Most Pennsylvania teens are thrilled to turn 16 years old, get a learner’s permit, and start the process of becoming a licensed driver. But how should the rest of us feel about sharing the roadway with teenagers? TERRIFIED is an appropriate response. Consider a recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), PennDOT statistics,…
About one year ago, we blogged about the child custody case of C.G. v. J.H. in which the Superior Court of Pennsylvania ruled that a former same-sex, unmarried partner who had been in a relationship with the biological mother of a boy born through artificial insemination was not legally considered the boy’s parent and thus…
Most drivers, sooner or later, get pulled over for a traffic violation. We answer the officer’s questions, receive a ticket (if we are unlucky), and leave. But what happens if the officer extends a traffic stop beyond its mission and eventually uncovers evidence of a crime? Can that evidence be used against us in a…
Here’s a story that will inspire anyone convicted of a sexual offense who is working hard to put their life back on track and to be a safe and productive member of society. Conviction in 1990 On Aug. 31, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ordered Lock Haven University to rehire a mathematics professor who was…
A recent decision by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania serves as a reminder that a firefighter must establish a causal connection between cancer and a Group 1 carcinogen, as recognized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, to collect workers’ compensation benefits for an occupational disease. Bladder Cancer In Ratay v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal…
When you possess land with someone else, does your co-possessor have a duty to keep you safe from hazardous conditions under premises liability law? The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently said “no.” Co-Possessors of Land In Cholewka v. Gelso, a husband and wife, their adult daughter, and the daughter’s boyfriend all signed a lease to…
In June, we blogged about a decision by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania affirming an award of retroactive workers’ compensation benefits for a firefighter who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, but who filed a claim petition seven years later because she did not immediately make the connection between her illness and her occupation….
We’ve all seen the yellow “Wet Floor” signs that businesses use to warn customers about dangerous, slippery floors during inclement weather. But when a customer slips and falls, is the presence of a “Wet Floor” sign ― in the absence of any other proof ― definitive evidence that the floor was, in fact, wet? The…
The average adult takes about 5,000 steps per day. If one of those steps happens to be off an unmarked curb and causes injury, there may be no legal remedy against the property owner pursuant to a recent decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Pavement Same Color as Curb…
That didn’t take long. Two weeks ago, we blogged about disgraced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner’s attempt to convince a California appellate court that he shouldn’t have been convicted of intending to commit rape because his pants were on, his fly was zipped, and what he really wanted was sexual “outercourse.” Not surprisingly, the…
In North Carolina last week a judge ordered Francisco Huizar III to pay $8.8 million to Keith King, whose wife he engaged with in an adulterous relationship for 16 months. If you have been jilted by your spouse in Pennsylvania, don’t expect a similar outcome. Chance Meeting According to news reports, the affair began when…
A lawyer for disgraced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner attempted to argue last week in a California appellate court that his client shouldn’t have been convicted of intending to commit rape because what he really wanted was sexual “outercourse.” It didn’t go well. For readers unfamiliar with the story, a brief recap: In January…