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HomeMy WebLinkAbout98-07323 ~~ .1 ~l N , . ~ ~ . It) :--::. ~. ~! )- ~ \. \I. ~; ~, ::1: c:.J "1 ~' \. \I: Q..; ~ )-5 I , (' " l~ - . . ,::'I "1 "" ;,l ~ .,.'..' "., .") ~ ~ c-:. ~ . ~ ..... , ~.. . -::- .~ ., --,. A(~t ru ~ ---.J ~ cl c..,.. -......... --.: ;j c: ., ;') ., ~ :-., ~ r"\ 'v-- ~\ ~ -' 'vv V-I~ e: I ,J ~ '&.. , ' .- , , r ' .', . '"." : ."" ' :.." . ',',.' I,', .', ", , . . .^,' , '. . I , .1 j ! Commonwealth of Pennsylvania County of Cumberland Javette D. Jumper Cumberland PUblishers, Inc. d/b/a The Sentinel 457 E. North St. Carlisle PA 17013 :";0. Court of Cornmon Pleas 98-7323 Civil Term VI. --------------------------------~---- 19____ Civil Action - Law In _____________________________________________ 'ro _________.__.________________________________ Cumberland PUblishers, Inc., d/b/a The Sentinel: You an' hereby notified U13l .-----------------------------~---~9_~~_t_t~__!l~._J_~~jg~_~______________________________________ the Plaintiff '. Summons - Civil Action - Law has commenced an ael10n 10 ________.________________________________________________ against you which you are reyuir('d to dd!'lld or .1 default judgment may be entered against you. (SEAL) Curti s E. Long Date ----I?!=-~!o,_IT]i?_'i.L~L_________ 19_J_~ .------------------------------------------------ - pro/lhono } By _...j:~ ~~_~~___ _ -:"s._I_!-..1-.:_(~.!_()-"."- . , ,'pury I --, ~ . -'. - . " . 'j'. " ,.' " . ". ". ", . ' ' "", , .-. , '. , ~~~~~ () P,() 0.., ~ ..... 'c OJ <: 0"3 <: ..... '0" (t '" z f~~ liS /-' OJ It n- OJ '1 n- o ;J> 'el/-' It -.J ~ r ~ C"l en ::rOJ w ~ W =~ n- ~ IT ;:J " IV ..... P, w > ~~~~~ 0 (fl rl ;:J IT 'tl 0.., () S ~ a 0 ;:J C C ..... &l n-O" 3 <: ~ -...JI u. ...../-' '0 ..... 0 ~?l t""' ;:J ..... It I-' t;; OJ -. IT en '1 . :!: = I-'::r 'el E IT (t '1 '1 en 3 . - \0 I ,.... 0 ;:J 0 0 C"l JAVETTE D. JUMPER, Plaintiff vs. CUMBERLAND PUBLISHERS, INC. dlblal THE SENTINEL, Defendants : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PtEAS : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : No. 98-7323 CIVIL TERM : CIVlt ACTION - LAW ROLE AND NOW, this,;Zg~t. day of. 'JQ. (\ l<tfY'-l ,1999, UpOIT Praecipe of Defendant Cumberland Publishers, Inc. dlbla The SeITtinef~ rule is hereby entered upon the Plaintiff to file a complaint within twenty days after service of this rule or suffer the entry of a judgment of /1on pros. )) (rltl /-.-) 0 (11' '. ;.,-r~ ...J .,_." . " \.. " . '.'," ," ," " .' ", :' t", t. '. ' , ~0 ./., :j ,,'J --/ J -, I' .~ I : r; t ' ,""'. 'I I J \ , { ..' ," . ...(-t ,. .JAVETTE D. JUMPER, Plaintiff vs. CUMBERLAND PUBLISHERS, INC. d/b!a! THE SENTINEL, Defendants : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS : CUMBERtAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : No. 98.7323 CIVIL TERM : CIVIL ACTION - tAW PRAECIPE FOR RULE TO FILE COMPLAINT TO THE PROTHONOTARY: Please enter a rule upon plaintiff to file a complaint within twenty days of service thereof or suffer the entry of a judgment of non pros. /IJtJ1 )11/Jjt,~I1-- Attorney for Defendant I Roger M. Morgenthal,Esquire Sup. Ct.I.D. # 17143 FLOWER, MORGENTHAL, FLOWER & LINDSAY 11 East High Street Carlisle, PA 17013 " , , . , r ~. i" \ '.:") . ~", \", , ,-,"' ~j .-.r",,:','~~'" _..+_*_ _. ':;:t'~''''''''.' . \... .:' :' J' -. . . . , ):' '-. " , ,~ ) ,'..' i, , . . : ,: " . " . . . - ..' , . .' " \ . ,.I f, "i':'<V.