Appealing an Award by the Lowest Court (PA)

Cases filed on the magisterial district judge (MDJ) a/k/a small claims court docket (“lowest court”) suffer from one big problem: any party has the right to appeal the award for any reason or no reason.  In fact, the defendant need not even show up for court, then still appeal! But…

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Injured Plaintiff in PA: Get Prompt Treatment or Lose in Court

Actions Speak Louder Than Words  A party injured in an accident may have reasons for hesitating to get medical treatment. Maybe the injuries “didn’t seem so bad” at first. Or, as in one of our cases, an injured grandmother was primarily focused on getting treatment for her two grandchildren, after…

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Settlement. Done Deal in PA? Maybe Not.

The Desire to Resolve Disputes in PA  The average person has very little appetite for litigating any dispute over money. Perhaps the Plaintiff is asserting a breach of contract claim, for non-payment debt, building construction dispute, or non-compete violation. Or maybe the plaintiff is seeking compensation for a physical injury…

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PA Civil Cases: Filing in Person or Online?

Filings in Civil (Non-Criminal) Cases in Pennsylvania Federal courts in Pennsylvania have required electronic filing for decades, going so far as to fine litigants $150 for trying to file a civil claim — or written defense — in person.  This applies to all civil claims  for negligence — car accident,…

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Windfall Recovery in PA? The Collateral Source Rule

When you make a claim for negligence — whether it be from a fall on slippery property or your painting contractor tipping over a paint can in your living room (destroying your hardwood floors) — you can sue for compensation. That much is clear.  But what happens your own insurance…

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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…

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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…

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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;…

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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…

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Discriminatory Work Restriction: PA Attorney General’s Position

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…

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