News

Bill Cosby Prosecutor Joins Philadelphia Plaintiffs Firm

Lizzy McLellan | May 23, 2018

M. Stewart Ryan is leaving the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office to join Laffey, Bucci & Kent, but he will stick with the Cosby case through sentencing as a special prosecutor.

News

High Court Rejects Law Firm's Bid to Block Ex-Staffer's UC Benefits

Zack Needles | May 23, 2018

A small western Pennsylvania law firm has reached the end of the line in its appeal of a determination that its former legal assistant is entitled to unemployment compensation benefits.

Medical Marijuana and Workers' Compensation: Burning Questions That Need Answers

Jenifer Dana Kaufman| May 23, 2018

Medical marijuana has come to Pennsylvania and by extension to the commonwealth’s injured workers. What image comes to mind?

Commentary

Cannabis and Banks: What Qualifies as Illegal Activity?

Joshua Horn and Jesse M. Harris| May 23, 2018

Many legal issues arise out of financing cannabis activities, not the least of which is whether a target property for a cannabis venture is mortgaged by a bank. The standard institutional mortgage contains language that allows the mortgagee to “call” the loan if the property is being used to conduct “illegal activity.”

News

NFL Concussion Judge Blocks Lit Funder From Arbitrating Loan Dispute With Ex-Player

Max Mitchell | May 23, 2018

U.S. District Judge Anita Brody of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Tuesday ruled that Thrivest Specialty Funding was enjoined from arbitrating the validity and terms of the agreement it entered into with former Atlanta Falcons player William White.

Commentary

Five Types of Connections You Should Develop in Your Legal Network

Laura C. Bunting| May 23, 2018

The commencement speaker when you graduated from law school inevitably highlighted members of the audience who supported the graduates during school, and would provide continued support while the graduates studied for the bar exam and began their careers.

News

Reed Smith Raids Norton Rose for Life Sciences/Health Care Team, Adds Austin Office

Brenda Sapino Jeffreys | May 23, 2018

A 14-lawyer group from Norton Rose Fulbright moved to Reed Smith offices in Washington, D.C., New York and a new office in Austin.

Commentary

Court Decision Unlocks New Outlet for Taxpayers to Appeal Property Assessments

Martin J. Doyle and Megan E. Albright| May 23, 2018

On Feb. 7, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Gene D. Cohen issued a decision in a case of first impression related to a Philadelphia taxpayer’s property assessment appeal.

People in the News—May 23, 2018—Kang Haggerty & Fetbroyt

Victoria Hudgins | May 23, 2018

Kang Haggerty & Fetbroyt, a business litigation boutique with offices in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, added Tianna K. Kalogerakis to the firm.

News

Scranton Attorney's Fee Dispute With Pittsburgh Firm Sent to Allegheny County

Max Mitchell | May 22, 2018

A Scranton personal injury firm has lost its bid to keep a fee dispute with a Pittsburgh firm from being litigated in Allegheny Court.

Commentary

Implicit Bias Training: Helpful Training Tool or Corporate Fad?

Christopher Bouriat| May 22, 2018

Employers—particularly human resources professionals and in-house employment lawyers—have long battled bias in hiring and other employment decisions. Employers have many tools at their disposal, such as anti-discrimination policies, employee handbooks and various trainings.

Commentary

Patent Office Improves Examination of Software Patent Applications

Lawrence E. Ashery| May 22, 2018

Explanation. When the U.S. government denies us legal protection, we want to know why. Accompanying an adverse decision in the legal world, we want an explanation to support the adverse decision so we can understand how the decision was made.

News

US, Global Law Firms Look to Ireland for 'Brexit Insurance Policy'

Dan Packel | May 22, 2018

DLA Piper just announced Ireland plans, and Covington & Burling and Dechert have attorneys on the ground. Experts expect other firms to follow.

