Latest News
Federal Court
Pa. man who alleged his iPhone exploded and seriously burned him settles his claims
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man who accused Apple and Verizon of committing negligence and product liability defects, when an iPhone 6s Plus smartphone allegedly exploded and seriously injured him – has settled his claims.
Federal Court
Defendants dismissed from litigation alleging excessive force at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
PHILADELPHIA – Several government and corrections defendants have been dismissed from litigation which alleged law enforcement officials used excessive force on an incarcerated man.
Federal Court
Nonprofit group who said Federal Highway Administration violated National Environmental Policy Act wants summary judgment
HARRISBURG – An environmental nonprofit group has motioned for summary judgment in its case against a component of the U.S. Department of Transportation and its chief, over claims that the highway agency failed to conduct environmental impact reports for a proposed highway extension, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act.
Federal Court
Estate of man killed by passing vehicle maintains Marple Township police officers were responsible
PHILADELPHIA – The estate of a man left at a bus stop while in an intoxicated state by Marple Township police officers and killed by a passing vehicle shortly thereafter more than two years ago, has reiterated claims that the Township, its Police Department and a plethora of officers the plaintiff believes are responsible for the man’s death.
Federal Court
Federal judge rejects dismissal motion from Taiwanese group named in Pa. doctor's bike crash suit
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss from a Taiwanese company named in an injury lawsuit brought by a local ophthalmologist, who suffered a tear of his left triceps tendon and other injuries when his bicycle’s coaster brake allegedly failed and he crashed on a roadway.
Federal Court
Parents who alleged their home was stormed by Philly deputies, say res judicata does not apply
PHILADELPHIA – Parent plaintiffs who claimed multiple officers from the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department violated their civil rights when they executed a search warrant at their home in an attempt to find the plaintiffs’ son, who had been murdered five months before the search took place, have countered arguments from the City of Philadelphia that res judicata should bar their case.
Federal Court
Third Circuit upholds terrorism sentencing enhancement for ISIS-affiliated potential church bomber
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has affirmed a terrorism-based sentencing enhancement, in the criminal case of an ISIS supporter who was arrested in June 2019 for planning to bomb a Nigerian-American church in Pittsburgh.
Federal Court
Judge rules N.Y. gamblers speaking Punjabi properly pled discrimination against Pa. casino
SCRANTON – A federal judge has rejected a motion to dismiss from a Northeastern Pennsylvania casino, which is accused of discrimination by five New York plaintiffs of Indian ancestry who said they faced such treatment for using their native language of Punjabi while gambling.
Federal Court
Plaintiff counsel drops negligent infliction of emotional distress counts, from Flying Fairy toy lawsuit
PITTSBURGH – Plaintiff counsel has authorized the dismissal of two counts of negligent infliction of emotional distress from a Blairsville couple’s lawsuit, one which claimed a Flying Fairy toy was defectively designed and when launched, collided with one of the plaintiff’s eyes and caused extensive ocular injuries.
Federal Court
Investigative journalist settles 'Gag Rule' suit with Allegheny County
PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh investigative journalist who contended that “Gag Rule” policies enacted by the Allegheny County Bureau of Corrections violated the First Amendment rights of County Jail employees and contractors, and prevented her from developing sources to offer comment for stories detailing events which have taken place inside the jail, has come to a settlement with the County.
Federal Court
Runner who claimed he was sprayed by copper pesticide during jog in Mount Lebanon settles case
PITTSBURGH – A local man who alleged he suffered permanent facial and oral injuries after being exposed to a copper-based pesticide being used to spray trees while he was out on a run in Mount Lebanon nearly two years ago, has settled his claims.
Federal Court
Suit over injury at Marshall's HomeGoods store may be thrown out, if default isn't pursued
PHILADELPHIA – A local woman who alleged she was seriously injured at a Marshalls HomeGoods store in Northeast Philadelphia when a desk chair she was seated on unexpectedly moved and she fell, may have her case dismissed if she does not file for a default judgment within the next two weeks.
Federal Court
Nonprofit legal services employee who alleged retaliation for reporting discrimination settles case
PHILADELPHIA – An employee for a non-profit legal services provider who alleged that she suffered racial and disability discrimination, in retaliation for reporting similar behavior in her workplace, recently withdrew her case.
Federal Court
JCPenney moves for summary judgment in injury suit over fall at its store in Oxford Valley Mall
PHILADELPHIA – JCPenney has motioned for summary judgment, in litigation which a Bucks County man said he suffered at the retailer’s store in Langhorne’s Oxford Valley Mall more than three-and-a-half years ago.
Federal Court
Lancaster is dismissed from litigation concerning alleged warrantless raids of vape businesses
ALLENTOWN – Lancaster County has been dismissed from litigation asserting that its district attorney and police officers conducted warrantless raids of businesses selling vape products last April, raids which those proprietors contend were illegal and contradictory to state laws currently on the books.
Federal Court
Federal judge confirms $779K arbitration award to franchisee, in Choice Hotels lawsuit
ALLENTOWN – A federal judge has confirmed a $779,000 arbitration award decided in favor of a plaintiff franchisee in a wide-ranging lawsuit brought by such franchisees against the Choice Hotels organization, who claimed they have been overcharged inflated fees to increase the group’s revenue and have been subjected to discriminatory treatment based on race.
Federal Court
Phila. wants dismissal of suit alleging police officer distributed photos of man's suicide
PHILADELPHIA – Counsel for the City of Philadelphia and an unidentified local police officer have motioned to dismiss litigation from the mother of a man who died by suicide during a mental health episode two years ago, litigation which alleged the officer photographed her son’s lifeless body and distributed it online.
Federal Court
Political TV show host opposes case dismissal motion from Scranton and Lackawanna authorities, television network
SCRANTON – A Scranton man who hosted a television program on political issues and alleged that authorities from the City of Scranton and Lackawanna County disrupted and then canceled his broadcast because the defendants disagreed with his views and those of many of his guests, has opposed a move from those governmental entities and a local network station to dismiss his case.
Federal Court
Bucks County adult business denies it fired cleaner-clerk for being a cisgender male
PHILADELPHIA – A Bucks County-based adult establishment has rejected allegations from its former cleaner and clerk that it discriminated against and fired him, based upon his designation as a cisgender male.
Federal Court
PICC inmate's assault-related civil rights claims partially dismissed without prejudice for second time
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has, for a second time, partially dismissed without prejudice claims from a man incarcerated at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, who insisted that prison officials ignored the prior conduct of two fellow inmates with a propensity for violent behavior, who attacked the plaintiff with a homemade weapon two summers ago.