News from January 2017
Employee blames Norfolk Southern Corporation for fall injuries
HARRISBURG — An employee is suing Norfolk Southern Corporation, his employer, citing alleged hostile work environment, insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries, liability, and negligence.
Fullcircle Media LLC of Florida says Pittsburgh business failed to pay invoices
PITTSBURGH — A Florida company is suing Pittsburgh company One Cavo LLC and dissolved Colorado company 1 Cavo LLC, alleging failure to pay for services.
New rule requires employers to file unemployment taxes electronically
HARRISBURG — New this tax season, Pennsylvania businesses are required to submit unemployment taxes electronically, the state Department of Labor & Industry announced.
Unum Life Insurance Company of America accused of wrongful denial of benefits
PHILADELPHIA — A woman is suing Unum Life Insurance Company of America, alleging that she was wrongly denied disability benefits.
JCS Military Support Services Inc. and Magellan Health accused of wage-law violation
PHILADELPHIA — A Utah man has filed a class action lawsuit against JCS Military Support Services Inc. and Magellan Health Inc., alleging that they violated wage law by not compensating him properly for overtime.
Dun and Bradstreet Short Term Disability Plan and Metlife accused of improper benefit denial
PHILADELPHIA — A man is suing Dun and Bradstreet Short Term Disability Plan and Metlife, alleging breach of contract in connection with disability insurance.
Pair claim Aielland Guys restaurant had unsafe stairway
PITTSBURGH — A former married couple's lawsuit against restaurant owner Aielland Guys LLC and restaurant operator Shelly Pie LLC, alleges negligence, liability and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries.
Carmeuse Lime & Stone accused of not paying bill in full
PITTSBURGH — A Carlisle company is suing Carmeuse Lime & Stone Inc. of Pittsburgh, alleging breach of contract.
No immunity for teacher who let kindergartner leave with stranger who sexually assaulted her
PHILADELPHIA — A federal appeals court has denied immunity to
a substitute teacher who allowed a stranger to remove a kindergarten student from his
class despite the fact she failed to show proper identification.
Many possible factors led to racial discrimination case against Dept. of Corrections, advocate says
HARRISBURG – Any number of factors could have played into the alleged racial discrimination that resulted in a former Pennsylvania Department of Corrections director of equal employment opportunity’s decision to file a lawsuit against the department and individual defendants, according to Workplace Fairness senior adviser Paula Brantner.
Joke GoFundMe page seeks donations for well-heeled city lawyer
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia lawyer, who is part of the Democratic City Committee and is set to retire soon, sets up a GoFundMe page as a joke.
FMLA claim in retaliation suit against former AG Kane tossed by federal judge
HARRISBURG – A federal judge on Jan. 4 dismissed a Family and Medical Leave Act claim lodged against former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who was recently found guilty of perjury and other criminal charges and was sentenced in October to up to 23 months in prison..
Defamation case against Bill Cosby dismissed by federal appeals court
PHILADELPHIA – A case in which a woman making claims against Bill Cosby that he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her has been dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Plaintiff can't use EEOC finding in racial discrimination suit against employer
HARRISBURG – The presiding judge in the racial-discrimination lawsuit Waters
v. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission granted a motion by the PHRC on
Jan. 3 after the state agency had asked the court to exclude a prior determination of reasonable cause by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
EEOC's change to discrimination guidelines leads to lawsuit over accent
HARRISBURG – A former Verizon Communications Inc. employee is accusing the
company of violating workplace discrimination laws, claiming she was fired because of her accent. Her lawsuit was filed recently in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania franchisors are handed victory in employment status debate
HARRISBURG – Franchisors in Pennsylvania were handed a legal victory in the debate over whether a franchisor can be considered the employer of its individual franchisees. In a case involving a Saladworks franchisee employee's on-the-job injury, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowed a Commonwealth Court ruling to stand, which allows the franchisor to avoid liability.
Court finds that accuracy is not part of 'complete and up to date' reporting requirement
PHILADELPHIA – A Dec. 22 opinion issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requirement that a credit reporting agency must submit “complete and up to date” information on a job candidate does not refer to accuracy or identifying information on the consumer in question.
Attorney: UberBLACK plaintiffs have good argument in notable class action case
PHILADELPHIA – A group of UberBLACK drivers will be able to continue their class action, a judge recently ruled in a Philadelphia federal court.
Woman says credit reporting agencies gave inaccurate information
PHILADELPHIA — A woman is suing TransUnion LLC, Experian Information Solutions Inc., Equifax Information Services LLC and Select Portfolio Servicing Inc., alleging violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
District Court did not err in dismissing man's amended discrimination complaint, Third Circuit says
PHILADELPHIA – A panel of appellate judges have ruled to affirm a trial court ruling to dismiss a man’s second amendment complaint in a federal discrimination litigation.