If you have a criminal record, Pennsylvania is giving you a new opportunity for meaningful work and a better life. On July 1, Gov. Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 637 into law, removing barriers that prevented skilled workers with criminal records from attaining professional licenses. The new law requires the Department of State’s 29 boards…
A recent decision by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania illustrates what can go wrong when you enter into an alimony agreement, then experience a change in circumstances. Alimony Agreement In Rosiecki v. Rosiecki, a divorcing couple entered into a marital settlement agreement before a divorce master. In their agreement, the couple converted a spousal support…
In the shadow of the major victory that the U.S. Supreme Court handed to DACA recipients, the court just dealt a blow to immigrants, finding that an asylum-seeker had no right to a hearing in federal court after immigration officials ordered his removal. The June 25 decision allows the Trump administration (and other future administrations)…
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 18 rejected the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, handing a major victory to nearly 700,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Under the Obama-era program, qualified individuals, so-called “Dreamers,” were given temporary legal status, allowing them to…
Readers of this blog know that personal injury lawsuits often hinge on video evidence and the importance of ensuring that such evidence is preserved immediately following an accident. But what happens when the request to preserve video evidence is made too late, and the video has been overwritten? The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently addressed…
Because “every dog has its day,” here’s a lawsuit where a dog had its day in court. Startled by a Dog In Grau v. Carroll, a woman who was out walking her dog became startled by the barking and running of a golden retriever, named Maggie, who was behind her owner’s electric fence. In backing…
In a victory for repeat DUI defendants who previously accepted an accelerated rehabilitative disposition (ARD), the Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently ruled that a driver’s prior acceptance of an ARD in a DUI case is not a “prior conviction” for the purpose of sentencing the driver for a subsequent DUI. This ruling is significant because…
With Memorial Day weekend here, and everyone eager to get out of their homes, and many outdoor destinations (like parks and beaches) now open, how safe will your holiday weekend be if you choose to take a road trip? The answer may be that we simply don’t know. For the first time in 20 years,…
Here’s a case recently decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that teaches why you should be on your guard when law enforcement seems a bit too friendly during a traffic stop. Skillful and Friendly Demeanor In U.S. v. Bradley, a Pennsylvania state trooper pulled over a driver who was allegedly…
May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. With the warm weather beginning to hit and bikers ― like everyone else ― eager to get out of their homes and experience the joy that comes with an open-air ride, now is an excellent time to review the risks and address how motorcyclists and other motorists can…
May a deputy sheriff conduct a traffic stop on the basis of an expired registration sticker, on the theory that such a violation amounts to a breach of the peace? In a case involving a driver who was convicted of DUI as a result of such a stop, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently said…
When most people think about being arrested for DUI they envision flashing police lights and sobriety tests at the side of the road. But what happens when you are arrested at your home, roused from your bed, without police ever having seen you in the driver’s seat operating a motor vehicle? Can there be sufficient…