US Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal, Clearing Way for Pretrial Litigation in Menendez Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to immediately take up a petition of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, claiming that corruption charges against him are pre-empted by the speech or debate clause of the Constitution. The court’s Monday order denying certiorari, clears the way for U.S. District Judge William Walls of the District of New Jersey to resume pretrial proceedings, which have been on hold since Menendez filed an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in November 2015.

Court reinstates part of Scranton worker’s lawsuit

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Appellate court says Uber drivers are independent contracts, not employees

Siding with the San Francisco-based technology giant, a Florida appeals court Wednesday upheld a decision by Gov. Rick Scott’s administration that Uber drivers are independent contractors – not employees – and therefore not eligible for unemployment benefits. The unanimous decision by the three-judge panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeals stems from an unemployment claim filed in 2015 by Darrin McGillis, who spent five months as an Uber driver before the company dropped him.

Certain Bonuses Not Due For Family Medical Leave Act

The Family Medical Leave Act requires that employees taking leave under the act are to be treated in the same manner as if they had remained in the workplace. In a recent case of first impression, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that certain types of bonuses may be prorated for the period during which an employee is on FMLA leave.

Moosic seeks fees, costs in suit filed by doctor

Moosic borough wants a federal judge to award it more than $134,000 in attorney’s fees and costs related to its defense of a lawsuit filed six years ago by the doctor whose company provides inmate medical care at the Lackawanna County Prison. In seeking the award, attorneys for Moosic argue the lawsuit that Edward Zaloga, D.O., and his company, Correctional Care Inc., brought against the borough and several of its officials in December 2010 was mostly frivolous and without foundation.