\.., ,)0< ~'..1. ~~\ I ~ 1 BROUJOS 8: GILROY. P.C, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 4 NORTH HANOVER STREET CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA 17013 (717) 243.4!574 766-16g0 WE DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT '"'t:::) THE WRITTEN IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL FILED IN THIS ACTtON. . BY ~, ~, ATTORI<lEY , ,'. ' ,:,.' " " :',,~ " ',.' ',':' ',::, ,::. .,,:,..,;. " ..' ,;,,' ',' ;...1-,' - ._...~ lk:L';; i.< ,. ,;:, , 'i' ~ , : I'i r , . ( \ ~" I I , ( I . I " ,..,..~ .JA VETTE D. .JUMPER JN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLANI> COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA Plaintiff \'s. DOCKET NO. 98-7323 CIVIL TERM CUMBERLAND PlJBLlSIlEI~S, INC. dha The Sentinel .JURY TRIAL DEMANDED Defendant IN TRESI'ASS NOTICE You have been slled in Court. If you wish 10 defend against the claims set flJl1h in the following pages. you must take action within twenty (10) days alier this complaint and notice arc served. by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and tiling in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set flu'th against you. You arc wamed that if you fail (0 do so the case may proceed without you and ajudgment may be entered against you by the Court without further notice for any money elaimed in the complaint or for any other claim or relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you. YOU SHOULD TAKE TillS PAPER TO YOUR LA WYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT IIA VE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE. GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTI! BELOW TO FIND OUT WIIERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP. Cumberland County Bar Association :2 Liberty A venue Carlisle. PAl iO 13 149-3166 .fA VETTE D. ./lIMI'En I'I1Iinliff fN TilE covIn OF COMMON PLEAS OF ClIMHEnLANI> COllNTY, I'ENNSYL VANIA \'s. DOCKET NO. 98-7323 CIVIL TERM ClIMHERLANJ) I'lIHLlSIIERS, INC. dba Thc Scntincl .Ilmv TRIAL I>EMANJ)EJ) I>cfclllllllJl IN nmSPASS COMPLAINT Javettc D. Jumper by and tbrough her attorney~ Brou.io~. Gilroy & Houston. P.Co sets forth the following cause or action: I. Plaintillis Javette D. Jumper. an adult individual residing at 154 Beetem Hollow Road. Newville. Cumberland County. Pennsylvania 1724 J. 2. Defendant is Cumberland Publishers. Inc. dba The Sentinel. a corporation oelievcd 10 be organized under the lalV~ or the Commonweallb of I'ennsylvania. witb prineipal place of business at 457 E. Nortb Street. Carlisle. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 3. On or aboul October. 1981. PlaintifT comlllenced perfell'lning services as 3n independent eontraelor fell' Defendant as a mOlor route driver (MRD) in tbe Carlisle area. for delivery Or the Evening Sentinel newspaper. 4. At or about the time or COllll11encement or work and on ~ub~equenl occasions. Plaintiff and Ddcndant would enter into a written agreement fe)r pcrfemnance of serviee~. 5. Periodically O\'CI' the years. al11endments to the agrccmenl~ were l11adl" either in writing or \'Croally. . . 1: ~ ". , . . ,- '. ',':' ) . . ~ ' ", .'- ,,:r. -;- 1 \~:. , '......': : ':' .','\ .,' , , - .' . 6. On or about 1\'lay 22. 