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Certain constitutional protections arise during encounters with law enforcement. It is important to be aware of these constitutional protections, and act accordingly, so that you may better preserve your rights. Comply with requests to act, be quiet, and do not consent to a search. Comply with ...

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently enhanced constitutional protections related to automobile searches in Commonwealth v. Alexander, WL 7567601 (Pa. 2020). BackgroundPolice officers stopped a vehicle driven by the defendant. The officers smelled marijuana and the defendant admitted to recent...

Generally, an officer cannot pull you over without probable cause or reasonable suspicion. A stop based on probable cause requires the officer to articulate specific facts to support that a traffic violation has occurred, the reason for which the vehicle was stopped. A stop based upon reasonable ...

It Happened: Law enforcement turns their lights and siren to pull you over. To preserve your Constitutional protections, regardless of whether you believe the police have a valid reason for stopping you, it is always best to safely pull over. You can also acknowledge law enforcement by turning o...

Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, 35 Pa. C.S. § 10231.101 et. seq. permits individuals with certain serious medical conditions to apply for a medical marijuana card with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It is well established that medical marijuana is permitted in Pennsylvania. If you a...

The pending ordinance doctrine is often referenced in the context of zoning amendments that are made in the face of controversial development plans. However, the legal protections provided by the doctrine are often misunderstood and overstated. This article focuses on what you need to know when s...

Many people have charges on their record and face discrimination in the job market because of it. Others just want to forget that drunken mistake that shows up in court records. The question is: can you get it expunged?

The Coronavirus pandemic has turned our daily lives upside down, especially when it comes to large events. As if planning a wedding isn't stressful enough, couples all over Pennsylvania now have to deal with the complex and uncertain nature of statewide restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherin...

The Coronavirus, medically labeled as COVID-19, has now directly impacted the personal lives of every American citizen. Additionally, to an extent not yet completely known, it is affecting business relationships across the United States. Workers across the globe are contracting the virus, leaving...

Being involved in an accident where you or others are severely injured can be a traumatic experience. The first step after any accident is to seek medical attention immediately. If you are unable to get medical attention on your own, contact a family member, close friend, or dial 911 for immediat...

With the increasing, and exhausting, references made to the First Amendment, it is important know exactly when it applies and what it protects. The First Amendment provides that: “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech[.]” U.S. Const., amend. I. When it applies. The Fi...

Presumably, by clicking “Place your Order” on Amazon, you are agreeing to arbitrate any dispute, among other things. A Pittsburgh man sued Amazon over sales tax on protective masks, claiming that the sales tax violates the emergency declaration and resulted in a violation under Pennsylvania's Un...

Recently, millions of amateur investors put the squeeze on two hedge funds that bet GameStop Corp.'s stock would fall. In a seemingly opportunistic and indiscriminate fashion, these amateur investors caused GameStop Corp.'s market value to increase over $22 billion in mere days. However, the fun...

CaliforniaThe owner of a restaurant in California sued his insurer for lost business income due to COVID-19 shut down orders issued by the government. Pez Seafood DTLA LLC v. Travelers Indemnity Co. et al., No. 20-cv-4699, 2021 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 20, 2021). The restaurant owner submitted a claim to...

Five former community center employees in Philadelphia claim that they were terminated in retaliation for raising concerns about the community center's failure to abide by COVID-19 protocols. The former employees brought the action under the City of Philadelphia's COVID-19 Ordinance seeking back ...

Legislative Update On January 27, 2021, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives introduced a Resolution insisting that the United States Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service extend the deadline for all taxpayers who file and pay their 2020 Federal income taxes on April 15, 2021...

Navigating the legal implications of COVID-19 in the greater Pittsburgh area.