As a follow up to my previous story, on Monday, October 24, 2011, a public hearing will be held on House Bill 1552. House Bill 1552 is an unconstitutional Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. The Bill holds that "Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action or proceeding brought to recover damages for death or injury to a person may only be filed in the county in which the cause of action arose."
The act is unconstitutional as it violates the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which vests this power solely with the Supreme Court. In addition, it is unfavorable to accident victims throughout the state because it provides harsh limitations on the plaintiff's choice of venue.
