HomeMy WebLinkAbout99-01723
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\, Ath\tltlcllrol"h~ Sys~oms,llIc,,2~16l1IlYI1Il1'1IIl(llllovl\l'll, Wllinllllltoll, nE 19H02
(Article Z 067.~~4.H~!i . Scrvo,lAprll 2, 1999) (Soo IIxhlbl~ "A" 11~li\Chud hore~o,)
,
2, . Oroff &. Somes, P,D, Ilox 120, Mlll'lhorolll\h, C'I' 06447 (Anldo Z.067.U4.H27.
Sorved I\prll 6, 1999) (Soo Exhlbl~ "II" 11tI1\Chlld herolo,)
~, Mlchllolllllllor, c/o Groff & Somes, p,O, 1I011 IZO, MlldllUrolll\h, GT 06447
(Arr.lclo No, Z.067.~~4.H2H . Surved April 6, 1999) (Soo Ellhlhh "C" IIHllclwd horelo),
The forel\olnl\ Is hllsod "pon illY porsolll,1 l\l1owlelll\o,illlll I II III COlllpu~om to !c,stlfy to
d\l\~ IlIformll~lon,
LA VERY &. KAIN, p,C,
DA TEl ~d1Jhq
lIYI
Swol'n ~o IInd subscl'ibocl
bofore n4;~Olllry P"bllc,
on this .. dllY of
a,~1 , 1999,
-.di:f!I;7~
Notlll'y Pili IC
"
WIlU111"lnn ''''~I-J
Noltlrlnl6"n
'jqllY J, llrnll<"l, I~ol"rv 1'1Illll0
'Im,lsbuJO, lOlll'lll" Cllllllly
.!~x_?~mIB"'olll;,~~~~.,J~.::!!~)~~'
MUllf.)ijI, PonnSY:Vllllll\ I\UOOt.1l1lJiMl 01 N0:tllloo
IN TI-IE cOWIn OF COMMON I'LIlJ\S
CU/v1I\111\LANP COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
'1'.1-1,11, III~IIn1I1CO Cnmp.II\Y
Plillmlff
'v,
No, 99,j 72:l Civil
Civil ACtloll - Lilw
Jury Trinl Dom.lIldot\
Atlnl1tlc Fl'olglll Systoms, Ino,
o~ ill"
DofOl\dnll\s
Jl[i'I'l'I'ION POR LilA VIl '1'0 CONDUCT PRH.COMfLJ\[N'I' 1)ISCOVIlRY
AND '1'0 EXTIlND TIMlt.I!QlJ...ElLlNG COMI'LAIl'ST.
AND NOW, como~ Po~i~lolIlll', T,H,I\, 11lSun1llCO CllmpllllY, hy illld Ihl'ou(\h lt~
ilnOl'lloys, [.,WOlY & K.lln, P.C, illld fIIo~ this I'o\ldon to EKlend 'I'hl1o for Filing Complaint
and in S\lppOI'~ thcl'oof ilVOI'S ilS followsl
\, Tho P,,~hlclllOI', ')',1-1,1\, [nsnnlllCl' Comp.lny, Is the Phllntiff III tho WI'/~ of
Summol\s flied on Mill'ch 23, 1999 illld docllCt~d ~o No, 99-1723 Civil In ~ho COllrt of
COn)lllon Pions of C\IIl1bor\ill1d Conn~y, I'onnsylvilnlil,
2, On July 7, 1999, Dofondilnt A~lillltlc J1l'oigh~ Systems, IIIC, Wod II l'n1ocipo for
Rlllo to Fi\o a Complnln~, togothol' wi~h iI RIIlo IIpon I'lilln\lff to fIlo iI Complilint within
~wonty (20) dilYs ~hol'eof, In ilccol'd.lnce with PonllSylvnnlil RIIlo of Civlll'l'ocedlll'o 1037(iI),
3, By eOVOI' lot~el' dil~ed Jllly 9, 1999 illld I'ecolvod by Phllntlff's connsel on Jul)1
12, 1999, cOllnsol for A~lillltlc I1l'ell,11I SystfJIns, Ine, sOl'ved the Rlllo isslled hy tho
Pl'othollotill'Y III this OilSO to file iI Complnim wi~hill twon~y (20) dllYs of sOl'vice, 'I'rue llIld
COI'I'cct coplos of tho Jllly 9, 1999 tn1l1smittilllo~tcl' 111111 tho Rule to J1i\0 il Complillnt .11'0
ilt~ilchod hOl'eto, incol'pol'n~od hOl'oill by l'IJfel'onco, illld n1ill'IICd ilS Exhibl~ "A",
