Legal Insights

In Marple Twp. V. Marple Newton School Dist.[1](2004), Marple Township filed a declaration of taking against property owned by the school district and used to house the district’s maintenance trucks,…

School officials can have a difficult time determining the boundaries of their authority to discipline students for misconduct, especially when the misconduct occurs off school property or after school hours.…

The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), was amended to require employers to notify employees who voluntarily or involuntarily leave employment to undertake military service of their…

On March 10, 2005, a Petition of Allowance of Appeal was filed before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. At issue is whether a taxing body can appeal what it believes to…

Assessment of property cannot be based on speculation and assumption with respect to future or possible use. In ENF Family Partnership v. Erie County Bd. of Assessment Appeals[1](2004), the property…

As Bankers Trust found out the hard way, mere negligence in a very simple task could result in a significant expense… Financial institutions, like other businesses, face tough budget decisions.…

Since our newsletter last summer, the Legislature has amended the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) or statewide building code. In addition to Act 92, the Department of Labor and Industry,…

Confusion has continued since the Sales and Use Statute was substantially revised in 1998. Most of the confusion arises when the owner is a public or charitable entity. The old…

Act 96, effective December 2004, loosens the filing requirements of Mechanics’ Lien Waivers, also known as No-Lien Agreements.  These agreements, if properly completed, waive a contractors’ statutory right to file…

In a case of first impression decided January 15, 2005, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Bilt-Rite Contractors, Inc. v. The Architectural Studio held that a contractor may maintain an action…