A federal lawsuit against the state Department of Corrections over alleged sexual assault committed by an officer is among new cases of interest in Pennsylvania.
S.A. v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, et al.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Dec. 2
The DOC and Alfonzia Newsome are among the defendants named in the suit brought on behalf of S.A., who alleges Newsome groped her vagina in December 2022. She made a Prison Rape Elimination Act report following the alleged assault.
S.A. was imprisoned at the State Correctional Institution-Cambridge Springs in Harrisburg at the time. A failure by officials in the DOC led to Newsome's actions, it is alleged.
Newsome faces criminal charges like institutional sexual assault following complaints by multiple inmates. The civil lawsuit alleges he was allowed to remain employed at SCICS until late 2023 - a decision that violated S.A.'s constitutional rights.
"The facts of this case reveal a disturbing pattern of negligence by those entrusted to uphold safety and dignity within the correctional system," said Nathaniel Foote, a partner at Andreozzi + Foote.
"Our client bravely reported this assault, only to find herself in an environment where systemic failures allowed such abuse to occur unchecked."
Estate of Esmoris Arocho-Figueroa, et al., v. First Capital EMS, et al.
York County Court of Common Pleas, Nov. 25
Plaintiffs Luis and Jackeline Arocho and Yesika Cortes sue First Capital and Wellspan Health and complain that First Capital advertises that it "works hard to serve the community by providing the highest quality patient care available."
That isn't so, they say. Arocho-Figueroa died on Dec. 16, 2022, after he had been receiving in-patient medical care at WellSpan York Hospital for dialysis treatments. Two weeks earlier, he was transported via First Capital ambulance back to Luis Arocho's residence in Thomasville.
"While removing Mr. Arocho-Figueroa from the ambulance to transport him into the resident, the EMT defendants dropped him on the street," the lawsuit says.
"Mr. Arocho-Figueroa suffered injuries as a result of the fall, including injuries to his left hip."
He was also dropped in the driveway, it is alleged. The wound on his left hip became infected and septic, causing pain until his death, the suit says. It seeks at least $510,000.
John Pelusi, Jr. v. University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Dec. 2
Pelusi had served on Pitt's Board of Trustees for more than 30 years to manage its finances, academics and research, the suit says, but has often raised concerns about operations, programs and financial issues.
But now he says he's being retaliated against, like being banned from attending meetings that present information he requires to perform his duties.
A center on Pitt's national championship football team in 1976, Pelusi has raised concerns over the school's Name, Image and Likeness policies, a settlement providing compensation to former and future student-athletes, conference realignment, media rights and the fact that Pitt does not own its home football stadium.
He requested information regarding these issues in the athletic department but says he was informed his "conduct as an Emeritus Trustee has been reviewed" and that he had been barred from Board meetings.
Matthew Puleo v. West Norriton Police Department, et al.
Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, Nov. 4
The Township of West Norriton removed Puleo's case to federal court on Dec. 6. In his lawsuit, Puleo alleges his shoulder was dislocated when being forced into a police car on Nov. 2, 2022.
Puleo was arrested for allegedly stealing from Walmart. An officer shut the passenger side rear door on him, causing the injury, the suit says.
His thumb, neck and back were also injured, he says.
Ariellmarie Rankine v. Delaware County, et al.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Dec. 4
Rankine brings suit on behalf of the Estate of Deborah Brice, who visited a friend living at The Residences at Chestnut Ridge in Chester in May 2024. Brice was operating as a caregiver and would often sleep over, the suit says.
She called 911 for help on May 6 at 5 a.m., though "the full substances of the 911 calls is currently unknown. An EMS unit was dispatched to the apartment and encountered a locked door, and the operators of Chestnut Ridge had no one to answer.
The EMS personnel were required to conduct an in-person evaluation of Brice but refused to break the door down and left, the suit says.
A call at 6 a.m. asked an employee at Chestnut to check on Brice's friend. That person checked at 6:25 and responded that both women were sleeping.
After 7 a.m., Brice was found dead in an armchair with a phone in her hand. The death certificate listed the time of death as 7:05 a.m - two hours after Brice called 911. The suit asserts various claims of negligence.