In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the family of Juliet frowned upon her dating Romeo simply because his last name was “Montague.” So Juliet famously asked: “What’s in a name?” But when it comes to naming Defendants in a civil suit, the names are extremely important. Failing to identify the Defendants by…
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Pittsburgh Lawyer | Trade Secret Claims and Defenses
A Trade Secret in Pennsylvania If you are facing a “trade secret” claim or threat that may require a legal defense, please contact a Pittsburgh lawyer at our firm. Losing a trade secret case can result in you paying compensatory and punitive damages, plus paying the plaintiff’s attorney fees. What…
Home Improvement and Commercial Contractor Disputes
Legal Representation For Contractor & Builder Disputes Constructing or renovating a home or business can be exciting, but these undertakings are unfortunately complicated. Lawsuits frequently arise from disputes between a property owner and a construction contractor or builder regarding commercial or home improvement work. Holding a Contractor Responsible A contractor (or…
NONCOMPETE – PITTSBURGH LAWYER | Post-Separation Attorneys
Noncompete Agreement Solutions Our Pittsburgh Litigation Lawyers review a noncompete clause to determine if Pennsylvania courts can enforce it. First, like any contract in Pennsylvania, a noncompete requires consideration. This means the employer must provide something new in exchange for the employee’s promise not to compete in the future. A…
NDA – Non-Disclosure Agreement Law in PA
Non-Disclosure Agreements in PA We’re often asked: are non-disclosure agreements binding? The short answer is yes, so long as the NDA is “reasonably necessary” to protect the employer’s interests. This means, it cannot be over broad or unduly burdensome to the employee. Plus, an NDA must meet the formal requirements…
Representation at Mediation in PA
Understanding Mediation in PA Mediation in Pennsylvania is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) where a neutral third party, called a mediator, spends approximately one day with all parties all at one time, to help them compromise to resolve a dispute amicably, short of going to court. …
Risk of Going to Trial: The (Unexpected) Re-Trial
Know the Risks of a Potential Re-Do If you’re considering taking your civil case to trial in Pennsylvania, you’ve done the cost-benefit analysis and above all, you hope that the trial will bring closure at the very least. But what if the trial cannot provide closure? …
Understanding Venue in PA State Court
Venue in Civil Lawsuits in PA State Courts When you seek to file a lawsuit in Pennsylvania state court, you can’t just select any court you like. The case must be filed in the right county. This is the concept of venue. It’s different from deciding what state can hear…
Inconvenient Forum in PA (Forum non conveniens)
Forum non conveniens is latin for “inconvenient forum.” It is a legal doctrine in Pennsylvania that applies in civil cases for money, mainly. It allows a court to dismiss a case, if another jurisdiction is significantly more appropriate for the civil trial, based on the location of witnesses, evidence, and…
The Limit of Artificial Intelligence: Common Sense
We are seeing more and more people rely on artificial intelligence (AI) for legal advice, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Whether you use AI alone — or use ChatGPT to “fact check” your lawyer’s advice — you should realize the value of something often lacking: common sense. …
