Munley News

Judge says Monsanto cancer case can move forward

Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that lawsuits against agricultural giant Monsanto could proceed and that key plaintiffs’ witnesses may testify. The lawsuits allege that Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup caused users to develop cancer.

This move represents a win for victims, but they will still face an uphill battle at trial, as the judge called their claims “shaky” but admissible.

Thousands of individual plaintiffs claim Monsanto’s widely used weedkiller RoundUp caused them to develop cancer and that Monsanto provided no consumer warning. Specifically, the lawsuits link the ingredient glyphosate to an increased risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and claim that the company knew about the risk and failed to warn the public, going so far as to suppress research that suggested the product was dangerous. The ingredient glyphosate is considered a probable human carcinogen according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.  […]

Truck crash on I-81 claims two lives

Yesterday, a tractor trailer crash on Interstate 81 killed two people and seriously injured two others.

A family from Canada was traveling on I-81 northbound in Scott Township near the Fleetville exit.  They were stopped in traffic when they were rear-ended by a tractor trailer operated by JVM Transport. The truck crash killed the 45-year-old father and 10-year-old son; the mother and daughter were taken to the hospital in Lackawanna County. The driver of another tractor trailer that had been stopped in traffic was also taken to the hospital.

Via WNEP: “According to investigators, the big rig did not stop in time and hit the car which was stopped in traffic from an earlier crash.” 

Dan Munley, former chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Trucking Litigation Group, states that  “we have handled other cases in our area where a tractor trailer failed to stop in traffic and either killed or seriously injured another driver. […]

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, […]

Clergy abuse report blocked by PA Supreme Court

PA Supreme Court blocks grand jury report’s public release

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court stopped the release of a grand jury report investigating decades of sexual abuse in six Catholic dioceses across the state as a result of challenges filed by unnamed parties.  While the report was issued to six dioceses under investigation, no estimated date has been provided for when the 800 plus-page report will be made public.

The grand jury spent nearly two years investigating allegations of sexual abuse by the clergy in Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton.  These dioceses have roughly 1.7 million members.

The investigation covered not only claims of child sexual abuse, but also failure to report to law enforcement and obstruction of justice.  In addition to the clergy, clergy community leaders, local public officeholders, and church officers were investigated.  The jurors reviewed over 500,000 pages of diocesan archives.  […]

It’s almost the 4th of July! Do you know PA’s new fireworks law?

The first July 4th holiday since PA’s new fireworks law was signed

With the Fourth of July holiday almost here, it’s important for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania to understand our state’s new fireworks law.  As of October 2017, the fireworks laws in Pennsylvania have changed.  The new law allows PA residents to purchase consumer-grade fireworks, including firecrackers, Roman Candles, bottle rockets, and similar fireworks that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material.

Display-grade fireworks – large fireworks designed to produce visible or audible effects for entertainment purposes by combustion, or detonation – remain limited to operators with a permit.  Display fireworks are what you would see at a firework show, and they are set off by a firework technician.

Under the old law, only out-of-state residents could legally purchase The previous law (The Fireworks Act of 1939) limited residents to only novelty fireworks, […]

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. […]

Truck driver shortage raises safety questions

Why is there a truck driver shortage?

The trucking industry is in need of truck drivers. The shortage of truck drivers in the past 15 years has been a burden on the trucking industry.  The shortage of drivers has seen delayed deliveries, and higher prices on goods all over the U.S.  According to the American Trucking Association, more than 70 percent of goods are moved by the trucking industry, and more than 900,000 new truckers are needed to pick up delivery demands.  The shortage of truckers has forced some major retailers to pay higher prices on shipments so that they may arrive on time.

This desperate time has lead the trucking industry to increase pay for truckers by 15 percent just to attract new entrants in the industry.  They are also offering sign-on bonuses to new truckers, and major pay raises.  Despite the enticing higher wages, […]

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.  […]

Family of Marine killed in truck crash receives $8M settlement

Representing the Stevens family has been one of the greatest honors of our careers. It has been our privilege to advocate on their behalf and bring this case to a just resolution.  Read more about the case below.

On Monday, the truck accident lawyers at Munley Law reached an $8 million settlement in a case stemming from a deadly truck accident in Susquehanna County. The crash claimed the life of 27-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Stevens.  Stevens was an active duty Marine and the father of two young boys. He served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was in town for his sister’s wedding. His wife Katherine Stevens was represented by Marion Munley, Robert W. Munley, III, and Caroline Munley. The case was scheduled for trial this week before the Honorable John Jones of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

“The family was devastated by the loss and we are pleased that we were able to bring some small measure of justice,” said Attorney Robert W. […]

Fatal Accidents Pose Questions for Regulators of Self-Driving Tech

Pedestrian Killed by Self-Driving Uber

On March 18, a pedestrian was struck and killed by an autonomous car operated by Uber as she was crossing the street. The Uber, a Volvo XC90, hit and killed the 49 year old woman despite the car’s being equipped with a variety of sensors, including Light Dectection and Ranging (lidar) which is designed to create 3D, 360 degree images of the car’s surroundings and radar that can see objects in the light or dark.  In addition, there was a human safety driver at the wheel, although a video of the accident shows that the driver was not paying attention. Furthermore, the driver was not holding his hands above the steering wheel, as most backup drivers are taught.  However, he had no signs of impairment.  Nor did weather appear to play a role.  The vehicle was moving at 40 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time of the Uber accident.  […]