Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Recent News About Pennsylvania Supreme Court
-
Rep. Grove makes push for state commerce court
The Pennsylvania lawmaker is hoping a newer, streamlined approach to handling corporate litigation will improve the state’s overall business climate. -
Supreme Court rules public employees' addresses are private
HARRISBURG — The state Supreme Court has ruled that the addresses of public employees are protected by a right to “informational privacy. -
Attorney to fight 'bizarre' ruling ordering new trial because judge retired
HARRISBURG – To say attorney Anthony Pinnie is frustrated by a “bizarre” Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruling that vacated a judgment awarded to his client would be an understatement. -
Attorney resigns, is disbarred after running questionable foreclosure relief practice
PITTSBURGH — The state Supreme Court decided Feb. 23 to disbar attorney Daniel Domenick, 19 days after he tendered his resignation from practicing law. -
Agency might issue penalty to EQT before Supreme Court can hear case
HARRISBURG – A planned state Department of Environmental Protection appeal of a Commonwealth Court ruling related to the continuation of unpermitted discharge penalties under the Clean Streams Law could be potentially rendered moot after the Environmental Hearing Board sets a penalty amount early this year. -
Supreme Court to weigh appeal of woman convicted after alleged GM ignition failure
HARRISBURG – A Pennsylvania woman is set to have her involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving conviction case reheard on the grounds of timeliness requirements after the state Supreme Court granted her Petition for Allowance of Appeal. -
Pennsylvania franchisors are handed victory in employment status debate
HARRISBURG – Franchisors in Pennsylvania were handed a legal victory in the debate over whether a franchisor can be considered the employer of its individual franchisees. In a case involving a Saladworks franchisee employee's on-the-job injury, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowed a Commonwealth Court ruling to stand, which allows the franchisor to avoid liability. -
Public employees' home addresses protected despite Right To Know Law
HARRISBURG – For several years, the privacy of public school employees had been in jeopardy while the Pennsylvania State Education Association fought in court for the principle that individuals have a right to privacy pertaining to their home addresses per the Pennsylvania Constitution. -
Pennsylvania Supreme Court, bodies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh make 'Judicial Hellholes' watch list
WASHINGTON – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas made the watch list of American Tort Reform Association's 2016-17 Judicial Hellholes list, issued earlier today. -
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania remands wrongful death case against nursing care facility to Superior Court
HARRISBURG – The state Supreme Court has granted a petition for allowance to appeal in a negligence and wrongful death action against a Carlisle nursing care facility. -
Citing sovereign immunity, Commonwealth Court upholds dismissal of defamation case from former SEPTA employee
HARRISBURG – The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has thrown out a defamation case filed against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and its Chief of Police, ruling the claims are barred by sovereign immunity. -
Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects part of law allowing grandparents to seek custody in separation
HARRISBURG – A Sept. 9 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that declared a statute allowing grandparents to seek partial custody of the children of separated parents unconstitutional figures to have a significant impact on grandparents’ custody rights. -
Voters OK increase in judicial mandatory retirement age
HARRISBURG – After a protracted legal battle regarding the proper wording of a ballot question related to the mandatory retirement age for judges in Pennsylvania, voters in the commonwealth narrowly passed an increase in the retirement age to 75 from 70. -
Pa. McDonald's franchises facing possibly more than $1M after paying employees with debit cards
WILKES-BARRE – A recent Pennsylvania Superior Court ruling related to the practice of paying employees with debit cards by 16 McDonald’s franchisees in the Commonwealth could mean a payday of more than $1 million for thousands of current and former employees at those restaurants. -
Certificates of Merit not enough to allege corporate negligence against Bryn Mawr hospital
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia court dismissed a count of corporate negligence against Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital in a medical malpractice action, citing insufficiently-filed Certificates of Merit (COMs). -
Jury instructions on product liability unlikely to change; Issues probably to be decided in court
HARRISBURG – A subcommittee charged with developing jury instructions following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision on product liability has no plans to change the language of its new instructions, for now. -
Attorney: Third Circuit threatens business model of franchising
PHILADELPHIA – A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently granted class certification in a case against Jani-King of Philadelphia that alleges the company’s franchisees were improperly being classified as independent contractors. -
Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules that wrongful death suit should go to arbitration
PHILADELPHIA – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that survival claims brought as part of a wrongful death lawsuit against a nursing facility should be sent to arbitration hearings. -
Judges appear to gain autonomy in weighing medical claims in workers' compensation cases
A leading labor and employment attorney advises employers to pay closer attention to work-related injuries and be sure to request that impairment rating evaluation physicians appointed by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) defer evaluations of cases to other experts with specialized expertise in each medical situation. -
Pastor urges changes to education funding formula
BRYN MAWR – Reformers inside and on the outskirts of Pennsylvania's education system are anxiously waiting the results of a recent hearing in which the state Supreme Court heard a petition imploring the judiciary to intervene in public school funding.