News from February 2024
Fox Rothschild Formalizes AI Practice; Names First Chief Artificial Intelligence and Information Security Officer
Responding to the ever-increasing needs of the industry, Fox Rothschild has formalized its nationwide Artificial Intelligence Practice.Mark McCreary, a partner at the firm since 1998 and its newly appointed Chief Artificial Intelligence and Information Security Officer, will lead the 25+ member practice group and also lead the development and implementation of the firm’s AI and information security strategy.
Class action says Pa. company underpaid workers in Colorado
PITTSBURGH - A staffing agency based in Pennsylvania faces a Pittsburgh class action lawsuit from workers in Colorado who say they weren't paid enough.
Police chief says he was fired without cause, seeks more than $400K
PITTSBURGH - The ex-chief of police of an Allegheny County town says he was wrongly fired four years before his contract expired and wants to be paid.
Philly wins dismissal of RFK Jr.-chaired nonprofit's case against COVID child vax measures
PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia has won dismissal of litigation from a California nonprofit group chaired by independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. concerning allegations that the City was vaccinating young children against COVID-19 without parental consent, for a lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Lack of jurisdiction seals dismissal of Pa. couple's lawsuit over defective solar grid
PITTSBURGH – For jurisdictional reasons, a federal judge has ordered the dismissal of a Western Pennsylvania couple’s litigation against a trio of Texas-based defendants, concerning property damages they alleged they incurred due to a defective do-it-yourself, off-grid solar kit.
Mother of man killed in pub shooting opposes objections, in suit surrounding her son's death
PITTSBURGH – The mother of a man killed in a shooting at a New Kensington pub more than two years ago has opposed preliminary objections in her wrongful death litigation against the establishment, insisting its alleged over-serving of alcoholic beverages to the shooter and overall failure to prevent her son’s death.
Pa. company disavows liability for ceiling beam which struck plaintiffs at Marriott hotel
LANCASTER – A Pennsylvania company has denied liability for damages alleged by a pair of plaintiffs, one local and one from South Carolina, who claimed they were struck by a wooden beam which fell from the ceiling as they were dining inside a local Marriott hotel restaurant.
Black former DHS employee settles discrimination and retaliation claims
PITTSBURGH – A Black former employee of Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services who claimed that it retaliated against and fired her from her role within the department, in response to her reporting alleged discrimination tactics against her, has settled her claims.
Allegheny County woman who claimed Aldi's negligence led to metal shelf falling on her gets settlement
PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County woman who brought suit against discount grocery store chain Aldi, after she said a metal produce shelf fell on her when she was shopping inside the grocer’s West Mifflin store, recently settled her claims.
Third Circuit will not reinstate suits over collection of post-employment union dues
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently refused to reinstate a trio of federal court cases lodged against American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union local groups, over collection of dues from their members after their employment ended.
Pittsburgh lawyer says firm retaliated for missed COVID time
PITTSBURGH - Bouts with COVID and Lyme disease created friction with his employer, a Pittsburgh lawyer alleges in a discrimination lawsuit against Frost Brown Todd.
Olyphant family who posted sign reading “F— THE GOVERNMENT” may settle with local officials
SCRANTON – An Olyphant family who alleged their rights to free speech and expression were being infringed upon by their borough and its zoning official, who had taken exception to a sign posted outside their home which read “F— THE GOVERNMENT”, have received a stay of their case, in advance of a potential settlement.
Wrongful death lawsuit against Lancaster Co. follows heroin addict's suicide
READING - The estate of an inmate who committed suicide in Lancaster County while suffering from withdrawal symptoms is suing over his death.
Antitrust & Digital Markets
At ProMarket, Giovanna Massarotto, Research Fellow at the Center for Technology, Innovation & Technology (CTIC) explores how regulators can better enforce antitrust laws in computer-run digital markets by incorporating lessons from computer science to combat algorithmic collusion.
The Office of Attorney General and Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office Launch New Gun Violence Task Force
Attorney General Michelle Henry, in collaboration with Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala, announced the launch of the Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force — a collaborative network targeting illegal purchases and transfers of firearms and the violent crimes that result from those transactions.
AG Henry Announces $15M Share for Pa. From Settlement with Marketing Firm that Fueled Opioid Addiction Crisis
Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Pennsylvania has joined a $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health for damages caused by the marketing firm’s work with Purdue Pharma and other companies, which contributed to the opioid addiction epidemic.
K&l Gates Advises on Launch of Invest Ad Global Asset Manager and Invest Ad Blackstone Private Debt Fund
Global law firm K&L Gates acted as sole legal advisers to Abu Dhabi Investment Company (Invest AD) in connection with the establishment and licensing of Invest AD’s fund management subsidiary, which was the first manager authorised by the Securities and Commodities Authority under its new investment funds regulations.
Transgender man sues insurer for not paying for second erectile pump
PHILADELPHIA - A Pennsylvania transgender man has gone to court after his insurer declined to pay for an $11,000 erectile pump as part of gender-affirmation surgery to build him a penis.
Androgynous nurse with feminine pronouns and a beard sues over treatment at orientation
PHILADELPHIA - An androgynous person with a beard who uses she/her pronouns is suing after she says she was mistreated during orientation at a Philadelphia nursing home.
Bradford County father who saw his son killed by Pa. State Police files lawsuit against officers
WILLIAMSPORT – A Bradford County father who witnessed his 15-year-old son being shot and killed by three Pennsylvania State Police troopers last year, has sued them for what he argues was his son’s wrongful death.