Nicholas Malfitano News
Sikorsky denied dismissal of lawsuit over chopper crash that killed Canadian military members
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has denied Sikorsky Aircraft its attempt to dismiss wrongful death litigation from the families of six members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who were killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece, allegedly due to a defective design in the helicopter’s flight system.
Federal judge drops two counts from wrongful death suit against Borough of Exeter and its police chief
SCRANTON – A federal judge has removed two counts from a wrongful death suit which charged Exeter’s police chief with failing to adequately render medical help and timely perform a welfare check on 24-year-old Nicholas P. Hromek, leading to his death.
Md. judge transfers EEOC’s discrimination suit against Sheetz to Pa. federal court
BALTIMORE – Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Sheetz has been granted a venue transfer of litigation from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which charges that the criminal background check in the store’s hiring process has discriminated against job applicants of Black, American Indian/Alaska Native and/or multiracial origin.
Parents of first-graders taught transgender issues win lawsuit against Mt. Lebanon schools
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has granted summary judgment to a group of parents who alleged their civil rights were violated when Mount Lebanon School District taught the concepts of gender dysphoria and transgender transitioning to their first-grade children.
Federal court grants summary judgment dismissal of plastic surgery resident’s discrimination suit to Temple University Hospital
PHILADELPHIA – A federal court has dismissed all claims from a discrimination case brought by a former plastic surgery resident at Temple University Hospital, finding that the institution was entitled to complete summary judgment.
Pa. Supreme Court finds COVID-19 business interruption losses don't qualify for insurance coverage
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania unanimously ruled that a dental practice which suffered business interruption losses during the COVID-19 pandemic was not entitled to receive coverage from its insurer for those losses, the first time the state’s high court made such a finding.
Divided rulings come down on dismissal motions, in man’s assault suit against police and corrections officers
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has issued split decisions with respect to a trio of motions to dismiss, in litigation brought by a man who claimed he was assaulted during his arrest and detention by New Castle police officers in September 2021.
Judge denies motions in COVID-19 vax exemption suit versus Pittsburgh Regional Transit
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has denied motions for partial summary judgment and to sever claims from Pittsburgh Regional Transit, with respect to a class action brought against it by former employees who unsuccessfully submitted religious or medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine, and were later fired.
Pa. Supreme Court dismisses articles of impeachment against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner
HARRISBURG – A recent 3-1 ruling from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania dismissed articles of impeachment brought against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, due to the process being improperly taken up during two different legislative sessions.
Judge rules trial over fatality tied to Panera Charged Lemonade will proceed as scheduled on Oct. 7
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has decreed that a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the parents of a University of Pennsylvania student, who died in 2022 allegedly after drinking a highly caffeinated lemonade beverage sold by the restaurant chain and one allegedly to which no warning of its high caffeine content was provided, will proceed to trial as scheduled on Oct. 7.
Court: 26 years in solitary for death row inmate was cruel and unusual
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ruled in favor of a death row inmate who alleged that his being kept in solitary confinement, despite facing severe mental health issues, constituted cruel and unusual punishment – and has remanded his case to a lower federal court for further consideration.
Hey PA: 5 new cases to know about, including animal testing at Pitt
Recently filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania courts include a religious discrimination lawsuit against the University of Pittsburgh, plus another suit against a York construction company.
Third Circuit rules NLRB orders on scrap metal company's alleged labor violations will be enforced
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ruled in favor of the National Labor Relations Board, which had been seeking enforcement of two orders related to its prior findings of unfair labor practices by United Scrap Metal PA, LLC.
Pa. Supreme Court ruling cuts vote lead in 117th District House race from five to four
HARRISBURG – A recent 5-2 ruling from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania may bring the Republican Party primary election to a seat in the State House of Representatives for the Commonwealth’s 117th District one step closer to a resolution, as the Court found one voter’s provisional ballot to be invalid and another voter’s to be valid.
Loretto officials file suit in newest chapter of long-running feud with former councilman
PITTSBURGH – Loretto, its Mayor and the President of its Borough Council have filed a sprawling lawsuit against a fellow former member of Council, his spouse, a law firm and its attorneys, and a New Jersey insurance company, the latest in a long-standing feud between the political officials involved.
Hey PA: 5 new cases to know about, including a fatal fall through a school's roof
Recently filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania courts include a wrongful death lawsuit against a roofing company and other firms, plus another such suit involving a woman killed in an automobile-pedestrian accident.
Claim kicked from wrongful death case against Shohola nursing home
SCRANTON – A federal magistrate judge’s report and recommendation has been adopted in full, in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against a Shohola nursing home which alleged that negligent care on its part and that of others, led to the death of the plaintiff’s husband.
Pa. judge tells lawyers to fess up when using AI in her court
SCRANTON – As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) proliferates, one federal judge in Pennsylvania has made it clear that use of the tool in her courtroom will only occur if it is disclosed and what portions of legal documents it was used to generate are clearly specified.
Trial on horizon for EEOC's discrimination claims against Defender Association of Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – A lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the Defender Association of Philadelphia will continue toward trial, after a federal judge denied the latter’s motion for summary judgment.
Hey PA - Murder at high school football game one of 5 new cases to know about
Recently filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania courts include a wrongful death case over a shooting at a high school football game and a suit against Robinson Township over a fatal shooting by one of its police officers.