News from April 2016
Construction worker blames water park owners for foot injury
PHILADELPHIA — A construction company employee blames a foot injury on the owners and operators of a theme park.
Woman's suit alleges deadly lack of care for inmate
PITTSBURGH — A woman who is the administrator of the estate of a man who was a prisoner is suing Wexford Health Services and several staff members for claims that their negligence led to his death from throat cancer.
Man sues school bus fleet operator for alleged FMLA violations
PHILADELPHIA — A former employee of a school bus fleet operator is suing the company for alleged violations of his Family and Medical Leave Act rights and wrongful termination.
Former employees of waste company claim they were fired based on race
PHILADELPHIA — Six African-American former employees of a waste company claim they were fired as a result of racial discrimination.
Former director of nursing accuses company of gender discrimination
PHILADELPHIA — A woman is suing her former employer over allegations of gender discrimination and wrongful termination.
Former server sues restaurant over sexual harassment claims
PHILADELPHIA — A former server is suing a restaurant over allegations that sexual harassment forced her to resign.
Man sues electrical construction company over sexual harassment allegations
PHILADELPHIA — A former employee of an electrical construction company is suing the company and his former supervisor for allegations of sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
Federal judge rules insurance company did not act in bad faith in prior litigation
PHILADELPHIA – An insurance company did not act in bad faith when it represented the interests of a defendant in a prior lawsuit with one of its former employees, a federal court ruled Monday.
Reading Hospital granted statutory immunity in staffing employee's personal injury case
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled Tuesday that Reading Hospital maintains statutory immunity under the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Act (PWCA), as the employer of a man injured at the facility in February 2013.
Conditional class and settlement terms approved in laborers' action against landscaping firm
PHILADELPHIA – A U.S. magistrate judge has approved conditional certification of the settlement class and settlement associated with a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) case brought by a group of seasonal landscape laborers from Mexico.
Attorney's rights not violated in Valley Forge Military Academy trespassing incident
PHILADELPHIA – A federal appeals court determined Thursday that an attorney cited for defiant trespassing at the Valley Forge Military Academy was not denied his civil rights in that incident.
Judge rules plaintiff's insurance lawsuit won't be remanded to state court
PHILADELPHIA – A breach of insurance contract and statutory bad faith case will not be headed back to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Allegheny County court records director did not mishandle man's filing
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled Tuesday that an Allegheny County court official did not act improperly in handling a filing from a Huntingdon man.
Insurance company did not act in bad faith on settlement claim, federal judge rules
PHILADELPHIA – A federal court ruled Monday an insurance company did not act in bad faith, undervalue or refuse to settle a policyholder’s underinsured motorist (UIM) claim after an accident in 2011.
Plaintiff's lack of expert testimony for causation leads to summary judgment for Pfizer
PHILADELPHIA – On Monday, a federal judge granted summary judgment to Pfizer, Inc., stating a plaintiff who alleged taking the company’s drug Neurontin led him to attempt suicide could not substantiate those claims without expert testimony.
FTC case against Penn. health systems merger appears to be strong, antitrust legal expert says
HARRISBURG – The Federal Trade Commission's efforts to block a proposed merger between two hospitals in Hershey and Harrisburg is a rare case of FTC intervention, but the commission appears to have a strong case, an antitrust health care law authority says.
Federal racketeering case against Metro PCS dismissed; Judge criticizes plaintiff and its attorney
PHILADELPHIA – Metro PCS now is freed, unless there's a fourth filing in the case, from a lawsuit brought by a Philadelphia wireless retailer who alleged a conspiracy by the retail giant to obstruct or delay interstate commerce by extortion to obtain its assets.
Uber takes the high road in response to Philadelphia Taxi lawsuit, attorney says
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – In arguing that taxi monopolies in urban areas are facing their first competition in years, ride-sharing service Uber has positioned itself as a force of innovation against a backward-looking transportation sector that’s resisting change, according to an attorney and law professor who has authored numerous articles on law and technology.
Former shoe store worker sues over claim of harassment, firing
PHILADELPHIA – An ex-employee of Payless Shoesource has sued the company, claiming that she was fired when she refused her manager’s sexual advances and threatened to report him for sexual harassment.
Toy company sued over claim of refusing to reimburse money
PHILADELPHIA – A company that manufactures technical toys for children is being sued for at least $88,000 over an allegation of not giving a full cash refund for returned merchandise.