On May 23, 2012, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a unanimous 53-page decision in Betz v. Pneumo Abex,[1] which reversed the 2010 en banc panel of the Superior Court that overturned an Allegheny County trial court’s ruling on a Frye[2] motion in an asbestos product liability action. At the trial court, the plaintiff alleged that Charles Simikian’s exposure to asbestos-containing friction… Read more »
Joseph D. Mancano, partner in the Philadelphia office of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, is the recipient of the Nora Barry Fischer Award for 2012. The Nora Barry Fischer Award serves to recognize an attorney within the Firm who has given back to the legal profession and the community at large. Mr. Mancano has… Read more »
Louis C. Long will participate on the panel, “Ethics in Tort Litigation: Expert Communications after Barrick v. Holy Spirit Hospital, Expert Discovery after Cooper v. Schofstall, Uninsured/Underinsured Litigation after IFP v. Koken, etc…” at the Pennsylvania Defense Institute’s West Region regional CLE program on June 28, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA. Related Information: Program Information
Please note: This is the second article in a two-part series discussing North Carolina’s False Claims Act. The first article discussed the Federal False Claims Act and its state counterpart as passed by the legislature in North Carolina. North Carolina’s False Claims Act has a more stringent “first-to-file” provision than its federal counterpart. The federal… Read more »
Please note: This is the first of two articles about North Carolina’s False Claims Act. Since the passage of the North Carolina False Claims Act in 2009, which became effective Jan. 1, 2010, North Carolinians have had a powerful weapon to combat fraud against their tax dollars and to return these funds to the state… Read more »
Janet K. Meub will present “Trying a Case in State Court: From Start to Finish” at a CLE hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on June 26, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA. Location: PBI Professional Development Conference Center Heinz 57 Center, 339 Sixth Ave., 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Related Information: Program Information
In CSX v. Smith, the West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed a seven figure verdict in a sexual harassment hostile work environment and retaliatory discharge case. Plaintiff, Smith, claimed that a co-worker, Knick, made disparaging comments regarding her sexual orientation. Mr. Knick was disciplined and removed from management, but was not fired. After his demotion, he was transferred… Read more »
Joseph D. Mancano will present on “Fraud Trends in the Health Care Industry” at the 2012 PICPA Health Care Conference on June 11-13 in Lancaster, PA. Related Information: Program Information
Recently, the EEOC issued an updated Enforcement Guidance on Employer Use of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This new Guidance places a heavy burden on employers who wish to continue to use prior criminal information in employment decisions. The EEOC will analyze whether… Read more »
Marc S. Raspanti will present “Recent Developments in FCA Liability” at the ABA National Institute on Civil FCA and Qui Tam Enforcement on June 7, 2012 in Washington D.C. Panelists include: Michael Granston; Daniel Meron; Marc S. Raspanti; Linda Wawzenski Moderator: Jonathan L. Diesenhaus This panel will concentrate on developing liability issues in the past year, including the… Read more »