News from February 2022
Philly woman says she was erroneously arrested and prosecuted for firearms permit violations
PHILADELPHIA – A local woman says she was falsely arrested by Philadelphia authorities for firearms permit violations and later brought to trial, where she was ultimately found not guilty due to the fact that her permit was still active when she was taken into custody.
Judge denies Black & Decker's summary judgment and Daubert motions, approves injured plaintiff's expert witness
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has ruled that man who lost a finger on the premises of his business while using a Black & Decker-manufactured polisher, will be permitted to have his expert witness present scientific testimony, defeating a combined summary judgment and Daubert motion from the company.
Penn Hills PD and officer are dismissed from Pittsburgh couple's excessive force complaint
PITTSBURGH – Three defendants have been dismissed from litigation brought by a Pittsburgh couple who alleged that they were the targets of excessive force and battery injuries, when Penn Hills Police Department officers responded to a domestic complaint.
Venue dispute ongoing, in wrongful death case surrounding gate which dropped onto man's car at landfill
PHILADELPHIA – Opposing motions seeking to determine the venue for wrongful death litigation brought by the estate of a young man killed when an allegedly faulty gate at a landfill dropped onto his car are now in play, in a federal court.
Security guard who allegedly assaulted student in William Penn School District is subject of default judgment
MEDIA – A default judgment has been entered against a security guard who allegedly committed sexual assault against a Philadelphia woman when she was a student in the William Penn School District.
School District of Philadelphia employee claims discrimination, retaliation due to pregnancy
PHILADELPHIA — A School District of Philadelphia employee claims she faced discrimination, disciplinary actions and retaliation because of her pregnancy.
Verizon faces lawsuit after bicyclist is hit by low-hanging wire
PITTSBURGH — Verizon Pennsylvania is facing a negligence claim after a bicyclist was allegedly struck by a low-hanging line strung across the roadway.
Man awarded $15K because employer didn't acknowledge his claustrophobia wins $258K in attorney's fees and costs
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man who was awarded $15,000 by a Pittsburgh jury after he sued his former employer, a fireworks company, for allegedly failing to accommodate his condition of claustrophobia, has now been awarded more than $258,000 in attorney’s fees and costs.
Security guard leaving work says she suffered serious knee and back injuries in sidewalk fall outside UPS building
PHILADELPHIA – A local woman claims she suffered extensive knee and back injuries when she slipped and fell on a section of walkway in the lot of a UPS building in Philadelphia last year.
Kozy-World heater death update: Parties' summary judgment motions being considered
SCRANTON – Summary judgment motions have been filed in a lawsuit between a Mississippi widower and a Mount Union company litigating over claims concerning an allegedly defective natural gas heater which may have been responsible for the death of the plaintiff’s wife.
Carpet cleaning manager terminated for COVID-19 objections update: Company denies it didn't provide PPE
PITTSBURGH – An employee of a carpet cleaning service who claimed he was wrongfully terminated during the COVID-19 pandemic when he objected to working in areas where social distancing and wearing of protective personal equipment was not being practiced, now denies that his former company provided him with personal protective equipment.
Defendants in assault case don't want alleged victim to be able to pursue punitive damages
SCRANTON – Health care defendants accused of failing to prevent an alleged assault on a licensed practical nurse, an act committed by a man with a supposed history of violent behavior towards his colleagues, want all requests for punitive damages removed from the case.
Man claims Dram Shop violations against bars that served him while he was intoxicated
MEDIA — A man is alleging Dram Shop violations against the establishments that served him alcohol while he was intoxicated. Malcolm Hughes filed a complaint Jan. 24 in the Court of Common Pleas Delaware County against MikeJohnny's Sports Bar, The Railway Cafe and 98 N.
Couple allege PennDOT storm water drainage caused flood damage to their property
SCRANTON — A couple allege a storm water drainage trench installed behind their property by PennDOT and others has caused flooding damage.
Five mail-in voters seek to stop Lehigh County Board of Elections from discarding undated ballots
ALLENTOWN – A quintet of local plaintiffs whose mail-in votes from November’s general election were set to be discarded due to their signatures lacking an accompanying date have sued the Lehigh County Board of Elections in federal court, seeking an emergency preliminary injunction to prevent the certification of the results.
Philadelphia fights civil rights claims of man who says he was wrongly convicted of three murders
PHILADELPHIA – Law enforcement defendants are seeking the dismissal of numerous claims from the civil rights violation case of a man who argues he was erroneously convicted of three murders, for which he has served 28 years in prison.
One company dismissed without prejudice from Philly election poll worker's $350K injury suit
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge ordered a conditional dismissal for one company named in a lawsuit filed by an election poll worker, which alleged she suffered a broken arm when she was asked to repair a faulty voting machine herself.
Energy company says it didn't violate the law when it constructed natural gas pipeline on plaintiffs' property
PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania energy company has denied allegation that it committed negligence, trespass and other offenses when it allegedly encroached on a Cabot couple’s property to construct a natural gas pipeline.
Scranton School District says paraprofessionals asked to work inside students' homes during pandemic aren't being harmed
SCRANTON – Scranton School District officials argue that three of its paraprofessionals, who recently sued the District over rules it implemented last month requiring them to perform their duties inside students’ homes if the COVID-19 pandemic requires virtual learning to once again take place, are not suffering immediate and irreparable harm.
Former inmate alleges injuries while on kitchen duty at correctional facility in Thornton
MEDIA — A former inmate alleges he suffered multiple injuries while on kitchen duty at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton.