47:14 claim [1] 23:17
available [3] 11:22,23 box [3] 3:154:23 39:4 class [1] 15:23
27:~8 brakes [2] 40:10 45:22 cl~ar[l] 43:4
aVOld[l] 39:18 break[3] 4:1226:] 40:4 climb [1] ]9:15
aWare[3] 20:623:644:19 briefing[3] 52:16.17 clinic[l] 48:22
awaY[I] 46:3 53:2 close [1] 28:13
broke[2] 25:2245:13 closed[3] 36:2337:9
brought [1] 44:6 5]:]9
buffer[l] 46:1 closeql] 8:7
building[2] 31:34 collected[l] 23:20
bumper[5] 37:16'41:19 collision[l] 52:22
42:19,21,23 coming[4] 31:1234:14
bumps [1] 35:4 37:13 44:4
bunch[2] 33:14,16 COMMON[I] ]:1
companY[I] 15:20
compensation [1] 23:18
complaints [1] 34:22
complete [1] ]0:13
-B-
B[I] 1:22
B-i-z-o-u-s-k-y [1]
24:]5
baby [1] 47:15
background[l] 8:9
backwards [2] 39:23.23
bad[IJ 46:16
Baker[50] 1:3,222:43:]0 -C-
3:]9,205:816:24 J7:2,]8 Camera[2] 44:4.6
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 1
.
~~ '
-",-,
,,,,,.,',.," "";b~i~lll"'~ _.' <
U-J:JJ
Thomas P. Cekovsky
CondenseIt! 1M
completed -happening
December 15 2000
,
completed [1] 53:11 D[l] 2:1 draw [I] 3]:]4 EXAMINATION [2] following [6] 9:11 13:8
completion [1] 6:20 dad [1] 47:]4 drawing [4] 33:1238:7 2:23:9 15:8 16:1249:2,3
complies [5] 32:2,17.22 damages [2] 52:9 53:lO 38:20,24 examinations [1] lO:]6 follows [1] 3:8
33:8.21 dashboard [1] 37:2 dreW[4] 32:634:9,13 except [1] 3:5 foot [3] 42:2243:]245:23
Concentra [3] 48:22 date[o] ]:144:185:]4 38:22 Excuse [2] 49:]650:2] forgot[l] 51:21
49:4 52:2 6:15,]87:9 drive [0] 35:7,9,1436:5,9 exert[2] 16:17 ]7:3 form[s] 3:516:2017:7
concentrate [2] 15:2 days [3] ]2:20,2] 2]:5 46:4 Exhibit [1] 53:]4 ]8:342:7,1448:15,15
2]:7 DEARDORFF[l] ]:20 driven [2] 49:24 50:2 EXHIBITS [1] 2:8 formal [1] 6:18
concentr;1ting [1] 16:13 December[2] ]:146:25 driver's [1] 35:]2 expected [1] 22:]9 forth [1] lO:15
concentration [1] ]6:22 decrease [1] 13:22 driving [2] 34:]6.20 explain [2] 13:7 ]8:15 forward[l] 46:17
conceme4 [1] 53:4 deer[2] 23:8,11 drove [9] 33:9,17 34:25 expressed [2] ]9:21,23 frame[3] 11:512:1513:2
concernS!2] 19:920:2 DEFENDANT[3] ]:4 35:17,]9,20,2] 38:640:11 expressly [1] 20:3 free [1] 27:11
conjuncqon[l] 3]:17 I:l 0,23 Dill[l] 28:24 extensively [1] 17:8 friend [1] 5:]4
constantly [1] ]5:4 degree [2] 8:2] 15:9 duly [1] 3:8 extreme [1] 2]:6 front[l.] 12:24,25 ]5:2
constructed!l] 31:23 DEMANDED [1] ]:4 during [3] 3:23 12:15 extremelY[l] ]9:]4 33:437:21,22,23 39:5,]0
construction [2] 29:20 dent [1] 42:22 40:23 49:21
29:23 dust [1] 35:3 eye [1] 25:22 full [1] 3:13
contact[5] 41:13 42:11 department [9] 8:13 9:8 duties [1] 21:25
9:21 lO:2,4,8 43:23.24 -F-
42:20.22 43:5 44:9 duty[s] 13:16,18,2314:3 -6-
contend [1] ]2:9 depend[l] 14:lO 14:5,2520:2442:3 F [2] 37:20 38:]2 game[l] 18:19
continued[1] 53:15 depict [1] 34:1 I face [1] 46:2]
control [13] ]4:12,13,24 -E- facing [2] 38:]] 39:11 gas [3] 40:11 45:2346:2
deposition [0] 1:9 3 :23 gate [10] 31:536:2544:5
15:916:]7,2517:],4,9,17 52:953:11,14,15 E[l] 2:1 fact [1] 18:4 47:6,6,748:349:13,22,22
18:5,18 19:2 describe [1] 34:24 earn[2] 11:1812:6 fair [1] 4:9 general [3] 13:1,1 31:11
controlling[2] 16:14 described[1] 35:15 earned[l] 12:lO familY(7) 16:lO 24:9 generally [3] 22:22
20:3
conversation [2] 46:24 die [1] 53:]5 earning[9] 10:2411:17 25:3,3,4,6,8 30:22 43:22
50:11 different [2] lO:1827:24 13:19.2022:11,14.15,16 far[12] 16:2118:3,lO 25:4 girlfriend [2] 5:1,4
convicted[l] 28:19 difficult [1] 15:2 23:2 30:431:240:15,1641:2 glad [2] 3:25 4:5
difficulty [1] ] 6:13 east [4] 31:20,21 32:4 46:20,21 53:4 goes [1] 18:3
correct[7] 6:13 30:17 44:22 fault[l] 51:3
32:437:2238:641:6 Dillsburg [3] 5:11.19 Ed [2] 48:3,4 fear [1] 46:15 good [2] 38:7,23
43:lO 26:]7 EDELSTEIN[211:12 feeling [4] ]9:3.546:13 grab [1] 48:7
correctional [2] 6:8 directed [1] 48:]9 ]:22 47:4 graduate [2] 9:6 lO:13
52:]9 direction [2] 39:5,11 educational [1] 8:8 feelings [1] 19:23 graduation [1] 9:11
corrections [s] 8:13 9:8 directly [3] 33:25 42:20 effect [2] 6:247:10 feet [3] 39:2543:11 46:21 grass [1] 33:1
lO:2.5,9,12,14,20 43:5 fell [1] 46:2 grew [1] 24:8
correctlY!I] 52:25 discontinued [1] 28:3 effectively [1] 19:7
counsel[ol 3:232:2.17 discuss [1] 20:9 effects [2] 18:2220:18 fellow [1] 15:5 ground [1] 46:2
32:22 33:8.21 discussed [1] 20:3 eitheT[2] 11:1 50:7 felony [1] 28:22 group [1] 22:8
county[2] 1:129:8 eligible [1] 8:1 felt [1] 46:13 Grove (7) 5:13 6:17,22
couple [3] 5:2 ]4:4 29:] discussing [1] 27 :23 emergencies [1] 18:12 Fender[l] 23:6 2]:2122:1,9,12
Discussion [1] 52:1 I grow [1] 24:7
course [1] 3:23 disoriented [I] 43:2] emergency [9] 25:18,23 Fentanyl[2] ]5:2].22 growing [1] 24:lO
COurt[4] I:] 4:145:13 26:448:17,18,20.2149:1 few[l] 2]:14
29:8 Disregard [1] 37:25 49:3 figured [1] 37:8 guess [3] 29:1237:22
distance[3] 40:1241:7 employed [2] 7:20 9:]2 39:6
covered [1] 20:20 43:9 employer[2] 48:19,23 file [1] 23:17 gueSsed[l] 36:15
credits [2] 8:249:1 distinction [1] 18:4 filed [1] 34:22 gueSSing[lJ 41:11
crime [4] 22:7 28:20,22 dizziness [1] 19:2] employers [2] ]4:18,21 filing [1] 3:4 guilty [1] 28:]9
28:23 encourage [1] 3:24 fine [2] 11:2 32:10
crossed [1] 38:2 dizzy [1) 19:14 engine [2] 37:11 39:14 finish [2] ] 8:24 52:8 guys [1] 48:13
crushed [1] 42:5 doctoT[2] 16:9 25:4 enter[2] 3]:732:18
doctors [3] 25:3,6,9 finished [1] 52:5 -H-
CUMBERLAND [I] doesn't[l] 38:8 entrance[2] 31:5,6 first [17] 7:9,]8,19,23 8:2
I:l equipment [1] 44:7 9:12 10:7,8 15:11 16:5 H-e-c-k-e-r-t [I] 45:6
Curl[2] 39:]9 4 1:22 dollars [I] 47:]7 eradicate [1] 19:25 2]:]024:]626:21 27:13 H-u-d-z-e-l [I] 5:23
curled[7] 37:]7,1839:15 done [3] 9:]6 ]9:25 37:8 ESQUIRE[2] 1:20,22 34:648:751:]9 half["] 9:3 11:l5 13:13
39:]7,2141:]545:2] door(7) 36:2337:3,4,9 estimate [I] 13:3 five [1] 46:21 ]9:]82]:847:7
custody[3] 14:11 17:1,4 51:]9.22.23 ET[I] 31:21 fixed [I] 47:15 hallwaY[I] 4:4
cut [I] 37:16 down [5] 4:]433:25 35:3 evaluated [I] 49:5 Flowers [I] 19:12 hand [3] 25:15,2226:1
cutoff[l] 22:8 46:]548:9 Flowers' [I] 19:]9 handcuff [I] 42:2
DPW [I] 9:23 event[IJ 17:]6
cyst [IJ 25:15 Dr[14J 16:4,5,924:13,16 exact [II 38:8 flying [I] 35:3 handcuffs [2J 43:245:13
24:18,2425:2,4,5,526:15 exactly [2] 21 :22,23 focused [I] 19:3 happening [2] 40:2
-D- 26:16,19 exam [I] 21:3 follow-up [I] 53:9 44:16
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 2
_ L'JiJ' ~.' ,
Thomas P. Cekovsky
.~' '_'l_ '-'~"""I "~~~i;__
CondenseIt! TM
.......,.. *i;'i,
Harrisburg - o' clock
December 15,2000
Harrisburg[l] 5:18 including[lJ 12:J5 kids[l] 28:17 log [I] 46:3 morphine[l] 20:J8
hate [1] 13:3 income [4] 12:]2,15 killed [1] 40:5 Logan[l] 7:7 motion [I] 40:1
head[2] 4:1523:25 20:21 21:2 kind[4] 18:1736:]5 longer[2] 6:849:10 motor[2] 23:5,14
hear[3] 4:317:2537:10 Indiana[lO] 3:J64:24 38:11 49:]2 100k[5] 15:2] 31:]6 move [3] 22:1836:4
heard[61 4:939:1445:2 5:1,4,5 6:18 8:12,20 24:7 kinds [I] 27:10 36:21 37:1246:15 37:19
50:17,2451:11 25:25 knees [I] 44:6 looked [6] 36:2,8,9 40:20 moved [3] 6:15,1946:4
hearing [I] 40:4 indicate [2] 39:547:9 knew [I] 44:10 45:20 46:8 movement[2] 14:13
Heckert [2] 45:5,5 indica:ted [I] 16:12 knocked [I] 40:6 looking [7] 36:11,11,15 18:18
held [I] 52:11 indicating [2] 41 :23 knowing[2] 30:14,16 36:2045:15,1646:12 Ms [25] 2:43:10 5:3.8
hereby [I] 3:2 43:3 knowledge [7] 21:18 losses [I] 12:12 16:2417:2,1818:821:17
infinnary [I] 48:12 lost [3] 12:9 20:2] 21:2 28:15,1834:1538:2039:1
hidden [1] 17:13 30:13 31:1 43:644:17,18 39:940:1941:1,6,942:10
high [51 8:11 9:6,11 19:5 initial!11 47:3 48:10 lots [2] 29:2444:16 42:1850:23 51:15 52:7
26:5 injuries [13] 3:22 12:9 loudly [I] 4:5 53:9
Highspire [I] 16:8 12:2213:914:916:13,16 -L- lying [I] 37:1 must [2] 37:24.24
16:1820:2221:223:9
Hill[7] 1:137:208:14,16 26:7 48:9 labor[l] 9:16 -M-
9:22 10:10 22:2 injllIY[2] 14:1526:6 ladder[l] 19:16 -N-
himself [I] 41:5 inmateS[6] 17:9.1418:5 large [3] 17:9 18:18 19:2 M[I] 1:11 N[I] 2:1
hip [S] 26:841:21.2242:1 18:11 22:1,4 last [6] 7:1533:1840:16 ma'am[5] 4:]76:77:1 name[6] 3:13,1811:25
42:3 inside[2] 3]:2] 32:] 40:17,20,22 8:2349:16 ]6:524:1627:5
hips [1] 44:5 Instead [2] 19:1 39:3 late [1] 40:12 mailing [2] 7:4,5 names [I] 6:2
hit [3] 23:8 39:22,22 institution [7] 6:9,18,20 lateral [4] 6:177:23 main [3] 3]:544:549:]2 narcotic [I] ]5:23
hit-and-miss [I] 27:9 2]:2] 32:1852:]953:] 2]:2422:12 Major[l] 20:13 nature [2] 8:]7 26:6
hitting [I] 23:11 intended[2] 29:16,]8 laughed [1] 51:6 makes [2] ]4:23 15:]2 nausea [1] 19:4
holding [I] 44:5 interactions [I] 18:11 Lauralee [2] ]:223:19 man [4] 34:2245:1,446:5 near [I] 29:17
Holy[l] 25:25 intercede [I] 18:6 LAW[I] 1:3 manned [1] 44:22 necessary [I] 53:12
home [2] 8:7 13:2 intermpt[l] 52:4 lawsuit [3] 3:2024:4,5 manner[2] 35:]538:15 neck [I] 26:2]
hooked [I] 45:11 investigative [1] 44:7 learn [3] 12:8,11 ]7:]9 MARGOLIS[2] ]:12 need[7] 4:11 11:25 17:23
hoped[l] 23:2 involved [I] 23:5 least [I] 34:2] ]:22 ] 7:25 38:9 52:6 53: 11
hospital [3] 9:25,25 issued[11 34:21 leave [I] 10:1 marked [2] 2:853:13 needed [I] 27:21
25:10 itself [I] 52:5 led[3] 8:5 ]0:1 ]6:]2 marks [I] 43:16 needs [I] 18:3
hospitals [I] 9:22 IUP [I] 9:2 left [7] 33:23,24 41 :22,22 married [I] 28:4 neVer[6] 40:10,1145:22
hour [10] 11 :3,] 7 ]2:11 41:2242:22,24 MARTSON[I] 1:20 45:2346:13,]4
13:1914:2021:8,822:14 -J- leg [2] 41:2242:J may [3] 19:652:853:11 next [2] 33:13 35:J8
22:22 44:23 legs [4] 37:J6,18 39:18 mean [6] 13:728:2,21 night [I] 21:8
hourly[3] 9:18 10:25 J[I] ]:20
job [5] 14:6,8.11 27:24 44:6 35:240:174]:4 nod [I] 4:]5
11:1 length [I] 39:24 means [2] 13:]752:]8 noise [2] 37:10 45:2
house[l] 41:8 44:23 less [I] 14:] meant [2] 6:]652:25 Norgesic[l] 15:20
housing [I] 8:]9 jobs[4] 9:13,14.]6,17 level [I] ]4:14 medical [3] 13:4 48:8,]2 normal [3] 14:624:25
Hudzel [2] 5:23 6:5 judgment[l] 52:6 Lieutenant[12] 19:12 medication [6] ]5:12,]5 29:]2
hurt [2] 46:14,]6 judgments [I] 15:6 ]9:19 37:8 39:7 45:22,23 15:18 18:22 19:5,5 normallY[5] 19:221:8
July [I] 7:11 46:11 51:1,4,12,13,19 medications [I] 15:24 22:1932:1535:4
-1- jump [3] 37:15 39:19 life [I] 46:]4 medicine [I] 25:3 Norris [2] 48:3,4
41:]6 Likewise [I] 4:3
ice [3] 44:548:649:13 jumped[81 37:1739:]7 meet [II 49:5 nothing [2] 19:24.24
idea [11] 8:99:]4 11:20 limitations [3] 16:22,23 men [I] 44:10 notice [I] 13:22
39:20,2] 41:15,17.17 17:13
]2:4.13 13:422:2425:21 45:20 limited [8] 13:]6,18.23 mental[2] 9:2218:19 noticed[l] 32:24
27:731:239:5 June [14] 5:166:3 10:17 midair [I] 41:]8 notified [I] 47:7
14:3.5.25 ]8:14 20:24
imagine [2] 22:10 43:11 ]0:2411:1423:426:8,10 line [5] 32:6.20 34:13 38:4 might[3] 20:212]:1 November[2] 16:229:5
immediatelY[3] 34:1 26:19,2427:2,1530:20 38:5 23:23 nOW[21] 4:236:6,12.14
34:10 40:23 3]:10 mind [3] 46:7.10,11 12:815:1916:11 ]7:4
impact [11] 34:340:2] JURY[I] 1:4 Lisbum [2] 33:4,6 18:9,13 21:21 22:1626:14
list [I] 27:]7 minute [3] 34:23 36:1,8
40:23 4]:242:2543:1 Juvenile [I] 22:5 minutes [4] 47:349:10 33:2236:4,2237:23 38:1
44:2245:10,18,205]:23 live [3] 4:24 5:1,6 49:11 52:25 38:5,9 45:7
impacted [4] 40:]242:13 -K- lived [I] 5:4 mirror [I] 46:22 number[7] 4:21,235:15
43:1.17 lives [I] 15:6 8:24 ]0:2] 13:] 53:14
impacting[l] 41:24 keep [4] 17:]233:12 living [2] 5:20,22 miss [I] 12:21 nurse [5] 47:2448:5.9.16
important [I] 47:13 44:]548:12 located [4] 6:67:3 ]6:7 missed [2] 13:5 20:25 49:5
imprint [I] 42:24 kept [1] 42:]2 26:16 moment[l] 37:]2
improperly [I] 3:18 key [3] 37:3.10 45:12 location [2] 4:24 53:] month[5] 6:2311:]5,20 -0-
incident [41 20:14,]5 keys [4] 36:2445:11.]2 locked [1] 5] :22 29:3 30:15 0[2] 3:]54:23
45:13 months [I] 14:4
44:20 52:5 kicking [I] 43:17 locking [2] 37:J0 5]:8 o'clock [1] 52:]6
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 3
I~
u " ~ ",)11 'II
b i~" .,
"....'~....:. ;.ii"~Ii: =
Thomas P. Cekovsky
Condenselt! 1M
object - sergeant
December 15,2000
object[4] ]6:20 ]7:642:7 part[7] 17:918:1830:25 Pontiac [1] 47:20 21:2 23:9
42:14 41:20,2442:1943:4 POOrlY[I] 21:9 -R- resume[2] 14:617:20
objections [1] 3:5 particular[4] 11:420:9 portion [2] 53:6,10 raise [1] 22:23 return[l] ]5:9
observance[11 19:1 24:944:14 position [41 10:11,18 rate [1] 40:11 returned [1] 14:25
observant[l] 15:3 parties [2] 3:3 53:12 14:1721:21 reaction [I] 15:7 rev [2] 37:11 39:14
obtain [I] 8:21 past[2] 35:2536:5 positive [I] 20:18 reading [I] 3:3 reverse [3] 46:5,18,20
