Pennsylvania

  • September 09, 2025

    Pa. Justices Seem Split On Uber's 'Clickwrap' Arbitration Link

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court appeared unsure about whether arbitration agreements linked in apps like Uber adequately inform consumers that they're giving up the right to a jury trial by using services, with some justices commenting during oral arguments Tuesday that more explicit warnings couldn't hurt and others saying they could muddle the state's contract laws.

  • September 09, 2025

    Pa. Court Orders Resentencing In 2 DUI Cases Over Treatment

    A pair of drunk-driving cases in Pennsylvania will be sent back to the lower courts for resentencing after a state appeals court ruled Tuesday that recently decided state Supreme Court precedent requires prosecutors to prove in front of a jury that the drivers had previously completed a drunk-driving program in order to apply sentencing enhancements. 

  • September 09, 2025

    Feds Fight Ex-Philly Labor Leader's Prison Release Bid

    Prosecutors urged a Pennsylvania federal judge to reject the early release bid by the former business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 in Philadelphia, arguing Tuesday that he should not be freed from his six-year prison term to care for his disabled wife because her condition has not changed since he was locked up last year.

  • September 09, 2025

    'Whiz Honor' Judge Accused Of Trying To Sway Sentencing

    A Philadelphia judge under investigation for ethics violations related to the promotion of his wife's cheesesteak shop faces new disciplinary charges over allegations that he attempted to influence a fellow judge's sentencing decision for an associate of rapper Meek Mill.

  • September 09, 2025

    3rd Circ. Told Cigna's 'Private Label' Stelara May Alter Market

    A Johnson & Johnson subsidiary told a Third Circuit panel it would be "difficult" to calculate its potential monetary losses if a Cigna subsidiary were to launch its own version of an anti-inflammatory treatment, particularly if it permanently changed the market by giving the insurance giant a "private label" version that pharmacies would give preference over the original.

  • September 08, 2025

    3rd Circ. Revives Ex-Lecturer's Suit Over Alt-Right Views

    The Third Circuit on Monday found school disruptions at the New Jersey Institute of Technology caused by a philosophy lecturer's comments don't outweigh his free speech rights, reversing the school's summary judgment win in the professor's lawsuit alleging NJIT violated his constitutional rights by refusing to renew his contract after his off-campus, alt-right comments drew national attention.

  • September 08, 2025

    3rd Circ.'s Grid-Planning Ruling Will Coax States To Play Ball

    A Third Circuit decision limiting states' ability to block transmission projects already greenlighted by regional grid operators could make a federal overhaul of transmission planning policies more appealing, even as several states and utilities pursue litigation to block the changes.

  • September 08, 2025

    Pokémon Go Maker Gets Judge To 'Avada Kedavra' Patents

    A federal judge on Monday said he cast the so-called unforgivable avada kedavra curse from Harry Potter to kill three ImagineAR Inc. video game patents in its lawsuit against Pokémon Go maker Niantic Inc., saying the patents were all abstract and lacked any inventive concept.

  • September 08, 2025

    Swedish Video Game Co. Beats Suit Over Compliance Issues

    A Pennsylvania federal judge dismissed claims against Evolution AB in a suit claiming the Swedish gaming company misled investors about its growth and that its subsidiaries routinely conducted business with unlicensed customers, finding that the court does not have jurisdiction over Evolution, since it is not "at home" in Pennsylvania.

  • September 08, 2025

    Grassley Blocked On Quick US Attorney Confirmations

    Senate Judiciary Committee chair Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tried Monday to quickly confirm 10 nominees for U.S. attorneys, but was blocked by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

  • September 08, 2025

    Exxon, BP, Others Keep Dismissal Of Pa. Benzene Suit

    A Pennsylvania appeals court on Monday refused to reinstate a woman's suit alleging that products from Exxon Mobil Corp., BP Products North America Inc. and others exposed her husband to benzene, leading to his death, ruling the trial court rightly found that North Carolina is the far better venue.