4, I'hllmiff I'ospoctfnll)' I'epl'osen~s ~hilt it 1'0<]1111'05 nddhlol1l11 time to filo iI
Complnlllt ns I'lnlmlff Is III need of prellm/II.lry discovery III ordol' to Pl'Dporly dl'ilf~ I~s
Complnlm,
5, POlilillnor/fllnlnllff, 'I',li,g, In~III'i\lWo Clll1lpllllY i~~lllld polloy 114LVO~667 10
A\hlll\k Frol"h~ HY~lom~, Inc" Wllh II policy lwlod from .JI\lHIi\l'y 9, 19')4 1Illlil.Jllllllllry I),
\995, which prnvldod covorllge for ~ppdflCi\lIy de~cr\bod vllhlclos only,
6, On Hoptulnbor I, 19')4, II vohiclo ownod by Atlnl1\k Frolllh~ Hy~~ol1l~, Inc, Ilnd
oporllted by II Clnrunco I\OPIIOI' WII~ h\volvod In II motor vohidll i\cddom II~ GII~O 115, Nnvnl
111150, In ~ho Ci~y of Nnrfoll\, VI I'Illn hI, which rosultod in injllrlll~ ~o Corpol'ill Dlllor\5
MhJIHlolnllll"lo, The vohlclo involvlld III dlO Huptolllhor I, 1994 ,1Cddont wn5 II WIlli
frolllhtllnor wl~h ~ho 1i\5t fo\ll' dlllllS of till' V,I,N, lIS 11306 l\Ild II phILO IIl1mhol' of AII.2112511,
7, IlIithllly, l'otidonur/l'hlllltlf[, '1',\-\,1\, Ins\ll'IIlIco Compl\llY dUlllod CllVOI'i\1l0 for
~his IIccldont hOCI\IISO Iho lnslll'iIncu policy n~ Issuo (1I4LV03667) ollly provldud CnVlll'i\IlO 1'01'
tho ~poclflcnlly de~crlbud vuhlclu~ l\Ild the vuhlclo Involved III thi~ Ilcc/dum wn~ no~
schedulod ou ~hll~ policy,
n, Bllsed 011 ~ho Uniform Mo~or C'\I'I'lor Bodily llljllrY nlld Proporty Dllmllge
Llllhlllty IlIsuI'I\I1ce Elldorscmol1\ Form PII\tI\Chcd ~o policy lI/ILV03667, Potl~iollcr/l'lalmiff
wn~ ohllgated ~o dofond AtI'\I\tlc Prcillhl Hys~cm~, \IIC, ill ~ho lawsuit IlIhilltcd by Dolllrl~
MiclHlclllllgclo, 1'1\I'~UI\llt to thc clldorsomcnt form F, tho illsllrod i~ oblllla~od to rull\lhtll'~O
'r,H,E, IIIStll'allCO Compl\I1Y for 1111 of ~hll COStS cxpclldcd ill thc defoll~o of ~ho claim
IlIcluding nny llldl'll1l1iflclltlon paymcnts mado to Corporll\ Mlchnch\llllclll,
9, III ~hc filII of 1997, a jury rctul'l1cd II vordlct III f,\Vor of Deloris
Mlchnch\llllolo I1l1llal\\lil1St Atlalltlc Prclllht Hystul\\s, Inc, ill thc III\\Otlm of $150,000,
I'UI"IU\\nt ~o llllllorscl\\cm forlll 11, l'ctltloncllPh,llltlff, '1',1-1,1\, Insul'llncc Company scoks
2
I'pimblll'sclllUn\ for dIP eosts of defulldillll lhe lllldurlyhlll sllil, ilnd 10 l'ucnVUl' Ihu indumnl~y
pnynwl1ls nlilllu 10 cOl'lllll'il1 MklliWllllll\olo,
10, upon infol'lnn~ion IIlld Iwllcf, sllbsul\1I0m to 11111 IIndudyinll IICllldum, bill
prior to Ihu hll'Y's vUl'dlct, ItospolldoIll/Dofl'lldi\IlI, Atli\llIlo Fl'olllhl Systems, hw, Wolll om
of bllslnoss,
II. Rospllndolll/Defolldi\lIt, IhllTY CJI'OSStnnn, Wi\S Idemlfled liS n prlnlllpnl of
AtIi\llIlc Fl'elllht Sys~llms, Inll, ilnd hu Is nlso the Chief I\xel,lItlvu O(fl\lOI' of POnlHlO
