Commonwealth v. Karetny

OPINION

Justice CASTILLE.

The primary issue in this appeal is whether the Commonwealth made out a prima facie case of risking a catastrophe, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3302, as to appellees, who are co-defendants in the underlying criminal prosecution. For the following reasons, we hold that it did, and accordingly, we reverse the Superior Court’s order, vacate the trial court’s order quashing that charge, and remand this matter for trial.

During the years between 1994 and 2000, appellees leased Pier 34 on the Delaware River in the city of Philadelphia, and owned and operated various facilities located on the…