  • September 08, 2025

    Whisper Not Enough To Sustain Worker's Harassment Suit

    A Pennsylvania federal judge tossed a Merck Sharp & Dohme worker's suit Monday claiming his boss sexually harassed him by whispering in his ear at a staff meeting, ruling the singular incident did not create a hostile work environment at the pharmaceutical company.

  • September 08, 2025

    Pa. Top Court Snapshot: Clickwrap Agreements, Mail-In Votes

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will return from its summer break with a couple of familiar issues, including the heavily litigated issue of discarding undated mail-in ballots and a much-anticipated review of common "clickwrap" agreements for apps and websites. Here are some of the cases the state's justices will hear in their Sept. 9-11 session.

  • September 08, 2025

    New $25M Vanguard Investor Tax Case Deal Gets Initial OK

    A $25 million settlement of a class action accusing Vanguard of improperly triggering an asset sell-off that saddled investors with steep tax bills received preliminary approval Monday, according to an order in Pennsylvania federal court, after a $40 million deal was rejected in May.

  • September 08, 2025

    Atty Tells Disciplinary Panel $250K Demand Wasn't Blackmail

    A Pennsylvania attorney facing discipline for allegedly threatening to blackmail a client's debtor was rightfully trying to collect on a long-standing, highly litigated debt, a state disciplinary hearing panel heard Monday.

  • September 08, 2025

    Drexel Defends Employees In Ex-Administrator's Bias Case

    Drexel University officials on Monday denied that contentious interactions between staff members and a former administrator were motivated by race and gender bias, telling a Pennsylvania federal judge in a bench trial the real driver was concern about her allegedly interfering with the independence of the school's auditors.

  • September 08, 2025

    Appeal Limited To NJ US Atty DQ Ruling, 3rd Circ. Told

    The federal government and defense counsel have agreed that the scope of a Third Circuit appeal is limited to the disqualification of New Jersey Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba from overseeing two cases.

  • September 08, 2025

    Dems Again Ask NY Ethics Body To Investigate Bove

    Two Democratic senators filed an updated ethics complaint with the New York State Courts' attorney ethics body against recently confirmed Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove, citing what they called his "quid pro quo deal" to drop criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other alleged ethical violations.

  • September 08, 2025

    Pennsylvania Powerhouse: Reed Smith

    While Reed Smith LLP has no official headquarters in any of its 33 offices around the globe, its founding in Pittsburgh 148 years ago undoubtedly makes Pennsylvania a beloved home base — the BigLaw firm's Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offices are home to its global managing partner and a dozen or so other top firm executives.

  • September 08, 2025

    PNC To Acquire Colorado-Based FirstBank In $4B Deal

    Banking giant PNC Financial Services Group Inc. on Monday announced plans to acquire Colorado-based FirstBank in a deal valued Monday at $4.1 billion and guided by Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

  • September 08, 2025

    Tracking The Copyright Fights Between Creators And AI Cos.

    In the three years since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, artificial intelligence developers like OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic have faced dozens of lawsuits accusing them of infringing the intellectual property of authors, artists, news organizations and the like.

  • September 08, 2025

    Steptoe & Johnson Adds Olympus Energy Atty In Pittsburgh

    Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has grown its Pittsburgh office with the addition of a senior counsel from oil and natural gas company Olympus Energy LLC.

  • September 08, 2025

    Pa. Bill Aims To Stop Reassessments For Small Improvements

    Pennsylvania would allow small property improvements without the trigger of a reassessment under a bill introduced in the state Senate. 

  • September 08, 2025

    3rd Circ. Shuts Down Drivers' 'Destination Charge' Suit

    The Third Circuit won't give drivers another shot at alleging that FCA US LLC unfairly inflated "destination charge" fees when they bought their vehicles, saying their proposed amended complaint still doesn't show how the carmaker violated 11 states' consumer protection laws.

