Freundlich & Litman, LLC v. Feierstein, E.

J-A31013-16

2017 PA Super 40

FREUNDLICH & LITTMAN, LLC AND IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

GREGORY CREED LITTMAN, ESQUIRE, PENNSYLVANIA

Appellants

v.

EDWARD T. FEIERSTEIN, BRUCE

CHASAN AND LAW OFFICES OF BRUCE J.

CHASAN,

Appellees No. 3381 EDA 2015

Appeal from the Order Entered October 8, 2015

In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County

Civil Division at No(s): 150401569 April Term, 2015

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., MOULTON, J., and FITZGERALD, J.*

OPINION BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Appellants, Freundlich & Littman, LLC and Gregory Creed Littman,

Esquire, appeal from the trial court’s October 8, 2015 order sustaining

Appellees’, Edward T. Feierstein, Bruce Chasan and Law Offices of Bruce J.

Chasan, preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer. After careful

review, we vacate and remand.

The trial court summarized the factual background and procedural

history of this case as follows:

On June 25, 2013, [Appellants] Freund[l]ich & Littman,

LLC and Gregory Creed Littman, Esq. … were hired to represent

a client in a negligence suit against [Appellees] Bruce Chasan

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*

Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.

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and Law Office of Bruce Chasan LLC’s … client. [Appellees] filed

a counterclaim in the suit against [Appellants]. [Appellants]

allege that the counterclaim was completely meritless and

procedurally improper. [Appellants] further allege that the

counterclaim arose, not out of a genuine case strategy, but as

retaliation for one of the [Appellants’] brother[’]s testifying as a

key witness in an unrelated criminal trial against [Appellee

Feierstein]. [Appellants] claim that [Appellees’] litigation of the

counterclaim in the case were attempts to bully and harass

[Appellants] from dropping the negligence case and to intimidate

[Appellant Littman’s] brother into not testifying in the unrelated

criminal matter. [Appellants] also cite two e-mails [Appellee

Feierstein] sent that amounted to a litany of insults to both

[Appellant Littman] and his brother.

In April 2014, the Honorable Alice Beck Dubow, then Judge

of the Court of Common Pleas and now Judge of the Superior

Court of Pennsylvania, dismissed the counterclaim with prejudice

and [Appellees] did not appeal.[1] In June 2014, the case

proceeded to arbitration which, while contentious, resulted in a

decision for [Appellants]. Although [Appellees] appealed the

decision, the case eventually settled. However, through this

time, [Appellants] allege that [Appellees’] behavior escalated,

including several threatening and insulting e-mails.

In the instant case, [Appellants] are suing [Appellees] for

the injuries incurred from the allegedly frivolous counterclaim,

which they claim amounted to a wrongful use of proceedings and

an abuse of process. On July 20, 2015, [Appellees] filed

Preliminary Objections to [Appellants’] Complaint seeking, inter

alia, a demurrer of the Complaint due to judicial immunity. On

August 9, 2015, [Appellants] filed a response to [Appellees’]

Preliminary Objections in opposition. On October 8, 2015, this

[c]ourt entered an order granting [Appellees’] Preliminary

Objections in the nature of a demurrer, based on the doctrine of

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1

We note that Appellees adamantly contest this fact, asserting that “Judge

Dubow never entered a ruling dismissing [Appellee] Feierstein’s

Counterclaim, with prejudice.” See Appellees’ Brief at 9 n.3 (emphasis in

original; citations omitted). Instead, Appellees claim that Judge Dubow

merely denied with prejudice the recovery of attorneys’ fees in connection

with the litigation of a discovery motion. Id.

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judicial immunity. On October 15, 2015, [Appellants] filed a

Motion for Reconsideration. On October 21, 2015, [Appellees]

filed their response opposing [Appellants’] Motion for

Reconsideration. On October 27, 2015, this [c]ourt denied

[Appellants’] Motion for Reconsideration. On November 2, 2015,

[Appellants] filed a Notice of Appeal. That same day, this Court

issued a [Pa.R.A.P.] 1925(b) order. On November 12, 2015,

[Appellants] responded with a Statement of Matters Complained

on Appeal….

Trial Court Opinion (TCO), 1/12/2016, at 1-3.

