What is Litigation?
Litigation is the process of taking legal action and filing a lawsuit.
According to Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute (LII), litigation is defined as “the process of resolving disputes by filing or answering a complaint through the public court system.” As such, a judge or jury examines the evidence and makes a legally binding decision. This process can include various stages such as filing pleadings, conducting discovery, engaging in pre-trial motions, going to trial, and potentially appealing the court’s decision.
Litigation is beneficial because it allows for a formal resolution of disputes based on laws and legal precedent. However, litigation can be time-consuming and costly, as well as prolonged periods of uncertainty. Understanding litigation is crucial for individuals, businesses, and legal professionals navigating legal disputes and seeking to protect their rights and interests within the judicial system. It involves a comprehensive understanding of legal procedures, strategic decision-making, and effective advocacy to achieve favorable outcomes in court.
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What is Summary Judgment?
Understanding motions for summary judgment…and how to win them
If you sued a defendant for your injuries or other damages, then you can expect certain legal responses and defenses. While every case is unique, some stages of litigation come up in nearly every lawsuit. Summary judgment is one of those phases. Understanding what summary judgment is and how handle it is key to winning big in your case. As a result, our experienced trial lawyers define summary judgment and provide a guide to using this legal step to maximize your compensation payout.
To discuss the details of your lawsuit for FREE, schedule a consultation with an award-winning Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys litigator today.
Motions for summary judgment: what they are and what do they do
In order to fully grasp motions for summary judgment, you must have a basic understanding of how lawsuits work. […]
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Fatal tractor trailer crash on I-81 in Lackawanna County
A Dickson City man and a Philadelphia woman were killed in a crash with a tractor trailer on I-81 in Moosic, PA at around 11:20 PM Wednesday, October 7, 2020. The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that fire departments from Moosic, Avoca and Taylor responded to the crash scene, along with multiple EMS units. The highway was shut down for hours overnight before reopening around 7AM on Thursday morning. Initial reports say that the tractor-trailer struck the victims’ vehicle while attempting to change lanes; both vehicles then went over an embankment and the car was crushed under the truck. The truck driver was not seriously injured.
Additional investigation will determine the exact cause of the crash. The days following a tractor-trailer crash will be critical in collecting and preserving evidence in order to determine if negligence contributed to this tragedy. Most tractor-trailers are equipped with black box data recorders containing all kinds of information about the truck and driver in the moments leading up to the crash. […]
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Truck Accidents and Expert Witnesses
Expert Witnesses in Truck Accident Cases: FAQ
When you have a personal injury case involving a commercial truck, the stakes are high. Truck accident cases depend on highly specialized information including industry regulations, truck mechanics, and the long-term medical and economic impacts of your crash. To build a winning case, you will need the testimony of reliable witnesses, so it is essential that you have a lawyer who can bring in the right witnesses.
Who May Testify in Court As a Witness?
Not everyone has the right to come to court and testify in a truck accident case. In order to take the stand and answer questions before a jury during a live court proceeding, a person must qualify to give testimony as a fact witness or an expert witness.
As their name suggests, fact witnesses may testify about events that they observed firsthand. […]
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Daniel Munley: Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation-Plaitiffs, Allentown
Daniel W. Munley has been named “Lawyer of the Year in Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs for the Allentown Metro Area” by The Best Lawyers in America© in 2020.
Dan Munley, a board-certified civil trial advocate (according to the National Board of Trial Advocacy), is a longstanding truck accident lawyer with a national reputation for successful representation of clients in trials. In addition, he is certified by the Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (AITLA).
Mr. Munley has received numerous awards. Among others, he has been named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by the National Trial Lawyers Association and recognized by the French Consulate in New York City and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for his representation of the family of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. […]
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Roundup lawsuits continue to make headlines
In the last few years, makers of the popular weedkiller Roundup have faced thousands of lawsuits alleging that their product caused cancer. Now, more than 18,000 claimants have filed suit.
Claimants allege that exposure to glyphosate, the ingredient found in Roundup, caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Furthermore, they allege that Monsanto, makers of Roundup, knew about the risks of their product and failed to issue appropriate warning to consumers.
As of August 9, 2019, three cases against Monsanto have gone to trial. All three cases have resulted in massive awards for plaintiffs. Even after judges reduced the amounts recommended by juries, the verdicts were significant. For example, in July, a California judge reduced a couple’s $2 billion verdict to $87 million.
In May of this year, Kenneth Feinberg was hired to mediate a settlement in multidistrict litigation (MDL) over Roundup. […]
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Truck accident lawyers: Snyder county crash kills Selinsgrove man
A recent truck crash in Snyder County claimed the life of a man from Selinsgrove, Northumberland County. The wreck happened in Shamokin Dam, PA, and had Routes 11 and 15 backed up for miles.
