Pennsylvania Case Commentaries

Merger of Sentences in Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Edwards Establishes Clear Guidelines

Date: Aug 18, 2021

Merger of Sentences in Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Edwards Establishes Clear Guidelines Introduction Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Mark Edwards, 256 A.3d 1130 (Pa. 2021), is a pivotal case...

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Reinforces Appellate Deference in Parental Rights Termination

Date: Aug 18, 2021

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Reinforces Appellate Deference in Parental Rights Termination Introduction In the landmark case titled In the Interest of: S.K.L.R., A Minor Appeal of: K.H. (256 A.3d...

Limiting the State of Mind Hearsay Exception: Admissibility of Victim's Statements in Homicide Cases

Date: Jul 24, 2021

Limiting the State of Mind Hearsay Exception: Admissibility of Victim's Statements in Homicide Cases Introduction In Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Joseph Bernard Fitzpatrick III (255 A.3d 452), the...

Essential Elements in Corruption of Minors Convictions: Insights from Commonwealth v. Baker-Myers

Date: Jul 22, 2021

Essential Elements in Corruption of Minors Convictions: Insights from Commonwealth v. Baker-Myers Introduction Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. James Duane Baker-Myers, 255 A.3d 223 (Pa. 2021), serves...

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Fiduciary Duties and Fund Allocations Under Environmental Rights Amendment

Date: Jul 22, 2021

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Fiduciary Duties and Fund Allocations Under Environmental Rights Amendment Introduction The case of Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation (PEDF) v....

Reaffirming Statute of Limitations in Institutional Abuse Cases: Rice v. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

Date: Jul 22, 2021

Reaffirming Statute of Limitations in Institutional Abuse Cases: Rice v. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Introduction The case of Renee' A. Rice v. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown et al., adjudicated by...

Strengthening Due Diligence Obligations of Prosecution in Speedy Trial Motions under Rule 600 – Commonwealth v. Harth

Date: Jun 23, 2021

Strengthening Due Diligence Obligations of Prosecution in Speedy Trial Motions under Rule 600 – Commonwealth v. Harth Introduction Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Khalid M. Harth, 252 A.3d 600,...

Authentication Failure Under UEFJA Does Not Affect Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Domus, Inc. v. Signature Building Systems of PA, LLC

Date: Jun 23, 2021

Authentication Failure Under UEFJA Does Not Affect Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Domus, Inc. v. Signature Building Systems of PA, LLC Introduction The case of Domus, Inc. v. Signature Building Systems...

Reaffirming the Scope of the Rape Shield Law: Exclusion of Victims' Prostitution History in Consent Defenses

Date: May 19, 2021

Reaffirming the Scope of the Rape Shield Law: Exclusion of Victims' Prostitution History in Consent Defenses Introduction In the landmark case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Eric Rogers (250 A.3d...

Establishing the Standard for Third-Person Guilt Evidence in Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Yale Commentary

Date: Apr 30, 2021

Establishing the Standard for Third-Person Guilt Evidence in Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Yale Commentary Introduction The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v....

Clarifying Interlocutory Appeal Rights under Rule 311(a)(6) in Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Wardlaw

Date: Apr 30, 2021

Clarifying Interlocutory Appeal Rights under Rule 311(a)(6) in Pennsylvania: Commonwealth v. Wardlaw Introduction The case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Joshua Wardlaw, decided on April 29,...

Strict Adherence to Timeline in Post-Conviction Relief: Insights from Commonwealth v. Lopez

Date: Apr 30, 2021

Strict Adherence to Timeline in Post-Conviction Relief: Insights from Commonwealth v. Lopez Introduction Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. George Ivan Lopez, 249 A.3d 993 (Pa. 2021), is a pivotal case...

Affirming the Primacy of Contractual Remedies Over Equitable Abandonment in Oil and Gas Lease Disputes

Date: Apr 30, 2021

Affirming the Primacy of Contractual Remedies Over Equitable Abandonment in Oil and Gas Lease Disputes SLT HOLDINGS, LLC, JACK E. MCLAUGHLIN, AND ZUREYA MCLAUGHLIN, Appellees v. MITCH-WELL ENERGY,...

Interpretation of "The Offense" in Section 112(1) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code

Date: Mar 26, 2021

Interpretation of "The Offense" in Section 112(1) of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code Introduction Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. DeWitt Johnson, 247 A.3d 981 (2021), adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...

Affirmation of Good-Faith Service Requirements in Civil Litigation: Insights from Gussom v. Teagle

Date: Mar 26, 2021

Affirmation of Good-Faith Service Requirements in Civil Litigation: Insights from Gussom v. Teagle Introduction In the landmark case of Rhasheena Gussom v. Maurice Teagle (247 A.3d 1046), the Supreme...

Shaw v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Expanding the Scope of Ineffective Assistance Claims for Appellate Post-Conviction Counsel

Date: Mar 26, 2021

Shaw v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Expanding the Scope of Ineffective Assistance Claims for Appellate Post-Conviction Counsel Introduction Shaw v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a pivotal case...

Classification of Vagueness Claims as Illegal Sentence Claims under Pennsylvania's PCRA

Date: Mar 26, 2021

Classification of Vagueness Claims as Illegal Sentence Claims under Pennsylvania's PCRA Introduction In the landmark case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Ingram Moore, 247 A.3d 990 (Pa. 2021), the...

Revisiting Appellate Procedures: Always Busy Consulting v. Babford & Company Establishes New Precedent on Notice of Appeal in Consolidated Civil Cases

Date: Mar 26, 2021

Revisiting Appellate Procedures: Always Busy Consulting v. Babford & Company Establishes New Precedent on Notice of Appeal in Consolidated Civil Cases Introduction The legal landscape surrounding...

Ensuring True Representation: The Right of Children to Informed Legal Counsel in Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings

Date: Mar 26, 2021

Ensuring True Representation: The Right of Children to Informed Legal Counsel in Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings Introduction The case of In re: P.G.F Appeal of K.F. (247 A.3d 955)...

Strict Liability Standard Affirmed for Deceptive Conduct under Pennsylvania's CPL

Date: Feb 18, 2021

Strict Liability Standard Affirmed for Deceptive Conduct under Pennsylvania's CPL Introduction In the landmark case of Gregg v. Ameriprise Financial, Inc., the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Western...