The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court dismissed this putative class action. Petitioners purported to bring a class action on behalf of themselves and as representatives of 3,000 other political subdivisions which might have paid unauthorized and excessive court fees to 52 prothonotaries. Respondents filed Preliminary Objections. The Court granted the POs and held that: 1.) Petitioners lacked standing to maintain this action against any Respondent other than the Delaware County’s Office of Judicial Support; 2. )The overriding speculative nature of the allegations in the Amended Petition rendered the requested declarations inappropriate because it was not clear that granting the requested declaratory relief would be of practical help in ending the controversy; and 3.) Petitioners did not allege facts suggesting that Respondents received a benefit from Petitioners and that it would be inequitable for Respondents to retain such benefit.
