Munley Law Blog

Pennsylvania’s new DUI law goes into effect

A new DUI law, Act 153, went into effect in Pennsylvania on December 23, 2018, introducing tougher penalties for repeat offenders.

What’s new about this law?

Under the new DUI law, individuals convicted of a third DUI with a BAC of .16 or higher, or those convicted of four (or more) DUI’s can be charged with a felony. Under the previous law, Pennsylvania was one of only a few states in which a third DUI was treated as a misdemeanor.

The new law also increases penalties for offenders who cause the death of another person while driving under the influence. Increased penalties include potential felony charges for repeat offenders, and an additional five years of prison time for someone who commits homicide by vehicle while driving without a license or with a suspended license.

Additionally, the law increases fines and jail time for driving under suspension for a prior DUI. […]

What Happens if You Get in an Accident in the Company Vehicle?

Driving a company car can be both a benefit and a burden. The perks include not paying for gas out of your own pocket and not worrying about putting miles or wear and tear on your own car. But what happens when you are involved in an accident in a company car? Understanding who is at fault and must pay can be confusing.

If you are involved in an accident in a company car
and your employer purchased commercial auto insurance, the commercial auto
insurance provider will usually pay any valid claims related to the accident,
as long as the employee was using the vehicle properly at the time of the
accident. Most of the time, your employer will deal with the insurance company
directly, though you may have to answer questions or provide other evidence
upon request of the insurance company. […]

Report: J&J Knew for Decades About Asbestos in Baby Powder

Report: J&J knew about asbestos in their products and issued no warning

In a new report that drove the company’s shares down more than 9%, Reuters stated that Johnson & Johnson has known since the 1970s that its talc baby powder sometimes contained carcinogenic asbestos.

Reuters based its report on a review of documents and deposition and trial testimony that showed that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos. Company executives, managers, doctors and lawyers discussed the problem amongst themselves but didn’t inform regulators or the public. The documents examined by Reuters also describe successful efforts to influence U.S. regulators’ plans to limit asbestos in cosmetic talc products and scientific research on the health effects of talc.

The company has faced thousands of lawsuits alleging its talc baby powder products contain asbestos and caused ovarian and other cancers. […]

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, […]

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 Personal Injury Attorneys 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. […]