occasion [2] 19:10 26:20 patch[5] ]5:2016:120:7 possibility [I] 22:21 real [I] 38:7 reversed [I] 4]:4
20:16,17
OCCur[2] 19:1753:2 patdown [I] 36:24 possible [II 12:18 realize [II ]7:13 RHU[2] 8:17,18
occurred [8] 22:20 45:9 possibly [1] 40:7 realized [I] 36:25 right [29] 3:184:1,6.16
45:17,1949:1550:12,14 pay[S] 12:18,1922:13 potentially [I] 20:25 really[.] 5:1511:22 9:20 15:1925:7,1533:4.7
52:22 36:3 53:4 34:7.10,11,1235:18.25
power [I] 19:1 12:23 13:20 14:427:9
occurrence [I] 21:6 paycheck[2] 13:2314:1 practicing [I] 24:22 38:23 46:25 50:6 37:4,13 38:3,7,13 39:6,10
off [16] 12:5 13:9,11 14:5 paying [I] 37:7 40:15,2241:2142:143:2
pre-injmy [I] 17:20 reason[6] 17:725:14 52:1
20:2323:2537:3,1639:18 pedal [I] 45:23 preoccupied [II 18:21 26:2327:21 38:351:5 road[3] 1:13 31:23 33:3
40:10 43:1 45:8.23 46:2 pedestrians [I] 35:5 reckless [I] 34:20
46:23 52:11 preparing [I] 30:4 roadway [I] 32:3
offered [5] 6:17 7:24 8:3 Pennsylvania [10] 1:2 prescribed [I] 16:3 recollection [2] 43:18 rolled [1] 46:3
1:13 3:164:255:2,56:]8 44:21
21:]4,18 7:8 8:12,21 present [2] 5:]0 52:]8 room [I.] 10:325:18.23
office [1] 43:13 people [5] ]2:1 30:12,19 pretty [I] 21:9 reconvene [1] 53:11 26:448:17,18,20,2149:]
officer [8] 5:23 9:24 30:23 32:25 Previously [2] 30:9,11 record [3] ] 7 :24 52: II 49:3
10:12,14,2045:549:6,14 53:10 rosaries [2] 51:21,22
per[l] ]2:18 prey[l] 17:14 records [3] 13:4 48:8.13
officers [4] 5:24 6:2- percent [2] 22:25 23:1 prison ['] 27:1830:25 rectangle [I] 31:24 rosary [2] 37:1,4
44:2452:19 percentagl) [2] 22:23,24 31:3,4.10 33:543:13 rotate [1] 11:10
officers' [1] 15:6 perl1aps [I] 39:3 44:1648:12 referred [I] 27:20 RoughlY[2] 22:1747:17
older[l] 47:17 period[4] 11:7,912:18 probation [I] 29:12 referring[4] 31:5,632:9 rule [I] 12:17
one [16] 6:14 16:25 19:8 13:6 problem[2] 18:1725:19 45:4 run [I] 46:5
19:10,1320:12.2321:9 Periodically [I] 44:25 proceeded [I] 33:13 relate [I] 45:9
23:1526:2027:928:10 relevant [I] 19:24
45:11,1246:8 50:14 periods [11' 12:19 proceedings [I] 29:8 remain [I] 7:5 -S-
open [2] 6:22,23 person [5] 12:127:13,17 produced[2] 2:753:13 remember[.] 4:13 9:4 safe [I] 44:24
opened[3] 37:3,451:21 27:22 28:1 promotion[l] 22:21 10:23 29:2 44:4 49:8 50:4 salary[2] 22:11,18
opportunity [2] 12:6,14 Peter [1] 3:15 Promotional [I] 21:3 50:19 51:5 satisfied [1] 28:2
opposed [3] 4:15 13:23 photographs [6] 43:12 proper[1] 47:7 remembered[l] 51:21 saw [22] 26:14,2027:13
18:5 43:15,19.22,2544:3 property [2] 30:25.25 removed[l] 25:15 32:2533:934:6,7.14,16
ordered [I] 49:22 physical[21 9:1617:12 Providing [I] 10:16 repairs [I] 47:16 35:7,9,1436:1037:13
originally [1] 16:24 physically [3] 17: 16 psychiatrist [I] 27:1 repeat [1] 15:13 40:16,18,19,2246:21,22
]8:17 52:18 51:19,20
OTIO [I] 1:20 physicals [I] 25:1 psychologist [I] 27:1 rephrase [2] 3:25 36:13 scale [I] 22:13
outside[2] 35:11 51:7 physician[2] ]6:10 psychology[l] 17:10 report[3] 20:14,1531:15 scene [I] 49:19
overtime [6] II: 18,21 24:10 Public[2] 1:11 9:21 reported[l] 47:10 schedule [1] 6:21
12:2,6,1520:25 physicians [I] 25:3 pull [6] 34:736:1437:19 reporter [I] 4:14 scheduled[l] 21:5
owned[l] 50:10 picture [I] 31:14 38:175]:19,20 REPORTER-NOTARY schooh5] 8:11,179:6,11
Pike [I] 5:18 pulled [8] 26:21 38:9 [I] 1:11 26:5
-P- 45:846:1750:2051:2,8
Pine [6] 6:17.2221:21 51:14 represent [I] 3:20 schooling [I] 8:10
P[6] 1:1,92:33:7,154:23 22:1,9,11 PunxsutawneY[4] 7:8 request [61 8:5 32:2.17 Sel[6] 7:208:13,169:15
p.m[4] 11:6,653:6,16 placers] 1:]25:247:14 8:11 24:8,19 32:22 33:8,21 9:22 10:7
p.m. [I] 52:20 29:9 46:24 pushed [4] 39:23 40:4 required[l] 52:16 scratch [I] 48:11
page [1] 34:10 places [I] 46:14 43:8 45:24 reserved [I] 3:6 sealing [I] 3:3
paid[3] .10:2 14:20 53:6 plaintiff[3] 1:1.2124:5 put[221 5:147:1811:25 residing [6] 5:9,10,17,18 Sean [3] 5:23 6:1,5
pain [6] 15:4 18:23 19:4 plans [1] 7:15 14:1719:1430:631:21 6:27:4 second [2] 37:1440:2
31:25,25,2532:3,1633:16 respective [I] 3:3
21:643:2046:13 PLEAS [I] 1:1 33:1937:4,2040:10 45:22 respond[7] 15:517:11 security [8] 4:21 9:24
paper[l] 48:11 pled [I] 28:19 43:12,23,2444:847:23
park[7] 29:17,1830:2 pocket[2] 37:551:22 46:3,4,2251:22 17:1618:11,16,2519:6 47:25
32:1540:13 46:23 51:9 point[.] 9:1817:9,20 -Q- response [4] 6:14 15:6 see [IS] 24:2326:14,18.23
parked [I'] 29:19 30:7 21:736:337:839:450:14 17:2419:19 27:1,4,12.2228:1 30:19
30:2331:3,4,10,1732:12 53:12 questions [5] 3:21 4:14 responses [I] 4:13 34:236:20,2140:141:12
33:18,20,22,23 34:11 police[.] 31:1543:15.19 6:15 15:1653:7 responsibilities [3] seeing [3] 28:7,12 40:9
38:13,15,16,2439:251:18 43:2147:8,11,2149:5,14 quicklY[6] 15:518:16 14:6,8,11 selected[2] 11:2412:1
parking [25] 29:16.18.19 policeman [11] 50:5.6 19:635:1,646:4 rest [I] 44:7 sentence [I] 29:11
29:21,22,23 30:1,5,12,19 50:12,2551:2,4,6.12,14 quite [4] 7:169:221:25 restate [II 14:7 separate [I] 38:20
31:18,22,2532:4,2533:1 51:16.25 30:24 Restricted [I] 8:19 September[l] 4:20
33:9 34:25 35:14 37:9,20 policy [1] 7:19 result [6] 12:5,9,22 20:22
38:10 44:16 51:18 53:1 sergeant [3] 48:3,4 49:22
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 4
I ,",. L 'i......., ~
"" .'., -- '"'-_:.-._~~
lfli.oi':
Thomas P. Cekovsky
.
CondenseIt! 1M
sergeant's - Young's
December 15,2000
sergeant's [2] 2]:5,11 spot [lJ 38:2] 48:24 20:23 27:]4,]4 28:13 29:1 Walters [3] 26:]5,]6.19
sergeants [1] 22:22 sprawled [1] 49:12 ten [2] 39:2443:11 29:2 34:9 38:20 warnings [1] 34:21
several [5J 5:249:13 2]:5 stairs [lJ ]9:15 test [2] 21 :5,11 type [6J 8:99:14 16:9 watch [4] 36:4 44:23
34:21.22 staked [31 29:253]:22 testified[2J 3:840:]9 22:1 25:1927:24 45:13.]4
severity [1 J 22:7 31:25 testify [lJ 16:22 types [1] 22:4 ways [1] 38:21
shake[1] 4:15 staked-off[1] 31:]7 testimony [3J 40:21 weaknesSeS[l] ]7:14
Shannon [1] 26:15 staked-out [5] 30:2.5,8 51:2452:24 -u- week [2] 13:13 19:]8
sharing [1] 5:24 36:2,6 tests [lJ 21:9 Um-hum[3] 32:733:11 weeks [2] 13:13 20:23
shattered[2] 42:445:14 stakes [1] 30:6 therefore [2] ]6:1436:15 46:]9 weird [1] 37:14
shift[8] 11:5,7,14,16,22 standing [1] 35:11 thin Icing [1 J 40:5 under[l] 20:19 welcome [1] 4:12
11:23 29:14 52:14 Start[4] 10:4 16:1 52:]5 Third[2J ]6:6,7 understand [8] 3:24 Welfare[l] 9:21
shifts [4] 11:10,1212:18 52:20 Thomas[7J 1:1,9,202:3 12:10,2517:18,22 ]8:23 whatsoever[l] 46:11
52:20 started [1] ]6:24 3:7,]545:5 42:9 46:9 William[2J 16:6,7
shock: [3] 43:21 46:12,25 starts [2] 10:1253:5 thought ['] 19:627:24 understood [1] 4:9 Williams [26J 1 :20.20
shoulder[2] 37:1245:20 state [27J 9:17,18,22,24 36:1,5,]437:1446:5,7,14 unemployment [2] 2:45:3,616:20 ]7:],6
show [4] 20:1835:20 9:25 14:12 32:8 43:15,18 thoughts [2] 18:2420:4 23:20,21 18:221:1528:10.16 34:13
43:13,16 43:21 47:8,11.21 49:5,23 thousand[l] 47:17 unifOrm[11 38:24 38:1939:340:] 7,2241:4
shut [1] 46:23 50:4,6,8,12,2551:1,4,6 three[2J 6:1912:]7 unit[l] 8:19 42:7,1450:21 51:1] 52:4
51:12,]3,16,24 University [2] 8:12,21 52:8,13 53:7
side [2] 35:]242:1 stationary[lJ 13:17 through [2] 32:18,20 wind [1] 40:6
sides [1] 40:8 throwing [2] 40:9 45:24 unmistakable[l] 34:]7
stay [1] 13:2 unmistakablY[2] 34:18 witness [18] 2:23:75:5
sideways [2] 39:24 40:4 staying [2] 5:13 7:7 times [3J 6:1926:328:1 34:19 5:721:1628:1232:2,] 7
signing [1] 3:3 Steve [1] 20:13 tires [2J 40:9 45:24 untrue [1] 5]:17 32:2233:8.2134:1438:23
signs [2] 32:2533:10 still [8] 6:10,]2 10:20 todaY[4J 3:2015:15 up [44] 5:26:209:18 39:641:742:9.165]:13
similar [1] 21:25 22:1424:]8,2].2245:24 23:1550:22 10:15,17 20:18 22:18 24:7 witnesses [2] 44:]9.2]
SIMON[l] 1:11 stipulated [11 3:2 tOgetheT[l] 50:15 24:8,10 30:6 33:17,18 WOman[2] 28:7,]2
sine [1] 53:15 STIPULATION [1] Tom[lJ 45:5 35:11,17,2236:3,5,13 Woodville[l] 9:24
situation [5] 18:10 20:1 3:1 too [1] 4:4 37:15,17,18,2439:15,17 word[2J 16:2546:12
46:8 50:9,13 stop [1] 40:20 took [8] 7:1437:3 43:15 39:19,20,21,2141:15,17 worked[6] 9:17,2110:17
41:18,2343:1745:21,21
situations [lJ 15:5 stopped [5] 35:22,23,25 43:19,2544:245:2346:24 46:4 47:7 49:22,24 50:2 24:327:1930:17
six [1] 27:11 36:1,16 top [3] 12:11 18:1923:25 51:8.9.14 workers' [1] 23:17
Sketch[2] 2:953:13 stores [1] 9:18 tore [1] 43:1 works (3) 6:8,10,12
sleep [1] 15:4 straight [3J 38:17.21 Torrance [1] 9:25 -v- worried[1] 17:15
slept [1] 21:7 45:21 toward[2] 39:846:10 V[1] 1:2 wrist [2] 45:13,13
slow [2] 15:1240:1 Street [1] 7:7 tower[6] 19:13 31:20.21 vacations [1] 12:16 write [2J 33:6 48:9
slowing [lJ 35:3 stress [2] 27:23,25 32:4 44:22,22 vaccinations [1] 24:25
social [1] 4:21 style [1] 34:20 town [1] 5:25 -x-
sod[4] 40:9,943:1745:24 submit [lJ 20:13 track [lJ 44:15 van [1] 49:23
vehicle [41] 23:5,1434:3 X[7] 2:1 33:1934:1038:1
sole [2] 43:1 45:8 SUCh[l] 8:16 TraileT[lJ 5:13 34:5,835:5,10,12,19,21 38:2,2] 39:3
solely [1] 16:21 suggest[l] 48:16 trained[lJ 18:6 36:537:20,21 39:11,22 X's [1] 33:16
someone [2] 27:1949:22 summary [1] 52:6 trainee [1] 10:13 39:22.22,2340:4.1541:3
sometimes [11 4:3 SundaY[l] 20:13 training [21 8:15 10:]3 41:12.2542:6,12.12,20 -Y-
somewhere[lJ ]9:15 superviSOr[l] 20:10 trainings [2] 8:13,16 42:21.2543:1,5,5,17,17 yard[2] 18:1944:24
46:2247:13,1450:1051:8
sort [1] 18:12 supervisors [3J 19:8 transdermal [lJ 15:19 51:8,18 yards [3] 31:841:8.10
sorts [2] 24:23 26:18 20:4,6 transfer[16J 5:146:15 vehicles ['] 33:23,23 year[8] 7:11,14,159:6
space [2] 37:2038:10 supposed[3] 15:319:13 6:17,19,247:3,9,15,17.18 35:25 40:3 41:19 45:1 12:1723':8,11 27:1]
52:14 7:23 8:2,2,6 21:25 22:12 46:2,349:18
speak [1] 4:5 SUSAN[l] ]:11 traveled [1] 39:12 verballY[l] 4:14 yearly [1] 10:25
speaking [11 10:25 suspicious [1] 45:1 trial [2] 1:4 3:6 video [1] 44:15 years [11] 5:27:209:3,4
specialists [2] 25:8 9:921:1427:1428:13
26:23 sustained [2] 3:22 12:9 TRINDLE[l] 1:13 visitors' [5] 29:18,22 29:1,1.2
specificallY[l] 44:11 sworn [1] 3:8 tripped [lJ 26:2 32:14.2533:10 yell [2] 40:5,8
Speed[l] 51:9 symptoms [11 19:22 truck[S] 37:1340:841:18 visits [1] 27:11 yet [2] 6:2221:24
speedily[l] 17:16 41:20,21 VL [1] 32:16 York[l] 29:10
-T- truthfullY[2] 15:16,17 Young's [1] 5:13
spelh1] 24:14 table [1] 39:24 try[4J 3:174:13 12:17 -w-
spin [lJ 43:16 37:23
spinning [11 40:9 takes [1] 7:16 trying [7J 12:8,11 17:12 wages [11 12:8
Spirit [1] 25:25 taking[5] 15:14.18.19,24 17:1940:846:547:4 wait [lJ 28:21
split [3] 5:237:]440:2 36:25 turned [lJ 45:3 waived [1] 3:4
spoke [2J 19:11 45:1 task [1] 44:14 twisted [1] 26:20 Walk[3] 31:9,11 49:19
spoken [3] ]7:8 19:8,12 telling (3) 17 :22 20: 15 two [11] 7:209:3 13:13 walked [2] 47:649:21
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 5
~-
Bernard Baker, Jr.
1 TRQMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
PLAINTIFF
IN THE COl1RT OF COMMON PLEAS
Cl1MBERLAND COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA
2
v.
3
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
NO. 2000-4993
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
BERNARD BAKER,
4 DEFENDANT
,
,
9 DEPOSITION OF: BERNARD BAKER, .ffi.
10 TAKEN BY: PLAINTIFF
11 BEFORE : SUSAN M. SIMON
REPORTER-NOTARY PUBLIC
12
PLACE: MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
13 3510 TRINDLE ROAD
CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA
14
DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2000
" BEGINNING 11;00 A.M.
16
17
18
19 APPEARANCES;
20 Ml\RTSON, DEARDORFF, WILLI1\MS & OTTO
BY: THOMAS J. WILLIAMS, ESQUIRE
21 FOR - PLAINTIFF
22 MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
BY: LAURALEE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
23 FOR - DEFENDANT
24
25
I N D E X
2 WITNESS
EXAMINATION
3 BERNARD BAKER, JR.
By Mr. Williams
By Ms. Baker
3
2B
,
B EXHIBITS;
PRODUCED
AND MARKED
9 1. Three-page police report
10
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
~cgIPW
23
24
25
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
-~
~"~~~ ,,"--
"""II",*,'~-I
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15,2000
Page 3
I STIPULATION
2 It is hereby stipulated by and between counsel
3 for the respective parties that reading, signing, sealing,
4 filing and certification are waived; and that all
5 objections except as to the form of the question are
6 reserved until the time of trial.
