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Home My WebLink About03-6193CLINTON E. PORTER, III and SUSAN I. PORTER, Plaintiffs BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER and : WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, : Defendants : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CUMBERLAND CO., PENNSYLVANIA NOTICE CIVIL ACTION - LAW 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 orfor any other claim or relief requested by the Plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights impomant to you. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT 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. Lawyer Referral Service Cumberland County Bar Association 2 Liberty Avenue Carlisle, PA 17013 717-249-3166 CLINTON E. PORTER, m ana SUSAN I. PORTER, Plaintiffs BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER and WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, Defendants IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CUMBERLAND CO., PENNSYLVANIA NO. CIVIL ACTION - LAW NO~C~ Le hah demandado a usted en la torte. Si usted quiere defenderse de estas dema~d~ expuestas en las paginas siguientes, usted tiene viente (20) dias de plazo al partir de la fecha de la demanda y la nofificacion. Usted debe presentar una apariencia escrita o en persona o pot abogado y archivar en la corte en forma escrita sus defensas o sus objecfiones a las demandas en contra de su persona. Sea adisado que si usted no se defiende, la sin previo aviso o notification y por cualquier quja o puede perder dinero o sus propiedades o otros derechos importantes para usted. LLEVE ESTA DEMANDA A UN ABOGADO IMMEDIATAMENTE. SI NO TIENE ABOGADO O SI NO TIENE EL DINERO SUFICIENTE DE PAGAR TAL SERVICIO, VAYA EN PERSONA O LLAME POR TELEFONO A LA OFICINA CUYA DIRECCION SE ENCUENTRA ESCRITA ABA JO PARA AVERIGUAR DONDE SE PUEDE CONSEGUIR ASISTENCLA LEGAL. Lawyer Refenal Service Cumberland County Bar Association 2 Liberty Avenue Carlisle, PA 17013 717-249-3166 CLINTON E. PORTER, HI and SUSAN I. PORTER, Plaintiffs Mo BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER and WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, Defendants IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CUMBERLAND CO., PENNSYLVANIA NO. 03-&/~ CIVIL ACTION - LAW COMPLAINT AND NOW, come the Haintiffs, Clinton E. Porter, III and Susan I. Porter, by their attorneys, Ooldberg, Ka~man & Shipman, P.C. who state: COUNT I CLINTON E. PORTER, HI AND SUSAN L PORTER BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER at 314 Heisers Lane, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 2. Defendants Benjamin Christopher and William Christopher Plaintiffs Clinton E. Porter, III and Susan I. Porter are adult individn_M residing are adult individuals residing at 251 McKnight Road, Carlisle, Cmnberland County, Pennsylvania. 3. This matter involves a motor vehicle accident that occurred on May 24, 2003 on Petersburg Road in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 4. Plaintiff Clinton E. Porter, HI was operating a 2000 L'mcoln Town Car and proceeding in a northerly direction on Petersburg Road at approximately 4:00 p.m. 5. Defendant Benjamin. Christopher was operating a 1995 Honda Accord owned by William Christopher and proceeding in a southerly direction on Petersburg Road. 6. Benjamin Christopher lost control of the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to cross the center line of the roadway and impact with the front end of the Porter vehicle, resulting in that vehicle being declared a total loss. The accident was solely as a result of the negligence of Benjamin Christopher in that he: a. failed to operate his vehicle at a proper speed; b. failed to keep his vehicle within the appropriate lane of travel; c. failed to operate a vehicle consistent with the weather conditions then and there existing; d. allowed his motor vehicle to cross the center line of the roadway and impact the front end of the Porter vehicle; and e. violated the Rules and Regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regarding the operation of motor vehicles. 8. Solely as the result of the negligence, carelessness and recklessness of Defendant Benjamin Christopher, the Porter vehicle was declared a total loss, having a value less salvage of $20,599.86. In addition, as a result of the accident, Plaintiffs Porter incurred expenses for a rental vehicle in the amount of $177.35. WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand Judgment against Defendant Benjamin Christopher, jointly and severally, in the amount of $21,777.21. This amount requires submission ofthis claim to compulsory arbitration pursuant to the local rules of court. 2 COUNT H CLINTON E. PORTER, HI AND SUSAN L PORTER V. WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER 9. The averments of paragraphs 1 through 8 are incorporated herein by reference. 