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Pennsylvania’s appellate courts continue their trend of issuing groundbreaking legal decisions in areas ranging from jurisdiction to liability. The following is a summary of notable Pennsylvania appellate decisions from the last two years, as well as pending decisions that are sure to be blockbusters.

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Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., 600 U.S. 122 (June 27, 2023)

On a writ of certiorari from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

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In re Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, No. 22050559 (Phila. Cnty. Ct. Com. Pl.),&nbsp;appeal denied&nbsp;160 EDM 2023 (Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 8, 2024),&nbsp;appeal denied&nbsp;289 EAL 2024 (Pa. Feb. 19, 2025)

Post-Mallory decision: One of several cases post-Mallory that seizes on Justice Alito’s concurrence to challenge Pennsylvania’s consent-to-registration statute under the dormant commerce clause.

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Hangey v. Husqvarna,&nbsp;304 A.3d 1120 (Pa. Nov. 22, 2023)

Plaintiff sued a lawnmower manufacturer in Philadelphia, though injury and purchase occurred elsewhere.

Watson v. Baby Trend,&nbsp;308 A.3d 860 (Pa. Super. Ct. Jan. 12, 2024)

Record supports the trial court’s decision to transfer the case to Bucks County.

Forum Non Conveniens&nbsp;Cases

Ehmer v. Maxim Crane Works, L.P., 296 A.3d 1202 (Pa. Super. Ct. June 7, 2023),&nbsp;reargument denied&nbsp;(Pa. Super. Ct. Aug. 14, 2023)

Case transferred from Philadelphia to Columbia County just before trial; Superior Court reversed, finding abuse of discretion.

Tranter v. Z&amp;D Tour, Inc., 303 A.3d 1070 (Pa. Super. Oct. 11, 2023), appeal granted 315 A.3d 1225, 2024 WL 1401320 (Pa. Apr. 2, 2024) (per curiam) Bus crash with no Pennsylvania residents; case filed in Philadelphia.

Chilutti v. Uber Technologies, 300 A.3d 430 (Pa. Super. Ct. July 19, 2023) (en banc),&nbsp;appeal granted&nbsp;325 A.3d 446, 2024 WL 3947922 (Pa. Aug. 27, 2024) (per curiam)

Passenger injured in Uber, sought jury trial; Uber moved to compel arbitration based on online terms.

Santiago v. Philly Trampoline Park, LLC, 291 A.3d 1213 (Pa. Super. Ct. Mar. 21, 2023),&nbsp;appeal granted&nbsp;394 A,3d 330 (Table), No. 96 EAL 2023 (Pa. Sept. 13, 2023) (per curiam)&nbsp;

Consolidated cases about waivers at trampoline parks.

Issues: Can a parent waive a minor’s right to jury trial? Can one spouse bind another to arbitration?

Pennsylvania Supreme Court review pending.

Holland v. WM Operating, LLC, Nos. 3380 EDA 2024 &amp; 4 EDA 2025 (Pa. Super. Ct)

Concerns the Fair Share Act (the “Act”) and joint/several liability.

Sullivan v. Werner Co., 306 A.3d 846 (Pa. Dec. 22, 2023)&nbsp;

In strict products liability cases, product manufacturers frequently attempt to introduce evidence that the product complied with industry or government safety standards in defending its design. Most states allow them to do so.

Key takeaway: In a three-judge plurality opinion, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed a decades-old doctrine preventing defendants from introducing evidence of compliance with industry and government standards in strict products liability cases.

This article is one in a series of articles written for <a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-appellate-insights-winning-appeal-september-2025/" id="25819">Blank Rome Appellate Insights: Winning on Appeal - September 2025</a>.

Pennsylvania Appellate Decisions Continue to Shape the Legal Landscape— From Jurisdiction to Liability, and Everything in Between

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Pennsylvania Appellate Decisions Continue to Shape the Legal Landscape— From Jurisdiction to Liability, and Everything in Between

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