PA Personal Injury Lawyer: Exercise Your Right to Vote

By Robert W. Munley

The Pennsylvania primary election day is Tuesday, May 20. Voting is one of our constitutional rights and a key to our nation’s democracy. It is one of the most important rights and responsibilities a citizen has, so it is very important that we all exercise this right.

Approximately 150 million Americans are qualified to vote. Unfortunately far too many eligible voters will not bother to come out to the polls to vote tomorrow, giving up the chance to choose leaders and representatives who will make important decisions.

The right and privilege to vote have been hard fought throughout American history. Many people sacrificed and fought so that women, minorities, and adults younger than 21 could cast ballots. Soldiers and civil right voters died fighting for your right to vote. You owe it to them to exercise this right. […]

Marion Munley Offers Congratulations to Graduates in Commencement Address

I had the privilege earlier this week to receive an honorary doctorate from Marywood University and to provide the commencement address for the Class of 2014. I watched in awe as more than 875 students from 23 states joined the Marywood University Graduating class of 2014. I was so proud of their hard work and dedication in persevering and earning their degrees.

Marywood University has been a special place to me and to my entire family. My mother is a member of the class of 1955, my late Aunt Jean, a graduate of the class of 1960, and my grandmother also attended Marywood in the 1920’s. In addition, my aunt, Kathleen Munley, is a graduate and long-time member of the faculty.

I was so proud of the graduating class of 2014, this class and other graduates all over the country. They are entering the workforce at an integral time. […]

Katie Nealon Passes Pennsylvania Bar Exam

SCRANTON, PA – May 9, 2014 –Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, a Pennsylvania personal injury firm, announced that Katie Nealon, an associate with the firm, passed the Pennsylvania Bar exam.

Nealon earned her Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School in California, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, ranking in the top 2% of her class and receiving the 2013 award for Outstanding Graduate in Business Law. She also graduated Wilkes University Magna cum laude earning a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science with minors in Business, Women’s Studies and International Studies.

Nealon is a member of the California Bar and the California Bar Association. Prior to joining Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, she served as a law clerk for a firm in California and also for the Orange County Superior Court. In addition, Nealon volunteered as an advocate for the Juvenile Hall Advocacy Clinic and the General Relief Advocacy Program. […]

Attorney Julia Munley recognizes National Child Abuse Prevention Month as a time for action

Munley believes we must shine a light on child abuse in order to prevent it

The problem of child sexual abuse in this country and throughout Pennsylvania continues at an alarming rate. It can be difficult to acknowledge that sexual abuse of children of all ages, including infants, happens every day. This horrifying topic was brought to the national spotlight when Jerry Sandusky was found guilty of 45 counts of sexually abusing 10 boys, using his position in a prestigious football program to gain access to youth. This past week, Pennsylvania’s top court rejected a bid by this former Penn State football coach to appeal his 2012 conviction of charges of sexually abusing children.

Last week alone in Northeast Pennsylvania, we saw news reported of a trusted pastor at a Scranton cathedral being removed from his position and charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors. […]

Attorney Marion Munley’s Article on the Vanishing Jury Trial in The Scranton Times

As seen in The Scranton Times. America’s long and proud history has been shaped by lawyers and judges who made lasting contributions to the preservation of individual liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. To the Founders, the right to jury trial, secured by the Seventh Amendment, was on par with the right to vote and the right to free speech. In the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson’s litany of abuses by the king included, prominently, “depriving us of the benefits of trial by jury.”

Jefferson considered “trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man that holds the government to the principles of its Constitution.” Jurors are true public servants who commit their time, critical thinking and impartiality to their fellow Americans. Jurors serve as checks and balances on our judicial system, and a jury trial is a fundamental right critical to our democracy. […]

It’s your money and they want it now!

As seen in the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal.

By J. Christopher Munley

We all have seen the hard-hitting television commercials decrying: “It’s your money and you want it now!” These get-your-cash now ads, while seemingly helpful to those experiencing financial hardship, prey on individuals who have money in structured settlements.

They may seem too good to be true — and in most instances they are. What these ads don’t disclose is that the realized value to you now of this money owed to you in the future will be less than the amounts in the settlement, sometimes up to 40 percent less.

The ads are designed and created by companies that are in the business of purchasing structured settlements, otherwise known as “factoring companies,” and it is their goal to entice structured settlements holders to sell their settlements in exchange for a lump sum payment at the “present value” of the structure. […]

Silent demon too often preys in Pennsylvania

As seen in the Scranton Times.

By Julia Munley

Sadly, allegations of child sexual abuse happen every day and have become something we read about almost daily in our local and national news; it is everywhere, from our churches to our schools and even in our own homes.

Last weekend, this issue was front and center with the Woody Allen/Dylan Farrow abuse story resurfacing 21 years after Farrow’s initial claims of abuse. One of the most shocking things about this story is that the alleged victim has been criticized and belittled by Allen’s PR machine, chiefly by his lawyer, Elkan Abramowitz.

