Matthew Santoni
@msantoni.bsky.social
Journalist covering Pennsylvania courts for Law360.com. Incipient middle-aged Yinzer. Lover of dogs, books, and transportation stuff. Opinions are my own.
Troy Rivetti, who prosecuted Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers, has been appointed US Atty for Western Pennsylvania - but he’s not been nominated for Senate confirmation and his appointment is only for 120 days, or else he could face the same disqualification as Alina Habba or Lindsey Halligan:
Bondi Elevates Pa. US Atty Amid Appointments Scrutiny - Law360
The first assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania is being retained and elevated to full U.S. attorney, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced Thursday, though the appointmen...
www.law360.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Troy Rivetti, who prosecuted Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers, has been appointed US Atty for Western Pennsylvania - but he’s not been nominated for Senate confirmation and his appointment is only for 120 days, or else he could face the same disqualification as Alina Habba or Lindsey Halligan:
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed a sponsorship deal for a 2026 "Fan Cruise," but are now suing the organizer for $3M after it never paid for the rights and canceled the cruise, Elaine Briseño reports for @law360.bsky.social: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Steelers Sue Organizer Over Alleged Unpaid 'Fan Cruise' Fees - Law360
The Pittsburgh Steelers sued an event organizer over a now abandoned fan cruise series, alleging the company failed to pay sponsorship fees and tarnished the team's reputation by associating it with a...
www.law360.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:36 PM
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed a sponsorship deal for a 2026 "Fan Cruise," but are now suing the organizer for $3M after it never paid for the rights and canceled the cruise, Elaine Briseño reports for @law360.bsky.social: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Time is running out for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which announced it would close in May as a result of court orders to go back to an old labor contract while bargaining a new one, but the NLRB wants the paper held in contempt for continuing to ignore that order, Braden Campbell reports:
NLRB Pushes Contempt For Pittsburgh Paper's Defiance - Law360
The ailing Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is still defying the Third Circuit's order to restore newsroom workers it railroaded in collective bargaining to their old healthcare plan, the National Labor Relati...
www.law360.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Time is running out for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which announced it would close in May as a result of court orders to go back to an old labor contract while bargaining a new one, but the NLRB wants the paper held in contempt for continuing to ignore that order, Braden Campbell reports:
A part-owner of Maggie's Farm distillery allegedly took $10K from the business just before announcing its shutdown this summer, and a lender with $1.9M in bills said it should have dibs on that money. The distillery has reopened but the co-owner has allegedly started a competing business:
Lender Says Distillery Partner Diverted Funds Meant For Bills - Law360
A minority owner of Pittsburgh-based Maggie's Farm distillery allegedly took $10,000 from the business for his own venture with the help of an employee and a partner from Maiello Brungo Maiello, accor...
www.law360.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:52 PM
A part-owner of Maggie's Farm distillery allegedly took $10K from the business just before announcing its shutdown this summer, and a lender with $1.9M in bills said it should have dibs on that money. The distillery has reopened but the co-owner has allegedly started a competing business:
A Pa. magistrate judge who kept an "ancient, leatherbound tome" as her "book of grudges" and slung obscenities like "cuntrageous" is facing a formal ethics complaint from the state Judicial Conduct Board: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Judge's 'Grudges' Book, Obscenities Spur Conduct Complaint - Law360
A Pennsylvania magisterial judge has been charged by the state's Judicial Conduct Board with professional misconduct, including keeping a "book of grudges" and a desk calendar with sexually explicit j...
www.law360.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:26 PM
A Pa. magistrate judge who kept an "ancient, leatherbound tome" as her "book of grudges" and slung obscenities like "cuntrageous" is facing a formal ethics complaint from the state Judicial Conduct Board: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
A probation officer & union steward was fired by the Adams Co. court for passing out freebies with "FAFO" on them during a fight to retain the union, but the PA Labor Relations Board can't review it b/c it doesn't fit a narrow exemption to the courts' unfettered authority over hiring/firing:
Pa. Board Can't Review Court Firing Over 'FAFO' Freebies - Law360 UK
The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board lacks jurisdiction to review an Adams County probation officer's firing over passing out stress balls with the irreverent acronym "FAFO" on them, since it did no...
www.law360.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A probation officer & union steward was fired by the Adams Co. court for passing out freebies with "FAFO" on them during a fight to retain the union, but the PA Labor Relations Board can't review it b/c it doesn't fit a narrow exemption to the courts' unfettered authority over hiring/firing:
Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court put the Post-Gazette back on the hook for restoring pre-2020 working conditions and going back to bargaining w/ its newsroom union, the paper's publishers announced they would be shutting down in May: www.law360.com/articles/242...
