Pennsylvania Case Commentaries

Pennsylvania Abolishes “Non-Negligent Happenstance” Nunc Pro Tunc Extensions Absent Statutory Authorization (Section 7342(b) Common-Law Arbitration)

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Pennsylvania Abolishes “Non-Negligent Happenstance” Nunc Pro Tunc Extensions Absent Statutory Authorization (Section 7342(b) Common-Law Arbitration) 1. Introduction In Patrick J. Carr, Patrick K....

Section 7342(b)’s 30-Day Deadline Is Mandatory: Bass “Non-Negligent Happenstance” Nunc Pro Tunc Relief Disapproved Absent Statutory Text

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Section 7342(b)’s 30-Day Deadline Is Mandatory: Bass “Non-Negligent Happenstance” Nunc Pro Tunc Relief Disapproved Absent Statutory Text Case: Patrick J. Carr, Aplts. v. FCBC (Carr v. First...

No Weekend/Holiday Extension for Three-Day Election Appeals and Allocatur Petitions in Pennsylvania

Date: Sep 4, 2026

No Weekend/Holiday Extension for Three-Day Election Appeals and Allocatur Petitions in Pennsylvania 1. Introduction In In Re: Order Amending Rules 107, 903, 1113, and 1122 of the Pennsylvania Rules...

Rule 219 Administrative Suspension: Notice-and-Cure Opportunity Before Effective Date

Date: Aug 13, 2026

Rule 219 Administrative Suspension: Notice-and-Cure Opportunity Before Effective Date 1. Introduction Case: In Re: Administrative Suspension Pursuant to Rule 219 of the Pennsylvania Rules of...

Codifying “Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary” Plea Colloquies and Record-Based Review in Pennsylvania Criminal Procedure

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Codifying “Knowing, Intelligent, and Voluntary” Plea Colloquies and Record-Based Review in Pennsylvania Criminal Procedure 1. Introduction Case: In Re: Order Amending Rules 115, 550, 590, and 591 of...

Interstate Sovereign Immunity Extends to Sister-State Instrumentalities, with Primacy Given to the Creating State’s Classification

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Interstate Sovereign Immunity Extends to Sister-State Instrumentalities, with Primacy Given to the Creating State’s Classification 1. Introduction In Galette, C. v. NJ Transit (Appeal of: NJ...

Pennsylvania’s Bright-Line Timing Rule for Collateral-Order Appeals: 30 Days from Entry; Reconsideration Denials Do Not Extend the Deadline

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Pennsylvania’s Bright-Line Timing Rule for Collateral-Order Appeals: 30 Days from Entry; Reconsideration Denials Do Not Extend the Deadline Case: Khalil, S., Aplt. v. Mary Jane Home Enrich Center...

Mandatory On-the-Record Indian Child Inquiry and Presumptive ICWA Treatment Pending Due Diligence (Pa.R.O.C.P. 15.24)

Date: Jul 31, 2026

Mandatory On-the-Record Indian Child Inquiry and Presumptive ICWA Treatment Pending Due Diligence (Pa.R.O.C.P. 15.24) 1. Introduction In this rulemaking Order dated July 29, 2026, the Supreme Court...

County of Fulton Confined: Appellate Courts Cannot Use Fulton to Impose Trial-Level Fee Liability on Counsel Absent Trial-Court Findings

Date: Jul 24, 2026

County of Fulton Confined: Appellate Courts Cannot Use County of Fulton to Impose Trial-Level Fee Liability on Counsel Absent Trial-Court Findings 1. Introduction In Lukasik, G. v. Scotchlas, S.;...

Probation Has a Fixed Expiration Date: No Judge-Made “Absconding Extension,” and Bench Warrants Do Not Toll Without Proof at Gagnon II

Date: Jul 24, 2026

Probation Has a Fixed Expiration Date: No Judge-Made “Absconding Extension,” and Bench Warrants Do Not Toll Without Proof at Gagnon II Case: Commonwealth v. Hitchner (Pa. July 21, 2026) Court:...