Commentary

Cannabis Banking Is a Matter of Public Safety

Seth A. Goldberg| May 22, 2018

Let’s say ABC LLC applied for and was granted permits to grow, process and dispense cannabis pursuant to its state’s medical marijuana regulations. ABC now operates a 120,000-square-foot cultivation facility and sells its cannabis-related products, which include THC and CBD vape oils, tinctures and pills, through three dispensaries.

People in the News—May 22, 2018—Fox Rothschild

Victoria Hudgins | May 22, 2018

Fox Rothschild participated in its first New York 5-Boro Bike Tour on May 6.

Analysis

Efficiency-Minded Am Law 200 Firms Grow Margins in Pa.

Lizzy McLellan | May 22, 2018

All but two Am Law 200 firms founded in the Keystone State saw gains in profits per partner last year.

PLW People in the News—May 22, 2018—Rawle & Henderson

Victoria Hudgins | May 22, 2018

Rawle & Henderson's Julie Nord Friedman spoke at the American Bar Association Toxic Torts & Environmental Law 27th spring CLE meeting in Phoenix.

News

Proposed Class Action Over Exploding Samsung Phones Won't Flame Out in Arbitration

Max Mitchell | May 21, 2018

U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor on Monday denied Samsung's motions to either send the class action to arbitration, or dismiss the claims entirely.

Commentary

The Three-Letter Word Lawyers Should Avoid Using

Elizabeth A. Larsson| May 21, 2018

When was the last time a single word determined your future? As a lawyer, you’re probably attuned to the fact that it was pretty recent.

News

Managing Partners’ Frustration Mounts as Law Firm Innovation Stagnates

Roy Strom | May 21, 2018

A new survey shows that law firm leaders are increasingly fed up with their partners' resistance to change. Meanwhile, half of firm leaders said there's nothing especially different about their firms compared to their competitors.

Commentary

State-Legal Cannabis: How Intrastate Regulation Is Different

William F. McDevitt| May 21, 2018

The sale of cannabis is illegal under federal law in all 50 states, U.S. territories and U.S. possessions. Yet, as of May 1, 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam and Puerto Rico recognized the legality of marijuana in some form (raw or processed) and for some purpose (medicinal or adult-use/recreational).

News

Phila. Family Court Judge Younge Absent From Bench, Replacement Judge Sending Children Back to Parents

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 21, 2018

Younge's lawyer says the judge's future in the Family Court is uncertain.

Commentary

Retirement on the Horizon? Time to Dust Off Those Beneficiary Designations

Joseph N. Frabizzio| May 21, 2018

As retirement approaches, a primary concern is most likely whether you have accumulated sufficient assets to provide for the life you envisioned after the end of your active career. For those who are fortunate enough to have a well-funded retirement, a secondary thought is what happens if my assets outlive me.

News

Pa. Maker Keeps Pelvic Mesh Cases in State Court Under 'Bristol-Myers'

Max Mitchell | May 21, 2018

The opinion comes out about six months after the judge denied the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary's bid to have a significant portion of the pelvic mesh litigation removed from the First Judicial District for lack of jurisdiction.

Commentary

The Cannabis Industry: A Financial Services Catch-22

Joann Needleman| May 21, 2018

U.S. banks exist to provide financial services to the community they serve. Bank charters are granted and continuously monitored by regulators to ensure that banks fulfill the needs of their communities.

News

St. Joe's Blasts Student's 'Frivolous' Suit Over Sexual Assault Investigation

Lizzy McLellan | May 21, 2018

The school says a student used unfounded claims to try to damage its reputation, and wants him on the hook to pay for its defense.

Analysis

Law Firm Cybersecurity 'an Imperative' as Clients Make Demands Clear

Lizzy McLellan | May 21, 2018

Firms of all sizes are thinking about how to protect confidential client data.

People in the News—May 21, 2018—McNees Wallace & Nurick

Victoria Hudgins | May 21, 2018

McNees Wallace & Nurick attorney Timothy Horstmann is slated to present at the 13th annual seminar of the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel.

News

Fox Rothschild Practice Leader Steps Up to Defend Alleged Defecator

Roy Strom | May 18, 2018

Matthew Adams, the newly installed co-chair of the white-collar group at Fox Rothschild, may have one of the most interesting clients in Big Law.