While everyone deserves a defense and the presumption of innocence, including Allen, these attempts to isolate, demonize and subdue claims of child abuse should be excoriated. These very public intimidation tactics will undoubtedly impact other victims and lead to more unreported and untreated child sexual abuse and allow offenders to abuse others. […]

Unemployment benefits end for more than a million Americans

About 1.3 million of the nation’s 4 million long-term unemployed are no longer getting unemployment benefits. These extended federal unemployment benefits recently came to a halt, affecting many families who depend on this money for day-to-day expenses.

According to the National Employment Law Project in New York City, the cuts include 86,900 individuals in Pennsylvania, which has the fourth-highest total of unemployed workers collecting the emergency long-term benefits.

The expiration of the federal program, which was originally authorized in 2008 and extended 11 times as the recession and its effects dragged on, will affect an additional 2.3 million people this year. The extended benefits were designed as a cushion for the millions of Americans who lost their jobs and failed to find new ones.

President Obama said that his administration would push Congress to act promptly and in a bipartisan fashion to address this. […]

Congratulations to Marion Munley 2013 Woman of Excellence Sage Award Winner.

Munley Named 2013 Woman of Excellence by Scranton Chamber

SCRANTON, PA – November 15, 2013 –Marion K. Munley, a partner in the Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys firm, was recently honored by the Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the annual SAGE Awards gala with the 2013 Woman of Excellence Award.

The SAGE Awards, Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence, recognize the outstanding efforts, talent, creativity and innovation with the northeastern Pennsylvania business community. The Woman of Excellence Award honors a woman whose character, conduct, service, leadership and achievements, personally and professionally, contribute to the current and future development of the region.

“I am very honored and humbled to receive the Woman of Excellence Award. I congratulate my co-finalists Sister Mary Alice and Ida Castro, truly women of excellence,” said Marion Munley. “I celebrate the women of excellence in my own family, […]

Marion Munley Wins Verdict Against Hospice Over AIDS Scare

A subcontracted nurse who had been treating a patient affiliated with Hospice St. John, has received compensation for emotional distress after being pricked with a needle that had been used on her patient. The nurse was unaware that her patient, who passed away shortly after the incident, had AIDS.

The jury found Hospice St. John partially responsible and awarded the nurse with a $150,000.00 verdict. Attorney Marion Munley, from the law form of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, represented the nurse in the week long trial.

We are very pleased the jury held Hospice St. John accountable for the emotional duress suffered by our client. After the incident she lived in constant fear that she might contract AIDS. Fortunately she didn’t, but withholding that type of information is not acceptable,” stated Attorney Munley.

[…]

Congratulations to Marion Munley who was named as a finalist for the Scranton Chamber’s Woman of Excellence Sage Award

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce just announced that Marion Munley is a finalist for the 2013 Woman of Excellence Sage Award. This award honors a woman whose character, conduct, service, leadership and achievements, personally and professionally, contribute to the current and future development of the greater Scranton community. The award winner will be announced at The Chamber Gala on November 11.

[…]

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Attorneys Selected for 2014 Best Lawyers in America

Five attorneys from the Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys firm have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2014. Best Lawyers is the oldest and most highly-respected peer review guide to the legal profession worldwide. Robert W. Munley, Sr. and Marion Munley were selected in the fields of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. Robert W. Munley, III and Daniel W. Munley were selected in the field of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. James Christopher Munley was selected in the field of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants.

History Speaks For It’s Self

For more than 55 years, the family of lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys have been helping clients all over the country with their claims. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has proven time and again to be leaders in truck accident litigation, […]

$32.25 Million Settlement For a Tragic Airplane Crash

A $32.25 million settlement was reached in a case stemming from a devastating plane crash in Bear Creek Township in Luzerne County. The plane was a charter flight operated by Executive Airlines, returning to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport from Atlantic City. The aircraft was only a few miles from its destination when it ran out of fuel and crashed, according to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation. The fuel gauges were determined to be defective, and the pilots ignored other warnings of low fuel. All seventeen passengers and the two pilots on board were killed in the crash.

Executive Airlines and BAE Systems, the plane manufacturer, combined for a settlement of $32,250,000, the largest personal injury settlement in the history of Luzerne County. The families of the deceased receive different amounts, depending on age, work status, and other factors.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys represented the families of some of the victims. […]

Dan Munley Wins $850,000 Settlement in Truck Accident Case

An accident on I-81 in Luzerne County resulted in a Massachusetts-based trucking company and its driver agreeing to pay an $850,000 settlement. The recipient of the award, Robert Reed of Irving, Texas was injured on his motorcycle.