  • September 05, 2025

    Aramark Hospital Workers Ignored Dying Man, Suit Says

    Global food service company Aramark was hit with a wrongful death lawsuit in Pennsylvania federal court that claims its cleaning and security staff largely ignored a man suffering from a medical emergency, leaving him unconscious for 15 hours in a facility it operated in China.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Volunteer Firefighting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    While practicing corporate law and firefighting may appear incongruous, the latter benefits my legal career by reminding me of the importance of humility, perspective and education, says Nicholas Passaro at Ford.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: The Perils Of Digital Data Protocols

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    Though stipulated protocols governing the treatment of electronically stored information in litigation are meant to streamline discovery, recent disputes demonstrate that certain missteps in the process can lead to significant inefficiencies, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Preparing For Corporate Work

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    Law school often doesn't cover the business strategy, financial fluency and negotiation skills needed for a successful corporate or transactional law practice, but there are practical ways to gain relevant experience and achieve the mindset shifts critical to a thriving career in this space, says Dakota Forsyth at Olshan Frome.

  • A Cold War-Era History Lesson On Due Process

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    The landmark Harry Bridges case from the mid-20th century Red Scare offers important insights on why lawyers must be free of government reprisal, no matter who their client is, says Peter Afrasiabi at One LLP.

  • Series

    Improv Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Improv keeps me grounded and connected to what matters most, including in my legal career where it has helped me to maintain a balance between being analytical, precise and professional, and creative, authentic and open-minded, says Justine Gottshall at InfoLawGroup.

  • How BigLaw Executive Orders May Affect Smaller Firms

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    Because of the types of cases they take on, solo practitioners, small law firms and public interest attorneys may find themselves more dramatically affected by the collective impact of recent government action involving the legal industry than even the BigLaw firms named in the executive orders, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.

  • Opinion

    Lawsuits Shouldn't Be Shadow Assets For Foreign Capital

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    Third-party litigation financing amplifies inefficiencies from litigation and facilitates national exposure to foreign influence in the U.S. justice system, so full disclosure of financing arrangements should be required as a matter of institutional integrity, says Roland Eisenhuth at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

  • How To Accelerate Your Post-Attorney Career Transition

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    Professionals seeking to transition to nonattorney careers may encounter skepticism as nontraditional candidates, but there are opportunities for thought leadership and to leverage speaking and writing to accelerate a post-attorney career transition, say Janet Falk at Falk Communications and Evgeny Efremkin at Toronto Metropolitan University.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Be An Indispensable Associate

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    While law school teaches you to research, write and think critically, it often overlooks the professional skills you will need to make yourself an essential team player when transitioning from a summer to full-time associate, say attorneys at Stinson.

  • Series

    Birding Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Observing and documenting birds in their natural habitats fosters patience, sharpens observational skills and provides moments of pure wonder — qualities that foster personal growth and enrich my legal career, says Allison Raley at Arnall Golden.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From DOJ Leadership To BigLaw

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    The move from government service to private practice can feel like changing one’s identity, but as someone who has left the U.S. Department of Justice twice, I’ve learned that a successful transition requires patience, effort and the realization that the rewards of practicing law don’t come from one particular position, says Richard Donoghue at Pillsbury.

  • Law Firm Executive Orders Create A Legal Ethics Minefield

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    Recent executive orders targeting BigLaw firms create ethical dilemmas — and raise the specter of civil or criminal liability — for the government attorneys tasked with implementing them and for the law firms that choose to make agreements with the administration, say attorneys at Buchalter.

  • Firms Must Embrace Alternative Billing Models Or Fall Behind

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    As artificial intelligence tools eliminate inefficiencies and the Big Four accounting firms enter the legal market, law firms that pivot from the entrenched billable hour model to outcomes-based pricing will see a distinct competitive advantage, says attorney William Brewer.

  • How Attorneys Can Master The Art Of On-Camera Presence

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    As attorneys are increasingly presented with on-camera opportunities, they can adapt their traditional legal skills for video contexts — such as virtual client meetings, marketing content or media interviews — by understanding the medium and making intentional adjustments, says Kerry Barrett.

  • Series

    Baseball Fantasy Camp Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    With six baseball fantasy experiences under my belt, I've learned time and again that I didn't make the wrong career choice, but I've also learned that baseball lessons are life lessons, and I'm a better lawyer for my time at St. Louis Cardinals fantasy camp, says Scott Felder at Wiley.

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