812 Ivy Street | Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Since 1999 | Experienced Pittsburgh Lawyers 412.802.6666
Magistrate hearings are a preliminary hearing process for both the civil and criminal courts of Pennsylvania. While most magistrates decisions are appealed, winning at a magistrate hearing can offer significant advantages in both civil and criminal cases.
Flaherty Fardo has significant experience in providing defense and representation at all Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Magistrate hearings including:
Pennsylvania has hundreds of Magistrate Offices throughout the entire state. Magistrates have enormous powers with regards to both criminal and civil litigation matters. All criminal defendants arrested of a crime first appear before a licensed Magistrate in the local community where the crime was committed.
The first step of the criminal process is called the preliminary hearing, and it is at this first very important stage that defendants can ask the Magistrate Judge to have the charges against them dismissed. The biggest difference at a criminal hearing and a magistrate hearing is that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not have to prove that the defendant is guilty beyond any reasonable doubt at a magistrate hearing. To the contrary, all that is necessary at this preliminary hearing is that the state put forward a prima facie case that has a crime has occurred. The standard is whether it is “more likely than not” that a crime occurred rather than “beyond any reasonable doubt”.
It is important to have proper representation at magistrate hearings and try to get any charges filed dismissed if possible. Bail can also be set at magistrate hearings.
In November 2010, Pennsylvania House Bill 2172 became law for all civil magistrate hearings in Pennsylvania. Accordingly, the jurisdictional limit of Pennsylvania’s magisterial district courts was increased from $8,000 to $12,000 in civil cases. The $12,000 jurisdictional limit should factor interest and costs when determining the jurisdictional limit.
All Magistrate decisions in Pennsylvania can be appealed (de novo), which means ‘fresh’ or new’, and entitled the parties to a new hearing without admitting the decision from the Magistrate.
For this reason, most Magistrate civil decisions are appealed. In fact, parties that lose by not appearing at a civil Magistrate hearing, can often appeal that decision within 30 days and receive a new trial at an arbitration hearing.
Even though magistrate decisions can be appealed, individuals should never ignore judgments or decisions from magistrates office because they can recorded as final judgments in the county courts if they are not timely appealed.
If you have any questions about Pittsburgh magistrate hearings, please feel free to call our offices at 412.802.6666 to schedule a free consultation.
I am an out of State client, over 1500 miles away, and through the 2 years of work on my case I never met anyone from the firm in person, yet they treated me like I lived down the street from the office.
I am very pleased with the professional teamwork, and their patience and timely responses to my requests and to the task at hand. They did all they could do to help with the difficult facts of my case, and I am pleased with the outcome. I would recommend this law firm to anyone with the assurance they would offer the same quality service to them as they did to me. Thank you Flaherty Fardo, Carole J. Boyd
Couldn't have asked for a better experience. They are a wonderful group who are efficient, patient, communicative and do their job very well.
They kept me in the loop the whole time and were extremely helpful. I have used a different firm in the past and this was like night and day. If you are considering using Flaherty Fardo for your assessment appeal (or likely anything else they practice) then you found what you are looking for. A special thank you to Nicole who spearheaded my case and answered my never-ending questions. Top notch!
"Highly Recommended" just isn't enough praise. They are by far the best I have ever worked with.
Professional, but beyond that their personal touch is exactly what a medical malpractice client or personal injury client needs. Noah Fardo is amazing, but the entire firm were great to us. I honestly can't thank Bill Rogel, Nicole Hauptman Amick, and Jaclyn Gibson enough. Thank you all.
I am an out of State client, over 1500 miles away, and through the 2 years of work on my case I never met anyone from the firm in person, yet they treated me like I lived down the street from the office.
I am very pleased with the professional teamwork, and their patience and timely responses to my requests and to the task at hand. They did all they could do to help with the difficult facts of my case, and I am pleased with the outcome. I would recommend this law firm to anyone with the assurance they would offer the same quality service to them as they did to me. Thank you Flaherty Fardo, Carole J. Boyd
Couldn't have asked for a better experience. They are a wonderful group who are efficient, patient, communicative and do their job very well.
They kept me in the loop the whole time and were extremely helpful. I have used a different firm in the past and this was like night and day. If you are considering using Flaherty Fardo for your assessment appeal (or likely anything else they practice) then you found what you are looking for. A special thank you to Nicole who spearheaded my case and answered my never-ending questions. Top notch!
"Highly Recommended" just isn't enough praise. They are by far the best I have ever worked with.
Professional, but beyond that their personal touch is exactly what a medical malpractice client or personal injury client needs. Noah Fardo is amazing, but the entire firm were great to us. I honestly can't thank Bill Rogel, Nicole Hauptman Amick, and Jaclyn Gibson enough. Thank you all.
