News

PENNSYLVANIA CASE LAW UPDATE Gabriel v. WCAB (Proctor and Gamble Products Co.), 2020 WL 5491931 (Pa. Cmwlth., filed September 11, 2020) In a reported opinion, the Commonwealth Court held that an employer’s dispute of a medical-only claim did not constitute a reasonable contest, and that attorneys’ fees should have been assessed by the WCJ. Background: … read more

CLIENT ADVISORIES MARYLAND CLIENT ADVISORIES Maryland adopts Daubert factors when considering admissibility of expert testimony In its last opinion of the 2019 term, Maryland’s Court of Appeals, in a 4-3 decision, overruled its prior case law on expert testimony and formally adopted the Daubert reliability factors for all expert testimony. See Rochkind v. Stevenson, No…. read more

Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP is proud to announce that it has elevated Caroline E. Gentilcore to the position of partner.  Caroline is an attorney in the Firm’s Philadelphia office, where she exclusively defends workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employers and insurers in southeast Pennsylvania and throughout New Jersey.  You can view Caroline’s profile… read more

PENNSYLVANIA CASE LAW UPDATE Protz Update Both the Commonwealth and Supreme Courts have, in recent weeks, circulated opinions further clarifying particular aspects of IREs in the aftermath of Protz. Constitutionality of Act 111: Perhaps most critically, in an opinion issued on June 16, 2020, the Supreme Court – with a one sentence order – confirmed… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES PENNSYLVANIA CASE SUMMARIES Maas v. UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Pennsylvania Supreme Court No. 7 WAP 2019 Decided: July 21, 2020 In determining the extent to which mental health professionals must warn third parties against whom a patient makes threats of serious bodily injury, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court holds that neighbors are considered identifiable… read more