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246 Pa. Code Rule 1002. Time and Method of Appeal.

APPEAL


Rule 1002. Time and Method of Appeal.

 A.  A party aggrieved by a judgment for money, or a judgment affecting the delivery of possession of real property arising out of a nonresidential lease, may appeal the judgment within 30 days after the date of the entry of the judgment by filing with the prothonotary of the court of common pleas a notice of appeal on a form that shall be prescribed by the State Court Administrator together with a copy of the Notice of Judgment issued by the magisterial district judge. The prothonotary shall not accept an appeal from an aggrieved party that is presented for filing more than 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment without leave of court and upon good cause shown.

 B.(1)  Except as otherwise provided in subdivision B(2), a party aggrieved by a judgment for the delivery of possession of real property arising out of a residential lease may appeal the judgment within 10 days after the date of the entry of judgment by filing with the prothonotary of the court of common pleas a notice of appeal on a form that shall be prescribed by the State Court Administrator, together with a copy of the Notice of Judgment issued by the magisterial district judge. The prothonotary shall not accept an appeal from an aggrieved party that is presented for filing more than 10 days after the date of entry of judgment without leave of court and upon good cause shown.

 (2)(a)  A tenant who is aggrieved by a judgment for the delivery of possession of real property arising out of a residential lease, and who is a victim of domestic violence, may appeal the judgment within 30 days after the date of the entry of judgment by filing with the prothonotary of the court of common pleas a notice of appeal on a form that shall be prescribed by the State Court Administrator, together with a copy of the Notice of Judgment issued by the magisterial district judge, and a domestic violence affidavit.

     (b)   The domestic violence affidavit shall be on a form prescribed by the State Court Administrator, and affirm that the tenant is a victim of domestic violence.

     (c)   The domestic violence affidavit shall contain the name of the tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, the name of the perpetrator, the perpetrator’s relationship to the tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, and the docket number for any protection from abuse case involving the tenant who is a victim of domestic violence and the perpetrator, as well as a verification by the tenant.

     (d)   The domestic violence affidavit is not a public record and shall not be publically accessible.

   Official Note

   The 30-day limitation in subdivision A of this rule is the same as that found in the Judicial Code §  5571(b), 42 Pa.C.S. §  5571(b), as amended by Section 10(67) of the Judiciary Act Repealer Act, Act of April 28, 1978, P.L. 202, No. 53. The 10-day limitation in subdivision B(1) of this rule, as well as the 30-day limitation in subdivision B(2), is designed to implement the time for appeal set forth in Section 513 of the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (Act No. 1995-33, approved July 6, 1995) (Act No. 1995-33 was suspended by the Pa. Supreme Court on March 28, 1996 by Order of Court insofar as the Act is inconsistent with Rules of Civil Procedure Governing Actions and Proceedings Before Magisterial District Judges, as adopted by that Order.) This rule is intended to clarify the appeal timelines for different types of cases. When an appeal is taken from any judgment for money, or a judgment affecting a nonresidential lease, under these rules, the 30-day period of time for appeal applies. When the right of possession of residential real estate is at issue, and the tenant is not a victim of domestic violence, the shorter, 10-day period for appeal applies. When an appeal is taken from a judgment affecting a residential lease and the tenant is a victim of domestic violence, the 30-day appeal period applies. A party may appeal the money portion of a judgment only within the 30-day appeal period specified in subdivision A of this rule. It is the intent of this rule that no supersedeas under Rule 1008 shall be issued by the prothonotary after the 10-day period for filing an appeal, unless a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence files a domestic violence affidavit with the magisterial court within 30 days of the date of entry of judgment or by order of court.

   The method of appeal is by filing with the prothonotary a ‘‘notice of appeal’’ on a form to be prescribed by the State Court Administrator. Copies of this same form will be used for service under Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 1005. This permits use of the same form for filing and service. No useful purpose would be served by having two forms, one called an ‘‘appeal’’ for filing and another called a ‘‘notice of appeal’’ for service.

   The domestic violence affidavit set forth in subdivision B(2) shall be on a form prescribed by the State Court Administrator. The domestic violence affidavit shall contain the name of the tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, the name of the perpetrator, the perpetrator’s relationship to the tenant who is a victim of domestic violence, and the docket number for any protection from abuse case involving the tenant who is a victim of domestic violence and the perpetrator. The affidavit shall contain the tenant’s verification that the statements made in the affidavit are true and correct to the best of the tenant’s knowledge, information, and belief, and that any false statements are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. §  4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities. If the tenant filed the domestic violence affidavit with the magisterial district court prior to filing the appeal, the tenant shall attach a copy of the previously filed affidavit to the appeal rather than filing a new affidavit. The landlord shall only challenge the domestic violence affidavit by filing an appropriate motion in the court of common pleas. No action challenging the domestic violence affidavit on any grounds shall be filed in the magisterial district court. See Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 514.1.

   The domestic violence affidavit is not a public record and it shall not be publically accessible. See Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Section 9.0F.

   The 1990 amendment is intended to encourage the complete utilization of the hearing process available before the magisterial district judge.

   A copy of the Notice of Judgment must be filed since it will contain the separate entries required by Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 514A and will be needed by the prothonotary.

Source

   The provisions of this Rule 1002 amended April 25, 1979, effective May 25, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1499; amended March 27, 1992, effective 90 days from the date on which the Order is signed, 22 Pa.B. 1893 and 1900; amended March 28, 1996, effective March 29, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 1691; amended December 15, 2000, effective January 1, 2001, 30 Pa.B. 6882; corrected July 28, 2006, effective January 1, 2001, 36 Pa.B. 3997; amended August 19, 2020, effective January 1, 2021, 50 Pa.B. 4502. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (386619) to (386620).


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