News from December 2021
United Certification Program reverses Philly's revocation of plaintiff's 'Disadvantaged Business Enterprise' designation
PHILADELPHIA – The Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program has reversed the City of Philadelphia’s decision to decertify Devault Group, Inc. as a disadvantaged business enterprise, the center point of litigation between the company, the City and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Ladder manufacturer faces claim after man falls, suffers broken ankle
PITTSBURGH — A Pennsylvania-based ladder manufacturer is facing a claim its defective product caused a man's fall.
Morgan Lewis Partner John Lavelle Receives Philadelphia Bar’s Citizens Bank Achievement Award
Morgan Lewis Partner John Lavelle Receives Philadelphia Bar’s Citizens Bank Achievement Award.
Federal judge sends dispute between natural gas company and citizens opposed to pipeline to Environmental Hearing Board
HARRISBURG – Due to a question of subject matter jurisdiction, a federal judge has sent litigation pitting a natural gas company against West Rockhill Township and a group of ecologically-concerned citizens to the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board for further proceedings.
Teacher alleges he was defamed with false accusations of sexual abuse against students by victim advocate and author
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania math teacher contends that he has been falsely accused of sexually abusing his students and defamed as to the same, despite his denials that he committed the abuse and law enforcement finding no evidence of his wrongdoing.
Hispanic office manager's discrimination case against ex-employer is stayed, after reaching impasse with counsel
ALLENTOWN – Litigation between a fired office manager of Hispanic origin and her former place of business, a Philadelphia law firm, which alleged that the plaintiff and a fellow co-worker were discriminated against during their tenure because of their ethnic background, has been stayed due to the plaintiff’s counsel leaving the case.
In Pa. case, defendants deny they withheld large amounts of legal bills payments from Armstrong Teasdale
PHILADELPHIA – Two defendants among a group accused of $3.5 million in non-payment of legal bills to a Missouri law firm deny that they committed any such offense, and that the firm never represented them in any relevant litigation.
Whitehall Borough says it didn't violate proprietor's due process rights through selective enforcement of skill games policy
PITTSBURGH – Whitehall Borough claims that a local store owner’s lawsuit alleging that policy towards skill machines and mechanical device licenses is being selectively enforced against him in violation of state and federal law, is groundless and that his constitutional rights do not extend to being granted such a license.
Customer alleges defective shopping cart caused his fall, fractured hip at Shop N Save
PITTSBURGH — A Shop N Save customer allegedly suffered a fractured hip and other injuries due to an alleged defective shopping cart.
Secretary of Health Beam to step down, days after Pa. Supreme Court nixed her school mask mandate
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that the Commonwealth’s Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam would resign her position at the end of the year, just three days after the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania struck down a statewide school mask mandate order that she issued in September.
Plaintiff says racial prejudice led to her 13-year-old son being detained and falsely accused of retail theft at Dollar Store
HARRISBURG – A Harrisburg woman claims that her 13 year-old son was racially targeted by management at a local Dollar Store and falsely accused of shoplifting, nearly being arrested by police who responded to the scene.
McDonald's looking for judgment against plaintiff who alleged supervisor sexually harassed her during job interview
PHILADELPHIA – McDonald’s seeks summary judgment in a case brought by a teenager who alleged that one of its managers showed her sexually graphic photos on his phone during her job interview, by arguing that the plaintiff hasn’t properly pled or supported her claims.
Beaver County couple reach settlement over injuries wife suffered when ATV allegedly hit her at baseball field
PITTSBURGH – A Beaver County couple recently settled claims with the operators of a local baseball and softball field, who they alleged were responsible for injuries the wife-plaintiff suffered when she was allegedly struck by an ATV at the field.
Former high school football coach stands by defamation claims against Pine-Richland School District
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County man who served as a high school football head coach for eight years stands by assertions that he was defamed by school district officials with false claims that he permitted hazing and bullying in the football program.
Lawsuit: Man suffers burns on feet due to defective heating element in sauna
PITTSBURGH — A man is suing the manufacturer of a sauna booth after suffering severe burns on his feet. Alphonso Muhammad filed a complaint Nov. 23 in the U.S.
CHOP wins jury verdict over longtime anesthesiologist who sued it for age discrimination
PHILADELPHIA – After a jury trial, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has prevailed over an age-based employment discrimination lawsuit filed against it by one of its longtime anesthesiologists.
Legal observers who attended George Floyd protest claim Philly police officer assaulted them with baton
PHILADELPHIA – A pair of legal observers who attended a local protest after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis say they were attacked by police responding to the event and suffered a multitude of serious injuries.
$5M house fire insurance litigation against Black & Decker sent to Allegheny County's complex litigation center
PITTSBURGH – A lawsuit against Black & Decker surrounding a home construction fire that allegedly caused a Pennsylvania man $5 million in damages has been sent to Allegheny County’s complex litigation center.
Companies deny cross-claims in $350K injury suit brought by Philly poll worker, who was hurt after trying to repair machine
PHILADELPHIA – Two separate companies named in a lawsuit filed by an election poll worker, which alleged she suffered a broken arm when she was asked to repair a faulty voting machine herself, mutually and steadfastly deny cross-claims levied against them by one of their co-defendants.
For union fighting for payout of sick time for ADA who died from cancer, Allegheny County says it would violate bargaining agreement
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County continues to oppose the dismissal of arbitration proceedings and any payout of donated sick time to the estate of a former district attorney who passed away of cancer in 2019, charging that such a move would violate a collective bargaining agreement with the decedent’s union.