A recent precedent setting state Superior Court ruling could shift the tides as it relates to an increase in venue shopping for medical malpractice lawsuits in the Commonwealth. The case in question, Somerlot v. Jung, centers around a patient who prior to having a spinal procedure signed a waiver stating that if the surgery did not go…
Coalition Updates: Community
Rep. Torren Ecker: Everyone Pays the Price of Lawsuit Abuse
State Representative Torren Ecker is calling for restoring balance back to Pennsylvania’s civil litigation system by enacting fair and reasonable reforms to address ongoing lawsuit abuse. In an opinion column published in the York Dispatch, Ecker made the case for why reforms are needed and how the current system is negatively impacting all Pennsylvania residents. Highlighting Pennsylvania’s ranking…
Philadelphia Region’s Landscape a Billboard Paradise for Plaintiffs’ Attorneys
The trend of personal-injury attorney advertising on billboards throughout the Philadelphia region continues to grow, but a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article questions their overall effectiveness. See the article here (behind pay wall). Data shows that SEPTA saw a 400 percent increase in funds generated from legal advertising between 2021 and 2025. Additionally, the American Tort Reform Association,…
Rising Liability Insurance Costs Tied to ‘Excessive’ Litigation Environment
The United States’ litigation friendly legal climate combined with nuclear jury verdicts are leading to skyrocketing liability insurance costs according to the Marsh McLennan (MCC) President and CEO John Doyle. An article on MCC’s Q2 earnings call outlines how these factors impact costs. Doyle cited data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that found over…
House Passes Punitive False Claims Act
In an expedited fashion the Pennsylvania House of Representatives handed a big win to the plaintiffs’ bar by approving legislation that would implement a state False Claims Act (FCA) – a proposal that will negatively impact employers, healthcare providers, and taxpayers. The big winners are plaintiffs’ attorneys who will not only get a percentage of…
PCCJR to Host CLE Class on Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform (PCCJR) will host a CLE course on August 27 focusing on current topics of interest in the area of medical malpractice. The event is approved for 1.5 substantive CLE credits and .05 ethics credit. The program will feature a panel discussion exploring a number of emerging legal issues in medical…