IN THE NEWS
Negligence lawsuit filed against Glade Run Lutheran Services
News, News Coverage, The Times
By Kate Malongowski Calkins Media | Posted: Wednesday, May 11, 2016 6:00 pm ZELIENOPLE — The family of a juvenile who was allegedly sexually assaulted while staying at a Butler County-based mental health treatment facility has filed a civil lawsuit in Allegheny County. According to the 30-page lawsuit filed Wednesday against Glade Run Lutheran Services [...]
Lawsuit alleging abuse, neglect of teen
ZELIENOPLE, Pa. — A family is suing Glade Run Lutheran Services, a group home in Zelienople, claiming that a 13-year-old boy was abused and neglected at the facility. Abuse and neglect lawsuit filed against Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople PA Attorneys for the boy and his family spoke Wednesday with Channel 11 News after [...]
Bad Faith Verdict Published
News, News Coverage, Verdict Search
Car Passenger Alleged Insurer Acted in Bad Faith on UIM Claim The Pisanchyn Law Firm’s recent verdict in a Bad Faith case has been published in Pennsylvania Verdict Search. Insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith to their clients and the Pisanchyn Law Firm will fight to ensure they do on behalf [...]
GM agrees to pay at least $1.9 million to family of Dunmore man
News, News Coverage, Times Tribune
Pisanchyn Law Firm Fights for Justice Against GM By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER Published: April 28, 2016 Joan Occulto always suspected a mechanical problem caused the 2007 car crash that killed her grandson, but no one believed her. Joan Occulto holds a box containing her grandson’s ashes at her home in Dunmore. Louis McHale-Occulto was killed in [...]
Fatal Motorcycle Accident Settlement Reached
News, News Coverage, Times Tribune
Family settles fatal motorcycle accident suit for $1.5 million By Terrie Morgan-Besecker The Times-Tribune (TNS) The family of a Scranton man killed when a tractor- trailer struck his motorcycle reached a $1.5 million settlement with the trucking firm. Thomas M. Burke Sr., 65, of Park Drive, Scranton, was riding his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle on [...]
Insured Gets Four Times Underlying Damages in Bad-Faith Suit
On Aug. 26, 2009, plaintiff Bernie Clemens was the passenger in a vehicle owned by Timothy Kruger that was struck by the vehicle of Ana Burrell in Mount Pocono. Clemens sustained serious injuries to his neck, face and shoulders as a result of the accident, according to court documents.
$900,000 Settlement for Motor-vehicle Case
News, News Coverage, Verdict Search
The Pisanchyn Law Firm’s recent $900,000 verdict in a truck accident case has been published in Pennsylvania Verdict Search. Truckers and truck companies have a duty to drive their large loads safely without harming others on the road and the Pisanchyn Law Firm will fight to ensure they do on behalf of our clients. Click [...]
Pisanchyn Law Firm’s $900K Recovery Featured in PA Jury Verdict Review
News, News Coverage, PA Jury Verdict Review
$900,000 Recovery – Motor Vehicle Negligence – Intersection Collision – Outrageous Conduct Warranting Punitive Damages – Drunk Driving – Hit and Run – Cervical and Lumbar Disc Injuries – Damages/Causation only
Families blame MD for poor care
Baltimore Sun, News, News Coverage
Relatives of a 10-year-old disabled foster child who died at an Anne Arundel County group home last month and the guardian of another resident whose inadequate care there led to a serious illness have filed notice that they intent to sue the state for failing to supervise the facility’s operator.
LAW CHANGING COURT OPINION—- DISBALED PERSON’S HEIRS HAVE RIGHT TO RECOVER FOR THE LOSS OF THE DISABLED PERSON’S COMFORT, SOCIETY, AND COMPANIONSHIP
News, News Coverage, Press Enterprise
The state Superior Court recently upheld a $3 million verdict by a jury that found a group home negligent in the 2009 death of a woman with cerebral palsy following a van accident in Bloomsburg.
