State Court
Pittsburgh Steelers reject ticket holder's defamation allegations over supposed use of racial slur
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers have denied claims of defamation from one of its season ticket holders, who alleged she was treated rudely by stadium personnel and then defamed by being wrongly accused of using a racial slur towards another stadium employee working during the game.
Lawsuits
Philly judge sues Plymouth Township Police Department, says its officer stopped her illegally
Federal Court
SCI-Benner Township officials immune after pepper spray causes inmate to have an asthma attack
Lawsuits
Class action suit: Monroeville landfill's odors have created quality of life impairment for nearby residents
PITTSBURGH – A class action lawsuit asserts that a Monroeville landfill is releasing “substantial and noxious” odors that have invaded the properties of the named plaintiffs and numerous other area homeowners.
Federal Court
Parents who alleged their home was stormed by Philly deputies lose case
PHILADELPHIA – Parent plaintiffs who claimed multiple officers from the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department violated their civil rights when they executed a search warrant at their home in an attempt to find the plaintiffs’ son – who had been murdered five months before the search took place – have seen their case dismissed by the City per the doctrine of res judicata.
Today, the Fair Share Act’s name is a misnomer
State Court
Horgan Brothers sues Sailesh Patel for breach of contract
In the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Horgan Brothers, Inc. has filed a civil action against Sailesh Patel and VB Hospitality LLC (Case No. 2024-).
State Court
Marie Lynch sues Burlington Stores for an incident at a business premises
In the Court of Common Pleases, Delaware County, plaintiff Marie Lynch has filed a lawsuit against Burlington Stores, Inc., Marple ABC Associates, L.P., Black Aschkenasy Properties, LLC., Jeffrey C. Blank & Associates, and John Does and Janes Does #1-10.
State Court
Kathleen Cassidy sues Schock Group LLC for creating a hazardous condition on her property leading to personal injury
The lawsuit was filed by Kathleen Cassidy against Schock Group LLC in the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County.
State Court
Rasheeda Hackett sues Thomas J. Moran for motor vehicle accident negligence
In the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, plaintiff Rasheeda Hackett has filed a civil action against defendants Thomas J. Moran and Lisa Marie Moran over a motor vehicle accident.
State Court
Tahari Wright sues Minerva Court Apartments for personal injury due to alleged negligence in premises maintenance
Tahari Wright, represented by Andrew C. Smialowicz of Clearfield & Kofsky, has filed a lawsuit against Minerva Court Apartments, Minerva Apartments LLC, St Sai Realty LLC, and John Does 1-3 in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
State Court
Allegheny County court says specific judge to decide whether Giant Eagle fall case goes to arbitration
PITTSBURGH – A state court has designated one specific judge to decide whether or not a case against a Giant Eagle supermarket in Export, where the plaintiff alleged he fell through an exposed section of the store flooring during a shopping trip, will be transferred to arbitration.
Lawsuits
Shipping associate struck by forklift and injured says his employer didn't notify OSHA
YORK – A shipping and receiving associate at an air conditioner manufacturing facility who was struck with a forklift while on the job, says the company was reckless in its protocols – which he adds allowed the accident to happen and did not report it to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Federal Court
Philadelphia argues lieutenant fired for sending bestiality videos did not support his discrimination claims
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia has motioned to dismiss a discrimination lawsuit brought by a Philadelphia police lieutenant who claimed he faced disparate treatment prior to dismissal for sexual harassment, arguing that he had not stated plausible claims and is thus not entitled to relief.
Federal Court
Flixbus removed from case where woman's son died aboard Greyhound bus bound for Philly
PHILADELPHIA – Flixbus has been dismissed from a lawsuit brought by the mother of a 32-year-old man who died from cardiac arrest while aboard a Greyhound bus bound for Philadelphia over two years ago, litigation which argued the transportation companies were negligent, reckless and responsible for his death.
Woman sues, says her young daughter was burned by hot fudge at Applebee's
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania woman is suing a local Applebee’s restaurant after she says her minor daughter received second-degree burns from hot fudge on a chocolate cake dessert.
Former UPMC technical writer says he was subject to age discrimination and then fired
PITTSBURGH – A technical writer working for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center alleges he was subject to discrimination on the basis of his age and his taking medical leave to recover from both a surgery and an unrelated fall, prior to be terminated by the hospital.
