Earlier this month, I told you that a damaging 2014 fire at the Leeson Law offices in Bethlehem has sparked a civil suit. No arrest has been made, but the City Fire Marshal ruled that the fire was an arson. Just as the two-year statute of limitations was set to expire, Selective Insurance Company started the lawsuit against Bethlehem Recreation Coordinator Mark Atkinson. Bill Leeson, Managing Partner at the Leeson law firm, is the City's Solicitor. Selective filed its action as the subrogee for the Leeson law firm and DMAR Construction, which performed the fire restoration.
The action contained no Complaint, but is simply a writ of summons for now. That's a formal notification to someone that he is being sued. According to the civil cover sheet accompanying this writ, this is an an "intentional" tort action.
Arson is considered an intentional tort.
Expect to see a Complaint soon. Bethlehem Attorney Paul Bender has entered his appearance for Atkinson, and has issued what is known as a Rule on Selective Insurance. It will be required to spell out, in detail, exactly why it is suing Atkinson.
No one is talking, and I don't blame them. We'll have to wait and see the court papers when they are filed.
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Showing posts with label Bill Leeson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Leeson. Show all posts
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Friday, February 12, 2016
Leeson Lawfirm Arson Sparks Lawsuit Against City Worker
It's against the City's Recreation Coordinator, Mark Atkinson, whose salary this year is budgeted at $59,259.00. Bill Leeson is the Solicitor for the City, and they both work in the same building. Jay Leeson is a former Solicitor and member of City Council who currently serves as a United States District Court judge.
Selective Insurance Company, acting as the subrogee of the Leeson law firm and DMAR Construction, filed suit in Northampton County on February 3. Atkinson, who lives on the 4300 block of Greenfield Drive, is named as the Defendant in what is known as a writ of summons. Simply put, that is a notice to a person that he is being sued, and is a way to keep a claim alive when the statute of limitations is set to expire.
Nobody's talking. Attorney Steve Kluxen, who filed the writ of summons, failed to return a phone call seeking information. Bill Leeson, who is City Solicitor, also declined to comment on the case. Atkinson failed to return several calls.
Atkinson incidentally is one of ten City workers who shared in a $1 million Powerball jackpot just days after the arson.
No criminal charges have been filed against Atkinson.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Bob Donchez Makes Two Excellent Picks
I was unable to attend yesterday's Bob Donchez news conference, in which he announced two important appointments to his sanctum sanctorum - Northampton County's Alicia Karner as DCED Director, and Bethlehem Attorney Bill Leeson as City Solicitor. These are excellent picks, a sign of good judgment from the Bethlehem Mayor elect.
Alicia Karner
I know Alicia Karner best so let me start with her. As most of you know, I'm more than willing to mix it up with anyone, from Edwin Pawlowski to, most recently, Lehigh County Comm'r Vic Mazziotti. But Alicia scares the shit out of me. I admit it. She's always acted professionally, but knows exactly what is going on. She also happens to be a jock. She earned eleven varsity letters at Bangor High School and went on to play Division I field hockey before graduating from the UNC at Wilmington with a degree in Political Science.
Karner won election to Bangor Borough Council, served as its President, and then ended up working for State Senator Lisa Boscola. Along the way, she developed an interest in both community and economic development, As a member of the County's most impoverished community outside of the cities, she started serving on the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley board, eventually becoming its President. She also was selected by Executive John Stoffa to administer his economic development program in Northampton County.
Alicia Karner
Karner won election to Bangor Borough Council, served as its President, and then ended up working for State Senator Lisa Boscola. Along the way, she developed an interest in both community and economic development, As a member of the County's most impoverished community outside of the cities, she started serving on the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley board, eventually becoming its President. She also was selected by Executive John Stoffa to administer his economic development program in Northampton County.
Alicia has been deeply involved in both downtown revitalization projects as well as other job creation projects. She helped usher in Charlie Chrin's Route 33 TIF, which is expected to eventually bring 5,500 jobs to this area. Presentations that she orchestrated even persuaded Ron Angle, a foe of economic development handouts, to support the project. She even got me on Charlie Chrin's side, something I never thought would happen.
While doing all this, Karner also administered the County's Gaming Authority.
Her biggest achievement, though, and one of which she should be very proud, are her three children. On election night, the Karner family had its own annual election for Karner House President. There was even some dirty campaigning.
Alicia is a very good pick for Bethlehem as DCED Director. But her loss will be felt at Northampton County.
What Happens to Joe Kelly?
Bethlehem's current DCED Director, Joe Kelly, is out. Donchez has the right and really, the obligation, to put his own stamp on City government. As good a person as Joe is, Bob can't do that with incumbent Mayor John Callahan's right hand man. There would always be a question of loyalty.
As an attorney with an impressive resume, I believe Joe should have no problem landing on his feet.
