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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Ethical Charges Against Former DA Don Corriere

The Morning Call has reported that former District Attorney Donald Corriere is under an ethical cloud, having been accused by the Disciplinary Board of misusing client resources. It's a a 51-page Complaint, to which Corriere has filed an Answer denying all wrongdoing.

I've been aware of this matter for several days,but dd not want to write about it without the Complaint and Answer. I called Don yesterday. He is under the impression that he's unable to discuss the matter, So was I. Not so, says the Disciplinary Board. Once he files his Answer, the matter is public.

I learned this two days ago, when I first found out about the complaint. I called there and spoke to an Elaine Bixler.

"Your name sounds familiar," Bixler told me.

Uh oh.

I was suspended in '85, and Bixler told me she's been with the Disciplinary Board since the '70s.

Once I get copies of the Complaint and Answer, I will post them here.

Corriere is a former Northampton County Commissioner and has long been involved in local Democratic politics.  He's a former District Attorney who was unseated in by a little-known Bethlehem Attorney named John Morganelli.

In all his years as DA, Morganelli tells me he has never had a complaint about Corriere.

When I practiced law, I acted unethically and disgraced my profession and family. In my case, my misconduct occurred because I thought i could do anything when I was drinking, even if it was just a small amount. It's not how much, but what it does to you.

I know numerous other lawyers over th years who have had problems with alcohol, drugs or both. It does not excuse the misbehavior, but explains it.

The fact that Corriere has been charged with misconduct does not mean he is guilty of anything.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Foxes guarding the henhouse. Hold on to you wallet around all lawyers.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it a shame how 99% of the lawyers give the whole profession a bad name.

Anonymous said...

Steve Miller on Mcall says you're hiring for a blogger position, true?

c said...

I hope it isn't true. I had the pleasure of working with him in Lehigh Township on a few occasions. Seemed like a pretty balanced guy.

Anonymous said...

He and his former partner are going through a very nasty parting of the ways. The MC states that Haber's atty says he didn't drop the dime on his partner. Haber will do anything to discredit his former law partner so he can win his case. If you think Haber didn't drop the dime then you probably also believe in tinker belle and the tooth fairy. I'm not defending Corriere, he may very well have done what he is being accused of.....but I am questioning the sincereity of Haber.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I imagine a concerted effort will be made to find out whether he leaked tge story, but it is public. When I called Bixler two days ago, she told me there had already been several inquiries.

Anonymous said...

Sad...true or not!

Anonymous said...

Im a bit curious why You havent mentioned anything about Atty Ed Readings misfortune or do You just do stories on the people You dont like??

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am well aware of Ed Redding's m isfortunes and have no relationship with him whatsoever. He is certainly no friend. I also knew about what was happening a good six months before it did. But I was unable to write about it for several reasons that made me think it would be improper for me to write about it, and I knew others would be covering it.

As for Don Corriere, I know him quite well and have always been on friendly terms with him. I know his son, too, and have always been on good terms with both.

I posted this story because people have a right to know. You can't sweep this under the rug.

Anonymous said...

Would be interesting to read about Ed Redding and Former Dir. of Fiscal Affairs Jean Mateff and all the controversy surrounding them.
Word on the street is Jerry Seyfried told you to lay off.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I don't see what possible relevance the ancient story about his marital infidelity might have, except to hurt innocent people. But anonymous cowards like you do that sort of thing.

Anonymous said...

These anonymous readers don't hesitate to start the kicking as soon as someone hits the ground do they?

Anonymous said...

the pot calling the kettle black - laughing at you

who are the biggest whores? pols or lawyers - it's a toss up

Anonymous said...

do u know what happens when lawyers don't pay their trash bills? The garbage man quits delivering.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
When do you anticipate the ethical board will be coming to allentown to do there work that has been compiled since the kings crowning ¿

Anonymous said...

"Im a bit curious why You havent mentioned anything about Atty Ed Readings misfortune or do You just do stories on the people You dont like?"

I'm curious of if you have half a brain. It isn't the lack of apostrophes - because you're known for that.

I'm curious of why you criticize Bernie for hating women, anytime he writes a blog article on women who are criminals or disgraced their office, and then when the subject of an article is a man that did something wrong, you criticize him for doing articles on "people" he doesn't like.

It's seems you can't survive without criticizing Bernie, regardless of what he does. What the hell are you doing to benefit the people of the Lehigh Valley, that even comes close to 1/10 of what Bernie's excellent reporting does?

Anonymous said...

anon 6:20, how is the weather up there in O'Hare's anal canal?

Cash any checks lately?

Anonymous said...

"anon 6:20, how is the weather up there in O'Hare's anal canal?

Cash any checks lately?"


I'm anon 6:20, and I'd love to respond to you, if you'd just pull your head out of your butt so that when you speak crap doesn't come out.

Anonymous said...

There are always people wanting to kick others while they are down. This is another case of assholes making statements that are not true.
What does Seyfried have to do with Redding or Mateff and what does any of that have to do with Haber and Corriere?
pLEASE FILL IN THE BLANKS FOR ME.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how long it will be before KING SPRY is investigated for their billing of School Districts. The billing of the Bangor Area School District awaits investigation by the Pa Auditor Generals Office..... Spry paid back 8K ???? for 6 months of overbilling alone.....