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Home My WebLink About98-00920 , , I ,tI:. , ! . I ~ I , '-J ! '" ). r1 " \, o '~\ J '\" -", , I -', , \ \ \ /, / ./ , I I I { ! ~ I \~ ....... '.. .~ '-J 10 1'\ ~ . e:.... ~ S ....... COMMONWEAL TIl OF PENNSYLVANIA THOMAS C. JOERG, Plaintiff : IN Tim COURT 01" COMMON PLEAS : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA : : NO. 98.920 CIVIL TERM v. DR. ANTlIONY CEDDIA & SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLV ANlA, Dcfcndants MOTION TO TRANSI''ER COMPLAINT I'URSUANT TO 42 fll.C.S.A. U!!2~ AND NOW, comes Defendant. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania of the State System of Higher Education ("University"). by and through its undersigned counsel, Jacqueline Conforti Barnell. and tiles this motion to transfer the complaint filed by Plaintiff, Thomas C. Joerg: I. This motion is filed as this Honorable Court lacks jurisdiction over Defendant University and may not grant relief against Defendant University. 2. Shippcnsburg University of Pennsylvania of the State System of Higher Education is an instrumentality of the Commonwealth, Se~ 20 P,S, ~ 20-2002-A, 3, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over all contractual claims against Commonwealth patties where the amount in controversy exceeds $300,00, 72 P.S, ~ 4651-4, .. COMMONWEALm OF PENNSYLV ANlA mOMAS C. JOERG, Plaintiff I IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS I CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PA v. I NO. 98.920 CIVIL TERM DR. ANTHONY CEDDlA & SHlPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, Dcfcndants URillF IN SUI)PORT OF MOTION TO TRANSFER COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO 42 l)a.C.S.A. ~ 5103 Defendant. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania of the State System of Higher Education ("University"), hereafter provides this Honorable Court with legal authority in support of' its Motion to Transfer Complaint filed by Plaintiff Thomas C. Joerg, 42 Pa.C.S.A, ~ 5103(,,) provides the following: If an appeal or other matter is taken to or brought in a court or magisterial district of this Commonwealth which docs not have jurisdiction of the appeal or othcr maller, the court or district justice shall not quash such appeal or dismiss the maller, but shall transfer the record thereof to the proper tribunal of this Commonwealth.. H The term "tribunal" is defl1\ed so as to include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Board of Claims. 42 Pa.C.S,A, ~ 5103(d). It is clear that district justices lack jurisdiction over civil chums against a Commonwealth party, Except as otherwise prescribed by general rule adopted pursuant to Section 503 (relating to rcassignment of malleI's), district justices shall, under procedures prescribed by ger1{~ral rule, have jurisdiction of all of the following malleI's: ".(3) Civil claims, except claims against a Commonwealth party as defined by section 850L. 42 Pa.C.S.A. ~ 15l5(a), Section 8501 referenced above defines "Commonwealth party" broadly to include any Commonwealth agency. 42 Pa,C.S.A. ~ 8501. lt is clear from the statute creating the State System of Higher Education, that the System and its fourteen constituent universities are governmental instrumentalities. whose appropriations for operations are ordinary expenses of government. 24 P.S, ~ 20-2002-A, See also Finkelstein v. Shipptmsbu.rgState College. 29 Pa, Commw. 373, 370 A.2d 1259 (1977). As such. district justic(~s will not have jurisdiction or Plaintiff's complaint against the University. Plaintiff's claim against Defendant University. should have been brought before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Claims which has exclusive jurisdiction to hear and detennine all claims against the Commonwealth arising from contracts entered into with the Commonwealth where the amount in controversy exceeds $300,00. 