Making a “Federal Case” Out of It Pennsylvania courts have long recognized a claim for theft (or “misappropriation”) of a trade secret pursuant to both PA common law (judge-made law) and the PA legislature’s adoption of the Uniform Trade Secret Act. But those are state law claims. The Plaintiff might…
We Have You Covered: Western PA Attorneys
Discovery Allowed in Noncompete Cases in PA.
Parties to non-competition litigation often wonder: how much information will the parties exchange (called “discovery”) prior to trial of the claims or defenses? Common Example Let’s say your former employer sues you for violating a noncompete clause (allegedly). Does this mean the employer can take the depositions of all…
Bring All PA Civil Claims At Once, or Else.
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…
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 | Time Period to Sue | 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
We 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 local counsel;…
Punitive Damages in PA: Limits Expanding?
In Pennsylvania, there’s no cap on punitive damages that can be awarded for either reckless or intentional conduct, except in the area of medical malpractice, where punitive damages cannot exceed 200% of actual damages. In State Farm v. Campbell, 538 U.S. 408 (2003), our United States Supreme Court ruled…
