News from September 2023
Shapiro Administration Highlights Historic Expansion Of Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program During Visit To Lackawanna County Senior Health Fair
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Secretary Pat Browne and Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich visited the Senior Health Fair in Moosic, Lackawanna County, to speak directly with older Pennsylvanians who will benefit from the expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program.
EPA Proposes to Strengthen 2020 Air Toxics Regulation to Prevent Emissions Increases and Protect Public Health
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to strengthen a 2020 Clean Air Act rule by ensuring industrial facilities that emit large amounts of hazardous air pollution cannot increase emissions when reclassifying from a “major source” of emissions to an “area source.”
PA’s Powerful Environmental Bill Of Rights (The “ERA”): Implementation Phase on September 27, 2023
The plurality opinion in Robinson Township, written by Chief Justice Ron Castille, together with the concurrence of Justice Max Baer, struck down Act 13, in which the Pennsylvania Legislature had overridden local zoning to permit fracking of natural gas throughout the Commonwealth. In so doing the Supreme Court had brought back to life Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Pennsylvania’s powerful Environmental Bill of Rights (the “ERA”), which had been approved by referendum in 1971, four to one.
Statement of U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero on the Passing of JoAnne A. Epps
On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, I want to express how deeply saddened we are by the death of JoAnne A. Epps, Acting Temple University President. Acting President Epps is fondly remembered as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1980 to 1985.
Emergency Judge Assignment
The Emergency Judge scheduled for Friday, September 22nd through Friday, September 29, 2023, is as follows
Abraham Reich to Be Inducted Into Best of the Bar Hall of Fame
Honored for the “indelible mark” he has made on the legal profession, Fox Rothschild Chair Emeritus Abraham C. Reich will be inducted into the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best of the Bar Hall of Fame.
Sex trafficking victim alleges Lancaster hotel's negligence
PHILADELPHIA — A sex trafficking victim claims the owners of an Econo Lodge in Lancaster failed to see the obvious signs of illegal activity on their premises.
Del. woman says negligence led her to fall on sidewalk outside Lancaster civic group
LANCASTER – A Delaware woman alleges that collective negligence on the part of a local civic organization and the City of Lancaster, resulted in her falling on a broken curb and sidewalk located in front of the organization’s headquarters two years ago.
State College Area School District rejects plaintiffs' school activity exclusion claims
WILLIAMSPORT – The State College Area School District has denied claims from a religious rights group and two Centre County families that it is unfairly discriminating against home school and parochial school students within its area, by preventing them from participating in extracurricular activities in the District.
Duane Morris Welcomes Corporate Partner Michael S. Harrington and Special Counsel Elizabeth G. Hodgson in Philadelphia
Michael S. Harrington has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice Group in its Philadelphia office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Harrington was a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP.
Family of deceased Walmart shopper allegedly assaulted by police drop their case
PHILADELPHIA – Counsel for the family of a Walmart customer who alleged that police who responded to a reported shoplifting incident tackled her in the parking lot, causing her to hit her head on the pavement and suffer a traumatic brain injury, have ceased pursuing their case.
Lawsuit alleging assault outside elementary school is withdrawn three days after filing
MEDIA – A complaint from a Glenolden man alleging he was assaulted and threatened by an employee of a cleaning service outside his child’s elementary school, has been withdrawn three days after it was filed.
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation settles for $4.4 Million in double-billing and cost-shifting case
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) has recently reached a settlement of $4.4 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act. The settlement comes after an extensive investigation into NASC's actions related to Defense Contract Audit Agency audits and violations of the False Claims Act.
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.