Continuing off our earlier blog post that had raised questions regarding attorney-expert communications in Barrick, et al. v. Holy Spirit Hospital, et al. (read here!), on July 10, 2014 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made official a rule change barring attorney-expert communications during discovery. Following its decision in Barrick, the Supreme…
With lawsuits directed at the marketing campaigns of trendy products becoming as trendy as the products themselves,1 the United States Supreme Court recently gave POM Wonderful its blessing to bring a Lanham Act claim against Coca-Cola for a potentially misleading label that is compliant with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic…
A Pennsylvania state court has found Nationwide Insurance Co. engaged in bad faith in handling its insured’s first party auto insurance claim and in its litigation tactics when the dispute led to a lawsuit. The court’s forty page opinion catalogues the types of specific conduct that evidences bad faith in…
The SEC has flexed its (new…ish) muscles for the first time, penalizing Paradigm Capital Management Inc. in an enforcement action for retaliation against a whistleblower. The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers, specifically providing that “No employer may discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, directly or indirectly, or in any other…
Refusing to adopt the heightened pleading standard under Rule 9(b), the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the U.S. District Court for New Jersey’s order, which held that Plaintiff Foglia failed to meet the pleading requirements under Rule 9(b) for pleading a false claims act case. U.S.…
1. Define your goals. What is your ultimate goal in transitioning your business? Do you plan on funding your retirement through this transition? Is it to leave a legacy? The reason behind your desire to transition will determine how you proceed. 2. Plan & Implement Your Strategies. Create a clear plan as you move…
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Robert FREEDMAN, Appellant v. Sumner M. REDSTONE; Philippe P. Dauman; Thomas E. Dooley; George S. Abrams; Alan C. Greenberg; Shari Redstone; Frederic V. Salerno; Blythe J. McGarvie; Charles E. Phillips, Jr.; William Schwartz; Robert K. Kraft; Viacom, Inc. No. 13–3372. Decided:…
Anonymous internet reviewers beware – particularly if what you post is harmful to a business’s reputation; and more importantly, untrue. The Virginia Supreme Court is currently considering a case that could have major implications with regard to unmasking the identity of anonymous internet reviewers who post false and defamatory comments about businesses. In…
On May 13, 2014, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, in Socko v. Mid-Atlantic Systems, clarified the requirement of new consideration when an employer and employee enter into an employment agreement containing a non-competition restrictive covenant after commencement of employment. As an appellate decision, this new clarification leaves a lasting and…
In the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania No. 76 MAP 2012 On Appeal from Superior Court 11/23/2011 Docket Carl J. Barrick and Brenda L. Barrick v. Holy Spirit Hospital of the Sisters of Christian Charity Individually and d/b/a Holy Spirit Hospital, Sodexho Management, Inc., Sodexho Operations, LLC and Linda J. Lawrence …