Posts Tagged ‘Pennsylvania’

Officials at the Wilkes Barre Scranton International Airport announced a significant increase in passenger traffic attributed to the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom in NEPA. Gas field workers from Texas, Oklahoma and othe states are flying in and out of the airport as they support drilling efforts and pipeline construction in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Additionally, gas industry management and professional support people are using the airport as their main hub to access their company offices in NEPA. Airport officials note that airline carriers are adding larger planes on select routes to accommodate the natural gas industry passenger boom. The 13 trial lawyers at DLP, representing catastrophically injured individuals in gas drilling, gas truck, quarry explosions and othe serious accidents continue to follow this and other issues in the Marcellus Shale regions of NEPA, Central and throughout Pennsylvania.

As natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale regions of Pennsylvania intensifies and expands, Pennsylvania Republican dominated Legislature and Governor Corbett continue to delay passage of regulations to regulate or tax the expanding industry. This is so even though so called “conservative” and “gas industry friendly” states such as Texas continue to tax gas profits at significant rates, but also continue to pass and enforce regulations on almost every portion of the gas drilling industry. Case in point are the new disclosure regulations which become enforceable in Texas on February 1, 2012. The new regulations require gas companies to report the nature of chemicals used in the fracking process. These reporting requirements have been sought by environmental groups and landowners for some time. Additionally, gas drilling companies in Texas must now report the amounts of fresh water used daily at each natural gas drilling pad. This is significant because Texas is in the grasp of its worst drought in state history. Estimates are that between one (1) per cent and two (2) per cent of all fresh water in Texas is utilized in the fracking process. Critics say this could be higher. These issues have not been officially regulated to any extent in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile the debate, mostly among controlling Republican members–many receiving significant criticism in their home districts—continues in Harrisburg.

The thirteen (13) Trial Lawyers at Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP–DLP–PENNSYLVANIA CATASTROPHIC AND SERIOUS INJURY ATTORNEYS—-continue to follow closely these and other Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling rig issues throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania including Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter, and Lycoming Counties.

News in and around the Marcellus shale natural gas drilling region continues to mount at a staggering rate. Stories today include a push by Pennsylvania’s top government officials, including Senator Bob Casey to encourage Shell Oil and Gas to build a huge natural gas processing plant in Pennsylvania. Additionally, today is the last day for public comment on the pending natural gas drilling regulations in New York. Other reports note a fracking liquid spill caused intentionally  by vandals in Bradford County; a pipe line easement deal on a rails to trails project in Susquehanna County and reports of significant positive hotel and airport usage increases throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

The thirteen (13) trial lawyers ant Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP–DLP–PENNSYLVANIA CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT LAWYERS–continue to follow these and othe natural gas drilling issues throughout the Marcellus Shale Regions of Pennsylvania and New York.

The twelve lawyers at DLP regularly represent tractor-trailer accident victims and truck accident victims injured on Pennsylvania roadways.  DLP represents injured victims of tractor-trailer accidents and truck accidents in federal court and state court.  Seriously injured tractor-trailer and truck accident victims require expert legal representation to get them the compensation they deserve.  The Pennsylvania Counties DLP lawyers most often handle tractor-trailer accident and truck accident claims are: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, Wyoming, Sullivan, Monroe, Lycoming, Carbon, Bradford, Montour, Columbia and Tioga.

If you are injured in a tractor-trailer accident or a truck accident in Northeastern Pennsylvania or Central Pennsylvania, call the lawyers at Dougherty, Leventhal & Price, L.L.P. as  for a free consultation.

It is widely recognized that the use of seat belts saves lives and lessens the extent of injuries suffered in motor vehicle accidents.  Because of the increased safety afforded by the use of seat belts, many states including Pennsylvania have enacted laws requiring occupants of autos and trucks to wear seat belts. 

Although seat belt use is required by law in Pennsylvania, it is considered a secondary offense.  As a secondary offense, a motorist can not be stopped by the police and cited simply for not wearing a seat belt.   Tne police can only stop a vehicle if there is a primary offense observed.  If the police stop a vehicle based on a primary offense (such as speeding) and the police also observe that the driver was  not wearing a seat belt, the driver could then be charged with both speeding and failure to wear a seat belt.

If a negligence claim is filed for personal injuries suffered as a result of a motor vehicle accident (auto or truck), the question of whether the injured party was wearing a seat belt is often raised.  The reason the question arises is because the defendant driver wants to argue that if the injured party had been wearing a seat belt, he may not have been injured or his injuries may not have been as serious.  Thus, seat belt use goes to the issue of an injured person’s contributory/comparative negligence.  However, evidence of seat belt use (or the lack thereof) is strictly prohibited by 75 Pa.C.S.A. 4581 (e) in court.

