Every pleading, motion and other paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name and his address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign his pleading, motion or other paper and state his address. Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The signature of an attorney or party constitutes a certification by him that he has read the pleading, motion or other paper; that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, it is well-grounded in fact and is warranted by existing law or a good-faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law; and that it is not interposed in bad faith or for any improper purpose, such as to harass another, to maliciously injure another or to cause unnecessary delay or increase in the cost of litigation. If a pleading, motion or other paper is not signed, it shall be stricken unless it is signed promptly after the omission is called to the attention of the pleader or movant. If a pleading, motion or other paper is signed in violation of this section, the court shall award to the successful party costs and reasonable attorney fees and may, in addition, impose a civil penalty which shall not exceed $10,000. Such costs, fees and civil penalty shall be in addition to any other judgment awarded to the successful party and shall be imposed upon the person who signed the pleading, motion or other paper, or a represented party, or both. This section is in addition to and shall not be construed to limit any other remedies or sanctions provided by law.
(Feb. 7, 1990, P.L.11, No.6, eff. 60 days)
1990 Amendment. Act 6 added section 8355.
Suspension by Court Rule. Section 8355 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1023(d), adopted March 11, 1991. Rule 1023 was rescinded April 22, 2002, effective July 1, 2002.
Section 8355 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1023.1(e), adopted April 22, 2002.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 83 - Particular Rights and Immunities
Section 8302 - Survival action
Section 8303 - Action for performance of a duty required by law
Section 8304 - Damages in actions on bad checks
Section 8305 - Actions for wrongful birth and wrongful life
Section 8306 - Defense against claim for injury sustained in utero barred
Section 8308 - Damages in actions on retail theft
Section 8309 - Civil rights violations
Section 8310 - Damages in actions on thefts of leased property
Section 8311 - Damages in actions for conversion of timber
Section 8312 - Profits received as a result of commission of crime
Section 8313 - Agricultural crop destruction
Section 8314 - Assault with biological agent on animal, fowl or honey bees
Section 8315 - Damages in actions for identity theft
Section 8316 - Unauthorized use of name or likeness
Section 8316.1 - Damages in actions for unlawful dissemination of intimate image
Section 8316.2 - Contracts or agreements for nondisclosure of certain conduct
Section 8317 - Actions involving products or services used to invade privacy
Section 8318 - Terrorism action
Section 8320 - Commemorative service demonstration action
Section 8321 - Short title of subchapter
Section 8323 - Scope of subchapter
Section 8324 - Right of contribution
Section 8325 - Effect of judgment
Section 8326 - Effect of release as to other tort-feasors
Section 8327 - Liability to make contribution as affected by release
Section 8331 - Medical good Samaritan civil immunity
Section 8331.1 - Veterinary good Samaritan civil immunity
Section 8331.2 - Good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator
Section 8331.3 - Criminal victim aid good Samaritan civil immunity
Section 8332 - Emergency response provider and bystander good Samaritan civil immunity
Section 8332.1 - Manager, coach, umpire or referee and nonprofit association negligence standard
Section 8332.2 - Officer, director or trustee of nonprofit organization negligence standard
Section 8332.3 - Volunteer firefighter civil immunity
Section 8332.4 - Volunteer-in-public-service negligence standard
Section 8332.5 - Corporate representatives
Section 8332.6 - Antidrug and town-watch volunteer civil immunity
Section 8332.7 - Immunity of State parole officers
Section 8332.8 - Immunity of county probation officers
Section 8333 - Body fluid and tissue limited civil immunity
Section 8334 - Civil immunity in mass immunization projects
Section 8335 - Damages for conversion of property of fluctuating value
Section 8337 - Civil immunity of school officers or employees relating to drug or alcohol abuse
Section 8338 - Liability for damages from donated food and grocery products
Section 8339 - Agricultural immunity
Section 8339.1 - Railroad civil immunity
Section 8340 - Immunity of program administrators and supervisors
Section 8340.2 - Civil immunity for use of force
Section 8340.3 - Rescue from motor vehicle
Section 8341 - Single publication limitation
Section 8342 - Justification a defense
Section 8343 - Burden of proof
Section 8344 - Malice or negligence necessary to support award of damages
Section 8345 - No liability when without power of censorship
Section 8351 - Wrongful use of civil proceedings
Section 8352 - Existence of probable cause
Section 8354 - Burden of proof
Section 8355 - Certification of pleadings, motions and other papers
Section 8368.1 - Legislative findings and declaration
Section 8368.4 - Fair market value
Section 8368.5 - Adjustment of fair market value
Section 8368.6 - Applicability and construction
Section 8371 - Actions on insurance policies
Section 8381 - Short title of subchapter
Section 8383 - Action to abate
Section 8385 - Service of original process
Section 8386 - Preliminary injunction
Section 8387 - Protection of witnesses
Section 8389 - Judgment and remedies
Section 8390 - Violation of injunctions or abatement order