Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Recent News About Pennsylvania Supreme Court
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College faculty union can't bargain over who gets criminal background checks, Supreme Court says
PHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently ruled that a union that represents higher education faculty across the state has no bargaining rights over which of its members must submit to criminal background checks. -
Pa. Supreme Court to consider possible overreach of sovereign immunity in Huntingdon County woman's property injury case
HARRISBURG – The concept of sovereign immunity as it relates to state property will soon be taken up by Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which will hear an appeal from a Huntingdon County resident who claims such immunity should not be applied to an incident during which she sustained a broken ankle near her residence. -
Business groups hope Pennsylvania Supreme Court breaks from pro-plaintiffs string of decisions
HARRISBURG – In the lead-up to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania hearing arguments on Hammons v. Ethicon, Inc. next week, an amicus brief attached to six organizations representing tort reform and business interests in the state says recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings governing personal jurisdiction are being ignored. -
City of Pittsburgh argues Home Rule Charter allows it to enact and enforce campaign finance ordinance
PITTSBURGH – The City of Pittsburgh believes that a lawsuit alleging it is illegally enforcing campaign finance regulation ordinances is groundless, and that its Home Rule Charter status allows it to enact and enforce such laws. -
Should Indiana woman be allowed to use Pennsylvania courts to sue New Jersey company? Supreme Court to decide
HARRISBURG – The future of both pelvic mesh lawsuits and the concept of personal jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have the potential to be greatly impacted by arguments and a forthcoming decision in the Hammons v. Ethicon case, set to be argued before the state Supreme Court next week on March 10. -
Pa. Supreme Court considers itself a 'Super Legislature,' says civil justice group
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s recent decision that the Fair Share Act does not apply to asbestos lawsuits is another example of the court showing off its power over legislators who enacted tort reform measures, the head of a state civil justice group says. -
Supreme Court says tort reform law doesn't apply to asbestos lawsuits
HARRISBURG – According to a new ruling from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the state’s Fair Share Act is not supposed to apply strict liability lawsuits such as asbestos cases, so verdicts will be evenly divided among multiple defendants rather than split according to the percentage each defendant is found liable. -
Multiple counts in lawsuit against American Regent, other pharmaceutical makers are dismissed
PHILADELPHIA — A federal judge in Pennsylvania has granted parts of a dismissal motion filed by three of six defendants in a lawsuit seeking damages for alleged harmful side effects from a medication treating iron deficiency. -
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court loses no sleep after bending the law to help personal injury lawyers
The message to legislators is clear: We can do whatever we want to the laws you come up with. -
Pa. Supreme Court to let controversial decision stand in medical-malpractice lawsuit
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has formally denied an application for reconsideration and re-argument in a significant case that gave personal injury lawyers a boost by finding the seven-year time limit on filing medical malpractice lawsuits was “unconstitutional.” -
Former Pa. Supreme Court justice's attempt to clear corruption charges rebuffed by Third Circuit
PHILADELPHIA – An ex-Supreme Court of Pennsylvania justice who has made attempts to have her criminal convictions for corruption dismissed, has lost at the federal appellate level. -
Pennsylvania health care groups fight Supreme Court ruling that gave plaintiffs longer to sue
HARRISBURG – Several Pennsylvania health care organizations, business groups and the attorneys representing them have joined forces in filing a brief seeking reconsideration of a key state Supreme Court decision that found the seven-year limit on filing medical malpractice lawsuits was “unconstitutional.” -
Frat member sued over death at Penn State gets lawsuit dismissed, but case against other moves on
WILLIAMSPORT – Parents who took legal action against a fraternity following their son’s death at a frat house were partially successful in amending their complaint as the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania denied one defendant’s motion to dismiss it but granted another's on Nov. 19. -
Fluctuating workweek method doesn't follow Pennsylvania labor laws, Supreme Court rules
HARRISBURG – On Nov. 20, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Western District determined that employers cannot use a fluctuating work week (FWW) method to calculate overtime for nonexempt, salaried employees. -
Supreme Court says independent medical exam provision in auto insurance policy conflicts with state law
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania answered that a car insurance policy provision clashes with Section 1796(a) of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (MVFRL) on Nov. 20. -
Former employees suing disgraced AG Kane lose effort to obtain her attorney communications
PHILADELPHIA – Former Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General employees caught up in the scandal around disgraced former Attorney General Kathleen Kane won't be getting her attorney communications, a federal judge recently ruled. -
Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules Harrisburg spreadsheet is a financial document
The city had sought to prevent Joshua Prince from receiving the un-redacted document, which listed donor names, dates, and amounts. -
Pa. Supreme Court reinstates thousands of Risperdal cases after J&J argued they were filed too late
HARRISBURG – According to a pair of majority rulings from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a factual analysis must be undertaken in each individual case involving Johnson & Johnson anti-psychotic drug Risperdal, before a jury can decide when the statute of limitations begins to toll for bringing a claim. -
In light of Supreme Court ruling, Commonwealth Court to re-examine case centered on Pittsburgh Section 8 housing ordinance
HARRISBURG – The battle over a controversial ordinance enacted by the City of Pittsburgh that would mandate that landlords accept Section 8 housing vouchers from tenants has returned to the Commonwealth Court, which must now determine if a statewide law can justify the ordinance’s validity. -
How the state police monitors social media among cases heard by Supreme Court
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is hearing cases over a three-day span during sessions in Harrisburg this week, with the following cases being among those on the top court’s docket.