The attorneys at Dougherty, Leventhal & Price, L.L.P. represent auto and truck (tractor-trailer) accident injury victims throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.  DLP regularly represents clients injured due to the negligence of others in the following counties: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, Schuylkill, Wyoming, Montour, Lycoming, Sullivan, Monroe, Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga and Columbia.  If you or anyone you know needs legal representation for serious injuries suffered in an automobile or tractor-trailer accident, call (or advise them to call) a lawyer at DLP as soon as possible after the accident for a free no-obligation consultation.

Carolyn had worked for the Good Health Hospital for a number of years. Carolyn worked what is referred to as a “long week/short week” plan. One week she would work 32 hours a week, and then the next week she would work 48 hours in a week but was not paid overtime based upon her average hours worked, which came out to 40 hours every two weeks.

Issue: Carolyn inquired as to whether or not she would be entitled to overtime for the one week that she worked 48 hours.

Answer: Yes. Under the appropriate Act in Pennsylvania, all hospital employees are entitled to overtime for hours worked over 40 hours, regardless of a shorter work hour week that may have preceded the overtime week.

Disclaimer: The above article is for instructive purposes only and each case is fact sensitive. Consultation with an attorney should be obtained instead of reliance upon the legal issues discussed in this column.

Paul and his family lived in Harrisburg. Paul worked for the Reliable Car Company and had become one of their best salesmen. Paul’s family had a second home in Wayne County, and he always felt it would be nice to move up to that area on a full-time basis.

As fortune would have it, Paul was contacted by a local Wayne County car dealer and was offered a five-year guaranteed contract to come sell cars in the Poconos. After a lengthy discussion, Paul decided to take the offer and his family moved up on a permanent basis to the area.

At first Paul did very well but because of the down turn in the economy, his sales fell off sharply. Paul was notified by the owner of the company that he was going to be laid off for economic reasons.

Issue: Does Paul have any course of action against his new employer?

Answer: Yes. While Pennsylvania is an Employment-At-Will state, which means that the employment relationship is presumed to be terminable by either party at any time with or without notice and with or without cause, there are exceptions. One is where there is an express contract. In this case, Paul was guaranteed five years of employment at a base salary. Should the employer insist on Paul’s termination, they will have to pay him for the full five years what his base salary would have been had he continued working.

Disclaimer: The above article is for instructive purposes only and each case is fact sensitive. Consultation with an attorney should be obtained instead of reliance upon the legal issues discussed in this column.

A recent study out of Pennsylvania State University has been quoted by the gas industry as predicting that as many as 98000 new jobs may be created in Pennsylvania as a result of increased drilling for natural gas.

The Pennsylvania personal injury Attorneys at Dougherty Leventhal and Price LLP are committed to protecting the rights of workers and their families for injuries or death suffered while working at drill sites. Attorney Thomas Cummings and Attorney Joseph Price will be attending a seminar at the University of Texas which will discuss issues involving gas drilling. Attorney Cummings handles workers compensation claims for injured workers. Attorney Price handles serious/complex personal injury claims involving injury or death. Both Attorney Cummings and Attorney Price have been named Super Lawyers by Philadelphia Magazine.

Any person or family suffering death or injury as a result of gas drilling in Pennsylvania should contact Dougherty Leventhal and Price LLP immediately for a free consultation.

Pennsylvania Personal injury Attorney Joseph Price, a managing partner in the law firm of Dougherty Leventhal and Price, LLP. announced today that the firm is reviewing potential Avandia drug claims in Northeast Pennsylvania.
According to Attorney Price, Avandia is a drug prescribed to people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Recently the drug has been subject of recall notices by its manufacturer and the FDA. Studies have linked Avandia to increase risk of heart attack, heart failure and other potentially life threatening side effects.
Individuals who have suffered heart problems, or who have family members who have suffered heart problems after using Avandia should contact Dougherty Leventhal and Price LLP immediately for a free no obligation consultation.

As a result of the recent Pennsylvania state budget compromise, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently received bids for the leasing of state lands by gas drilling companies. The leases were for up to 32,000 acres of land in Cameron, Potter, Tioga, Clinton and Clearfield counties. The land is located in State Forests including Sproul, Elk, Tioga and Susquehannock.

According to the DCNR the leases will generate at least $125 million in additional revenues for the State coffers. The leases will also help create jobs. State environmental groups have raised serious concerns over the leases, but DCNR is confident that a balance has been struck addressing all issues.

Dougherty Leventhal and Price LLP represents individual injured as a result of gas drilling related injuries in Pennsylvania. Contact one of DLP’s twelve (12) Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys if you have any questions regarding injuries suffered as a result of companies or individuals related to the Pennsylvania natural gas drilling industry.