In sustaining Appellees’ preliminary objections in the nature of a

demurrer and dismissing Appellants’ claims for wrongful use of civil

proceedings and abuse of process, the trial court relied exclusively on the

doctrine of judicial privilege, also known as judicial immunity. It explained

that, “[g]enerally, an attorney is entitled to absolute immunity for actions

taken in the course of representing a client in judicial proceedings.” TCO at

4 (citation omitted). As a result — despite acknowledging that

communications made in the case were “often repugnant and completely

inappropriate” — the trial court determined that the doctrine of judicial

privilege barred litigation of Appellants’ claims because “[a]ll the facts

serving as the basis of [their] [c]omplaint were clearly filed as a matter of

course for the judicial proceeding as they were counterclaims and other

communications attempting to resolve the case.” See TCO at 6-7.

In their appeal to this Court, Appellants now raise the following two

issues for our review:

1. Did the trial court err and abuse its discretion in

holding that judicial privilege and/or judicial

immunity shields an attorney from any civil liability

in a[n] Abuse of Process, Misuse of Process and

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Wrongful Use of Process action where the litigation is

instituted both without probable cause and for a

primary purpose other than securing the proper

adjudication of a claim?

2. Did the trial court err and abuse its discretion

holding that … Appellees[’] actions of filing a

Counterclaim against … Appellants was within the

regular course of judicial proceedings when

Appellees[’] motives included witness intimidation in

a separate criminal matter in Montgomery County?

Appellants’ Brief at 8.

Initially, we set forth our standard of review:

[O]ur standard of review of an order of the trial court

overruling or granting preliminary objections is to determine

whether the trial court committed an error of law. When

considering the appropriateness of a ruling on preliminary

objections, the appellate court must apply the same standard as

the trial court.

Preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer test the

legal sufficiency of the complaint. When considering preliminary

objections, all material facts set forth in the challenged pleadings

are admitted as true, as well as all inferences reasonably

deducible therefrom. Preliminary objections which seek the

dismissal of a cause of action should be sustained only in cases

in which it is clear and free from doubt that the pleader will be

unable to prove facts legally sufficient to establish the right to

relief. If any doubt exists as to whether a demurrer should be

sustained, it should be resolved in favor of overruling the

preliminary objections.

Richmond v. McHale, 35 A.3d 779, 783 (Pa. Super. 2012) (internal

citations omitted). We further note that “[w]hether a privilege exists/applies

in a given context is a question of law for the court.” Doe v. Wyoming

Valley Health Care System, Inc., 987 A.2d 758, 767 (Pa. Super. 2009)

(citation omitted).

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First, Appellants argue that “[j]udicial privilege does not shield an

attorney from civil liability in a 42 [Pa.C.S.] § 8351 [2] and common law

abuse and misuse of [c]ivil [p]rocess action where the litigation is instituted

both without probable cause and for a primary purpose other than securing

the proper adjudication of a claim including witness intimidation.”

Appellants’ Brief at 15 (emphasis omitted). They argue that “the Dragonetti

Act and [j]udicial [p]rivilege are not mutually exclusive and can co-exist.

Any holding to the contrary would prohibit any [s]tatutory or

[c]ommon [l]aw action against an [a]ttorney for abuse and/or

misuse of process.” Id. at 16 (emphasis added; citation omitted). We

agree.

The doctrine of judicial privilege provides “absolute immunity for

communications which are issued in the regular course of judicial

proceedings and which are pertinent and material to the redress or relief

sought.” Bochetto v. Gibson, 860 A.2d 67, 71 (Pa. 2004) (citation,

footnote, emphasis, and internal quotations omitted). “[T]he privilege

extends not only to communications made in open court, but also

encompasses pleadings and even less formal communications such as

preliminary conferences and correspondence between counsel in furtherance

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2

This statute, commonly referred to as the “Dragonetti Act,” regards the

wrongful use of civil proceedings. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351 et seq. For a

further discussion of this statute, see infra.

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of the client’s interest.” Richmond, 35 A.3d at 785 (quoting Pawlowski v.

Smorto, 588 A.2d 36, 41-42 (Pa. Super. 1991)) (emphasis omitted).

Moreover, “Pennsylvania … broadly applies the privilege to pertinent,

relevant and material [] statements made during the judicial process.

Courts have continually protected a variety of communications made at

various proceedings as well as statements with only minor relation to the

underlying case.” Id. at 786 (citations and quotation marks omitted). In

fact, “statements made during judicial proceedings are privileged even if the

statements are made falsely or maliciously without reasonable and probable

cause.” Id. (citations and quotation marks omitted).

