News from December 2022
Judge hands down second dismissal in federal suit over school bus sexual assault
PHILADELPHIA – For the second time, a federal judge has dismissed litigation from a woman who alleged that the school bus sexual assault she endured as a middle school student was the fault of her school, which was said to have disregarded the alleged assailant’s history of prior assaults and violated her constitutional rights in the process.
Man who accused Uber driver of trying to kill him settles claims with ride share company
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 settled his case.
City & State Pennsylvania Names Troutman Pepper’s Nina Gussack to 2022 Impact 50 List
Troutman Pepper Senior Counsel Nina M. Gussack has been recognized among The 2022 Impact 50, a list by City & State Pennsylvania of Pennsylvanians who have dedicated their careers and lives to making the commonwealth a better, safer place to live.
Plaintiff in fatal ATV accident case wants more discovery on venue and jurisdiction
PITTSBURGH – The survivor of a fatal ATV accident in West Virginia is seeking further discovery to be conducted on the topics of venue and jurisdiction, in her lawsuit against the companies who provided the decedent and her boyfriend with the vehicles and rental equipment.
Lancaster School of Cosmetology says it was not negligent in case over woman's fall
LANCASTER – The Lancaster School of Cosmetology claims it is not responsible for alleged negligence, which led a Sinking Spring woman to fall over an unguarded stairwell on its premises and injure her face, ankle and shoulder.
Judge hands down split ruling on objections in train collision lawsuit
PITTSBURGH – A state court judge has partially sustained and partially overruled preliminary objections in a lawsuit brought by a North Carolina woman, who alleged that the death of her father in a tractor-trailer/train collision was the fault of the Norfolk Southern rail company and others who allegedly failed to take proper safety measures that would have prevented the crash.
UPMC nurse alleges series of injuries from cabinet which fell onto her at work
PITTSBURGH – A University of Pittsburgh Medical Center nurse says she suffered a variety of injuries at work when an entire wall cabinet and its contents fell on her, and holds the contractors responsible for repairing it accountable.
Estate of man allegedly killed by landfill gate settles wrongful death suit under seal
PITTSBURGH – The estate of a young man killed when an allegedly faulty gate at a landfill dropped onto his car has settled its survival and wrongful death lawsuit against the owners and operators of the facility, under seal.
Julia Simonet, Brian Browne and Catherine Yun Selected as Firm Representatives for Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
Cozen O’Connor has selected Julia Simonet, a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, to be a member of the 2023 Fellows Program Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).
Reed Smith advises SEDCO Capital on the first closing of its new Shariah-compliant private equity co-investment fund
Reed Smith announced that it advised its long-standing client SEDCO Capital on the initial closing of SC Private Equity Global Co-Investment Master Fund II, LP (the Fund), its new Shariah-compliant fund for co-investment alongside private equity managers.
Woman who fell on snow inside Rite Aid refutes company's discounting of liability
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania woman who lodged a negligence lawsuit against her local Rite Aid, after falling on uncleaned salt and snow in the wake of a snowstorm which hit her area this past January and breaking her right ankle in the process, has rejected the company’s attempts to discount its liability.
Suit against Wendy's over bout of food poisoning from E.coli is discontinued
PITTSBURGH – A local woman who sued hamburger chain Wendy’s for negligence after coming down with a case of E. coli food poisoning from a sandwich she ate there last summer, has voluntarily withdrawn her case.
Black female police officer who alleged discrimination seeks default judgment
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia police officer who alleged that as an African-American female, she was subjected to discriminatory treatment by her superiors through her being reassigned on two occasions and the removal of her service weapon for more than four years, is now seeking a default judgment in her favor.
Negligence suit says Airbnb, other entities failed to prevent fatal shooting at rental home
PITTSBURGH – The parent of a 17-year-old party guest shot and killed 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 child’s death.
Pa. Supreme Court: Only concealment of cause can toll statute of limitations in wrongful death suits
HARRISBURG – The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has ruled that the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act’s two-year statute of limitations for survival and wrongful death litigation against health care companies is now tougher to circumvent.
AG Shapiro Urges Swift Action on Federal Proposal to Protect Workers
Attorney General Josh Shapiro, in a comment letter filed today, urged swift action on a new federal proposal aimed at better protecting workers and ensuring greater accountability in the workplace.
Allegheny County DHS denies retaliation claims from Black former employee
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services denies charges that it retaliated against and fired a Black woman for her role within the department, in response to her reporting alleged discrimination tactics against her.
Man who fell out of tree at festival and sued Slovene society and recreation center settles case
PITTSBURGH – An Illinois man who sued a Slovene benefit society and an Enon Valley recreation center after he was allegedly paralyzed by a fall from a tree during a festival, has settled his case.
Couple alleging property encroachment from pipeline add new defendants to case
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania couple who alleged that an energy company illegally encroached on their property to construct a natural gas pipeline have filed a new version of their complaint and added six defendants.
Class action suit: Three-wheel motorcycle did not contain advertised anti-theft system
PITTSBURGH – A local man claims a three-wheel motorcycle he purchased did not include an advertised anti-theft system, and has brought a class action suit against the product’s manufacturer.