Chatrie v. United States: Supreme Court Strengthens Fourth Amendment Protections for Google Location Data
Key Takeaway: In Chatrie v. United States, the United States Supreme Court held that police conduct a Fourth Amendment search when they obtain a person’s Google Location History through a geofence warrant. This decision gives defendants a stronger basis to challenge cell phone location evidence in federal criminal cases and Pennsylvania criminal cases involving digital surveillance. Chatrie v. United States: Details of the Case Chatrie v. United States arose from a 2019 credit union robbery in Midlothian, Virginia. Investigators reviewed witness statements and surveillance footage and learned that the [...]
Monsanto Co. v. Durnell: Supreme Court Limits Roundup Failure-to-Warn Lawsuits
Monsanto Co. v. Durnell: Supreme Court Limits Roundup Failure-to-Warn Lawsuits Key Takeaway: In Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, the United States Supreme Court held that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, known as FIFRA, expressly preempts a state-law failure-to-warn claim that would require Monsanto to add a cancer warning to Roundup’s EPA-approved label. The decision creates a major federal preemption defense in Roundup label cases and may significantly affect future pesticide warning-label lawsuits. Monsanto Co. v. Durnell: Details of the Case Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068, involved [...]
District of Columbia v. R.W.: Supreme Court Expands Police Authority in Investigatory Stops
District of Columbia v. R.W.: Supreme Court Expands Police Authority in Investigatory Stops Key Takeaway: The United States Supreme Court ruled that police may rely on suspicious behavior and flight of companions to form on reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop. This decision is yet another example of the courts applying the totality of the circumstances test used to evaluate the legitimacy of a police stop and greatly impacts defendants ability to suppress evidence in cases involving vehicle stops. District of Columbia v. R.W.: Details of the [...]
John F. McCaul Selected to The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
Philadelphia criminal defense attorney John F. McCaul recognized among the top trial lawyers May 5, 2026 PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Law Office of John F. McCaul is proud to announce that attorney John F. McCaul has been selected for inclusion in The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, an invitation-only professional organization recognizing qualified civil plaintiff and criminal defense trial lawyers from each state or region. The National Trial Lawyers states that its Top 100 designation is extended to attorneys who meet the stringent eligibility requirements and significant qualifications [...]
Barrett v. United States (2026): Supreme Court Limits Stacked Federal Gun Convictions
Barrett v. United States (2026): Supreme Court Limits Stacked Federal Gun Convictions Key Takeaway: In Barrett v. United States (2026), the United States Supreme Court ruled that federal prosecutors cannot stack multiple firearm convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 924(j) when both charges punish the same conduct. The decision strengthens Double Jeopardy protections and may affect defendants charged with or previously convicted of stacked federal gun offenses. Barrett v. United States (2026): Details of the case Dwayne Barrett participated in a robbery in which [...]
Is Your Google Maps Data Private in PA? How Commonwealth v. Jones Affects Criminal Defendants
Can Police Use Google Maps Data Without an Expert? How Commonwealth v. Jones Affects Criminal Defendants in Pennsylvania Key Takeaway: The Pennsylvania Superior Court held in Commonwealth v. Jones that Google Maps GPS timeline evidence may be introduced through lay testimony, without an expert witness, as long as the testimony does not involve scientific or technical explanations. Commonwealth v. Jones: Facts of the Case On June 18, 2024, Jones entered a Turkey Hill convenience store and directed the clerk to empty the cash register. During the investigation, police [...]
Are Your Internet Searches Private? Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Ruling in Commonwealth v. Kurtz
Are Google searches private in Pennsylvania? PA Supreme Court’s Ruling in Commonwealth v. Kurtz Key Takeaway: In Pennsylvania, people using standard search engines, such as Google or ChatGPT, without additional privacy measures, should assume their internet searches are not private and could be obtained by law enforcement. Do Internet Users Have a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy in Pennsylvania? The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently addressed whether people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their internet searches. In Commonwealth v. Kurtz, the Court ruled that individuals using standard search [...]
PA Superior Court clarifies reasonable suspicion and its impact on drug investigations
PA Superior Court decisions clarify reasonable suspicion and its impact on drug investigations Key Takeaway: Two recent Pennsylvania Superior Court decisions, Commonwealth v. Phinn and Commonwealth v. Coles, clarify when police officers have reasonable suspicion to investigate drug use or possession in Pennsylvania. These cases provide critical guidance on how marijuana odor, smoking behavior, and traffic stop observations can lawfully justify investigative detentions under Pennsylvania and federal law. Commonwealth v. Phinn: How the Medical Marijuana Act Affects Police Stops in Pennsylvania Key Takeaway: The Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) [...]
Suppression alert: Commonwealth v. Anthony Lewis (2025)
SUPPRESSION ALERT: Commonwealth v. Anthony Lewis (2025) Key Takeaway: The PA Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed that the Commonwealth must meet the burden of proving an area is “high crime” when relying on this designation to support an investigatory detention, or “Terry stop”. The ruling stated that the Suppression Court has discretion to determine whether the evidence supports this designation, rather than adopting a strict test. Case details: Commonwealth v. Anthony Lewis, No. 37 EAP 2024 (2025) On July 31, 2021, two police officers on routine patrol in Philadelphia [...]
Case alert: Commonwealth v. Seth Jason Reich (2025)
CASE ALERT: Commonwealth v. Seth Jason Reich (2025) Key Takeaway: Specific and discrete appellate arguments must be raised, developed, and preserved at the trial court. In this Pennsylvania Superior Court decision, the Court upheld the conviction of former high school drama teacher Seth Jason Reich. He was found guilty of multiple charges—including sexual assault, indecent assault, and furnishing alcohol to a minor—stemming from a 2019 incident involving a former student, M.R., and her friend, E.A. The gist of the case was that the Defendant, M.R., and E.A. met at [...]
CASE ALERT: Commonwealth v. Thomas, 2025 PA. Super 94 – Rape Shield Law
In a recent ruling from the Pennsylvania Superior Court, criminal defense lawyers now have clearer guidance around what evidence is admissible, or not, regarding a victim’s previous sexual activity. Case Summary: Commonwealth v. Thomas, 2025 PA. Super 94 The defendant, Jeffrey Lynn Thomas, was convicted of criminal offenses following allegations that he forced his way into a woman’s house and sexually assaulted her by digitally penetrating her vaginally and anally. The defense theory at trial was that the encounter was consensual and, in keeping with that theory, the defense filed [...]
Understanding the Different Criminal Charges of Homicide in Pennsylvania
Under state law, Pennsylvania homicide charges are categorized into different degrees based on the circumstances and intent behind the act. The homicide classifications help determine the severity of the crime and the corresponding legal consequences. First-Degree Murder: First-degree murder is the most serious form of homicide, involving premeditation and deliberate intent to kill. It is often associated with planned and purposeful actions. As the most serious classification, a first-degree murder conviction is a felony and punishable by life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Second-Degree Murder: Second-degree murder involves [...]
