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SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Federal Case Summary Witters v. Smith United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania No. 1:23-CV-1441, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102346 Decided: June 10, 2024 District Court confirms that Pennsylvania law does not allow for loss of consortium and companionship claim for pets. Background Agents of the Pennsylvania Board of… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Pennsylvania Case Summaries Brown-Boyd v. SEPTA Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court No. 1167 C.D. 2022 Decided: July 15, 2024 Bus driver was “operating” a public bus, such that sovereign immunity did not apply, when she stopped the bus to allow decedent to exit, but allegedly failed to lower the handicap ramp. Background Plaintiff-decedent, Brenda… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Maryland Case Summaries Doctor’s Weight Loss Centers, Inc. v. Blackston Maryland Supreme Court No. 17, Sept. Term 2023 Decided: July 31, 2024 Maryland Supreme Court applies Virginia damages cap to Maryland resident’s medical malpractice damages award. Background Plaintiff Shelly Blackston had a liposuction procedure at Dr. Heron’s office in Alexandria, Virginia. After… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Washington, DC Case Summary Mancuso v. Chapel Valley Landscape Co. District of Columbia Court of Appeals 2024 D.C. App. LEXIS 259 Decided: July 18, 2024 Trial court properly granted summary judgment because the reconstruction of a garage broke the chain of causation in connection with a claim for lost value of a… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Virginia Case Summary Rolofson v. Fraser Virginia Court of Appeals No. 0828-23-4 Decided: July 30, 2024 Statements made concerning personal grievances are not immune from civil liability under Virginia’s Anti-SLAPP legislation. Background Rolofson and Fraser are Army officers who dated briefly in 2017 while stationed together. Following their relationship, Fraser made allegations… read more