Patrick J. Cogan v. County Beaver

OPINION BY JUDGE SMITH FILED: February 21, 1997 The County Commissioners' Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County (trial court) that denied CCAP's petition to intervene in a local agency appeal in which Sheriff's Deputy Patrick J. Cogan is seeking to secure benefits under the Act commonly known as the Heart and Lung Act, Act of June 28, 1935, P.L. 477, as amended, 53 P.S. §§ 637 - 638. CCAP states the question involved as whether the trial court properly denied intervention, where Cogan advances a novel interpretation of the Act that, if accepted, would require counties to expend over $1 million; where the claim is based on job functions unique to Beaver County; where CCAP is empowered and required by statute to represent the interests of all of Pennsylvania's counties; and where CCAP could not pursue an appeal if Beaver County lost the case and decided not to appeal.