News from December 2014
Supreme Court enhances protection of client funds invested by attorneys
Attorneys investing funds for clients will be subject to stricter standards of accountability
AOPC receives court statistics reporting excellence award
A special tool Pennsylvania uses to collect and manage information from hundreds of
Superior Court vacates $14.5 million asbestos verdict, orders new trial
A divided en banc Superior Court affirmed a 2013 split-decision by a three-judge panel to
Ride-sharing service Uber sued by 45 Philly cab companies
The worldwide app-based ride-sharing service Uber has been accused of racketeering practices and unfair competition by 45 Philadelphia cab companies in a federal suit filed at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Suit: Montgomery County prison allowed suspected sex offender's suicide
The wife of an accused sex offender who committed suicide after the denial of his bail
Rohm & Haas reaches settlement over Illinois toxic tort cases
Pennsylvania-based chemical company Rohm & Haas, a division of Dow Chemical, has agreed to an undisclosed settlement with 33 plaintiffs that lived near one of its plants in Illinois and claimed improper disposal methods caused brain cancer.
Restaurant workers file class action for lost wages
Five employees working in the front rooms of a French bistro in Philadelphia have filed a class action suit with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the restaurant under the Fair Labor Standards Act, claiming they were not fully compensated because of a policy that deducted money from their tips to pay for credit card fees.
Judiciary board files charges against acquitted traffic court judge
Following the acquittal by a federal jury of participating in a ticket-fixing scheme, a former Philadelphia Traffic Court judge wants to finish out his six-year term on the bench and collect the $90,000 per year salary he lost while placed on suspension during the two-year investigation and trial.
Suit: Former bus mechanic fired after complaining about company's dangerous policies
A former mechanic and driver for an Allentown, Pa.-based school transportation company says his termination violated whistleblower protections under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, according to a lawsuit filed at the Lehigh County Court of Common Appeals.
Former aircraft factory worker says termination over shy bladder violated ADA
An ex-employee of a Coatesville, Pa.-based helicopter manufacturer says that his
Special counsel clears remaining supreme court justices of improper emails
The special counsel selected to conduct an independent review of more than 4,500 email
Former Rite Aid VP faces federal charges for alleged inventory kickback scheme
A former Rite Aid Corporation Vice President and a New Jersey businessman have been charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in connection with a $14.6 million, surplus inventory sales/kickback scheme. Jay Findling, age 54, of Manalapan, N.J., is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Former Rite Aid Vice President Timothy Foster, 65, of Portland, Ore., is
Bucks County Community College sues tech company for breach of contract
Officials at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pa., have filed a breach of
Former LaSalle professor says school terminated position after she reported sexual harassment
A former assistant professor at LaSalle University says she lost her job after she declined
Two Philadelphia lawmakers charged with bribery
Two Philadelphia-based state representatives have been charged by District Attorney Seth
N.J. man says antiques dealer stole items worth $127,000
A New Jersey man has accused a Berks County, Pa., antiques dealer of deceptive practices
Gettysburg attorney sentenced to 15 Years in federal prison for defrauding clients
A federal judge was unimpressed with a Gettysburg attorney's apology Wednesday for defrauding her clients of $6 million that she diverted from a trust fund before sentencing her to 15 years’ imprisonment plus restitution and forfeiture totaling more than $12 million.
Former traffic court officials receive sentences for fraud scheme
William Hird, former director of records for the now-defunct Philadelphia Traffic Court, was sentenced Monday to 24 months in prison for his role in a fraud scheme involving judges at the former court.
Update: Pa. Supreme Court upholds $151 million verdict against Wal-Mart
Update: Wal-mart issued a statement in response to Monday's ruling, saying that considerations are being made tot ake the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.