John O'Brien News
Judge won't change how Philadelphia picks students for criteria high schools
PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge has tossed a challenge to changes made by the School District of Philadelphia in 2021 for admissions into so-called "criteria-based" high schools.
Philadelphia loses key ruling after cops blind 2-year-old boy with taser
PHILADELPHIA - The City of Philadelphia can't escape litigation brought by the mother of a two-year-old boy blinded in one eye by a cop's taser.
Central Park 5 sue Trump over statements during debate
PHILADELPHIA - It's back to court for the Central Park 5, a group of then-teenagers were wrongfully convicted of the assault and rape of a woman in 1989.
Got a ticket in Upper Darby? You might be entitled to compensation
PHILADELPHIA - Upper Darby Township will pay $800,000 to some of the motorists who were issued parking tickets and were unable to contest them.
Luzerne Co. settles Election Day lawsuit after running out of paper in 2022
SCRANTON - Luzerne County admits voters couldn't cast ballots through no fault of their own during the 2022 election in a settlement presented in Scranton federal court on Oct. 15.
Court won't boot lawyers off Blank Rome case, or DQ retired judge
PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge has refused two disqualification motions in litigation brought by a lawyer who is suing Blank Rome.
Pittsburgh-area company hit with $79K age discrimination verdict
PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania jury has ruled for a man who sued his former employer for age discrimination and whose case was bolstered by comments made by the company's president.
Hey PA: 5 new cases to know about, including the rape and murder of a federal inmate
Recently filed cases in Pennsylvania courts include a wrongful death suit against the United States over the rape and assault of a federal inmate, plus plenty of Delco officials in hot water and a case over literal hot water.
Reform package targets perception of Pennsylvania courts as pro-plaintiff lawyer
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania lawmakers are addressing the state's reputation as a haven for personal injury lawyers by introducing legislation that would reform issues like contingency fees and outside funding for lawsuits.
Labor Department refutes fraud allegations by company nailed with $22M verdict
PHILADELPHIA - Even though he was assigned to a desk in D.C. at the time, a high-ranking official at the Department of Labor did not mislead a Philadelphia court when he presented himself as a regional solicitor, the agency says in court documents.
Laid-off minorities can't add class action to attack on child development company
ERIE - Nine non-white workers who were laid off by Child Development Centers during the COVID pandemic have lost one of their discrimination lawsuits.
Lawyers make $433K for getting $250K for Kings Family Restaurant servers
PITTSBURGH - Lawyers will take nearly $200,000 more in fees than they scored for 400 Pittsburgh-area restaurant servers in a class action lawsuit.
Comments while laying off 60-year-old man keep age discrimination case going
PITTSBURGH - Be careful what you say at work, is a major lesson learned in a recent ruling by a federal judge in an age discrimination lawsuit.
Should convicted murderer ever get to have sex with his wife? Court says Pennsylvania hasn't shown why not
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A Muslim man's decade-long quest to have sex with his wife has been given a small measure of new life by a federal appeals court that says Pennsylvania must prove it would be a bad idea.
Ghosts of Schnader Harrison must battle class action over 401(k) money
PHILADELPHIA - The former Philadelphia firm Schnader Harrison will face a class action lawsuit from a former employee who says her retirement money was used to dissolve the firm in 2023.
U.S. Labor Dept. accused of fraud; Banished lawyer lied to jury, timeline suspicious, company says
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A high-ranking U.S. Department of Labor attorney in Pennsylvania was actually exiled to D.C. as he was simultaneously disparaging opposing counsel as "Washington lawyers" in a $22 million case in Philadelphia.
Biden-appointed judge rejects claims Biden Admin has overstepped authority
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge won't block new rules from the administration that appointed her to the bench, affirming a ban on noncompete clauses in employment contracts and rejecting claims the Federal Trade Commission was acting outside its authority.
Massive penalty hits troubled Pa. nursing home chain
PITTSBURGH (Legal Newsline) - It's a worst-case scenario for a now-bankrupt Pennsylvania health care company accused by the Department of Labor of not fairly paying its employees.
Is life slavery? A win in court would help this Philadelphia man die
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Death comes quickly for some, but not soon enough for others.
Showdown in Philadelphia over FTC's ban on noncompete clauses
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The company challenging new rules from the federal government banning noncompete clauses is headed to court today to argue for an injunction stopping them.