191.15. Plaintifr .lIld I kll:ndant signed an agreement 11)1' services. which is set Il'rlh in Exhihit A attached hereto and made a part hereor. The Plaintirf agreed to procure suhscribers to The Scntinel. to deliver The Sentinel to the subscribers. to collect subscription rates. and to pay Ikll:nuant 1111' the papers at a rate the diflerence between the amount Plainti IT collected and the amount paid to Defendant being her compensation. 7. At all times during the relationship of PlaintilT and Iklendanl. I'laintiffwas an indcpcndent contmctor and not an employee. 8. At all timcs during thc relationship of Plain tilT and Defendant. Defendant trcatcd Plaintiff as an indcpcndent contractor and not as an employce. 9. Plaintiff was required to pick up the ncwspapcrs at the Scntinel and to makc paymcnt thcrcfore a lew days latcr. 10. On Octobcr 4. 1995. Plaintiff appcarcd at the Scntinel building on E. North Strcct to pick up papcrs lor delivery. 11. At said timc and place. Mr. Bcn Vinson. Circulation Managcr. scrvant. agent. and employee of Defl:ndant. told Plainti IT that shc was to sign a papcr or shc would not bc givcn any papers to deliver and would no longcr bc a motor routc carrier for defcndant. 12. PlaintilTtold Mr. Vinson that shc would not sign thc agreement at that timc until shc had mnrc timc to read it and to understand what was gning on and to undcrstand the terms. 13. ..'It which timc Mr. Vins\lI1 told Plaintirrthat she was to sign the papcr or shc would not reccive any papcrs 1,)1' deli\cry. 14. Immcdiatcly. Bcn Vinson. Dc1i:ndant's scnanl and ,'mplo)',',.. told Plaintiff that shc \\as tcrminatcd as a carricr. :W'~' .-.I-'t~._~,.... ... '-..' .-, ,,'" .~.~ :':, ,', :. , ,--. ';'-~:~:.:' . ~':""\""" :'"'.F .',' "l,,.- ." " 15. Defendant. through Ikn Vinson. serl'ant. agcnt. and employcc. had prcl'iously verbally adl'ised PlaintilTlhal J)c1endant il1lelldcd to changc'the tcnns oi'the agrccmcnt. one term oi'whieh was to permit DcJendant 10 collcct money li'om Plaintii'f's subscribcrs. 16. Plainlifi'rei'uscd 10 be intimidatcd and compellcd to sign sonwthing on such short notice and upon an ultimatum by Ben Vinson. a eondition Ihat did notjustii'y refusal to give her papers to serl'e her customers. 17. PlaintifTat all times was prepared to pick up newspapers fhlmlkfendant in the customary manner and deliver thclI1lo hcr customers. 18. The rei'usal to give Plaintii'i'the papers was without cause and the demand to sign on the spot a document (that PlaintifThad reason to beliel'e \lould have changes) or be terminated was an unjustifiable c.ondition and conslituted a breach oi'the agreement of the parties lor delivery 01' papers by Plainti IT to her customcrs. 19. PlaintifTpersonally solicited customers and the customers were treated by both parties as Plaintiff's customers Jor delivery of the newspapers as an independent contractor for Defendant. 20. The contract between the parlies provided filr a thirty.day notice by either party of intent to terminate the agreement. 21. Ddendal1l by its actions and refusing to givc the papcrs to Plail1lifT fill' delivery hreached the agreenwnt between the parties. 22. When Delendant gal'e notice to Plainlifi'that she could l10t defilcr any papcrs until she signed the agreemcnt. Delendant hrc'al'bed the al!rcc'ment. \\hil'h al'tions constitutc'd attcmplcd tennination ofthc agrccmcnt. 23. Dclendant I;liled to gill' Ihiny day s nOlirc nftcnnination oi'thc' al!lwmcllt. . ~ .' '.'. ~ , . . , ".",' , . " . , ", .' ',' '. -,' ,'" . ' '. . , . .