News from December 2022
Settlement could be brewing in Clean Water Act case between river group and food processor
HARRISBURG – While a potential settlement is evaluated, a Pennsylvania waterway environmental group and a food processing company have continued a stay of litigation the two parties are involved in over claims of the latter polluted Oil Creek and the Susquehanna River, violating the state Clean Streams Law and the federal Clean Water Act in the process.
School bus company says West Mifflin District has breached its contract agreement
PITTSBURGH – A school bus company claims that a West Mifflin school district breached the contract between the two parties, despite the fact that the plaintiff has met all of its obligations to the district and has done so in spite of a shortage of available drivers.
Dismissed class action suit over American Airlines employee profit-sharing sent to Third Circuit
PHILADELPHIA – A class action lawsuit over a profit-sharing plan between employees and American Airlines Group is heading to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, after the plaintiffs’ case was dismissed by a federal judge last month.
Fox Rothschild Welcomes Lauren Sabol as Intellectual Property Counsel in Pittsburgh
Fox Rothschild LLP is pleased to welcome Lauren B. Sabol to the Pittsburgh office as counsel in the Intellectual Property Department.
Plaintiff who fell in PIT off-campus home says Superior Court ruling permits seeking punitive damages
MEDIA – A woman who was seriously injured in a fall at a home owned by the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology and suffered spinal fractures and broken ribs, contends that a recent ruling from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania should nullify the defense’s attempt to strike her demand for punitive damages.
Janitor who sued former employer for discrimination settles case
PHILADELPHIA – A local man who claimed that he was racially targeted at his place of business during his janitorial shifts and that his employer did nothing to remedy the series of events despite his making multiple reports of said discriminatory behavior, has settled his case.
Objections overruled in Ga. woman's wrongful death suit against Delco hospital
MEDIA – A Delaware County judge has overruled preliminary objections made in a Georgia woman’s lawsuit, brought after the hospital and its personnel were said to have failed to diagnose and monitor her late husband’s medical condition, which led to him passing away from cardiac arrest soon after his discharge.
Woman injured in fall while trying to escape shooting at party sues Airbnb
PITTSBURGH – A woman seriously injured while attempting to escape a shooting at a party which took place at an Airbnb rental home in Pittsburgh, has sued the company and other entities she believes are responsible for her injuries.
Judge won't grant dismissal motion from beauty salon where plaintiff allegedly got staph infection
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has rejected a beauty salon’s attempt to dismiss litigation against it from a California woman, who claimed she developed a staph infection due to the salon’s unsanitary practices.
ESG Expectations in Private Equity on December 8, 2022
There is growing evidence that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors will shape investment strategy for years to come, as both a driver of value creation and a tool for mitigating risk.
Man who alleged Sesame Place Philadelphia performers discriminated against his Black child stands by claims
PHILADELPHIA – A Baltimore man who brought class action litigation against SeaWorld and Sesame Place Philadelphia charging that employees of the Sesame Street-themed park discriminated against his daughter, a Black child, during a meet-and-greet session with some of the park’s costumed characters, says that the park’s arguments to dismiss the case are without merit.
Nursing facility denies sexual assault claims from woman treated there for dementia
PITTSBURGH – A Mount Lebanon health care facility denies allegations made by a local woman who claimed she was the victim of two separate incidents of sexual molestation by a fellow resident of the facility she was admitted to last year for treatment of advanced dementia.
Shopping-cart Samaritan sues over injury to hand
PITTSBURGH – A local man claims he suffered lacerations and significant tendon damage when he volunteered to help a retail store employee separate shopping carts and his hand got in the way.
Trinity Area School District feels claims are insufficient in basketball player's retaliation suit
PITTSBURGH – Trinity Area School District has answered litigation brought by a 16-year-old student and girls basketball player at Trinity High School, that alleged she was subjected to retaliation after alleging a sexual assault committed against another student by a member of the boys basketball team, by countering that her claims are insufficient.
Pa. Supreme Court says Pittsburgh not on the hook to pay $235K civil judgment to man beaten by officer in 2012
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has ruled that, under the premise of statutory indemnification, the City of Pittsburgh cannot be compelled to pay a civil judgment to a local man beaten by an off-duty police officer a decade ago, as the officer was not acting within his official “scope of employment” when the assault transpired.
Governor-elect Josh Shapiro appoints Obermayer Chair David A. Nasatir to serve as legal co-counsel to the Transition
On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, Governor-Elect Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Austin Davis announced their appointment of Obermayer Chair, David A. Nasatir to its initial transitional leadership team. As legal co-counsel to the Transition, Nasatir will be involved in all the decisions of the Transition.
Mount Lebanon couple whose basement was flooded by raw sewage oppose health care facility's objections
PITTSBURGH – A Mount Lebanon couple who alleged the bottom level of their home was ruined when raw sewage accumulated there due to a line back-up are opposing the preliminary objections brought by the health care facility allegedly responsible for the damage.
Camp Hill and borough officials deny they violated GOP supporters' rights with sign ordinance
HARRISBURG – The Borough of Camp Hill and three of its officials have rejected accusations that they violated the First Amendment rights of a Republican group and two of its citizens through the borough’s sign ordinance.
Wisconsin couple bringing injury case over parking lot fall refutes defense's answer
PITTSBURGH – A Wisconsin couple who claimed that the presence of an unmarked and unprotected drop-off located next to the handicap space where their friend’s vehicle was parked led the wife-plaintiff to fall and suffer a severe leg injury have refuted the defense’s attempt to avail itself of liability in the case.
Former aide for state Sen. Anthony Williams appeals loss of discrimination suit to Third Circuit
PHILADELPHIA – An ex-constituent services worker for state Sen. Anthony Williams who claims she was fired before Christmas in 2018 and after contracting breast cancer, and who lost her case against the politician after a jury trial, is appealing the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.