Former Fed Representing Allentown Has Conflict

Robert Goldman, a former federal prosecutor, has been retained by Allentown to assist officials in producing documents that have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury. While this is a good idea, the City should have hired someone else. You see, Goldman represents a man who has sued the City with claims of racism and police brutality.

This civil rights lawsuit, filed April 1, is focused on allegations that Allentown police beat Lopez into unconsciousness and broke his neck when they accosted him outside a 7-11, where he had just purchased some groceries. He admitted to officers that he was in possession of two syringes. In the complaint filed by Goldman, he describes a police department with a "history of violence and Constitutional violations"
that is "condoned and encouraged" by City officials.

Now he's representing them.

This is a conflict of interest. How can Goldman's client expect him to act with undivided loyalty if the City is also paying him for his services, even though the matters are unrelated? How can taxpayers know whether Goldman's case gets more consideration from the City than it deserves?

Under Pennsylvania law, a lawyer may represent a person he is suing in another matter so long as both clients give informed consent. But there's no shortage of experienced attorneys who could assist the City without any appearance of impropriety.

This was a mistake.

If City Council had some oversight over contracts, and had a few independent-minded members, this problem would never have occurred.