A Claim for Promissory Estoppel in Pennsylvania If you found this article online, you’re likely wondering whether a particular promise is enforceable, in the absence of a clear “contract.” A claim for promissory estoppel (or quasi-contract) exists in Pennsylvania where (1) one party makes a reasonably specific promise to another, who (2)…
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PA: What Scar is Needed to Overcome Tort Restriction?
An Often Overlooked Limited Tort Exceptions: Disfigurement. A motorist or passenger in Pennsylvania bound by the “limited tort” election can only sue for economic loss, not pain and suffering, unless certain exceptions (such as drunk driving) apply. The most common exception is when the injury causes a serious impairment of…
Pittsburgh Lawyer | Pro Hac Vice
Limited Admission to Handle One Case in Western PA Lawyers admitted in jurisdictions outside of Western Pennsylvania can gain admission to practice law in Western PA “pro hac vice.” The latin meaning is, “for this occasion” or “for this event” (literally, “for this turn”). This makes sense. The type of…
Court: No Protection For Spreadsheet
Investment Analyst Sues BNY Mellon and Deloitte for Using His “Trade Secret” On October 6, 2023, an Investment analyst learned a hard lesson about trade secret law. Anyone who creates technology for another — such a spreadsheet system for picking stocks — can lose the rights to such information. No…
Subcontractors’ 3.2M Judgment is Gone, Must Pay Attorney Fees
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently provided an expensive lesson to contractors about contract law, unjust enrichment, and when attorney fees will be awarded. In SDSP, LLC v. ATTIAS, No. 1029 EDA 2022 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 20, 2023), a group of subcontractors won a judgment for 3.2M against a…
Advantages of Filing in Lowest Court in PA
Advantages of Suing For Money in Small Claims Court Small claims court is the fastest and most cost-effective way to resolve many civil claims for money. That said, we have written about the pitfalls of filing your lawsuit for money in small claims court. The big disadvantage is, either side…
Your Emoji – A Binding Contract in PA!?
Can a 👍 Emoji Create a Contract in Pennsylvania? A recent case has lawyers wondering: can your emoji — without more — bind you to a major contract in Pennsylvania? One court said “yes.” There, the court held a party liable for failing to deliver 87 metric tonnes of flax…
Discriminatory Work Restriction: PA Attorney General Supports Ban
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a ban on every non-compete agreement, nationwide. However, noncompete agreements remain legal in Pennsylvania — in certain limited instances. That said, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Michelle Henry, supports a ban of non-competes. While there’s nothing pending by the AG’s office in PA to ban…
Filing on the Lowest Level Court – Common Mistakes
Common Strategic Mistakes When Filing in Small Claims Court Filing your lawsuit in small claims court is often the fastest, most efficient, and cost-effective way to resolve a dispute. However, strategically, you may want to re-think the decision to file in small claims court, especially if you expect the Defendant…
See the Agreement Right Up Front (PA Rule 1019)
Breach of Contract Litigation: Show Me the Contract! Many clients ask us, how long will my civil litigation case actually take — for breach of contract, property damage, or physical injuries? The answer is, “It depends. Could be a while.” This is because the Complaint — filed to enforce one’s…
