Category Archives: November 2023

Dishin’ the Dirt: November 2023

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These are last month’s inductees into the Northeastern Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

By Steve Svetovich

Congratulations to the newest members of the Northeastern Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame inducted last month at Fiorelli’s, Peckville…The new Hall of Fame members include Mike Zanghi, Lauren Carra, Gabrielle Giordano, Joseph Runco, Joe Baciotti, Mike Cerra, George Howanitz, Dr. Michael Ciccotti and Al Callejas, Jr….Larry Gabriel, Jr. received the media award…Paul “Red” Brower received the service award…Dunmore’s Bob Walsh is president of the Northeastern Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame…Mid Valley product Jerry Valonis is vice president…Judy Igoe Carr is secretary…Dunmore’s Tom “Doc” Dougherty is treasurer…Other members of the executive committee include Dunmore’s Rich Revta, Jerry Dempsey, John Davies, Terry Greene and Chris Thomas…Former WBRE Eyewitness News Sports Director Phil Schoener was toastmaster for the induction ceremony…Carra, Giordano and Callejas, Jr. all have Dunmore ties, with Carra as a basketball standout at Dunmore, Giordano as a basketball and softball star at Holy Cross and Callejas, Jr. as a basketball stalwart at Bishop O’Hara…Scranton Prep and Duke University basketball legend Steve Vacendak honored in Community Tribute to him last month at La Buona Vita, Dunmore…Former Seton Hall and NBA basketball coach and analyst P.J. Carlesimo in town from his west coast home for Vacendak tribute…Vacendak and Carlesimo are only former Scranton Prep basketball players to have numbers retired…Northeastern Chapter of PA Hall of Fame president Bob Walsh, former Bishop O’Hara and West Scranton basketball coach Jack Lyons, former Dunmore basketball coach Canio Cianci, former Bishop O’Hara and University of Scranton basketball standout Todd Bailey, Dunmore, among those who attended Vacendak tribute…Nick DeSando, father of Dunmore senior football standout Dom DeSando, spearheaded efforts of local businesses and parents of players to hold recent bonfire/pep rally at St. Anthony’s Park, Dunmore, night before recent football game…Dunmore senior back/receiver/punt and kick returner Danny Pigga has 16 touchdowns at press time while averaging over 13 yards per carry on ground…Dunmore senior Dom DeSando has eight touchdowns at press time, plays four varsity sports and is class president…Local musician Doug Smith held nice event last month at La Buona Vita, Dunmore, in celebration of life of late local musician and artist Art Kreinberg…Dunmore’s Fran Burne, Jimmy Buckley, Bobby Ventre, Marko Marcinko, Pat Marcinko among local musicians in attendance…Former Scranton Mayor Jimmy Connors also attended the event…Do you remember Dunmore’s Daiqwon Buckley rushing for 381 yards and five touchdowns in Dunmore’s 41-13 win over Mid Valley 10 years ago?…Congratulations to Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy in his fifth World Series and becoming first skipper to win three league championship series with three different teams…Baseball world hoping Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, 74, comes back for one more season in legendary career…Torey Lovullo led Arizona Diamonbacks into World Series despite only 84 regular season wins as wild card playoff entry…Danny Pigga had three touchdowns, including one on 76-yard run, in Dunmore’s 47-21 win over Honesdale…Dunmore senior quarterback Tommy Bowen threw two touchdowns passes, one for 11 yards to Pigga and another for 63 yards to senior Dom DeSando…Conor Toole scored three goals in opening 21 minutes to lead Dunmore to 7-2 soccer win over West Scranton…Tommy Clark and Krisley Jean added two goals each…Condolences to family of Tim Earley, Sr., former Dunmore football and basketball player and Princeton University football player who died last month at 67…Allie Dempsey had 26 assists, 11 digs and eight points, Lauren Henry had 22 points and Tristan Canavan had 19 kills and three blocks to lead Dunmore over Abington Heights in girls volleyball match…Sienna Delfina had 20 digs for Dunmore…Leena Conte had 16 digs…Amanda Dempsey and Abbey Earley each had six kills for Dunmore…Dorothy Hoffner died in her sleep in Chicago at 104 just days after becoming oldest person to ever jump from a plane with skydive..,West Scranton Teener League baseball player Brennan Snyder, 13, grandson of recently retired Scranton School District Paraeducator Judy Lowry Vitris, is an up and coming student-athlete…Brennan excelled in fall baseball recently at Battaglia Field, West Scranton, and also is an outstanding wrestler and baseball player at Delaware Valley Middle School where he is an honor student with a 4.01 academic average in the gifted program…Brennan also spearheaded a clothing drive, volunteers at Saint Anne’s Novena and has big heart for volunteering and helping the less fortunate…Dunmore’s Guy Valvano, former Sunday Scrantonian sports editor, celebrated 95th birthday last month…Former Scranton Tribune and Sunday Scrantonian photographer Bobby Ventre, currently residing in Ohio, in Dunmore last month to attend celebration of life for his late musician friend Art Kreinberg..,Ventre also performed at Crotti’s on Ash…Local singer/musician/song writer Alyssa Lazar, who appeared this year on “The Voice,” will be performing on cruise ship for next several months…Tommy Clark had hat trick giving him seven games this season with at least three goals in Dunmore’s 4-2 soccer win over Western Wayne…Congratulations to University of Scranton field hockey coach Colleen Moyer who notched 200th career win…Congratulations to University of Scranton soccer coach Colleen Pivirotto for 200th career win…Natalya Musio and Liza Froncek each scored unassisted goals in Holy Cross girls soccer win over Elk Lake, 2-0…Jake Costanzo scored three touchdowns on runs of one and 19 yards and 72-yard kickoff return in Dunmore freshman/junior high football win over Western Wayne, 60-32…Colin Coulthard scored on 3-yard run…Luke Franek scored two touchdowns on a 30-yard touchdown reception from Brady McCormick and 30-yard interception return…Jake Donahue scored on 2-yard run…Nick Germano scored on 13-yard fumble recovery return…Do you remember Sam Gockley?…Whatever became of Jason Grimsley?…

