News from February 2022
SEPTA wins summary judgment against Title VII and PHRA claims lodged by former assistant director
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge granted summary judgment to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority against one of its former station directors, who alleged he was demoted in a retaliatory fashion 2020, in return for internal complaints he lodged with the group from 2017 to 2019.
Ex-Scranton police officer says her personal info was leaked in discovery process for unrelated court case
SCRANTON – A former member of the Scranton Police Department claims her confidential personnel file and personal contact information were leaked without her knowledge by the City of Scranton and the Department, as part of discovery in an unrelated case.
La-Z-Boy wins dismissal of racial discrimination and hostile work environment lawsuit, brought by former employee
ALLENTOWN – According to a federal judge, chair and recliner manufacturer La-Z-Boy successfully defended itself against claims of race discrimination and a hostile work environment brought by a former sales representative.
Reading Recreation Commission loses attempt to dismiss suit stemming from ex-employee's sexual abuse of young girl
ALLENTOWN – A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss from the Reading Recreation Commission in a lawsuit against the group claiming that it failed to stop abuse of a man’s young daughter by a now-incarcerated ex-employee, finding that the plaintiff had shown that the Commission is in fact a state actor.
Sam's Club dismissed from injury suit filed by woman burned on foot by microwave meatballs
PITTSBURGH – Sam’s Club has been dismissed from litigation filed over burn injuries a Western Pennsylvania woman says she suffered when a plastic container allegedly failed and the meatballs fell onto her left foot.
Pa. State Police officer fights civil rights claim of man accused of molestation
PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania State Police officer argues that a Western Pennsylvania man who alleged his civil rights were violated when he was arrested for allegedly molesting and raping his stepdaughter, charges which he claimed were untrue and recanted by the girl, has failed to plead a count for reckless investigation.
Asian American alleges he faced discrimination while working at UPenn
PHILADELPHIA — An Asian American alleges he faced racial and age discrimination and was fired by the University of Pennsylvania.
Asbestos lawyer agrees to turn over some disputed records to company skeptical of claims
PITTSBURGH (Legal Newsline) – An asbestos lawyer accused of submitting false claims in order to take millions of dollars from a lightly supervised asbestos trust has reached an agreement on what materials he will hand over.
Dilworth Paxson Names 3 Attorneys to Partnership
Dilworth Paxson Names 3 Attorneys to Partnership.
Court: With opioid settlement terms not final, fight between cities and Pennsylvania is premature
HARRISBURG – Because the terms of a $26 billion national opioid settlement announced last year have not been finalized, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that litigation brought by the district attorneys of Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties against Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, was premature.
Nurse alleges supervisors failed to discipline man who committed violent assaults
SCRANTON – A licensed practical nurse in Lackawanna County claims that she was assaulted at her workplace two years ago, by an individual who had a repeated history of violent behavior towards her colleagues.
U.S. and Erie veterans health authorities deny they failed to early-diagnose man's prostate cancer
ERIE – The U.S. government, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration and the Erie Veterans Administration Medical Center have denied allegations claiming that they negligently failed to pronounce an early diagnosis of a local man’s prostate cancer.
After Black 13-year-old was nearly arrested, Dollar Store argues against civil rights claims
HARRISBURG – Attorneys for Dollar Store argue that claims of racial discrimination levied against the retail chain after a 13 year-old child was falsely accused of shoplifting do not hold water, since it feels the store does not qualify as a place of “public accommodation” under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Defendant in $3.5M legal bills case says plaintiff firm can't connect her to any outstanding fees
PHILADELPHIA – In a Missouri law firm’s amended complaint where it is pursuing more than $3.5 million in outstanding legal bills from a half-dozen defendants spread across the United States and Puerto Rico, one of those defendants argues she can’t be connected to any outstanding costs.
Worker alleges she was fired for reporting improper COVID-19 safety, testing protocols
PITTSBURGH — A worker alleges she was fired for reporting her company's failure to follow proper COVID-19 testing and protocols. Eliana Davis Filed a complaint Jan. 17 in the U.S.
Pa. Supreme Court assumes jurisdiction of heated congressional redistricting fight, ahead of Commonwealth Court ruling
HARRISBURG – Using its King’s Bench jurisdictional power, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will now be the legal forum in which the finalization of the state’s new congressional map will take place.
After losing right leg, local physician sues his podiatrist for medical malpractice in Luzerne County court
WILKES-BARRE – A Luzerne County physician has launched medical malpractice litigation against his podiatrist, claiming that the latter’s malpractice led to the amputation of his right leg.
Man seeks to add defendants to wrongful death suit, after his 23-year-old daughter was killed in DUI crash
PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania man who initiated litigation against not just the alleged perpetrator whose drunk driving accident killed his 23 year-old daughter, but also the entities who allegedly overserved the driver with the alcohol leading to the accident, is now seeking to add further parties as defendants in the lawsuit.
Law firm looks to quash subpoena from ex-marketing officer's counsel, and denies its organization was racist
PHILADELPHIA – For reasons of supposed irrelevance, a Philadelphia law firm is seeking to quash a subpoena in litigation brought by its former chief marketing officer, who alleged she was fired when she complained of racially discriminatory practices within the firm.
Counsel for athletes in City of Pittsburgh's 'jock tax' lawsuit now seek summary judgment in state court
PITTSBURGH – Counsel for a trio of professional athletes and the players’ associations of Major League Baseball, the National Football League and the National Hockey League, all of whom allege that the City of Pittsburgh’s “jock tax” that is applied to both resident and non-resident athletes is unconstitutional, are now seeking summary judgment in their clients’ case.