Super. Ct. rebuffs bid to minimize wrongful death recovery
News, News Coverage, PA Association Justice
Decedent’s mother, who is mentally disabled, was unable to testify eloquently at trial about the effect of losing her daughter. Her disability also limited the amount of contact she had been able to have with her daughter. Defendants argued that her testimony was insufficient to support the amount the jury awarded under the Wrongful Death Act and the trial court agreed, granting a new trial.
Man Sues Over Drunken Driving Texting Crash
News, News Coverage, Times Tribune
Kevin Lepka, of Railroad Avenue, claims he suffered serious neck and back injuries after his 1992 Jeep was struck by a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Michelle Marko, of Garfield Street, Nanticoke, on Dec. 31, 2011.
Police: Michelle Marko was drunk and texting when she hit Kevin Lepka’s vehicle
News, News Coverage, Times Leader
A Lackawanna County man is seeking $100,000 plus interest and damages from a Nanticoke woman who was drunk and texting when she rear-ended his vehicle on the Cross Valley Expressway two years ago today, according to papers filed Monday in Luzerne County Court. Kevin Lepka, of 316 Railroad Ave., Scranton, is suing Michelle Marko of 331 Garfield St., Nanticoke, as well as her insurers, in connection with the Dec. 31, 2011, crash which left Lepka severely injured, according to his lawsuit.
$3.1 Million Verdict for Wrongful Death
News, News Coverage, Times Tribune
Just recently Attorney Pisanchyn and The Pisanchyn Law Firm made headlines with our Wrongful Death case against a local Group Home. The group home, Hope Enterprises Inc., failed to take a mentally challenged resident, Barbara Maines, to the hospital for treatment after she was involved in a collision. Barbie suffered a liver laceration as a [...]
‘Outrageous’ conduct nets $3M verdict
A Luzerne County jury Thursday awarded more than $3 million in damages to the family of a developmentally disabled woman who died after workers at a group home failed to get her treatment for injuries she sustained in a car crash.
Deadly cover-up costs nonprofit $3M
A Williamsport-based nonprofit that provides the mentally disabled with a variety of services, including facilities in Snyder and Union counties, has been ordered by a Luzerne County jury to pay $3 million to the family of a 32-year-old mentally-disabled woman who died at Geisinger Medical Center two days after a vehicle crash in Bloomsburg.
Family will receive $4M after woman under group home’s care dies
James Halpin, Staff Writer Mar 16, 2015 The family of a developmentally disabled woman who died after workers at a Berwick group home failed to get her treatment for injuries she sustained in a car crash will soon receive about $4 million plus a new trial that could equate to millions more in damages, according [...]
Pisanchyn Law Firm in the News
Bar Association, News, News Coverage
The Pisanchyn Law Firm made the front page again when its attorneys were honored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for giving back to the community. The attorneys were featured on the front page of the Pennsylvania Bar Newspaper earlier this month. Pictured from Left are Pisanchyn Law Firm attorneys Lee Albright, Douglas Yazinski, and Andrew [...]
Hope Enterprises sued for $600M+
News, News Coverage, Sun Gazette
February 5, 2013- A lawsuit filed Jan. 22 in Luzerne County court claims that a Hope Enterprises Inc. caretaker is to blame for the choking death of a 30-year-old Williamsport man in January 2011 and asks the jury to award the man’s mother more than $600 million in damages from the caretaking agency.
Pittston man sues after being struck by truck
News, News Coverage, Times Leader
June 11, 2013, WILKES-BARRE – A Pittston man has filed a lawsuit against an Archbald paving company after he was reportedly struck by a dump truck in 2011.
WHAT’S NEW
Most Common Workplace Injury: Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is now the most common workplace injury in the United States—and those who work in the construction or manufacturing industries are often the most at-risk of suffering auditory damage.
Can I Get Compensation After a Winter Weather Accident?
