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ZK Results – Attorneys Jeff Ramaley and Francesca Miller successful in persuading trial court to apply the Dead man’s Act

In late December, 2016, ZK attorneys Jeff Ramaley and Francesca Miller, representing an estate that was a defendant in a personal injury action, were successful in persuading the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas to apply the Dead man’s Act before trial.  The estate was one of two defendants.  The court ruled that the plaintiff could not testify about the accident, which occurred several months before the decedent died of unrelated causes.  The court also severed and stayed the action against the estate from the case against the living codefendant because the testimony of the plaintiff, as to events that occurred before the death of the decedent, were admissible against the co-defendant.  The case settled shortly thereafter.