Our Supreme Court has explained that “[judicial] privilege is based on

the public policy which permits all suiters, however bold and wicked,

however virtuous and timid, to secure access to the courts of justice to

present whatever claims, true or false, real or fictitious, they seek to

adjudicate.” Bochetto, 860 A.2d at 71 (citation omitted). It has recognized

that “[t]o assure that such claims are justly resolved, it is essential that

pertinent issues be aired in a manner that is unfettered by the threat of libel

or slander suits being filed.” Id. (citation omitted). Over the years, courts

have expanded the scope of judicial privilege to apply to torts beyond just

libel and slander. See Moses v. McWilliams, 549 A.2d 950, 957 (Pa.

Super. 1988) (en banc) (“While it is true that immunity from civil liability in

judicial proceedings has been applied most frequently in defamation actions,

many courts, including those in Pennsylvania, have extended the immunity

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from civil liability to other alleged torts when they occur in connection with

judicial proceedings.”). Moreover, “this privilege is extended not only to

parties so that they are not deterred from using the courts, but also to

judges so that they may administer the law without fear of consequences, to

witnesses to encourage their complete and unintimidated testimony in court,

and to counsel to enable him [or her] to best represent [a] client's

interests.” Bochetto, 860 A.2d at 71 (quotation marks and citation

omitted).

Here, Appellants bring claims for wrongful use of civil proceedings,

pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351 et seq., and common law actions for abuse

and misuse of process. It is well-established that “[a]n action for wrongful

use of civil proceedings differs from an action for abuse of process.”

Sabella v. Estate of Milides, 992 A.2d 180, 187-88 (Pa. Super. 2010)

(citation omitted). Abuse of process is a state common law claim and it

encompasses “the improper use of process after it has been issued, that is, a

perversion of it.” Id. at 188; see also Werner v. Plater-Zyberk, 799 A.2d

776, 785 (Pa. Super. 2002).3 It requires “[s]ome definite act or threat not

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3

We note that our Supreme Court has stated, in dicta, that the Dragonetti

Act “subsumes both the torts of malicious use of process and abuse of

process.” See Stone Crushed Partnership v. Kassab Archbold Jackson

& O’Brien, 908 A.2d 875, 877 n.1 (Pa. 2006). Nevertheless, since Stone

Crushed Partnership, this Court has continued to recognize common law

abuse of process claims. Cruz v. Princeton Insurance Company, 972

A.2d 14, 15 n.1 (Pa. Super. 2009) (en banc) (explaining that to establish a

claim for abuse of process, “it must be shown that the defendant (1) used a

(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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authorized by the process, or aimed at an objective not legitimate in the use

of the process...[;] there is no liability where the defendant has done

nothing more than carry out the process to its authorized conclusion, even

though with bad intentions.” Shaffer v. Stewart, 473 A.2d 1017, 1019

(Pa. Super. 1984) (citations omitted; brackets in original).

In contrast, “[m]alicious use of civil process has to do with the

wrongful initiation of such process.” Sabella, 992 A.2d at 188.

“[A]llegations of malicious prosecution invoke Pennsylvania’s statutory law in

the form of [the] wrongful use of civil proceedings statute or ‘Dragonetti

Act.’” Werner, 799 A.2d at 785. This Court has described wrongful use of

civil proceedings as “a tort arising when a person institutes civil proceedings

with a malicious motive and lacking probable cause.” Keystone Freight

Corp. v. Stricker, 31 A.3d 967, 971 (Pa. Super. 2011) (citation omitted).

By enacting the Dragonetti Act, “our legislature … abolished the common law

rule which held that an action for malicious use of process could not be

brought absent a seizure of the plaintiff’s person or property.” Rosen v.

Tesoro Petroleum Corp., 582 A.2d 27, 30 (Pa. Super. 1990) (citation

_______________________

(Footnote Continued)

legal process against the plaintiff[;] (2) primarily to accomplish a purpose

for which the process was not designed; and (3) harm has been caused to

the plaintiff”) (citation omitted); Sabella, 992 A.2d at 188 (continuing to

recognize the common law cause of action for abuse of process); Lerner v.

