Pennsylvania ‘Bellwether’ Child Sexual Abuse Cases Separated

A Pennsylvania trial judge improperly consolidated four trial four cases alleging medical providers enabled a pediatrician to sexually abuse underage patients, a state appeals court said.

The judge correctly concluded that the cases involved common questions of law regarding the defendants’ liability, but the cases didn’t involve common questions of fact, the Pennsylvania Superior Court said Tuesday. The plaintiffs raised various claims, including negligent hiring and supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and medical negligence, Judge Victor P. Stabile said in an opinion for the court.

In addition, the lower court judge didn’t take into account the possibility the defendants ...