7 BERNARD BAKER. JR., called as a witness, being
8 duly sworn, testified as follows:
9 E~ATIDN
10 BY MR, WILLIAMS:
11 Q Would you state your full name and address
12 please.
l3 A Bernard Baker, Junior. 397 Center Street,
14 Enhaut, 17113-1512.
15 Q Have you ever given testimony before?
16 A Yes, sir.
17 Q On what type of cases?
18 A During the riot, I gave testimony.
19 Q Criminal court cases?
20 A Yes, sir.
21 Q How about civil court, like a deposition?
22 A Yes.
23 Q In what type of cases? A lawsuit?
24 A Yeah, lawsuit.
25 Q Can you give me an example?
Page 2 Page 4
I A Divorce.
2 Q Anything else?
3 A When I worked for the state police, I gave
4 testimony, and when I was a policeman, I gave testimony.
5 Q Where were you a policeman?
6 A Gettysburg.
7 Q When you say you gave testimony as a member of
8 the state police and as a member of the Gettysburg police
9 department, were they in criminal cases as opposed to civil
10 cases?
11 A Yes, criminal.
12 Q Let me just ask a little bit about your
l3 background, Could you tell us about that, how you got into
14 corrections and where you started?
15 A Well, I worked for the Department of
16 Corrections and the Pennsylvania State Police for almost 27
17 years, I worked for the state police for almost 10, and
18 Department of Corrections May will be 17. So almost total
19 of 27 years.
20 Q Where did you start out in law enforcement?
21 A Gettysburg Borough Police.
22 Q How long were you with Gettysburg?
23 A Couple years.
24 Q As a patrolman?
25 A Yes, sir,
Page 1 - Page 4
~
" .
-",
..x,-
Bernard Baker, Jr.
CondenseIt! TM
December 15, 2000
Page?
. Page 5
I Q Then got accepted to the police academy?
. 2 A No, I was a civilian employed by the state
3 police. I was communications officer.
4 Q I see. Never went through the academy then?
5 A No, sir,
6 Q Never patrolled?
7 A No, sir. I worked the desk, and I worked in
8 their NCIC, National Crime Information Center.
9 Q Then you went in to corrections about what
10 year?
II A May the 3rd, 1984.
12 Q And have you been at Camp Hill that whole
13 time?
14 A Yes, sir.
15 Q We used to call that White Hill. Is there a
16 difference?
17 A No, it's the same thing. It used to be for
18 juveniles. Then it was White Hill. After they started
19 taking adults, then it became State Correctional
20 Institution of Camp Hill.
21 Q All right. You, of course, know Mr. Cekovsky
22 seated next to me, do you not?
23 A Yes.
24 Q For the record, what is your relationship with
25 him?
Page 6
I A I guess supervisor at times. I'm a lieutenant
2 assigned to different zones in the institution, and he at
3 times works for me.
4 Q In your opinion, do you get along okay with
5 Mr. Cekovsky?
6 A As far as I know.
7 Q No hard feelings either way that you're aware
8 of?
9 A Not that I'm aware of, no.
10 Q All right. Directing your attention to the
II date of June 22, 1999, do you recall when you were going to
12 work that day?
13 A I don't understand what you mean. When being
14 time?
15 Q Yes, the time of day.
16 A I worked the 2:00 to 10:00 shift, so it would
17 have been approximately quarter of 2:00, somewhere in that
18 area.
19 Q About quarter to 2:00?
20 A Somewhere in that area,
21 Q Do you recall that there was construction
22 underway so that the employees had to park at a different
23 area than they usually parked in at that time?
24 A The parking lot was being constructed at that
25 time. That was the construction.
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I Q Okay. As a result of the parking lot being
2 constructed, was there a different place that you had to
3 park?
4 A Well, we were using the parking lot. It
5 wasn't finished. You know, it was in the process of being
6 completed. I mean, there were people parking there, but it
7 was not done.
8 Q The surface at that time was what, when you
9 say it wasn't done?
10 A It was macadam. That's what they were doing,
II putting down macadam and lines,
12 Q So in June of 1999, you were parking on a
13 macadam surface?
14 A No, the incident occurred up off the macadam.
15 It was up on the grass outside the parking lot.
16 Q Why were you on the grass outside the parking
17 lot?
18 A Because the parking lot was fulL
19 Q In the days leading up to June 22,1999, say
20 the week or two prior to that, were you usually parking on
21 the grass, or were you usually parking on the macadam?
22 A Usually on the grass because by the time I get
23 in, it's usually pretty fulL And I got a big truck, so --
24 Q What were you driving that day?
25 A My Dodge truck.
Page 8
I Q What model is that?
2 A It's a four-wheel drive Dodge Ram.
3 Q Is there a model that goes with that. like a
4 Ford F-150 or something? Does Dodge have an equivalent?
5 A I don't know. I don't know what it is. It's
6 just a Dodge Ram.
7 Q Okay. So when you came to work that day, you
8 noticed that the parking lot was filled, and so you had to
9 park on the grass adjacent to the parking lot where you
10 usually parked?
II A Yes, sir.
12 Q Is there any way you can estimate for us about
13 how many vehicles were already there, both on the parking
14 lot and the grass?
15 A No, sir.
16 Q All right, Are you familiar -- let me
17 rephrase that.
18 On June 22nd, 1999, were you familiar with the
19 car that Mr. Cekovsky drove?
20 A No, sir.
21 Q Did he work the same shift as you did at that
22 time?
23 A Yes, sir.
24 Q Had you ever noticed him coming to work prior
25 to June 22nd, 1999?
Page 5 - Page 8
~ ,. b~llI;:;,j
Page 9
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15,2000
Bernard Baker, Jr.
I A I might have, but it doesn't mean anything.
. 2 Q Okay. So as you pulled in to the parking lot
3 on June 22nd -- strike that. Not the parking lot, on the
4 grass adjacent to the parking lot on June 22nd, 1999, would
5 you describe what happened.
6 A Well, 1 pulled up on the grassy area to go
7 down to the lower end of the parking lot because I saw the
8 lot was fulL And when 1 got down to the lower end, 1
9 didn't want to park down there because 1 thought I'd get
lO parked in. So 1 started backing up to park in the middle
II of the lot on the grassy area.
12 Q Have you given any statements to anybody other
13 than your attorney with regard to how this incident
14 happened?
15 A Yes.
16 Q Who did you give that to?
17 A The trooper that investigated the accident.
18 Q Anyone else?
19 A No, sir.
20 Q Do you have a copy of the trooper's report?
21 A 1 do not personally have a copy, no.
22 Q Have you seen a copy of it?
23 A Yes, 1 have.
24 Q I guess we'll mark this as Baker 1, and ask
25 you if that's the report that you were referring to?
Page 10
I A That's the one that I saw, yes. (Three-page
2 police report produced and marked as Baker Deposition
3 Exhibit Number 1.)
4 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
5 Q When you reviewed that report, did you notice
6 anything about it that you felt was not accurate?
7 MS. BAKER: Just for the record, Tom, page 1
8 is not before the witness right now. You have page 2 and 3
9 of the report here,
lO MR. WILLIAMS: Do you have page 1 that we can
II use?
12 MS. BAKER: I can make a copy, if you'd like.
13 MR. WILLIAMS: Yes, please, but for now
14 perhaps just let him look at it. For some reason I don't
15 have page 1 of the report.
16 MS. BAKER: I'm sorry, did you ask him to read
17 it?
18 MR. WILLIAMS: The question was whether having
19 reviewed the report he saw anything on there that he did
20 not believe was accurate.
21 MS. BAKER: I'll just ask you to read it one
22 more time to make sure.
23 And just for the record, the witness is simply
24 reading the narrative portion of the report as opposed to
25 the total report,
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 11
I MR. WILLIAMS: Well, my question was broader
2 than just the narrative portion of the report.
3 MS, BAKER: Well, it's a little hard for him
4 to know what the numbers are that the police officer uses
5 on the fIrst page.
6 MR. WlLUAMS: So he would have no reason to
7 believe that they were inaccurate.
8 MS. BAKER: Well, he doesn't really know what
9 they are, what they mean. So with that understanding --
lO you know what I mean?
II MR. WlLUAMS: That's understood,
12 MS. BAKER: All right.
13 THE WITNESS: Do you want to ask me the
14 question, so I make sure 1 know what it is now please?
15 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
16 Q Sure. Having reviewed the report of the state
17 police that you referred to earlier in your testimony, do
18 you see anything on there that you believe to be
19 inaccurate?
20 A Concerning the narrative, no.
21 I'm not quite sure what his drawing means here
22 as far as -- he has pedestrian and then a little line, but
23 the line stops at the beginning of the vehicle. He wasn't
24 at the beginning, at the front of the vehicle. Impact
25 point is about right where he would have been.
Page 12
I Q If you would look at the drawing, could you
2 tell us the parking lot that you have referred to in your
3 testimony, would that be where with respect to tbe drawing?
4 A The parking lot would have been to the front.
5 Q That would be below the vehicles that are
6 drawn on the state police drawing?
7 A It's below the vehicles, yes.
8 Q The direction that you referred to as the
9 lower end of the field that was the overflow of the
10 parking, would be in which direction?
II A It would be in this area down here
12 (indicating),
13 Q That would be, as you're reading the report,
14 off to the left?
15 A Yes, sir.
16 Q And it appears from the report .. and you
17 correct me if I'm wrong .- that you drove your vehicle down
18 to the lower end, and then being concerned that you might
19 be parked in, you backed up to an area you thought would be
20 better to park at?
21 A Yes, sir.
22 Q When you say the lower end, does that mean
23 that that portion of it was at a lower elevation, that is,
24 downhill?
25 A No, I mean just lower area, not lower
Page 9 - Page 12
Bernard Baker, Jr.
.. ~.-
Page 13
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15, 2000
Page 15
1 depth-wise.
J. Q When you say lower area, do you mean a farther
3 from where you had to go to get into the facility?
4 A No, not really any further, no,
5 Q I'm not sure what you mean by lower end then.
6 Could you explain that a little?
7 A This being upper end, closer to wbere you come
8 in, this being lower end, further from wbere you come in.
9 Q Can you estimate for us about how far you
10 backed your vehicle from where you were down at the lower
11 end to when you backed it up next to Mr. Cekovsky's car?
12 A Maybe from here to that tree away. That tree
13 right there to where we are now. Maybe not that far.
14 MS. BAKER, Can you tell him in feet?
15 BY MR. WILLIAMS,
16 Q About 50 feet?
17 A It's not 50 feet to that tree. 25 feet. I'm
18 not good on distance, but I don't think that's 50 foot.
19 Might be.
20 Q Well, I don't want to put words in your
21 mouth, What is your best estimate of the distance?
22 A 25 foot, 30 foot. 25, 30.
23 Q How about car lengths?
24 A I can't tell you, to be truthful.
25 Q You have no idea about how many car lengths
Page 14
1 you backed up?
2 A No.
3 Q Okay. When was the fIrst time that you
4 realized that something was wrong?
5 A It would have been upon impact with his
6 vehicle.
7 Q As far as your observation and attention in
8 the driver's position of your vehicle, what caused you to
9 realize that something was wrong? How did you know that
10 there was an impact?
11 A Because my vehicle stopped, and there was a
12 bang. I knew I hit something, but I didn't know what.
13 Q As you were backing up, were you checking
14 behind you?
15 A Yes,
16 Q How were you checking behind you?
17 A Mirrors.
18 Q How many mirrors do you have?
19 A Left, right, rearview.
20 Q You don't have a cap or anything on the back
21 of that pickup, do you?
22 A Yes, sir, I do.
23 Q Even with the cap, are you able to look
24 through the rearview mirror in the center of the car?
25 A You can, but my truck sets high, so I go
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
1 mostly by my outside mirrors.
2 Q Was there one or the other that you were
3 looking through as you were backing up?
4 A I checked them all when I started to back up.
5 Q You looked from one to the other and back
6 again?
7 A Yes, sir.
8 Q You specifically recall that on this day, or
9 are you testifying to that from your usual practice?
10 A No, I'm testifying because that's what
11 happened.
12 Q All right. As you were backing up from the
13 lower end of the parking field, did you see a car back
14 there which turned out to be Mr. Cekovsky's car?
15 A No, sir. IfI'd saw him, I wouldn't have
16 backed into him.
17 Q Same question with regard to Mr. Cekovsky
18 himself, did you see him there?
19 A Do you want to ask me that again please?
20 Q Yes. As you were backing up from the lower
21 end of the parking field, you testified that you did not
22 see Mr, Cekovsky's car. My question is did you see
23 Mr. Cekovsky himself?
24 A No, sir.
25 Q Did you see anyone in the vicinity?
Page 16
1 A There were other cars in the vicinity, but,
2 like I say, I didn't see -- there was nobody behind me.
3 Q Where were those other cars with respect to
4 where Mr. Cekovsky's car was?
5 A They would have been in the front of the
6 parking area down here, closest to the prison.
7 Q About how far from where his car would have
8 been parked? Let me restate that. About how far from
9 where his car was parked?
10 A Maybe two car lengths away.
II Q Okay. If I can summarize then what you just
12 said, as you were backing up looking through your outside
13 rearview mirrors, you heard a bang, and your truck
14 stopped. Correct?
15 A Yes, sir.
16 Q What did do you at that point?
17 A I pulled forward and got out of the vehicle to
18 see what I backed into.
19 Q What did you see?
20 A I saw Cekovsky and his vehicle.
21 Q Did you notice anything unusual about
22 Mr. Cekovsky?
23 A He had some minor cuts on his arms.
24 Q Did you see him at any time before you pulled
25 forward and got out of your vehicle?
Page 13 - Page 16
,,~~~ ~ ~
-
,<',
-
_~~.,fu,.
Page 17
Condenselt! TM
December 15, 2000
Bernard Baker, Jr.
I A No, sir.
.2 Q Did you see any damage to his vehicle?
3 A Yes, sir.
4 Q Would you describe that damage.
5 A Damage to the driver's door and the window was
6 busted out on the side driver's door.
7 Q When you used the word "bang" to describe the
8 impact with Mr. Cekovsky's vehicle, were you referring to a
9 sound or a feeling?
10 A Yes, a sound, sound and a feel.
II Q Could you describe what a bang sounds like?
12 Was it like --
13 A It's like two pieces of metal hitting together
14 is a bang.
15 Q Broken glass, did you hear that?
16 A No, sir,
17 Q Do you believe that YOW' vehicle came into
18 contact with Mr. Cekovsky's vehicle?
19 A Do I believe that?
20 Q Yes.
21 A Yes, sir,
22 Q Other than the noise and the damage to the
23 vehicle that you observed, do you bave any other reason to
24 believe that you came into contact with him?
25 MS. BAKER: Other than that his vehicle
Page 18
1 stopped, as he told you?
2 MR. WILLIAMS: Yes.
3 THE WITNESS: Ask me again, I don't--
4 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
5 Q Okay. You said you heard a bang, yoW'vehicle
6 stopped, you pulled forward, you got out, and you saw
7 damage to Mr. Cekovsky's vehicle.
8 A Right.
9 Q Other than those things, do you have any
10 reason to believe that your vehicle came into contact with
II his vehicle?
12 A I had damage to my vehicle. Other than that,
13 no.
14 Q What was the damage to YOW' vehicle?
15 A It would have been right rear bumper and small
16 area of the quarter panel.
17 Q Has that damage been repaired?
18 A No.
19 Q Okay, When you walked back after getting out
20 of your truck, tell me what happened.
21 A Well, I saw he had cuts to his arms. I asked
22 him if he was all right. He stated he was okay. I told
23 him I wanted to get him checked medically.
24 I wanted to report it. He didn't want it
25 reported. He said that. He also stated it's my fault, I
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 19
1 shouldn't have pulled in behind you. He stated that two or
2 three times.
3 Q Anything else of that conversation you can
4 recall?
5 A No. I took him up to the institution, and I
6 notified my shift commander of the incident. And I told
7 the shift commander I wanted to get him checked medically.
8 And control center notified the state police.
9 It didn't actually -- I told him I wanted it reported
10 because of injwy to him.
II Q Do you know why Mr, Cekovsky didn't want it
12 reported?
13 A I can only assume. I can't answer truthfully.
14 Q What is your assumption?
15 A It's my assumption -- I don't--
16 MS. BAKER: You can answer the question. but.
l? again, he has no --
18 THE WITNESS: I have no knowledge then why he
19 didn't want it reported, no.
20 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
21 Q Do you know now?
22 A Well, I heard he had a DU! and he didn't want
23 to report it. That's what I was told. I don't know.
24 Q Where did you hear that?
25 A I can't answer it truthfully. What?
Page 20
I Q Where did you hear that from?
2 A Work.
3 Q Who told you that?
4 A I don't know who it was.
5 Q Do you have any idea why having a DU!. if
6 indeed he had one, would be reason why he didn't want to
7 report this?
8 A Do I have any reason? No.
9 Q I mean, I know things go on in a prison that
10 have significance that those of us who don't work there may
II not realize, and I'm just wondering if there is something
12 there that would indicate to you that this would be a
13 problem in reporting an accident with another employee?
14 A Other than it's another incident involving--
15 that would have to be reported to your insurance company,
16 that's the only reason.
17 Q When you say you took him up to the
18 institution, he was going up there anyway, wasn't he?
19 A Right, but I went up with him. I took him
20 up. I walked up with him,
21 Q When did the state police ultimately contact
22 you? Was it that day or the next day?
23 A Oh, no, it was the same day.
24 Q Was that in the institution or did you meet
25 them outside in the field?
Page 17 - Page 20
Bernard Baker, Jr.
,
-'.
"ho,,-'
"" "
CondenseIt! 1M
Page 21
December 15,2000
Page 23
1 A We came out.
,2 Q When you say we, was Mr. Cekovsky there also?
3 A Yes.
4 Q Tell us as much detail you can recall what
5 happened when you and Mr. Cekovsky and the trooper wont out
6 to the field.
7 A We told him what happened as far as the
8 accident, how it happened. how it occurred.
9 Q Did you loll him anything different or in
10 addition to what you have told us here today?
II A Huh-uh.
12 Q How about Mr. Cekovsky. did you hear what be
13 told the trooper?