~ '", " A. COllNT ONE ..IU:COVER OF FlINDS BASED ON BOND CHARGES 24. PlaintilTincorporatcs paragraphs I through 2:1 hcrcin. 25. During the Cllurse of the contractual relationship of the parties. Delendant charged to Plaintiff a charge for Plaintiffs share of an alleged hondo purported to be in the nature of a fidelity bond to secure Delendant against any loss occasioned hy the then or improper diversion or use of funds. 26. The charge so imposed amounted over the ycars to Ii'om $6 to $ lOpeI' week. The charge was imposed weekly or biweekly upon the hill submitted to Plaintiff The charge was paid. 27. Plaintiff from time to time requested a copy of the bond. which \Vas not forthcoming. 28. Upon filing of the original complaint. Plaintiff took the deposition of the said Ben Vinson on Octo her 25. 1996. 29. During the course of the deposition. Ben Vinson alleged the following (NT 48 to 51): 30. Defendant imposed '"a charge I'll' a bond'. on Plaintilf 3 I. The purpose was ..To protect the company Irom loss:' 32. The ..terms of the bond arc pay a predeteJ'lnincd rate. whatcver that may be. on a weekly or biweckly basis which was in turn paid to a honding company to protcctthe Sentinel from losses. Ifan independent contractor jailed to make payment on a bill. we would turn that in to the honding company and they would in turn get us payment:' 3:1. The hond charge was required during the tenure of Ben Vinson and upon information and knowledge the charge was imposed prior to his tcnure. 34. Thc company was Billy Bond. also known as Carrier Insurance Agency. ..,', ,-,' -',r~;- r,., .~:.; :',", ;~: - -~ ~'~':', ,','. '.:. ',',,' :'1"."'.' _" , 35. A copy could bc madc available. 36. The charge .'was calculatcd upon possible liability. depending on the number of papers she bought on a given cyclc..... on.'a pcr route basis'" 37. The bond eompany "gives us a fl1rJllula to use..... 38. On or abuut Fcbruary 18. 1997. Plaintiff served interrogatories on Defendant. ineluding interrogatories with respect to the cxistence of a bond covcring employees and specifically Plaintiff and rcquesting a copy of the bond. 39. For sevcnteen months. counsel Il)r Defendant promised imminently a copy of thc bond and relatcd problems of locating the bond beeause of cmployee tUl'llover and Il)r othcr reasons. 40. A/icr repcatcd dcmands. Plaintiff was compelled to tile a rVlotion to Compel Answers to Interrogatories alkr hearing bcll)re a judge. who entcred an ordcr compelling answer to interrogatories. 41. Bascd upon the failurc of Dclendant to provide a copy of a bond upon demand: upon failure flH ovcr l'ightccn months of Defendant to produce a bond or any othcr information concerning a bond or any explanation Il)r the absencc of a bond or any data or basis for calculating a bond charge: and upon other inllmnation rcceived. Plaintiff has reason to belicve that no bond existed and no chargcs wcre imposcd upon or prcmium paid by Defendant during all or pOl1ions of the period of time during \\hich Plaintiff was undcr contract with Defendant. during which timc Dell:ndant nc\el1heless charged ,J. bond fee to Plaintiff. .e. As a n:sult "fthc inability of Plaintiff to obtain such inlllrmation on a bond as set Illrth hcrein. Plaintiff \las ill1<:nlionally. \las \I ilh gross l1l'gligcnl'c. or \las ncgligcntly misled as to whcthcr a hond cxistcd. whcrchy Plaintiffhad no hasis 1(". making a timely dcmand I()r rcturn of chargcs imposcd. 