Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8523 (2026)
Venue and process.
✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 8523. Venue and process.
(a) Venue.--Actions for claims against a Commonwealth party may be brought in and only in a county in which the principal or local office of the Commonwealth party is located or in which the cause of action arose or where a transaction or occurrence took place out of which the cause of action arose. If venue is obtained in the Twelfth Judicial District (Dauphin County) solely because the principal office of the Commonwealth party is located within it, any judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County shall have the power to transfer the action to any appropriate county where venue would otherwise lie.
(b) Process.--Service of process in the case of an action against the Commonwealth shall be made at the principal or local office of the Commonwealth agency that is being sued and at the office of the Attorney General.
Cross References. Section 8523 is referred to in sections 17312, 17342 of Title 16 (Counties); section 1711 of Title 74 (Transportation).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 42
cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: Ribinicky v. Yerex, 701 A.2d 1348 (Pa. 1997).
Ribinicky v. Yerex, 701 A.2d 1348 (Pa. 1997). “Specifically, the court held that although Section 333 differs from Section 8523 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523, which was at issue in Chen , the language of both statutes is substantially similar; therefore the reasoning of Chen controls.”
Piehl v. City of Philadelphia, 987 A.2d 146 (Pa. 2009). “[2] In this regard, the Commonwealth Court noted that Section 8523(b) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523(b), requires that service of process, in an action against the Commonwealth, "be made at the principal or local office of the Commonwealth agency that is being sued and…”
Piehl v. City of Philadelphia, 930 A.2d 607 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8523(b). The parties agreed at oral argument that the Piehls' complaint was served at both offices.”
Shaffer v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 842 A.2d 989 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). “The proper venue rule when Commonwealth parties are involved is Section 8523 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523: (a) Venue. — Actions for claims against a Commonwealth party may be brought in and only in a county in which the principal or local office of the Commonwealth…”
Reaves v. Knauer, 979 A.2d 404 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8523. Although Plaintiff served Knauer and the Medical Department with the complaint in November 2005, there is no proof Plaintiff served the Attorney General as required by the Sovereign Immunity Act.”
Bortulin v. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 539 A.2d 906 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1988). “In this case, venue as to PennDOT is governed by Section 8523(a) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §8523(a). Section 8523(a) provides that actions for claims against a Commonwealth party may be brought in and only in a county where the principal or local office of the…”
M. Kreidie v. Commonwealth of PA, Dept. of Revenue, 156 A.3d 380 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523(b) and Pa.R.C.P. 422(a), both of which direct a party serving process on any Commonwealth party to serve it as well on the Attorney General.”
Simons v. State Corr. Inst., 615 A.2d 924 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1992). “§ 20043, or in Cumberland County pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523. Simons was incarcerated at prisons operated by the City of Philadelphia from May 1989 to January 1990; at SCI-Camp Hill from January 1990 to April 1990; and at the State Correction Institute at Frackville…”
Alter v. Pennsylvania Gas & Water Co., 532 A.2d 913 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1987). “See Section 8523(a) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §8523(a) (providing in cases such as the instant one that venue against the Commonwealth is proper in either Dauphin County or in the county where the cause of action accrued).”
Bogetti v. Pennsylvania Dep't of Transp., 601 A.2d 421 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1991). “The preliminary objections of DOT assert that since the accident occurred in Northumberland County and PennDOT maintains a local office in Northumberland County, then the instant claim should be brought in Northumberland County pursuant to Section 8523(a) of the Judicial Code…”
Leahy v. Commonwealth, 551 A.2d 1153 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1988). “See 42 Pa. C. S. §8523, 37 Pa. Code §111.1 , and Pa.”
Barr v. Pennsylvania Dep't of State, Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, 803 A.2d 243 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002). “Section 8523 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523 (regarding civil actions and proceedings in matters affecting government units); see also Ribinicky v.”
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8523(a): 15 cases
Ribinicky v. Yerex, 701 A.2d 1348 (Pa. 1997). “Specifically, the court held that although Section 333 differs from Section 8523 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523, which was at issue in Chen , the language of both statutes is substantially similar; therefore the reasoning of Chen controls.”
Shaffer v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., 842 A.2d 989 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). “The proper venue rule when Commonwealth parties are involved is Section 8523 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523: (a) Venue. — Actions for claims against a Commonwealth party may be brought in and only in a county in which the principal or local office of the Commonwealth…”
Bortulin v. Harley-Davidson Motor Co., 539 A.2d 906 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1988). “In this case, venue as to PennDOT is governed by Section 8523(a) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §8523(a). Section 8523(a) provides that actions for claims against a Commonwealth party may be brought in and only in a county where the principal or local office of the…”
Alter v. Pennsylvania Gas & Water Co., 532 A.2d 913 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1987). “See Section 8523(a) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C. S. §8523(a) (providing in cases such as the instant one that venue against the Commonwealth is proper in either Dauphin County or in the county where the cause of action accrued).”
Simons v. State Corr. Inst., 615 A.2d 924 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1992). “§ 20043, or in Cumberland County pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523. Simons was incarcerated at prisons operated by the City of Philadelphia from May 1989 to January 1990; at SCI-Camp Hill from January 1990 to April 1990; and at the State Correction Institute at Frackville…”
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 8523(b): 12 cases
Piehl v. City of Philadelphia, 987 A.2d 146 (Pa. 2009). “[2] In this regard, the Commonwealth Court noted that Section 8523(b) of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523(b), requires that service of process, in an action against the Commonwealth, "be made at the principal or local office of the Commonwealth agency that is being sued and…”
Piehl v. City of Philadelphia, 930 A.2d 607 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “42 Pa.C.S. § 8523(b). The parties agreed at oral argument that the Piehls' complaint was served at both offices.”
M. Kreidie v. Commonwealth of PA, Dept. of Revenue, 156 A.3d 380 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “, 42 Pa.C.S. § 8523(b) and Pa.R.C.P. 422(a), both of which direct a party serving process on any Commonwealth party to serve it as well on the Attorney General.”
W. Mayo v. J. Doe (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024).
D. Cook v. R. Smith (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2020).
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