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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8355 (2026)

 Certification of pleadings, motions and other papers.

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§ 8355.  Certification of pleadings, motions and other papers.

Every pleading, motion and other paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name and his address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his pleading, motion or other paper and state his address. Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certification by him that he has read the pleading, motion or other paper; that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, it is well-grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good-faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law; and that it is not interposed in bad faith or for any improper purpose, such as to harass another, to maliciously injure another or to cause unnecessary delay or increase in the cost of litigation. If a pleading, motion or other paper is not signed, it shall be stricken unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader or movant. If a pleading, motion or other paper is signed in violation of this section, the court shall award to the successful party costs and reasonable attorney fees and may, in addition, impose a civil penalty which shall not exceed $10,000. Such costs, fees and civil penalty shall be in addition to any other judgment awarded to the successful party and shall be imposed upon the person who signed the pleading, motion or other paper, or a represented party, or both. This section is in addition to and shall not be construed to limit any other remedies or sanctions provided by law.

(Feb. 7, 1990, P.L.11, No.6, eff. 60 days)

 

1990 Amendment.  Act 6 added section 8355.

Suspension by Court Rule.  Section 8355 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1023(d), adopted March 11, 1991. Rule 1023 was rescinded April 22, 2002, effective July 1, 2002.

Section 8355 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1023.1(e), adopted April 22, 2002.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases, 1991–2020 · leading case: Villani v. Seibert Appeal of: Seibert, 159 A.3d 478 (Pa. 2017).
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Villani v. Seibert Appeal of: Seibert, 159 A.3d 478 (Pa. 2017). · cites it 2× “1(e) (reflecting the suspension of 42 Pa.C.S. §8355). According to Appellants, by suspending Section 8355, while leaving intact the remaining sections of the Act, this Court “tacitly endorsed Sections 8351 through 8354 as constitutional.”
Gentzler v. Atlee, 660 A.2d 1378 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “Title 42 Pa.C.S. § 8355 (Purdon 1982) (Supp. 1995) provides: .”
Boring v. Erie Ins. Grp., 641 A.2d 1189 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994). “One section of the act is a general provision concerning certification of pleadings, motions, and other papers, codified at 42 Pa.C.S. § 8355. Another section of the act is an amendment to the Criminal Code concerning corrupt organizations, codified at 18 Pa.”
Sw. Germantown Cmty. Dev. Corp. v. Concerned Neighbors, 598 A.2d 63 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991). “Finally, appellee claims it is entitled to costs and reasonable attorney fees pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8355. Section 8355 having been suspended by Rule 1451 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, effective May 11, 1990, we deny appellee’s request.”
Boland v. Nationwide Mut. Ins., 9 Pa. D. & C.4th 27 (1991). “Upon its own motion and outside of any case or controversy, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stayed operation of 42 Pa.C.S. §8355, which was another provision in the recently enacted Act 6.”
Leidy v. Kuhn, 11 Pa. D. & C.4th 418 (1991). · cites it 3× “1990 on January 30, 1991, applied 42 Pa.C.S. §8355 and required respondent, Ivan P.”
Leidy v. Epstein, 9 Pa. D. & C.4th 225 (1991). · cites it 3× “1990, for damages claimed pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. §8355. That case terminated favorably to all of the defendants through our order of October 1, 1990, sustaining a preliminary objection in the nature of a demurrer.”
Raynor, N. v. D'Annunzio, M., No. 36 EAP 2019 (Pa. Dec. 22, 2020). “at 35-37, quoting former 42 Pa.C.S. §8355 (suspended by Pa.R.Civ.P.”
Raynor, N. v. D'Annunzio, M., No. 36 EAP 2019 (Pa. Dec. 22, 2020). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8355 (effective until June 30, 2002), suspended by Pa.”
Raynor, N. v. D'Annunzio, Apl of: Messa, No. 35 EAP 2019 (Pa. Dec. 22, 2020). “at 35-37, quoting former 42 Pa.C.S. §8355 (suspended by Pa.R.Civ.P.”
Raynor, N. v. D'Annunzio, Apl of: Messa, No. 35 EAP 2019 (Pa. Dec. 22, 2020). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8355 (effective until June 30, 2002), suspended by Pa.”
Grove v. Scott, 17 Pa. D. & C.4th 212 (1992). “Finally, we determine that Rule 1451 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure suspends the ramifications of 42 Pa.C.S. §8355 insofar as it applies to practice and procedure in actions governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure.”
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