The accident occurred when a car and tractor trailer were stopped at a red light. A second tractor trailer collided with the stopped vehicles; the car between the trucks was crushed by the impact, and the driver of that vehicle was killed.
The police investigation into the crash and the driver who struck the stopped vehicles is underway.
As truck accident lawyers, we have, unfortunately, seen cases very similar to this one. Marion Munley, current Chair of the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group, and Daniel Munley who served as Chair in 2011, travel the country to educate other lawyers and lawmakers about the common causes of truck accidents like this one, […]
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The next IVC filter case goes to trial this week
Next IVC filter trial begins this week
The third bellwether trial involving C.R. Bard IVC filters began Tuesday, September 18 in Phoenix, AZ.
Of the more than 9,000 lawsuits alleging that IVC filters have caused patients serious harm, C.R. Bard Inc. and Cook Medical Inc. face the largest number of cases, with about 4,000 each.
Thus far, the first cases to go to trial have yet to yield a clear victor; there have been wins and losses on both sides, so it is difficult to say how this next trial will end. Cook won the first IVC filter trial last year, but then lost two substantial monetary verdicts in May 2017 and March 2018. Cook’s last win occurred on June 1st.
In Tuesday’s trial, a federal judge will oversee the multi-district litigation over C.R. Bard’s IVC filters. The plaintiff’s attorney, Ramon Lopez was quoted as saying this case could be “ […]
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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. […]
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Truck Accident on I-81 in Wilkes-Barre
Tractor trailer crash on I-81 in Wilkes-Barre – a truck accident lawyer’s perspective
A truck accident near the Highland Park Boulevard exit in Wilkes-Barre, PA this morning shut down Interstate 81 when one tractor trailer rear-ended another at around 4 a.m. One driver was trapped inside his truck and was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
Wilkes-Barre truck accident lawyer and former chairman of the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group Dan Munley notes the significance of the time of the crash: “Leading indicators show that at the time of the crash, the truck driver would have been at an increased risk for a fatigue-related accident.” A complete investigation will determine whether fatigue played a role in this case.
The human body operates on a 24-hour cycle, during which we are programmed to need rest at certain times of day. […]
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Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyers From Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Named Best Lawyers 2018
The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys are pleased to announce that all six of our partners have been recognized in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in America.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. For the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 7.4 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 58,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” […]
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National Board of Trial Advocacy Re-Certifies Dan Munley
The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) is pleased to announce that Daniel Munley has successfully achieved recertification as a civil trial advocate. The NBTA was formed out of a strong conviction that both the law profession and its clients would benefit from an organization designed specifically to create an objective set of standards illustrating an attorney’s experience and expertise in the practice of trial law.
Along with Attorneys Marion Munley, J. Christopher Munley, and John Mulcahey at the Munley firm, Daniel Munley is part a growing number of trial attorneys that have illustrated their commitment to bettering the legal profession by successfully completing a rigorous application process and providing the consumer of legal services with an objective measure by which to choose qualified and experienced legal counsel.
The elaborate screening of credentials that all NBTA board certified attorneys must successfully complete includes: demonstration of substantial trial experience, […]
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Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Ranked as One of the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms for 2017
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys once again ranked for personal injury, product liability, and workers’ compensation in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms for 2017.
When you need legal help, you want to know that you and your family are in the best possible hands. So how do you know which firm is “best”? The legal guide Best Lawyers and U.S. News and World Report publish annual rankings to help you do just that. For the last seven years, the two publications have teamed up to evaluate lawyers and law firms from all over the United States.
What Makes a “Best Law Firm”
Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes peer and client reviews. Firms included in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. […]
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Munley Gets 2nd Highest Settlement in PA
We are pleased to announce that a case we settled earlier this year was one of the top 25 highest settlements in the U.S. in 2015, according to a list published annually by the National Law Journal. It was also the 2nd highest settlement reached in Pennsylvania this year. Check out the digital version here.
In May, 2015, Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys reached a $3.97 million settlement on behalf of the family of Mark Kowalski, a truck driver who was killed in a tractor trailer accident in 2011. It is our hope that this settlement will bring some security to the Kowalski family, and will put pressure on the trucking industry to improve safety measures to prevent such accidents.
Mr. Kowalski, from New York state, was traveling east on I-80 in Columbia County, PA, when he encountered defendant Patrick Webb, […]
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Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys named to Best Law Firms 2016 by U.S. News and World Report
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has been named to the 2016 list of Best Law Firms, compiled by Best Lawyers and U.S. News and World Report. The annual report of law firm rankings is based on client reviews and peer evaluations of attorneys from all over the country in 74 practice areas. Law firms are evaluated on expertise, responsiveness, integrity, experience, cost-effectiveness, and whether a client or fellow lawyer would refer someone to that firm.