14 A I can't remember what he told him. I mean, we
15 would have put it preny much the same thing. both of us
16 standiog there.
17 Q Just so I'm clear on this, you have no
18 recollection today of what Mr, Cekovsky told the
19 investigating trooper on the day of the accident, is that
20 correct?
21 A Well, like I say. we were both standing there,
22 so we both agreed it occurred the way we said. I mean, if
23 I'd have said something that was incorrect. I'm sure be
24 would have cleared it up at that point.
25 Q Well, then maybe we better take a minulo just
Page 22
I to have you restate what your recollection is of what you
2 told the state police on that occasion in as much detail as
3 you can recalL
4 A I already told you what I told the state
5 policeman.
6 MS. BAKER: Is there some inconsistency that
7 you1re--
8 MR. WILLIAMS: Well, I think there is an
9 inconsistency, yes. I know what Mr. Cekovsky has told me
10 about how the accident happened and what he told the state
II police, and it's different from what this witness says, so
12 I want to be absolutely clear about this.
13 MS. BAKER: Your question is exactly what this
14 witness told the state police?
15 MR. WILLIAMS: Exactly.
16 MS. BAKER: Okay. What did you tell the state
17 police officer happened?
18 TIlE WITNESS: I told him that I was backing
19 through the parking lot, that he pulled in behind me and
20 parked. I didn't see him. I backed into him.
21 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
22 Q Anything at all about injury that you recall
23 being told to the state police?
24 A Yes, he asked about injuries, yes,
25 Q What was told to him that you recall?
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I A I do not recalL He was standing right
2 there. He would have told him. I mean, it was like we
3 were standing together. It wasn't like he was over there
4 and I was over here with the state trooper.
5 Q I understood what you meant by the first part
6 of that answer but not the second part. The first part you
7 said you don't recall what was said about the injury
8 because Mr. Cekovsky said that to the state police. And
9 then you said you were all standing there together.
10 A Yes.
II Q Is that right?
12 A We were standing there together. I don't
13 recall what he said in June, I was a little bit upset and
14 concerned. I wasn't really, you know, worned about what
15 he was saying. I was worned about getting him checked and
16 getting him taken care of.
17 Q Was he checked and taken care of, to your
18 knowledge?
19 A Yes, he was.
20 Q By whom?
21 A As far as I know, he went into the dispensary
22 at Camp Hill and was checked there, and then he was taken
23 to a hospital to be checked.
24 Q All right. And as far as what happened at the
25 dispensary or the hospital or subsequently following
Page 24
I regarding his medical condition or treatment, do you have
2 any personal knowledge of that?
3 A No, sir,
4 Q Did anybody tell you anything about that.
5 other than your attorney?
6 A No, sir.
7 Q Now, you have continued to work with
8 Mr, Cekovsky as you have testified since June of 1999, have
9 you not?
10 A Yes, off and on, yes, He's not always
I] assigned to my area, but...
12 Q You have seen him on a regular basis since
13 then, correct?
14 A On and off, yes. I mean, if he doesn't work
]5 my area and he's over on the other side of the jail, I
16 don't see him.
17 Q Can you estimate for us how often he would
18 work your area? Once a week, once a month?
19 A No, it's a hit-and-miss type thing.
20 Q W ouId I be correct in saying that you have
21 essentially seen Mr. Cekovsky on at least a weekly basis
22 since June of '99,
23 A At least once, yeah.
24 Q Have you been able to observe his job
25 performance since June '99?
Page 21 - Page 24
~.J''''':.
"
_C'_ - ", _, ~ ,_.,,~ .
~ ~" "
iI,;~",,__
Page 25
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15, 2000
Bernard Baker, Jr.
1 A Like I said, it's a hit-and-miss type thing.
. 2 Sometimes I have him, and sometimes I don't have him.
3 Q On those occasions when you had him and you
4 were able to observe him, what has been your observation?
5 A No problem that I can see,
6 Q He does his job well, would you say?
7 MS. BAKER: Object to the form. You can
8 answer.
9 THE WTINESS: No better or no worse than
10 anybody else, I'd say, I mean, he's -- I don't know what
II the word is I want. Meets standards.
12 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
13 Q Have you observed any difference in
14 Mr. Cekovsky before this incident versus since the
15 incident?
16 A What do you mean difference?
17 Q Anything physical, anything mental, anything
18 personality-wise? Let me break that down for you,
19 Have you noticed anything about him physically
20 that's different now than it was before June 22ml, 1999?
21 A No.
22 Q The way he walks, the way he moves, the way he
23 picks things up, anything?
24 A No, not as far as n every once in a while he
25 walks with a limp, but nothing -- it's not a continuous
Page 26
I thing. One time he does, one time he doesn't.
2 Q You're speaking of since June 22nd. 1999?
3 A Yes.
4 Q How about from the mental aspects of the job,
5 have you noticed any difference?
6 A No,
7 Q How about his personality, have you noticed
8 any difference?
9 A No,
10 Q Has anything been reported to you regarding
11 Mr. Cekovsky or this case by anyone else other than your
12 lawyer?
13 A I don't know what you mean. Like?
14 Q Well, I'm trying to make the question as broad
15 as possible.
16 A I'm sure you are.
17 Q I can break it down. Has anyone that works at
18 the prison said anything to you about Mr. Cekovsky since
19 June 22nd, 1999, other than in the regular course of your
20 work?
21 A
22 Q
23 A
24 Q
25 A
No.
Nothing about this lawsuit?
No.
Nothing about his medical treatment?
No.
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 27
] Q Other than what you may have heard from your
2 lawyer, do you have information from any other source about
3 his medical condition or his treatment?
4 A No, sir.
5 Q How about any information about his personal
6 life, where he lives, for example, or who he's seeing? Any
7 of that information been brought to your attention by
8 anyone other than your lawyer?
9 A I would have no reason. I don't care where he
10 lives or who he sees.
11 Q I'm sure you don't, but my question is whether
12 that has been brought to your attention, whether you wanted
13 to know it or not?
14 A No.
15 Q Gossip is not unheard of in the Camp Hill
16 Slate Correctional Institution, is it?
17 A No, it's not. Gossip is not unheard of
18 anywhere anymore,
19 Q Has Mr. Cekovsky been the subject of any
20 gossip that's been brought to your attention?
21 A I heard he's dating a girl at the institution,
22 that's alL Like I say, I don't care, It's nothing to me.
23 MR. WILLIAMS: Okay. I think that's all, but
24 let me just talk with Tom for a moment.
25 (Mr. Williams and Mr, Cekovsky confer out of
Page 28
1 the deposition room from 11:30 a.m. unti11l:32 a.m.)
2 BY MR. WILLIAMS:
3 Q Just a couple more questions, sir. Probably
4 wrap this up.
5 Where you aware that Mr. Cekovsky was taking
6 the sergeant's test shortly after this incident?
7 A No, sir.
8 Q Were you aware that after this incident that
9 he was off work for a nwnber of months?
10 A Was I aware that he was offfor a couple
II months?
12 Q Yes.
13 A No.
14 MR. WILLIAMS: Okay. That's all the questions
15 I have. Thank you.
16 MS. BAKER: I just have a few follow-up.
17
18 BY MS. BAKER:
19 Q Looking at Baker 1 which is the police report,
20 specifically the diagram section of the police report, can
21 you tell us how you entered the parking area by using this
22 diagram?
23 A I came in off of Lisburn Road, came down to
24 the edge of the parking lot, and then up along the grassy
25 area to the top.
Page 25 - Page 28
,~
~~
Bernard Baker, Jr.
CondenseIt! 'I'M
Page 29
1 Q By the edge of the parking lot, you're talking
.2 about the end of this rectangle marked "Lisburn Road" by
3 the police officer?
4 A I would assume that would be the end of the
5 parking lot, yes.
6 Q And you turned right there, and then drove up
7 along the grass at the top of the diagram?
8 A Yes. ma'am.
9 Q Okay. Is that area where you were going to
10 park and Mr. Cekovsky parked an area in June of 1999 where
1 I generally employees of the prison parked?
12 A At that time, because the parking lot wasn't
13 finished, they were parking up along the grassy area,
14 Q So that was a yes?
15 A Yes.
16 Q Okay, And how far is it from that area where
17 the accident occurred to the prison?
18 A To the east tower, it's about 30 feet, 25, 30
19 feet, somewhere around there.
20 MS. BAKER: Thank you. That's all I have.
21 (The deposition was concluded at 11 :34 a.m,)
22
23
24
25
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
".-,"
","
~J'_,",-,j
December 15,2000
Page 29 - Page 29
~ I ---
--". A
-;,-
,~
"
30
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA )
) SS
COUNTY OF DAUPHIN
I, Susan M. Simon, do hereby certify that before
me, a Notary Public in and for the County and Commonwealth
aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, personally appeared
BERNARD BAKER, JR.
who was then by me first duly cautioned and (sworn, affirmed) to
testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in
the taking of (his, her) oral deposition in the cause aforesaid;
that the testimony given as above set forth was reduced to
stenotype by me in the presence of said witness and afterwards
transcribed by me or under my direction.
I do further certify that said deposition was
taken at the time and place in the foregoing caption specified.
I do further certify that I am not a relative,
counselor attorney for either party, nor am I otherwise
interested in the event of this action.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this 4th day of January, 2001.
NOTARIAL SEAL
SUSAN /;I, SIMON, Notary Public
Hamsburg, Dauphin County
My CommiSSIon Expires Oct. 30. 2002
)~~1h Ot~
Susan M. Simon
Reporter-Notary Public
The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to
any reproduction of the same by any means unless under the
direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.
...,
""""0'"
,v/A
000832 -0.:3
ffi COMMONWEAL TH OF PENNSYLVANIA
~ POUCE ACCIDENT REPORT
. . ._.______Il{."""UllI.E I I NON. REPORT_EI . 1
PEHNOOr USE CINl y
.4L'G 2
:':;C"
,
xx -RHt ~ Hlf1VlUlAYSlIU!'i
~ t, ..cUNT
I NlMER
i :Z. AGENCY
ACCIDENT . LOCATION
20. COOMTY
('vmBC.4l.A.-.l
21. -----.....:rrv
0.....<:'/1. A &.1. 02.-
PRINCIPAL ROADWAY INFORMA nON
~:_~'':::('A"'/I....I,,,s~, PlIl.oc.,,,,c.lor CAS,
~: ~. J!LJ~~~v__~n~~;" / __
INTERSECnNG ROAD:
:ze AOUTENO,M~. .....---.----.---...
STREET NAME
21:-SPUO---- - '--i"il.,niie .)ACCE&S
_ tal'!... l- HIGHWAY - CONTROl.
IF NOT AT INTERSECTION:
Jil ~':~=-'LI-SI3<J'iLH (lO'--
]1 ~~~~ -~.@. E-'w~.l~~~~_ - -. ___ ;'~~I.~.
3:1 DISTANCE WM U'
MEASURED ESTIMATED
{35.} TRAFFIC PRN:IPAl
.~ CONTROl I 1
DEVICE ~~,
9. ACCJOENT
OATE
n. TIUE OF
...DAY
to [lAY Of WEEK
. l"""-']).
/
t2. MJLIBER
OF """S
; '5 PAN, PROP
ACClDENr
v'
N 1)(1
v
"f.' v
. I' VEHIClE DAMAGE
I O-fOE 'UN" t
I llCHt
:z. MODERATE
]. SEVERE UNn :z
lQJ
NTEo='T1NG
Cl
I
1
N
34, CONSTRUCTION
lONE
'Ti. =~~s y~ __~;f.l._ 't. :O~~ y: N~,q
UNIT' 1
GAlIV v NI]I REG 13l'ATATE
, ......O?, ,':i PVoI> y ~ <;7 ?17 ::4
:~t~~~~~~?!',,_t "'732/~>5'
! .0. OWNER
BCIl."'ARb BAI<Et2
1... OWNER
ADORESS 3 97 C G'.., r<!:"~ 'SI.
..,. CITY SlAtE . jJ
. &Z..cOOE E"Nl/uT/ ,. 171/3
,,,. YEAR 9 9 f ,.......
I I, Ool>6<E'
i 45. MODEL. INCH ..1 ;... NS Jl
\. ,BOOn_, ~A '"'1. /'500 '_v IN .1 I .-1 I
:-.. I ,80OY ... SI'f.Cw.. 0 fe, ~HK:lE I
I TYI'E So I us.oGE . . QWNERSHP
5O..lNlTlAl rMPAct r5t~.VEHlCtE r51. fRAVEl 7
; . POINT 5' I StAtus 0 ~ sPEED
'5]~VEHW::lE :S;ORIVER r~5:[)RMR---"-i-'
GRADIENT " . PRESENCE . - C:ONDITION
i"':R II /6 ~2 77 51ST';"
I sa DRMR B
...... B c/J..IIAP:D A~C,4..
59. DRIVER
i """""ss 'U7 c.~~_'''-'/!.---2L
60. crtY, STATE ~
&lFCOOE r;. H Hc.J'f
6t,SEXAo1 82,QAtEOF 'J
/u BATH 0 A 3"
601. COIlotM. VEH. 65. ORM.R C
Y II N \d ClASS .
61. CARRF.r:I-
UNITt 2
]8 lEGAllY Y N 31. REG.
, 'IJI] PlATE
)g,PA' . '-OR"--
OUT -of.Sf
4O.0YM!R
31. STATE
81. CARRIER
"""""SS
eO. crrv. sf ATE
& llPCOOE
.... USOOTI
ei..tiRiiUi-- ------
""""'..
M. CrrY. STATE
&l1'COOE
70, USOOT . ICC J
PUC'
l',t.~ .~- u.~r:~----'-
1].CARGO , 14.
r?r~=s .. .. --. i '-f"";Q~O~
13
14.GV't'YR
13.,
- CQNFIG.
15. NO. Of
AlCl.ES
I .JEH
I CONfIG
15 NO Of
AXLES
"".45171981
rtPE
18 HAl AROOUS
UATER.......S
.L
17, RElEASE Of' W41::';
~r 0 N 0 tH<;LI ;
"......VOl ~HSTf,
33g4C;04
PAGE:
~1llIII,ijJI~
UlUl!~i.,~,;~~tj,";
1
-
~ .
~-
'I~~..". '"."""""~. '~,,;~
~',-- ,
N/A
000834
COMMONWEAL THOF PENNSYL VANIA
PAR CONTINUATION SHEET
1S'OOTAa.E NQN.IVORTAIILE 0
ACClllENT 0 C. :12 q NTV 2./
AIlllAESS
H
J K L
(C<<.4.J€'
,..t
CJ
/,4
""
Ots'}
'-',-' .,.\
i'
:'1
,:~
...;j~
..~
.;1(
,.
,__'l
.~
:./~
. "
.....:,~:~
:~,;.
.'.-..-"
,J'
;,~
~~
"',~
;ii!
:;:1t1
-
[J [J
D D
.",
';,'f?
;~'~
';"'.~':"l
~~~
~~'f\i'
..:'~
: ~'-t~
.. ~~
.....1l
.' /.~
.y;
'1:~
'~~~?,;
.",.
