Commonwealth vs. Crippen  (06.20.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   Suppression motion; in-court identification by confidential informant where photo used for out-of-court identification has been lost; unduly suggestive photographic line-ups; probable cause for traffic stop; reasonable suspicion of criminal activity; valid consent to pat down search after vehicle stop; sufficiency of evidence of endangering children where child is in vehicle from which defendant is dealing drugs.  (Crippen062018bt)  (Posted: 06.20.2018)

Good Will Hunting Club, Inc. vs. Shipman  (06.13.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Civil:   Non-jury trial; boundary line dispute; order of precedence in methods used to determining boundaries; comparing expert opinions; doctrine of consentable line; acquiescence; parties recognizing and acquiescing in poster line as defining boundary between two properties; failure to object constituting acquiescence.  (Goodwill061318Li)  (Posted: 06.13.2018)

DAD vs. AL  (06.12.2018)  Judge Joy Reynolds McCoy
Family:   Appeal; timeliness; failure to timely file and serve concise statement; waiver of issues for appeal.  (dad061218m)  (Posted: 06.13.2018)

In re Termination of Parental Rights to AD1, AD2 and AB  (06.11.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Adoption:   Agency petition for termination of parental rights; settled purpose to relinquish parental claim to a child or fails to perform parental duties for at least six months prior to the filing of the termination petition; incarcerated parent; merely passive interest in the development of ones children; incarceration as incapacity which has caused the children to be without essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for their physical or mental well-being; bond existing between the child and parent; effect of parent’s own feelings of love and affection for child.  (DD061118Li)  (Posted: 06.11.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Martz  (06.11.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Contest of restitution order; burden of proof; failure to present witnesses at hearing.  (martz061118L)  (Posted: 06.11.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Sturgis  (06.11.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Suppression motion; timeliness; interests of justice; knowledge of facts that support motion within required time; merits not apparent; reasonable suspicion for pat down search.  (Sturgis061118L)  (Posted: 06.11.2018)

Rhinehart vs. PennDOT  (06.11.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   License suspension appeal; commercial motor vehicle licensed driver; incorrect warning for revocation of operating privileges or the disqualification of commercial driving privileges; knowing or intelligent waiver; suspension of an operating privilege under Pennsylvania Implied Consent Law; reasonable grounds to believe driver was operating vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance.  (rhinehart061118bt)  (Posted: 06.11.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Rawles  (06.08.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   Motion to compel comprehensive response to bill of particulars; claimed woefully inadequate response; purpose of a bill of particulars; request for Commonwealth to divulge each element of charges; discovery request aimed at the Commonwealth’s evidence and theory of the case.  (Rawles060818bt)  (Posted: 06.11.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Haines  (06.07.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   Suppression motion; defendant not advised by police officer of constitutional right to refuse a blood draw unless a warrant was first obtained or that he could speak to counsel; knowing, intelligent or voluntary consent to blood draw; totality of circumstances .  (Haines060718)  (Posted: 06.07.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Applegate  (06.07.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Commonwealth’s motion in limine; sufficiency of self-defense/justification proffer; facing clear and imminent harm; legal alternative to use of force; duty to retreat while in illegal possession of a firearm.  (Applegate060718L)  (Posted: 06.07.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Steele  (06.07.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   Appeal; sufficiency of evidence of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; forcible compulsion; evidence viewed in light most favorable to Commonwealth; lack of transcript to review evidence.  (Steele060718bt)  (Posted: 06.07.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Conard Carpenter  (06.04.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Motion to vacate order sexually violent predator hearing; constitutionality of new two-track registration program; punitive effect; exemption to registration process that is largely fanciful with changes being illusory at best; determination by a factfinder via a beyond the reasonable doubt standard.  (Carpenter060418L)  (Posted: 06.04.2018)

In the interest of JSZ  (06.04.2018)  Judge Joy Reynolds McCoy
Criminal:   Commonwealth appeal; remand to supplement the record due to Commonwealth's failure to timely file a rule 1925(b) statement.  (InReJZ060418m)  (Posted: 06.07.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Adkins  (06.01.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Commonwealth appeal; reasonable efforts to serve arrest warrant; conclusory statement by police officer that officers attempted to serve warrant outside territorial limits of their primary jurisdiction; basis of knowledge.  (Adkins060118L)  (Posted: 06.03.2018)

Smith vs. Montoursville Area School District  (06.01.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Administrative Appeal:   Appeal of local agency determination; claim for back pay and benefits; due process requirements; issues addressed during pre-deprivation (Loudermill) hearing; effect of notice of dismissal coming from administrator, rather than school board; sufficiency of the detail in notice of termination; procedural due process requirements.  (Smith060118Li)  (Posted: 06.01.2018)