43. Plaintiff paid thc cstimatcd sum of$4.7X4. has cd on $4 pcr wcck 1(". scvcn ycars ($1.456) and $X pCI' wcck 1(,," X ycars ($3.32X) to Dcfcndant I(lr a bond chargc during a timc whcn no bond coveragc was in placc. no hond cxistcd. and no bond chargcs wcrc paid by Dcfcndant. 44. Plaintiffmakcs dcmand upon Dcfcndant I()r thc sum of$ 4.7X4. plus intcrcst fi'OI11 thc datc thc chargcs wcrc paid. WHEREFORE. PlaintifTdcmands thc sum of$ 4.784. plus intcrcst and costs. B. COtlNT TWO - FRAlIl>lILENTL Y OBTAINING PROPERTY Plaintiff incorporatcs paragraphs 1 through 44 hcrcin. 45. During Plaintiffs tcnurc undcr contract and aficr Plaintifrs tcrmination of cmploymcnt and during thc procccdings of this Icgal action. Defcndant. knowing or having rcasonlo know that thc facts wcrc not truc. intcntionally or with gross ncgligcncc misrcprcscntcd. misled. and dcccivcd PlaintifT as to thc cxistcnc,~ of a hond and as to thc nccd and cost for rcimburscmcnt of a bond. 46. Dcfcndant madc thc misrcprcscntations with thc purposc of misleading Plaintitfand obtaining thc slim of $4. 7X4: and Ikfcndant as a rcsult of such conduct. ohtaincd li"om Plaintiffthc sum of$4.7X4 1(11' bond chargcs that should not ha\c bccn imposcd. 47. Elemcnts oftbc claims sct l(mb in this count \wre not known to and could not hale bccn known to Plaintitf h,'causc ofthc intcntionally misleading conduct of Dc fend ant hy t:liling (\I'cr a period of many months \(1 disclosc hy requcst or disco\cry tbc cXi"tCIK'C or ~'. .:....~ '.",1 - ';, -. : ',' .r :: "t"', ':,:"""'.. ~ "":";",', '"".<_ ',',:.: ",~' ~., ,',,' ',' non-existence of the honding condition Itlr which allegedly Plaintiffwas responsible and Itlr which I'laintilTwas charged. 48. Defendant demands damages in tort Itl!' Ihuldulenl misrepresentation. including compensatory damages for costs incurred in preparing fiJr and conducting litigation: for anxiety and inconvenience: and Itlr punitive damages, WHEREFORE. Plaintilf claims compensatory and punitive damages. C. COUNT THREE - LEGAL FEES Plaintiff incorporates paragraphs I through 48 herein. 49. Plaintiff: Itl!,the reasons set forth above. avers that the conduct of Defcndant was thc commission of intentional or grossly ncgligcnt acts which wcrc capricious undcr 42 PaCSA 2503 (7) and (9). on the basis of dilatory. obduratc. and vcxatious conduct during thc pendency of the casc: in that Defendant caused dclay inthc casc by rcfusing to provide inltmnatioll requested by interrogatories. by misreprescnting the statc of the bond and the obligation to pay a charge ft)r a bond: and b':cause the conduct of Defcndant is arbitrary. vexatious and in bad ((lith. WHEREFORE. I'laintiffclaims damages It)!' le('al fcc, plus .osts~' ntl-costs.ofsuit. \ I ~ Re~p ctfu Iy s (l ittCd: \ / \ --:. r- John 1 . Broujos. Es~ Attorney J.D. No, 06268 -4 North I (allover Stn'(~t Carlisle. P A 17013 (717) 243-4574 (717)766-1690 FAX: (717) 243-8227 " :.'.' J ',:' ~ :.; ,. , .~". ,;: '. . ,',' ..' : ,', '. " '," ',' " ' \ . >. ",'. "'. -. .- ,:. ~'.. I \'erily that the statements in the Illregoing pleading arc truc and correct. I understand that fillse statemcnts hcrcin arc madc subjcctto the pcnalties of IS PaeS 4904 relating to unsworn Ja!silication to authoritics. !--C~n . a 'cUc D. Jumper . ' , - .", .', " "',', _ ", 'r' -';'" I' . ) .y~,.., .~'~"\-'-.-.\ . - ,',-' '~, '~. . . '-,"" " '.'. '"' ->"~,...~~.~........ - '.F.~.. .'