Pittsburgh Paper To Close In Midst Of Legal Woes With Union - Law360
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced plans to close after nearly 240 years, hours after the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted Justice Samuel Alito's stay of a Third Circuit order making the comp...
www.law360.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Hours after the U.S. Supreme Court put the Post-Gazette back on the hook for restoring pre-2020 working conditions and going back to bargaining w/ its newsroom union, the paper's publishers announced they would be shutting down in May: www.law360.com/articles/242...
The families of a Philadelphia news helicopter pilot & photographer sued Airbus & others over a 2023 crash in NJ, claiming the aircraft had a fault-prone hydraulic system & no backup: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Airbus Sued Over Fatal Helicopter Crash In New Jersey - Law360
The families of a pilot and a news photographer killed in a helicopter crash while working for a Philadelphia television station have sued helicopter manufacturer Airbus, along with companies that mai...
www.law360.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The families of a Philadelphia news helicopter pilot & photographer sued Airbus & others over a 2023 crash in NJ, claiming the aircraft had a fault-prone hydraulic system & no backup: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
ICYMI: Supreme Court Justice Alito stayed Third Circuit orders requiring the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore newsroom workers' pre-2020 working conditions & healthcare -- orders that had ended a three-year strike. Union members tell Law360's Emily Brill they are still working & waiting:
Supreme Court Halts Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Union Order - Law360
The U.S. Supreme Court stayed a Third Circuit order Monday that had required the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to bargain in good faith with its newsroom workers' union and rescind changes to their healthca...
www.law360.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
ICYMI: Supreme Court Justice Alito stayed Third Circuit orders requiring the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore newsroom workers' pre-2020 working conditions & healthcare -- orders that had ended a three-year strike. Union members tell Law360's Emily Brill they are still working & waiting:
BREAKING - The former administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600M settlement over the East Palestine derailment will pay $17.25M back into the settlement fund, to resolve the plaintiffs' lawyers' request to hold it in contempt for overpaying some claimants: www.law360.com/articles/242...
Ex-Derailment Deal Admin Will Pay $17M To End Contempt Bid - Law360
The ousted administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600 million settlement over the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio will pay $17.25 million to resolve claims that it mishandled the distribution of payo...
www.law360.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
BREAKING - The former administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600M settlement over the East Palestine derailment will pay $17.25M back into the settlement fund, to resolve the plaintiffs' lawyers' request to hold it in contempt for overpaying some claimants: www.law360.com/articles/242...
U.S. Steel got a federal judge to compel arbitration with Algoma Steel Inc. over the struggling Canadian steelmaker's bid to get out of buying U.S. iron ore - finding the contract applied Pennsylvania law so the Canadian courts didn't get first dibs: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
U.S. Steel Can Arbitrate $22M Canadian Contract Spat - Law360
Canadian steelmaker Algoma Steel Inc. must arbitrate its bid to break off its contract for buying iron ore from U.S. Steel Corp., since the contract contains a clause bringing all disputes to an arbit...
www.law360.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:26 PM
U.S. Steel got a federal judge to compel arbitration with Algoma Steel Inc. over the struggling Canadian steelmaker's bid to get out of buying U.S. iron ore - finding the contract applied Pennsylvania law so the Canadian courts didn't get first dibs: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
In a per curiam order - no opinion explaining the interpretation of the law - The @supremectofpa.bsky.social upheld a ruling that the state can "decertify" voting machines that had unauthorized inspections after the 2020 election, though it didn't add more sanctions against Fulton County, PA:
Pa. Justices Affirm County's Loss Over Election Inspections - Law360
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a ruling that the state's top election official could order voting machines to be yanked from service, closing one chapter on the tome of litigation that...
www.law360.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In a per curiam order - no opinion explaining the interpretation of the law - The @supremectofpa.bsky.social upheld a ruling that the state can "decertify" voting machines that had unauthorized inspections after the 2020 election, though it didn't add more sanctions against Fulton County, PA:
The Third Circuit still won't let the publisher of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette out of an injunction requiring it to restore contract conditions - including a union-backed health plan - to pre-strike status, @law360.bsky.social's Emily Brill reports: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
3rd Circ. Won't Let Post-Gazette Duck Benefits Injunction - Law360
A Third Circuit panel is standing by its decision to let an injunction against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette remain active while the newspaper appeals, saying it won't reconsider its Nov. 24 refusal to ...
www.law360.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The Third Circuit still won't let the publisher of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette out of an injunction requiring it to restore contract conditions - including a union-backed health plan - to pre-strike status, @law360.bsky.social's Emily Brill reports: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
"I guess I just have to keep appointing people for three months and then just appoint another one, another one," Trump said.