An overturned garbage truck created a mile-and-a-half traffic backup. Mr. Reed was stuck in the traffic jam when a 53-foot rig, owned by Truckadyne Transportation Inc., slammed into him and several other vehicles. Although the traffic jam was clearly visible and other tractor trailer drivers had been sending alerts over their CB radios, the Truckadyne driver ignored the warnings and crashed into Mr. Reed’s motorcycle.

Mr. Reed, who was thrust into the air by the impact, suffered numerous fractures including a pelvis, hip, foot and ribs, as well as internal bleeding. One of his thumbs was torn off and needed to be surgically reattached. Mr. Reed missed more than eight months of work, […]

Allstate’s $950,000 Blunder

Allstate required to pay out nearly a million dollars after delaying insurance coverage of fatal car crash

Attorney Daniel W. Munley, a partner in the law firm of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, negotiated a $950,000.00 settlement on behalf of the family of a teenager killed in an automobile crash in 2001.

The defendant, who received his driver’s license just weeks before, was driving his mother’s Camaro at an excessive speed when he crossed double yellow lines to pass another vehicle and lost control of his automobile. The plaintiff’s son was thrown from the vehicle and suffered a fatal wound.

The defendant’s insurance company, Allstate, failed to pay its obvious driver’s liability and delayed the case for a number of years. Attorney Munley offered Allstate numerous opportunities to act in good faith, essentially requiring them to pay out the policy limit of $25,000.00. After a time extension and several attempts to contact Allstate, […]

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Ranked Among 2013 ‘Best Law Firms’ by U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers®

The Pennsylvania law firm of Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, has received a Metropolitan Tier 1 ranking in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (Allentown) in the newly released 2013 “Best Law Firms” rankings from U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers.®

The firm has also received a Tier 2 ranking in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants (Allentown) in the third edition of the rankings, which can be found online at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com.

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.

In addition to the firm’s practice area rankings, four lawyers from Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, […]

Marion Munley Inducted To International Society of Barristers

Scranton, PA, May 04, 2012 — Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer Marion Munley was inducted as a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers during the organization’s recent annual convention in Newport Beach, California.

Munley is a board-certified civil trial lawyer with more than 24 years of experience in complex personal injury litigation, including representing victims of truck accident and car accident cases in Pennsylvania, New York and across the Northeast.

She joins two other attorneys from the Pennsylvania personal injury firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., as Fellows of the prestigious society of civil trial lawyers – Robert W. Munley and Matthew A. Cartwright.

The International Society of Barristers (ISOB) was created in 1965. The organization is dedicated to preserving trial by jury, the adversary system and an independent judiciary. The organization also promotes civility by bringing together members of both the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ side of the bar. […]

Court Initiatives Earn Pennsylvania a Prestigious National Award

We’re proud to practice in Pennsylvania’s courts, and we’re delighted to see Pennsylvania’s Court Administrator Zygmont Pines win the prestigious 2010 Warren E. Burger Award for Excellence in Court Administration—the highest award presented by the National Center for State Courts.

The Burger Award is named for the former chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the improvement of court operations with application to courts nationwide.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille in a January 3 press release praised Pines’ leadership in “introducing numerous cost-effective solutions to problems facing the Commonwealth’s 67 trial courts and more than 500 district courts.” Recent initiatives include:

• The installation of more than 300 video conferencing units in courts, which not only strengthens court security, but has the potential to save counties millions of dollars in prisoner transportation costs — […]

Top Trial Lawyers Share Their Winning Strategies

Attorneys Marion Munley and Matt Cartwright attended the American Association for Justice’s annual Weekend with the Stars in New York City December  9-11, where they joined with the nation’s preeminent trial lawyers, sharing winning strategies and techniques.

This year’s Weekend with the Stars “kicked-off” with a seminar devoted entirely to the DePuy Hip Implant Recall. This past August, DePuy Orthopedics, Inc. (A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) recalled the ASR Hip Resurfacing and the ASR XL Acetabular Systems, which came on the market in July 2003.

About 93,000 of the medical devices have been recalled due to increased rates of failure and elevated levels of cobalt and chromium, which leads to metallosis. It is estimated that one in 8 patients who received one of these DuPuy hip implants may need revision or a second hip replacement surgery.

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today! […]

Cartwright Receives Boy Scout’s Silver Beaver Award

Silver Beaver award presented to volunteer of exemplary service to youth

The lawyers of Munley, Munley & Cartwright take pride in serving the community both as skilled legal advocates and as dedicated community volunteers.

In recognition of distinguished volunteer service, attorney Matthew Cartwright, a partner in Munley, Munley & Cartwright, has received the prestigious Silver Beaver Award. The award is the highest honor given by the National Council of Boy Scouts to a volunteer for exceptional and noteworthy service to youth.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America presented the award to Cartwright and two other volunteers at its council recognition dinner in November.

Matt has served for a number of years on the Executive Board of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He currently volunteers on the Council Advisory Board.

As a personal injury lawyer and partner at Munley, […]