89. DESCRIBE VKJLAllONS
DO. 5ECTIOHNU~RS(ONlYI CHARGED)
T NT
ro. E:SULTS 0 f.C lEST
o REFUSE
O. Of.., 0 UNK
92. 93. ESUlTS [] t<<:lTEST 94.IAA'ESTlGATlON
o REFUSE C(M'lETE 7
0.__'1. DUNK "". '~NO 0
PAGE: ~ CfNT[R fOR HlGl-<W4Y SAFETY
AA.c5C('t92f
again [4] 15:6,19 18:3 broader[l] II:] conversation [1] 19:3 drawing[4] 11:2] 12:1.3
-'- 19:]7 Broken[l] 17:15 copy [4] 9:20,21,22 10:]2 12:6
; 99 [2] 24:22,25 agreed[l] 2]:22 brought [3] 27:7,]2,20 conect [5] 12:17 16:14 drawn [1] 12:6
aImOst[3] 4:16,17.]8 bumper[l] 18:15 21:2024:13,20 drive [1] 8:2
-I- along [41 6:4 28:24 29:7 busted[l] 17:6 Conectional [2] 5:19 driver's [3] ]4:817:5.6
29:13 27:16 driving [1] 7:24
1 [7] 2:99:24 10:3.7,10,]5 always [1] 24:10 -C- corrections [41 4:14,16 droVe[3] 8:1912:1729:6
28:19 anSWer[5] 19:13,16,25 4:185:9 DUI [2] 19:2220:5
10[2] 2:94:17 23:6 25:8 Camp[5] 1:135:12.20 COunsel[l] 3:2 duly [1] 3:8
10:00 [1] 6:16 23:2227:15 COUNTY[I] 1:1
anyway [1] 20:18 During[l] 3:18
11 :00 [1] 1:15 APPEARANCES [1] cap [2] 14:20,23 couple [3] 4:2328:3.10
11:30 [1]28:1 1:19 Car[12] 8:1913:11,23,25 course [2] 5:21 26:19 -E-
14:2415:13,14,2216:4.7
11 :32 [1] 28:1 area [20J 6:18,20,23 9:6 16:9,10 court [3] 1:1 3:]9.21 E[I] 2:1
11 :34 [1] 29:21 9:11 12:11,19.25 13:2 Crime [1] 5:8
15 [1] 1:14 16:618:'1624:11.15,18 care [4] 23:16,1727:9,22 criminal [3] 3:194:9,11 east [1] 29:18
28:21,2529:9.10.13,16 cars [2] 16:1.3 EDELSTEIN[2] 1:12
17 [1] 4:18 anns[2] 16:2318:21 case [1] 26:11 CUMBERLAND [1] ]:22
17113-1512 [1] 3:14 aspects!l] 26:4 cases [5] 3:17,19,234:9 1:1 edge [2] 28:2429:1
1984 [1] 5:11 assigned[2] 6:224:11 4:10 cuts [2] 16:2318:21 either [1] 6:7
1999 [11] 6:11 7:12,19 assume!2] 19:13 29:4 caused[l] 14:8 -D- elevation [1] 12:23
8:18,259:424:825:20 assumption [2] 19:14 Cekovsky[24] 1:15:21 employed [1] 5:2
26:2,1929:10 19:15 6:58:]915:17,2316:20 D[I] 2:1 employee[l] 20:13
attention [5] 6:10 14:7 16:2219:11 21:2,5,12,18 damage[8] 17:2,4,5,22
-2- 22:923:824:8,21 25:14 employees [2] 6:22
27:7,12,20 26:11.1827:19,2528:5 18:7,12,14,17 29:11
2[1] 10:8 attorney [2] 9:13 24:5 29:10 date [2] 1:146:11 end [13] 9:7,8 12:9,18.22
2000 [1] 1:14 aware [5] 6:7,928:5,8,10 Cekovsky's [7] 13:11 dating [1] 27:21 13:5,7,8,11 15:13.21 29:2
2000-4993 [1] 1:3 away [2] 13:12 16:10 15:14,2216:417:8,18 days [1] 7:19 29:4
22 [2] 6:11 7:19 18:7 DEARDORFF [I]! 1:20 enforcement[l] 4:20
22nd[7] 8:18,259:3,4 -B- centeT[4] 3:13 5:8 14:24 DECEMBER[l] ):14 Enhaut[l] 3:14
25:2026:2,19 19:8 DEFENDANT[2] 1:4 entered [1] 28:21
25 [4] 13:17,22,2229:18 B[I] 1:22 certification [1] 3:4 1:23 equivalent [1] 8:4
backed [7] 12:19 13:10
27 [2] 4:16,19 13:11 14:1 15:1616:18 checked [7] 15:4 18:23 DEMANDED [1]1:4 ESQUIRE[2] 1:20.22
28[1] 2:4 22:20 19:723:15,17.22,23 department[3] 4:9iI5 essentiallY[I] 24:21
2:00 [3] 6:16,17,19 background[l] 4:13 checking [2] 14:13,16 4:18 estimate [4] 8:12 13:9
backing [7] 9:10 14:13 civil[3] 1:3 3:21 4:9 deposition[5] 1:93:21 13:2124:17
-3- 15:3,12,2016:1222:18 civilian [11 5:2 10:2 28:1 29:21 exactly [2] 22:13,15
3 [2] 2:4 10:8 Baker [27] 1:3,9,22 2:3,4 clear[2] 21:17 22:12 depth-wise [1] 13:1 EXAMINATION [2]
3:7,13 9:2410:2,7,12,16 cleared[l] 21:24 describe [41 9:5 17:4,7 2:23:9
30 [4] 13:22,2229:18,18 10:21 11:3,8,1213:14 closer[l] 13:7 17:11 example [2] 3:2527:6
3510 [1] 1:13 17:2519:1622:6,13.16 closest[l] 16:6 desk [1] 5:7 except [1] 3:5
397 [1] 3:13 25:728:16.18,1929:20 coming [1] 8:24 detail [2] 21:4 22:2 Exhibit [1] 10:3
3rd[11 5:11 bang [6] 14:12 16:13 17:7 commander[2] 19:6,7 diagram [3] 28:20,22 EXHIBITS [1] 2:8
17:11.1418:5 29:7
-5- basis [21 24:12,21 COMMON[I] 1:1 difference [5] 5: 16 explain [1] 13:6
became [1] 5:19 communications [1] 25:13,1626:5,8
50 [3] 13:16,17,18 beginning[3] 1:1511:23 5:3 different [6] 6:2,227:2 -F-
11:24 companY[I] 20:15 21:922:11 25:20 F-150 [1] 8:4
-A- behind[5] 14:14,1616:2 completed[11 7:6 Directing [1] 6:10 facility [1] 13:3
a.m[4] 1:1528:1.129:21 19:122:19 concerned[2] 12:18 direction [2] 12:8,10 familiar[2] 8:16,18
able [3] 14:23 24:24 25:4 below[2] 12:5.7 23:14 dispensary[2] 23:21,25 far[12] 6:611:2213:9.13
absolutely [1] 22:12 Bernard[5] 1:3,92:33:7 Concerning[l] 11:20 distance [2] 13:18.21 14:716:7,821:723:21.24
academY[2] 5:1,4 3:13 concluded[l] 29:21 Divorce[l] 4:1 25:2429:16
accepted[l] 5:1 best [1] 13:21 condition [2] 24:1 27:3 Dodge [4] 7:25 8:2,4,6 farther[l] 13:2
accident[6] 9:1720:13 better[31 12:2021:25 confer [1] 27:25 doesn't[4] 9:111:8 fault [1] 18:25
21:8,1922:10 29:17 25:9 constructed[2] 6:247:2 24:1426:1 feeling[l] 17:9
accurate [2] 10:6,20 between [IJ 3:2 construction [2] 6:21 done [2] 7:7,9 feelings [1] 6:7
ACTION[I] 1:3 big [1] 7:23 6:25 dooT[2] 17:5,6 feet[6] 13:14,16,17.17
addition[l] 21:10 bit [2] 4:1223:13 contact[4] 17:18,24 down [11] 7:11 9:7,8.9 29:18,19
Borough[l] 4:21 18:1020:21
address [1] 3:11 continued [1] 24:7 12:11.1713:10 16:625:1 8 felt [1] 10:6
adjacent [2] 8:9 9:4 break[2] 25:1826:17 26:1728:23 few [1] 28:16
broad [1] 26:14 continuous [1] 25 :25 downhill [1] 12:24 field [5] 12:9 15:13,21
adults [1] 5:19 control [1] 19:8
"
~, - >
Bernard Baker, Jr.
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
'-"",..',-f
,",",--~-",-
'h'.'_'"~_'C",_j , i'"
- ; ~ ':l-jj.jlfl~',
=, >="
Condenselt! 1M
. 99 - field
DeCember 15,2000
Index Page I
-"~
Bernard Baker, Jr.
20:2521:6
filing [1] 3:4
filled [1] 8:8
finished [2] 7:529:13
first[4] ]]:514:323:5,6
follow-up [1] 28:16
following [1] 23:25
follows [1] 3:8
foot [3] 13: 18,22,22
Ford [1] 8:4
fonn [2] 3:5 25:7
forward [3] ]6:17.25
18:6
four-wheel [1] 8:2
front [3] ]]:24 ]2:4 ]6:5
full [4] 3:]] 7:]8.23 9:8
-6-
generally [1] 29:]]
Gettysburg [4] 4:6,8,21
4:22
girl [1] 27:2]
given [2] 3:159:12
glass [1] 17:15
goes [1] 8:3
good [1] 13:18
gossip [3] 27:15,]7,20
grass [8] 7:15,]6,21,22
8:9,149:429:7
grassy [4] 9:6,11 28:24
29:13
guess [2] 6:1 9:24
-H-
hard[2] 6:7 ]]:3
hear[4] 17:1519:2420:1
21:12
heard [5] 16:13 18:5
19:2227:1,21
herebY[I] 3:2
high [1] 14:25
Hill[7] 1:13 5:12,15.18
5:2023:2227:15
himself [2J 15:18,23
hit [1] 14:12
hit-and-miss [2] 24:]9
25:]
hitting[I] 17:13
hospital [2] 23:23,25
Huh-uh[I] 21:]]
-I-
idea [2] 13:2520:5
impact [4] ]]:24 14:5,10
17:8
inaccurate[2] ]]:7,19
incident [8] 7:149:13
19:620:1425:14,1528:6
28:8
",lOll
" "'
'. ~ "- " ...:~
'Ii:'" ,,,".HJU'~W1ili..;IwL.i
~d;;-j
I!
,
ij
"
I
I
q
CondenseIt! 1M
filing - recollection
December 15,2000
inconsistency [2] 22:6 13:10 15:13,20 notice [2] 10:5 16:21 personal [2] 24:227:5
22:9 noticed [5] 8:8,2425:19 personality [1] 26:7
incorrect[I] 21:23 -M- 26:5.7 personality-wise [1]
indeed[I] 20:6 M[I] I:]] notified[2] 19:6.8 25:18
~n~Ca~[I] 20:12 ma'am[I] 29:8 nOW[7] 10:8,13 11:14 personallY[I] 9:21
~diCatin!l[I] 12:12 macadam[s] 7:]0,]],13 13:13 ]9:2124:725:20 physical[I] 25:17
Infonnation[41 5:827:2 7:]4,21 number[2] 10:328:9 physicallY[I] 25:19
2757 numbers [1] ]]:4 k 2523
. .: '. MARGOLIS[2] 1:]2 pic S[I] :
lDJunes [1] 22:24 1:22 pickup [1] 14:2]
injury[3] 19:10 22:22 mark[I] 9:24 -0- pieceS[1] 17:13
23:7 b' 1
. , . marked[3] 2:810:229:2 0 ~ect[I] 25:7 p ace[2] ]:127:2
Institution[7] 5:206:2 MARTSON ]'20 ob;ections [1] 3:5 PLAINTIFF[3] 1:1.10
19:520:]8,2427:]6.21 [1] . ,
insurance[I] 20:15 maY[4] 4:185:1120:10 observation[2] 14:7 1:21
. . d 27:1 25:4 PLEAS[I] 1:1
~ves~ga~ [1] 9:17 mean[I7] 6:13 7:6 9:1 observe[2] 24:2425:4 POint[3] 11:2516:16
Investigating [1] 21 :19 ]]:9,10 12:22.25 13:2,5 observed [2] 17:23 25:13 21:24
involving [1] 20:14 20:921:14,2223:224:14 occasion [1] 22:2 police [24] 2:94:3,8.8,16
25:10,1626:13 occasions 25'3 4:17.215:1,310:2 ]]:4
means [1] ]]:21 [1]. ]]:1712:619:820:21
meant [1] 23:5 occurred[4] 7:1421:8 22:2,]],14,17,2323:8
. medical [3] 24:126:24 2ffl:2229:17 28:!9,20 29:3
27:3 0 [7] 7:14 12:14 24:10 policeman [3] 4:4,522:5
di all 24:1428:9,10,23 pom'on 1024112
me c y [2] ]8'23 19'7 ff' [3]: :
. ., 0 lcer[4] 5:3 ]]:422:17 ]2:23
. meet [1] 20:24 29'3 . .
, . posItion [1] 14:8
. Meets [1] 25:]] often [1] 24'17 'ble 5
b . pOSSI [1] 26:1
mem er[2] 4:7,8 once[4] 24:18,18,23 ti
mental[2] 25:1726:4 25:24 prac ce[I] 15:9
metal[I] 17:13 one[7] 10:1,2115:2.5 p~tty[2] 7:2321:15
middle [1] 9:10 20:6 26:1,1 pn~on [',116:620:9
.ght opinion 6'4 26.1829.]],17
~ [3] 9:1 12:1813:19 [1] . problem[2] 20:13 25:5
lDlnOT[I] 16'23 opposed [2] 4:9 10:24
. ' OTTO [1] 1'20 ProceSS[I] 7:5
lDlnute [1] 21 :25 .' produced [2] 2:7 10:2
mirror[I] 14:24 OutSlde[S] 7:15.1615:1 PUBLIC .
16'1220'25 [1] 1.11
mirrors 14'171815'1 . ,
16'13 [4] .. . overlloW[I] 12:9 pulled[7] 9:2,616:17,24
. 18:619:122:19
mode1r2] 8:1,3 _p_ put[2] 13:2021:15
-L- moment[I] 27:24 PUtting[I] 7:]]
LAURALEE[I] 1:22 . month [1] 24:18 P[I] 1:1
law [2] 1:3 4:20 months [2] 28:9,11 page [5] 10:7.8,10,15 ]]:5 _Q_
lawsuit[3] 3:23,2426:22 mostIY[1] J5:J panel[1] 18:J6
th 13 2J park[7] 6:227:38:99:9 quartl?r[3] 6:J7.19 18:16
lawyer[3] 26:1227:2.8 mou [1] : 9:10 J2:20 29:10 questions [2] 28:3.J4
leading[I] 7:J9 mOVeS[I] 25:22 parked[.] 6:23 8:J09:1O quite[I] ]]:21
least [2] 24:21 23 Ms [18] 2:4 1O:7,12.J6,21
1 ' ]]:3,8,J2 13:J4 17:25 J2:J9 J6:8,9 22:20 29:10
eft[2] 12:1414:19 19:16 22:6,13.J6 25:7 29:]] -R-
lengths [3] 13:23,25 28:16,J829:20 parking [30] 6:247:1,4,6 Ram[2] 8:26
16:10 7:J2,15,16,18,20,218:8,9 d .
lieutenant [1] 6:1 -N- 8:13 9:2,3,4,7 12:2,4,10 rea [2] 10:16,21
life [11 27:6 15:13,21 16:622:1928:21 reading [3] 3:3 10:24
N [I] 2:1 28:2429:1,5,12,13 12:13
limp [I] 25:25 name[l] 3:]] part[3] 23:5,6,6 rea1ize[2] 14:920:]]
line[2] ]]:22,23 narrative[3] ]0:24 ]]:2 partieS[I] 3:3 realized[I] 14:4
lines [1] 7:]] ]]:20 patrolled[l] 5:6 reallY[3] ]]:813:4 23:14
Lisbum[2] 28:2329:2 National[l] 5:8 patrolman[l] 4:24 rear[l] 18:15
lives [2] 27:6,10 NCIC[1] 5:8 pedestrian[l] 11:22 rearview[3] 14:19,24
look[3] 10:1412:114:23 NeVer[2J 5:4,6 Pennsylvania[3] ]:2 ]6:13
looked[l] 15:5 next[3] 5:2213:1120:22 1:13 4:16 reaSOn[8] 10:14 ]]:6
looking [3] 15:3 16:12 nobody [I] 16:2 people [I] 7:6 g:~3 18:]020:6,8.]6
28:]9 noise [I] 17:22 perfonnance [I] 24:25 . .
lOWer[I4] 9:7,812:9.18 thi rh 1014 recollectIon[2] 21:18
12:22,23.25,25 13:2.5,8 no ng [4] 25:2526:22 pe aps [I]: 22:1
26:24 27:22
-J-
J[I] 1:20
jail [I] 24:15
job [3] 24:24 25:6 26:4
!R[3] 1:92:33:7
June [IS] 6:]] 7:12,19
8:18,259:3,4 23:13 24:8
24:22.2525:2026:2,19
29:10
Junior[IJ 3:13
JURY[I] 1:4
juveniles [1] 5:18
-K.-
kneW[1] 14:12
knowledge[3] 19:18
23:1824:2
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 2
~' ~
l~~~
~'
,~ - --' .
~.- .
!j
j '. "=,,,i,~#>liili,IL;1
I
I
i
[
I
i
i
i
,
:i
Bernard Baker, Jr.
CondenseIt! 1M
record - zones
December 15 2000
,
rec,ord[3] 5:2410:7,23 somewhere[3] 6:17,20 treatment [3] 24:1 26:24 Williams [24] 1:20,20
rectangle [I] 29:2 29:19 27:3 2:43:10 10:4,10,13,18
referred[3] 11:1712:2,8 sony [I] 10:16 tree [3] 13:]2,12,17 11:],6,11,]513:1518:2,4
referring[21 9:2517:8 sound [3] 17:9,10,10 trialt2] 1:4 3:6 19:2022:8,15,21 25:12
27:23,2528:2,14
regard[2] 9:13 15:17 sounds [I] 17:11 TRINDLE[I] 1:13 window[l] 17:5
regarding [2] 24:1 26:]0 source [I] 27:2 trooper[5] 9:]721:5,13 witness [11] 2:23:7 10:8
regular[2] 24:1226:19 speaking [I] 26:2 2]:]923:4 ]0:23 11:13 ]8:3 ]9:18
relationship [I] 5:24 specifically [2J 15:8 trooper's [IJ 9:20 22:11,]4,]825:9
remember[1] 2]:]4 28:20 truck [S) 7:23,25 ]4:25 wondering[l] 20:11
repaired[l] 18:17 standards [I] 25:] I ]6:13 18:20 word[2] ]7:725:11
rephrase[l] 8:17 standing [6] 2]:16,2] truthful [I] 13:24 words[l] 13:20
report [19] 2:9 9:20,25 23:1,3,9,]2 truthfully [2] ]9:13,25 worked[6] 4:3,]5,175:7
10:2,5,9,]5,19,24,25 11:2 start [I] 4:20 trying [I] 26: 14 5:76:]6
11:16 ]2:13,]6 18:24 started [4] 4:14 5:18 9:10 turned[2] ]5:]429:6 works [2] 6:326:17
19:2320:728:19,20 ]5:4 two [4] 7:20 ]6:]0 ]7:13 worried[2] 23:]4,]5
reported[6] ]8:2519:9 state [20] 3:11 4:3,8,16 19:1 worse [I] 25:9
19:]2,]920:]526:10 4:]75:2,]911:1612:6 type [4] 3:17,2324:19
REPORTER-NOTARY ]9:820:21 22:2,4,10,]4 25:1 wrap [I] 28:4
[I] 1:11 22:]6,23 23:4,8 27:]6 wrong[3] 12:]714:4,9
reporting [I] 20:13 statements [I] 9:12 -u-
reserved [I] 3:6 stipulated [I] 3:2 ultimately [I] 20:21 -x-
STIPULATION [I] X[I] 2:]
respect [2] ]2:3 ]6:3 3:] understand [I] 6:13
respective [I] 3:3 stopped[4] 14:11 16:14 understood[2] 11:11 -y-
restate [2] 16:822:] 18:],6 23:5
result [I] 7:1 stops [I] 11:23 underway [I] 6:22 year [I] 5:10
reviewed [3] 10:5,19 Street [I] 3:13 unheard[2] 27:15,17 years [3] 4:]7,19,23
11:]6 strike [I] 9:3 unusual [I] ]6:2]
right[11] 5:21 6:10 8:16 subject [I] 27:]9 up [26] 7:]4,]5,199:6,]0 -z-
]0:8 11:12,25 13:13 14:19
]5:]2 18:8,]5,2220:]9 subsequently [I] 23:25 12:]9 13:11 14:],13 15:3 zones [I] 6:2
]5:4,]2,20 ]6:]2 ]9:5
23:1,11,2429:6 summanZC[I] 16:11 20:17,18,19,20,2021:24
riot [II 3:]8 supervisor[l] 6:1 25:23 28:4,24 29:6,13
Road [3] 1:13 28:23 29:2 surface [2] 7:8,13 upper[l] 13:7
room [I] 28:1 SUSAN[I] 1:11 upset [I] 23:13
swom[l] 3:8 USed[31 5:]5,]7 ]7:7
-S- uses [I] 11:4
saw [7] 9:7 10:1,19 ]5:15 -T- using [2] 7:4 28:2]
16:20 18:6,21 taking[2] 5:1928:5 usual [I] 15:9
says [I] 22:11 test [I] 28:6 usually [6] 6:237:20,2]
sealing [I] 3:3 testified [3J 3:815:2] 7:22,23 8:10
seated [I] 5:22 24:8
second [I] 23:6 testifying [2] ]5:9,10 -v-
section [I] 28:20 testimonY[7] 3:15,]8 V[I] 1:2
see [IS] 5:411:1815:13 4:4,4,711:17 12:3 vehicle [22] 11 :23,24
15:18,22,22,25 16:2,18 Thank [2] 28:]529:20 12:]713:10 14:6,8,11
16:19,24 17:222:2024:]6 THOMAS[2] 1:1,20 16:]7,20,2517:2,8,]7,]8
25:5 thought [2] 9:9 ]2:19 17:23,2518:5,7,10,11,]2
seeing [I] 27:6 18:14
three [1] ]9:2 vehicles [3] 8:13 12:5,7
sees [I] 27:10 Three-page [2] 2:9 10:1
sergeant's [I] 28:6 versus [I] 25:]4
through [S] 5:4 14:24 vicinity[2] 15:2516:]
sets [I] 14:25 ]5:3 ]6:1222:19
shift [4] 6:168:2] ]9:6,7 times [3] 6:1,3 19:2 -w-
shortlYlI] 28:6 todaY[2] 2]:10,18
side [2] 17:6 24:15 together[4] 17:1323:3,9 waived[l] 3:4
significance [II 20:10 23:12 walked [2] 18:1920:20
signing [I] 3:3 Tom[2] 10:727:24 walks [2] 25 :22,25
SIMON[I] 1:11 took [3] 19:520:17,19 week[2] 7:2024:18
simply [I] 10:23 top [2] 28:25 29:7 weeklY[I] 24:21
small [I] 18:15 tOtal[2] 4:]810:25 White [2] 5:15,18
sometimes [2] 25 :2,2 tower[1] 29:18 whole[l] 5:12
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Index Page 3
~~,. ~ 'rj'~'.'~~IlilllfiB~~_~iJ!I!iij!i!;Wi~l.almlii>i'!illiklOl!iL~tOO""I!l;!'~"" " S'~Jlii """"""-~="~jlli_:.dIiiilI.<ili-"";" ~
~=~--
-
,
-'-"~. . -
~-~
..