Commentary

An Ancient Gardening Tool: Putting Adverse Possession to Modern Use

Mimi McKenzie| May 18, 2018

The law of adverse possession has been around for almost 4,000 years, but time is of the essence for Philadelphia community gardens.

Slideshow

The Summary Stage: This Week's Biggest Stories (in Brief)

Zack Needles | May 18, 2018

Attorneys get testy at a Russia hearing, law firms covet their neighbors' partners, an expert explains how to be a rainmaker and more.

Filing Fanatics

Debt Collection Litigation Against Student Loan Provider Pared Down, But Continuing

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 18, 2018

A federal judge has shaved down a Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuit against a Pennsylvania-based student loan provided, allowing a leaner version…

Commentary

How the Bill Cosby Guilty Verdict Will Impact Civil Litigation

John D. Winer| May 18, 2018

The Cosby verdict is a sign that there has been a shift, particularly in he said, she said cases, toward an understanding about how hard it is to come forward.

News

Former Villanova Wide Receiver's Wage Lawsuit Against NCAA Sacked

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 18, 2018

The judge said in his opinion that Livers did not have standing to pursue litigation against schools he did not attend and that he made no actionable FLSA claim.

Commentary

Safe Home Philly—Quality Placements Close to Family, Community

Susan Vivian Mangold| May 18, 2018

Juvenile Law Center works to bring young people in the child welfare and justice systems home from institutional placements, and to ensure that youth placed outside of the home are in the most family-like and least traumatic conditions possible.

Podcast

Big Law Leader Shares Struggles with Alcoholism, Challenges for Profession

Leigh Jones | Vanessa Blum | May 18, 2018

Steven Wall, managing partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, says this was his turning point: "The cracks were getting bigger and everything else around me was beginning to fail."

News

Lancaster Jury Awards $4M Over Misdiagnosis of Infant's Fatal Whooping Cough

Max Mitchell | May 18, 2018

A Lancaster County jury on Tuesday found that a pediatric medicine practice group and two doctors failed to diagnose an infant's pertussis, despite the mother repeatedly telling doctors she thought the child was suffering from the rare and potentially fatal condition.

Justices Eye Evidence for Discovery Rule to Kick In, Beginning Limitations Period in Misdiagnosis Case

Max Mitchell | May 18, 2018

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in Nicolaou v. Martin, which involves a woman seeking to sue a doctor who allegedly misdiagnosed her Lyme disease as multiple sclerosis.

The Public Interest Calendar of Events

The Legal Intelligencer| May 18, 2018

On May 22, the Nationalities Service Center will host "Global Tastes" at WHYY, 150 N. 6th St., Philadelphia.

Commentary

Should Law Firms Embrace Artificial Intelligence and R&D Labs?

Ioana Good and Kathryn B. Whitaker| May 18, 2018

There is a puzzle in the legal business. Our economic landscape is filling up with innovative organizations who have embraced the convergence of technology and business to meet new market demands, yet the legal market remains conservative.

News

Law Firm Survey Says Millennial Era Is Here, But Change Has Just Begun

Meghan Tribe | May 18, 2018

Millennials already outnumber any other generation in the legal industry, and a new report says the pace of change will only quicken as their numbers and influence grow.

People in the News—May 18, 2018—Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel

Victoria Hudgins | May 18, 2018

Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel partners Dr. Weihong Hsing, John Simmons and Dennis Butler participated in the 34th annual Joint Patent Practice Seminar on May 2 in New York City.

News

St. Joe's Faces Suit Over Cozen Lawyer's Investigation of Sexual Misconduct

Lizzy McLellan | May 17, 2018

A student who was disciplined for alleged sexual misconduct says he was investigated unfairly, and is suing the university for Title IX violations and defamation.