One rumor floating around is that Willie Reynolds will try to install Joe on City Council as Donchez' replacement. This seems like an effort to undermine Donchez, not good government. Nor is it particularly good for Joe Kelly down the road. Reynolds has the votes to do this, I'm sure. But isn't it time to stop playing politics and start governing?
Bill Leeson
They say you can't fight City Hall, but I have fought several battles with the County. I did so when I challenged Northampton County's $111 million megabond under former Executive Glenn Reibman. I won the first battle, thanks in large part to the efforts of Easton Attorneys Charlie Smith and Brian Monahan. Along the way, we made law. We got a Commonwealth Court ruling in our favor on the Sunshine Act, with a ruling that a judge had improperly made arguments not advanced by the county. We also got an important Supreme Court ruling that bond proposals must be real, and be accompanied by realistic cost estimates.
We lost the second round, in which the fight was that public money was being used to fund private projects. I think we might have had a shot with the Supreme Court, but we just ran out of money.
Our opponent in this legal war was Bill Leeson.
He impressed the hell out of me. He would write an excellent and terse brief, but had an uncanny knack in oral argument of putting things in a slightly different way that would completely throw us off our game.
Throughout this battle, which became quite heated at times, Leeson always remained a gentleman. He always kept his word, except for that one time when he told me the Supreme Court had moved to Phillipsburg and I should just wait there for oral argument.
He knows municipal law inside out, and like his brother and father, will be an excellent City Solicitor.
While doing all this, Karner also administered the County's Gaming Authority.
Her biggest achievement, though, and one of which she should be very proud, are her three children. On election night, the Karner family had its own annual election for Karner House President. There was even some dirty campaigning.
Alicia is a very good pick for Bethlehem as DCED Director. But her loss will be felt at Northampton County.
What Happens to Joe Kelly?
Bethlehem's current DCED Director, Joe Kelly, is out. Donchez has the right and really, the obligation, to put his own stamp on City government. As good a person as Joe is, Bob can't do that with incumbent Mayor John Callahan's right hand man. There would always be a question of loyalty.
As an attorney with an impressive resume, I believe Joe should have no problem landing on his feet.
One rumor floating around is that Willie Reynolds will try to install Joe on City Council as Donchez' replacement. This seems like an effort to undermine Donchez, not good government. Nor is it particularly good for Joe Kelly down the road. Reynolds has the votes to do this, I'm sure. But isn't it time to stop playing politics and start governing?
They say you can't fight City Hall, but I have fought several battles with the County. I did so when I challenged Northampton County's $111 million megabond under former Executive Glenn Reibman. I won the first battle, thanks in large part to the efforts of Easton Attorneys Charlie Smith and Brian Monahan. Along the way, we made law. We got a Commonwealth Court ruling in our favor on the Sunshine Act, with a ruling that a judge had improperly made arguments not advanced by the county. We also got an important Supreme Court ruling that bond proposals must be real, and be accompanied by realistic cost estimates.
We lost the second round, in which the fight was that public money was being used to fund private projects. I think we might have had a shot with the Supreme Court, but we just ran out of money.
Our opponent in this legal war was Bill Leeson.
He impressed the hell out of me. He would write an excellent and terse brief, but had an uncanny knack in oral argument of putting things in a slightly different way that would completely throw us off our game.
Throughout this battle, which became quite heated at times, Leeson always remained a gentleman. He always kept his word, except for that one time when he told me the Supreme Court had moved to Phillipsburg and I should just wait there for oral argument.
He knows municipal law inside out, and like his brother and father, will be an excellent City Solicitor.
Class all the way.
What happens to Jack Spirk?
Like Joe Kelly, Jack has to go. He was a trusted confidante to Bethlehem mayor John Callahan, and knows that Donchez needs his own consigliere. Jack was an excellent Assistant DA, and I know this better than most because he kicked my ass several times. He loves teaching, and can continue that profession and can walk through numerous other doors.
As is the case with Joe Kelly, a rumor floating around that Spirk will be installed as the next City Council Solicitor, replacing long time Solicitor Chris Spadoni. I don't understand why Council would replace a neutral and effective Solicitor with someone who is known as Callahan's right arm. I thought Callahan was term-limited.
What happens to Jack Spirk?
Like Joe Kelly, Jack has to go. He was a trusted confidante to Bethlehem mayor John Callahan, and knows that Donchez needs his own consigliere. Jack was an excellent Assistant DA, and I know this better than most because he kicked my ass several times. He loves teaching, and can continue that profession and can walk through numerous other doors.
As is the case with Joe Kelly, a rumor floating around that Spirk will be installed as the next City Council Solicitor, replacing long time Solicitor Chris Spadoni. I don't understand why Council would replace a neutral and effective Solicitor with someone who is known as Callahan's right arm. I thought Callahan was term-limited.
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