Cambria offers refunds to exit lawsuit; Class action by state municipalities focuses on overcharges by prothonotary’s offices | Local News

Local parishes and counties are queuing to accept refunds for court fees that will remove Cambria County from a potentially expensive class action lawsuit for alleged overclaims.

The townships of East Carroll, Croyle and Conemaugh are among the first to approve an agreement to indemnify the county from further liability claims under the lawsuit filed by two Delaware County school districts.

The lawsuit stems from a little-known provision in state law that limits civil court filing fees for municipalities to $ 10. Cambria County’s Prothonotary Bureau has traditionally charged the counties, townships, school districts, and the City of Johnstown with their standard public fees, said County Solicitor William G. Barbin.

Barbin’s office sent letters to 35 tax authorities who had protonotary fees for the past four years. The letters offer refunds totaling $ 3,137.50 if municipalities agree to exempt the county from the class action lawsuit.

“If the municipalities approve, we will send this list to the Commonwealth Court and ask them to dismiss the lawsuit against Cambria County,” Barbin said.

Cambria County commissioners must do one final vote before refunds can be issued, Barbin said.

Refunds range from 50 cents for Geistown Borough and Cambria and Washington townships to $ 807.50 for East Carroll Township. The city of Johnstown would receive $ 85 under the proposal.

East Carroll Township Secretary Mary Jane Rowland had not reviewed the situation but said property liens on sewer works and disruptive land were among the charges incurred.

Jackson Township manager David Hirko said most of the fees for his community’s proposed $ 330.50 refund were due to onerous property actions, adding that overseers are expected to approve the settlement at their meeting Thursday morning would.

“We are not part of the lawsuit,” said Hirko. “We only take the refund.”

In May, Barbin said some eastern Pennsylvania counties are charging more than $ 300 to file a complaint.

“Cambria County costs $ 110 to $ 115, and $ 60 to $ 75 of our $ 115 are fees charged by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,” he said. “It’s out of our control. The prothonotary asks $ 40 to file a complaint. “

The county is not presenting the proposed deal as a “take it or leave it” offer, Barbin said.

“You could still get input from the municipalities,” he said.

Randy Griffith is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5057. Follow him on Twitter @ PhotoGriffer57.

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