Karen Kidd News
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District says it did not violate student's 1st Amendment rights over 'concerning' Tweet
PHILADELPHIA — Unionville-Chadds Ford School District denies most allegations by parents of a former Unionville High School special education student who allegedly engaged in "concerning behavior" over the internet in 2016, which ultimately involved West Coast law enforcement.
Federal magistrate judge orders failed bidder on Westmoreland County hotel into arbitration
PITTSBURGH — A federal magistrate judge has ordered the failed high-bidder for a hotel in Westmoreland County into arbitration earlier to resolve differences over that failed bid.
U.S. district judge rules Pennsylvania cannot take $200 million from underwriting association
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's attempt to balance a budget under last fall's Act 44 by taking $200 million from a state-created entity that provides malpractice insurance is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled on May 17.
Judge given Sierra Club's settlement with Talen over Brunner Island power plant
A federal judge is considering a settlement between environmental advocate Sierra Club and Talen Energy over the company's Brunner Island power plant in York County at which it has agreed to end coal burning.
Upper Perkiomen School District awaits ruling on case of concussed football player
PHILADELPHIA — A federal court has not yet ruled on an Upper Perkiomen School District request for reversal of a state special education hearing officer's finding in the case of a high school senior who sustained a concussion during sports practice in 2016.
Judge dismisses weight-loss company's complaint against HighYa and BrightReviews
A federal judge has dismissed a weight-loss company's lawsuit against two online review sites for allegedly violating a federal trademark statute, ruling that the statute doesn't apply in this case.
Judge refuses to grant injunction in breach of confidentiality suit involving Razor Technology
A West Conshohocken tech company has failed to prove that it can succeed in a breach of confidentiality lawsuit that it had filed earlier this year against a former employee and his company, a federal judge ruled on May 3.
Federal judge boots attorneys from copyright infringement case against McGraw-Hill
Attorneys representing a Lititz-based photography company in a copyright infringement case have been disqualified following a federal judge's ruling earlier this month over the law firm's hiring of a consultant who previously had worked for the defendants in the case.
L.A. Fitness shielded from slip-and-fall lawsuit by customer agreement
A woman who claims that she was injured after falling at a L.A. Fitness in Huntingdon Valley in 2013 cannot prevail in her lawsuit because she signed a membership agreement that included a release and waiver and her "issues on appeal lack merit," according to a recent decision filed in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Superior Court says ATV trenches an 'inherent risk' of downhill skiing
A skier who fractured his leg at Blue Knob Ski Resort cannot recover damages from the resort for negligence because his injury was an “inherent risk” of downhill skiing and because such suits are barred under a clause in his season pass agreement, according to a decision filed on April 19 in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Man loses suit against LA Fitness after allegedly tripping over yoga mat
A federal judge has granted summary judgment in favor of LA Fitness in a personal injury suit brought against the chain of fitness centers by a man who claimed he was injured at one of its Philadelphia locations, according to a decision filed on April 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Court: Labor Relations board erred in background checks decision
A Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board final order over whether the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education should have to bargain over university employee background checks was affirmed in a recent court order.
Sen. Scarnati appeals federal judge's order to pay League of Women Voters for costs of gerrymandering challenge
A state senator is appealing a federal judge's order earlier this month to pay more than $29,300 to the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania in reimbursement for the fees and costs of its successful gerrymandering challenge.
Lawsuit over Upper Dublin school's wheelchair-accessibility to continue as options discussed
Upper Dublin School District may continue pondering its plans for its only middle school while an incoming student continues his lawsuit to make the middle school more accessible, a federal judge recently ruled.
Commonwealth Court rules that marijuana company is ‘premature’ in appealing denial of permit; Ruling issued on 4/20
HARRISBURG — A company that challenged Pennsylvania’s marijuana permitting process after losing its bid for a permit last year was too quick to seek remedy through the state's courts, according to a recent ruling filed on April 20 in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Eagleville Hospital to pay $520,000 to settle class action suit over overtime pay; Attorneys to get $200K
Eagleville Hospital has agreed to pay more than $500,000 to settle a class action lawsuit over allegations of unpaid overtime compensation, a federal judge announced last week.
Berks Co. $21M bad-faith verdict overturned; Insurers welcome the ruling, attorney says
Insurance companies are the real winners in a recent Pennsylvania Superior Court ruling that vacated a $21 million bad-faith insurance verdict in a more than 20-year-old collision claim, a Philadelphia-based litigator said during an interview.
New leadership at the CFPB means state AGs will be more active in financial consumer protection
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Some states will be even more active in financial consumer protection enforcement now that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new director has made it clear the bureau will stay out of the way, an expert on state attorneys general said during a recent interview.
Pro-reform group touts data showing immigrant economic impact in Pennsylvania
NEW YORK — Immigrants in Pennsylvania paid $7.5 billion in taxes in 2014 and wielded $20.2 billion in spending power over the same year, according to data released today by New American Economy (NEA) – a coalition of businesses and lawmakers calling for immigration reform.
Pennsylvania's legal climate ranks in lower tier of states, according to national survey
Pennsylvania ranks in the lower tier of U.S. states as it continues on its path to becoming a mass tort mecca