News from December 2016
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.
Husband and wife sue insurance firm
PITTSBURGH — A married couple's lawsuit against Mike Dudenas Agency and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company alleges breach of contract and negligence.
Litigation funder doesn't show for hearing in Liberian insurance case
PHILADELPHIA - An Irish businessman who funded the pursuit of a multimillion-dollar Liberian judgment that was in contrast to a U.S. federal court ruling was a no-show at a Dec. 14 hearing, which had yet to determine an amount sanctions he and his co-respondents may be liable for.
Disaster Restoration Services seeks payment from married couple
PITTSBURGH — A Pennsylvania business is suing Guy W. Metzler and Tracie R. Metzler, accusing the married couple of breach of contract.
Pair accused of failing to may mortgage
HARRISBURG — The federal government is suing Dorothea and Vincent Rakus, alleging breach of contract in connection with a mortgage.
Woman says Geico wrongly denied claim after crash
PITTSBURGH – A West Mifflin woman alleges her insurer acted in bad faith after she filed for damages following a single-car crash.
Ellwood Crankshaft and Machine Company accused of owing money for order changes
PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania business are suing another Pennsylvania operation, Ellwood Crankshaft and Machine Company, alleging breach of contract.
Boundless Ventures LLC accused of not paying mortgage
PITTSBURGH — A financial institution is suing Boundless Ventures LLC, a Pennsylvania company, citing alleged breach of contract.
Gel fuel maker Ashland LLC says insurer failed to provide proper coverage from lawsuits
PITTSBURGH — A Kentucky company is suing National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, alleging breach of contract.
Issue of qualified immunity leads to remanding of civil rights arson investigation case to trial court
PHILADELPHIA – Appellate court judges have decided to remand a civil rights action tied to an arson investigation to its trial court, for further proceedings and analysis on whether the concept of qualified immunity applies to one of the case’s defendants.
Superior Court affirms trial court decision on assignment of seven-figure damages in mortgage case
HARRISBURG – Three Superior Court judges have ruled to affirm a trial court perspective with respect to the assignment of seven-figure damages in a mortgage foreclosure action.
Third Circuit upholds trial court ruling in legal malpractice action
PHILADELPHIA – A panel of appellate judges has recently ruled to affirm a trial court’s decisions on the subjects of judgment on the pleadings and a denial of a motion for reconsideration in a legal malpractice litigation.
Judge: Harassment of gay man 'exactly the evil' a federal law should address
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge provided a "solid foundation" for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's lawsuit regarding a gay man allegedly harassed by his manager at a Pittsburgh-area health care center, an employment litigator said during a recent interview.
Don E. Bower Inc. accused of terminating employee while on medical leave
SCRANTON – A Great Bend man alleges his construction company employer wrongfully terminated him while he was on leave to care for an ill family member.
Royal Sumatra Holding Co. alleged to owe $72,000 to Pittsburgh company
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh corporation alleges a Uniontown company has not paid it per the terms of a contract.
Man alleges Responsenow Inc. made unsolicited telemarketing calls
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County man alleges an Oregon company that sells medical alert devices unlawfully called him for advertising purposes.
N.J. woman alleges credit bureaus are reporting inaccurate information on report
PHILADELPHIA – A New Jersey consumer alleges her credit report contains incorrect information and that she has been damaged because of it.
Summary judgment granted to debt collectors who abided by Fair Credit Reporting Act
PHILADELPHIA – A judge has granted a motion for summary judgment filed by a consulting company which accessed a plaintiff’s credit report, in order to collect on a debt owed by that same plaintiff in the instant case.
State Farm did not act in bad faith in handling man's uninsured motorist accident claim
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has dismissed allegations that a major insurance firm acted in bad faith towards one of its policyholders, in reference to a motor vehicle accident claim the plaintiff filed.
Negligence, liability and breach of warranty case against Ford headed back to state court
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has chosen to remand a Glenolden man’s negligence, products liability and breach of warranty action to state court, due to several of the defendants not filing their own consents for removal of the action to federal court.