The 2023 election cycle will focus on judicial seats, with a number of candidates on the ballot to fill positions in municipal and statewide appellate courts throughout the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania’s judicial system includes three statewide appellate levels – Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and Supreme Court. Judicial elections are extremely important as court decisions can have long lasting…
Coalition Updates: Community
‘Reviver’ Legislation Again Moves Forward in the House
Prior to breaking for budget hearings, the state House of Representatives again moved forward with another piece of ‘reviver’ legislation which would open a two-year window to allow victims of childhood sexual assault to file claims that are barred by the statute of limitations. House Bill 2, which passed by a vote of 134 to 67,…
Venue Shopping Attorneys Taking Advantage of Med Mal Venue Rule Change
As we have previously reported, PCCJR has been closely monitoring the impact of the state Supreme Court’s decision last year to rescind the venue rule in medical malpractice cases. Our analysis has found that in January of 2023 there were 67 medical malpractice cases filed in Philadelphia. Comparatively, there were 24 cases filed in January of 2022 when the…
Special Elections Put State House in Democrat Control
Democrats swept the Special Elections for three open state House seats in Allegheny County, marking the first time in more than 12 years that the lower chamber of the General Assembly has been in Democratic control. This gives the Democrats a one seat edge in the 203 member body. The vacancies were created following the death…
House Flouts PA Constitution, Passes Bill Reviving Time Barred Claims by Statute
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives moved forward this week on two proposals that would open a two year window for child sexual abuse victims to sue their abusers and the institutions that employed them. The measures moved forward thanks to a special legislative session for victims of sexual abuse called by former Gov. Tom Wolf…
PA Supreme Court Decisions and Rule Changes Continue to Favor Plaintiff’s Causes
By Daniel E. Cummins For over the past five years or so, the plaintiffs bar has realized one important victory after another at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court level in terms of plaintiffs-friendly precedent and rule changes. Like a well-oiled machine, after putting forth a sustained and organized effort to help to secure their favored candidates…