","' ~
-m""'Ib..::.,-iII_
() (~ 9
c~ 1
, ,
6- ~0 .~--" ?l
/ ~1
.~_.. I
r,~' 'Xl ,
-c. , c)
,
~,,~~ ~: ~ -')
-
-, '-,' ,n
)- , !".) ~g
:~<
=< ....1 -<
.
" ~--.
,,~
.
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
v.
NO. 2000-4993
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
ORDER
AND NOW, this ____ day of February, 2001, upon consideration
of the Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant, Bernard Baker,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND DECREED that this Motion for Summary
Judgment is GRANTED and this matter is dismissed in its entirety.
BY THE COURT:
J.
,
~ '^
iu
-'-" ~~:I'
,
LAURALEE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 58874
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108-0932
Telephone: [717] 975-8114
Fax: [717] 975-8124
E-Mail: Ibaker@margolisedelstein.com
Attorney for Defendant:
BERNARD BAKER
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff,
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
v.
NO. 2000 -4993
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF DEFENDANT, BERNARD BAKER
AND NOW, comes Defendant, Bernard Baker ("Mr. Baker "), by
and through his attorneys, Margolis Edelstein, and files this
Motion for Summary Judgment and avers the following in support
thereof:
1. This case arises from a motor vehicle accident that
occurred on June 22, 1999, initiated by the filing of a Complaint
on or about July 17, 2000. A copy of Plaintiff's Complaint is
attached hereto, incorporated herein by reference and labeled
Exhibit "A."
2. In his Complaint, Plaintiff, Thomas Cekovsky
("Plaintiff"), claims he sustained injuries as a result of a
parking lot accident at the Camp Hill State Correctional Facility
("the Prison") .
3. On or about October 2, 2000, Mr. Baker filed an Answer
and New Matter which asserted that Plaintiff's claims are barred
in whole or in part by the terms and conditions of the
--, ~;\-
Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act ("the Act"), 77 P.S. !l1 et
seq. A copy of Defendant's Answer and New Matter is attached
hereto, incorporated herein by reference and labeled Exhibit "B."
4. Plaintiff, an employee of the Prison, was injured as a
pedestrian in a parking area of the Prison when Mr. Baker, also
an employee of the Prison, allegedly backed into Plaintiff
pinning him between Mr. Baker's vehicle and Plaintiff's vehicle.
See Plaintiff's deposition at pp. 37-47, attached hereto,
incorporated by reference and labeled Exhibit "C." A copy of the
depositions of Plaintiff and Mr. Baker have been filed of record
with this Court by Praecipe dated February 7, 2001.
5. Pa.R.C.P. 1035.2, pertaining to motions for summary
judgment, provides that such motion is appropriate where there is
no genuine issue of any material fact as to a necessary element
of the cause of action or defense .
Here, there is no
genuine issue of any material fact that Plaintiff's claims
against Mr. Baker are barred by the Act.
6. The Act defines an injury during the course of
employment as including all "injuries sustained while the
employee is actually engaged in the furtherance of the business
or affairs of the employer, whether upon the employer's premises
or elsewhere, and shall include all injuries caused by the
condition of the premises sustained by the employee, who,
though not so engaged, is injured upon the premises occupied by
- 2 -
. '
.,- i;'
or under the control of the employer. . the employee's
presence thereon being required by the nature of his employment."
77 P.S. !l41l(1).
7. Several cases have addressed the issue of defining the
term "employer's premises" to include: property that is so
connected with an employer's business as to form a component or
integral part of it .
. ,
Schofield v. Workmen's Compensation
Appeal Board, 395 A.2d 328, 329 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1978); reasonable
means of access to the situs of an employer's business operation
Id.; a parking lot is part of the employer's business
premises, and injuries occurring to an employee upon the lot are
compensable when the employee's presence on the lot is temporally
proximate to the hours of work because the employee was in the
area where the injury occurred because of his employment. .,
EDler v. North American Rockwell Corp., 393 A.2d 1163 (Pa. 1978)
8. In Paragraph 3 of Plaintiff's Complaint, he agrees that
the accident occurred on the Prison parking lot with the
following: "This collision occurred in a temporary parking lot
at the State Correctional Institution."
See, Exhibit "A."
9. Moreover, in Plaintiff's deposition testimony, Plaintiff
stated that he was beginning his shift at 2:00 p.m, and that the
accident occurred around 1:45 p.m. See, pages 29 and 53 of
Plaintiff's Deposition which is attached hereto as Exhibit "C."
10. Plaintiff also testified that this was an area where
- 3 -
--"'~ -
~", - " . "
, 'l~:;'i
,I
I
,I
II
I
"
I':
I
,I
"
I
I
,
I
employees of the Prison had parked since he began his employment
at the Prison, and that he believed the area was on Prison
property. See, pages 30-31 of Exhibit "C."
11. Plaintiff went on to testify that the walk from this
parking area to the Prison was the same general walk that Prison
employees would make every other day in going from and coming to
work. See, page 31 of Exhibit "C."
12. Moreover, Plaintiff testified that other employees had
already parked in that area by the time he arrived and parked on
the day of the accident. See, pages 32-33 of Exhibit "C."
13. Likewise, in the Police Report prepared by the
Pennsylvania State Police, the accident location is described as
"Camp Hill Prison, parking lot east." The Police Report is
attached hereto as Exhibit "D."
14. It is clear from the facts presented that the
Plaintiff's injury took place on a parking area regularly used by
Prison employees, on Prison property, and while Plaintiff was a
pedestrian in an area traveled by the Prison employees to get to
and from work. Further, it is clear that Plaintiff was injured
between 1:45 and 1:50 p.m., and that both Plaintiff and Mr. Baker
were to begin work at 2:00 p.m.
15. Therefore, as in E9ler, the Act applies because
Plaintiff was in the area where the injury occurred because of
his employment. Furthermore, Plaintiff was in a parking lot that
- 4 -
, ,
1
^lliII.~''-'-
is part of the employer's business premises, and the injuries
occurring to Plaintiff upon the lot occurred when the employee's
presence on the lot was temporally proximate to the hours of
work.
16. The Act further states that, "If disability... is
compensable under this act, a person shall not be liable to
anyone at common law or otherwise on account of such
disability... for any act or omission occurring while such person
was in the same employ as the person disabled. "77 P.S. ~
72; ADDle v. Reichart, 20 Bucks 261 (1970), aff'd 278 A.2d 482
(pa. 1970).
17. Furthermore, questions as to "course of employment" are
properly determined as a matter of law by the court. Flanders v.
Hoy, 326 A.2d 492 (Pa. Super. 1974).
18. As mentioned previously, Mr. Baker was arriving in the
parking lot of the Prison and attempting to park his vehicle when
the accident occurred. The accident occurred within 15 minutes
prior to Mr. Baker beginning his shift at the Prison. Therefore,
it is clear that both Plaintiff and Mr. Baker were within the
scope of their employment at the time of this accident.
19. Therefore, it is clear that the Act is applicable to
Plaintiff's current suit, and therefore, Mr. Baker is immune from
suit as he was also in the scope of employment at the time of the
accident.
- 5 -
-
H"
" L - -"~-""'~w.<,
WHEREFORE, the Defendant, Bernard Baker, respectfully
requests this Honorable Court to grant his Motion for Summary
Judgment and dismiss this matter in its entirety.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
&~11Jtl:)1
By:
~
Date:
LEE B. BAKER, ESQUIRE
P . Attorney I.D. No. 58874
Attorney for Defendant,
BERNARD BAKER
P. O. Box 932
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
- 6 -
;.n_.t
>."~ ~.;,'
..,...--.
; ~~"".'
'--:::.--=,,'-;)
~:::..-:=;
'-. ,~. i
.,-.....-~
.,_"-,,;:;1
'~-~::..".
_ , .~ 0' ... .
, '0',., ,. . "'.~ ,','". ,,~,~, -
"
~ F:\FILES\DATAFD..E\Gendoc.CIQ\9901-COM.l/tdc ~
Created: O6JIJlOOIO:12:44AM
Revised; 07/13/00 08:4S:~S AM
9901.1
. "
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
NO.2000- "I99J
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
NOTICE
You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the
following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this Complaint and Notice are
served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court
your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to
do so, the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the court
without further notice for any money claimed in the Complaint or for any other claim or relief
requested by the Plaintiffs. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT
HA VB ALA WYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET
FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP:
Cumberland County Bar Association
2 Liberty Avenue
Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013
Telephone (717) 249-3166
TRUE COPY FROM REOORD
In T8lItItnony whereof, I here unto SIt mv hand
... .. ... .. ... "1- AI.
~htsft~ f; ~~~a---
Pr onotaty
'F:\FILES\DA TAFlLE\Gendoc.cw\990I-COM.1
Created: 06I131OO1O:IS:30AM
RcviKd; 07113/00 08:46'25 AM
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
NO. 2000-
CIVIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
COMPLAINT
AND NOW, comes Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky, by and through his attorneys,
MARTSON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO, and avers as !ollows:
1. Plaintiff is Thomas P. Cekovsky, an adult individual with a mailing address of P.O.
Box 344, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701.
2. Defendant is Bernard Baker, an adult individual residing at 397 Center Street, Enhaut,
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania 17113.
3. On June 22, 1999, at about 1:50 p.m., a 1994 Dodge Ram pickup operated by
Defendant collided with the Plaintiff while a pedestrian, pinning the Plaintiff against the side of his
car. This collision occurred in a temporary parking lot at the State Correctional Institution, 2500
Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
4. This collision was due solely to the negligence and/or carelessness of the Defendant
in failing to observe the point and position of Plaintiff and operating his vehicle without due care for
the safety of pedestrians.
5. The said collision caused injury to the Plaintiff for which he continues to treat, which
has not yet been fully diagnosed and which is believed to be pennanent in nature. As a result of said
injury, Plaintiff has suffered, and continues to suffer pain and disability for which Plaintiff has
received, and continues to receive medical treatment.
6. As a result of the said injury, Plaintiffhas suffered, or may suffer, a loss of earnings
and earning capacity.
7. As a result of the said injury, Plaintiff has incurred medical and other health care
expenses.
8. On the date of the said collision, Plaintiff had elected the full tort option under his
personal auto insurance policy.
- ~ -, d,_" C'~ ~ ,'_'" ",. C'.'''~t.<,1 _ "', ,
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against the Defendant for pain, suffering,
and loss of life's pleasure, as well as reimbursement for present and future work loss and medical
expenses, together with costs.
MARTS ON DEARDORFF WILLIAMS & OTTO
~ ~~'
By ~A . , ,.t""
omas J. lliams, Esquire
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
(717) 243-3341
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Date: July 17, 2000
". ,-'-
VERIFICATION
The foregoing Complaint is based upon information which has been gathered by my counsel
in the preparation of the lawsuit. The language of the document is that of counsel and not my own.
I have read the document and to the extent that it is based upon information which I have given to
my counsel, it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. To the extent
that the content of the document is that of counsel, I have relied upon counsel in making this
verification.
This statement and verification are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa, C. S. Section 4904
relating to unsworn falsification to authorities, which provides that if I make knowingly false
averments, I may be subject to criminal penalties.
F:\FILE.'\\DAT AFlLE\Gendoc,cur\9901-COM.1
~ '^
"";"'/.'.' ,"< "
ROLF E. KROLL, ESQUIRE
Pa. Supreme Court I.D. No. 47243
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 171 08-0932
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
[717J 975-8114
[7171 975-8124
rkroll 2000'"- vahoo.com
". ,
..,
",-
- ~'. _c," '_"'''''''=0-' ~'" ^ "--~.ci,J'~o:'
Attorney for:
DEFENDANT
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
v.
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
NO. 2000-4993 CIVIL ACTION - LAW
JulZY TRIAL DEMAN1)ED
,-.
NOTICE TO PLEAD
TO:
Thomas P. Cekovsky, Plaintiff
c/o Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, P A 17013-3093
~
'.
"
. -.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED to plead to the enclosed NEW MATTER within
twenty (20) days of service hereof, or a default judgment may be entered against you.
Date: September~, 2000
(
By:
sqUIre
Attorne .D. #47243
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, P A 17108-0932
(717) 975-8114
Attorney for Defendant
, .
'- " - .'~ '.>
".~ "
,- -,," "--';:";"''':j
ROLF E. KROLL, ESQUIRE
Pa. Supreme Court 1.D. No. 47243
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
Post Office Box 932
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 171 08-0932
Telepbone:
Fa.::
E-mail:
[717J 975-8114
[717] 975-8124
rkrolt 2000rmvaboo.com
Attorney for:
DEFENDANT
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
Plaintiff
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
v.
NO. 2000-4993 CIVIL ACTION - LAW
BERNARD BAKER,
Defendant
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
DEFENDANT'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT
AND NOW comes Defendant Bernard Baker, by and through his counsel, Margolis Edelstein,
to Answer the Complaint of Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky and in support thereof avers the following:
1. Denied.
2. Admitted,
3-8. Denied pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1029(e),
NEWMATTEII.
9. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
10. Plaintiffs claims are barred by the doctrines of contributory and comparative
negligence.
11. Plaintiffs claims are barred by the doctrine of assumption of risk.
12. Defendant Baker was confronted with a sudden emergency not of his own
creation to which he responded reasonably under the circumstances.
. ~ '
~, ,,, ".. -,,",-<'I ,-,v ~ .' '~, ,~,' ,;0- , ,
13. Plaintiffs claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
14. The named insured of the automobile insurance policy covering Plaintiff elected
coverage under the limited tort option offered under that policy in accordance with the terms of
the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law.
15. Plaintiffs claims are barred in whole or in part by the terms and conditions of the
Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law, Act of February 12, 1984, 75 Pa.
Cons. Stat., S 1701 et ~, as amended. Specifically, Plaintiffs claims for medical expenses
andlor wage loss may be ba."Ted in whole or in part by 75 Pa. Cons, Stat., S 1722. Moreover,
Plaintiffs claim for non-economic damages may be barred by virtue of an election of the limited
tort option of Plaintiffs motor vehicle insurance policy.
16. Plaintiffs claims are barred in whole or in part by the terms and conditions of the
Pennsylvania Worker's Compensation Act, 77 P.S. S I et seq.
Respectfully submitted,
",'
"---', "'
>. -.,'" - "~ ~-- ,~ . ,.~"
",,'"" ""-''''j
VERIFICATION
I, Bernard Baker, have read the foregoing Answer with New Matter which has been
drafted by my counsel. The factual statements contained therein are known by me and are true
and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
This statement and verification is made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa. C.S.A. Section
4904, relating to unsworn falsifications to authorities, which provides that, if I knowingly make
false averments, I may be subject to criminal penalties.
Bernard Baker
Date:
-.-
. -~ ~
."~ ""
""<
,-," '--""", ",
, ',,~:
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Jessica Bates, an authorized representative of Margolis Edelstein, hereby certify that I have
served a true and correct copy of the foregoing document upon all counsel and parties of record this
~ay of September, 2000, by placing the same in the United States First Class Mail, postage
prepaid, at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, P A 17013-3093
By:
~1~A.:tw
essica Bates
~" '<;
Thomas P. Cekovsky
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15, 2000
Page 29 Page 31
I A Oh, couple years ago, two years ago, I A To my knowledge.
2 Q Do you remember when two years ago? 2 Q Can you give me an idea of how far it was from
3 A What month? 3 where you parked that day to the actual prison building?
4 Q Yes. 4 A From where I parked to the prison building?
5 A Nove1l1ber. 5 Are you referring to the main gate entrance?
6 Q Of 1989? 6 Q I'm referring to whatever entrance you would
7 A I think it was '89, yeah. 7 enter.
8 Q In what county did the court proceedings take 8 A 300, 400 yards.
9 place? 9 Q Okay, Was the walk you would take from where
10 A York. 10 you parked your car on June 22m!, '99, to the prison the
II Q And your sentence from that was what? II same general walk that you and others would make every
12 A ARD. 1 guess the normal probation, 12 other day in going and coming from work?
13 Q Okay, Let's talk about the day of the 13 A Yes.
14 accident. What shift were you working that day? 14 Q Okay. Can you draw me a picture, if you
15 A 2:00 to 10:00. 15 would -- and certainly we have the police report here, if
16 Q Can you tell me what parking lot you intended 16 you'd like to look at that -- but where it was thai you
17 to park in or near? 17 parked thai day in conjunction with this slaked-off area
18 A I intended to park in the visitors' parking 18 that you have said was going to be made into a parking
19 lot which is the parking lot that we have always parked in. 19 lot.
20 Q Was there any conslruction or anything going 20 A TIris would be the east tower,
21 on at that parking lot at the time? 21 Q "ET' you put inside of that for east tower.
