Is PennDOT legally liable for pothole damage?

If you’re injured or your car is damaged because you hit a pothole on a state road, can you sue PennDOT?

The short answer is: Don’t bother. Unless you have a truly exceptional case, you won’t win.

State sovereign immunity law bars reimbursement for property damage due to potholes, according to the agency.

“Because of this, no reimbursement has ever been made for a claim of this type,” PennDOT says on its website.

The law doesn’t explicitly bar personal injury claims resulting from potholes. However, it sets the bar for a successful claim very high.

You would have to show that the state had “actual written notice” of a dangerous road condition and time to correct it, and that it was reasonably foreseeable that the condition could lead to your accident and injury.

“The injured party bears the burden of proof on all points,” the Allentown Morning Call noted in 2014.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/is-penndot-legally-liable-for-pothole-damage/article_b2b94526-bc80-11e4-a3e5-d77947b99a3d.html?mode=jqm

$90,000 truck stolen in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Pa. (WHTM) – Police are investigating the theft of a $90,000 rollback truck from a Lancaster County business.

West Hempfield Township police said the truck was stolen off a rear lot of Chapman Ford, at 3951 Columbia Avenue, sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning.

The 2015 Ford F-550 Super Duty was owned by Nussbaum's Wreckers and Rollbacks and was at Chapman Ford for inspection.

The truck was for sale by Nussbaum's, so it had no lettering on the sides and no registration plate.

The vehicle was locked and no keys were inside, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Hempfield police at 717-285-5191.

http://abc27.com/2015/02/24/90000-truck-stolen-in-columbia/

What I saw recently

Some pics from around town over the last little while . . .

 Touching up near Third and Walnut

 Photo session down by the river

Artists at work this afternoon . . .

Police at work this afternoon . . .

 Officer Bell conducts an interview near Fourth and Union.

 What's West Hempfield doing there?

 All in a row

 Officer Keyser asks questions.

Meanwhile . . .

To throw or not to throw . . . ?

Well, that answers that.

So that's how you slide a kid under a fence.

Old Columbia warehouse becomes new arts center

http://m.lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/old-columbia-warehouse-becomes-new-arts-center/article_d4e3788a-b5f8-11e4-8617-1b58dfab1ce8.html?mode=jqm_gal

My thoughtful neighbors . . .

21 Most Successful Black Entrepreneurs Throughout History

Stephen Smith grew up as an indentured servant in Pennsylvania. From a young age, he was assigned to work in the lumberyards by Thomas Boude, whose wealth stemmed from his extensive lumber business. After buying his freedom for $50 at the age of 21, he continued to work in the lumberyards until establishing his own lumber business in 1822, as well as dealing coal. By the 1850s, Smith was grossing $100,000 in annual sales. By 1857, Smith was worth $500,000 (approximately $13.5 million today). On top of being a businessman, Smith was a minister and served as chairman of the black abolitionist organization in Columbia, PA.

http://tech.co/21-successful-black-entrepreneurs-throughout-history-2015-02

Your Friday morning weather report

Note the temperature.