For many of us, a significant amount of our communications and interactions with others occur online. Sometimes, on social media and other online platforms, we feel like we can say anything, even things we wouldn't have the nerve to say in person, so someone's face. When a person isn't in front o...

One Pennsylvania man apparently planned to go for a dip at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, when things simply got out of hand. Or, if you'll excuse the pun, into hand. When a hotel employee entered the pool area on July 19th, they were shocked to find a man with his lapt...

False imprisonment accusations are very serious and can lead to severe punishment, such as jail time and hefty fines. But anyone accused of false imprisonment in Pennsylvania needs to know that, in some cases, false imprisonment charges can also lead to domestic violence charges. This raises the ...

Counterfeiting is a serious crime that comes in many forms. Handbags, jewelry, watches, sneakers, and art are popular fodder for counterfeiters. Creating or using counterfeit money is another common form of this crime. While some counterfeiting crimes violate Pennsylvania state law, using counte...

As a parent, you always put the well-being of your child first. It is your job to determine what is best for your child's health and welfare. Even though it is your responsibility alone to make decisions for your child, others in your child's life, such as their teacher or physician, may have dif...

Pennsylvania lawmakers voted to expand Protection From Abuse Orders (PFAs) to apply to animals and house pets. Specifically, if enacted, the law will give Pennsylvania judges the authority to order a PFA defendant to refrain from harming or killing a domestic violence victim's pets. Animal welfa...

Prostitution has been a part of human society from its very start—some even refer to it as “the world's oldest profession.” In the modern world, many people believe that all humans should be able to do whatever they want with their bodies, including engaging in prostitution. Regardless of this, ...

The viral story of Carlee Russell, an Alabama woman who admitted to making up a story about being kidnapped on the roadside of an Alabama interstate, is an example of how making false statements to police can turn into a federal case. On July 13, Russell went missing after she called 911 to repo...

Regulators in Pennsylvania recently banned seven adults from the state's casinos as cases of child neglect and parental negligence grab headlines across the state. These most recent careless parents left their children unattended while they went inside popular casinos and gambled. While it may se...

The Pennsylvania State Police arrested Cullen Gilligan, a 29-year-old man from Beaver Falls after he allegedly discharged a firearm close to a campsite occupied by ten people. The police confiscated Gilligan's rifle, and he faces criminal charges. Pennsylvania Discharge of Firearm Laws Under Ti...

Hearsay is a fun word we've all heard in courtroom dramas. Suddenly, an attorney jumps from their seat, yells “hearsay,” and intently stares at the judge while the judge considers whether he'll let the witness continue with what they were saying. Although the use of hearsay in the legal setting i...

Child custody battles can be emotionally damaging for all parties involved, but a couple's children typically bear the heaviest burden of feeling like they must “choose sides.” Although parents may feel it is appropriate to vent about their ex-spouse to their children, this can severely damage a ...

If you're pulled over by the police and arrested with drugs in the car, it can be horrible. But if you have your kids in the car, it can be a horrifying experience. You're undoubtedly worried about what will happen to your children and your criminal charges. But you don't have to handle this on y...

The recent case of an Ashville, Pennsylvania, man who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of possession and production of child pornography illustrates how some child porn crimes can trigger federal law. The consequences can be severe, and anyone accused of child pornography crimes in Pennsylvania ...

We are all probably sadly familiar with the concept of child abuse as a physical act of some form that is committed against a child. What we may not realize, however, is that child abuse in Pennsylvania can also include mental abuse. What Pennsylvania Law Says About the Mental Abuse of a Child ...

Generally speaking, the Fourth Amendment provides specific safeguards that protect individuals from illegal searches and seizures. Thus, conducting a search of your vehicle without your consent or probable cause is considered unlawful. However, the judicial system tends to grant law enforcement g...

“Indecent exposure” is one of those concepts that seems fairly straightforward but that many people don't fully understand. Would you be able to give the legal definition of this term if asked to do so? Does indecent exposure simply mean being naked in public, or is there more to it? What are the...

When you first got into a relationship with your significant other, you never imagined that you might one day have to file a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order – or that one might be filed against you. A PFA is a court order issued by a judge that provides protection from someone who has abused y...

Although minors are often educated on how to respond to or report adults who touch them inappropriately, teens can also cross boundaries and touch other teens without proper consent. While some may write it off as mere “experimentation,” minors can still be criminally charged and treated as sexua...

The United States Department of Labor describes an H-2B visa as a “program [that] permits employers to temporarily hire nonimmigrants to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be temporary for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, se...

Munchausen's Disease is a complex psychiatric condition in which a person routinely exaggerates or creates physiological or emotional symptoms to gain attention from others. Even though they may not be sick or feeling unwell, people with Munchausen's may believe or cause others to believe that th...

Media coverage reports that in late June, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged former Pfizer Senior Statistical Program Lead, Amit Dagar, with insider trading. The SEC alleges that Dagar intentionally bought short-term stock options in Pfizer after learning through his positi...

A certified public accountant (CPA) from neighboring New Jersey pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by promoting fraudulent tax shelters to wealthy clients, according to a recent news release by the U.S. Department of Justice. James H. Benkoil, of Avon-by...

Date rape is a serious accusation. If someone has accused you of taking advantage of them sexually, or you suspect someone may make such accusations against you, you need legal representation fast. Regardless of your innocence or guilt, even if no criminal charges are filed, date rape accusations...

A July 4th shooting in Camden County, New Jersey, that injured a 6-year-old girl sparked a feud between New Jersey County Commissioner Louis Cappelli Jr. and Philadelphia City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson after police discovered the suspects had Philadelphia ties. Cappelli went on s...