News from September 2016
Honey Locust Farms accused of violating wage law
HARRISBURG — A former employee is suing Thomas Bross IV and Honey Locust Farms LLC, alleging unpaid wages and violation of workers compensation acts.
GC Services Limited Partnership accused of improper collection tactic
PHILADELPHIA — A man is suing GC Services Limited Partnership, a business entity, citing alleged violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Penn State Industries accused of not paying proper overtime
PHILADELPHIA — An employee has filed a class action lawsuit against Penn State Industries and John Does 1-10, alleging violation of wage laws.
Insurer blames Electrolux Home Products for house fire
PHILADELPHIA — An insurance firm is suing Electrolux Home Products Inc., a Georgia business, citing alleged negligence and product liability.
Bar on Oak accused of copyright infringement
HARRISBURG — Several record companies are suing a bar, alleging copyright infringement.
NLRB finds King of Prussia charter school is a private corporation
WASHINGTON – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided in two separate cases
Aug. 24 that although publicly funded, the Hyde Leadership Charter School in
Brooklyn, New York, and the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, based in King of Prussia, are private corporations subject
to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Pastor urges changes to education funding formula
BRYN MAWR – Reformers inside and on the outskirts of Pennsylvania's education system are anxiously waiting the results of a recent hearing in which the state Supreme Court heard a petition imploring the judiciary to intervene in public school funding.
Third Circuit court makes surprising decision to decertify class action suit
PHILADELPHIA – Recently, the United States Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit made a surprising decision to decertify a class action lawsuit regarding the drug Modafinil.
Lawyer for 3M says class action suit over chemical agent used for firefighting has no merit
PHILADELPHIA – Eight individuals have signed on to a class-action lawsuit alleging that 3M and several other defendants should be held responsible for injuries they sustained from water contaminated when others used the aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, that 3M has sold in the past.
Primanti Bros. could have significant liability for alleged wage law violations, worker advocate says
PITTSBURGH – If the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit
filed against Primanti Bros. can prove alleged wage law violations, the company
will likely face significant liability, according to a senior adviser for the
organization Workplace Fairness.
Defense bar, product manufacturers oppose suggested jury instructions in product liability litigation
PHILADELPHIA – Are suggested jury instructions in products liability cases now too amenable towards plaintiffs? A sizable group of manufacturers and members of the Pennsylvania defense bar are likely to say, “Yes.”
Commonwealth Court reverses decision on access to Department of Corrections' outside vendor contract records
HARRISBURG – The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has reversed a decision from the Office of Open Records (OOR), which had partially granted and partially denied a request for information made on behalf of a Florida-based magazine which analyzes criminal justice issues.
Litigation costs relieved for plaintiff in employment discrimination lawsuit versus pharmaceutical company
PHILADELPHIA – A federal appellate court has upheld a trial court verdict which relieved litigation costs for a plaintiff involved in an employment discrimination lawsuit versus an Indiana pharmaceutical company.
Bad faith claim against Geico Insurance Company dismissed through motion for judgment
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia federal court has granted a motion for judgment to dismiss a claim of bad faith against Geico Insurance Company, in a lawsuit revolving around underinsured motorist insurance benefits.
Dismissal of post-trial motion in medical malpractice case upheld by Superior Court
HARRISBURG – The Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruled the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas was correct in dismissing a medical malpractice plaintiff’s post-trial motion, for not obtaining Notes of Testimony prior to filing that motion.
Superior Court reverses trial court's grant of summary judgment against Nationwide Insurance
HARRISBURG – Judges from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently reversed an order granting summary judgment against Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company on breach of contract and negligence claims.
Plaintiffs permitted to intervene in subrogation action tied to vehicle, residence fire
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia judge granted a petition from two prospective plaintiffs to intervene in an insurance subrogation action tied to residential damage sustained in an automobile fire.
Woman seeks payment from Government Employees Insurance Company
PHILADELPHIA — A woman is suing Government Employees Insurance Company, her automobile insurer, seeking payment per the underinsured motorist provision of her policy.
City of Pittsburgh, rental owner blamed for hazardous sidewalk condition
PITTSBURGH — A married couple's lawsuit against Michael Episcopo, who owns a rental house, and the City of Pittsburgh alleges negligence in connection with a fall on an uneven sidewalk.
Tracksource Rail Services accused of not shipping product
PITTSBURGH — One Pennsylvania corporation is suing another, alleging breach of contract for failing to ship a product.