'l'I'IIc1linll,Ine, 1I01h of those hllslncss emltles IlllllmnhWl1 il pli\eo of bllslnoss III 6t11 illld
Wn~el' Sl'l'ec~s, New Cllmbel'h1l1d, Ponl1sylvill1li\,
12, lIoth prlol' to nlld sllhsUllllllllt ~o the IIndel'iylnl\ mO~OI' vehicle ilccldellt,
Rcspondem/Defendllll~ I-Inl'I'y Gl'ossmnl1 nnd/ol' Respondelll Groff & Son1\lS I'eqllesl'cd to
both ndd 1111<1 delele vohleles speelflcillly covel'l'd by ~he policy, hilt 1I0VUI' SOllllh\ ~o ndd ~ho
~l'l1eltlnll qlleSl'lon ehhel' by ~he V,I.N, 01' by ~he llccnse pln~e lltllllbol',
13, Petltloner/Phllmiff, ']',1-1,1\, JUS\II'i\IICe Compi\ny, is Ilsseninll clnlllls nllnlnsl'
Atlnntle Fl'ell\hl' Systems, Inc" Groff & Somes, nnd I~s omploycll, Mlehilel BillIeI' fat' fnlllnll
~o IH\VO the vuhlcle ill' iSSlle In the Mlchnclnn\l.clu Inwsllil' pl'llpel'iy listed on the polley,
H, Pctl~IOllel'/Rllspol1dtlnt Is Illso pownthll1y pursulnll clnlms nllilll1s~ Hnl'l'y
Grossmnn nlld SUSI1I1 Grossmnl1 011 thu bnsls of 1\11 nileI' el\o t1111ol'Y ill1d fa I' not (ll'operly
wlndlull lip the 11ffllil's of Atlnude Freight Systems, luc, nl1d fOI' ~he dlsposnl of I~s Ilssel's
when ~hel'e wns 11 po~entlill clnil11 by 'I',J-I.E, JnSUl'I1nce COlllpi\ny 1111111ns~ It,
15, Petitloner/Pli\intiff, 'I',(-I.E, lusul'l1nce COl1l(lilI1Y Is nlso (ltll'slIlng clnll11s
illllllns~ Pennco 'I'l'uclclng, Il1c, IIndel' 1\11 Illtel' ClIO theory 11Illl/0I' tinder n StlCCe,ISOI' Ihlbllll'y
J
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1',1-1,1:, INSLJRANC~ COMPANY ) IN TI-I~ cOURT Of COMMON I'WAS
10451 GUlf IIOUI,~V "I':p I Of CUM~~RlANP COUNTY,
TR~ASUR~ ISI,A~IP, f~ 3:36736 I pf:NNSn VANIA
l'IQlnlltf )
V5, I
ATlANTIC I'RI:IGI'1T SYSTEMS, INC, )
6111 AND WATI:;I~ STRt:I:T~ I
Nf:W CUMOf:RINIP, 1'/\ 17070 I
) !,
ATI.ANTlC I'Rr:lGHT SYSTEMS, INC, I
2316 OAYNArm !\OlJlf:VARI) )
WilMINGTON, Df: 191302 I 1'10, 99-1723
)
I-IARRY GROSSMAN I
'15 I-IAWI:MAN AVEI'IlJ/: I
N~W CUMIJI:RI.AND, 1'/\ 17070, I
I
SUSAN A, GROSSMAN )
95 I-IAWEMAN AVENLJ~ I
Nf:W CUMOf:RI.AND, 1'/\ 17070 )
I CIVIl. ACTION -LAW
I'f:NNCO TRUCKING, INC, I
6'h AND WAT/:R srrmm I
I'II:W CUM/lf:RI.ANI), 1'/\ 17070 I
)
GROff 8. SOMES I
1>'0, /lOX 120 )
MARI.TON, NJ 06447 I
I JURY TRIAl D~MANDf:D
MICHAel BAKER I
C/O GROff: 8. SOMES I
1',0, /lOX 120 )
MARI.TON, N.J 06447 )
Deferldtlnts )
P..ll.fllil~Q r~TITIQ~110R LEAVE TO CONDUCT
P~E-COMPLl\INT DISCOVERY AND TO n(I~D TIME FQ1LfILlNG COMPLAIM
AND NOW COlr'3 Ih(? qbove-named ()t~fetldon's, HOllY Grossman, Susan
Grossrnan, and Penneo Trucking, Inc, (herelnartEf selectively referred to as
IPefandants"ll:lY IIwlr all arney, Samuel ~,Ande~, and makes IIla following Answer to
Plaintiff's Petition!
