AWARDS: $2,350,000 award to automobile accident wrongful death plaintiffs • jury acquittal – double criminal homicide • $1,000,000 award to motorcycle accident wrongful death plaintiffs • jury acquittal – criminal homicide • $465,000 award to medical malpractice plaintiff • jury acquittal – criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person, neglect of a care dependent person • $325,000 federal jury verdict, UIM and insurance bad faith award to automobile accident plaintiffs • jury acquittal – attempted criminal homicide • $300,000 award to medical malpractice plaintiff • jury acquittal- attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon • $300,000 award to automobile accident/ products liability plaintiffs • jury acquittal – homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle DUI, aggravate assault by vehicle • $115,000 award to truck accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – murder, rape • $100,000 non-jury trial verdict to facial laceration plaintiff • jury acquittal – 1st degree Murder (capital case) • $90,000 award to premises liability/slip-and-fall plaintiff • jury acquittal – DUI, terroristic threats, carrying firearms without a license • $440,000 award to civil rights violation plaintiff • jury acquittal – theft, receiving stolen property • $135,000 award to civil rights violation plaintiff • jury acquittal – possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (PWI) • $636,000 jury verdict in plaintiffs’ medical malpractice case • jury acquittal – indecent assault, indecent exposure • $550,000 award in plaintiffs’ personal injury case • juvenile case acquittal- solicitation to commit aggravated assault, aggravated assault of unborn child • $250,000 award to mass transit accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy • $130,000 award to premises liability/slip-and-fall plaintiffs • court-appointed appellate counsel – Supreme Court of Pennsylvania reversal of rape conviction • $465,000 award to automobile accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – aggravated assault • $125,000 award to automobile accident plaintiff • jury acquittal – DUI • non-jury acquittal – dismissal of armed robbery charges • $170,000 award to automobile accident plaintiffs • successful jury verdict in defense of attorney charged with legal malpractice in professional liability case • $140,000 award to injured bicyclist plaintiff • non-jury acquittal – dismissal of 2 counts of criminal homicide • $180,000 award to employment discrimination plaintiff • jury acquittal – indecent exposure • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to paternal grandparents over natural mother • juvenile decertification petition granted to criminal homicide charges – release at age 21 • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to father • jury acquittal – DUI • $90,000 award to automobile accident plaintiffs • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to mother • $50,000 jury verdict for plaintiff- passenger in automobile accident case • non-jury custody trial – award of primary physical and legal custody of minor to father • hung jury – Arson trial (no criminal punishment imposed) • $265,000 award to premises liability plaintiff • jury acquittal – delivery of a controlled substance • $125,000 award to premises liability plaintiff • jury acquittal – DUI • $190,000 award to products liability plaintiff • $150,000 award to premises liability/construction accident plaintiff • $750,000 award to prison medical malpractice and civil rights violation plaintiff • $90,000 award to automobile accident plaintiffs • $108,500 award to automobile accident plaintiff • $80,000 award to automobile accident plaintiff • $150,000 award to truck accident plaintiffs.
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Grandparent Visitation Rights in Pennsylvania

The right of grandparents to visit with their grandchildren is one many people take for granted as being guaranteed by state law, but it is limited by the right of parents to make decisions about what is best for their children.

When couples are divorced, the custody plans and visitation they work out between them may not include provision for their children spending time with grandparents. The Pennsylvania Custody and Grandparents’ Visitation Act gives grandparents the right to use the courts to petition for visitation with their grandchildren.

Rights of the parents to make decisions
According to the U.S. Supreme Court, parents have the right to raise their children and make decisions about what is in their best interest without interference from the state, including making decisions about visitation by grandparents. This limitation on the right of grandparents to visit their grandchildren is reflected in the Pennsylvania Custody and Grandparents’ Visitation Act.

Grandparents in Pennsylvania may petition for visitation only under one of the following conditions:

• The death of one of the parents
• The parents being separated or divorced for at least six months
• A child or children living with the petitioning grandparents for at least 12 months before returning to living with the parent

Factors courts consider in determining the best interests of a child

It is up to the court to decide what is in the best interest of the children.. A judge asked to decide if grandparents should be allowed to visit with a child weigh several factors to decide what is in the child’s best interest, including:

• Physical and emotional wellbeing of the child
• The relationship the child has had with the grandparents
• Whether visitation will benefit the child’s emotional development

Depending upon the age of the child, a judge might take into consideration the child’s wishes regarding visitation.

Grandparents should consult an attorney

Court decisions can affect the rights grandparents have under state law. Grandparents should seek legal advice from a knowledgeable family law attorney when visitation with grandchildren is an issue.