by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Jun 8, 2018 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Employment-related claims can have a significant effect on a municipal entity, both financially and in creating public relations issues for leadership. Often, a lawsuit or claim can be eliminated or mitigated early on by consulting with a labor attorney who has a...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Jun 8, 2018 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Amy Farkas, Manager of Harris Township, the fastest growing community in Centre County, stands proud on a stump from a tree that is more than 200 years old, located just down the street from the municipal building. The tree was weakened by emerald ash borers (AKA:...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Apr 9, 2018 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
By: Elizabeth Henry, PennPRIME Marketing and Member Services Manager and Ken Porter, Porter & Curtis, LLC. Imagine one of your volunteers getting stung by a bee while volunteering at the “Clean-Up the Park Day.” Imagine that volunteer having an allergic reaction...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Jul 19, 2017 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Note: When it comes to cyber threats, many of us think it only happens to other people. Why would the “bad guys” even consider our municipal entity? Well, they will and they do! I am sharing with you the story of a Pennsylvania municipality that is a PennPRIME...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Dec 6, 2016 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Disclaimer: This document is for example only and should not be used as a final product. The specific needs, practices, form of government and other operational procedures of your governmental entity may impact whether this example is appropriate for your use....
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | Liability, November 2011 Issue, Past Articles
Take Notice Of A Tort Claim Defense By David MacMain, Esq. and David Gomez, Esq. of Lamb McErlane, P.C. Using an under-utilized approach to resolving litigation prior to trial may provide an opportunity for municipalities to prevent questionable lawsuits and...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | August 2014 Issue, Liability, Past Articles
Top 12 Things to Include in Parade Safety Plans Reprinted with permission from ICMA Counties and municipalities are responsible for ensuring public safety at the many parades, festivals and special activities that may take place in their communities. To ensure these...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | Liability, May 2013 Issue, Past Articles
The Price of Politics: Evidence of Retaliation Against One Employee Permits Jury Trial for Multiple Promotion Candidates By Brian P. Gabriel, Esquire, Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. As campaigns for the next election cycle heat up, the Third...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | August 2012 Issue, Liability, Past Articles
By Julie A. Aquino, Esq., Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. Most employers know that certain questions cannot be asked during a job interview because the subject of the question is not a lawful consideration in a hiring decision. For example, an...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | August 2014 Issue, Liability, Past Articles
By Charles Starnes, Esquire, The MacMain Law Group, LLC. Municipal officials should view social media as both a powerful tool and potential source of major headaches and litigation. Social media usage is now ubiquitous, having grown into the single largest activity...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | Liability, May 2012 Issue, Past Articles
Think Twice Before You Hit Send: Rules for Sending and Receiving Email By Julie A. Aquino, Esq., Campell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. Long ago, a person wanting to have a casual business discussion would pick up the telephone and “reach out and touch...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | Liability, November 2012 Issue, Past Articles
By Brian P. Gabriel, Esq., Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. There are eight exceptions to governmental immunity afforded to municipalities under state law. Which exception exposes you to the most liability? The answer is not a close call. The...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 29, 2016 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Disclaimer: This document is for example only and should not be used as a final product. The specific needs, practices, form of government and other operational procedures of your governmental entity may impact whether this example is appropriate for your use....
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 25, 2016 | January 2014 Issue, Liability, Past Articles
Data Security & Personal Information: Trending Continues Towards Greater Regulation By Paul N. Lalley, Esq. and Melanie B. Seigel, Esq.,Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. With the proliferation of businesses (and government) accessing and storing...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 25, 2016 | Liability, November 2013 issue, Past Articles
Can We Relax Now? The Commonwealth Court’s Decision in Lee v. Beaver County Gives Some Relief to Municipal Contractual Risk Management Practices (But Don’t Get Too Comfortable) By Paul N. Lalley Esq., Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. Those who...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 25, 2016 | Liability, May 2010 Issue, Past Articles
How Public Officials Can Avoid E-Mail and Texting Liability Landmines By Patrick J. Harvey, Esq., Ballard Spahr LLP A disconnect too often occurs when public officials send e-mails and text messages. This disconnect involves public officials erroneously...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 1, 2016 | Liability, Past Articles
IRS Issues Affordable Care Act Reporting Forms and Instructions for Employers By Joseph M. Motto, Esq. and David E. Mitchell, Esq., Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. On July 24, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service released drafts of the new forms that...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 1, 2016 | January 2015 Issue, Liability, Past Articles
Benefits of Accident Investigations and Documentation By Brian P. Gabriel, Esq. and Joseph M. Motto, Esq., Campbell Durrant Beatty Palombo & Miller, P.C. A persistent concern among municipal entities is that written documentation of an accident or injury will be...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 1, 2016 | Liability, Past Articles
Comparing Apples and Oranges: Similarities Between Liability and Workers' Compensation Exposures When you hear the phrase, “You can’t compare apples and oranges,” it is meant to convey that you can’t compare things that are completely different. However, when you...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 1, 2016 | August 2015 Issue, Liability, Past Articles
Emerging Risk Factors with Drones By Claire Lee Reiss, J.D., ARM, CPCU, Program Director, NLC-RISC, National League of Cities (NLC) Drones are an important emerging technology for local governments and private industry. Whether they are called drones, Unmanned Aerial...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Nov 1, 2016 | Liability, November 2011 Issue, Past Articles
Responding To and Tracking Citizen Complaints By David E. Mitchell, Esq., Campbell, Durrant, Beatty, Palombo & Miller, P.C. Having a mechanism for receiving, tracking and responding to citizen complaints regarding potentially dangerous conditions involving...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Oct 31, 2016 | Liability, Past Articles
Insurance Considerations For Drone Use Drones or Unmanned Aircraft Systems are now in use, or being considered for use, by local government entities across the nation. Police, public works, and fire services are some of the potential users. While much consideration...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Sep 21, 2016 | Law Enforcement, Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Disclaimer: This document is for example only and should not be used as a final product. The specific needs, practices, form of government and other operational procedures of your governmental entity may impact whether this example is appropriate for your use....
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Jul 27, 2016 | Liability, May 2014 Issue, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
By David E. Mitchell, Esq., Campbell Durrant, Beatty, Palombo & Miller, P.C. Some employers believe that not having written employment policies in place is beneficial because it allows them more flexibility in responding to situations that arise in the workplace. ...
by PennPRIME Insurance Trust | Mar 21, 2016 | Liability, Past Articles, PRIME Watch
Disclaimer: This document is for example only and should not be used as a final product. The specific needs, practices, form of government and other operational procedures of your governmental entity may impact whether this example is appropriate for your use....