Memo: Ban Lobbyists From Serving as Campaign Consultants

Victoria Hudgins | May 17, 2018

Lobbyists should not be allowed to work as campaign contributors in the Pennsylvania Legislature, said two members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

State Sen. Seeks to Ban Pretrial Jailing for Not Paying Bail

Victoria Hudgins | May 17, 2018

A state senator issued a memo declaring his intention to reintroduce legislation that would prohibit pretrial jailing for a person who doesn’t pay their bail.

Capitol Report

Michael Riccardi | May 17, 2018

Following is a listing of executive action and election news from the week of May 14. Both houses of the General Assembly were in recess at press time. The Pennsylvania Senate was scheduled to return to session on Monday. The state House of Representatives was set to return to session on Tuesday.

Commentary

Who Decides Arbitrability—Is It the Court or an Arbitrator?

Abraham J. Gafni| May 17, 2018

An issue that continues to present itself is who will determine if a dispute must be tried in court or arbitrated.

Jury Awards Family of Nursing Home Sex Assault Victim $7.5M

Max Mitchell | May 17, 2018

A Lancaster jury handed a $7.5 million verdict to the family of an elderly woman who was sexually assaulted while a resident at an Akron, Pennsylvania, nursing facility.

Suit: Tripping Hazard in Amazon Warehouse Violated OSHA

VerdictSearch| May 17, 2018

On June 6, 2016, plaintiff Anthony Belser, 30, a delivery driver, was picking up deliveries at an Amazon shipping warehouse at 4219 Richmond St., in Philadelphia.

Commentary

Wolf Signs Bill Expanding Grandparents' Standing in Custody Cases

Lawrence (Skip) Persick| May 17, 2018

On May 4, Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 21 of 2018 into law. Known as SB 844, this act amends two sections of the Pennsylvania Domestic Relations Code with regard to standing in child custody proceedings.

News

Backlash Mounts Against Attorney Whose Racist Rant Went Viral

Scott Flaherty | May 17, 2018

A lawyer caught on video making racially-charged comments to employees at a Midtown Manhattan eatery has been heavily criticized since the video went viral. But will he also face attorney disciplinary action?

News

Pa. Sniper Tells Justices His Confession Violated Miranda

Max Mitchell | May 17, 2018

The case hinges on whether law enforcement violated a man’s Miranda rights when they continued to ask questions about the ambush after he said he didn't want to talk.

News

Tempers Flare Between Prosecutor, Reed Smith Lawyers at Russia Hearing

C. Ryan Barber | May 17, 2018

The episode underscored the heated nature of the special counsel’s case against Concord Management and Consulting, which was charged along with 13 Russian individuals and two separate entities with subverting the 2016 election.

News

Justices Agree to Eye Case That Pits Automakers Against Car Dealers

Zack Needles | May 17, 2018

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has signed on to consider not one but two issues of first impression involving the power balance in the contractual relationship between car dealerships and auto manufacturers.

Commentary

Alaska’s Oil and Gas Production Tax: The Uncertainty Continues

Jonathan E. Iversen| May 17, 2018

The Alaska Oil and Gas Production Tax has been changed multiple times, particularly over the last 12 years. And each change in the statutes brings additional changes—and complications—to the regulations that the Alaska Department of Revenue (DOR) issues to implement the tax.

Expert Opinion

Ethics Forum: Questions and Answers on Professional Responsibility

Samuel C. Stretton| May 17, 2018

What do I do with monies that have been held in my escrow account for a long time? I can’t decide who has them and who to pay.

News

Ohio Law Should Apply in Wendy's Data Breach Class Action, Judge Says

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 17, 2018

A data breach case brought by several banks and federal credit unions against fast food chain Wendy's should proceed under the standards of Ohio law, a federal judge has recommended.

Commentary

Key Points in Negotiating and Preparing Settlement Agreements and Releases

Edward T. Kang| May 17, 2018

With fewer and fewer cases going to trial, lawyers must be competent in settling claims and preparing settlement documents that accurately capture the terms of the settlement.

