News from May 2015
Train passenger cites Amtrak with gross negligence in derailment
A passenger has sued Amtrak in a fatal train derailment.
Junk removal business alleges copyright infringement by franchisee
A Pennsylvania junk removal business has sued a Texas man, alleging breach of contract and resultant copyright infringement.
Judge sides with Verizon, says ADA doesn't cover bodily injuries
PHILADELPHIA – On May 21, a Philadelphia federal judge granted a motion for summary judgment in favor of Verizon Communications and against a former employee who claims he was reversely discriminated against based on his race, age and disability.
Prospective juror, not allowed to re-enter courthouse, loses most of his discrimination claims
PHILADELPHIA – A prospective juror who claims he was discriminated against for his disability and removed from a jury pool on that basis had most of his claims dismissed recently in federal court.
Former Johns Hopkins doctor loses breach of contract claim, preserves discrimination claim
PHILADELPHIA – A former doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital who alleged she was dismissed due to her race and that her contract was breached in the process, had that breach of contract claim denied in federal court on Tuesday.
Judge dismisses poker player's claims against state troopers over incident at Harrah's Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – A Bala Cynwyd man’s motion for reconsideration in a case of alleged civil rights violations against Harrah’s Philadelphia and two Pennsylvania State Police officers was denied in federal court recently.
Litigants wait on appeal in case of fatal Greyhound bus crash
PHILADELPHIA – A pair of lawsuits filed against Greyhound Bus Lines, one of its drivers and its parent company are under consideration for a motion to stay their proceedings, pending a coming state Superior Court decision on the release of privileged attorney-client communications.
Former employee sues firm claiming racial discrimination and retaliation
A Philadelphia resident brought a grievance against his former employer alleging civil rights and employment law violation in 2013. Hussain Edmonds sued Prospect Airport Services of Philadelphia; in the U.S.
Woman named as landlord-defendant in trip-and-fall does not own property
PHILADELPHIA – Defense counsel for a Philadelphia woman sued for negligence has petitioned to be removed from representing her, after it was determined she no longer owned the property where a plaintiff claimed to have fallen in July 2012.
Woman sues driver of oncoming vehicle in collision
A Bucks County resident brought a complaint against an Illinois father and daughter, alleging vehicular negligence in 2011. Alison M.
Couple cites driver, car owner in rear-end collision
A North Carolina couple has sued a Pennsylvania duo, alleging violation of traffic law.
Philly woman wants $30K slip-and-fall settlement vacated, says defendant missed payments
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia woman who claimed she was injured at her former apartment complex and settled with her ex-landlord before trial is now seeking to re-list the case for trial after he allegedly missed paying several installments of the settlement funds.
Worker cites restaurant with ADEA violation
A Phoenixville resident brought a complaint against a Chester County business alleging a 2012 violation of employment law. Lucia Miesse sued Lincoln Court Food Service Inc. of Malvern in the U.S.
Pregnant bartender avers wrongful termination
A woman brought allegations against her former employers alleging civil rights violation in 2013. Katherine Owens sued St. James Place Restaurant Group LLC and St. James Restaurant Group LLC of Philadelphia and Parlor Suburban Square of Ardmore in the U.S.
Traveler cites Amtrak with accident-related injuries
A New York state resident brought allegations of negligence against a national railroad company in a 2015 incident. Megan Piccirillo of Malvern, New York sued National Railroad Passenger Corporation a/k/a Amtrak, headquartered in Washington, D.C., in the U.S.
Judge: 'Simple math' keeps insurer's case in federal court
PHILADELPHIA – A property company’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit it’s facing from an insurance provider on the basis of lack of proper jurisdiction was struck down in federal court on Thursday.
Judge: Insurance company has duty to defend, but not indemnify, firm and former employee
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has partially ruled in favor of an insurance company that sought a declaratory judgment that it had a duty to defend, but not indemnify, a public accounting firm that was once its client and one of their CPAs.
Judge denies company's motion for judgment in case of fired CFO
PHILADELPHIA – On May 20, a federal judge denied a motion for summary judgment made by a property management company that claims it was not in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) when it terminated its chief financial officer in 2009.
Restaurant ordered to repay cost after allegedly pirating Mayweather-Cotto fight
PHILADELPHIA – A federal court ruled a closed-circuit and pay-per-view sports programming provider was entitled to collect a judgment of $2,200 against a restaurant and its owner who allegedly engaged in piracy of one of its events and did not appear or plead to defend themselves from this charge.
Vendor lawsuit alleges partial nonpayment for industrial purchase
A New York company has sued several Delaware County-based firms in Pennsylvania, alleging breach of contract. Robert James Sales Inc. (RJS) of Cheektowaga, New York, sued Roberts Filter Holding Company, Roberts Filter Group, Roberts Industries and Roberts Water Technologies, based in Media and Darby, Pennsylvania, in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania on May 22, alleging a defaulted payment for goods in February 2015.