Firm News

While vigorous efforts have been made to push the courts to interpret the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) with an increasingly broad preemptive scope, effectively overriding state laws designed to regulate arbitration, recent decisions underscore that courts are not willing to uphold arbitration agreements when fairness and justice might be compromised. Legitimate concerns surrounding arbitration are prompting more judicial scrutiny—a trend worth examining.

In the December 20, 2024 edition of The Legal Intelligencer, Edward Kang writes, “Stacked Decks and Sealed Deals: How Arbitration Tilts the Scales.” Continue reading ›

The U.S. Constitution, which remains the bedrock of American civil rights, serves to establish a minimum level of protection that states are bound to uphold. Some state constitutions provide more expansive and detailed protections for state residents—meaning that rather than treating state constitutional claims as an afterthought, litigants can center their claims on state constitutions when those state constitutions offer more favorable grounds to secure their rights.

In the November 27, 2024 edition of The Legal Intelligencer, Edward Kang writes, “Don’t Settle for the Minimum: Finding Constitutional Claims Closer to Home.” Continue reading ›

Although hearsay evidence is generally prohibited, the definitional carve-outs and exceptions provide trial judges with the latitude to admit trustworthy evidence that would otherwise be excluded. Both the Pennsylvania Code and the Federal Rules of Evidence recognize such exceptions, but they approach their admissibility and use with distinct priorities and limitations.

In the October 17, 2024 edition of The Legal Intelligencer, Edward Kang writes, “A Word on Hearsay: Using Prior Statements Under Pennsylvania and Federal Rules.” Continue reading ›