Litigation is time consuming and expensive, both in terms of the filing fees and lawyer costs, making “small claims court” a desirable path for many litigants. There, you get a hearing right away (in weeks versus months) and you don’t need a lawyer. In fact, you can fill-out the Complaint…
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Judge Orders Builder to Pay $318K (Attorney Fees)
It’s often a long-shot in PA to get the opposing party to pay your attorney fees for civil litigation. Ordinarily, each party pays their own attorney fees in Pennsylvania. Only two exceptions exist. The first: the parties have agreed — via a contract — that one party must pay the…
Correcting Your Credit Report (FCRA)
Correcting Your Credit Report Before, During, and After Litigation Our Pittsburgh litigation lawyers defend consumers sued for allegedly failing to pay credit card debt (and other loan obligations). We excel at getting debt collection cases dismissed or negotiated down significantly. However, two questions often linger before, during, and after litigation:…
Value of “Pain and Suffering” from a Car Accident
Pain and Suffering From a Vehicle Accident Electing “limited tort” on your own motor vehicle policy in Pennsylvania saves you a few bucks ($100-$300 per year on your premiums), but you risk waiving your right to sue for pain and suffering (or “non-economic loss”) for a car accident. So, how…
Violation by Silence? | Protection in Non-Commercial Cases
Expansion of Consumer Protections in PA Last year, our Pittsburgh lawyers wrote about how proving “fraudulent” intent is no longer necessary to maintain a claim for violation of PA’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (“UTPCPL” or “CPL” or “Act”). Rather, the Act is a “strict liability statute.” This…
Home Inspection Contract | Enforceability | Arbitration
Purchasing a home is exciting, especially when you obtain in advance of the sale a report from a home inspector, to better understand the property you’re buying. Nobody likes surprises that waste your time and money, right? But what happens when the inspector fails to note an important defect: something…
Admission Pro Hac Vice (& How To Lose it) in PA
Our Pittsburgh lawyers regularly help attorneys outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania gain admission to handle a case in PA, via motion for admission pro hac vice, which is latin for handling “one thing” or “one case.” Click here to learn about the simple process. We’re always happy to serve as…
Punitive Damages For Stealing Information? UPDATE
In a key trade secret case this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme court found acceptable a ratio of punitive damages to actual damages that was arguably 11.2:1 (with punitive damages totaling over 10 times the amount of compensatory damages), which would therefore violate the Due Process Clause of the US Constitution and…
FAQ – Exception in PA: Drunk Driver (Or Ability Impaired)
Limited Tort Exception: Driving Under the Influence (“Drunk driver”) Motorists bound by “limited tort” in PA may lose the right to sue for pain and suffering from a motor vehicle accident, unless an exception applies. These include: A passenger in a commercial vehicle, such as a bus or ride share,…
Homeowners Get $3.2 Million Verdict | Developer’s Defects
What happens when you buy a new home — expecting it to be, well, new, and therefore problem-free — but you experience nothing but problems after moving in? This is exactly what happened when four families in Philadelphia purchased their residential homes in 2015. Noticing water infiltration problems upon moving…