RL, III Adoption  (05.31.2018)  Judge Joy Reynolds McCoy
Adoption:   Petition for involuntary termination of parental rights; settled purpose of relinquishing parental claim; failure to perform parental duties for at least the six months preceding the filing of the petition; child has been removed from the care of the parent by the court; failure to utilize all resources available to imprisoned father; no relationship between the child and father .  (AdoptionofRL053118m)  (Posted: 06.03.2018)

Laurel Hill Game and Forestry Club vs. Brion  (05.30.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Civil:   Petition to strike or open judgment to quiet title to the subsurface rights; service by publication; the lack of indispensable party; subject matter jurisdiction; sufficiency of petition.  (LaurelHill053018Li)  (Posted: 05.30.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Schaeffer  (05.30.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Appeal.  (Schaeffer053018L)  (Posted: 05.30.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Harvey  (05.29.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   Post conviction relief act petition; allegedly prejudicial remarks made by juror; credibility of testimony of witness to statement.  (Harvey052918bt)  (Posted: 05.29.2018)

Heim vs. Hope Enterprises Foundation Incorporated and/or Hope Enterprise, Inc. and/or Hope Corporation and/or Ryan Benis  (05.24.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Civil:   Motion in limine; expert testimony; qualifications of expert to testify about standard of care; lack of experience in management or supervision of group home.  (Heim052418Li2)  (Posted: 05.25.2018)

Heim vs. Hope Enterprises Foundation Incorporated and/or Hope Enterprise, Inc. and/or Hope Corporation and/or Ryan Benis  (05.24.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Civil:   Motion in limine; expert testimony; speculation; expert's use of hearsay, inadmissible statements; testimony about speculative explanations for patterns of behavior; testimony of an expert on subjects that do not require specialized knowledge is beyond that possessed by the average layperson; statement meant to inflame the jury; prejudice; expert opinion that defendant was "negligent or reckless".  (Heim052418Li)  (Posted: 05.25.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Long  (05.24.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Suppression motion; question of whether an arrest occurred; probable cause for arrest; extendable baton as prohibited offensive weapon.  (Long052518L)  (Posted: 05.25.2018)

Heim vs. Hope Enterprises Foundation Incorporated and/or Hope Enterprise, Inc. and/or Hope Corporation and/or Ryan Benis  (05.24.2018)  Judge Eric R. Linhardt
Civil:   Summary judgment motions; Mental Health Procedures Act and Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 immunity; applicability to group home; showing of gross negligence or incompetence; issues for jury.  (Heim052418Li3)  (Posted: 05.25.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Sims  (05.18.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Consolidation motion; judicial economy; common plan, scheme or design and to prove the identity of defendant as perpetrator; related deliveries of drugs; evidence capable of separation; prejudice; danger of cumulating evidence.  (sims051818L)  (Posted: 05.17.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Kellam  (05.16.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Civil:   Reconsideration of sentence; correctness of offense gravity score; Commonwealth's motion to amend sentence; failure to apply enhancement for possession of a deadly weapon.  (Kellam051618L)  (Posted: 05.16.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Bair  (05.16.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Severance motion; prosecution for multiple burglaries; prejudice or confusion; judicial economy.  (bair051618L)  (Posted: 05.16.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Young  (05.16.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Suppression motion; protective sweep of home during execution of arrest warrant; specific facts to justify a reasonable fear for safety of arresting officer.  (young051618L)  (Posted: 05.16.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Miller  (05.16.2018)  Judge Nancy L. Butts
Criminal:   Post conviction relief act petition; timeliness; jurisdiction of the court .  (Miller051618bt)  (Posted: 05.16.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Long  (05.15.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Reconsideration motion regarding rejection of plea agreement; DUI second offense; acceptance of ARD as prior offense; plea agreement binding the court; obligation of the court to follow the law and impose mandatory sentence even though no party objects to a lower sentence.  (long051518L)  (Posted: 05.15.2018)

Commonwealth vs. Shaffer  (05.15.2018)  Judge Marc F. Lovecchio
Criminal:   Post sentence motion; sexual offenses involving a child; sentencing factors including nature and circumstances of offenses, defendant’s history and characteristics, the court’s observations, pre-sentence report, guidelines and other relevant information; lack of interest in rehabilitation; risk of re-offense; sentencing discretion; use of witness to authenticate statement made to another party; business record; use of unacknowledged statement for cross examination; evidence of reputation around children.  (Shaffer051518L)  (Posted: 05.15.2018)