News from January 2022
Maryland advocate denies that she defamed Pa. schoolteacher accused of sexually abusing two of his students
PITTSBURGH – A retired schoolteacher from Maryland denies that she defamed a Pennsylvania private school educator accused of sexually abusing his students, finding the plaintiff’s claims of defamation, tortious interference and others levied against her to be without merit.
Defendant fights second version of lawsuit over disputed $1M inheritance
PITTSBURGH – Counsel for a Cranberry Township woman who allegedly nixed a $1 million bequest from her deceased lover to one of his best friends, rejects what she sees as a series of legally insufficient claims lodged in the second version of the complaint.
Upper Darby tavern where woman was shot after going to birthday party, denies responsibility for the incident
MEDIA – An Upper Darby tavern denies responsibility for injuries suffered by a Philadelphia woman who was shot by another one of its patrons, after attending a birthday party at the establishment.
Truck driver alleges improperly loaded Dollar Tree trailer caused him to suffer injuries
PITTSBURGH — A truck driver alleges a dangerously packed trailer picked up from a Dollar Tree distribution center caused loose goods to fall on him and cause injuries.
Fired Philadelphia Parks & Recreation worker alleges FMLA was illegally delayed
PHILADELPHIA — A former Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department worker alleges the department wrongfully terminated him and illegally delayed his FMLA request.
Student's Snapchat - 'I will f***ing kill all of you' - is protected free speech, Commonwealth Court rules
HARRISBURG – According to a recent opinion from the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, a Delaware County school district’s decision to expel a student over a violently-themed Snapchat post violated that student’s free speech rights as protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Pittsburgh bar says woman who fell and broke her arm during restroom trip did not mitigate her damages
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh bar has countered a woman’s allegations that she suffered a broken left arm and other injuries after falling while making a trip to its restroom, by maintaining that she failed to mitigate her damages.
Montco woman's lawsuit over Coppertone sunscreen burns sees dismissal of Bayer and Merck
PHILADELPHIA – Bayer and Merck have been dismissed from litigation which alleged that they, along with Walmart and Beiersdorf, were collectively liable for severe burns a Montgomery County woman allegedly suffered after using Coppertone sunscreen.
Scrap metal facility counters class action's claims that it imposed noxious odors and noise on its neighbors
PITTSBURGH – A Neville Township scrap metal processing facility denies allegations from a class action lawsuit which claims that it emits noxious odors, particulates and imposes noise on a number of surrounding area homeowners.
Spirit Airlines denies responsibility for alleged sexual assault committed by one of its flight attendants
PHILADELPHIA – Spirit Airlines has denied liability for allegations made by a Georgia man, who claimed he was sexually assaulted by one of its flight attendants during a plane trip from Myrtle Beach, S.C. to Philadelphia.
Man's lawsuit claims there was pebble in Aldi's potato salad
PITTSBURGH — A man claims he suffered serious dental injuries after eating potato salad he purchased from an Aldi's grocery store that contained a rock or pebble.
Stephanie Stecklair to Present at PBA Family Law Section Winter Meeting 2022 on January 14-16
Stephanie Stecklair to Present at PBA Family Law Section Winter Meeting 2022 on January 14-16.
Inmate injured when prison toilet shattered loses case against corrections officers
SCRANTON – An inmate who suffered serious injuries when the porcelain toilet he was using in his prison cell collapsed and shattered beneath him, has lost his constitutional rights violations case against corrections officials through summary judgment.
Former warden's lawsuit overcomes dismissal motion from Westmoreland County, corrections commissioner
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has thwarted an attempt by Westmoreland County and its Corrections Commissioner to throw out litigation from the former warden of the county’s prison, which accused them of harassment and retaliation over his refusal to make the commissioner’s political hires.
Plaintiffs refute U.S. Steel's defenses against alleged injuries that bricklayer suffered in Clairton plant
PITTSBURGH – A pair of Glassport plaintiffs do not give credence to objections made by U.S. Steel, in response to a lawsuit they filed connected to injuries the husband-plaintiff suffered while working at the company’s plant in Clairton.
Lancaster County dismissed from wrongful death suit filed by mother of mentally ill son shot by police
ALLENTOWN – Lancaster County has been dismissed from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a local woman, who witnessed her schizophrenic and bipolar son being shot to death by a local police officer.
Widow who sued Tyson Foods over husband's COVID appeals loss to Third Circuit
PHILADELPHIA – The widow of a meatpacking supervisor for Tyson Foods who claimed that its deficient precautions to protect against COVID-19 led to her husband’s death from the disease last year and had her case dismissed by a federal judge, is now appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Suit: Golf club's failure to block off dangerous hill caused golf cart accident
PITTSBURGH — A golfer alleges a golf club's failure to block off or warn of a dangerous hill on the course caused his golf cart accident.
Suit alleges Kane Community Living Center's negligent care led to patient's death
PITTSBURGH — The estate of a former Kane Community Living Center nursing home resident is alleging negligent care led to her death. Nancy L.
Honeywell, asbestos lawyer to argue over subpoena in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (Legal Newsline) – Federal bankruptcy court in Pittsburgh will be the venue where an asbestos lawyer accused of pocketing millions of dollars by filling out inaccurate forms fights a defendant tired of paying him.