1, Aclmlfled,
2,. Aclmllled,
3, Admlfled, l1y way of further answer, D(~fenclants Incorporate herein py
reference 1116' averments set out In their New Matter,
4, Denied, Plaintiff has asserted a claim I~galnst all of the Defendants and Sllould
have aclequate Informallon and knOWledge to Justify the filling of a claim before
commencing lI11gal/on against parl/es, Such Informallon should be adequate for Plaintiff.
to file a Complaint In 1I1ls malter,
5, Admitted, However, during the term of the polley, acldltlonal vehicles were
supslltuted for those originally covered uncler thEI polley,
6, Admitted,
7, Ills admitted that Plaintiff c1enled coverage but deny that such denial Was
proper because the vehicle had been added to coverage under the polley Py AIIantlc
Freight Systems, Inc, prior to the Incident which gave rise to the olalm,
a, Paragraph 8 of Plaintiff's Petition states conclusions of law to which no factual
answer Is required,
9, Admitted, Defendants deny, however, tllat any Defendallt owes Plaintiff any
reimbursement or any sums whatsoever,
10, It I~ aqmltteq that Atlantic I:relgl1t ~yslerns, Inc" went out of puslness prior to
the Jury's verqlct,
11, Denleq, PenneD TrUcking, Inc, has nol conqucted I:>uslness for several years
anq Wqs not conducting puslness at any time relevanllo this sull,
12, It Is admltteq that I-lorry Grossman, In Ills capaclly as an officer of Atlantic
Freight SY$tems, Ino, advlseel that corporation's Insurance agent to add vehicles 10 the
polley Issueq I:>y the Plqlnllff, Grossman denies tllat Ihe vehicle Involved In the acclqent
was not one of tile vellldes 10 be added to the polley,
13, Defendants are not able to characterize or describe the claims being
asserted by Plaintiff In this matter because PlalnUff has nol flied a Complaint or otllGrwlse
made Its claims known,
14, Denied, Plaintiff Is not "potentially" pursing claims against I-lorry Grossman
and Susan Grossman but has, In fact, flied a sulll)galnst them, exposed them to the cost
of defending the litigation, and Is otherwise actively asserting claims against them, I-lorry
Grossman and Susan Grossman specifically deny Ihat they were the "allered ego" of
Atlantic Freight Systems, Inc" that they have not properly wound up,the affairs of that
corporation, or that they have disposed of Its assets knowing of any claim or potential
claim by Plaintiff against that corporation,
15, It Is aclmltted fllat Plaintiff makes such claim against I~ennco Trucking, Ine" put
Defendants deny that I~ennco Tr~lcklng, Inc, Is or wos on "altereq ego" of Atlantic Freight
Systems, Inc, or Ihat It was a successor 10 Atlantic Freight Systems, Inc,
16, Denleq, I~lalntlff has flied suit against I-Iarry Grossman, Susan Grossman, and
penneD TrueklhQ, Inc, and should not have dOnE! so without some factual pasls for lis
claim, If IIllas (llegql anel ethical pasls for Its claim, Plaintiff sllould have sufflclenl
Information to draft a complaint.
