News from September 2021
Third Circuit says lone text message not enough to prove former police sergeant's gender-discrimination claim
PHILADELPHIA – A federal appellate court recently decided that a lower court’s ruling to dismiss a former Philadelphia police sergeant’s hostile work environment claim was correct, in that the claim wasn’t supported beyond an errant text message.
Estate of Western Pa. woman suing Walmart over leg injuries she suffered
PITTSBURGH – The daughter and husband of a deceased Beaver Falls woman are litigating with Walmart for alleged negligence-related damages connected to severe leg injuries she suffered in a local Walmart store prior to her passing.
Allegations of professional negligence against are too vague and overbroad, Trinity Health says
MEDIA – Trinity Health Corporation has filed preliminary objections charging that allegations of professional medical negligence levied by a Pennsylvania woman are so vague that it does not give them the opportunity to properly defend against them.
Ill. lender wants class action against it alleging illegal interest rates arbitrated or thrown out
PITTSBURGH – An Illinois online lender contends that a Washington County woman’s class action lawsuit claiming it charged usurious interest rates on loans it offered to its customers should be handled through arbitration, or alternatively dismissed.
Black female instructors who allegedly faced racism at school for autistic children deny colleagues' preliminary objections
MEDIA – Two Black female instructors at a school for children with autism spectrum disorders who have alleged that they were the targets of racially-discriminatory behavior from their co-workers, deny any credibility to the defendants’ objections.
'Fright Night' scare turns into lawsuit when frightened woman hits face on wall
PITTSBURGH — A woman alleges an employee at an amusement park who was attempting to scare patrons jumped out in front of her and caused her to hit her face against a wall.
Man's lawsuit says fellow soccer player assaulted him during game
PITTSBURGH — A man claims he was intentionally punched in the head by another player during a soccer tournament and suffered facial fractures and other injuries.
Pa. Superior Court affirms dismissal of civil suit resulting from family feud after dog attack
HARRISBURG – A three-judge complement of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania upheld the trial court dismissal of a civil suit pitting two families against one another, one caused by a series of events which took place in the wake of a dog-bite attack.
Man says his civil rights were violated when he was wrongly accused by police officer of raping his stepdaughter
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man alleges that his civil rights were violated when he was arrested for allegedly molesting and raping his stepdaughter, charges which he claims are untrue and were recanted by the girl.
Mother of man murdered by former college classmate wants access to defendant's psychiatric records
PITTSBURGH – A Verona woman whose son was murdered by a Pittsburgh-area man, a one-time college classmate previously diagnosed with severe psychiatric illness and violent impulses, is opposing a protective order pertaining to psychiatric treatment records filed by his parents.
White Deer Township zoning board files for summary judgment in row over rejected application
WILLIAMSPORT – Following a similar move from Verizon, White Deer Township’s Zoning Hearing Board has also filed for summary judgment in a suit which claimed a municipal zoning board in North Central Pennsylvania violated federal law in denying it the opportunity to build a cell phone tower, and that the denial prevents a sizable area from obtaining its wireless telecommunications services.
Delco woman suing former attorney for second time over misappropriated funds, receives default judgment
MEDIA – A Delaware County woman pursuing legal action against her former attorney for the second time, alleging that trust funds she was intended to receive after the death of her companion were instead misappropriated by that same lawyer, has been granted a default judgment.
Lawsuit filed over Pittsburgh sinkhole that swallowed bus
PITTSBURGH — A woman is alleging a defective commercial water line in Pittsburgh caused the bus she was riding to fall into a sink hole.
Patient alleges lack of fall prevention measures led to her traumatic brain injury
PHILADEPHIA — A former patient of an extended care facility claims lack of fall prevention procedures caused her to fall and suffer a traumatic brain injury. Maria R.
Altoona couple say infant sleeping device caused the death of their three-month-old son
JOHNSTOWN – An Altoona couple claim a device created to assist babies in sleeping instead caused the death of their three-month-old son from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome due to the product’s inherent defects.
Philly cops say immunity shields their actions in case over opiate overdose and subsequent death
PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia police officers who have denied that they used excessive force on a Massachusetts man when responding to his opiate overdose and allegedly caused his death, counter that their actions are protected through qualified immunity.
Pottstown Hospital wants to dismiss excessive force suit from woman arrested there
PHILADELPHIA – Pottstown Hospital and Tower Health are looking to dismiss a Chester County woman’s suit which alleged that she was subjected to excessive force when arrested there two years ago by various entities within the Pottstown Police Department, for failure to state a claim.
Corrections officer disciplined for Facebook post says allegations against Philadelphia are sufficient
PHILADELPHIA – A local corrections officer who claimed that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was disciplined for speech made in a Facebook post to call for a rally in response to payroll policy breaches, now reiterates his pleadings and says they are solid enough to turn away a motion to dismiss.
Greater Latrobe School District wants to consolidate hazing lawsuits from members of high school wrestling team
PITTSBURGH – Greater Latrobe School District is seeking to consolidate separate lawsuits filed by current or former students and their parents, regarding incidents of alleged hazing during the time the students were members of the wrestling team.
2021 HR Legal Summit on September 30 - October 1, 2021
2021 HR Legal Summit on September 30 - October 1, 2021.