Workers' Comp Claim Petition Denied & Dismissed

Successfully defended a large Pennsylvania public transportation company in a tortuously litigated workers' compensation claim petition.  The claimant was a bus driver whose uncontrolled demeanor led him to fisticuffs with an equally belligerent passenger.  The fight started inside the bus before a mob of jeering passengers and ultimately spilled outside the bus doors onto the streets.  Most of the battle was captured by the in-house bus video recorder.  The litigation involved very sensitive issues, thus provoking the claimant's attorney to make several recusal motions in an attempt to replace the judge of record.  The judge found that the defense's cross examination of the claimant established clear and convincing evidence that the claimant was not in the course and scope of employment at the time of the melee.  The claim petition was denied and dismissed.