Hey how it going? Anyways I was in court today as a defendant with my fiance. I presented my case and tho most the case was based on back rent. I was placed as a Restricted particpant on the document after the judgement. What does being restricted mean? Can I still file a counter claim?
I suggest you read this excellent tutorial on landlord-tenant lawsuits authored a PA magisterial judge.
It provides deep insight to the appellate process in regard to landlord-tenant legal disputes.
http://www.court.co.lancaster.pa.us/DocumentCenter/View/114
The appellate process in PA isn't something for novices.
It can't hurt you to discuss your predicament with a couple licensed PA real estate attorneys.
I'll try to offer you a little assistance , but I need for you to explain how the matter in which you were named a defendant came to end up before a magisterial judge, if my assumptions are correct.
If it wasn't before a magisterial district judge, who heard the matter in question?
If the matter was heard before a magisterial district judge, who heard your case?
Please be concise, but explain just who you are in this matter, who leased the premises in questions, and how the landlord thought someone had defaulted on the lease, or breached their duties in regards to the lease.
I'm guessing you weren't on the lease, someone you lived with had a lease.
You either moved in after the lease was established, or weren't revealed to the landlord when the lease was created.
If no written lease was in place, you weren't a party to the statutory lease created under law.
Therefore you have limited rights in this matter, and the court designated you as a restricted participant.
Bottom line SOMEONE (the defendant) has 30 days to enter an appeal, and the court notes TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
NOTE: For matters involving tenant-landlord possessory disputes, the appeal must be taken within 10 days!