Commentary

Pa. Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Eviscerated Preliminary Hearing

Matthew T. Mangino| May 17, 2018

The criminal preliminary hearing in Pennsylvania, at least for the time being, is of no practical use nor does it provide any meaningful protection to a defendant.

People in the News—May 17, 2018—Davis & Davis

Victoria Hudgins | May 17, 2018

James T. Davis, a founding partner of the law firm Davis & Davis, which maintains offices in Uniontown and Brownsville, began a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association board of governors.

News

Judge's Absence During Voir Dire Leads to New Med Mal Trial

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 17, 2018

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's victory in a medical malpractice lawsuit was short-lived as an appeals court ordered a new trial after finding that the jury selection process was tainted.

News

Homicide Exoneration May Shed Light on Handling of Appeals Under Krasner

Max Mitchell | May 16, 2018

Patterson's case marks the first exoneration in a homicide conviction since District Attorney Larry Krasner took office.

News

After Primary Wins, Pa. Law Firm Candidates Look to November

Lizzy McLellan | May 16, 2018

Ballard Spahr's Mary Gay Scanlon and Susan Ellis Wild of Gross McGinley both faced competitive primary races in newly drawn congressional districts, and won.

News

Lamb McErlane Tangles Once Again With Its Legal Malpractice Insurer

Zack Needles | May 16, 2018

Less than three months after a federal judge ruled West Chester-based Lamb McErlane was not entitled to coverage by Allied World Insurance Co. for a $557,001 professional liability claim arising out of an estate case, the law firm and its insurer are embroiled in a new malpractice coverage dispute involving a separate underlying case.

Commentary

A Simple but Important Role in Diversity for Big Law

John S. Yi and Maria L.H. Lewis| May 16, 2018

Sitting in a diversity and inclusion orientation session when I joined my firm as a first-year associate in the fall of 2014, I quickly became reacquainted with the low numbers and low retention rates of diverse associates at big law firms generally, statistics I was only previously aware of in the abstract.

News

Law Firm Optimism Up as Pressures Remain on Rates, Cybersecurity: Survey

Scott Flaherty | May 16, 2018

A new survey of business-side professionals at law firms showed that optimism is high in the industry, while innovation is increasingly important to the largest firms.

News

Justices Weigh Waiver in Wrongful Death Case Over Drowned Triathlete

Max Mitchell | May 16, 2018

The intersection of contract and tort law took center stage Tuesday during the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s oral argument session involving a surviving spouse’s efforts to bring a wrongful death suit after her husband drowned during the 2010 Philadelphia Triathlon.

Commentary

Young Lawyers: Try to Find the Right Balance in Your Career Now

Catelyn McDonough| May 16, 2018

It's no secret that work-life balance is difficult to strike in many professions. Especially as lawyers, we have consistently demanding schedules that never seem to stop.

Young Lawyers: We Need Your Questions for a New Q&A Advice Column

The Legal Intelligencer| May 16, 2018

Attention Young Lawyers! Send in your questions for a new Q&A advice column for the Young Lawyers' page in The Legal Intelligencer.

People in the News—May 16, 2018—Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis

Victoria Hudgins | May 16, 2018

Former federal appeals Judge Timothy K. Lewis, of counsel at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, spoke at a conference at Georgetown University Law Center, “Democracy in the Balance: The Essential Role of Democratic Institutions and Norms.”

News

Hostile Work Environment Case Against Susquehanna County Can Proceed

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 15, 2018

A former Susquehanna County government employee claiming she was constructively discharged from her administrative duties after complaining of sexual harassment can move forward with her hostile work environment claim.

News

School District Argues for Immunity in Lawsuit Over Failure to Pad Gym Wall

Max Mitchell | May 15, 2018

The Commonwealth Court's decision to allow a student to sue the Philadelphia School District for failing to pad a concrete gym wall was a clear case of "flip-flopping" by the intermediate court, an attorney representing the school told the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday.

News

Reed Smith 'Innovation Hours' Program Gives Credit for Non-Client Work

Dan Packel | May 15, 2018

The newly adopted initiative gives attorneys up to 50 hours of billable hour credits for putting time in new innovations.

