News from December 2022
Stay handed down in case of UberEats driver who sued Insomnia Cookies over tip shortages
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has granted a stay in litigation brought by an Alabama-based Uber driver, who alleged that the Insomnia Cookies company has stiffed him and numerous other employees of large sums of money in tips, when it sub-contracts its product delivery services to drivers on the ride share app.
Man who accused Uber driver of trying to kill him rejects driver's claims that he was a carjacker
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man who said he and his friends were nearly killed by their Uber driver when the driver ordered them all out of the vehicle, chased them and discharged a firearm very close to the plaintiff’s head, has denied the driver’s counter-allegations that the plaintiff and his friends were attempting to carjack him.
Florida company denies liability for man's assault at George W. Hill Correctional Facility
PHILADELPHIA – A Florida corrections company has denied liability for injuries that a Philadelphia man suffered in an alleged assault and battery incident by corrections officers, after visiting his girlfriend in custody at George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Delaware County.
Property owner's civil rights case against Philly officials is reinstated over alleged Fifth Amendment rights violation
PHILADELPHIA – A local man who alleged his civil rights were violated when his properties were respectively sold and demolished by the City of Philadelphia, will have another opportunity to plead his Fifth Amendment violation claims in a District Court after partially winning an appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Woman says Nissan Sentra's defective front seat caused her to be paralyzed in car crash
PITTSBURGH – A Missouri woman alleges that the driver’s seat of the Nissan Sentra she rented failed during a multi-car collision, resulting in her suffering paralyzing spinal injuries.
Hugh Algeo Reelected Chair of the Upper Main Line YMCA Board of Advisors
Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Hugh Algeo, counsel in the firm’s Family Law Group, has been reelected chair of the Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY) Board of Advisors. UMLY is part of an association of eight YMCAs that offer life-changing programs for children, families, and adults throughout Chester County
Class action against The Philadelphia Inquirer over subscriber data breach may be consolidated
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Inquirer may soon be facing a consolidated class action lawsuit, which alleging the newspaper disclosed some of their subscribers’ personal information to Facebook without their consent, in violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA).
Hanover Area School District wants dismissal of case claiming plaintiff's daughter was abused by softball coach
SCRANTON – The Hanover Area School District and athletic officials are seeking to strike multiple paragraphs from a local man’s complaint alleging that his daughter was mistreated and neglected by her softball coach, leading her to eventually suffer a severe brain injury when a batted ball hit her in the back of the head.
Landscaper is denied summary judgment in case alleging woman's fall led to her death
MEDIA – A landscaping services company has lost out on obtaining summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by a Delaware County man, who alleged negligence on its part and others led to his mother suffering a fall and injuries that led to her death.
Lawsuit: Lancaster police used excessive force on Maryland woman and broke her arm
ALLENTOWN – A Maryland woman claims she was the victim of excessive force from Lancaster Police Department officers and suffered a broken arm in the process, when the police came to her residence and forcibly evicted her.
Tredyffrin-Easttown School District wins lawsuit over Critical Race Theory records
PHILADELPHIA – The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District and the secretary of its Board of Directors have won dismissal of litigation from a local parent, who argued that his First Amendment rights were violated when he attempted to inspect records of Critical Race Theory curriculum being taught.
Marilou Watson of Fox Rothschild to Receive Philadelphia Bar Association Sandra Day O'Connor Award
In recognition of her career-long dedication to mentoring and the advancement of women in the legal profession and beyond, the Philadelphia Bar Association will honor Fox Rothschild partner Marilou E. Watson with its prestigious Sandra Day O’Connor Award.
Pa. courts move up to No. 2 ranking on ATRA's annual 'Judicial Hellholes' report list
WASHINGTON – According to the latest annual report of “Judicial Hellholes” released Tuesday by the American Tort Reform Association, Pennsylvania courts have garnered the No. 2 ranking for jurisdictions considered unfriendly to businesses – moving up two places from the fourth spot on the list, where they had been ranked last year.
Suit: Lancaster woman who visited nail salon for manicure instead suffered hand injury
LANCASTER – A local woman who went into a Lancaster nail salon for a manicure last year, instead claims she received serious injuries to her right hand due to the salon’s negligence.
Westmoreland County landfill denies residents’ claims in class action nuisance lawsuit
PITTSBURGH – A Belle Vernon landfill has denied claims contained in a class action, nuisance-based lawsuit from a group of Westmoreland County residents, who have charged the facility produces noxious odors and has negatively impacted their quality of life.
Federal judge throws out counts from wrongful death suit, brought after bystander killed in police chase
PHILADELPHIA – Per order of a federal judge, the City of Philadelphia and two of its police officials have won dismissal of two counts from litigation connected to the death of an innocent bystander to a high-speed vehicle chase.
Defendants in Philly law firm's defamation suit say action is duplicative of prior case
MEDIA – A group of individuals accused of defamation and slander by a Philadelphia law firm and one of its Delaware County-based attorneys want the complaint dismissed because they feel the case is duplicative of a prior action.
Partners Michael Petrizzo, Julia Taylor Join Armstrong Teasdale
Armstrong Teasdale announces the addition of Partners Michael Petrizzo and Julia V. Taylor to the firm’s Corporate Services practice group in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., respectively.
Judge deems dismissal motion temporarily moot in former inmate's Eighth Amendment rights violation case
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has temporarily deemed a dismissal motion from Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and several of its officials as moot without prejudice, in the case of a former inmate of the institution who says he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, including being denied clean sheets and showers and not being allowed to leave his cell during a two-month incarceration.
Two defendants released from man's suit over alleged property damage from fracking
PITTSBURGH – Two defendants have been dismissed from litigation brought by a Western Pennsylvania man who allegedly suffered a number of health complications and diminished value of his property, after nearby fracking operations were conducted.