Lerner, 954 A.2d 1229, 1238 (Pa. Super. 2008) (detailing how Pennsylvania

common law defines a cause of action for abuse of process) (citation

omitted).

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omitted).4 This Court has observed that “by making it easier to establish a

case of malicious prosecution, the Pennsylvania legislature has expressed an

interest in providing greater protection to those individuals and entities who

may be forced to defend a baseless suit.” Id. at 31.

The Dragonetti Act requires, in pertinent part, the following elements

to establish a cause of action under the statute:

(a) Elements of action.--A person who takes part in the

procurement, initiation or continuation of civil proceedings

against another is subject to liability to the other for

wrongful use of civil proceedings:

(1) He acts in a grossly negligent manner or without

probable cause and primarily for a purpose other

than that of securing the proper discovery, joinder of

parties or adjudication of the claim in which the

proceedings are based; and

(2) The proceedings have terminated in favor of the

person against whom they are brought.

42 Pa.C.S. § 8351(a). Additionally, this statute allows a plaintiff to seek

recovery for, inter alia, “[t]he harm to his [or her] reputation by any

defamatory matter alleged as the basis of the proceedings[.]” 42 Pa.C.S. §

8353(2).

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4

See also Remarks of Representative Spencer, 70 Pa. Legislative Journal

(House) at 2634 (Nov. 19, 1980) (explaining that the “purpose” of the

Dragonetti Act “is to abolish what is known as the old English rule[,]” and

resolve “whether or not a person has to be imprisoned or his personal

property confiscated before he [or she] can seek redress”).

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Here, Appellants argue that “[t]he trial court erred and abused its

discretion by making the blanket ruling that any and all conduct[,] no matter

how perverse, repugnant and completely inappropriate[,] is protected by the

[j]udicial [p]rivilege.” Appellants’ Brief at 21 (internal quotations and

citations to the record omitted). They maintain that “judicial privilege would

not be available to Appellees if it were proved through discovery or at trial

that they participated in and furthered a perversion of legal process.” Id. at

22 (citations omitted). In other words, Appellants seem to argue that

judicial privilege does not apply to claims regarding wrongful use of civil

proceedings and abuse of process. In support, Appellants cite Silver v.

Mendel, 894 F.2d 598 (3d Cir. 1990),5 in which the United States Court of

Appeals for the Third Circuit reasoned that “Pennsylvania would not have

the Dragonetti Act if Pennsylvania’s judicial privilege protected the

filing of an action without probable cause and primarily for a

purpose other than to secure relief.” Id. (emphasis added). It further

stated:

The judicial privilege has long existed in jurisdictions

which, like Pennsylvania, recognize the tort of wrongful use of

civil proceedings. These two policies—protection of

communications necessary to the litigation of claims and

imposition of liability for the wrongful use of civil proceedings—

can coexist because imposition of liability for the wrongful use of

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5

Our Supreme Court has declined to follow Silver on other grounds,

specifically by holding that the Bankruptcy Code “preempts a state law claim

of abuse of process based upon a frivolous claim filed in Bankruptcy Court

proceedings….” See Stone Crushed Partnership, 908 A.2d at 880.

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civil proceedings occurs only when litigation is instituted both

without probable cause and primarily for a purpose other than

that of securing the proper adjudication of the claim in which the

proceedings are based and because, when these requirements

are met, immunity for the filing of the complaint is not necessary

to further the interests protected by judicial immunity.

Id. at 603-04 (footnote and emphasis omitted).

In applying judicial privilege to Appellants’ complaint alleging wrongful

use of civil proceedings and abuse of process, the trial court cites multiple

cases to demonstrate that judicial privilege attaches to all tortious behavior,

including Appellants’ claims of malicious use and abuse of process.6 See

TCO at 5. However, neither it nor Appellees have cited any cases — and we

have found none — where this Court or our Supreme Court have held that

judicial privilege bars litigation of claims specifically arising under the

Dragonetti Act.7 To reach such a holding would virtually eviscerate this

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6

The trial court cites the case of Brown v. Delaware Valley Transplant

Program, 539 A.2d 1372 (Pa. Super. 1988), asserting that this Court

affirmed the dismissal of a claim for abuse of process because judicial

privilege applied. See TCO at 5. We believe this is an inaccurate statement.

