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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Commonwealth Ct Affirms Finding that UMBT Supervisor Is Unethical

Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court, in a ruling handed down on November 8, has affirmed a state ethics commission finding that Upper Mount Bethel Tp Supervisor David Friedman is unethical. Specifically, the Court found that Friedman acted unethically when he voted twice against seeking legal fees in an unsuccessful lawsuit against the township in which he was one of the suing plaintiffs. He voted twice in a matter in which he himself had a direct and personal financial interest.  The Court was also highly critical of "myriad and substantively significant" defects in Friedman's brief on appeal, which was filed by Bethlehem lawyer Chris Spadoni.

Spadoni's brief was so bad that Judge Fizzano Cannon, writing for the Court, stated "that this Court, like the Commission, is uncertain what arguments Friedman is asserting, how he believes the record supports those arguments, and on what legal principles and authorities he is relying as support.

Frankly, anyone who is in public office should know that it is unethical to vote in a matter in which you have a financial interest. Yet that's precisely what Friedman did when he twice voted against a motion that would have authorized UMBT to collect over $9,000 in legal fees incurred in defending a lawsuit in which he himself was one of the unsuccessful litigants. 

It is even more appalling to read of a "flagrant disregard" of the rules of appellate procedure, especially after they were brought to the attention of Friedman's attorney. 

That lawyer, Chris Spadoni, is also the Solicitor of NorCo Council, and has been giving them advice on potential conflicts of interest. 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bucket Head

Anonymous said...

Was the Ethics Opinion he sought for Lori Vargo Heffner in good faith ? Specifically, we now know Heffner, a St. Luke’s employee, voted against the health center proposal due to St. Luke’s inability to respond to the RFP because of the “way it was written?”

Anonymous said...

F. Lee Spadoni has more legal chops in his discarded stools than you could ever dream of having. This kind of thing happens in every township. Curious that you haven't called for his resignation from his county position. Hus must not be that bad.

Anonymous said...

This doesn't seem quite fair. Can you point to one issue where Spadoni gave County Council wrong advice? Just curious.

Anonymous said...

Another day in UMBT.

Bernie O'Hare said...

7:41, I can and have pointed to several instances in which he improperly advised Council or injected himself in policy discussions instead of confining himself to the law.

Anonymous said...

No big surprise A lot of bad p[eople involved

Anonymous said...

Chris is a nice man. He’s been dealing with some health issues himself. He probably should retire, but he’s not the first lawyer to hang in there too long.

Anonymous said...

Another McClure & Zrinski buddy

Anonymous said...

Lori might want to get a different lawyer if she has future ethics matters.

Anonymous said...

He said he would resign as supervisor if the appeal was unsuccessful.

Anonymous said...

have heard that most council members are disappointed in Spadoni but feel bad about axing him.