Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of Am., 178 A.2d 617 (Pa. 1962). · Go Syfert
Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of Am., 178 A.2d 617 (Pa. 1962). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
126 citation events (2 in the last 25 years) across 10 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Sherman v. Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, Inc. (pactcomplphilad, 2013-02-13)
Treatment trajectory · 1965 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1965 1995 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 17 distinct citers. How cited ↗
cited Cited as authority (rule) Sherman v. Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, Inc.
pactcomplphilad · 2013 · confidence medium
See 42 Pa. C.S. § 7341; Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of Am., 178 A.2d 617, 619 (Pa. 1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Shapiro v. Keystone Insurance
Pa. · 1989 · confidence medium
In an appeal from a common law arbitration determination, “the appellant must show by clear, precise and indubitable evidence that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable or unconscionable award____” Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Derry Township Municipal Authority v. Solomon & Davis, Inc.
Pa. · 1988 · confidence medium
Under common law arbitration, a court will vacate or modify an award only if an appellant shows “ ‘by clear, precise and indubitable evidence that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable or unconscionable award____’” Chervenak, Keane v. Hotel Rittenhouse Assoc., 328 Pa.Super. 357, 361-62 , 477 A.2d 482, 485 (1984) (quoting Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962) (emphasis added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Littlejohn v. Keystone Insurance
Pa. · 1986 · confidence medium
Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Caputo v. Allstate Insurance
Pa. · 1985 · confidence medium
Runewicz v. Keystone Insurance Co., 476 Pa. 456, 461 , 383 A.2d 189, 191-192 (1978); Allstate Insurance Co. v. Fioravanti, supra, 451 Pa. at 114 , 299 A.2d at 588 ; Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962); Mellon v. Travelers Insurance Co., 267 Pa.Super. 191, 195 , 406 A.2d 759, 761 (1979).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Chervenak, Keane & Co. v. Hotel Rittenhouse Associates, Inc.
Pa. · 1984 · confidence medium
In an appeal from a common law arbitration determination, “the appellant must show by clear, precise and indubitable evidence that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, *362 inequitable or unconscionable award____” Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cargill v. Northwestern National Insurance
Pa. · 1983 · confidence medium
Runewicz v. Keystone Insurance Co., 476 Pa. 456, 461 , 383 A.2d 189, 191-192 (1978); Allstate Insurance Co. v. Fioravanti, supra, 451 Pa. at 114 , 299 A.2d at 588 ; Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962); Mellon v. Travelers Insurance Co., 267 Pa.Super. 191, 195 , 406 A.2d 759, 761 (1979). 2 In view of the conclusiveness which is accorded the arbitrators’ award, Northwestern’s contention that the award should be set aside merely because of excessiveness is lacking in merit and must be dismissed.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Runewicz v. Keystone Insurance (2×)
Pa. · 1978 · confidence medium
To upset an arbitrator’s award, it must be shown “that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable or unconscionable award, the arbitrator being the final judge of both law and fact, his award not being subject to disturbance for a mistake of either.” Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) A. Arthur Kober Co. v. Brook Developers, Inc.
pactcomplphilad · 1976 · confidence medium
To succeed in an appeal from common-law arbitration, “appellant . . . must show by clear, precise and indubitable evidence that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable and unconscionable award, the arbitrator being the final judge of both law and fact, the award not being subject to disturbance for mistake of either.” Harwitz v. Selas Corp. of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 (1962). 3.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Runewicz v. Keystone Insurance Co.
Pa. Super. Ct. · 1975 · confidence medium
It has been frequently restated that if the appellant is to succeed he must show . . that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable or unconscionable award, the arbitrator being the final judge of both law and fact, his award not being subject to disturbance for a mistake of either.’ Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962).” Allstate Ins.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Whiting v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
Pa. Super. Ct. · 1974 · confidence medium
Co. v. Fioravanti, 451 Pa. 108, 114 , 299 A.2d 585, 588 (1973), quoting Harwitz v. Selas Corp., 406 Pa. 539, 542 , 178 A.2d 617, 619 (1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) American Arbitration Ass'n Award
Pa. Super. Ct. · 1973 · confidence medium
Co. v. Fioravanti, 451 Pa. 108, 115 , 299 A.2d 585, 589 (1973). “‘[I]f the appeal is from a common law award, appellant, to succeed, must show by clear, precise and indubitable evidence that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable or unconscionable aAvard, the arbitrator being the final judge of both law and fact, his award not being subject to disturbance for a mistake of either.’ ” Id. at 114 , 299 A.2d at 588 , quoting Harwitz v. …
cited Cited as authority (rule) Nationwide Mutual Insurance v. Barbera
Pa. · 1971 · confidence medium
Wingate Construction Company v. Schweizer Dipple, Inc., 419 Pa. 74 , 213 A. 2d 275 (1965), and Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539 , 178 A. 2d 617 *96 (1962).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Project Builders, Inc. v. Zeiders
pactcompldauphi · 1969 · confidence medium
Neither the arbitration clause of the building contract (referred to in footnote 2, supra) nor the demand for arbitration makes any reference that would indicate that the arbitration proceedings in the instant matter were instituted under the Arbitration Act of April 25, 1927, supra. Where parties do not follow in any particular the procedure outlined in the Arbitration Act of 1927, supra, and there is no evidence to the contrary, it is manifest that the award of the arbitrators was a common law award: Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539, 542 (1962).
discussed Cited "see" International Brotherhood of Firemen & Oilers, AFL-CIO Local 1201 v. School District (2×)
Pa. · 1976 · signal: see · confidence high
Co., 432 Pa. 133 , 247 A.2d 577 (1968); see Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539 , 178 A.2d 617 (1962); Pierce Steel Pipe Corp. v. Flannery, 319 Pa. 332 , 179 A. 558 (1935).
discussed Cited "see" JA Robbins Co., Inc. v. Airportels, Inc. (2×)
Pa. · 1965 · signal: see · confidence high
See Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539 , 178 A. 2d 617 (1962); Freeman v. Ajax Foundry Products, Inc., supra; Hartmann Coal Mining Co. v. Hoke, 157 F. Supp. 313 (E.D.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Campbell-Ellsworth, Inc. v. Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church-School Congregation (2×)
Pa. Super. Ct. · 1975 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Harwitz v. Selas Corporation of America, 406 Pa. 539 , 178 A. 2d 617 (1962); Allstate Ins.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Harwitz, Appellant,
v.
Selas Corporation of America
Appeal, 449.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Mar 13, 1962.
178 A.2d 617
1962 Pa. LEXIS 714
H. L. Floum, with him H. Weiner, and James Francis McGort, for appellant., Alan B, Howe, with him Edward Davis, for appellees., Theodore Voorhees, with Mm George J. Miller, and Dechert, Price & Rhoads, for defendant, appellee.
Bell, Musmanno, Jones, Cohen, Eagen, O'Brien.
Cited by 58 opinions  |  Published

