The Pennsylvania Superior Court has today affirmed a $67,140 defamation judgment awarded in my favor and against Tricia Mezzacappa. Her appeal was considered by a three-judge panel including President Judge Susan Peikes Gantman, President Judge Emeritus John T. Bender and Judge Paula Francisco Ott. Judge Bender penned the Opinion, which can be read here.
In affirming the punitive damages aspect of the award, the Court noted that Mezzacappa's "libelous statements included outrageous and unsubstantiated allegations of criminal behavior." The Court added that the purpose of this award is to "punish a tortfeasor for outrageous conduct and to deter such conduct in the future."
Mezzacappa's arguments that she was never properly notified of the trial were also rejected. So was her contention that court personnel actually misled her into thinking the case was over.
Now that the Superior Court has ruled in my favor, the judgment will be pursued vigorously. An action has already been filed over Tricia Mezzacappa's fraudulent conveyance of her West Easton home to her mother.
In addition to losing her appeal, Mezzacappa is scheduled for criminal trial next week for hiding her car after it was levied upon by the Sheriff. I am informed that she has applied for ARD, a special program for first offenders in which charges are dismissed after a period of probation. To be eligible for this program, the applicant must admit responsibility.
Thanks to the tireless work of the Sheriffs, I already have the car. Thus, I have no opposition to her application for ARD.
I will entertain no comments to this post.
