Litigation is often more stressful, expensive, and time-consuming than expected. As a case progresses, things often change. You may find legal expenses difficult to afford. Maybe the other side fights your case at every turn, harder than expected. Maybe you need time to reconsider your legal strategy or representation. …
Homeowners Beware: Contractor Promises “Free” Repair of Storm Damage in PA
After every major storm, homeowners across Pennsylvania are approached by contractors offering what sounds like an easy solution: “Your property (often a roof) has storm damage.” “Insurance will cover it.” “The repairs will be free, except maybe your deductible.” Sometimes those statements turn out to be true. …
The Superior Court’s Reminder About Punitive Damages, Judicial Bias & Waiver
In Richardson v. Parks, No. 414 EDA 2025 (Pa. Super. May 12, 2026) (non-precedential), the Pennsylvania Superior Court delivered a decision that should serve as a cautionary reminder to trial lawyers and litigants alike: preserve issues for appeal, know that the trial judge can act hostile, unfair, or…
PA’s Statute of Repose (42 Pa.C.S. § 5536) Claims Another Victim
PA’s statute of repose creates a hard deadline to sue; it’s like an avalanche that destroys just about everything in its path. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision in Clearfield Cnty. v. Transystems Corp., No. 10 WAP 2025, ___ A.3d ___ (Pa. Apr. 30, 2026) created yet another powerful example, this…
Binding a Partnership to a Deal: PA Law Update
I. Agreement Formation With a Partnership Under Pennsylvania law, binding a partnership to a contract requires proof of three things: (1) mutual assent, (2) sufficiently definite terms, and (3) consideration. Courts apply an objective theory of contracts, focusing on what the parties said and did—not their later characterizations of…
The Use of Surety Bonds in PA to Protect Subcontractors & Owners
An Extra Layer of Payment Protection Subcontractors on construction projects often face a basic risk: they perform the work but depend on the general contractor—not the owner—to get paid. If the contractor encounters financial trouble or simply refuses to pay, the subcontractor may be left chasing payment long after the…
Confession of Judgment in PA: Procedure & Defenses
Introduction Pennsylvania remains one of only nine states that still permit creditors to obtain a confession of judgment, which is powerful because it allows a creditor to obtain and enforce a judgment without prior litigation or notice to the debtor, based on the debtor’s advance contractual authorization—typically contained in a…
Strategy: Settling With Fewer Than All Defendants in PA
Strategic Settlements In complex tort litigation—particularly construction litigation and other multi-defendant cases—plaintiffs often face a difficult strategic question: Should they settle with some defendants and proceed to trial against others? In Pennsylvania, a plaintiff may settle with fewer than all defendants pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 229….
What Does “Service” Mean in PA State Court?
Servicing Papers in PA State Court Civil Cases You might wonder: why is service of legal papers so important in Pennsylvania? And, what constitutes “good service” in PA state court cases? The answers depends on whether we’re talking about serving the lawsuit, itself, or subsequent papers in the case. …
Appeal to Superior Court: Worth Doing in a Civil Case?
When a party is unhappy with a decision by a judge or jury in the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, the appellate process offers an important safeguard. In most civil cases, that safeguard is an automatic right of appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. However, it is critical…
