PA Supreme Court hears arguments on statutory damages cap

Tom Kline recently presented arguments before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of a statutory cap that limits civil damages owed by government institutions. The arguments presented by Kline stem from the case of Zauflik vs. Pennsbury school district in which a young woman lost her leg after being run over by a school bus on school property. Kline represented Zauflik in a 2011 trial that ended with a $14 million jury verdict. However, that award was reduced to $500,000 because of Pennsylvania’s statutory limit on damages against municipalities and school districts. Kline told the seven justices that the cap impeded his client’s right to a fair jury trial and denied Zauflik full redress of her injuries. (See TV clip)