Although the underlying complaint in that case included, inter alia, a claim

for malicious use of process, it was dismissed by the trial court because the

appellants “failed to allege the requisite elements of an action for malicious

use of process under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8351, as [the appellees’] petition [in the

prior proceeding] did not assert claims against [the] appellants or seek any

relief from them.” Brown, 539 A.2d at 1374. On appeal to this Court, the

appellants did not contest that aspect of the trial court’s ruling.

7

We find persuasive the case of Lin v. Rohn Haas Co., in which the United

States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania considered

whether Pennsylvania’s judicial privilege provides a defense to a retaliation

claim under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (“PHRA”), 43 Pa.C.S. §§

952 et seq. Lin v. Rohn Haas Co., No. 2:11-cv-3158-WY, 2014 WL

(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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statutory cause of action, which only took effect in 1981.8 In addition, as

stated supra, the Dragonetti Act explicitly permits a plaintiff to recover for

“the harm to his [or her] reputation by any defamatory matter alleged as

the basis of the proceedings[,]” which further suggests that judicial privilege

does not apply to actions brought pursuant to this statute. See 42 Pa.C.S. §

8353(2).

We also struggle with the trial court’s conclusion that judicial privilege

must apply to Appellants’ common law abuse of process claim. Our research

has uncovered only one appellate case holding that judicial privilege barred

an abuse of process claim in this Commonwealth. In that case, the

appellant filed a complaint, “alleging causes of action sounding in libel,

conspiracy to libel, malicious use and abuse of process, and invasion of

privacy; all arising out of a series of alleged libelous statements contained in

a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and in a brief in support thereof….”

_______________________

(Footnote Continued)

3509982, at *1 (E.D. Pa. July 16, 2014). In that case, the plaintiff sued her

former employer for, among other things, its conduct in a lawsuit it initiated

in state court. Id. In determining that judicial privilege did not apply, the

court observed that the employer did not present authority identifying “the

judicial privilege as a defense to a statutory cause of action such as the

PHRA, let alone [authority that] identifies the judicial privilege as a defense

to a PHRA claim specifically.” Id. (citations omitted).

8

This Court has previously noted that the Dragonetti Act became effective

on February 17, 1981, and “is applicable to causes of action accruing

thereafter….” See Shaffer, 473 A.2d at 1019.

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Passon v. Spritzer, 419 A.2d 1258, 1259 (Pa. Super. 1980).9 In short,

the libelous statements purportedly “represent[ed] the latest effort by [the]

appellee[, who had been convicted of killing her husband,] to cast suspicion

upon [the] appellant[, the brother-in-law of the appellee,] and thereby

create[d] doubt as to the appellee’s guilt for the murder of her (appellee’s)

husband….” Id. (footnote omitted). The appellee filed preliminary

objections in the nature of a demurrer, of which we noted “[t]he gravamen

of [the] appellees’ demurrer is the defense of absolute privilege uttered in

and relevant to a judicial proceeding.” Id.10 The trial court sustained the

appellees’ preliminary objections and the appellant subsequently appealed to

this Court. On appeal, we affirmed the trial court’s order; notably, however,

the appellant did not specifically question, nor did this Court analyze, the

application of judicial privilege to his causes of action for malicious use and

abuse of process.

Indeed, even Appellees seem to acknowledge the folly of such a broad

application of judicial privilege, declaring that “it was not Appellees’ intent to

suggest that the doctrine of judicial immunity/privilege bars a well-pleaded

claim under the Dragonetti Act, or a well-pleaded claim for common law

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9

We note that this case predates the Dragonetti Act.

10

Based on this language, it is unclear to us if other defenses aside from

judicial privilege had been raised, which may have barred the appellant’s

malicious use and abuse of process claims.

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abuse of process. Rather, Appellees argued that … Appellants failed to state

legally valid claims for wrongful use of civil proceedings and abuse of

process.” Appellees’ Brief at 34-35 (citations to record omitted). Yet, in its

opinion, the trial court never addressed whether Appellants stated ‘legally

valid claims’ for those causes of action, but instead applied judicial privilege

on the sole basis that “[a]ll the facts serving as the basis of the [c]omplaint

were clearly filed as a matter of course for the judicial proceeding….” TCO at

6. It seems axiomatic that, in order to litigate a claim under the Dragonetti

Act or for common law abuse of process, the aggrieved party would have to

discuss, at the very least, the pleadings and allegations underlying the prior,

purportedly improper action.

