Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Glade Run Lutheran Services

Lawsuit alleging abuse, neglect of teen

ZELIENOPLE, Pa. —  A family is suing Glade Run Lutheran Services, a group home in Zelienople, claiming that a 13-year-old boy was abused and neglected at the facility.

Abuse and neglect lawsuit filed against Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople PA

Attorneys for the boy and his family spoke Wednesday with Channel 11 News after filing the civil lawsuit.

“The thing that gets this little boy excited is the thought that Glade Run will no longer exist,” Nick Indovina of the Pisanchyn law firm said .

 

Channel 11 News has covered the residential treatment facility, which cares for children and teenagers with severe mental health issues, for months.

State inspectors found evidence last October of children having sex with other children on campus. As a result, the state Department of Human Services stripped the 56-bed facility of its license, which Glade Run is attempting to get back through an appeals process with the state. The campus has three additional facilities that have remained open pending the appeal decision.

 

No criminal charges were ever filed, but the state mandated changes, including firing the staff, hiring new employees and adding security cameras.

 

Indovina said the changes are not enough.

 

The lawsuit filed Wednesday details allegations too graphic for Channel 11 News to report about what the boy, now 15, endured from March to July 2015 while he was being treated at the group home for severe mental health issues.

 

The suit alleges that the staff failed to keep him safe from other children.

 

While Glade Run had yet to see the lawsuit, officials issued the following statement to Channel 11 News:

“Glade Run Lutheran Services serves our communities’ most challenging and traumatized youth, providing residential, school-based and community-based offerings to thousands throughout Western Pennsylvania each year. Many have complex mental health issues and behaviors that necessitate residential treatment for stabilization and healing. The safety of our clients remains our first priority, and we are committed to providing the safest environment for their treatment and recovery.

“The provision of human services to individuals with mental health issues is not without risks. These risks include physical harm to staff and potential litigation. The privacy rights of our clients preclude us from discussing any allegation that may arise. Glade Run has a longstanding track record of more than 160 years of successful care and treatment of traumatized youth, and is dedicated to protecting the best interests of those we serve.”

Pisanchyn Law Firm Published

Car Passenger Alleged Insurer Acted in Bad Faith on UIM Claim

The Pisanchyn Law Firm’s recent verdict in a Bad Faith case has been published in Pennsylvania Verdict Search. Insurance companies have a duty to act in good faith to their clients and the Pisanchyn Law Firm will fight to ensure they do on behalf of our clients.

Click here to read the verdict.

GM Recall Case Settles for $1.9 Million

Pisanchyn Law Firm Fights for Justice Against GM

By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER
Published: April 28, 2016

Joan Occulto always suspected a mechanical problem caused the 2007 car crash that killed her grandson, but no one believed her.

The pain of losing Louis McHale, 30, was torture enough for the Dunmore grandmother. He left behind three young sons.

Her pain worsened from the innuendoes and rumors that the crash was her grandson’s fault.
It took nearly eight years, but Mrs. Occulto, 75, said her grandson finally is vindicated as GM agreed Tuesday to approve a claim she and her husband, Frank, 83, filed. Their claim alleged a faulty ignition switch, that unexpectedly shut off his car, impaired the steering and forced him to lose control, caused the crash.

The settlement, negotiated by attorney Michael Pisanchyn of Scranton, comes from a fund GM set up to compensate victims of the defective switch. Terms of the settlement are confidential, but public documents related to the claims process reveal family members will be paid at least $1 million in damages, plus $300,000 for each dependent. That equates to at least $1.9 million for Mr. McHale’s family.

While the money certainly will help the family, it’s not what motivated Mrs. Occulto to pursue the case.

“The money means nothing to me. It can’t bring my grandson back,” she said. “I wanted to clear his name. … It was General Motors’ fault. They took my grandson away from his sons.”

The settlement is among at least three GM reached involving Lackawanna County families in the past two years. In October 2014, GM settled a case filed by Leo and Mary Theresa Ruddy, whose daughter, Kelly Erin Ruddy, was killed in 2010. In June 2105, it settled a case filed by Richard and Laura Miller over the 2014 death of their son, James Miller. Both of those lawsuits were filed by attorney Larry Moran of Lenahan and Dempsey in Scranton.

The claims were among more than 4,000 filed that sought compensation from a special fund GM set up in June 2014 to compensate victims. The fund paid out $594.5 million for 399 claims, including 124 deaths, according to a final report issued in December by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who administered the fund.

GM acknowledged it knew about problems with the ignition switches in several of its models for at least a decade before it began recalling the vehicles in February 2014.

James Cain, a spokesman for GM, said the company’s settlement of cases does not mean it admits that that the ignition switch failed or was the cause of a particular crash. He noted that, in deciding whether to approve a claim, Mr. Feinberg did not undertake any engineering analysis or consider legal defenses GM had in the cases, including statute of limitations and contributory negligence of the drivers.

“We faced the ignition switch issue with integrity, dignity and clear determination to do the right thing both in the short and long term,” Mr. Cain said in an email Thursday.

In Mr. McHale’s case, he was killed and his passenger, Audrey Evans of Scranton, was injured after he lost control of his 2003 Saturn Ion on Interstate 81 in Kline Twp. on Sept. 9, 2007. The car struck a rock embankment and rolled twice, ejecting both occupants. Mr. McHale left behind three sons, ages 6, 8 and 11 at the time of his death.

Mrs. Occulto said she contacted several law firms shortly after the crash and asked them to look into the case, but all declined. She gave up hope of ever proving a mechanical failure was to blame. Then she got a recall notice at her Elm Street home in July 2014 regarding the ignition switch.
“Then I knew something was wrong with the car,” she said.

