John O'Brien News
'Reckless' cop who took and texted 'reprehensible' pic of suicide victim beats lawsuit
PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia police officer won't face liability for taking and passing around a photograph of a man who committed suicide by jumping off a bridge onto the road below.
Lawyers get $200K in fees for $80K verdict
PITTSBURGH - Age discrimination lawyers will get about 250% more than their client, as a Pittsburgh federal judge has awarded them $200,000 for their work on a case against a custom cabinets company.
Huge personal injury verdicts in Philadelphia lead to No. 1 'Judicial Hellhole' distinction
PHILADELPHIA - Massive verdicts as high as $2 billion have landed Philadelphia's court of common pleas the No. 1 spot on the annual "Judicial Hellholes" report by the American Tort Reform Association.
$800K settlement over parking tickets in Upper Darby OK'd
PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge has approved a settlement that will see Upper Darby Township pay $800,000 to resolve claims motorists who were issued parking tickets and were unable to contest them.
Hey PA: 5 new cases to know, including a teen seeing the TA who sexually abused him kill herself
A boy sexually assaulted by a teacher's aide who later killed herself is now suing the Pennsbury School District, plus four other new cases of interest filed in Pennsylvania courts.
Ex-Saltz Mongeluzzi paralegal appeals loss of privacy case against firm
PHILADELPHIA - A former paralegal at a prominent Pennsylvania plaintiffs firm is appealing the loss of her privacy lawsuit against it, after a federal judge found she was the first one to tell the public she refused the COVID-19 vaccine.
Lancaster cop beats lawsuit after woman resisting arrest has arm broken
PHILADELPHIA - A woman whose arm was broken after she fought being handcuffed by Lancaster cops has lost her lawsuit against its police department.
Del. port companies lose bid to appeal ruling that blocked Delaware River site
PHILADELPHIA - Entities with an interest in putting a port on the Delaware River in Delaware waited too long to join the court fight that recently put a block to their plan.
Company keeps three defenses in case that could give state AGs nationwide powers
PHILADELPHIA - A finance company targeted by several states in an important case that will decide if they can deploy a law intended for use by a federal agency will get to argue some of its intended defenses.
Company to pay $1.3M over contamination at Beaver Co. swimming chemicals site
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania will recover $1.3 million from a company it sued over environmental concerns at a site in Beaver County.
Stolen money passed down the line can still be recovered, judge rules
PITTSBURGH - An investment firm will stay caught up in an embezzlement scheme involving the money of a prominent scientist who helped launch the Voyager spacecraft and the Hubble telescope.
Supreme Court: Cities can't bypass legislature to make own gun laws
PHILADELPHIA - The state Supreme Court has rejected calls from plaintiffs who feel Pennsylvania cities should be able to implement their own gun control laws.
Model looks headed to victory in court after picture falls on her in dressing room
PHILADELPHIA - Neiman Marcus now faces penalties for a picture that fell on a model while she was working at its King of Prussia store.
Court strikes $2.5M verdict for fired helicopter pilot, balancing when at-will employees can sue
PITTSBURGH - A helicopter pilot has lost the $2.5 million verdict he scored in Allegheny County, as a state appeals court has found as an at-will employee, he could not pursue a wrongful termination claim.
Bullying lawsuit against Beaver Area schools could be tossed soon
PITTSBURGH - The Beaver Area School District has received good news in a lawsuit over the hazing of an eighth-grade football player who was called names and concussed with a tennis racket.
AG Henry's bid to stop closure of Pyrex plant hits road block
PITTSBURGH - A federal judge won't - for now - block plans that would close a Pyrex plant in Charleroi and eliminate hundreds of jobs.
Hey PA: 5 new cases to know, including a SWAT team shootout and York charter school troubles
The fatal shooting by Philadelphia SWAT officers who say a suspect shot at them first is among five new cases of interest in Pennsylvania, as is a man suing Frontier Airlines after hot water spilled on his crotch.
Plaintiff lawyer penalty coming for not backing theory of liability
SCRANTON - A plaintiff lawyer will have a punishment hanging over his head as he pursues a lawsuit that alleges man was discharged from a senior living facility and sent on a three-hour Uber drive, during which he experienced a medical emergency and later died.
School district pays lawyer $350K after first-graders taught transgender issues
PITTSBURGH - The Mount Lebanon School District will pay more than $350,000 to a lawyer who alleged parents' civil rights were violated when first-graders were taught the concepts of gender dysphoria and transgender transitioning.
Appeal: Parents against lottery for criteria high schools continue fight
PHILADELPHIA - Parents who lost their challenge to how the School District of Philadelphia picks students for "criteria-based" high schools have appealed.