Blog

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…

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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…

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PA Representation Needed – Parties Elect Litigation in PA

Our Pittsburgh lawyers regularly serve as local counsel in contractual disputes between parties having almost nothing to do with Pittsburgh.  So then, why Pittsburgh — as the place to file or have to defend a suit?  Can Your Contract Determine The Forum to Bring Challenges?  Yes. A contract is like a…

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Want Out of a Contract in PA? – You Can Cancel It (Sometimes)

Getting out of an Agreement in Pennsylvania, Cancel it!  Our Pittsburgh litigation lawyers know one thing: nobody wants to litigate a contract dispute, but sometimes it’s worth challenging an agreement, if you can void the agreement, cleanly.  Maybe you agreed to pay thousands for home improvement, but are having second…

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“Serious Impairment of Bodily Function” Defined in PA

Serious Impairment of an Important Bodily Function  This Pittsburgh lawyer has written previously about the perils of electing the “Limited Tort Option” under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (“MVFRL”). This election precludes you from recovering non-economic damages for a crash, unless an exception applies, such injuries outside of…

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Information War: Allstate Insurance

Battles in the Insurance Industry  There is an ongoing information war throughout the insurance industry between the big insurance companies and their sales agents. The battles are taking place in state and federal court in every state, involving work restriction disputes  and claims of “trade secret” theft or misappropriation.  There’s…

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A Surcharge For Using Plastic to Pay, Legal in PA?

A Surcharge For Using Plastic in Pennsylvania   Our Pittsburgh lawyers defend civil litigation cases, including credit card debt cases.  We attack the items of damages claimed, such as “late fees” as improper penalties charged, as contrary to contract law.   But what about surcharges?   There are merchants who charge a surcharge…

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Evidence Needed to Prove a Claim for Non-Payment

 Our Pittsburgh lawyers are often asked: how do I defeat a claim for non-payment of credit card debt in Pennsylvania? There are mainly two ways:  one, by raising a legal defense, such as the statute of limitations or the lack of a written contract for the amount demanded by the…

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Pittsburgh Company in Federal Court: Protected Info Stolen?

Our Pittsburgh lawyers keep a close watch on decisions that impact Pennsylvania law regarding noncompete agreements and trade secret disputes.  As we have previously written, changes are coming to PA law — to possibly eliminate the enforcement of non-compete agreement.  With this, employers will pivot from employment restriction enforcement to…

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Cost of Options That Waive Rights to Sue

Our Pittsburgh lawyers often have bad news for the injured motorist who had elected “limited tort” to save a little money on the cost of car insurance. “Limited” tort does just that. It limits your ability to sue for the consequences of an accident caused by another.    You see,…

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