The Legal Intelligencer

NCAA Revenue-Sharing Caps Meet NIL Laws: A New Playing Field for Antitrust Litigation in College Sports?

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:32:59 EST

The lawsuit may provide a playbook for student-athletes in other jurisdictions that have state statutes prohibiting restrictions on the amount of revenue student-athletes can earn.

Thursday Public Notices/Calendars

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

The Legal IntelligencerThe Legal IntelligencerPublic Records/Exclude From River/Free

]]>

Ballard Spahr Appoints Litigation Partner to Lead Los Angeles Office

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:30:29 EST

Humphreys takes over LA managing partner role from Brian Huben, who will remain with the firm.

People in the News—Aug. 12, 2026—Cooper Levenson, Clark Hill

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

Cooper Levenson cannabis industry practice chair Brittany Bonetti is scheduled to join a panel of industry leaders on Aug. 19 to share her insights as part of NJICLE's live webcast titled, “The Latest on NJ Cannabis and Hemp and Liquor Licensing, too?!

Designing a Client Experience That Actually Differentiates Your Firm

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:18:59 EST

Law firms say it universally in website copy, pitch decks, and other marketing and business development communications: We are client-focused, we put our clients first, our clients are our partners. But saying it and delivering it are two entirely different things.

Cozen, Temple Team Up to Assist First-Generation Law Students, as Firms Seek to Boost Summer Training Programs

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:42:04 EST

Law firms are expanding pre-career training for law students, offering programs that range from early professional guidance for incoming 1Ls to courtroom-skills development for top 3Ls.

Wednesday Public Notices/Calendars

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

The Legal IntelligencerThe Legal IntelligencerPublic Records/Exclude From River/Free

]]>

Pa. AG Takes Aim at TikTok Over Youth Safety Claims, Addictive Design Features

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:08:33 EST

The suit follows a New Mexico judge's order last week requiring Meta Platforms to pay $567 million into an abatement fund and to make a series of child safety changes after finding that Facebook and Instagram substantially contributed to a statewide youth mental health crisis and created a public nuisance.

Penn State Dickinson Law Names Interim Dean Following Leadership Shakeup

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:55:33 EST

Penn State University named an interim dean to succeed the acting dean who led the law school for the past two and a half weeks following the school's sudden announcement that Danielle Conway had stepped down and returned to faculty last month.

People in the News—Aug. 11, 2026—McNees, Porter Wright

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

McNees Wallace & Nurick announced that attorney Phillip Michael has joined the firm's litigation group in its Lancaster office.

Commonwealth Court Addresses Inaccurate Condemnation Plans and De Facto Takings

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:40:59 EST

In Burns v. Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court held that a property owner could pursue a claim for a de facto taking where PennDOT's plot plan failed to reveal that a portion of the property owner's house, specifically the porch and steps providing the house's sole access, had been included within the condemned area.

Superior Court Examines Application of Reductions to Child Support When the Parties Have Varied Physical Custody With Multiple Children

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:01:59 EST

The Pennsylvania child support guidelines contain numerous sections that cover different situations that affect the amount of child support that will be paid to a child support recipient. Under the guidelines: “In general, the party who has primary custody of the children shall be the obligee of a child support order. When the parties share custody of the children equally, the party with the higher income shall be the obligor.

Tuesday Public Notices/Calendars

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

The Legal IntelligencerThe Legal IntelligencerPublic Records/Exclude From River/Free

]]>

$2.5B Settlement: A New Blueprint for Environmental Litigation?

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:37:01 EST

New Jersey collected $2.5 billion for environmental pollution in four sites after following a litigation strategy consisting of identifying contamination, suing the responsible parties, establishing liability through litigation, and negotiating a settlement.

People in the News—Aug. 10, 2026—Sweet Stevens, Cipriani & Werner

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

As autism diagnoses continue to rise and schools face increasingly complex related hurdles in meeting the needs of students, Sharon W. Montanye of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams was selected by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute to serve as a faculty member for a recently recorded webinar, "Autism: Fitting the Pieces Together 2026."

