Pennsylvania

Judge tosses suit claiming David Axelrod wrongly took credit for ‘ballsy’ consultant’s idea

A federal judge in Philadelphia has tossed a suit that claims Democratic political consultant David Axelrod took credit for another consultant’s idea. In a Dec. 1 opinion, U.S. District Judge Mitchell Goldberg said the suit by Philadelphia-area media and political consultant Frank Keel had failed to make a plausible claim…

Dec 4, 2015 5:45 AM CST

Frost Brown Todd is opening its first Pennsylvania office

Frost Brown Todd has announced that the 475-attorney law firm is opening its first office in Pennsylvania, with 10 lawyers who previously worked for Burleson. Burleson, an energy-focused law firm based in Houston, announced earlier that it plans to close its doors by the end of the year. The new…

Dec 2, 2015 10:10 AM CST

Judge who sparred with Pennsylvania AG is removed, ‘clouded’ objectivity cited

A Pennsylvania judge who sparred with Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has been removed from a senior judgeship because of concerns about his objectivity. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court informed Judge Barry Feudale of his removal in a Nov. 12 letter, report the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Daily Item and Pennlive.com. The…

Nov 30, 2015 10:34 AM CST

Lawsuit urges top state court to explain powers of AG Kathleen Kane, whose law license is suspended

A non-practicing Pennsylvania attorney known for his political activism has filed a writ of mandamus on Monday asking the state’s top court to invoke its King’s Bench powers to determine if an attorney general with a suspended law license can continue to head the state attorney general’s office. Eugene Paul…

Nov 24, 2015 2:45 PM CST

Following layoffs, 60-attorney law firm says it will close its doors by end of 2015

Hard hit by the downturn in the oil and gas industry, a 60-attorney Houston-based law firm is closing its doors at the end of the year. Founded nearly a decade ago with two attorneys, the fast-growing Burleson firm at one point had over 140 lawyers on its roster. However, the…

Nov 24, 2015 10:10 AM CST

California’s bar pass rate is at a 29-year low; these states also saw a drop

The percentage of people passing the California bar exam in July 2015 has dropped to 46.6 percent overall, down from 48.6 percent last July. The percentage is the lowest point since July 1986, when only 44.4 percent passed. The pass rate for first time test takers in California also dropped,…

Nov 24, 2015 8:35 AM CST

AG Kathleen Kane is ‘legally disabled,’ top deputy tells Pennsylvania senate committee

Because of her suspended law license, Pennsylvania’s attorney general is “legally disabled,” her top deputy told a state senate committee Wednesday. “We are extremely concerned about the impact this has on our office, which is profound—extraordinary, really,” said Bruce Beemer, who serves as first deputy to AG Kathleen Kane. While…

Nov 19, 2015 1:10 PM CST

Pennsylvania voters will consider raising judicial retirement age

Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to raise the raise the retirement age for judges from 70 to 75. The referendum is expected to be on the ballot next year, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Pennsylvania lawmakers gave final approval to the referendum proposal on Monday. Lynn…

Nov 17, 2015 2:09 PM CST

Top prosecutors under AG Kathleen Kane raise concerns about her lack of an active law license

Facing criminal prosecution over claimed leaking of grand jury information and perjury, Pennsylvania’s attorney general has stayed at work even after her law license was temporarily suspended. She could still do the job, AG Kathleen Kane said last month, because almost all of her job duties are administrative and policy-making…

Nov 17, 2015 10:15 AM CST

Former prosecutors sue embattled AG Kathleen Kane

For months, embattled Pennsylvania attorney general Kathleen Kane has been saying criminal charges that could force her from office are the result of her bringing to light pornographic emails that embarrassed political opponents. But in a federal lawsuit, five former employees of her office–including several prosecutors–put a different spin on…

Nov 16, 2015 9:30 AM CST

Appeals court restores $4.9K monthly pension of imprisoned former Penn State football coach

A Pennsylvania appeals court has restored the $4,900-per-month pension of a former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach who is now serving a hefty prison term for sexually abusing minors. Because Jerry Sandusky had officially retired long before the crimes for which he has been convicted took place, the board…

Nov 13, 2015 2:50 PM CST

Suit claims birth-control pill packaging errors led to 113 pregnancies

A lawsuit filed last week in Philadelphia seeks millions of dollars of damages for 113 women who say they became pregnant after taking birth control pills that were improperly packaged. Among the damages sought are the costs for delivering, raising and educating the children, report Philly.com and ABC News. The…

Nov 13, 2015 6:15 AM CST

Law firm calls LED sign ban unfair, says gas station got preferential treatment

Denied permission by a Pennsylvania municipality to use a LED sign in front of its law office, Quatrini Rafferty is threatening to sue. That’s because a gas station across the street was granted an exception by the Greensburg Historical and Architectural Review Board and is allowed to use a lighted…

Nov 12, 2015 10:15 AM CST

Lawyer gets probation for forging judge’s name on court order and is disbarred by consent

A Pennsylvania lawyer who admittedly forged a Northumberland County judge’s name on a purported court order settling a client’s case was sentenced Monday to two years of probation and 75 hours of community service. On Tuesday, 63-year-old Stephen Ellwood also agreed to be disbarred by consent, reports PennLive.com. The forgery…

Nov 11, 2015 4:00 PM CST

Lawyer who sued cops for his courthouse arrest loses 3rd Circuit appeal

A lawyer who was arrested at a Philadelphia courthouse for allegedly elbowing a social worker has lost a federal appeal. The Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of false arrest and false imprisonment claims filed by lawyer Peter Quinn against two Philadelphia police officers who arrested…

Nov 11, 2015 8:53 AM CST