The Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform (PCCJR) recently filed three amicus curiae briefs to cases pending before the state Supreme Court. An amicus brief is a “friend of the court” brief which allows PCCJR to argue on behalf of important legal and public policy matters before Pennsylvania’s appellate courts. Below are the issues involved in our recent briefs.
Hangey v Husqvarna
The issue: Can a plaintiff sue a corporate defendant in a venue with which the corporation’s only relationship is an insubstantial and de minimis portion of its overall business and operations, and where the venue lacks any other relationship either to the claim or to the other parties?
Case status: Pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Read PCCJR’s amicus brief here.
Bert v Turk
The issue: In cases where the compensatory damages award is substantial, is a punitive-to-compensatory damages ratio exceeding 9:1 presumptively unconstitutional under U.S. Supreme Court precedent?
Case status: Pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Read PCCJR’s amicus brief here.
Sullivan v Werner
The issue: Should a jury be able to consider compliance with industry and government standards in design defect product liability cases?
Case status: Pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Read PCCJR’s amicus brief here.