Distrust, Mistrust and Discovery Costs: Why Courts Should Require Evidence Before Authorizing Extraordinary Discovery Measures

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:52:59 EST

Courts should draw a clear distinction between evidence-based distrust, which may justify heightened discovery, and instinctive mistrust, which should not. A “modicum of evidence standard would preserve proportionality, reduce costs and protect privacy without undermining the truth-seeking function of discovery.

Expert Witnesses: Trials and Tribulations

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:37:59 EST

Whether counsel represents a claimant or defendant, the selection of experts is a critical aspect of trial. One should choose a witness who, through both education and experience can honestly address the varying issues presented.

The CFPB's New Strategic Plan Eases Regulation at the Expense of Consumers

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:24:59 EST

The draft plan generated commentary from consumer advocates, state regulators, and industry groups about how the CFPB intends to fulfill its statutory responsibilities going forward, leaving many to wonder whose interests the CFPB will actually protect.

Monday Public Notices/Calendars

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

The Legal IntelligencerThe Legal IntelligencerPublic Records/Exclude From River/Free

]]>

'Not Just Another Startup': The Archer Partner Who Helped Bring Back Philadelphia's Cycling Classic

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:45:09 EST

Kate Sherlock, an intellectual property and corporate partner with Archer & Greiner, served as outside counsel to Race Street Partners to bring back the event back after a 10-year hiatus.

Leadership Shakeup Hits Phila. Paraquat Litigation as Judge Names New Liaison Counsel

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:43:03 EST

Judge Joshua Roberts of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas vacated the long-standing plaintiffs' liaison counsel, lead counsel, and executive committee.

People in the News—Aug. 7, 2026—Barley Snyder, Constangy

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

Barley Snyder announced that attorneys Jordan S. Davis and Erika C. Firestone have joined the firm as members of its Real Estate Practice Group.

NJ Bankruptcy Court Roll-Up Is Not a Payment and Offering May be Sharing

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:50:59 EST

In a recent decision in the bankruptcy case of Del Monte Foods, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey interpreted a liability management exercise that was challenged through the prepetition term loan agreement's ratable sharing provision in the context of a debtor-in-possession financing and related roll-up, thereby providing the first actual market guidance on this issue.

Friday Public Notices/Calendars

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:59:59 EST

The Legal IntelligencerThe Legal IntelligencerPublic Records/Exclude From River/Free

]]>

Problematic Lawyering and Wrongful Convictions

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:33:59 EST

Can I say with assuredness that Dennis Johnson is clearly innocent? No—I have not met with or heard the new witnesses or the store employee who has now changed his testimony and claims that Johnson was not the shooter after all. But just with the DNA and the egregious error at trial, this conviction shouts “wrongful.

People in the News—Aug. 6, 2026—Reger Rizzo, Burns White

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

Reger Rizzo & Darnall partner Michael J. Needleman is scheduled to present "Trigger and Duty-to-Defend Issues and Claims Valuation, Reserves, and Policy Limits Strategy" on Aug. 14 during an all-day National Business Institute (NBI) seminar, Insurance Law for Non-Insurance Lawyers.

Venue Without Borders: How Pennsylvania's 2023 Rule Amendment Reshaped Long-Term Care Litigation

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:43:59 EST

Because of the rule change, plaintiffs can file suit in any county in which the defendant provider can be sued; that is, in any county in which the company does business through operations other than the one that provided the care at issue.

'Trust the Process'—of the Philly Bar Judicial Commission

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:39:59 EST

The Philadelphia Bar Association is proud to have created a rigorous evaluation process that reflects the esteem that we hold for our judiciary and represents the diverse city our judges serve.

How Medical Cost Projections Drive Value for Clients in Workers' Compensation Settlements

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:08:59 EST

A driving force behind these settlements was gaining a thorough understanding of our clients' future medical costs and using that figure as the starting point for settlement negotiations concerning the medical portion of their workers' compensation claim.

Coach's Corner: The Case Against Being Always Available

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:59:59 EST

Clients are entitled to attentive responsiveness: to know their matter is being handled, to get answers on a timeline that serves their interests, and to reach us when something is on fire. None of that requires being reachable 24/7. We can manage expectations well enough that clients don't wonder.

