News from September 2023
Couple who believe healthcare group leaked raw sewage into their home want arbitration
PITTSBURGH – Counsel for a couple who alleged that a local healthcare group flooded their basement with raw sewage, have motioned to transfer the case to the arbitration process.
Longtime Donora police superintendent says personal grudge and age discrimination led to his firing
PITTSBURGH – Donora’s longtime Superintendent of Police alleges he was terminated from that role due to age discrimination and a personal grudge from a former colleague who later became a borough councilman.
Health Care Private Equity Transactions – Managing Risk and Protecting Your Investment on September 21, 2023
Private equity investment in the health care sector has grown significantly in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
Reed Smith named ESG and Community Impact Leader by National Law Journal
The National Law Journal has named Reed Smith an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Community Impact Leader for the second year in a row, having similarly honored the law firm in 2022.
Holland & Knight Partner Daniel Mateo Becomes President of the Hispanic National Bar Association
Holland & Knight Partner Daniel Mateo was sworn in as the 46th president of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) on September 8, during the Annual Convention held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Jane Doe who alleged ADA violation from Law School Admission Test admin group drops claims
PHILADELPHIA – An anonymous woman with vision impairment who alleged that a Pennsylvania group tasked with overseeing the Law School Admission Test violated her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by not providing her with an accommodation for screen-reading software to take the test, has voluntarily dismissed her claims.
Judge awards $600K in damages to victim who allegedly suffered sexual assault during massage
ALLENTOWN – A federal judge has awarded $600,000 in compensatory and punitive damages to a California woman who alleged she was assaulted by a masseuse in an Allentown nail salon and spa.
K&L Gates Assists Focus Financial Partners on Us$7b Acquisition
A team of lawyers from global law firm K&L Gates LLP represented Focus Financial Partners Inc., a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, on its acquisition by funds affiliated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC and Stone Point Capital LLC in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value in excess of US$7 billion.
Amtrak denies responsibility for deaths of two children on train tracks in Chester
PHILADELPHIA – In its response to wrongful death litigation, Amtrak has denied responsibility for the deaths of two minor children from Chester, who were killed in April by a passing Amtrak train going from New York to Washington, D.C.
Gannon University refutes class action claims that it didn't refund fees during COVID-19
ERIE – Gannon University believes that a class action lawsuit brought against it which charged that students were deprived of the on-campus education and experience they paid for, when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and learning shifted to remote status, fails to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
Kathy E. Ochroch and Joshua L. Strober Named to Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2023 Best of the Bar
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that partners Kathy E. Ochroch, who serves as the firm's director of pro bono and community impact, and Joshua L. Strober have been named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2023 Best of the Bar, which honors the Philadelphia region’s 35 "most impactful" lawyers across 10 categories.
Woman injured on sidewalk settles lawsuit with Borough of Morton
MEDIA – A Delaware County woman who alleged that she was seriously injured when she fell on a deficiently maintained sidewalk along Taylor Avenue in the Borough of Morton, has settled her lawsuit.
State court judge overrules preliminary objections in rehab center accidental OD case
PITTSBURGH – A state court judge has overruled preliminary objections from a condo association who argued that both a missing certificate of merit and pleading insufficiencies marred litigation containing claims that a local man and father of five children, who was residing at a rehabilitation center for those dealing with homelessness, mental illness or dependency issues, died from an accidental overdose.
Online news provider Patch is given consolidation of suits surrounding shooting arrest story
MEDIA – Counsel for online news provider Patch and one of its reporters have been granted consolidation of two lawsuits based upon an article it published, which claimed both the plaintiff and his mother were arrested for a fatal shooting in June 2021, when in fact they were arrested for unrelated offenses.
Federal court retains most counts in Lancaster woman's case surrounding shooting of her son
ALLENTOWN – A federal judge has rendered a split decision regarding a defense motion for judgment on the pleadings in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a Lancaster woman who says she witnessed her schizophrenic and bipolar son being shot to death by a local police officer.
Plaintiff says Fayette County supervisor discriminated against her for her ADHD and PTSD
PITTSBURGH – A Fayette County woman asserts that she was discriminated against by her employer, the County, based on her disabilities and/or perceived disabilities, in the form of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Hillary Moonay Reviews Her Goals and Agenda for the Year as the PBA Family Law Section Chair in a PBA Family Law Section Podcast
Hillary Moonay, co-chair of Obermayer’s Family Law Group and chair of the PBA Family Law Section, was a featured guest in the 36th episode of the PBA Family Law Section’s podcast “Law in the Family.
Montco Wawa store dismissed from suit over meal that allegedly caused illness
MEDIA – An individual Wawa store has been dismissed from litigation brought by a woman who alleged she was sickened by a meal she purchased at a there, leaving the convenience store chain at large and its employees as defendants.
Sewickley medical defendants wants to dismiss counts of negligence and infliction of emotional distress
PITTSBURGH – A local doctor, obstetrics and gynecology practice and a hospital have filed preliminary objections in response to a wrongful death suit from a Sewickley couple, which charged that their collective negligence led to the death of their baby daughter about one year ago, seeking to dismiss counts of direct corporate negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress from the case.
Customer allegedly injured by 'visibly intoxicated' patron says casino's objections must be overruled
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County man who claimed he suffered a long list of injuries when an intoxicated fellow patron of Rivers Casino drunkenly fell on his right leg, insists that the casino’s preliminary objections to his case must be overruled.