PHILADELPHIA – Following a continuance, a state court will determine whether a case involving a car crash between a motorist and an equipment company driver will be transferred out of Philadelphia County.
Gerard Bruderle filed a motion for preliminary objections to that effect on July 27, seeking the litigation filed by Donald Caskey of Coudersport against Best Line Equipment and Best Line Equipment Leasing, Inc. of State College and Pierre Peterson of Belle Fourche, S.D., be moved to Centre County (where the corporate defendants are based) or Montgomery County (where the accident took place).
At the time of the accident, Peterson resided in Slatedale – but he is now a resident of South Dakota, and the corporate defendants are not amenable to having the suit heard in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.
Initially scheduled for Oct. 28, a hearing in this matter is now set for Wednesday in Court chambers, at Philadelphia City Hall.
On March 12, 2013, Peterson was driving a vehicle owned by fellow defendants Best Line Equipment and Best Line Equipment Leasing, Inc. westbound on I-76 between exits 338 and 339, in Montgomery County’s Lower Merion Township.
At that time, Peterson rear-ended the plaintiff Caskey’s vehicle, as a result of the former’s allegedly negligent driving. Caskey alleged Peterson was speeding, employed improper following distance and failed to exercise due care in his driving, resulting in the crash.
The plaintiff is seeking judgment in excess of $50,000 for all legally recoverable damages, plus delay damages, disbursements and costs in this case.
The plaintiff is represented by Mitchell S. Clair in Blue Bell.
The defendants are represented by Gerard Bruderle of Margolis Edelstein, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 150202713
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com