News from 2021
Western Pa. woman's talc cancer lawsuit against Giant Eagle, J&J may be stayed due to recent bankruptcy filing
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania woman’s lawsuit against Giant Eagle and Johnson & Johnson for her development of ovarian cancer, after she used the latter’s talc-based personal hygiene products for more than half of her life, may be stayed due to a notice of bankruptcy filing recently introduced by the defense.
Superior Court throws out nonsuit judgment, orders new trial in case of child who died from pneumonia at Einstein Hospital
HARRISBURG – A panel trio from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania has removed a prior finding of nonsuit and ordered a new trial, in a case brought by the parents of a four year-old child who died after being treated for pneumonia at Einstein Hospital in 2015.
Judge approves settlement between former mail carrier and U.S. Postal Service, green-lights attorney's fees
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has approved a settlement agreement made between a former mail carrier and the U.S. Postal Service, finding that it did not violate the tenets of the Fair Labor Standards Act and further OK’ing an award of attorney’s fees.
Plaintiff who alleged sexual harassment during McDonald's job interview will have to reveal identity later
PHILADELPHIA – According to a federal judge, a teenager who alleged in a lawsuit that a McDonald’s restaurant manager showed her sexually graphic photos on his phone during her job interview, will only be permitted to proceed anonymously through the remainder of discovery.
Bed Bath & Beyond says plaintiff's negligence contributed to toddler's injuries in its Monroeville store's restroom
PITTSBURGH – After more than a year, Bed Bath & Beyond has answered a lawsuit brought by an Allegheny County man, who said his young daughter suffered a head injury and facial scarring after she hit her head on the sharp, angular edge of a restroom’s free-standing sink at its Monroeville store.
Ga. man claims he was sexually assaulted by Spirit Airlines flight attendant on the way to Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – A Georgia man says he was sexually assaulted by a Spirit Airlines flight attendant during a plane trip from Myrtle Beach, S.C. to Philadelphia and has filed damages against both the airline and attendant in question.
Two Greater Latrobe high school wrestlers deny accusations of hazing and sexual assault lodged by teammate
PITTSBURGH – Two minor-age members of the Greater Latrobe High School wrestling team have denied that they engaged in hazing and sexual assault against a teammate of theirs, with counsel for one of the boys labeling the incident that took place as “kids play.”
Woman whose son was murdered by former classmate seeks default judgment in her wrongful death lawsuit
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 seeking a default judgment in her wrongful death lawsuit connected to those events.
Phila. Licenses & Inspections Department denies it unfairly treated area landlord before demolishing his properties
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia’s Licenses and Inspections Department denies it has engaged in a campaign of unfair treatment against a local man for years, culminating in the Department demolishing two of his properties located adjacent to the scene of a fire in October 2019.
Wolf Administration's statewide school mask mandate is unenforceable, issue headed to Pa. Supreme Court
HARRISBURG – The Republican leader of the Pennsylvania Senate, a Republican state representative and a group of parents have seen their efforts to overturn a statewide school mask mandate issued by the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf, bolstered in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Eddystone mayor and councilmember seek to dismiss litigation alleging they defamed member of Civil Service Commission
MEDIA – The mayor of Eddystone and a borough council member not only deny allegations that they removed a member of the Civil Service Commission from his post and defamed him during a council meeting regarding his alleged criminal record, but have motioned for a judgment on the pleadings and the case’s dismissal.
Walmart discounts injury claims brought by estate of woman who passed away after suffering leg injuries
PITTSBURGH – Walmart has countered that there is no truth to claims made by the daughter and husband of a deceased Beaver Falls woman, surrounding alleged negligence pertaining to severe leg injuries the decedent suffered in one of its local stores prior to her passing.
East Bradford Township employee says he was fired for reporting dangerous tree limbs
PHILADELPHIA – A former employee for East Bradford Township’s Public Works Department alleges he was retaliated against and fired when he reported dangerous conditions relating to decaying tree limbs in the municipality.
Judge rejects summary judgment motions from TGI Friday's and Delta Airlines in sky marshal's sexual assault case
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has denied a trio of motions for summary judgment from the parent companies of TGI Friday’s and Delta Airlines, named in litigation brought by a sky marshal who was allegedly sexually assaulted by an intoxicated passenger on her flight from Pittsburgh to Atlanta in 2018.
Wrongful death lawsuit against Tyson Foods over COVID-19 precautions will remain in federal court
PHILADELPHIA – The widow of a meatpacking supervisor for Tyson Foods who brought litigation against the company, alleging that its deficient precautions to protect against COVID-19 led to her husband’s death from the disease last year, will not see her case remanded to state court.
Class action litigation over sales tax on COVID-19 face masks thrown out of court
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has dismissed a class action lawsuit which claimed a wide variety of retailers have been unlawfully charging sales tax on the purchases of face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
Man says he was assaulted physically and sexually during stay at Abraxas juvenile rehabilitation center
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man alleges that while a juvenile resident at a local rehabilitation center for delinquent youth, he was repeatedly assaulted both physically and sexually by staff members at the facility.
City of Philadelphia argues street preacher known as 'Philly Jesus' hasn't proven his wrongful arrest case
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia seeks to once and for all dismiss litigation from a street preacher locally known as “Philly Jesus” who filed a wrongful prosecution case against it after being arrested when he was evangelizing in a public park just before Christmas in 2019.
Husband of woman who died after liver surgery rejects Bethlehem hospital's summary judgment motion
ALLENTOWN – A New Jersey man who filed a federal lawsuit against the medical professionals involved in a surgery he claims resulted in his wife’s death from internal bleeding, is opposing a Bethlehem hospital’s attempt to have itself dismissed from the litigation through summary judgment.
Manufacturer says it's not responsible for arcade game that allegedly crushed boy at Chuck E. Cheese
PHILADELPHIA – An arcade game manufacturer says there is no truth to a lawsuit brought by the mother of a boy who was crushed by such a game machine at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Philadelphia, which argues the device was defective.