A Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas judge had words for counsel representing the Hertz rental car company who failed to comply with discovery deadlines in an injury lawsuit. But one member of the defense team said he and his co-counsel are up against a plaintiffs attorney who has the homefield advantage.

Judge Terrence Nealon's Oct. 29 order that Philadelphia-based Edelstein Law pay fees and costs for the plaintiffs' preparation of a sanctions motions contained descriptions of defense counsel's behavior as "snarky" and "sophomoric." But firm founder Jay Edelstein said his client's case is being hampered by the court's preferential treatment of local plaintiffs counsel.