Compensation Funds Offer Path to Justice for Abuse Victims

In the wake of the August grand jury report that documented decades of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the state, several dioceses in Pennsylvania have taken steps to establish a victim compensation fund. The report estimated that hundreds of priests in Pennsylvania molested over 1,000 children since the 1940s.

In early November, the Dioceses of Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg, and Allentown announced programs that will compensate survivors who were sexually abused by priests in the Catholic Church. The announcements did not mention a total dollar amount for the funds or their maximum potential individual payouts. Participation in these programs will be voluntary.

Five of the dioceses have hired veteran compensation fund coordinator Ken Feinberg to map out and oversee their programs. The Philadelphia fund has set a filing deadline for claims at the end of next September, with Harrisburg and Scranton expected to begin their programs in January. […]

Travel Safely This Thanksgiving!

According to AAA, the number of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving will increase 11% as compared to last year. This means that almost forty million people will be reaching their holiday destination by driving. With more vehicles on the roads, travel risks increase. Poor weather conditions and distracted driving can cause serious accidents. Munley Law offers these tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday travel season.

Know your route and the risks before you leave your home. Make sure you know the latest weather forecasts and road conditions along your route. Have your directions mapped out in your mind, as well as plugged into your GPS. This will keep you on the most direct, traffic-free path, which can reduce your risk of being in an accident.

Before you get on the highway, prepare your vehicle for long-distance travel. This means checking your tire pressure, […]

Fatigue in the Workplace: A Deadly Occupational Hazard

Generally speaking, American workers aren’t getting enough sleep. In some industries, fatigue at work can be deadly. And some workers are more at risk than others.

According a 2017 NSC report, fatigue is any sensation of tiredness, sleepiness, reduced energy and an increased effort needed to perform tasks. Fatigue can be caused by many factors, the most common being a poor night’s sleep or the product of a grueling work schedule. Fatigue decreases one’s ability to think clearly and can result in dangerous decision-making and reduced productivity. It is important for employers to understand the underlying causes of fatigue in order to minimize and mitigate those factors that affect the health and safety of their employees.

The 2017 NSC report polled workers and the data resulted in nine main fatigue risk factors for employers to note: shift work, high risk hours, demanding jobs, long shifts, […]

Child Passenger Safety Week 2018

September 23-29 is Child Passenger Safety Week

Car accidents are a leading cause of death in children and teenagers.  Child Passenger Safety Week is designed to raise awareness of common safety mistakes, and give parents and caregivers the information they can use to keep their children safe on the road. PennDOT and safety advocacy groups will be working with the public to spread awareness. There will also be free “car seat checks” set up all throughout Pennsylvania to help parents ensure that their seats are installed properly.

Children are particularly vulnerable in car accidents, but many injuries can be prevented, or at least made less severe. One easy way to help keep your child safe is by making sure they are in the right seat. All children under 12 should ride in the back seat, as air bags can cause harm to a child’s small body in the event of a crash. […]

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Thank a Trucker: National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

September 9 through September 15, 2018, is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW). This week, we show our respect and gratitude for the 3.5 million men and women who keep our economy moving.

Truck drivers do a demanding, important, and often thankless job. We depend on truck drivers every single day to transport goods across the country. Most of us take for granted those who bear the enormous responsibility of safely moving 70,000 lb vehicles safely across the nation’s highways. They even train to combat human trafficking in the United States as the “eyes and ears of our nation’s highways”. They often sacrifice time with their own families to make their deliveries on time to ensure that we have the goods we need. Some truck drivers sacrifice far more: A recent government report on workplace fatalities showed that truck drivers had the highest number of workplace fatalities.  […]

Priest abuse lawsuit seeks to extend the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawsuit seeks to extend statute of limitations in priest abuse cases

A lawsuit against the Diocese of Pittsburgh aims to extend or eliminate the statute of limitations in civil cases against the Catholic Church stemming from sexual abuse allegations against clergy members and religious administrators. The lawsuit involves a man who, as a young child, was allegedly abused by a priest named in the grand jury report released earlier this month. The suit further alleges that because these accusations were not made public within the statute of limitations, the victim did not have the opportunity to seek justice.

The statute of limitations typically limits the amount of time a victim has to file a civil case against the person or organization that caused them harm. However, the statute has been extended in cases where there has been “fraudulent concealment of evidence.”

Extend the statute: All abuse victims deserve justice

Similar attempts at abolishing or extending the statute of limitations for abuse victims have failed in the past, […]

J&J ordered to pay $4.69 billion to cancer victims in talcum powder lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $4.69 billion in talcum powder lawsuit

A St. Louis jury returned a $4.69B verdict in favor of 22 women who claimed Johnson and Johnson’s products contained asbestos which caused them to develop cancer.

The verdict is the latest in a series of massive wins for women and their families who have filed cancer-related lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson. In August, 2017, a Los Angeles jury awarded a $417 million verdict in favor of a woman who claimed that Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder caused her to develop ovarian cancer, and in February 2016, a Missouri jury awarded $72 million to the family of a woman died of ovarian cancer after decades of using J&J’s baby powder.

What is talcum powder?

In its natural form, talc (a common ingredient in cosmetic and personal care products, […]

Summer grilling safety tips

Keep your backyard barbecue free of fire hazards

Grilling is a summertime staple, but it’s also an extremely common cause of house fires. Keep your family, friends, and party guests safe from harm by making sure you’re up to speed on grill safety.  It is very important to be aware of how dangerous grills are, what to do before you use a grill, and how to handle a grill when it is on, to prevent serious fires or injuries.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency , gas grills were involved in an average of 7,900 home fires per year, including 3,300 structure fires, and 4,700 outdoor fires.  Leaking and breakage were the top problems with gas grills.  Five out of six grills involved in home fires were fueled by gas, while 14% used charcoal or other solid fuel.  Grills not only are causing many structure, […]

The history of Munley Law

Our roots in Northeastern Pennsylvania run deep

The Munley Law firm has been around since 1959, but our history in this area goes back much farther than that. For more than 150 years, Northeast PA has been our family’s home, and standing up for what’s right has been a principle passed down for generations. This summer, we’ll be taking a look back at the history of our region, our family, and our firm to celebrate the ones who came before us and to remember their stories.

Most of our ancestors first came to this region in the mid-nineteenth century, when the Lackawanna Valley was transforming into a booming industrial center, thanks to the anthracite coal, steel, and rail industries. Lackawanna Iron and Coal employed thousands of people.

Irish, Polish, Italian and Russian immigrants came to our region in search of employment and a better life. […]

Uber will no longer force assault victims to arbitration

Uber will no longer force the use of private arbitration for riders, drivers or employees who claim that they have been sexually assaulted or harassed.  Rather, these cases can now be brought to court and be heard by a jury.

Until now, riders waived their constitutional right to a trial when they signed Uber’s user agreement. Now, anyone who claims that they have been sexually assaulted or harassed as an Uber rider, driver, or employee can have their individual cases brought to court and be heard by a jury. Uber will also end the requirement that victims who accept settlements through arbitration must sign confidentiality agreements that prevent them from talking about their experiences.

The policy change does not include other forms of harassment.

Arbitration used to silence victims of assault and harassment

Because of confidentiality agreements, the company has been able to keep the issue out of the press.  […]