Furthermore, we conclude that applying judicial privilege in this case

would not further its purpose. Our Supreme Court has stated that judicial

privilege “has been applied by the Superior Court in actions other than for

defamation when the court has determined that the extension of

immunity is in furtherance of the policy underlying the doctrine.”

LLMD of Michigan, Inc. v. Jackson-Cross Co., 740 A.2d 186, 189 (Pa.

1999) (citations omitted; emphasis added).11 This Court has previously

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11

We have indeed considered the policy implications of applying judicial

privilege in multiple cases. See McGuire v. Shubert, 722 A.2d 1087, 1091

(Pa. Super. 1998) (“We find that the policy bases for applying the doctrine of

absolute immunity … are not present in the instant appeal.”); Moses, 549

A.2d at 957 (“Such an extension of immunity evinces the strong policy

behind the privilege…. Recognizing a cause of action for breach of

(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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recognized that the policy underlying judicial privilege is to “leave reasonably

unobstructed the paths which lead to the ascertainment of truth and to

encourage witnesses with knowledge of facts relevant to judicial proceedings

to give complete and unintimidated testimony.” Moses, 549 A.2d at 957

(citations and quotations omitted). However, individuals who bring lawsuits

with malicious motive and lacking probable cause, or that use the legal

process for an illegitimate end after a suit has been initiated, are not seeking

the ascertainment of truth or to encourage candor from witnesses.

Moreover, courts throughout this Commonwealth have recognized that

parties should be held liable for bringing improper actions and exploiting the

legal process.12 Finally, adequate safeguards exist to ensure that a bona

fide litigant is not penalized for pursing an action or defending itself.13

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(Footnote Continued)

confidentiality in the factual context of the case at bar will undermine this

policy.”); Clodgo by Clodgo v. Bowman, 601 A.2d 342, 345-46 (Pa.

Super. 1992) (“The rationale for the immunity applies just as strongly to

medical malpractice actions as to any other type of civil action.”).

12

See, e.g., McNeil v. Jordan, 894 A.2d 1260, 1274 (Pa. 2006) (“This

concern for dilatory, vexatious, or otherwise abusive litigation conduct is

reflected elsewhere in Pennsylvania law. Specifically, our ‘Dragonetti Act[]’…

provides a statutory basis for relief for wrongful use of civil proceedings.”);

Stone Crushed Partnership, 908 A.2d at 877 n.1 (“In response to

frivolous lawsuits, the Pennsylvania Legislature enacted the [Dragonetti] Act,

which punishes both the client and the attorney for bringing a wrongful civil

action.”); Electronic Laboratory Supply Co. v. Cullen, 712 A.2d 304, 309

(Pa. Super. 1998) (“[A]n attorney who knowingly prosecutes a groundless

action to accomplish a malicious purpose may be held accountable under the

Dragonetti Act.”) (citations omitted); Gentzler v. Atlee, 660 A.2d 1378,

1386 (Pa. Super. 1995) (“We need not endorse the protection of lawyers

and litigants who intentionally cast their lawsuit net too wide, perhaps in the

(Footnote Continued Next Page)

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Thus, based on the foregoing, we hold that judicial privilege does not

apply to Appellants’ claims for wrongful use of civil proceedings and abuse of

process. Because the trial court sustained Appellees’ preliminary objections

in the nature of a demurrer on the sole basis of judicial privilege, we vacate

the trial court’s order and remand this case for the trial court to consider and

dispose of the remaining arguments in Appellees’ preliminary objections.14

Order vacated. Case remanded. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 2/23/2017

_______________________

(Footnote Continued)

hope of encouraging settlements in baseless lawsuits against defendants

who do not belong in the case.”).

13

See, e.g., Mi-Lor, Inc. v. DiPentino, 654 A.2d 1156, 1158 (Pa. Super.

1995) (“We observe, however, that an action for the wrongful use of a

counterclaim demands that courts examine such claims closely, lest a

defendant be punished for nothing more than defending himself or herself

against a claim made by another.”); Meiksin v. Howard Hanna Co., Inc.,

590 A.2d 1303, 1305 (Pa. Super. 1991) (“If probable cause is shown to have

existed, an absolute defense is established against an action for malicious

prosecution, even when express malice is proved.”) (citation omitted).

14

Because we determine that judicial privilege does not apply, we need not

consider the second issue raised by Appellants in their brief.

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