... Except the court that DQ'd Alina Habba from staying as NJ's U.S. Attorney explicitly ruled that out, finding only one 120-day "interim" term is allowed by law.
... Except the court that DQ'd Alina Habba from staying as NJ's U.S. Attorney explicitly ruled that out, finding only one 120-day "interim" term is allowed by law.
Habba Resigns As Acting US Atty After DQ Ruling At 3rd Circ. - Law360
Alina Habba stepped down Monday as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey following a Third Circuit ruling that she was unlawfully appointed to the position, with the U.S. Department of Justice unveiling...
www.law360.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
"I guess I just have to keep appointing people for three months and then just appoint another one, another one," Trump said.
... Except the court that DQ'd Alina Habba from staying as NJ's U.S. Attorney explicitly ruled that out, finding only one 120-day "interim" term is allowed by law.
... Except the court that DQ'd Alina Habba from staying as NJ's U.S. Attorney explicitly ruled that out, finding only one 120-day "interim" term is allowed by law.
The ex-administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600M settlement over the East Palestine derailment tried to explain why it assumed everyone filing a personal injury claim started w/ $25K - including the class counsel's own alleged promises - but faced a tough judge: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Ex-Derailment Deal Admin Faces Irked Judge In Contempt Bid - Law360
The ex-administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600 million settlement over the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment met skepticism as it admitted to a federal judge Friday that it had made some mistakes in d...
www.law360.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The ex-administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600M settlement over the East Palestine derailment tried to explain why it assumed everyone filing a personal injury claim started w/ $25K - including the class counsel's own alleged promises - but faced a tough judge: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will review a lawsuit challenging a 2021 voter referendum that restricted the use of solitary confinement at the Allegheny County Jail, after the COs' union claimed such changes should have been subject to collective bargaining: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Pa. Justices To Review Vote Restricting Solitary Confinement - Law360
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court will consider whether a 2021 voter referendum restricting the use of solitary confinement and pepper spray at the Allegheny County Jail infringed on the jail employee unio...
www.law360.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will review a lawsuit challenging a 2021 voter referendum that restricted the use of solitary confinement at the Allegheny County Jail, after the COs' union claimed such changes should have been subject to collective bargaining: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
The state-appointed receiver for the bankrupt City of Chester, PA asked a court to dismantle & rebuild the Chester Water Authority, arguing that the city had established it & the legislature violated the constitution when it expanded the CWA board to include appointees from other counties:
Pa. City's Receiver Asks Court To Restructure Water Board - Law360
The state-appointed receiver for the city of Chester, Pennsylvania, asked the Commonwealth Court on Monday to dissolve and reconstruct the board of directors for its local water authority, arguing a l...
www.law360.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The state-appointed receiver for the bankrupt City of Chester, PA asked a court to dismantle & rebuild the Chester Water Authority, arguing that the city had established it & the legislature violated the constitution when it expanded the CWA board to include appointees from other counties:
ICYMI - The Third Circuit upheld a ruling that Trump lawyer Alina Habba was not legally appointed as the US Attorney for New Jersey, and added a finding that once she was nominated to the Senate for the job, she couldn't be Acting USAtty even after her nom was withdrawn (via Carla Baranauckas):
3rd Circ. Says Habba Barred From Serving As Acting US Atty - Law360
President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer cannot serve as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, the Third Circuit ruled Monday in a precedential opinion holding that her appointment violated the ...
www.law360.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:50 PM
ICYMI - The Third Circuit upheld a ruling that Trump lawyer Alina Habba was not legally appointed as the US Attorney for New Jersey, and added a finding that once she was nominated to the Senate for the job, she couldn't be Acting USAtty even after her nom was withdrawn (via Carla Baranauckas):
In additional East Palestine legal news, the Sixth Circuit largely upheld the fee payments for the plaintiffs' lawyers in the settlement, finding mega-firm Morgan & Morgan hadn't shown it was harmed by the "quick-pay" provision for the legal fees (by Rae Ann Varona): www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
November 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
In additional East Palestine legal news, the Sixth Circuit largely upheld the fee payments for the plaintiffs' lawyers in the settlement, finding mega-firm Morgan & Morgan hadn't shown it was harmed by the "quick-pay" provision for the legal fees (by Rae Ann Varona): www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Reposted by Matthew Santoni
The former administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600 million settlement over the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, said it had been following a plan of distribution, not defying it, when it paid personal injury claimants based on a starting amount of $25,000 each.
