Although the U.S. Supreme Court famously said that that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” the reality is somewhat different. In an age when schools are arming teachers, digital threats...
Attorney Geiger Wins Case of First Impression for County in Federal Prisoner Transport Lawsuit
This lawsuit addresses the liability of a Pennsylvania County Sheriff’s office for hiring an extradition company whose employees harmed an extradited prisoner. Police stopped Darren Richardson for rolling through a stop sign in Hernando County, Florida. They took...
Avoiding Service of Legal Process by Posting “No Trespassing” Signs
Although there are a few exceptions, Pennsylvania law requires that legal process be served by the County Sheriff’s Office. But what is a sheriff’s deputy to do when the defendant he is supposed to serve has posted her property with “No...
School Disciplines Cheerleader for Snapchat Post
Federal Court in Wilkes-Barre Stops School from Disciplining Cheerleader for Off-campus Speech Yesterday, federal District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo issued a preliminary injunction forbidding the Mahanoy School District from punishing one of its cheerleaders for...
Constitutional Right to Protection from Concussion in Football
14th Amendment Requires Schools to Protect High School football players from concussion injuries On September 21, 2017, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals filed a precedential opinion ruling that high school football players have a constitutional right to be protected...
Court Strikes $8 million punitive award in Monroe Suicide Case
MCCF Suicide Mumun Barbaros committed suicide at the Monroe County Correctional Facility on March 22, 2009 while awaiting trial for criminal trespass. Barbaros choked to death from the remnants of a t-shirt lodged in his throat. Federal Lawsuit Barbaros’ estate sued...
Third Circuit Rules against Ross Township Shooting Victims
On August 3, 2017, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a federal civil rights lawsuit victims filed against Ross Township, Pennsylvania officials. The victims sought recovery for their injuries and the deaths of their family members when Township resident Rockne...
Do You have a Right to Film the Police?
The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled in Fields v. City of Philadelphia that the 1st Amendment protects your right to film police officers. Judge Ambro wrote the decision and began his opinion by referencing the Rodney King beating by the LA Police Department....
Public Defender Had No 1st Amendment Right to Criticize Supervisors Says 3rd Circuit
Joseph De Ritis was an Assistant Public Defender for Delaware County, Pennsylvania. To explain a perceived demotion to judges, other attorneys, and county officials, De Ritis circulated a rumor he had heard that he was being punished for taking too many cases to...
Are High EZ-Pass Fees Unconstitutional?
Is EZ-Pass really so easy? You’ve seen the infomercials. Buy “mighty putty,” the “GLH Hair System” or the “thigh master” for just 15 or more “easy” payments of $9.99. It is so easy separating the consumer from his money. Toll booth authorities, no doubt taking a cue...