News from January 2024
Court: State AG can resolve opioid and other consumer protection suits, DA's can't
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has the ultimate authority in resolving litigation brought under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law and not the district attorneys of Philadelphia and Allegheny counties, per a first impression ruling from the Commonwealth Court.
Equipment operator allegedly fired for Facebook post loses claims from his case
SCRANTON – A transportation equipment operator who alleged that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation failed to accommodate his disability and later fired him for alleged comments he made in a Facebook post has lost partial counts from his complaint, on order of a federal judge.
Makers of infant sleeping device that allegedly killed four-month-old will question his father
PHILADELPHIA – The makers of an infant sleeping device who allegedly failed to correct an inherent flaw in the product that resulted in the death of a nearly-four-month-old infant have been granted the opportunity to depose one of the plaintiffs while he is incarcerated on unrelated criminal charges.
Attorney who alleged other counsel stole his work product and refused to return it overcomes sanctions try
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania attorney who alleged that proprietary information from his law firm is in the possession of other counsel and that those defendants have refused to return his information to him has overcome an attempt at sanctions levied against him by the defendants.
Female basketball coach says school district gave her job to a man
PITTSBURGH - A federal lawsuit says a female basketball coach was hired to head a middle school boys program but the job was then given to a man.
Lawsuit calls UPMC a monopsony, claims workers penalized
PITTSBURGH - A federal lawsuit says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center used its power to pay workers less.
Attorney General, Department of Agriculture File Lawsuit to Halt Lancaster County Farm’s Illegal Distribution of Raw Milk and Other Products
Attorney General Michelle Henry, in collaboration with the state Department of Agriculture, announces the filing of a complaint against Miller’s Organic Farm, its owners, and related businesses.
“Limited Liability” Doesn’t Mean for Counsel: Ethical Considerations in Representing Organizations on February 2, 2024
Deborah Winokur will speak on the panel ”’Limited Liability’ Doesn’t Mean for Counsel: Ethical Considerations in Representing Organizations” at the 2024 Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting.
Employment Attorney Jeremy Farrell Awarded Mediation Certification
Tucker Arensberg attorney Jeremy V. Farrell earned certification for mediation, joining his other colleagues who handle arbitrations, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution matters in Tucker Arensberg’s Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Group.
Attorney General Neronha takes enforcement action to prevent local dealer from selling unsafe vehicles
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that the Office has filed a lawsuit against a Rhode Island car dealership for deceptive sales and advertising practices, in violation of the state’s consumer protection law.
The Road to 50 States: New Jersey and New Hampshire Join the US Privacy Landscape on February 1, 2024
The new year has been paired with new data privacy legislation passing across the United States.
Hillary Moonay to Present at The 2024 PBA Midyear Meeting in Aruba
Hillary Moonay, Co-Chair of Obermayer’s Family Law Group and Chair of the PBA Family Law Section, will be speaking at the 2024 Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Midyear Meeting.
$1.1M settlement proposed in class action versus Gannon University over its format during COVID-19
ERIE – An undergraduate student who filed a class action lawsuit against Gannon University, claiming that he and others were deprived of the on-campus education and experience they paid for when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and learning shifted to remote status, now looks to have the case settled for $1.1 million.
Families of Chester children killed by passing Amtrak train, fight motion for judgment on pleadings
PHILADELPHIA – The estates of two minor children from Chester, who were killed in April by a passing Amtrak train going from New York to Washington, D.C., have opposed the transit company’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, in a lawsuit that claimed the company is liable for the children's deaths.
Federal judge sides with former CHOP engineering supervisor, who was fired for not getting COVID vax
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has ruled that a former engineering supervisor who claimed he faced religious discrimination in his work at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia based upon his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine and who was later fired for that same decision, has presented a strong enough case for the matter to proceed.
Philadelphia jury hands down $2.2B verdict in third Roundup trial, the largest ever for that product
PHILADELPHIA – The manufacturers of weed killer Roundup have lost a third trial in Philadelphia and were hit with its largest-ever verdict at a whopping cost of $2.25 billion, not long after local juries handed down a $175 million verdict award to plaintiffs in the first case and a $3.5 million award in the second.
Class action against U.S. Steel seeks money for walking to work stations
PITTSBURGH - U.S. Steel should have paid employees for the time they spent showering and walking to their worksites, among other pre- and post-work activities, a class action lawsuit alleges.
Black bus driver alleges discrimination by Abington schools
PHILADELPHIA - A Black bus driver and cancer survivor says he was treated unfairly by the Abington School District Authority after being unable to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
ALERT: Tax Season is Here — Be Aware of IRS Impersonation Scams
Attorney General Michelle Henry is warning Pennsylvanians to be aware and stay cautious of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposter scams during the upcoming tax season.
Steven P. Roth Has Been Appointed as the Chair of the Firm’s Business & Finance Department
Please join us in congratulating Steven P. Roth on being appointed as the Chair of Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald’s Business & Finance Department!