In a case of first impression, the Pennsylvania Superior Court has ruled that a Philadelphia trial judge must reconsider her refusal to stay a civil lawsuit brought by a nonunion electrical contractor against indicted union boss John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 98 and several Local 98 members.

In doing so, the appeals court adopted a six-factor test established by the federal courts for determining whether to stay a civil case pending resolution of a related criminal matter.