Hart of the Issue: Turkey Day Troubles

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By John M. Hart III, Esq.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner now that we’re finally in November. If you’ve been reading my articles for a while, you’ll know that it is one of my favorites. It’s a great holiday, often considered a prelude to Christmas, that brings families together to celebrate gratitude, share meals, and create cherished memories. 

Thanksgiving is a time when relatives and sometimes friends come to your home to enjoy each other’s company. However, it’s essential to be aware that there are legal distinctions among the people who come onto your property. Depending on their purpose, there are different applicable levels of liability in the unfortunate event that they get hurt.

The Warmth of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a special time when homes fill with the aroma of roasting turkey (along with smoked turkey and deep-fried turkey), my annually anticipated sausage stuffing, the sounds of laughter and storytelling, and the joy of being surrounded by loved ones. 

It’s a holiday where each family has their own quirky tradition… I watch The Godfather saga each year while cooking, for instance. It’s a holiday that encourages people to open their homes and hearts to relatives and friends. However, this warm and inviting atmosphere also comes with certain legal considerations when it comes to your responsibility as a homeowner or host.

Distinguishing the Visitors

When guests arrive at your home for Thanksgiving, they can be broadly classified into three categories for legal purposes:

1. Invitees (Business Invitees): Invitees are typically family members and friends you’ve invited to your home to share in the Thanksgiving celebration. As the homeowner or host, you owe them the highest duty of care. You must maintain your property in a safe condition, warn them of known hazards, and take reasonable steps to prevent accidents.

2. Licensees (Social Guests): Licensees are individuals who have your permission to enter your property for social reasons but may not be invited specifically for the event. You still owe them a duty of care, including warning them of known hazards. (Think delivery personnel, utility  workers, etc.)).

3. Trespassers: Trespassers are individuals who enter your property without permission. While you’re not expected to invite trespassers or create unsafe conditions intentionally, you generally owe them the lowest duty of care. However, there is an exception known as the “attractive nuisance doctrine,” which can apply when children are involved and potentially hazardous conditions exist on your property. (Think trampoline) 

This categorization of visitors into three types is broad, but it’s not always easy to tell the difference. To figure out whether someone is a licensee or an invitee, we usually need more information about the visit’s purpose and who benefits from it, either the property owner or the visitor. But performing this analysis is what lawyers do!

November’s Unpredictable Weather

November is historically unpredictable with weather. It can be unseasonably warm, or it can be a time for snowstorms, with ice-covered walkways adding more danger and concern to your company. As a homeowner or host, you should consider weather conditions and take precautions to ensure the safety of your guests.

Snow and Ice Removal: In Pennsylvania, the “Hills and Ridges Doctrine” is relevant to sidewalk maintenance with ice and snow removal. This doctrine recognizes that property owners are not automatically liable for accidents caused by natural accumulations of ice and snow on sidewalks. To be held liable, it must be proven that the property owner’s actions, or lack thereof, created an unnatural and hazardous condition. 

Property owners are, however, responsible for taking reasonable steps to remove or mitigate hazards once they become aware of them. (*It should be noted that the PA Supreme Court is currently reviewing an appeal that raises two questions about the Hills and Ridges Doctrine, particularly its application to business invitees and more specifically, when business invitees are visiting a winter-weather business like a ski-resort! Either way, HART LAW is keeping a watchful eye on this hills and ridges caselaw development*) 

Safety Precautions: Given the unpredictability of November weather, it’s essential to keep walkways clear of ice and snow and to promptly address any hazardous conditions. Adequate lighting and proper footwear can also contribute to guest safety.

Insurance Coverage: Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to understand the extent of your liability coverage. It can help protect you in case of accidents or injuries on your property.

Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday filled with love and joy, and taking precautions to ensure your home is safe for your guests can help you enjoy the day without legal worries. In the unfortunate event that an accident does occur, consulting with a legal professional experienced in premises liability can provide guidance on how to handle the situation and navigate any potential legal issues. 

So, as you prepare for this special holiday, remember that safety and legal considerations go hand in hand to create a memorable and trouble-free Thanksgiving gathering.  And if an accident does occur, remember to be smart, call Hart.