In order to be eligible for inclusion in the list of Best Law Firms, at least one attorney from the firm must also be ranked by Best Lawyers. Currently, five of our partners are listed by Best Lawyers, including Robert W. Munley, Marion Munley, Daniel Munley, Robert W. Munley III, and J. Christopher Munley.
Our firm is ranked in Tier One for Personal Injury Litigation in the Allentown metro area. […]
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Robert W. Munley named to the 2015 Irish Legal 100
We are so pleased to announce that our father and founder, Robert W. Munley, has been selected to the Irish Legal 100, an annual honor recognizing the top 100 American lawyers of Irish descent.
Robert W. Munley founded our firm in 1959. Since then, he has had a powerful influence on the legal field in Pennsylvania. A trail-blazer for future attorneys, he was among the very first attorneys in the state to adopt a focus on cases involving injuries and death caused by commercial trucks, and he has been instrumental in the development of the field of truck accident litigation as we know it today.
Among the most important legacies our founder has passed on is his commitment to helping those who need it most. As a plaintiffs’ firm, we are dedicated to obtaining justice for victims of injury and loss. But Robert Munley has always extended his advocacy for the powerless beyond the courtroom. […]
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Dan Munley speaks at AAJ College on truck crash litigation in Dallas, TX
On Thursday, October 8, Attorney Daniel Munley, partner at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, spoke at the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Advanced Trial Advocacy College on Litigating Truck Collision Cases, held in Dallas, TX. Dan’s presentation was titled, “The Mechanics of the Mechanical Case – From Intake Through Trial.”
Attorney Dan Munley is a member and former chairman of the AAJ’s Trucking Litigation Group, a group dedicated to providing lawyers with the tools and resources to successfully litigate trucking cases and improve highway safety in the United States. Munley frequently travels around the country to speak on issues and trends surrounding truck accident cases in an effort to increase the collective body of legal knowledge on the subject.
He speaks with considerable first-hand experience on the subject. Munley recently reached a $3.97 million settlement on behalf of the family of a truck driver who was killed in a trucking accident. […]
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Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America; Lawyer of the Year
We are very pleased to announce that four of our partners have been named to the 2016 list of Best Lawyers in America, and our own Chris Munley was named workers’ comp lawyer of the year!
Attorney J. Christopher Munley, partner at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, has been named the 2016 Lawyer of the Year in the field of workers’ compensation law in the Allentown metro area by Best Lawyers. Munley has been representing individuals and families who have suffered due to injury for 21 years. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and named among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He currently resides in Clarks Summit with his wife Dr. Maria Yager Munley and their two children.
In addition, four more members of the Munley firm were listed in the 2016 edition of Best Lawyers in America. […]
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Dan Munley Speaks Up for Victims of I 380 Tractor Trailer-Bus Crash as Investigation Continues
Yesterday, Interstate 380 was shut down by a deadly crash between a tractor trailer and a charter bus in Monroe County. According to the state police, the tractor trailer crossed the median and hit the bus head on. Three people, including the bus driver, were killed, and 13 more were taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries. Nine were taken to Pocono Medical Center, and the rest were treated at Geisinger trauma centers.
According to WNEP, The Academy Viaggidea charter tour bus was carrying a group of Italian tourists on their way to visit Niagara Falls. The driver of the tractor trailer has been identified as Franklin Wyatt from Oklahoma. His truck is registered to XTRA Lease Trucking of St. Louis.
Attorney Dan Munley, former chairman of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group and current member of its public relations committee, […]
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Amtrak Investigation Continues, Lawsuits Begin
Deadly Amtrak crash still under investigation, attorneys concerned over 1997 damages cap of $200M
Four passengers and one of the conductors on board the derailed Amtrak train 188 have filed lawsuits against Amtrak as the investigation continues. Amtrak service between Philadelphia and New York resumed this morning with Michael Nutter, mayor of Philadelphia, there to see passengers off.
Speculation as to the official cause of the crash is still going on
Was an object hurled at the train moments before the crash? Does it matter? While the object may not have done damage to the train itself, some say it could have alarmed, distracted, or even wounded the conductor, who says he has no memory of the crash or the final moments leading up to it. A“black box” data recorder will give a more accurate reading of the train’s speed, […]
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Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Attorneys Named to 2015 Best Lawyers® in America List
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys is pleased to announce that five partners have been named to the 2015 Edition of Best Lawyers. Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys has also been listed among the 2015 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report.
- Robert W. Munley, Sr., Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Marion Munley, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Daniel W. Munley, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Robert W. Munley III, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- James Christopher Munley, Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys was ranked in the top tier of Personal Injury Litigation law firms in the annual ranking by U.S. News & World Report, based on peer and client reviews. […]
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