League of Women Voters of Pa. v. Commonwealth of Pa. — civil / attorney fees — partial affirmance — Scirica

Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme threw out the state’s Republican-drawn congressional districts, ruling that they amounted to a partisan gerrymander that violated the Pennsylvania Constitution. One brief chapter in that litigation took place in federal court. After an unfavorable state-court ruling, GOP State Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati removed the case to federal court, but then, on the eve of a federal-court hearing on the removal, moved to remand it back to state court, asserting a misunderstanding.

After the case returned to state court, the plaintiffs sought attorney’s fees and costs for opposing removal. The district court granted the motion, ruling that Senator Scarnati had no basis for believing that removal was proper and awarding about half the fees requested. The district court held Senator Scarnati personally liable for the fee award, per the plaintiffs’ request to avoid making taxpayers foot the bill.

Today, the Third Circuit rejected Senator Scarnati’s challenges to the decision to award fees and to the fee calculation based on a $400 hourly rate, but it held that the Senator, sued only in his official capacity, could not be held liable in his personal capacity, at least without a finding of bad faith. Sorry, taxpayers.

Joining Scirica were Ambro and Rendell. Arguing counsel were Matthew Haverstick of Kleinbard for the senator and Elisabeth Theodore of Arnold & Porter for the plaintiffs.

Hildebrand v. Allegheny County — employment — reversal — Fisher

The Third Circuit today vacated the dismissal with prejudice of an age-discrimination suit for failure to prosecute, concluding that the district court improperly assumed that the party was responsible for the delay, failed to consider the merits of his claim, and failed to honor the circuit’s established preference for decisions on the merits. The plaintiff was a fired Allegheny County DA’s Office detective who alleged that the office had a practice of forcing out older detectives.

Joining Fisher were Smith and McKee. Arguing counsel were Marjorie Crist of the Crist Law Center for the plaintiff and Charles Porter Jr. of Brucker and Porter for the employer.