Lawsuits
Mom says Dover Area school staff affirmed her daughter’s gender without telling her
HARRISBURG – A Dover Area School District parent alleges that District personnel affirmed her 14-year-old daughter as a boy and referred to her by another name, without notifying the plaintiff.
Federal Court
City of Philadelphia wants to dismiss 'vague' civil rights lawsuit from transgender firefighter
Lawsuits
Former Yeadon councilwoman files defamation lawsuit versus the borough, mayor and council members
Schools
Judge again rejects brief from LGBTQ group in suit over first-graders taught transgender issues
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has denied a motion for reconsideration regarding the rejection of an amicus brief from an LGBTQ nonprofit group in a lawsuit from a group of parents who alleged their civil rights were violated when Mount Lebanon School District taught gender dysphoria and transgender transitioning to their first-grade children.
Federal Court
Families of Chester children killed by passing Amtrak train have case dismissed without prejudice
PHILADELPHIA – For the moment, a federal judge has dismissed litigation from the estates of two minor children from Chester, who were killed one year ago by a passing Amtrak train going from New York to Washington, D.C., through granting the transit company’s motion for judgment on the pleadings.
Today, the Fair Share Act’s name is a misnomer
Lawsuits
Class action complaint alleges GM, OnStar and LexisNexis sold driver data to third parties
SCRANTON – A Pennsylvania man alleges that collective conduct between General Motors, OnStar and LexisNexis resulted in driver behavior data being collected without drivers’ knowledge, consent or compensation – data which is then allegedly sold to automobile insurers, who in turn will set or increase drivers’ quotes or premiums based on the data.
State Court
Man who fell through Giant Eagle store floor wants Court to transfer his case to arbitration
PITTSBURGH – Counsel for a local man is seeking a state court to transfer to arbitration its case against a Giant Eagle supermarket in Export, where their client alleged he fell through an exposed section of the store flooring during a shopping trip.
State Court
Nursing care facility death case defendants called upon to participate in discovery
LANCASTER – After a woman who was a resident of the Hamilton Arms Center skilled nursing facility for two months died in June of last year, her daughter has argued the facility is directly responsible for the events in question and is now seeking to compel it to fully participate in case discovery.
State Court
Rhonda Wright sues Trinity Health Mid Atlantic Medical Group and others for alleged negligence in medical care
Rhonda Wright, represented by attorney Piayon Lassanah of Kannah & Lassanah LLC, has filed a lawsuit against Trinity Health Mid Atlantic Medical Group d/b/a Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Statesman Health and Rehabilitation Center, LLC, Saber Healthcare Group, Saber Healthcare Holdings, LLC, Delaware County and John/Jane Does 1 through 10.
State Court
Permanent General Assurance Corp sues Michael Dolan for undisclosed reasons
In the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Permanent General Assurance Corp, represented by Douglas G. Aaron, Esquire, has filed a lawsuit against Michael Dolan.
State Court
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance sues Jose Nunez-Torres for motor vehicle-related damages
In the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company has filed a lawsuit against Jose Nunez-Torres.
State Court
Walter Cohen sues Achiata Drave and Abdoul Karem Sidibe for premises liability
The lawsuit filed by Walter Cohen against Achiata Drave and Abdoul Karem Sidibe in the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, revolves around a premises liability claim.
State Court
Maritza McDaniel sues Amir Anderson for motor vehicle action
Maritza McDaniel has filed a lawsuit against Amir Anderson in the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
State Court
Peter Galli sues Carmel Appenzeller for negligence leading to serious burns and personal injuries
The lawsuit filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Delaware County, PA, involves plaintiff Peter Galli, as parent and natural guardian of A.G., a minor, against defendant Carmel Appenzeller.
Mom says Dover Area school staff affirmed her daughter’s gender without telling her
HARRISBURG – A Dover Area School District parent alleges that District personnel affirmed her 14-year-old daughter as a boy and referred to her by another name, without notifying the plaintiff.
Class action complaint alleges GM, OnStar and LexisNexis sold driver data to third parties
SCRANTON – A Pennsylvania man alleges that collective conduct between General Motors, OnStar and LexisNexis resulted in driver behavior data being collected without drivers’ knowledge, consent or compensation – data which is then allegedly sold to automobile insurers, who in turn will set or increase drivers’ quotes or premiums based on the data.
Former Yeadon councilwoman files defamation lawsuit versus the borough, mayor and council members
MEDIA – A former Yeadon Borough councilwoman has sued the Borough’s current leadership, alleging that the defendants repeatedly defamed her in both public and private settings, causing harm to her reputation and standing in the community.
Couple say husband's back injuries was the result of negligence at Texas Roadhouse restaurant
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia couple allege that a Bensalem location of the Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain was negligent in the conduct of its employees, leading the husband-plaintiff to be struck with a serving tray, fall and suffer a severe back injury.
Plaintiff says institutional failures resulted in his assault by another Curran-Fromhold inmate
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man asserts that institutional failures on the part of the City of Philadelphia and Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility leadership resulted in him being the subject of a severe assault at the facility, at the hands of another inmate.
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.
Man who fell through Giant Eagle store floor wants Court to transfer his case to arbitration
PITTSBURGH – Counsel for a local man is seeking a state court to transfer to arbitration its case against a Giant Eagle supermarket in Export, where their client alleged he fell through an exposed section of the store flooring during a shopping trip.
Rhonda Wright sues Trinity Health Mid Atlantic Medical Group and others for alleged negligence in medical care
Rhonda Wright, represented by attorney Piayon Lassanah of Kannah & Lassanah LLC, has filed a lawsuit against Trinity Health Mid Atlantic Medical Group d/b/a Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Statesman Health and Rehabilitation Center, LLC, Saber Healthcare Group, Saber Healthcare Holdings, LLC, Delaware County and John/Jane Does 1 through 10.
Cisgender male who said he was fired from adult establishment loses PHRA claim for now
PHILADELPHIA – A former cleaner and clerk at a Bucks County-based adult establishment who claimed that he was discriminated against and terminated from his employment, based upon his designation as a cisgender male, has retained his federal law claim and, for the moment, lost a claim brought under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
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.