Davis v. Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

FRIEDMAN, Judge.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) appeals from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County (trial court) holding Delores Lanier, Esq., counsel for SEPTA, in civil contempt, declaring a mistrial and imposing fines in the amount of $3,750.00 against SEPTA “for the resulting unjustified and deliberate waste of one and one-half days of juror, court and general judicial resources.” (Trial ct. op. at 1.)

On May 25, 1989, a SEPTA trolley negligently rear-ended a vehicle driven by Stephen Davis while Davis was stopped at a red light at the…