News

Lawyer: Thwarting Same-Sex Ex-Partner's Custody Bid a Threat to Families Formed With Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Max Mitchell | May 15, 2018

Barring a woman from seeking custody of her former same-sex partner’s biological child could have far-ranging legal implications that could threaten family relationships, particularly in cases where children are conceived using assisted reproductive technologies, an attorney told the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Commentary

Hurry Up and Wait: Indian Foreign Nationals Facing Immigration Backlogs

Karuna Simbeck| May 15, 2018

Immigration paths for many foreign nationals are being methodically deterred by the current administration in Washington, but citizens from India seem to have a multitude of barriers to continue living and working in the United States after completing their college education.

News

Pa. Firms Grew Q1 Revenue Through Collections as Demand Stayed Strong

Lizzy McLellan | May 15, 2018

Even with below-average rate increases, Pennsylvania firms as a group mostly outperformed their peers in the first three months of the year.

People in the News—May 15, 2018—Martin Law

Victoria Hudgins | May 15, 2018

John O’Donnell joined Martin Law as an associate in the workers’ compensation department.

PLW People in the News—May 15, 2018—Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Victoria Hudgins | May 15, 2018

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is the scheduled speaker for Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s 27th commencement.

Analysis

Was 3-Year Suspension Adequate Discipline for Sexting With Client's Underage Daughter?

Max Mitchell | May 14, 2018

Several ethics attorneys said the disciplinary sentence, which will require Toman to undergo a lot of litigation if he wants to have his license reinstated, shows that the Disciplinary Board is taking these matters seriously.

News

What Are People Saying About Senate's New Lit Funding Bill?

Amanda Bronstad | May 14, 2018

The bill would require disclosure of third-party litigation funding in class actions and multidistrict litigation within 10 days of a case filing, or 10 days after a funding deal. It would also require disclosure of financing that provides cash to plaintiffs.

News

Morgan Lewis Adds DOJ Health Care, Consumer Antitrust Pro

Ryan Lovelace | May 14, 2018

Ryan Kantor, who was an assistant chief of the health care and consumer products section in the Antitrust Division, joins the firm soon after a trio of Washington antitrust lawyers left Morgan Lewis for Vinson & Elkins.

News

Russian Business Entity Rips Mueller's Charges as 'Make-Believe'

C. Ryan Barber | May 14, 2018

Reed Smith, representing the Russian entity Concord Management and Consulting, said in a new court filing: "A foreign corporation with no presence in the United States is indicted in an unprecedented case of a type never before brought by the DOJ for conspiring to defraud the United States purportedly by not complying with certain regulatory requirements that are unknown even to most Americans."

Commentary

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy: Should He Stay or Should He Go Now?

Howard J. Bashman| May 14, 2018

A little over two weeks ago, The New York Times published a lengthy editorial titled “Please Stay, Justice Kennedy. America Needs You.” The passionate editorial correctly explained that were President Donald J. Trump to replace Kennedy with a more dependable conservative on the U.S. Supreme Court, then various of Kennedy’s most notable rulings in the areas of abortion rights, affirmative action in college admissions, and equal rights for LGBTQ individuals would be at serious risk of being overruled.

News

3rd Circuit Calls for More Attorney Fees in Mother's Case Against School District

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 14, 2018

The Third Circuit held that attorney fees continued to accrue after the rejected settlement offer was made.

Best Practices

Five Unique Traits of Major Rainmakers: It's Not Only About Legal Excellence

 Frank Michael D’Amore| May 14, 2018

During the past 35-plus years in the legal profession, I have seen some truly superstar producers in action. I have had the privilege of working alongside several, have been a client for a few during my in-house career, and have placed some standouts during my recruiting career.

People in the News—May 14, 2018—Chartwell Law

Victoria Hudgins | May 14, 2018

Chartwell Law attorneys Robert Baker, Jason Hanford, Barak Kassutto and Jaclyn Vottero presented “Weed in the Workplace,” a seminar hosted by Chartwell Law at its Philadelphia office.

