Preservation of Evidence | Spoliation in PA Pennsylvania law imposes a duty on all parties to a civil dispute to preserve evidence within their care, custody, or control. Otherwise, the party who improperly disposes of evidence (“spoliation”) can face severe penalties, which can include: monetary sanctions, a requirement to pay…
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…
Testifying at a Deposition: What to Expect
As a party or witness in a civil case, you may have received a “notice of deposition” and you want to start your preparation. Or, you’re turning to Google rather than asking your lawyer to explain (again) the full meaning of a “deposition.” Either ways is fine! Let’s get right…
Grounds For a New Trial: A Minefield for Lawyers
Experience Counts Anyone seeking to hire a lawyer for contentious litigation needs to be aware of his lawyer’s actual experience in court, specifically in civil litigation cases. Why is this true? For one thing, few cases are going to trial these days; 95% settle; so there are “trial lawyers” who…
Courtroom Litigation and the Admissibility of Text Messages
Our Pittsburgh litigation attorneys keep a close eye on new developments in the law. In order for us to prevail in court (representing either the plaintiff or defendant) we have to be keenly aware of developments concerning the admissibility of evidence. The newest “hot topic” in this area of law is…
