Judge Terrence R. Nealon of Lackawanna County Addresses Law Regarding Parties Intervening Into a Lawsuit

In the case of Helring v. Scranton Police Pension Board, No. 2024-CV-7781(C.P. Lacka. Co. July 9, 2025 Nealon, J.), the court addressed the ability to the City of Scranton to intervene into an action regarding a dispute over police pension benefits.

While the case was pending, the City of Scranton filed a Petition to Intervene as a party, which intervention request was opposed by the former police officer, but not the Scranton Police Pension Board.

In his decision, Judge Terrence R. Nealon of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas provided a thorough overview of the Rules of Civil Procedure and Pennsylvania law regarding intervention in an action under Pa. R.C.P. 2327(4).

The court found that, after reviewing the facts of the case before it, as applied to the applicable law, the City’s interest in preventing the violation of its ordinances provided the City with grounds to intervene in the action.

The court also noted that none of the three (3) discretionary bases for refusing intervention as set forth under Pa. R.C.P. 2329 existed in the matter.

Accordingly, the court granted the City’s Petition to Intervene.


Anyone wishing to review a copy of this decision may click this LINK.