A heavy snowfall with blustery winds was responsible for a crash involving as many as 40 vehicles on I-81 in Schuylkill County at about 10:30 am on Monday morning. These weather conditions are commonly known as a “snow squalls,” and they can present a serious hazard to drivers on the roadway due primarily to a sudden and unexpected decrease in visibility.
Continue Reading Snow Squall Causes 40 Car Crash on I-81 in Schuylkill County, PA
Now that parts of NJ and PA have seen their first snowfall of the year, it is important to remember that all of this snow makes for dangerous walking conditions. As the amount of snow accumulation continues to increase, so does the chance of being hurt as a result of slipping on ice or snow.
If you have had construction work performed at your property, then you may have had the unfortunate experience of having a contractor or subcontractor file a mechanic’s lien against your real property. A mechanic’s lien can cause any number of problems when trying to sell your property – most notably, a cloud on your property’s title. It can also come as a shock to a property owner who was unaware that a subcontractor had not been paid in full.
Continue Reading Discharging Mechanic’s Liens in Pennsylvania
As a personal injury attorney with a focus on injured workers and employees, I represent many individuals who are injured by machine accidents.
More often than not, machine accidents are caused by either a lack of guards, barriers, and gates or by the removal of safety devices. These accidents can lead to amputations or even fatal injuries. While employers must do their due diligence by keeping their workers safe, many times the injuries are caused by faulty or incomplete equipment in the workplace.
A recent ruling from Judge Terrence R. Nealon of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas may have opened the door for a new and unique basis for punitive damages in Pennsylvania. In this specific case, the counsel for plaintiff has alleged that Marie Gulbin, an elderly woman, lost consciousness while driving her vehicle due to an untreated urinary tract infection (UTI). This caused her to cross into the opposing lane of traffic and hit the vehicle of Chrystal Clauss-Walton head on, resulting in severe injuries. The Plaintiff alleged that Gulbin decided to get behind the wheel despite suffering from known symptoms of a UTI, a condition she knew (or should have known), could cause fainting if left untreated.
Continue Reading Driving With a UTI May Provide Basis for Punitive Damages
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently held that a contractual no-hire or “no poach” provision in a services contract between sophisticated business entities is not enforceable under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This important case is entitled Pittsburgh Systems, Inc. v. Beemac Trucking, et. al., case no. 31 WAP 2019.
Continue Reading Pennsylvania Supreme Court Bars “No-Hire” Clauses Between Businesses
Every year, the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspection updates contractors and subcontractors on the requirements needed to operate in Philadelphia. While some requirements have been longstanding, workers and contractors should be aware and mindful of what is required of them to be permitted to perform construction and to help keep workers safe. To operate construction services in Philadelphia, one set of rules a contractor must follow is the Contractor Operational requirements. These are codes of conduct for both contractors and subcontractors which require, but are not limited to: a valid license, necessary operating permits, prohibition on selling or transferring licenses and permits, and maintaining demographic information at a job site such as addresses and contact numbers for key personnel and companies.
Continue Reading The Importance of Complying With the 2021 Philadelphia Construction Requirements
Like most events in our lives these days, Sheriff Sales of real estate have gone virtual. Bucks County, Pennsylvania has joined Philadelphia, Montgomery, Berks, Adams, and Monroe Counties in holding virtual county Sheriff Sales. An online auction company, Bid4Assets, is used by each of these counties to produce virtual sales. The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office has held two virtual town halls to introduce the platform and answer the public’s questions regarding the change.
Continue Reading Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Sales Moving to Online Platforms
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Please find several frequently asked questions regarding sexual abuse/assault, along with answers below.
If you are survivor of sexual abuse, do you have a viable civil claim?
Unfortunately, not all sexual abuse claims are viable civil cases. For an individual to have a viable civil sexual abuse claim, it is critical that there is a viable defendant who has the ability to compensate the victim for their injuries (mental and physical).
Continue Reading Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abuse Cases
On March 24, 2021, Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub arrested Dr. Richard Kondan for violating multiple components of the Drug Act. Dr. Kondan, 58, works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Kondan was charged with illegally prescribing highly addictive opioid medications to at least 14 of his patients. In addition, the investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and Bucks County Detectives revealed that, for 16 years, Dr. Kondan failed to keep patient medical records up-to-date, increased dosages to inappropriate amounts, prescribed dangerous combinations of medications, and authorized refills without prior examinations. He has been officially charged with 14 counts of Unlawful Prescription of a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner.
Continue Reading Bucks County, PA Doctor Charged for Running Illegal “Pill Mill”