10. At the 6me and place aforesaid, Benjamin Christopher acted as the agent, servant or employee of William Christopher in the operation of a motor vehicle. 11. In the alternative, William Christopher knew or should have known that Benjarnln Christopher was not capable of safely operating the motor vehicle and therefore William Christopher negligently entrusted the vehicle to Benjamin Christopher. 12, In the alternative, William Christopher as the parent of the minor driver, Benjamin Christopher, is responsible pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §$$01 et. seq., the Liability for Tortious Acts of Children. 13. William Christopher is responsible under applicable law for the damages caused by Benjamin Christopher arising l~om this accident as set forth above. WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand Judgment against Defendant William Christopher, jointly and severally, in the amount of $21,777.21. This is an amount requiring submission of this claim to compulsory arbitration pursuant to the rules of court. GOLDBERG, KATZMAN & SHIPMAN, P.C. D~t¢: Thomas E. Brenner, Esquire Attorney ID #32085 PO Box 1268 Harrisburg, PA 17108 717-234-4161 Attorneys for Plaintiffs VERIFICATION We, Clinton E. Porter, HI and Susan I Porter, hereby acknowledge that we are the Plaintiffs in this action; that we have read the foregoing Complsint and that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of our knowledge, information and belief. We understand that any false statements herein are made subject to penalties of 18 Pa. C.S. Section 4904, relating to unswom falsification to authorities. ~linton E. Porter, HI Susan I. Porter Date: 102806.1 SHERIFF'S RETURN - REGULAR CASE NO: 2003-06193 P COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND PORTER CLINTON E III ET AL VS CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN ET AL ROBERT BITNER , Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, says, the within NOTICE CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN DEFENDANT at 0021:12 HOURS, at 251 MCKNIGHT ROAD CARLISLE, PA 17013 MARY ELLEN CHRISTOPHER (MOTHER) a true and attested copy of NOTICE COMPLAINT Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of who being duly sworn according to law, was served upon the on the 3rd day of December 2003 by handing to together with and at the same time directing Her attention to the contents thereo[. Sheriff's Costs: Docketing 18.00 Service 3.45 Affidavit .00 Surcharge 10.00 .00 31.45 Sworn and Subscribed to before me this /DE day of ~~ ~0z13 A.D. thonotary ' ' So Answers R. Thomas Kline 12/04/2003 GOLDBERG, KATZMAN & SHIPMAN ; Deputy Sheriff . SHERIFF'S RETURN - CASE NO: 2003-06193 P COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA: COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND PORTER CLINTON E III ET AL VS CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN ET AL REGULAR ROBERT BITNER Cumberland County,Pennsylvania, says, the within NOTICE CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM DEFENDANT , at 0021:12 HOURS, at 251 MCRiNIGHT ROAD CARLISLE, PA 17013 MARY ELLEN CHRISTOPHER (MOTHER) a true and attested copy of NOTICE COMPLAINT Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff of who being duly sworn according to law, was served upon the on the 3rd day of December , 2003 by handing to together with and at the same time directing Her attention to the contents thereof. Sheriff's Costs: Docketing 6.00 Service .00 Affidavit 10.00 Surcharge .00 .00 16.00 Sworn and Subscribed to before me this /o~ day of ~/ ! Prothonotary So Answers: R. Thomas Kline 12/04/2003 GOLDBERG, KATZl~kN & SHIPMAN By: Thomas E. Brenner, Esquire Goldberg Katzman, P.C. PO Box 1268 Harrisburg PA 17108-1268 717-234-4161 Attorneys for Plaintiffs CLINTON E. PORTER, III and SUSAN I. PORTER, Plaintiffs V. BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER and WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, Defendants : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS : CUMBERLAND CO., PENNSYLVANIA : : NO. 03-6193 : : : CIVIL ACTION _ LAW : : TO THE PROTHONOTARY: Please mark this action settled and discontinued. GOLDBERG KATZMAN, P.C. Thmnas E. Brenner, Esquire Attorney ID #32085 PO Box 1268 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1268 717-234-4161 Attorneys for Plaintiffs CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that I served a copy of the foregoing document upon the person(s) inchcated below by depositing a copy of same/n the United States ma/l, postage prepa/d, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and addressed as follows: Jennifer Spears, Esquire Martson, Deardorff, Williams & Otto 10 E. High Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Date: GOLDBERG KATZMAN, P.C. By:_ ~(/~,~ ~~/ nom~s ETBrenner, Esquire 114011.1