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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, August 03, 2015

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.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Business as usual in The City Without Limits.

Anonymous said...

Nobody knows a conflict of interest more than a disbarred divorced alcoholic lawyer. SNOOZE!! NEXT!!

Anonymous said...

Shooting the messenger isn't a particularly efffective defense,.. but then if it's all you got, it's all you got.

Anonymous said...

and the lawyer for Lopez is......drumroll.......none other than Orloski, who has filed serial lawsuits against Allentown

Bernie O'Hare said...

Do you even know how to read? If you read this post, the whole point is that Lopez' attorney is Goldman, who is also representing the City in responding to the subpoena. Do you just make up shit as you go along and expect people to believe it?

Anonymous said...

A lot of mid level managers and City Hall bureaucrats are going to be in for a very rude awakening once the grand jury gets rolling.

Anonymous said...

Please.please.please don't tell Me Ms. Wildman of the Gross Law Firm is this incompentent.How could the City Solicitor and City Council sink this low.All this tax-payer money missing and all They are concerned about getting free legal representation. from a top selve Philly Lawyer

Anonymous said...

" I was just following orders."

Anonymous said...

What politically connescted Law Firm did Ms. Wildman of The Gross Law Firm hire to represent The City in this Lopez matter ? I was always told the Solicitor's budget was like that of the C.I.A. that being an extremely 'Black Budget' with no oversight.

Anonymous said...

Orloski and Goldman are spelled very nearly identically Bernie, give that chick a break will ya....

:-)

Anonymous said...

Is it a possibility city officials could actually get away with destroying/redacting critical information? Serious question.

Anonymous said...

Are the mid level dopes gonna get free legal care when their cases come up after the Grand Jury sessions?

Anonymous said...

Will the Obama administration pressure federal prosecutors to let all of this alone?

Anonymous said...

Hilary sent $$$ back to Fed Ed, that should answer your question, 3:10.