22 A Not in the visitors' parking lot. 22 A The parking lot that was staked out, that they
23 Q Was there construction in any of the parking 23 just constructed is here. There was a road between --
24 lots at that time? 24 Q Before you go on, that rectangle area that you
25 A There was an area staked out that they were 25 put just put there, please put parking lot staked out
Page 30 Page 32
I going to make into a parking lot. I or "SO" inside of there.
2 Q Did anybody park in that staked-out area? 2 A (Witness complies with request of counseL)
3 A No. 3 Q Okay. And you just put a roadway between the
4 Q How far had they gotten in preparing that 4 parking lot and the east tower, is that correct?
5 staked-out area for a parking lot? 5 A Yes.
6 A They put the stakes up. 6 Q Between that you drew a line,
7 Q That was it? Okay, Had anyone parked in that 7 A Urn-hum.
8 area before it was staked-out? 8 Q We have to state these things so that we know
9 A Previously to this? 9 later when we come back to this what we're referring to.
10 Q Yes. 10 A Fine.
II A Previously to this day? Yes. II Q Go ahead.
12 Q Okay. How long had people been parking in 12 A Okay, you wanted to know where I parked?
13 that area, to your knowledge? 13 Q Yes.
14 A I have no way of knowing. 14 A Okay. The visitors' lot would be over here
15 Q Okay. Was it for more than a month prior? 15 that we normally park in.
16 A I have no way of knowing. 16 Q Can you put "VL" in there.
17 Q You worked there, correct? 17 A (Witness complies with request of counseL)
18 A Yes. 18 We would enter the institution through this
19 Q Did you see people parking in that area prior 19 way.
20 to June of '99? 20 Q And through this way, just make a line with an
21 A Yes. 21 arrow, if you would.
22 Q Okay. For how long do you recall generally 22 A (Witness complies with request of counseL)
23 people parked in that area? 23 Q Okay.
24 A For quite a while. 24 A I came in, and I noticed that there was no
25 Q Was this property part of the prison property? 25 parking signs in the visitors' lot, and I saw other people
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 29 - Page 32
Thomas P. Cekovsky
.. ~ <" - ..,
"n_
--,' .,;,,, it.::
CondenseIt! 1M
Page 33
December 15,2000
Page 35
1 parking on the grass.
2 Q Make us an arrow of where you came in, if you
3 would, And from what road was that?
4 A That would be Lisburn, from right Oul in front
5 of the prison.
6 Q Do you want to write "Lisburnlt out there on
7 your right.
8 A (Witness complies with request of counsel.)
9 Q So you drove in, saw there were no parking
10 signs at the visitors' lot?
11 A Urn-hum.
12 Q Could you just keep drawing with your arrow
13 where you then next pro=ded?
14 A Okay. There were a bunch of cars in this area
15 here,
16 Q Put X's where there were a bunch of cars.
17 A So I drove up here, and around the back. And
18 I parked behind the last automobile up here.
19 Q Okay, Could you put a circle around the X
20 where you parked.
21 A (Witness complies with request of counsel.)
22 Q Okay. Now, when you parked there, were there
23 any vehicles to your left? Were there any parked vehicles
24 to your left?
25 A Down here, yes. Was there anyone directly
Page 34
1 immediately across from me? No, there wasn't.
2 Q Okay. Did you at any time see Mr. Baker's
3 vehicle before the impact?
4 A Yes,
5 Q Okay. Where was Mr. Baker's vehicle when you
6 fIrst saW him?
7 A Right about here or here. I saw him pull
8 around my vehicle.
9 Q Okay. By here, you drew two circles on the
10 page which are immediately right of the X circle that you
I] made to depict where you parked, is that right?
12 A Right.
13 MK WILLlA.\IS, He also drew a line.
14 THE WITNESS, 1 saw him coming in.
15 BY MS. IlAKER,
16 Q You saw Mr. Baker driving into the lot?
17 A Yes, it's very unmistakable. It was
18 unmistakably him.
19 Q Why was il unmistakably him?
20 A Because his style of driving. He's reckless,
21 to say the least. He's been issued several warnings.
22 There's been several complaints med against this man,
23 Q Okay. We'll get into thai in a minute.
24 That day, can you describe for me how
25 Mr. Baker drove into the parking lot? .
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I A Quickly and carelessly.
2 Q Tell me what you mean by that.
3 A The dust was flying. He wasn't slowing down
4 for bumps the way anyone normally would that cares about
5 their vehicle or pedestrians. He was just -- I'm getting
6 from here to there as quickly as I can,
7 Q Okay. Where were you when you saw him drive
8 in?
9 A When I saw him drive in, I was just getting
10 OUI of my vehicle.
11 Q Okay, So you were standing up ouiside your
12 vehicle on the driver's side?
13 A Yes.
14 Q And saw Mr, Baker drive in to the parking lot
15 in this manner that you have described?
16 A Yes.
17 Q Okay. And Mr. Baker then drove up to the
18 right of you, and what happened next?
19 A He drove around my vehicle.
20 Q Can you show us where he drove?
21 A He drove this way around my vehicle. And he
22 was up here, he stopped,
23 Q Can you make a circle there where he stopped,
24 so we know?
25 A Actually he stopped past these vehicles, right
Page 36
I about here he stopped. For a minute, I thought he was
2 going to go into the staked-out area. He looked all around
3 up here, I didn't pay any attention to him at that point.
4 Q Okay, Now, before you move on, did you watch
5 him drive past your vehicle up to where you thought he was
6 going to go into the staked-out area?
7 A Yes,
8 Q Okay, You said for a minute it looked like he
9 was going to drive in there, and he looked all around.
10 Can you tell me how you saw him when he was
11 looking around? How did you know he was looking all
12 around?
13 A Well, let me rephrase that. He came up here,
14 and I thought he was going to pull into this area,
15 therefore, I kind of guessed that he was looking all
16 around, He stopped his car there. What else was he doing,
17 you know.
18 Q So you don't know what he was doing there?
19 A No.
20 Q Did you actually see him looking around?
21 A No, I didn't see him look around,
22 Q Okay. Now, what happened after that?
23 A I closed my car door. And I gave myself a
24 little patdown, you know, make sure I have my keys and the
25 things I'm taking to the gate with me. And I realized I
Page 33 - Page 36
Thomas P. Cekovsky
'.-
~ "
., -,
z,
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15, 2000
Page 39
Page 37
I didn't have my rosary beads, They were lying on the
2 dashboard of my car.
3 So I opened my door. Took my key off my belt,
4 opened my car door, Put my rosary beads in my right
5 pocket.
6 Q Okay.
7 A And I wasn't paying any attention to
8 Lieutenant Baker at that point. I figured he was done
9 parking, whatever he was doing, So I closed my car door,
10 I'm locking it with the key, and I hear this noise, this
II rev of an engine.
12 At that moment I look over my shoulder, and
13 all I saw was this truck coming right for me, And you
14 think weird things in a split second. And what I thought
15 is, iff don't jump up in the air, I'm going to have my
16 legs cut off by this big bumper that he had.
17 So I jumped up in the air, and I curled my
18 legs up. I curled myself into a ball.
19 Q Okay, let's move back. How did you pull your
20 vehicle into that parking space there? Can you put an F
21 where the front of your vehicle was,
22 A I guess -- yes, that's correct. The front
23 would have been -- I'm try to lhink now. Yes, the front --
24 then I must have been up a little bit. I must have been
25 here. Disregard that.
Page 38
I Q Now, you just made another X in a circle and
2 crossed out the X in Ihe circle that you had.
3 A Right, and the reason I did that was
4 because -- and add another line.
5 Q Now, you made another line around where
6 Mr, Baker drove, correct?
7 A Right. I'm not real good with drawing things.
8 Q And this doesn't have to be exact. What I
9 just need to know now is how you pulled your car into this
10 parking space that you told me about.
II A It would have been kind of facing that way.
12 The f that you asked for.
13 Q All right. So you have your car parked at an
14 angle?
15 A I had my car parked in the manner that
16 everyone else had their carS parked.
17 Q Was thai an angle, or did you pull straight
18 in?
19 MR. WILLIAMS: At an angle to what?
20 MS, BAKER: Well, he's drawing it two separate
2] ways. It appears here that the X is straight in to a spot,
22 and then you drew an angle here.
23 THE WITNESS: I'm not really good with
24 drawing. My car was parked uniform with the other CarS.
25
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I BY MS, BAKER:
2 Q How were the other cars parked?
3 MR. WILLIAMS: Instead of an X, perhaps we can
4 just make a little box with a little point on it to
5 indicate the front. So we get an idea of direction.
6 TIlE WITNESS: All right, then I guess I would
7 have been this way. And then Lieutenant Baker would have
8 been more toward this area
9 BY MS. BAKER:
10 Q All right. So you're saying the fronl of your
I I vehicle was facing the direction that Mr. Baker had
12 traveled?
13 A Yes,
14 Q Okay. When you heard this rev of an engine
15 that you told me about, you said you curled up into
16 a ball --
17 A I jumped in the air and curled up in a ball to
18 avoid getting my legs taken off.
]9 Q Did you jump on to something to curl up into a
20 ball, or you just jumped up in the air and what happened?
21 A I jumped up in the air and curled up. His
22 vehicle hit me, Not my vehicle. His vehicle hit me here
23 and pushed my vehicle backwards. Not backwards, but
24 sideways, probably the length of this table which is ten
25 feet.
Page 40
I See, this was all slow motion, but it was
2 happening in a split second, you know, at that time.
3 I was caught between both vehicles. My
4 vehicle was pushed sideways. I'm hearing things break,
5 I'm thinking I'm getting killed, I can't yell. I had the
6 wind knocked out of me,
7 The only think I could possibly do was I was
8 beating on the sides of his truck trying to yell. At this
9 time I'm seeing his tires spinning sod, throwing sod. It
10 was -- he never put the brakes on. He just let off the
II gas. He never -- at the rate that he drove back and
12 impacted me and the distance -- it was, I'm late for work,
13 I can't park here, and go, Not check -- I don'l how he
14 checked anything.
]5 Q All right. How far was Mr. Baker's vehicle
16 when you last saw him from you? How far from you was he?
17 MR. WILLIAMS: What do you mean when he last
18 saw him?
19 MS. BAKER: He testified that he saw Mr. Baker
20 stop over here and that's the last time he looked at him
21 until prior to impact. That was his testimony.
22 MR. WILLIAMS: Right, but the last time he saw
23 him would have been during the impact and inunediately
24 after.
25
Page 37 - Page 40
Thomas P. Cekovsky
~'-
,':,
,
Page 41
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15, 2000
1 BY MS. BAKER:
2 Q Prior to the impact, how far was Mr. Baker's
3 vehicle from you?
4 MR. WILLIAMS: You mean, before he reversed
5 himself?
6 MS, BAKER: Correct.
7 mE WITNESS: The distance from here to that
8 house, is what? 30 yards?
9 BY MS, BAKER:
10 Q 30 yards, okay.
II A l'm guessing.
12 Q And you did not see his vehicle again then
13 until when he was in contact with you and your body?
14 A Yes.
15 Q Okay. You said youjwnped up and curled into
16 a ball. Did you jwnp on to something?
17 A There was -- no, Ijwnped up and -- Ijwnped
18 up, and was I was caught in midair and his truck. I was
19 the buroper between the vehicles.
20 Q What part of your body was against his truck?
21 A My right hip -- against his truck? That would
22 be my left hip, left leg, left ann, ankle. When you curl
23 up like this (indicating).
24 Q Which part of your body was impacting your
25 vehicle?
Page 42
I A The other side, right hip, leg, arms.
2 Had it not been for my handcuff case in my
3 duty belt with everything on, I think my hip would have
4 been shattered. I don't know.
5 Q How was it that you weren't crushed into your
6 vehicle?
7 MR. WILLIAMS, Object to the form of the
8 question, That assumes he wasn't
9 TIlE WITNESS, I don't undersland.
10 BY MS, BAKER,
11 Q Was there anything that was making conlact
12 with Mr, Baker's vehicle and your vehicle that kept you
13 from being even more impacted than you were?
14 MR, WILLIAMS, I objecl to the form of the
15 question, But you can answer, if you're able to.
16 TIlE WITNESS, I'd like to answer that. Please
17 ask it again.
18 BY MS. BAKER:
19 Q Was Mr. Baker's bumper or any part of his
20 vehicle directly in contact with your car?
21 A Mr. Baker's bumper from his vehicle was in
22 contact with my left foot. There's a dent approximately
23 this big in the bumper of his car which was made from my
24 left boot imprint.
25 His vehicle did not impact my car. His
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 43
I vehicle impacted my body. That impact tore the sole off of
2 my bool and bent my handcuffs that were right here
3 (indicating).
4 Q Okay. So I'm clear, there was no part of
5 Mr, Baker's vehicle directly in contact with your vehicle?
6 A To my knowledge, there wasn't
7 Q Okay. How long was it that you believe your
8 car was pushed back over this time?
9 A How long in distance?
10 Q Correct.
II A I would imagine ten feet maybe. You know,
12 give or take a foot The photographs from the security
13 office at the prison would show that.
14 Q Okay.
15 A The slate police, they took photographs that
16 would show that, as well as the spin marks from when his
17 vehicle was kicking up sod after il impacted my vehicle,
18 Q And it's your recollection that the state
19 police look photographs of the area after this?
20 A I was in a lot of pain at the time, I was in
21 shock. I was very disoriented. I know the state police
22 generally take photographs, I don't know if they did, I
23 know our security department did,
24 Q Who do you know in the security department
25 took the photographs?
Page 44
I A I'm not sure who.
2 Q Okay. How do you know that they took
3 photographs?
4 A I remember them coming out with a camera. I
5 was at the main gate area holding ice on my hips between my
6 legs and on my knees. And they brought the camera out with
7 their -- the rest of their investigative equipmenl,
8 Q How did you know it was from your security
9 department?
10 A Because I knew the men that work there.
I I Q Okay. You don't know specifically who did it
12 though?
13 A I don't know who was assigned to that
14 particular task.
15 Q Are there viden cameras that keep track of
16 what's happening in the parking lots around the prison, to
17 your knowledge?
18 A No, not to my knowledge,
19 Q Are you aware of any witnesses to this
20 incident?
21 A To my recollection, there were no witnesses to
22 the impact This tower, this east tower, is manned 24-7,
23 His job at that time, like always at that hour, is to watch
24 the officers in this yard and make sure they're safe,
25 Periodically, he would check the area for
Page 41 - Page 44
Thomas P. Cekovsky
, " . '~
CondenseIt! 1M
December 15,2000
Page 47
Page 45
1 suspicious vehicles. But I spoke with this man, and his
2 attention was this way. He said he heard the noise and
3 turned afterwards.
4 Q Who was that man you're referring to?
5 A Tom Heckert, Officer Thomas Heckert.
6 H-e-c-k-e-r-t.
7 Q Now, you told me about your boot. I believe
S you said the sole of your boot Was pulled off.
9 What else occurred that you can relate to me
10 at the time of the impact?
II A My car keys that were hooked to my belt, one
12 of the keys -- I don't know if it was a car key, one of my
13 keys broke, My handcuffs bent. My wrist watch -- my wrist
14 watch shattered.
15 What else are you looking for?
16 Q I'm looking for whatever else you have to tell
17 me as 10 what actually occurred to you al the lime of Ihe
IS impact.
19 A What actually occurred to me at the time of
20 this impact was I looked over my shoulder, I jumped
21 straight up in the air, I curled up.
22 Lieutenant Baker never put his brakes on.
23 Lieutenanl Baker never took his foot off that gas pedaL
24 The tires were still throwing sod. He pushed my car that
25 way,
Page 46
1 I was the buffer between both of these
2 vehicles. When he let off the gas, I fell to the ground,
3 and I rolled like a log away from both vehicles. He put
4 his car in drive, moved up very quickly, and put it in
5 reverse, I thought the man was trying to run me over.
6 Q You're saying --
7 A In my mind, I thought he was because of the
S way it happened. No one looked at that situation could
9 understand how that happened the way il happened. In my
10 mind at that time -- I have had no animosity toward
II Lieutenant Baker whatsoever -- but in my mind at that time
12 I was -- what's the word I'm looking for? I was in shock.
13 I was feeling pain like I never felt before in
14 my life, from places I never thought would hurt that way.
15 I was afmid to look down for fear things wouldn't be
16 there, that's how bad I hurt.
17 Q So Mr. Baker pulled forward and then began to
IS reverse again?
19 A Urn-hum.
20 Q How far did he then go in reverse?
21 A Not far, Maybe five feet. I saw his face in
22 the mirror at that time, He saw me, Put the vehicle in
23 park, shut it off, came out.
24 Q What was the conversation that took place?
125 A I don't recall, I was in shock. I really
Susan M. Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
I don't recall what I said.
2 Q Okay, Do you recall whal happened in those
3 initial minutes?
4 A I was feeling all over trying to assess what
5 had happened to me, And he said something about getting to
6 the gate, we have to get to the gate. So I walked and he
7 half carried me up to the gate. We notified the proper
S authorities. I wanted the state police called.
9 Q Did you at any time indicate that you didn't
10 want the accident reported?
II A No, I wanted the state police called.
12 Q Okay.
13 A That vehicle was very important to me. That
14 vehicle -- I just bought it from my dad, and that was
15 always his baby, you know. And I wanted the car fixed.
16 Q How much were the repairs?
17 A Roughly a thousand dollars. It was an older
IS car. It was an '86.
19 Q An '86 what?
20 A Pontiac 6000.
21 Q Prior to the state police arriving, do you
22 recall anything that happened?
23 A I recall I wanted security there, and I wanted
24 a nurse.
25 Q You asked for security to be called?
Page 48
I A Yes.
2 Q Who did you ask to call them?
3 A The gate sergeant I believe was Ed Norris,
4 Sergeant Ed Norris.
5 Q And were you seen by the nurse?
6 A Yes, I was. They came out with ice and
7 whatever first aid they were able to grab,
S Q Okay. Were there any medical records or did
9 the nurse write anything down as to what your injuries were
10 at the time, to your knowledge?
I I A Maybe just on scmtch paper.
12 Q Okay. Does the prison infirmary keep medical
13 records on you guys?
14 A They do. In an accident, yes, I do recall the
15 form she had, She had a form.
16 Q What did the nurse suggest you do?
17 A Go to the emergency room.
IS Q Okay. Did you go to the emergency room?
19 A I went where my employer directed me to go,
20 Q Okay. Which emergency room, did you go to?
21 A I didn't go to an emergency room. I went to a
22 little clinic, Concentra.