17, l)enled, Plaintiff elfller has a factual basis to file suit agalnsl I-Iarry Grossman,
Susan Grossman, and Pennco Trucking, Inc" or It does no!. If It does nol have a factual
pasls, It Is Improper for Plaintiff to have commenced Ihls action, If II does IKlve a factual
basis, It must 'lave enough Information to draft I) complaint. Ills not necessary that
Plaintiff engage In extensive discovery or review documents 1'101 otherwise available to
Plaintiff to draft such a complaint. The averments set out In the following New Matter are
Incorporated Ilereln by reference,
, 18, It Is admitted that Plaintiff makes such request but denies fllat such request Is
reasonable, The averments set out In New Mafler are Incorporated herein Py reference,
19, Denied, Plaintiff has flied suit agalnsl Harry Grossman, Susan Grossman, and
PenneD Trucking, Inc, and has odmltted, In lis Petition, Ihal It has no legal or factual basis
for such a claim, T11US Plaintiff has subjected those three parties 10 the embarrassment.
and expense of suit and litigation without legal Cor factual cause, Harry Grossman, Susan
Grossman, anq penneo TruGklng, Ino. have peen prejuqlcecl Clnq sUffereq detriment anq
will continue to suffer prejudice and detriment If Plaintiff Is alloweq to continue this action
t11rougll discovery Wltllout setting forth tile nature of Plaintiff's Complaint.
WH~R~FQR~, I-Iarry Grossman, susan Grossman, and Pennoo TrUcking, Ino, pray this
Court to dismiss Plaintiff's Petition and to give Plaintiff 20 days to file a Complaint or suffer
JUdgment by non pros,
Ii~W MATTCIl
20, Plaintiff was aware, In September of 1994, of all of Its claims agqlnst Atlantic
Freight Systems, Inc, cHld the other Defendants In this action,
21,. From September of 1994 until filing tile) Instant Petition, Plaintiff made no InqullY
of any of the Defendants regarding any claims 9r potential claims Plaintiff had against
any of the Defendc)nts, During that same time, i'lalntlff and lis representatives were In
frequent contact with the Defendants to obtain Information regarding the olall'n by
Deloris Michelangelo,
22. In late 1997, Plaintiff made demand upon various of the Defendants for
contribution and reimbursement for the costs of The MIChelangelo IlIlgatlon. From that
time until the Instanl Petition. Plaintiff made no fLrlher Inquiry as 10 any of the
[)efendanls, their financial slluCltlons, or their relallonshlps,
23, Plaintiff commenced this action by f1111'lg a Wrll of Summons on 23 March 199'/,
24, ~etween Marcil of 1999 and JUly of 11?99. counsel for Plaintiff and counsel for
Defenqqnts, l'lorry Grossman, Susan Grossman, and pennco Trucking, Inc" lilxc!langed
corresponqence In which pefendants' counsel Inquired aIJout the nature of Plalnllff's
claim against his clients and Plaintiff's attorney e~pressed an Ina!)II"y to st(~te or explain
Plalnllff's claim or the natl)re of that clalm, Copies of that correspondence are
attached hereto and marked. collecllvely, as ~xhlIJIf A,
25, Plalnllff undertook no discovery and made no formal request for Information
from Morell of 1999 until filing the Instant Pelltlon,
26, Plaintiff Is not aware of any facts to support Its claim against the Defendants
and has acknOWledged as much In Its attorneY'l1 correspondence and In this Instant
Petition,
27. Plaintiff has only a theory 10 support the claim It hau flied In this ()ctlon and has
admitted" has no facts to support that t11eory,
28, Plaintiff's d(~mand for discovery in this matter Is nollllng more than a "fishing
expedlllon,"
29. Harry Grosstnan. Susan .Grossman. and Pennco Trucking, Inc" against which
Plaintiff can state no valid claim and against whom Plaintiff can cite no facts to support
such a claim. have alr-eady been subjected to the public embarrassment of this acllon
and the cost' and other Inconvenience of this IItl(Jallon, They are PI'eJudlced cmd
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