News

Lancaster Firm Hires CEO With Big Law Resume

Lizzy McLellan | May 11, 2018

Brubaker Connaughton Goss & Lucarelli's newest hire won't be practicing law, but will be leading the firm.

Analysis

Under Market Pressures, Pa. Partners Play Musical Chairs

Lizzy McLellan | May 11, 2018

Cozen O'Connor's Michael Heller said his firm avoids actively recruiting from fellow Philadelphia firms. But etiquette has its limits.

Commentary

The Municipal Cost Recovery Doctrine and Pa.’s Ongoing Opioid Crisis

Clay Flaherty| May 11, 2018

As the number of municipalities filing lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies related to the ongoing opioid crisis continues to multiply, a quiet doctrine of Pennsylvania case law might undercut the ability of local governments to ultimately recover damages.

Commentary

Dueling Frameworks for Analyzing Patent Obviousness

Dianne Elderkin, Jonathan Underwood and Andrew Schwerin| May 11, 2018

How should a court determine whether a patent claim is invalid for obviousness? Recent Federal Circuit decisions reveal that judges answer that question principally in two different ways, and that the difference matters to the outcome of the inquiry.

News

Scranton Attorney Suspended Three Years for Sexting Client's Daughter

Max Mitchell | May 11, 2018

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to suspend a Scranton attorney for three years for sending a picture of his penis and masturbating via video-chat with a client's 14-year-old daughter.

News

6 Cases We're Watching From the Supreme Court's Latest Conference

Marcia Coyle | May 11, 2018

A "spoofing" challenge under Dodd-Frank. GM fights a damages-only retrial. Guns are back. These are some of the cases and issues we're watching for any action at the Supreme Court from its latest conference.

Dechert, ACLU Seek Fees for Work on Kris Kobach Contempt Action

Mike Scarcella | May 11, 2018

The senior lawyers for the plaintiffs were Neil Steiner, a Dechert white-collar partner in New York; Dale Ho, director of the ACLU Voting Project; and Stephen Bonney, former legal director of the Kansas ACLU. Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, has appealed a judge's contempt ruling.

People in the News—May 11, 2018—Fox Rothschild

Victoria Hudgins | May 11, 2018

Fox Rothschild partner Sanford “Sandy” Mozes was recognized by HIAS Pennsylvania at its 2018 Golden Door Awards for his support of immigrants and refugees.

Slideshow

Slideshow: This Week's Most Popular Stories

Zack Needles | May 10, 2018

A Philadelphia Family Court judge at the center of an ethics investigation, a Pittsburgh firm's second leadership shakeup in a year and more.

News

Which Pa. Law School Grads Got the Most Jobs Last Year?

Lizzy McLellan | May 10, 2018

Of 10 law schools in Pennsylvania and Delaware, eight beat the national average for graduates employed as licensed lawyers, or in jobs where a law degree is preferred.

Q&A

Hangley Aronchick Aims for High-End Practice in a Small Setting

Lizzy McLellan | May 10, 2018

David Pudlin is the longtime president and CEO of Hangley Aronchick, a Philadelphia-based firm that also has offices in Harrsiburg and Norristown, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

News

Phila. Jury Hits Police Officer With $10M Verdict for Wrongful Arrest

Max Mitchell | May 10, 2018

A Philadelphia jury has awarded $10 million to a man who spent more than three years in jail after allegedly being falsely accused of shooting at a police officer.

News

Superior Court Vacates Hacking Conviction Over Admissibility of Evidence

P.J. D'Annunzio | May 10, 2018

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has thrown out a conviction and sentence of four years' probation given to a scorned ex-lover who is accused of accessing his former girlfriend's email account.

Rep. Says Tax Credit for Music, Story Rights Postproduction Should Be Allowed

Victoria Hudgins | May 10, 2018

A state representative suggested adding the cost of acquiring music and story rights during postproduction to Pennsylvania’s film tax credit. He said that move would make Pennsylvania more appealing to filmmakers.