Philly judge sues Plymouth Township Police Department, says its officer stopped her illegally
PHILADELPHIA – A sitting judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas asserts she was subject to civil rights violations and unlawful arrest and detention, when a Plymouth Township police officer used her vehicle as a barricade to stop a suspect they were chasing and was allegedly not disciplined for doing so.
Santander Bank and Harrisburg entities battling over possession of impounded Dodge Ram vehicle
HARRISBURG – Santander Bank argues it should not have to pay nearly $13,000 to repossess a 2019 Dodge Ram vehicle it financed the purchase of and was later impounded by the Harrisburg Parking Authority for racking up 94 parking tickets, while the company who towed it claims otherwise.
Former Child Custody Master alleges age and gender discrimination by Northampton County court personnel
ALLENTOWN – A former Child Custody Master for the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas alleges that over a nine-year period, she was subjected to systemic age/gender discrimination and retaliation by other court personnel before being fired last October.
Allegheny County Sheriff's Office employee loses religious exemption case over COVID vax
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County and its Sheriff’s Office have won dismissal of litigation which alleged that they failed to reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs of one of its employees, when it mandated obtaining vaccination against COVID-19.
Fired Union County library employee settles case over religious exemption from wearing masks
WILLIAMSPORT – A former public library employee in Lewisburg who alleged her Christian beliefs were the determinative factor in the library’s decision to terminate her employment, when she sought a religious exemption to its mandatory mask policy during the COVID-19 pandemic, has settled her claims.
Family of inmate about to be released after 45 years only to die of COVID-19 drops case
PHILADELPHIA – The family of a man who died from COVID-19 shortly before he was to be released from prison after more than four decades and sued state officials for not approving the decedent’s pardon in a timely manner, allegedly leaving him at greater risk for contracting the virus and causing his death, have voluntarily and mutually dismissed their case alongside the defendants.
AG Michelle Henry: ‘The FTC and Congress must act to ensure fulsome regulation of PBMs nationwide’
State Attorney General Michelle Henry (D-Pennsylvania) sent a letter to U.S. Congressional leadership this week saying Congress should “act to ensure fulsome regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Philly wins dismissal of RFK Jr.-chaired nonprofit's case against COVID child vax measures
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia has won dismissal of litigation from a California nonprofit group chaired by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. concerning allegations that the City was vaccinating young children against COVID-19 without parental consent, for a lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Registered trademark litigation continues to have education law-based firms at odds
PHILADELPHIA – A local law firm continues to seek review of an order which struck down its attempt to cancel a Bucks County-based firm’s trademark surrounding the phrase “Education Lawyers," in reference to both of their areas of legal expertise.
Pa. state senator Boscola appeals judge's ruling in defamation suit
PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania state senator facing defamation allegations from an energy company president has appealed a judge’s denial of her preliminary objections to the Commonwealth Court.
Third Circuit cites no jurisdiction for insurer's appeal over asbestos litigation costs
PHILADELPHIA – Citing a lack of jurisdiction, a panel of judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled against an insurance company’s appeal connected to the costs it incurred in asbestos litigation from one of its customers.
Horgan Brothers sues Sailesh Patel for breach of contract
In the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Horgan Brothers, Inc. has filed a civil action against Sailesh Patel and VB Hospitality LLC (Case No. 2024-).
Kathleen Cassidy sues Schock Group LLC for creating a hazardous condition on her property leading to personal injury
The lawsuit was filed by Kathleen Cassidy against Schock Group LLC in the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County.
Philadelphia argues lieutenant fired for sending bestiality videos did not support his discrimination claims
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia has motioned to dismiss a discrimination lawsuit brought by a Philadelphia police lieutenant who claimed he faced disparate treatment prior to dismissal for sexual harassment, arguing that he had not stated plausible claims and is thus not entitled to relief.
Pa. courts tie for No. 1 ranking on annual 'Judicial Hellholes' report list
WASHINGTON – According to the latest annual report of “Judicial Hellholes” released Tuesday by the American Tort Reform Association, Pennsylvania courts have tied with Georgia for the No. 1 ranking for jurisdictions considered unfriendly to businesses.
DOJ nets $28M financial penalty against Warren Buffett-owned mortgage lender for redlining
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice has handed down a fine in excess of $28 million to a Pennsylvania mortgage company owned by billionaire Warren Buffet, which it says engaged in discriminatory lending practices to prospective homeowners who are Black and Latino.