Nicholas Malfitano News
Vape shop says Lancaster County authorities conducted illegal seizure of its legal products
ALLENTOWN – The proprietor of a vaping products business has launched litigation against Lancaster County, its district attorney and police officers, for allegedly conducting warrantless raids of both his and other businesses in the county this past April to seize such products, who have claimed they are Schedule I controlled substances under Pennsylvania law – while the plaintiff counters they have been legally sold in the state for years.
Couple claim husband's injuries were from defectively designed hunting boots
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania couple claim that a pair of hunting boots the husband-plaintiff purchased were designed defectively, causing the soles of the boot to unexpectedly separate and him to suffer an injurious fall.
Woman injured during daughter's dance recital wants default judgment against hotel where it happened
PITTSBURGH – Counsel for a woman injured in a Pittsburgh hotel ballroom while watching her daughter’s dance recital and who had alleged that a negligent makeshift table setup used for the event was the proximate cause of her injuries, continues to pursue a default judgment against the hotel in question.
After shooting by Lyft driver, ride share company seeks to strike default judgment against it
PITTSBURGH – Lyft is seeking to open and/or strike a default judgment entered against in a case brought by the son and daughter of a 55-year-old man shot to death last August, in the parking lot of a Sheetz convenience store by his driver from the ride share company.
Pa. State Police barracks visitor maintains claims that she fell on building's front steps
WILLIAMSPORT – A Lycoming County woman has reiterated claims that while visiting a Pennsylvania State Police barracks, she encountered a defective condition in the building’s front steps, leading her to fall and break her left leg and left shoulder.
Per judicial order, defendant in Holiday Inn hotel injury suit avoids default judgment
PITTSBURGH – One defendant has dodged a default judgment, in a Michigan family’s lawsuit alleging that an improperly placed duck crossing sign outside a Pittsburgh-area Holiday Inn hotel was the cause of injuries they sustained.
Objections in class action nuisance lawsuit against U.S. Steel mostly overruled
PITTSBURGH – A state court judge has decreed that preliminary objections from U.S. Steel as to litigation surrounding its refinery plant in Braddock and its alleged generation of pollutant byproducts are largely overruled with one exception, that being its objection toward the plaintiff seeking punitive damages.
After woman's alleged slip on slushy liquid in Wilkes-Barre store, Sheetz denies liability
SCRANTON – The Sheetz convenience store chain has denied responsibility for neck, back and knee injuries that a local woman alleged she suffered, when she slipped on fluid from a nearby soda/slushy machine which had leaked onto the floor of its Wilkes-Barre store.
Allegheny County looking to dismiss suit from sheriff's deputy who claimed COVID vax violated his beliefs
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County and its Sheriff’s Office are seeking to dismiss litigation which alleged that they failed to reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs of one of its employees, when it mandated obtaining vaccination against COVID-19.
Former Chambersburg student sues district over molestation by chemistry teacher
HARRISBURG – A Chambersburg woman alleges she was sexually molested by her then-high school chemistry teacher over a six-month time period in 2021 and 2022, and that the school district lacked adequate policies and procedures for the protection of its students.
Restaurant says it's not at fault for injuries suffered by woman who fell over bread rack
PITTSBURGH – A local restaurant contends that it was not responsible for injuries suffered by a woman who tripped and fell over a wire bread rack during a visit to its premises more than a year and a half ago.
Curran-Fromhold and officials repeatedly deny they violated inmate's constitutional rights
PHILADELPHIA – Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and its officials continue to deny liability in a suit from a Delaware County man, who alleged that he was subjected to a lack of medical care and cruel and unusual punishment in violation of his constitutionally protected civil rights, while incarcerated there.
Woman reiterates that real estate entities are liable for injuries in Airbnb party shooting escape
PITTSBURGH – A woman who suffered severe injuries while escaping a shooting at a party that took place at an Airbnb rental home in Pittsburgh insists the company and other entities are liable for her injuries.
Court grants partial dismissal of lawsuit over COVID-19 death of college football player
PITTSBURGH – A federal court has granted a partial dismissal of claims connected to the COVID-19-related death of a superstar lineman for Pennsylvania Western University California, in 2020.
Couple say police SWAT team damaged their home in attempt to find shooting suspect
PITTSBURGH – A local couple alleges that City of Pittsburgh and Borough of Monroeville police officers violated their civil rights and those of their family by unlawfully using paramilitary force to break into their house, detain them, destroy their belongings and contaminate their home with tear gas, this past January.
Upper Darby Township parking director's departure adds to suit's credibility, plaintiff says
PHILADELPHIA – The recent departure of Upper Darby Township’s Director of Parking Enforcement in the wake of theft and other charges strengthens a lawsuit filed against the township which alleges it failed to notify motorists of how to contest parking tickets it issued, according to plaintiff counsel.
Energy group and PennDOT deny liability for man's death
PITTSBURGH – The widow of a man who died last year after a large tree fell on him in his vehicle, has refuted the denials of liability for that event, from both an energy company and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Judge denies SEPTA's attempt to dismiss case from estate of former conductor who died of COVID-19
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has rejected an attempt by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to dismiss a case from the estate of a Southern New Jersey man, one which alleged that the agency failed to protect the decedent in his work for it as a conductor and subsequently led him to contract a two-year-long fatal case of COVID-19.
Law School Admission Council denies it violated ADA in administering LSAT test to plaintiff
PHILADELPHIA – A Pennsylvania group tasked with overseeing the Law School Admission Test has denied claims that it failed to provide a woman with impaired vision proper accommodations for taking the test, actions which would be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Coopersburg woman alleges false arrest and other claims from Upper Saucon Township police
ALLENTOWN – A Lehigh County woman claims that in response to a wellness check call initiated by a friend, several officers from the Upper Saucon Township Police Department responded with an improper seizure, assault and false arrest.