23 Q You were told to go there by your employer, is
24 that what you're telling me?
25 A Yes.
Page 45 - Page 48
.,,-
- < -~ ,
. '" - <~
Thomas P. Cekovsky
CondenseIt11M
December 15,2000
-
Page 53
I the parking lot to the location in the institution where
2 Ihe briefing was to occur?
3 A Yes, sir.
4 Q As far as your pay is concerned, your day
5 starts when?
6 A The paid portion of my day begins at 2 p.m.
7 MR. WILLIAMS: That's all the questions I
Shave.
9 MS, BAKER: I have no further follow-up.
10 Just for the record, the damages portion of
II !his deposilion is not completed, We may need to reconvene
12 at some point. All parties agree to do that if necessary.
13 (Sketch produced and marked as Cekovsky
14 Deposilion Exhibit Number I.)
15 (The deposition was continued sine die at
16 1:55 p,m.)
17
IS
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Susan M_ Simon, Reporter-Notary Public
Page 53 - Page 53
000832 -0::3
m. COMMONWEALTHOFPENNSYLVANIA
~ POUCE ACCIDENT REPORT
_-'________"'_I'ORI....E ~ I NON. REPORI_EI ..1 PENNllOr USE """
ACCIDENT ' LOCATION
20. COUNTY
,,__u_ __,_____('vM8CA./.AH"l>
21.WUN IPAUIY CODE
o .....e-f). .A '-L 02..-
PRINCIPAL ROADWAY INFORMA nON
>2. ROUTE NO, OR r II A -rr 'l ...
_._S!!!E_~.! NMIE I..Ar6f' ",'~L ~/S..w, rltA.k, H':': or ~,;.f~~,' .
~. ~. ~LJ~~_~v__~~~~ I__
INTERSECTING ROAD:
26 'AOUTENO.'OR -. .-,-------.----- --...,. -..... -- - ----.'-----
STREET NAME
~7~~~~-..-.,- .--I~.l~Ay ~J~~:x.
IF NOT AT INTERSECTION:
~.,--,--_.'--------
L, s,3ufJ.t( ~ I)
E---~~T.~~:r~~_ +
U
N/A
xx 'AHI H 100VlUlAYst.'US
: t.INCIDENT
"""""R
2. AGENCY
ACCIDENT INFORMATION
9. ACCIOENT IL ' /911 10 ~y OF MEK
CATE 'O~/' 2./' "'? t-4J~-:?>_
, 11. TIME OF 12. M.lMBER -
,.DAV ,IS1''!:. O'UNITS /
i 13.' Kl.lEO 14' INJURED i1S, ~IV. PROP
.---.Q..-~-L~, ACCIOfNr Y,
16 mOVfHlClEtlAVE fOBE . tr Vl=HlClEOAMACE
Rf MOVE 0 J.HOM flit: SCf.N[7 l 0 --UONE UNU 1
Ufo'" 1 UNIT 2 1 LICHT
2-MOOERATE
y ~~ 'f..' y' N, 3-SEVERE UNIT 2
N [XI
"18, HAlAROOUS
MATERtAlS
19, PEtmOOT
PRoPERTY
N .(;
--.~--
Y
',0
N, ,
Y.
UNIT" 1
Jfj I [GALl V Y N 131, REG ! 38.}iTATE
PARKED?; ,':, PlAt[ Yor "; 7 ?17 : 1''''
39 PA TITLE 9ft
,o,nner'"'''''' "17$2/'7>S'
I 40, OWNER
, BciU.fAR1> BAke'?'
: 41. OllmER
: AOORESS 397 CG''''r<c~ ~.
42 CITY. STATE J1
, &lIPCOllE E'IVI-/Uf/ r'1r 17113
143YEAR /991144""" 1)"1>6-=
i 4S, MODEL . (NOr /J :4& m
I.. IlODVrYPEl ~AI'tJ.l'5vO : _vlil Ni I _I I
:.4' .BODY f48 SPECIAl 0 [49 ,VEHICLE /
I TYPE So I USAGE . OWNERSH"
'56.1N1T1Al JMPAC1-- r5i,VEHtClE [51. TRAVEL 7" - -
; . POINT ,;:) I STATUS 0 'SPEED
:'5fvEHlClE ,~ORiVER . T:.fS'":bRiVEfi---"-,---.
'GRADIENT ' - PRESENCE ! - 'CONDfTKlN
i 56=R {/ f b ~2 77 rS'J!J
I 58 DRI'VER .
I NAME 8 c~I4"'R.u B A~C,4..
, sg. DRIVER
i ADORESS . 3;l7~.c"'_rcl2 ST,
\60~~6~E EHHvr ~u--;7t~3
6t.SEX 62. OATE OF ./ ~ . ----'.
,M BIRTH 0 t. 1~. 17, 7'7.'439 -/111
64, co..... "at 65, llRl\IER C'
Y I'J N \d ClASS .
61. C/lP.ff.ErI~
88. CARRER
ADDRESS__ ,__._______~___~_____
69. ciTY. sTArE
& IFCOOE
10 USOOT'
...PlJC-.----~--~ ----
"n~VEH.
I' CONFIG.
!1S. NO. Of-- -
I A.Xl.ES
AA.45 (7198)
. -- - lICe J -
i ,1...------.
__ _ ~.~C;;f._YPE., . ...
1B.,HAl ARDOUS
MATERIAlS
14. GWiR
if" RElEASe-OF HAlMAT
. v,Q!!QUNKQ
3394S04
~~'t;
,'" "
,~!!(.. ~ '.
....... .:::,' ,
.'~'c
30.' cRoss STREET OR
SEGMENT MARKER
3t,DIRECTION -.'-..-;;S
FROU SITE N ~
33 DISTANCE WAS -
FT, ./ Mt
.--.--....--.
34. CONSTRUCTION
- ZONE
MEASURED
(35,) TRAFFIC
-~ CONTROL
OE1IICE
INTE~T1NG
LJ
ESTIMATED
PRINCIPAl
[~J
r--.-]
J2_
UNIT #2
36.lEGAllY Y N 37. REG.
. ?1~rJ ~TE
39:PA .- - '-oFf' -- -- ,~---- -,. ----,.-..--
OUT -oF.ST
.co. OWNeR
38. STATE
.;spECIAI.
- USAGE
51:)VEHIClE
- STATUS
Y..CARRIER ~- -----------
AOORESS
69. CfTY. STATE
&Z1PCOIlE
10. USOOT. ICe .
I
-I
,
PIJC .
74.GWt'R
72., H.
-' CONFIG.
15. NO. OF
AXlES
73
TYPE
78 HAl ARIJOUS
MATERIAlS
PAGE, __L
n. RElEASE OF HAlWH.'
V 0 NO_C:
...."rOOT. RHSTf.
q
'iiili'
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I served a true and correct copy of
the foregoing MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT on all counsel of
record by placing the same in the United States mail at Camp
H~SY1Vania,
o <"""7
first-class postage prepaid, on the ~~ day
, 2001, and addressed as follows:
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
Martson Deardorff Williams & Otto
Ten East High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-3093
MARGOLIS EDELSTEIN
~~Jl!iall!l<lill;j]~~~;;;l;O~ll~t.-~";;",;<'SI~..l!lL~J)Jj;;~;;;,,,-,t'~!\I,,"-~1!llli~~~tlil!W.ail!!i~~~~~~1iil~11\ij;~iiWi~'
-= ~,~~ ,.
... ^I ~>~.
'", ."
~~ ".
. ~"-
","--
1liIl~"
"
,
!
(? ' , ()
"'n
~-,~
,.' '" :---.!
" .',.
Q:. , 'J]
,. I :J
c/'; G:I "
~ tJ (.>
---;:) , -:~1
-7 t'") ~--,,~ ')
.,- (~,! ,. n
> r:-:? (j
c: ~;;:!
:;.::
=< ..J :D
-<
w
,
,'-
,', ",';."....' '~',~~~~,-"
,
,
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
PLAINTIFF
: IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V.
BERNARD BAKER,
DEFENDANT
: 00-4993 CIVIL TERM
IN RE: MOTION OF DEFENDANT FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
BEFORE BAYLEY. J. AND GUIDO. J.
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this
11.
day of April, 2001, the motion of defendant for
summary judgment, IS GRANTED.
:saa
LcrpW>~
Lj-/2-0/
~5
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
For Plaintiff
Lauralee B. Baker, Esquire
For Defendant
,
,-'y,
"
0;
rl,~:'r
"
;',u i
I"~
ii'
(~I 1\ ,"'," '-d~: " r'." "
VUIV\Ij~,: ~,j1;.\L) U...),,-W-.J \ 'y
PE}~i~SYL/i\('<:/'\
'.
-
m'11fllIll!!1
""
_'o."_'~^' =' ~ ._~~.,,""",.
Sy
07
J J!'1l)ll~~~~~,.-M, r._ ." il!1'1~IIIIffl'""~,,.~~ -""1'Il"".;II\JII.
II! IJl
- ~
~
>
"""''''~' Wli'~",
..
THOMAS P. CEKOVSKY,
PLAINTIFF
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V.
BERNARD BAKER,
DEFENDANT
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
IN RE: MOTION OF DEFENDANT FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
BEFORE BAYLEY. J. AND GUIDO. J.
OPINION AND ORDER OF COURT
Bayley, J., April 12, 2001:--
Plaintiff, Thomas P. Cekovsky, and defendant, Bernard Baker, are correctional
officers at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, Cumberland County. On July
22, 1999, plaintiff and defendant each drove their vehicles to work, and were on a
parking lot provided for employees by their employer. Plaintiff alleges that he was
injured when he was negligently struck by a vehicle operated by defendant. The
accident occurred as plaintiff was locking his driver's side door after having just parked
his vehicle. Defendant has filed a motion for summary judgment, averring that plaintiffs
exclusive remedy is under the Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act. 77 P.S.
Section 1 et seq.
The Workmen's Compensation Act provides at 77 P.S. 72:
If disability. . . is compensable under this act, a person shall not be
liable to anyone at common law or otherwise on account of such disability
. . . for any act or omission occurring while such person was in the same
employ as the person disabled, , ., except for intentional wrong.
". .'__h'_ ',,_',.'_'
- Iil'-
"
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
The Act provides in part at 77 P.S. 411 (1):'
The term "injury arising in the course of his employment," . . . shall include
all other injuries sustained while the employe is actually engaged in the
furtherance of the business or affairs of the employer, whether upon the
employer's premises or elsewhere, and shall include all injuries caused by
the condition of the premises or by the operation of the employer's
business or affairs thereon, sustained by the employe, who, though not so
engaged, is injured upon the premises occupied by or under the control of
the employer, or upon which the employer's business or affairs are being
carried on, the employe's presence thereon being required by the nature
of his employment.
Plaintiff relies on Dana Corporation v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal
Board, 120 Pa. Commw. 277 (1988), appeal denied 522 Pa. 606 (1989). In Dana, an
employee, after his work shift had ended, was walking through his employer's parking
lot on his way to his car that was parked in a street. He stopped to assist a co-worker
who was having trouble with his car. The car moved backwards and struck the
claimant. In determining whether the claimant was entitled to recovery under the
Workmen's Compensation Act, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania concluded
that he was not engaged in the business or affairs of his employer, therefore, he had to
satisfy a three-part test:
(1) The injury occurred on the employer's premises, (2) the employee's
presence thereon was required by the nature of his employment, and (3)
the injury was caused by the condition of the premises or by the operation
of the employer's business thereon.
In reversing an award of workmen's compensation benefits, the Commonwealth
Court held that the claimant failed to meet the second and third prongs of this test. The
1 Formerly Section 301(c)(1).
-2-
- -.. ~ -
.
, ~ ',~-
~ ~"'
. .
'.
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
Court concluded that when the accident occurred the claimant's presence on the
employer's premises was not required, as he had stopped voluntarily to assist his co-
worker, and neither the condition of the premises nor the operation of the employer's
business caused the car to move and strike him.
Defendant relies on Epler v. North American Rockwell Corporation, 482 Pa.
391 (1978). In Epler, a municipality in which the claimant's employer's plant was
located banned on-street parking near the plant The claimant, was assigned a parking
slot in an unpaved lot across a public street from the plant After finishing his shift, the
claimant was struck and killed by a car while crossing the street on his way to his
vehicle in the parking lot In upholding an award of workmen's compensation benefits,
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania stated that the first question was whether the
claimant-decedent was "on the employer's premises" within the intendment of the
Workmen's Compensation Act The Court stated that a parking lot can be so related to
the carrying on of an employer's business as to constitute an integral part of its
operations that accidents occurring thereon are compensable. The Court concluded:
Once it has been established, as in this case, that a parking lot is
part of the employer's business premises, injuries occurring to an
employee upon the lot are compensable when the employee's
presence on the lot is temporally proximate to the hours of work.
Thus it is clear that claimant would have been entitled to recovery under
the facts of this case if the fatal accident had occurred while he was on
the non-contiguous parking lot preparing to leave for home. (Emphasis
added.) (Citation omitted.)
The Supreme Court then concluded that the fact that the accident occurred upon
-3-
~-- -,^ ^~^- "
~". =,
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
a public road, which the employee was required to traverse to reach the parking lot, did
not change the result. The real question is whether the site of the accident was an
integral part of the employer's premises, and actual ownership of the area is not
necessarily determinative of the question. The Court concluded:
Since the Workmen's Compensation Act, supra, is not premised upon the
wrongdoing or negligence of the employer, but rather is bottomed upon
the employment relationship, there is no necessity to require a finding of
ownership or control. It is sufficient if the employee is required to be in the
area because of the employment. (Footnote omitted.)
In Dana Corporation v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, supra, the
Commonwealth Court distinguished Epler as follows:
The main issue in Eplerwas whether the employee was on the employer's
premises when the accident took place. This is not an issue in the
present case. Claimant, however, cites Eplerfor language to the effect
that an injury to an employee on the premises of the employer which
occurs reasonably proximate to work hours is compensable. The
Supreme Court stated this principle in response to the argument that an
injury must occur during actual working hours, and we do not believe it
was intended to alter the requirements for an on the premises injury under
the statute. Although the Supreme Court did not address the condition of
the premises issue, we note that the danger inherent in crossing a public
street can be a condition of the premises where a street is held to be part
of the premises.
In Cochran v. Feeko, 777 F.Supp. 1222 (E.D. Pa. 1991), plaintiff and defendant,
both employees of Blount International, had received their paychecks and went to an
employee parking lot. In the lot, defendant allegedly negligently struck plaintiff with his
car. Plaintiff was fixing a flat tire on his car when the accident occurred. Plaintiff
instituted a negligence suit against defendant in federal court based upon diversity of
-4-
,,-~ ",
'>ik
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
citizenship of the parties. Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, maintaining
that plaintiff's claim was governed exclusively by the Pennsylvania Workmen's
Compensation Act. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania agreed, and granted summary judgment. The Court analyzed Dana
Corporation v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, supra, and Epler v. North
American Rockwell Corporation, supra, and concluded:
Dana appears to diverge from Epler by holding that the claimant's injury
must be attributable to a condition on the employer's premises. In
contrast, Epler makes no mention of this requirement when the
employee's presence on the employer's premises is required by the
employer. I conclude that the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court in Epler is dispositive of the issue whether plaintiff's cause of action
falls within the Act.
The reasoning of Epler remains unequivocal and cogent; its
purpose in reversing the Commonwealth Court is clear. With no hint of
retreat or thought of modification emanating from the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court, I view Epler as controlling.
In Epler, the Supreme Court stated unequivocally that an employee parking lot is
part of an employer's business premises, and injuries occurring to an employee on the
lot are compensable under the Workmen's Compensation Act when the employee's
presence on the lot is temporally proximate to the hours of work. In the case sub
judice, plaintiff and defendant were both arriving for work, so when the accident
happened in the employee parking lot their presence on the lot was temporally
proximate to their work. In Epler, the Supreme Court stated that "[i]t is clear that
claimant would have been entitled to recovery under the facts of this case if the fatal
accident had occurred while he was on the non-contiguous parking lot preparing to
-5-
~~ ~
",', .'-
"
~---'"
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
leave for home." A fortiori, plaintiff herein was injured by a co-worker in the employee
parking lot as he was preparing to walk to his place of employment, therefore, the injury
falls under the Workmen's Compensation Act even though it was not caused by a
condition of his employer's premises.2 In Dana, the Commonwealth Court concluded
that the employee was not engaged in the business affairs of his employer because he
was injured after he stopped to assist a co-worker who was having trouble with his car.
It was on that basis that the Court found that the employee's presence was not required
on the parking lot by the nature of his employment. No such intervening act by plaintiff
occurred in the present case.3 Epler is dispositive. We will grant defendant's motion
for summary judgment.
2 There are two ways which an injury arising in the course of employment can occur
under Section 411 (1) of the Workmen's Compensation Act. The first, as here, includes
all injuries sustained while the employee is actually engaged in the furtherance of the
business or affairs of the employer, whether upon the employer's premises or
elsewhere. The second includes all injuries caused by the condition of the premises or
by operation of the employer's business or affairs thereon, sustained by the employee,
who, though not so engaged, is injured upon the premises occupied by or under the
control of the employer,. or upon which the employer's business or affairs are being
carried on, the employee's presence thereon being required by the nature of his
employment. See analysis in footnote 5 in Vosburg v. Connolly, 405 Pa. Super. 121
(1991 ).
3 It is hard to understand how the court in Dana could recognize that the danger
inherent in crossing a street can be a condition of the premises yet conclude that the
danger inherent in being ona parking lot where vehicles are moving would not be a
condition of the premises. In our view, neither is a condition of the premises.
-6-
00-4993 CIVIL TERM
AND NOW, this
summary judgment, IS GRANTED.
Thomas J. Williams, Esquire
For Plaintiff
Lauralee B. Baker, Esquire
For Defendant
:saa
-"~"
.1.w:li,!
ORDER OF COURT
If day of April, 2001, the motion of defendant for
-7-
:,
ii
"
:1
II
:!~
_ ,.~J I
".
>~-
"".",,-
'"'-,'^
.,"
\."-
, '.:::Tf\;1Y
,~l.> I '
'C i .>
" i:: r:7
/';11": ',' "', " ,
v~,V,' "", 1\,lY
:);:':i',Ii- ":>:'L' \':;\1\1'/\'"
I _' ~I\J! \;"'I'jJ,"
_' t,., _,',,~' .'""'<.......w,'> "'_ ~.
~'"~ -
, ~ ""
".
-
-- ~""""'-,~ > "
i';jli~!If;m'm!~-I,W-~MBl~~~~