72 P.S. ~ 4651-4. The Legislature's grant of exclusive jurisdiction to the Board of Claims also takes that portion of the claim against the University out of the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court. 2 ~ THOMAS C. JOERO V. INTHE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYL VANIA DR. ANTHONY CEDDlA AND SHIPPENSBURO UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA NO. 98-0920 CIVIL TERM : CIVIL ACTION - LA W CERTIFICA TE OF SEIWICI!; I, Juequcline C. Burnett. herehy certify thut on March 23, 1998, a truc and correct copy of thc Court's Order or a Rule to Show Cause dated March 15. 1998. us to why this matter should not he transferred to the Bomd of Claims of the Commonwealth ofPennsylvnnia, was placed In the lI,S. Mail, certified first-class. postage pre-paid. return receipt requested to the Plaintiff ut his Inst known address ut: Mr. Thomas Joerg 43 East Locust Street Mcehanicsburg. PA 17055 Proof of service upon the Plaintiff is attached hereto and marked Exhibit "A". Dnte: April 15. 1998 University Legal Counsel Dixon lInivcrsity Cenler 2986 North Sceond Street Hnrrisburg, P A 17110 (717) 720-4070 ." , .. _:. JOEHO : IN TIlE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA I\NTHONY CEDDJA AND: NO. 98-920 CIVIL TERM PPENSBURO UNIVERSITY: JF PENNSYLVANIA : CIVIL ACTION, LAW MQJ:lQHm1llAN~OMl~LAI1'[1:J'llRS1!ANLl'Q ----42..l~~S.,A,.__Wl3. AND NOW, comes Plaintiff, Thomas C. Joerg. representing himself, and file;; this motion to transfer the above noted complaint again;;t the Defendant, Dr. Anthony Ceddia and the Shippen;;hurg University of Penn;;ylvania, to the Commonwealth of Penn;;ylvania Board of Claim;;: 1. This motion is filed a;; the Plaintiff agrees that this Honorable Court lacks jurisdiction over Defendant Univcrsity, and may not gl'ilnt relief tel/' the Plaintiff. 2. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Claims, Plaintiff has discovered, has exclusive jurisdiction over all contractual claims against Commonwealth partics where the amount in controver;;y exceeds $300.00, 72 1'.8, 4651A, 3. Plaintiff's clailll is for $3,000.00. 4. Plaintiff's elailll is hased upon preccdent and is contractual. Wherefore, Plaintiff Thomas C. Joerg respectfully rcqucsts Your Honorable Court to grant this motion and transfer my complaint to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Claims, Suite 700, Fulton Building, 200 North Third St., Ilarr:i~~lIrg, "A 17101-1501, pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S.A. 5103(a)., ',( \ I " Rcsrfeetfully sUbnt'~ted' / \...,/~('. ./1kl) ! /1 /)111//\1 .' \, . L. I ..I . '" U'l!ornas C, Jocrg, C ' 43 E, LocuSl Sf. ( Mcchanicsburg, PA 17055 Date: March 20, 1998 ... ,I'> if :, I, Ii . .Cornpf",It;mt lind/or 2'or .ddllh>nll..MceI. .~.It'ml3, "I, Ind 4b. .Print your name'nd add,", on the flY.". 0' IhIt fotm 10 thol we can 'alum IN, card ,. you, -Attach !hI.lorm 10 thl front 0' IhemAllpllce, Of'onlhlblde It.pace dot. nol ""mil. 'Wrftl'Rttum RlCfJlpt Hlquettec/o on lhe mallpttce below the Irtlcle number. -The Allum Rtcelpt wm Ihow 10 whom the article Will dellvefed Ind lhe dalij dellver'd, 3, Artlcle Addr&8$ed 10: Camnnwealth of Pennsylvanii'j Board of Cla:lms Suite 700 Ful ton Building 200 North Third Street Harrisburg, PA 17101-1501 I also wish 10 receive the tollowlng ssrvlces (lor en eX1ra tee): f 1. 0 Addressee's Address 2. 0 Rsslrlcted Delivery Consult postmasler lor lea, .f 4a. Ar1Icle Number I P 433 108 636 4b. Service Type J ' o Registered XX Certlfled o Express Mell 0 Insured " o Rslum Receipt lor Mercl~'idI.. 0 COD k 7. D Is 0 ellvery .// , r. ' ! a. A re ee'. Addre.s (Oni). "riqij;;;s'd t and l6a Is paid) ~ , .~ QA_Q?O ("hd 1 5, Received By: (Print Nama) TM I 6. J! Domestic eturn ReceIpt ,.n, ,'_, -';;~/"\,,., ~',-" ,i~~ ,j, '" 't.,,, ~ I , ~'I ~ :, _ ~ l' . , .' .,' . ~'" 'l'< , " 1 .~' 1,- . , ., .. . ~j' ;J,J' ' . 1\,' "\ ';. . , I ..JI4" ,..~ t t~,~ ~/ ,. I ". , .. .. 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