Attorneys at this firm have been engaged in the representation of public entities in litigation for the entire history of the firm. This representation increased significantly after the abrogation of governmental immunity by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the 1970’s. Representation of these entities has involved a broad variety of legal matters and various types of public entities such as counties, townships and boroughs, school districts, fire companies and other governmental authorities.

We have handled substantial tort litigation under the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claim Act, involving motor vehicle accidents, conditions of real estate, public sidewalks injuries, utility construction accidents, and claims related to street lighting and maintenance.

In addition, cases involving constitutional and civil rights issues have become a substantial part of this practice, including police actions and practices, prison inmate litigation, land development issues, public transportation issues, student First Amendment and discipline issues and a wide variety of related matters.

Finally, the firm has been engaged to represent public entities in a wide variety of employment-related actions including discrimination and harassment claims, hostile work environment claims, age discrimination suits and alleged whistle-blower law violations. In addition to directly handling litigation against public entities, the firm has been engaged on many occasions to provide insurance coverage analysis related to the public entity litigation. 

Prior to joining Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, a number of our attorneys have served as elected officials for government entities, local assistant district attorneys, police officers, as well as in the Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania. As a result of these experiences, our attorneys can place themselves in the shoes of the public entity or its officials when called upon to provide representation to them in those cases.