Even with the new information, Mrs. Occulto said she still had trouble finding an attorney to take the case.

Mr. Pisanchyn said the case presented significant challenges, including that the statute of limitations to sue had expired years ago. Mr. McHale’s vehicle also was no longer available, so it would be hard to prove the ignition switch caused the crash. He said he decided to take the case because he strongly believed GM should be held accountable.

“GM clearly knew there was a problem with the ignition switch. They were getting reports of deaths quite often,” he said. “It came down to they put corporate profits over peoples’ lives.”
Mr. Pisanchyn said GM initially rejected Mrs. Occulto’s claim. It reconsidered the decision after attorney Douglas Yazinski consulted with auto safety experts and obtained photos police took of Mr. McHale’s car that showed the airbags did not deploy — a key indicator that the ignition was in the “off” position when the crash occurred.

“The pictures really made a difference in our case. It put GM’s feet to the fire,” Mr. Pisanchyn said.
Mrs. Occulto said she’s thankful the case is resolved. For years, she and her great-grandchildren dealt with rumors about the crash. It’s a relief to have the truth out, she said, but she can’t help but feel bitter toward GM.

“For a 35-cent part, my grandson died,” she said.

Pisanchyn Law Firm Settlement March 22

Family settles fatal motorcycle accident suit for $1.5 million

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker
The Times-Tribune (TNS) 

 

The family of a Scranton man killed when a tractor- trailer struck his motorcycle reached a $1.5 million settlement with the trucking firm.

 

Thomas M. Burke Sr., 65, of Park Drive, Scranton, was riding his 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Carbon County on Oct. 4, 2013. The driver of a tractor-trailer owned by Lily Transportation Corp. of New Jersey moved into Mr. Burke’s lane and struck his motorcycle, pushing it into a barrier. Mr. Burke was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Michael Pisanchyn of Scranton, attorney for Mr. Burke’s wife, Lela Mattern-Burke, initially filed suit against the company and the driver, Joh Hatterer, in Philadelphia County Court.

 

The case was later transferred to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In a press release, Mr. Pisanchyn said evidence showed Mr. Hatterer, who died while the lawsuit was pending, was previously involved in several collisions and had a long history of driving violations.

A settlement was reached following a meeting with a mediator on March 22. The agreement sets aside $600,000 in attorneys fees to be split evenly between Mr. Pisanchyn’s firm and Jason Provinzano, who represents Mr. Burke’s estate.

 

“The Pisanchyn Law Firm believes that this settlement sends a message to other trucking companies that if they do not follow the rules … putting our community in danger, there will be severe consequences,” the release says.

Nursing Home Abuse Victims

When you have an elderly family member or friend at a nursing home the last thing on your mind should be their safety. When the news comes in that they were physically or mentally harmed by the nursing home staff it will come as a shock. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is more common than most people think. A recent study shows that 1 in 14 residents of a nursing home have admitted to being abused either mentally, physically, or sexually by nursing home staff. This results in over 20,000 residents being abused in some form each year. This is not only a disgusting fact, but also unacceptable. If someone you love or care for is a victim of nursing home abuse do not hesitate to fight back. Contact the attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm today to get the compensation you deserve! Call or fill out a form today for a free consultation!

http://www.pisanchyn.com/contact.html

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: The Silent Killer.

Commercial vehicles such as school buses, a semi-truck transporting goods, or a company van, a great deal of trust is placed into the driver of the vehicle. When the driver breaks this trust by being negligent of other drivers some of the worst accidents on the road occur. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident involving a commercial vehicle contact the expert attorneys at the Pisanchyn Law Firm today to fight back and get the compensation you rightfully deserve! Call today to get a free consultation!

http://www.pisanchyn.com/commercial-vehicle-accidents/commercial-vehicle-accident-lawyers.html

Come On In, The Water's Fine- Or Is It?

One of our employees came into the office today and detailed her weekend, spent at her parent's home, by the pool, working on her tan. Just as jealousy was about to overcome us on this rainy, cool, dreary Monday it hit us that we don't often discuss swimming, pool, and other water related injuries, so we turned our envy into an opportunity to bring awareness to the possible dangers and common mishaps that could lead to injury while swimming or at a pool.

As mentioned, swimming and pool injuries are somewhat of a neglected practice area. Unfortunately, this fun and healthy summertime activity can be very dangerous, and even fatal. Our attorneys have handled numerous cases involving pool and swimming injuries. Faulty parts on the swimming pool itself, inattentive lifeguards/guardians, and slip and falls are all common causes of serious injuries as a result of a pool or swimming activity.

A recent study found that for every 100,000 people that swam on an annual basis, 18 injuries occurred in children ages 7-17, and 9 injuries in adults 17 and older. The study also found that swimming injuries in children have increased over the last 20 years and continue to rise.

The most common injury sustained at a pool or while swimming is a head injury. In children 7 and younger these injuries were often fatal.

It's extremely important to be cautious when swimming, especially if they are children present. Keeping a close eye on children, never swimming alone, and refraining from alcohol while swimming are the most common and most sensible recommendations to avoid swimming or pool injuries.

Sadly, even when all precautions are taken, injuries still happen. Our swimming pool/ drowning attorneys can and will help you or your loved one get the justice they deserve after suffering a serious injury or fatality as a result of negligence at a pool or while swimming. Visit our website for more information or call us now at 1-800-444-5309. Our attorneys are on-call 24/7 and offer free consultations.