Pa. Appeals Court Wipes Out Nearly $10M in Damages in Nursing Home Death Suit, Remands for New Trial

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:11:55 EST

In 2023, a Delaware County jury awarded the estate $4 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages, allocating liability among the four defendants.

Everyone Is Vacationing at the Data Lake This Summer

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:39:59 EST

Legal departments increasingly sit at the intersection of AI governance, privacy, cybersecurity, internal investigations, regulatory compliance, information governance and litigation readiness, dramatically expanding their strategic role—and each of these disciplines depends on one foundational capability: understanding enterprise data, starting with where it is located.

People in the News—Aug. 5, 2026—Houston Harbaugh, Stradley Ronon

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

Houston Harbaugh announced the newest addition to its litigation team, Kevin D. Huber.

US Supreme Court: Schools Can Determine Eligibility for Female Sports Based on Biological Sex

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:39:59 EST

In a unanimous decision regarding Title IX, the court held that Title IX allows institutions to use biological sex as a requirement for participation on female sports teams. As to the equal protection clause, the court reached the same result, though three justices dissented from the majority opinion.

What In-House Counsel Actually Need From Outside Employment Advisers

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:13:59 EST

Outside employment advisers who invest in understanding business context, communicate in the client's language, balance risk management with creative problem-solving, think about operational consequences, and build trust through demonstrated empathy will differentiate themselves in a market where legal talent is abundant but true partnership is rare.

Cozen O'Connor Continues to Post Strong Canadian Growth in First Foray Outside the US Despite Trump Trade Tensions

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:33:41 EST

Six years into its cross-border expansion, the Am Law 100 firm says its year-over-year revenue in Canada is up 47%.

Pa. High Court Takes Up Challenge to Record $207.6M HUP Birth Injury Award

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:57:47 EST

The Superior Court had upheld Pennsylvania's largest reported medical malpractice verdict, rejecting the hospital's arguments that the plaintiff relied on an improper "team liability" theory and that the jury received flawed causation instructions.

Data On and Off the Playing Field: The Business of Sports Data

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:27:59 EST

For teams, leagues, sponsors, venues, platforms, and vendors, the central question is no longer simply whether sports data can be collected and monetized. It is whether the organization understands what it is collecting, why it is collecting it, who can use it, how long it will be retained, and what legal obligations may be triggered when the data is disclosed, combined, commercialized or repurposed.

Bartleby, the Special Counsel: Big Law and an Ambiguous Title

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:31:59 EST

For generations, Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener," has been taught as a story about alienation, capitalism, modernity, depression, bureaucracy, passive resistance and institutional cruelty. It is all those things. It is also, increasingly, a story about Big Law.

People in the News—Aug. 4, 2026—Barley Snyder, Blank Rome

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

Barley Snyder announced the formation of its community associations practice team, a dedicated focus area within the firm's real estate practice group that brings together attorneys and paralegals who advise developers, homeowners' associations (HOAs), condominium associations and other community associations throughout Pennsylvania.

Divided 3rd Circuit Revives Lawsuit Over Local Judges' Bail-Setting Practices

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:00:00 EST

In its 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said a federal judge erroneously abstained from considering the arrestees' equal protection and due process claims under Younger v. Harris, a 1971 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that established federal courts generally should not exercise jurisdiction over cases that interfere with ongoing state court proceedings.

People in the News—Aug. 3, 2026—Archer, Capehart Scatchard

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:59:59 EST

Archer & Greiner announced that Mark A. Umansky has joined the firm's business litigation group as an associate in its Philadelphia office.

Analyzing 'Course and Scope' Cases While on a Personal Break

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:54:59 EST

The recent Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court decision in Giant Eagle v. Tierra Baker revisits this issue, providing important guidance on the application of the “personal comfort doctrine and the application of the facts of each case to the law.

Surveillance Pricing Under the Microscope: What the New State Laws and Policy Scrutiny Mean for Business

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:34:59 EST

With national and local concerns about affordability, the concept of “surveillance pricing has become one of the hottest topics in legal and policy circles in 2026. Generally, surveillance pricing is a term often used to describe the practice of using an individual consumer's personal or behavioral data to set or adjust a price specifically for that consumer or a narrow segment of consumers.