Pennsylvania State Legislature
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Pa. House Judiciary Committee Chair introduces constitutional amendment to establish civil case venue
HARRISBURG – The Chairman of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has introduced legislation to amend Pennsylvania’s constitution to prohibit venue shopping in medical liability cases, a potential game-changer for civil litigation statewide if it were to be passed. -
Mail-in-Voting-for-All Act 77 to blame for Pennsylvania’s primary woes
Act 77, Pennsylvania’s controversial voting law allowing no-excuse mail-in voting for all voters, caused more havoc in Tuesday’s primary election in the Keystone State, as election issues in Lancaster County fed the headlines. -
After botching, constitutional amendment helping church sex abuse victims could have new path to law
HARRISBURG – A state constitutional amendment which would retroactively extend the timeline for victims to file civil actions against their abusers, stalled in a procedural snafu that cost the former Secretary of the Commonwealth her job, may see new life and its place on the May primary election ballot restored, as an emergency amendment. -
Supreme Court takes down tort reform measure, to health care groups' chagrin
HARRISBURG – In a divided ruling sure to impact future medical malpractice litigation statewide, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently ruled that the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act’s repose statute violates access to the courts, as assured by the Pennsylvania State Constitution. -
Pennsylvania takes on robocalls; Will more lawsuits ensue?
HARRISBURG – One possible outcome of Pennsylvania’s new legislation designed to defend citizens from unwanted solicitation calls is a boost to lawyers who bring cases under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act. -
Supreme Court strikes down 2012 law, says lawmakers passed it in unconstitutional fashion
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has struck down Act 80, a law giving cash assistance to some of the state's poorest residents, due to constitutional issues on how the law was passed. -
Pennsylvania House votes down bill to limit punitive damages in nursing home litigation
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsors viewed as a reform measure that sought to limit punitive damages in verdicts against nursing homes was defeated in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last week. -
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. -
U.S. Supreme Court denies Pennsylvania GOP's request to consider congressional redistricting
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court has an answer for Pennsylvania Republicans who wanted the judiciary to examine the constitutionality of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s decision to redraw its congressional districting map: “No.” -
Senate President Scarnati vows to oppose Supreme Court's congressional redistricting order
HARRISBURG – State Senate President Joseph Scarnati, believes the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania unconstitutionally usurped authority from the Legislature in its recent orders to re-draw the state’s map of 18 congressional districts – and therefore, says he won’t comply with them. -
Pa. Supreme Court orders congressional district map redrawn, as GOP lawmakers protest
HARRISBURG – In a landmark decision reached Monday, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled the state’s map of 18 congressional districts was unfairly gerrymandered to benefit Republican candidates and must be redrawn in less than a month, a move members of the Pennsylvania GOP are already looking to delay. -
Pittsburgh police prevail, will not be required to live within city limits
PITTSBURGH — The state Supreme Court on May 22 ruled that police officers in Pittsburgh must only live within 25 air miles of downtown instead of within city limits, upholding a 2014 decision by an arbitrator. -
Dissenting justice: Lawmakers overstepped authority with frivolous lawsuit measure
HARRISBURG – Two members of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, including Justice Christine Donohue, dissented from the majority view in a prominent case which examined the constitutionality of the Dragonetti Act as applied to attorneys in the state. -
False Claims Act bill to be introduced again; Sponsor confident in passage - if he can get it to a vote
HARRISBURG – A staple of recent annual legislature sessions has been the introduction of a state equivalent to the federal False Claims Act (FCA), and one Pennsylvania congressman has said he plans to soon bring such a bill back to the floor for consideration. But opinions remain divided on the effectiveness of that legislation to benefit the state.