Many people may be under the mistaken impression that simply because poor weather conditions contributed to an accident, victims may not be able to recover for their injuries. In fact, an insurance company may try and claim that the accident in which you were involved was unavoidable and did not reflect negligence on the part of the other driver.
Do lawyers bend the rules when questioning witnesses by asking impermissible questions just to get the jury thinking about them?
Good lawyers? No. Bad lawyers, maybe. Often, if a lawyer does this, it is because they don’t actually know what they are allowed to ask and what they are not allowed to ask.
Is it OK to Post on Social Media After an Injury?
How many times did you check your Facebook today? Did you Snapchat your morning coffee? Instagram the long line of traffic during the morning commute? Tweet about last night’s game? Social media has become a constant in the lives of many.
Most People Don’t Know…
Each week we compile a list of important facts that most people don’t know, and as a result, could harm them or their claim. As the week goes on we share more information on each fact.
When Just in Case Turns Into Now What
We explained yesterday what a phantom driver accident is, and what kind of coverage you should have on your insurance policy to protect yourself just in case you are ever the victim of a phantom driver. In this post we are going to go a little more in depth on what you should do when a phantom driver accident occurs.
Hit and Run…Minus the Hit?
Did you know in Pennsylvania another vehicle does not have to physically touch your vehicle to be treated the same as a hit and run?
Are You Covered?
Too often people come to us thinking they have “full coverage” on their insurance policies only to find out too late that they have the basic coverage required by law, or not enough coverage to pay for the hospital bills and damages.
Do You Know the Difference?
It’s common for us to ask if you have full tort on your insurance policy and many times people will respond with, “I have full coverage.” Full coverage and full tort are not one in the same.
Is Limited Tort Really Less Expensive?
People choose limited tort on their policy because it saves them a little money right now, but if you get in a bad accident it won’t save you anything; in fact you could cost you thousands.
Exceptions are not Guarantees
Insurance companies follow strict legal definitions of what serious injury really is, and even though there is a serious injury exception for limited tort, you still may not get compensation for your pain and suffering.
There Are Exceptions to Limited Tort, but Don’t Rely on These Alone for Protection
Defective Medical Device Malfunction Attorneys, What's New
Along with serious injury, there are other exceptions to limited tort but relying on these exceptions alone to be compensated for your pain and suffering, in most cases, will not help you.
The Tort Coverage You Choose Could Affect Your Family, Too
Whatever option you choose, full tort or limited tort, it could affect your family, too.
Are You Covered?
Too often people come to us thinking they have “full coverage” on their insurance policies only to find out too late that they have the basic coverage required by law, or not enough coverage to pay for the hospital bills and damages.
The Truths about Tort Coverage (full and limited)
Here at The Pisanchyn Law Firm we think it’s important to educate our friends, families, and clients on our different areas of practice. Each week we compile a list of important facts that most people don’t know, and as a result, could harm them or their claim. As the week goes on we share more information on each fact.
Do You Know the Difference?
It’s common for us to ask if you have full tort on your insurance policy and many times people will respond with, “I have full coverage.” Full coverage and full tort are not one in the same.
Is Limited Tort Really Less Expensive?
People choose limited tort on their policy because it saves them a little money right now, but if you get in a bad accident it won’t save you anything; in fact you could cost you thousands.
There Are Exceptions to Limited Tort, but Don’t Rely on These Alone for Protection
Along with serious injury, there are other exceptions to limited tort but relying on these exceptions alone to be compensated for your pain and suffering, in most cases, will not help you.
A Nurse Case Manager Keeps Calling Me – Is That Normal?
Nurse case managers, or rehabilitation nurses, will sometimes be assigned to monitor your recovery after your work injury. These nurses are hired by the insurance company. They are to report back to the company on doctor’s recommendations and will normally suggest or guide the injured worker to different doctors or specialists.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The two types of spinal cord injuries are complete spinal cord injury and incomplete spinal cord injury.