Dublin Sportswear v. Charlett

OPINION OF THE COURT

NIX, Justice.

We are called upon in this appeal to assess the propriety of the trial court’s decision to permit the plaintiff in a civil suit to proceed to trial and verdict in the defendant’s absence under Pa.Rule of Civil Procedure 218. The trial court concluded that the attending circumstances justified permitting the trial to be conducted without the presence of defendant, his witnesses if any, and counsel.1 On appeal to the Superior Court, the judgment was sustained. Recognizing the serious problems created by on-the-day-of-trial continuances for the fair and proper…