Nicholas Malfitano News
East Allegheny School District argues development hasn't properly pled its tax increase appeals case
PITTSBURGH – East Allegheny School District has objected to litigation brought by a senior residential development, which claimed the school district violated state and federal laws by selectively filing increase appeals against the assessments of properties recently purchased by new buyers – arguing that the plaintiff failed to state its claims under those same laws.
Hampden Township police say appropriate force was used to subdue postal worker having medical episode
HARRISBURG – Hampden Township and two of its police officers have denied allegations that they used unreasonable force in responding to a postal worker’s medical emergency, instead arguing that the amount of force used was appropriate to subdue a person under the influence of drugs and acting violently.
Lehigh County plaintiff says her extensive car accident injuries were Allentown cop's fault
ALLENTOWN – A Lehigh County woman alleges she suffered numerous physical injuries, as a result of a motor vehicle collision she says was caused by an Allentown police officer who operated their vehicle in a reckless fashion.
Settlement for former female police officer's sex discrimination suit against Frazer Township
PITTSBURGH – Sex discrimination litigation against Frazer Township from a female, former member of the township’s police department who claimed she was treated poorly and terminated on the basis of her gender, has recently been settled.
Judge dismisses count from TV reporter's suit against PetSmart, filed after her dog's death
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County judge has dismissed a count of negligence per se, from litigation brought by a Pittsburgh television reporter that her dog suffered fatal injuries after being groomed at a local PetSmart store, in effect being hanged by his caretakers and asphyxiated during his nail trimming.
Security firm denies liability claims in lawsuit after Lancaster mall shooting
LANCASTER – A mall security firm has denied charges of gross negligence and cross-claim liability, in litigation brought by two shoppers allegedly injured while escaping from a shooting incident at the Park City Mall more than two years ago.
Pa. state Sen. Boscola refutes energy group president's defamation allegations
PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania state senator has rejected defamation allegations from an energy company president, who claimed the senator’s use of his last name to describe the practice of not limiting net energy metering in a memorandum for her proposed legislation, has harmed his professional reputation.
Lawsuit: Marple Township police left intoxicated man at bus stop, and he was then killed by passing SUV
PHILADELPHIA – The estate of a man left at a bus stop while in an intoxicated state by Marple Township police officers and killed by a passing vehicle shortly thereafter two years ago, has launched civil rights litigation against the Township, its Police Department and a plethora of officers she believes are responsible for the man’s death.
Federal judge hands down split ruling in case of involuntarily committed man whose weapons were seized
WILLIAMSPORT – A federal judge has granted in part and denied in part a motion for summary judgment brought by the estate of a man who made violent threats against his wife’s nursing home, was involuntarily committed and had his weapons seized, prior to his death.
Man alleges that not being transgender cost him his employment at Bucks County adult store
PHILADELPHIA – A former cleaner and clerk at a Bucks County-based adult establishment argues he was discriminated against and terminated from his employment, based upon his designation as a cisgender male.
Italian company denies fault for injuries suffered by man in hydraulic bending machine
MEDIA – An Italian company has denied responsibility for a Philadelphia man’s injuries, when he lost two fingers on his right hand in a hydraulic bending machine, allegedly due to the device not being equipped with necessary guards and warnings to its users.
Hamilton Arms Center denies liability for death of former resident in June 2022
LANCASTER – The Hamilton Arms Center facility has denied liability for allegations made in a lawsuit from the daughter of a woman who died last year, after a two-month stay there.
Court: Bucks County man challenging Educator Discipline Act is permitted to do so anonymously
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has ruled that a Bucks County man seeking a permanent injunction against enforcement of the provisions of Section 17.2 of Pennsylvania’s Educator Discipline Act – a statute which he feels criminalizes the disclosure of truthful information connected to the filing of an educator misconduct complaint with the Commonwealth’s Department of Education – is permitted to proceed anonymously in his action, but not allowed to file unredacted exhibits under seal along with it.
Judge denies Lackawanna County's dismissal motion, in vehicle repossession dispute with Volkswagen group
SCRANTON – A federal court has denied an attempt to dismiss litigation from a Volkswagen business trust which argued that a vehicle it was legally entitled to repossess when its lessee defaulted on payments was instead taken by Lackawanna County and another auto company, when that same lessee was arrested in April of last year.
Former youth football coach and board member files defamation suit against citizen and official
MEDIA – A former youth football board member and coach contends he was defamed by both a private citizen and a fellow board member in emails referring to him as a “safety concern” and a “danger” to the children and families in the program.
George W. Hill correctional facility operators deny that prison failed to stop assault against plaintiff
MEDIA – The Florida-based operating companies of George W. Hill Correctional Facility have denied that it negligently failed to prevent the brutal assault a Delaware County man alleges he sustained at the hands of another inmate.
Lancaster and Marriott hotel avail themselves of liability in suit from injured restaurant patrons
LANCASTER – A Marriott hotel and the City of Lancaster have moved to strike punitive damages from the lawsuit brought by a local man and a South Carolina woman, who alleged they were struck by a wooden beam which fell from the ceiling as they were dining inside that same hotel’s restaurant.
Summary judgment ends landlord's civil rights suit against Philadelphia licensing officials
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has granted summary judgment to a trio of officials from the City of Philadelphia, closing out litigation from a local man who had alleged his civil rights were violated when his properties were sold and demolished by the City.
Chester looks to stay detective's racial discrimination case, due to municipal bankruptcy
PHILADELPHIA – A Black corporal detective of Korean heritage alleges that the Chester Police Department engaged in racially discriminatory behavior towards him, which he says caused him to take leave from the department – but the City of Chester maintains that its pending bankruptcy should stay the case.
Parent of kindergartener allegedly sexually assaulted by classmate settle with Chester charter school
PHILADELPHIA – The parent of a kindergartener who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a classmate on more than one occasion and who charged the charter school where the assaults took place with not preventing them from happening, has petitioned to settle their claims.