January 23, 2019 | The Legal Intelligencer
Products Liability and Economic Loss in Pennsylvania After 'Dittman'In Dittman v. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, ___ A.3d ___, 2018 WL 6072199 (Pa. Nov. 21, 2018), in the context of cyberhacking litigation, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court changed, and considerably restricted, the scope of the so-called “economic loss doctrine (ELD).
By James M. Beck
9 minute read
December 27, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer
Waiver Is Alive and Well in Pa.: High Court Expands ScopeIn the past couple of months, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided two waiver decisions of great interest to appellate practitioners. In both cases, the court expanded the scope of waiver.
By James M. Beck
6 minute read
August 16, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer
Declaratory Judgments May Not be as Appealable as You ThinkDeclaratory judgments present particularly vexing issues of appellate procedure. In part, these problems arise from their peculiar nature—seeking a “declaration” of rights in advance of an actual controversy—which can verge on improper advisory opinions.
By James M. Beck
7 minute read
May 31, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer
Post-Trial Motions Are Usually, But Not Always, an Appellate PrerequisitePennsylvania appellate practitioners recite like a mantra the necessity of filing post-trial motions prior to an appeal—and not without reason. Pa R. Civ. P. 227.1 requires that post-trial motions be filed within 10 days of the final decision to preserve issues for appeal.
By James M. Beck
8 minute read
February 15, 2018 | The Legal Intelligencer
Preservation and Points for Charge: Important Decision ExpectedIt appears that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is serious about cutting back on the collateral order doctrine.
By James M. Beck
7 minute read
November 22, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer
Preservation and Points for Charge: Important Decision ExpectedOne of the knottiest problems for appellate counsel in assessing possible waiver issues is how much preservation is enough when it comes to the jury charge.
By James M. Beck
8 minute read
June 01, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer
Word Counts for Appellate Briefs: Less Is MoreWord counts are a way of life in modern appellate practice. The halcyon days of 70-page "briefs" are gone—never to return, see Commonwealth v. Spuck, 86 A.3d 870, 872 (Pa. Super. 2014), (discussing the demise of the 70-page rule); Commonwealth v. Stoppie, 486 A.2d 994, 996 (Pa. Super. 1984), (quoting former Pa. R.A.P. 2135(1)). Page limits invited abuse, such as "substantive arguments and sub-arguments ... set forth in footnotes [and] other compressed texts, such as block quotes or single-spaced bullet points," as in Commonwealth v. Spotz, 18 A.3d 244, 349 (Pa. 2011).
By James M. Beck
6 minute read
February 16, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer
Appellate Notes: 2 Rule Changes and an Unusual FootnotePennsylvania appellate practitioners should know about a number of things that have occurred since my last article. Two are rules changes. The third is a most unusual footnote in an en banc Pennsylvania Superior Court decision.
By James M. Beck
15 minute read
November 23, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer
Other Decisions That Were Made on Election DayWhile somewhat on the order of "Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?" two Pennsylvania Superior Court decisions, both handed down on Nov. 8, at least provided the basis for this article on appellate practice.
By James M. Beck
12 minute read
October 11, 2016 | The Legal Intelligencer
'Tincher' and Prescription Medical Products LiabilityAs all products liability practitioners are aware by now, at the end of 2014, a watershed moment in Pennsylvania products liability law occurred when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided Tincher v. Omega Flex, 104 A.3d 328 (Pa. 2014).
By James M. Beck
18 minute read
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