Pennsylvania

Philly Bar Condemns Dismissal of Rape Charges in Prostitute Case

The chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association is condemning a judge’s decision to dismiss rape charges against a man accused of forcing a prostitute to have sex with him and three other men at gunpoint. The judge, Teresa Carr Deni, ruled on Oct. 4 that the appropriate charge is theft…

Oct 31, 2007 12:46 PM CDT

Marketers Sued for Mailings to Bump Seniors from No-Call List

Several states are suing insurance marketers over their attempts to bypass a ban on phone solicitation by mailings to seniors. The marketers are sending mail to seniors asking them to return a so called “lead card” requesting more information about estate planning or other topics, the Wall Street Journal reports…

Oct 26, 2007 1:35 PM CDT

Former AG Says DOJ Politicized Prosecution

After a relatively convivial two-day confirmation hearing last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning President Bush’s nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the new U.S. attorney general, the gloves were off again today in a House Judiciary Committee hearing over alleged improper White House political influence in Department of…

Oct 23, 2007 11:05 PM CDT

Old Issues, New Policy for FBI

A controversial decision by the FBI to require supervisory personnel to rotate every five years comes in conjunction with an eye-popping series of recent cases alleging years-ago misconduct. Currently, a retired FBI supervisor is on trial in Brooklyn for allegedly helping a prized Mafia informant murder four people, as the…

Oct 22, 2007 7:21 PM CDT

PA High Court Race Hits Record $5 M

For the first time ever, candidates competing for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have collectively raised more than $5 million in campaign funds. By mid-September, eight candidates had together raised a total of just over $5 million, smashing a 12-year-old fundraising record, reports the Justice at Stake Campaign…

Oct 12, 2007 4:47 PM CDT

New Vows for Dozens in PA Marriage Mess

A first-of-a-kind case in Pennsylvania has called the validity of an untold number of marriages into question, prompting many committed couples to resolve the issue by simply re-taking their vows even though it hasn’t yet been upheld on appeal. Those who don’t redo their original ceremony face troubling questions about…

Oct 10, 2007 11:15 PM CDT

Ballard Spahr Stumbles in Race to Court

A Philadelphia judge has ruled that a law firm’s attempt to head off a gender discrimination complaint is premature. Judge Gary DiVito ruled Sept. 24 that Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll could not obtain declaratory relief “in anticipation of an action at law by another party,” the Legal Intelligencer reports.…

Oct 10, 2007 12:22 PM CDT

Lawyer’s RICO Suit for Fees Survives

A federal judge has refused to dismiss part of a lawyer’s RICO suit that contends lawyers for her ex-client helped hide money that should have paid his fees. Judge Gene E.K. Pratter of Philadelphia allowed Ellen Marshall to pursue a New Jersey RICO claim against the lawyers but dismissed a…

Oct 10, 2007 10:38 AM CDT

ABA Study Finds PA Death Penalty Flaws

A study released by an ABA group says Pennsylvania’s death penalty system fails to ensure basic fairness and could result in the execution of an innocent person. The report (PDF) calls on the state to preserve DNA evidence, videotape homicide interrogations, and use best practices for police lineups, the Philadelphia…

Oct 9, 2007 3:48 PM CDT

Court Reinstates Malpractice Verdict

A Pennsylvania appeals court has reinstated a $3 million verdict against an insurer and law firm for failing to settle a defamation case. A Philadelphia jury had ordered the insurer, Continental Casualty Co., to pay $2.1 million for breach of contract and ordered lawyer Jonathan Herbst and his law firm,…

Oct 9, 2007 12:15 PM CDT

PA Sues AFSC Over How It Spent $8 M

Updated: A highly regarded Philadelphia-based national charity is being sued by the Pennsylvania attorney general because it allegedly didn’t comply with the wishes of a deceased donor when spending his money. Leo Eloesser, a physician, directed that his bequest of $8 million (including investment growth and interest over more than…

Oct 8, 2007 5:23 PM CDT

Wal-Mart Workers Win $141 M in OT Case

In the latest judgment in ongoing class actions against the world’s largest retailer, a Pennsylvania judge is requiring Wal-Mart to pay $62.3 million to 125,000 workers who didn’t receive required overtime pay for overtime work. The award today by Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Mark Bernstein supplements a previous $78.5 million…

Oct 3, 2007 11:06 PM CDT

Judge Sanctions Lawyers Up to $5 Million

In a blistering rebuke of some of Philadelphia’s most prominent lawyers and law firms, a federal judge has sanctioned them—and their clients—for failing to cooperate with discovery in a medical insurance coverage class action. Among those being required to pay up to $5 million in plaintiffs costs by U.S. District…

Oct 3, 2007 5:15 PM CDT

Profit Drove Doc’s Diagnoses, Motion Says

A doctor who provided testimony on the proper standard for the diagnosis of asbestosis and silicosis is himself under fire in an asbestos lawsuit in Philadelphia. A motion filed in the case says Mississippi physician Jay Segarra has made $10 million as “a professional witness,” Adam Liptak writes in his…

Oct 1, 2007 11:52 AM CDT

Bias Suit Claims Cozen Promotes ‘Compliant’ Women

A former junior female partner at Cozen O’Connor has filed a sex discrimination suit against the firm that claims three partners there “prefer and promote women who fit traditional female stereotypes.” Patricia Biswanger alleges Cozen fired her for using firm resources for political activities at the same time it permitted…

Sep 21, 2007 11:14 AM CDT