Ex-Admin Of Norfolk Southern Deal Denies Disobeying Court - Law360
The former administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600 million settlement over the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, said it had been following a federal court's plan of distribution, not defying it, when it paid personal injury claimants based on a starting amount of $25,000 each.
www.law360.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The former administrator of Norfolk Southern's $600 million settlement over the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, said it had been following a plan of distribution, not defying it, when it paid personal injury claimants based on a starting amount of $25,000 each.
The Third Circuit denied the Post-Gazette publisher's request to stay an order restoring newsroom employees to their 2020 union-backed health plans, as workers returned after three years on strike, @law360.bsky.social's Braden Campbell reports: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Pittsburgh Paper Can't Beat Healthcare Order As Strike Ends - Law360
Workers who returned to work at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday after a three-year strike must be reverted to their old healthcare plans, as the Third Circuit denied the company a stay of an ord...
www.law360.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The Third Circuit denied the Post-Gazette publisher's request to stay an order restoring newsroom employees to their 2020 union-backed health plans, as workers returned after three years on strike, @law360.bsky.social's Braden Campbell reports: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
A federal judge blocked the DOJ's demand for transgender patients' records from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, reasoning they were trying to make the investigation of allegedly misbranded or mismarketed drugs into an investigation of state-regulated medical practice (via @law360.bsky.social):
DOJ Demand For Pa. Transgender Patient Records Blocked - Law360
A Pennsylvania federal judge partially quashed part of a U.S. Department of Justice subpoena seeking health records for minors receiving gender-affirming care at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphi...
www.law360.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A federal judge blocked the DOJ's demand for transgender patients' records from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, reasoning they were trying to make the investigation of allegedly misbranded or mismarketed drugs into an investigation of state-regulated medical practice (via @law360.bsky.social):
One of the engineering firms that inspected Pittsburgh's Fern Hollow Bridge before its 2022 collapse must turn over documents for lawsuits, after a judge ruled they weren't protected by rules surrounding safety investigations & planned improvements: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
Engineers Must Share Documents For Bridge Collapse Suits - Law360
An engineering firm must turn over documents related to bridge inspections in Pittsburgh for a group of lawsuits contending that inspectors' negligence contributed to the 2022 Fern Hollow Bridge colla...
www.law360.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
One of the engineering firms that inspected Pittsburgh's Fern Hollow Bridge before its 2022 collapse must turn over documents for lawsuits, after a judge ruled they weren't protected by rules surrounding safety investigations & planned improvements: www.law360.com/pennsylvania...
The 3rd Circuit ordered the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore newsroom employees' healthcare to the union-backed plan they had in 2020, but the publisher wants to pause that order while it seeks reconsideration of a ruling it had bargained in bad faith (via @law360.bsky.social's Braden Campbell:
Pa. Paper Asks 3rd Circ. To Stay Healthcare Restoration - Law360
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette urged the Third Circuit to pause its obligation to restore workers' union healthcare plan while it challenges a recent ruling that its shift to a company plan violated fede...
www.law360.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The 3rd Circuit ordered the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore newsroom employees' healthcare to the union-backed plan they had in 2020, but the publisher wants to pause that order while it seeks reconsideration of a ruling it had bargained in bad faith (via @law360.bsky.social's Braden Campbell:
At least four justices on the PA Supreme Court seemed inclined yesterday to think that "Pennsylvania Skill" machines were gambling or enabled gambling, given that the skill part of the game could be skipped but the chance part could not (or not without skipping play altogether):
Pa. Justices Suspect 'Skill Games' Are Gambling Devices - Law360
In a case poised to determine the legality of the Pennsylvania Skill games proliferating in gas stations and storefronts, at least four justices on the state Supreme Court seemed ready on Thursday to ...
www.law360.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
At least four justices on the PA Supreme Court seemed inclined yesterday to think that "Pennsylvania Skill" machines were gambling or enabled gambling, given that the skill part of the game could be skipped but the chance part could not (or not without skipping play altogether):