Litigation is full of surprises. One of the biggest shocks could be when one of the parties in your case passes away during the pendency of the action. You will probably ask yourself and your lawyer, “What now?”
While the passing of a litigant is extremely unfortunate, the Courts do have mechanisms that allow the…
Companies that do business in the City of Philadelphia are required to obtain a Commercial Activity License from the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). While there are some exceptions, your company will likely need a license to own and operate a business in Philadelphia. If you or your business operates a non-profit, rents 3 units in a building that you also live in, or is securing a vacant property license, then a different license is required.
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Continue Reading Philadelphia’s Commercial Activity License
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.
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Continue Reading Discharging Mechanic’s Liens in Pennsylvania
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.
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Continue Reading Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Sales Moving to Online Platforms
The Philadelphia Municipal Court issued an Order stopping service of writs of possession and alias writs in residential eviction cases. On November 6, 2020, the court directed that any writs previously issued in any residential case cannot be served until after December 31, 2020. However, landlords can seek relief from the Order with a showing of good cause to serve the writs.
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Continue Reading Another Setback for Pennsylvania Landlords
A lawsuit filed by Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Health Department (“ACHD”) against The Cracked Egg, LLC may be transferred to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Cracked Egg is a restaurant located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Following an investigation by the ACHD in August, the restaurant was ordered to close because it did not comply with mask or facial coverings guidelines.
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Continue Reading Restaurant’s Challenge to COVID-19 Declarations Could Go to Bankruptcy Court
A tenant fails to pay rent or breaches another term of the lease agreement. The landlord terminates the lease. The tenant does not vacate the premises, and does not pay any additional rent. What can you, as a landlord, do to fix this problem? You can get the tenant out, and obtain a judgment for rent owed.
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Continue Reading What If: My Tenant Won’t Vacate the Leased Premises?
On Friday, February 25, 2016, United States District Court Judge Stengel issued a written opinion dismissing former Pennsylvania State University coaches Joseph “Jay” Paterno’s and William Kennedy’s lawsuit against their former employer, Penn State.
In Paterno, et. al v. The Pennsylvania State University, No. 14-4365, former Penn State assistant coaches Paterno and William commenced litigation in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleging that their former employer:
The Honorable Karen Shreeves-Johns of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia recently ruled that a primary care physician cannot be qualified to testify as an expert on laser spine surgery. The case involved a motor vehicle accident in which the plaintiffs sought to have a Family Practitioner testify with regard to the necessity for…
An initial meeting was held in late February 2015 to update classroom and behind-the-wheel training requirements for professional truck and bus drivers. The Advisory Committee for this meeting was formed by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
In December 2014, the FMCSA initially announced that they would be forming a…
