News from April 2023
Additional defendant disavows liability in tractor trailer-train collision death case
PITTSBURGH – An additional defendant in a lawsuit brought by a North Carolina woman, which 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, has redirected liability for the fatal events at issue to their co-defendants.
Middle school student sues Upper St. Clair School District after colliding with metal bleacher bench
PITTSBURGH – A local middle school student alleges that negligent placement of a metal bleacher bench by the Upper St. Clair School District, resulted in his suffering a series of severe leg injuries when he collided with that same bench.
Five gamblers say speaking Punjabi at blackjack table got them kicked out of Mount Airy Casino Resort
SCRANTON – Five New York plaintiffs of Indian ancestry allege they were discriminated against at a Northeastern Pennsylvania casino for using their native language of Punjabi while gambling.
Amerisource Bergen attacks 'profoundly flawed' DOJ opioid lawsuit
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - Amerisource Bergen asked a federal judge to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit accusing it of filling hundreds of thousands of suspicious opioid orders, saying the government is seeking billions of dollars in fines for violating “hopelessly vague” rules it refuses to identify with any specificity.
Curran-Fromhold and officials deny they violated prisoner's constitutional rights
PHILADELPHIA – Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, its Warden and Commissioner are seeking for the second time to dismiss the case of a Delaware County man who claimed he was subjected to a lack of medical care and cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of his constitutionally-protected civil rights.
George W. Hill inmate says prison negligently failed to stop assault against him
MEDIA – A Delaware County man alleges that officials at George W. Hill Correctional Facility were aware of another inmate’s anger and propensity for violence towards him, and that it negligently failed to prevent a brutal assault he sustained at the hands of the other inmate in question.
In case alleging Sesame Street performers discriminate against Black children, former employee ordered to give up info
PHILADELPHIA – A Baltimore man who brought class action litigation against SeaWorld and Sesame Place Philadelphia – charging that employees of the Sesame Street-themed park discriminated against his daughter, a Black child, during a meet-and-greet session with some of the park’s costumed characters – has been granted the ability to depose a witness who allegedly did not comply with discovery requests.
Philadelphia Housing Authority wants material stricken from suit connected to fire which killed 12 people
PHILADELPHIA – Citing insufficiency of pleading, the Philadelphia Housing Authority is seeking to strike multiple paragraphs from wrongful death litigation connected to a fatal apartment house fire which took place in January 2022 and caused the deaths of 12 people.
LexisNexis denies allegations it discriminated against and fired salesman based on his age
PHILADELPHIA – A global data and analytics company denies that it discriminated against and later fired one of its salespeople from his position, based on his older age.
Morgan Lewis announces Michael Gorman Named Among International Employment Lawyer’s Tomorrow’s Leaders 2023
Michael advises multiemployer benefit funds, public and private companies, tax-exempt organizations, and governmental employers on the design, governance, operation, and compliance of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and welfare benefit plans.
Philadelphians bring class action suit after Delaware River chemical spill
PHILADELPHIA – Three Philadelphians have brought a class action lawsuit in connection with a recent spill of thousands of gallons of a chemical used to refine latex, from a Bristol plant into a tributary of the Delaware River.
Two women say parishioner's molestation of them was due to church and food bank's negligence
PITTSBURGH – Two young women who were molested by a parishioner of a Glassport church have filed suit against both the church and its community food bank, charging that their collective negligence led to their being sexually assaulted.
Pittsburgh-based organization disavows liability and cross-claims over Airbnb party shooting
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh group has refuted charges from one of its Georgia-based co-defendants that it is liable for injuries that a plaintiff suffered when she was attempting to escape a shooting at a party, which took place at an Airbnb rental home in Pittsburgh.
Fla. group says it's not responsible for house fire which killed plaintiff's daughter
PITTSBURGH – Florida-based owners of a residence in Johnstown contend that they are not liable for a house fire which took place in the fall of 2021 and resulted in the death of the plaintiff’s daughter from smoke inhalation.
Suit over injuries in Park City Mall shooting to now include the shooter
LANCASTER – The man responsible for discharging a firearm inside the Park City Mall a year and a half ago and instigating a panic that resulted in severe injuries to a number of fleeing shoppers has been joined as a defendant in litigation brought by two of those shoppers.
Morgan Lewis announces Partner Eric Kim Honored Among Philadelphia Business Journal’s 40 Under 40
Eric represents employers in complex litigation involving wage and hour, systemic discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and hostile work environment claims, as well as helping employers obtain injunctive relief in high-profile restrictive covenant and trade secret cases.
Satanic Temple sues Pa. school district after club denied
ALLENTOWN – A Massachusetts-based satanic religious group alleges that a Northampton County school district has violated its First Amendment rights, by initially granting – and then ultimately reversing course and denying – it the ability to convene an After School Satan Club at a local middle school.
Mattress retailer says arbitration agreement should govern plaintiff's bed bug claims
LANCASTER – A mattress retailer has refuted claims from a Lancaster County man that his upholstered bed frame and headboard contained bed bugs, an infestation which later spread to the rest of his home and caused substantial damages.
Judge dismisses several defendants in suit from plaintiff claiming he was wrongly convicted of murder
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has granted motions to dismiss from several defendants, in the civil rights violation case of a man who argues he was erroneously convicted of three murders, for which he served 28 years in prison.
Parents alleging Crozer failed to protect life of their fetus may settle case for $825K
MEDIA – Parents who lost their baby in utero while the mother was 29 weeks pregnant and claimed that Crozer medical entities did not ensure the health of the fetus, may now settle their case for $825,000.