Two new laws recently went into effect in Pennsylvania for the winter driving season. The first new law requires the driver of a motor vehicle to use headlights if the windshield wipers are in use...

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has determined that a retail store had no duty to warn a patron of the known and obvious dangers posed by the cane of a blind employee. In Campisi v. Acme Markets,...

In November 2006 the Legislature passed and the Governor signed Act 169 to create a new statutory basis for Advanced Directives for Health Care. Advanced Directives include Health Care Powers of...

House Bill 2738 (now Act 147) was signed by the Governor on November 9, 2006 resulting in several substantive procedural changes to Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation law. The purpose of the new...

A divorce action may be filed in Pennsylvania so long as one of the spouses has been a resident of Pennsylvania for at least six (6) months immediately prior to commencement of an action. To...

Answer: In nearly every option available on the “Notice of Workers’ Compensation Denial (LIBC 496)”. As the practice of workers’ compensation has evolved over the last 10-15 years, one cannot help...

Custody means the legal right to keep, control, guard, care for and preserve a child and includes “legal custody” and “physical custody.” (1) Legal custody is the right to make major decisions...

The law requires parents to provide support for their children who are unemancipated and eighteen (18) years of age and younger. Additionally, unique circumstances may require a parent to provide...

The long-standing procedure of including self-employment earnings when calculating a claimant's entitlement to partial benefits is not proper, except for earnings from the self-employment job...

CMS has amended its stated threshold for determining which case settlements to review to confirm that Medicare’s interests are protected. Medicare approval of settlements was previously required...

The policy issued by State Farm and, more importantly, the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law (MVFRL) required the filing of a police report when an accident occurs and the insured files a...

The trial court granted a nonsuit based upon the doctrine of “Hills and Ridges” based upon testimony that the plaintiff fell on black ice because there was no evidence of human interference in the...

On September 19, 2006, a massive landslide occurred at a shopping plaza construction site in Kilbuck Township, PA that led to the shutdown of busy traffic and rail arteries. The development was...

Whenever possible, the claimant’s earnings history is to be the basis of their wage calculation. Calculating wages upon anticipated earnings is speculative and, in cases in which the claimant is...

Like many of your clients, you may be a small business owner. We understand your problems and concerns, for we operate a small business, also. In the rush and stress of daily management, it is...

We are often asked, “Do I need an estate plan?” or “Do I need a will?” These questions are like asking if you need a 2005 Honda Accord with a satellite radio receiver. You have assumed that you...

Historically, workers’ compensation settlements essentially allowed a claimant to double dip. The cost of a claimant’s future medical exposure was taken into consideration when negotiating the...

The Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 109 in summer 2006. Effective September 2006, workers’ compensation judges do not have authority to approve a compromise and release agreement until the...

An issue that arises all too often for Employers in a workers’ compensation matter is that of penalties. Section 435 of the Workers’ Compensation Act provides that penalties shall be established...

Pennsylvania’s Mechanics’ Lien Law of 1963 (49 P.S.§ 1502(a)(2)) “is a creature of statute in derogation of the common law and any questions of interpretation shall be resolved in favor of a...