Juvenile Adjudications May Rebut “Peaceful and Law-Abiding” Reputation Evidence: § 6354(b)(4) Not Limited by Pa.R.E. 405(a)(2)

Date: Jul 24, 2026

Juvenile Adjudications May Rebut “Peaceful and Law-Abiding” Reputation Evidence: § 6354(b)(4) Not Limited by Pa.R.E. 405(a)(2) Commentary on Commonwealth v. Serrano-Delgado (Pa. July 21, 2026)...

Ordinary Waiver, Not “Departure” Waiver: Article I, Section 8 Challenges Must Be Raised at Suppression Under Pa.R.A.P. 302

Date: Jul 24, 2026

Ordinary Waiver, Not “Departure” Waiver: Article I, Section 8 Challenges Must Be Raised at Suppression Under Pa.R.A.P. 302 1. Introduction Commonwealth v. Shivers reached the Supreme Court of...

Greenfield Cannot Supply an “Overriding Public Policy” Bar to an Insurer’s Duty to Defend in Sex-Trafficking Negligence Suits

Date: Jul 24, 2026

Greenfield Cannot Supply an “Overriding Public Policy” Bar to an Insurer’s Duty to Defend in Sex-Trafficking Negligence Suits Case: Samsung v. RI Settlement; Apl. of: RI Settlement (Concurring...

Warrantless Entry Authority of Game Commission Officers: Unconstitutional as Applied to Posted Open Fields, Not Facially Invalid, and Severable Under 1 Pa.C.S. § 1925

Date: Jul 22, 2026

Warrantless Entry Authority of Game Commission Officers: Unconstitutional as Applied to Posted Open Fields, Not Facially Invalid, and Severable Under 1 Pa.C.S. § 1925 1. Introduction Punxsutawney...

Whistleblower Causation at Summary Relief: “Some Evidence” of a Contributory Link Suffices; Alternative Motives Are a Defense-Stage Question

Date: Jul 22, 2026

Whistleblower Causation at Summary Relief: “Some Evidence” of a Contributory Link Suffices; Alternative Motives Are a Defense-Stage Question Case: Adams, A., Aplt. v. AG (Albert Adams, Jr. v....

Pennsylvania Bar Reciprocity Expanded: Remote Practice Credit, UBE-Score Pathway, and Clarified “Practice of Law” Under Pa.B.A.R. 204

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Pennsylvania Bar Reciprocity Expanded: Remote Practice Credit, UBE-Score Pathway, and Clarified “Practice of Law” Under Pa.B.A.R. 204 1. Introduction On July 16, 2026, the Supreme Court of...

Pre-Effective-Date Cure Opportunity Before Administrative Suspension for CLE Noncompliance Under Pa.R.C.L.E. 111(b)

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Pre-Effective-Date Cure Opportunity Before Administrative Suspension for CLE Noncompliance Under Pa.R.C.L.E. 111(b) 1. Introduction This Supreme Court of Pennsylvania administrative matter, captioned...

700 Pharm. v. Bur of WC (State Workers' Ins. Fund): “Goods or Services” as a Modifier, Not a Standalone Anti-Referral Ban

Date: Jun 23, 2026

“Goods or Services” as a Modifier, Not a Standalone Anti-Referral Ban Under 77 P.S. § 531(3)(iii) 1. Introduction 700 Pharm. v. Bur of WC (State Workers' Ins. Fund) (Pa. June 16, 2026) arises from...

Punctuation as Text: “Goods” and “Services” as Standalone Prohibitions in Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Anti-Referral Statute

Date: Jun 23, 2026

Punctuation as Text: “Goods” and “Services” as Standalone Prohibitions in Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation Anti-Referral Statute 1. Introduction In 700 Pharm. v. Bur of WC (State Workers' Ins....

“Goods or Services” as a Modifier: Pennsylvania Narrows the Workers’ Compensation Act’s Anti‑Self‑Referral Ban to Enumerated Categories

Date: Jun 23, 2026

“Goods or Services” as a Modifier: Pennsylvania Narrows the Workers’ Compensation Act’s Anti‑Self‑Referral Ban to Enumerated Categories 1. Introduction In 700 Pharm. v. Bur of WC (State Workers' Ins....