Carrie Salls News
Attorney: Third Circuit threatens business model of franchising
PHILADELPHIA – A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently granted class certification in a case against Jani-King of Philadelphia that alleges the company’s franchisees were improperly being classified as independent contractors.
Reduction in divorce waiting period aimed at ending conflict for children, families
HARRISBURG – For J. Paul Helvy, the chairman of the Family
Law Practice Group at McNees Wallace & Nurick LLS and the immediate past
chairman of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Family Law Section, the fight
for a reduction in the divorce waiting period in the state was primarily
about children and the overall well-being of families.
Expert: Decision to abandon Penn State Hershey/Pinnacle merger 'not particularly surprising'
HARRISBURG – Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Pinnacle Health system abandoned their proposed merger after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned a district court order denying a preliminary injunction against the merger.
FTC wins preliminary injunction against Penn State Hershey/Pinnacle merger
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit handed the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania attorney general a major victory when it overturned a U.S. district court order denying the FTC and AG’s request to stop a merger between the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Pinnacle Health System.
Website ADA compliance cases spike; ruling seen as 'not a good sign' for defendants
Pennsylvania is one of three states, along with New York and California, where Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits filed in connection with allegedly inaccessible websites have steadily increased.
Primanti Bros. could have significant liability for alleged wage law violations, worker advocate says
PITTSBURGH – If the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit
filed against Primanti Bros. can prove alleged wage law violations, the company
will likely face significant liability, according to a senior adviser for the
organization Workplace Fairness.
Attorney says Eastern University knew of alleged overtime pay violations
PHILADELPHIA – An attorney for a former maintenance worker who filed a lawsuit raising allegations of wage law violations against Eastern University, a private Christian school in St. Davids, said the university had been notified that it was not complying with overtime laws.
Urban Outfitters claims commitment to employees in response to medical leave lawsuit
PHILADELPHIA – Urban Outfitters Inc. defended its treatment of employees when asked for a response to a complaint filed by a former employee that raised allegations that the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Lock Haven lawsuit saga seen as reflecting issues unique to academia
HARRISBURG – A senior adviser for the organization Workplace Fairness believes issues unique to academia likely contributed to multiple lawsuits being filed against Lock Haven University by an employee of the school.
Court finds no religious endorsement by Shickshinny over sign giving directions to church
SHICKSHINNY – A former Shickshinny Borough council member has lost her fight to have a sign that was approved and installed by the town, which gave directions to a church, declared a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Philadelphia teacher's reinstatement serves as reminder for schools to follow termination laws
PHILADELPHIA – A recent Commonwealth Court ruling that reinstated a Philadelphia teacher stands as a clear reminder to school districts of the importance of following the proper employee termination laws and procedures.
Penn among universities targeted by class action lawyers over pension plans
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania is one of several universities being sued by employees amid allegations that the schools’ retirement plans come with excessive fees.
Plaintiffs' attorney says SEPTA hiring decision affects civil and privacy rights, goes against state edict
PHILADELPHIA – The use of background checks in making hiring decisions is facing increased scrutiny, according to the lead plaintiffs’ attorney in Long v. the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
Right-to-Know ruling strikes 'reasonable balance' between requests and response time, says advocate
HARRISBURG – A recent Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruling could have a significant impact on the length of time public entities have to review and respond to requests for large volumes of records under the commonwealth’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL).
Electric co-op wins fight to keep $53 million patronage capital retirement case in federal court
PITTSBURGH – A class action lawsuit filed against REA Energy Cooperative Inc. by current and former members seeking the retirement of $53 million in allocated patronage capital will remain in federal court after the U.S. District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania dismissed a motion by the plaintiffs to send the matter back to state court.
Unknowns surround ballot question on judges' retirement age as deadlines loom
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will consider on an emergency basis a lawsuit challenging the language to be used in a ballot question regarding the mandatory retirement age for judges in the state.
Philadelphia council changes ordinance to address use of credit checks by employers
A recently enacted amendment to the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance makes it illegal for employers in Philadelphia to ask for, obtain or use credit-related information when considering whether to hire an applicant for many non-managerial positions.
Pa. minor league baseball players lose bid for class action certification
Minor league professional baseball players in several states, including Pennsylvania, lost their bid for certification of a class in an attempt to seek compensation for baseball-related activities performed outside of the regular season.
Former Philly solicitor to grow Chamberlain Hrdlicka's office
PHILADELPHIA – Complex litigation and business attorney Ken Trujillo
has moved to Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry from Schnader
Harrison Segal & Lewis.
Class counsel believe Samsung washing machine defect affected hundreds of thousands
PHILADELPHIA – A class-action lawsuit filed June 30 against Samsung Electronics America Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania centers on an alleged defect that attorneys believe has affected hundreds of thousands of people nationwide.