Opinion by

Me. Justice O’Brien,

Appellant, in February of 1958, was an employee of appellee, Selas Corporation of America (Selas). On February 8, 1958, he left the job before completion of his shift, complaining of a back ache. He remained absent from the job until April 16, 1958, when he reported for work and was offered a job as shop cleaner and porter. Harwitz refused this offer of employment and, on April 25,1958, Selas notified him by letter that in accordance with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement between it and the appellee Union his employment was terminated.

The Union filed a grievance on behalf of Harwitz, which was processed through the various steps of the grievance procedure, except that the Union did not request arbitration until about a year later.

While the foregoing procedures were being followed, Harwitz filed a claim under the Workmen’s Compensation Act and eventually a stipulation was entered into between Harwitz and Selas’ compensation insurance carrier awarding Harwitz compensation for twenty-five (25) weeks of total disability. The Union then asked for arbitration of the original grievance on the theory that it was being held in abeyance pending the outcome of the compensation claim. The arbitrator ruled against this contention and held that the time allowed for seeking arbitration had elapsed. Relief was therefore denied to Harwitz without reference to the merits of the controversy. Harwitz continued to press for an arbitration on the merits but Selas and the Union refused to submit the matter to arbitration.

Subsequently, Harwitz filed, in the court of common pleas, a petition for a rule to show cause why the matter should not be submitted to arbitration. The rule was granted but no answers were filed and no party took any further action in connection therewith. Instead, the Union made a demand for arbitration by[*542] the American Arbitration Association and Selas voluntarily agreed.

Harwitz insisted that he be made a party to this arbitration and that specified issues, including the propriety of his discharge, be submitted to the arbitrator. The parties entered into a stipulation in compliance with Harwitz’ demand and the matter was heard and determined by the arbitrator, who resolved all issues against Harwitz.

Harwitz then filed an appeal with the court below and Selas filed a petition for a rule to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed. The appeal was dismissed by the court below and Harwitz’ appeal to this Court followed.

There is only one question before this Court, namely, was the arbitration, from which appellant appeals, a common law arbitration or an arbitration under the Arbitration Act of April 25, 1927, P. L. 381, 5 PS §161 et seq.?

If the appeal is from a common law award, appellant, to succeed, must show by clear, precise and indubitable evidence that he was denied a hearing, or that there was fraud, misconduct, corruption or some-other irregularity of this nature on the part of the arbitrator which caused him to render an unjust, inequitable and unconscionable award, the arbitrator being the final judge of both law and fact, his award not being subject to disturbance for a mistake of either. Newspaper Guild v. Philadelphia Daily News, Inc., 401 Pa. 337, 164 A. 2d 215 (1960) ; Freeman v. Ajax Foundry Products, Inc., 20 Pa. D. & C. 2d 128, affirmed 398 Pa. 457, 159 A. 2d 708 (1960); Capecci v. Capecci, Inc., 11 Pa. D. & C. 2d 459, affirmed 392 Pa. 32, 139 A. 2d 563 (1958).

A careful review of the record convinces us that the court below' was correct when it concluded that “because the parties did not follow in any particular the[*543] procedure outlined in the Arbitration Act of April 25, 1927, P. D. 381, 5 P.S. §161 et seq., and because there is no evidence to the contrary, it is manifest that the award of the arbitrators was a common law award.” The fact that Harwitz titled his pleading as “Appeal Pursuant to Arbitration Act, As Set Forth in Title 50 (Sic) Purdon’s Statute”, cannot serve to clothe the arbitration with the provisions of the statute when its provisions were not employed at the outset.

Since we hold that the award of the arbitrator was a common law award, it follows that the court below was correct in dismissing the appeal. The grounds stated in Harwitz’ appeal below and here are not such as would entitle him to review, he having failed to raise any issue of fraud, corruption or any similar irregularity or denial of a hearing.

Judgment affirmed.