News from January 2022
Commonwealth Court says mail-in voting act is unconstitutional; Ruling immediately appealed to Pa. Supreme Court
HARRISBURG – A 3-2 majority of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has ruled that the state’s law permitting mail-in voting is unconstitutional, a finding immediately appealed by the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf to the state Supreme Court.
City of Philadelphia's suit versus opioid manufacturers, retailers and distributors is remanded to state court
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has declared that a lawsuit brought by the City of Philadelphia against several pharmaceutical distributors and retailers for their role in allegedly creating and exacerbating the opioid epidemic in Philadelphia, will be remanded to state court for lack of federal jurisdiction.
ADA suit against Phila. is stayed before imminent trial, while settlement details are worked out
PHILADELPHIA – Litigation between a group of plaintiffs and the City of Philadelphia, over claims the City failed to maintain its sidewalks to provide proper access to disabled citizens in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, has recently been stayed in advance of a potential settlement.
Man alleging Philly officer assaulted him during police brutality protest last year, argues City's dismissal motion isn't solid enough
PHILADELPHIA – A local man who alleged that a Philadelphia police officer committed a brutal assault against him during his participation in protests surrounding the Minneapolis killing of George Floyd last year, contends that the City of Philadelphia has not met the burden of proof for the dismissal motion it filed in the case.
Pittsburgh business owner says his infrared sauna therapy booth didn't burn local man's feet
PITTSBURGH – The owner of a Pittsburgh wellness store maintains his business is not responsible for severe burns that a local man alleged he suffered on the tops of his feet, after using an infrared sauna therapy booth in the store.
Man alleges First Amendment violation after not being allowed to burn Trump flag at protest
SCRANTON — A political activist alleges his First Amendment rights were violated by not being able to burn a Donald Trump flag at a protest in the Township of East Buffalo. Gene Stilp filed a complaint Jan. 4 in the U.S.
Intoxicated man who fell down stairs sues country club, says it should have cut him off
PITTSBURGH – A man who became intoxicated at a country club and fell down a flight of stairs is claiming Dram Shop Act violations.
Owner of goat which allegedly attacked Del. man says plaintiff's own negligence contributed to his injuries
LANCASTER – The owner of a goat that allegedly attacked a Delaware man has denied all liability and allegations from the plaintiff’s lawsuit, arguing that he was in fact actually responsible for the injuries that he suffered.
Delco man says he suffered permanent vitiligo, after using Just For Men hair products bought at CVS
MEDIA – A Delaware County man contends that he has suffered permanent vitiligo as a result of using Just For Men hair color products which he purchased at a local CVS pharmacy store.
After three-day jury trial, Philly firm turns away former client's legal malpractice case
PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia law firm has successfully defended itself from a charge of legal malpractice.
Beiersdorf denies liability for injuries Montco woman suffered after applying Coppertone sunscreen
PHILADELPHIA – Beiersdorf has denied all liability towards litigation which alleged that they, along with Walmart, were collectively liable for severe burns a Montgomery County woman allegedly suffered after using Coppertone sunscreen.
Case of carpet cleaner fired for objecting to lack of COVID-19 protocols sees case dismissed and then reinstated
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, saw his case dismissed from and now, remanded to, state court.
Plaintiff: Molestation lawsuit against Reading Recreation Commission is valid, since it is a state actor
ALLENTOWN – A parent who alleged that a now-incarcerated ex-employee of the Reading Recreation Commission committed multiple acts of sexual abuse and molestation against his daughter, and that the organization both failed to stop the abuse from happening and violated her constitutional rights, refutes the group’s dismissal motion and stands by the complaint’s original claims.
Instant Pot manufacturer secures confidential protective order in suit alleging it was responsible for toddler's burn injuries
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has levied an order of confidentiality in litigation brought by the mother of a two-year-old girl burned by an allegedly faulty Instant Pot pressure cooking device, to the manufacturer of that same device.
Mo. health care marketer says it is owed almost $1.4M by Bethlehem lab group in breach of contract litigation
ALLENTOWN – A Missouri-based health care marketing firm has launched breach of contract litigation against a Pennsylvania laboratory testing company for nearly $1.4 million it says the defendant company owes it.
Third Circuit reverses ruling on class certification in homeowner's suit against natural gas company
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has reversed the denial of class action certification to a homeowner engaged in litigation with a natural gas company, over its alleged usage of his property to store natural gas without compensating him.
Special needs woman disfigured and scarred by elastic hair band from Dollar Tree, suit states
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh woman alleges that her special needs daughter was disfigured on the back of her head by an elastic headband she had purchased for use at a local Dollar Tree store.
Judge rejects Allegheny County officials' attempt to toss lawsuit from non-denominational church accusing it of religious bias
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has denied the attempt of Allegheny County officials to dismiss litigation from a Seattle-based, non-denominational church that alleged those officials are misusing a Pennsylvania law to avoid solemnizing legal marriages in the Commonwealth.
Federal judge allows woman alleging sexual abuse as middle and high school student to proceed anonymously
ALLENTOWN – A federal judge has permitted a plaintiff alleging that she was sexually abused as a middle school student by an assistant high school baseball coach, to proceed under a pseudonym.
UPMC Magee Womens' Hospital facing parents' malpractice suit, after death of newborn child last year
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh couple has alleged professional negligence on the part of personnel at the University of Pittsburgh’s Magee-Womens’ Hospital, leading to the death of their newborn child last year.