Have you been served with a subpoena in Pennsylvania and are wondering how to respond? Our Pittsburgh litigation lawyers handle nearly every kind of litigation matters in Western PA. Call or email our Pittsburgh lawyers for a consultation any time about responding to a subpoena in state or federal court: …
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When Saying Anything is Too Much | Giving a “Statement” in PA
You may have heard the expression “anything you say can be used against you,” perhaps on TV, when a detective asks a suspect to give a “statement.” But this concept applies in the civil courts, as well. Many Things Constitute a “Statement” A “statement” can take many forms, beyond…
Injured Man Gets 1 Billion Dollar Verdict in PA
Our Pittsburgh lawyers rarely post an article about a single verdict in Pennsylvania, but one recent PA jury verdict stands apart and shows just how far jurors will go, to punish a company believed to have seriously harmed the Plaintiff. Amagaso v. Mitsubishi Motors In 2017, Francis Amagasu, age…
Recovering Triple & Punitive Damages: Dwyer v. Ameriprise Fin., Inc.
Two Different Ways to Punish the Defendant Some civil cases in PA involve a claim against the Defendant for treble or triple damages, which is typically for violation of a consumer protection statue, such as PA’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (“UTPCPL”). There, the plaintiff can get award…
The FTC Bans Noncompete Enforcement in the US (For Now)
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) followed through on its promise in January of 2023 to ban the enforcement of noncompete agreements between employers and employees. However, a federal judge has since set aside the ban. The matter be appealed to the Supreme Court, most likely. …
Legal Malpractice: The Basis for Liability
Legal Malpractice in PA: What Is It, Really? To sue anyone for money in Pennsylvania, the party bringing suit needs two things: (1) a valid claim for negligence or breach of contract, for example, and (2), the plaintiff must commence suit within the appropriate statute of limitations: 2 years for negligence,…
The Bottom Line in Litigation: the Verdict Slip
Clients — who hire our Pittsburgh litigation lawyers to sue for money — often ask: how much money can I get at trial? Or, when we represent a defendant: how much money could a jury order me to pay? It all comes down to one question: The wording of the…
Non-Competition Clauses: Bind Doctors, But Not Lawyers?
All work restriction agreements — or “non-competes” — unduly hurt workers, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has banned noncompete enforcement nationally on April 23, 2024, subject to judicial review. Click here for more. But there is one type of worker against whom the courts have never enforced…
Fraudulent Inducement in PA
A civil claim for “fraud” in Pennsylvania is serious business: the victim can recover a money judgment for actual damages plus punitive damages and attorney fees. Plus, a judgment for fraud or deceit cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. As such, the burden to prove deceit is relatively high. In PA,…
The PA Attorney General: Weak on Contractors?
Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement and Consumer Protection Law (“HICPA”) effective July 1, 2009, talks a good game. For example, it allows a homeowner to sue a home improvement contractor for various forms of deceptive conduct plus treble (or triple) damages and attorney fees. HICPA also gives the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Attorney…