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. 

Spadoni to Seek Karen Dolan's Seat in Bethlehem

Bethlehem Attorney Chris Spadoni would like Karen Dolan's seat on Bethlehem City Council, and he deserves it. My first trial was against him, and the bastard beat me. I've had it in for him ever since, and this is my chance to get revenge.

Actually, Chris and I are friends for many years. He helped me complete my first long run. He never looked down his nose at me after I was suspended from practicing law. He has a well-earned reputation as a fierce litigator, but what most people forget is that he is extremely knowledgeable about municipal government. Over his career, he's provided legal advice to Northampton County, Lower Mount Bethel Township, Stockertown and Easton. Most importantly, he served as Bethlehem's City Council Solicitor for 16 years. He succeeded a fellow you might know. His name is John Morganelli.

With his institutional knowledge, he's without question the most qualified applicant. As he states himself, he'd be able to "hit the ground running". His top priorities are "public safety, fiscal responsibility, and the provision of services".

He indicated he would only serve as a placeholder, leaving the politics to someone else.

Unfortunately, it was politics that ended his position as Solicitor. Dolan wanted him replaced because he gave legal advice, as opposed to telling her what she wanted to hear.

It would be the ultimate irony to see Spadoni selected for the seat she once held.

You can read Spadoni's responses to a few questions here.

Rumor Mill: Spadoni Asked to Resign

Bethlehem Attorney Chris Spadoni, who has served as Solicitor to City Council for the past 17 years, has been asked to resign, according to inside sources who asked not to be named. Spadoni himself declined comment, and I have emailed Council President J. Willie Reynolds for confirmation. 

In addition to his municipal work in Bethlehem, Spadoni has served several other local governments, including Easton and Northampton County. He has also been an assistant District Attorney and was Chief Public Defender for four years. 

As their Solicitor, Spadoni could advise Council that any decision to terminate him must be made in public. A back room decision to replace him would violate the state Sunshine Act.

Spadoni Hangs On in Bethlehem

At its reorganization last night, Bethlehem City Council took no action to replace its Solicitor, Chris Spadoni. I had heard from numerous sources that Spadoni would be replaced by Jack Spirk, John Callahan's former Solicitor. But that has not happened

At least, not yet. 

Spadoni has served Bethlehem for the past 18 years.

His salary is very low, hovering around $20,000 for what sometimes amounts to a 40-hour week.   

Spadoni, the Zen Candidate

The Chris Spadoni game face

Chris Spadoni, one of the Lehigh Valley's finest lawyers, is running for Northampton County judge. I saw him early this evening as I was walking the grounds of my estate, and he tried to run me over. Like his able opponent Jennifer Sletvold, he is campaigning hard. He had been out all day. Abe Kassis and Tom Carroll, the other two judicial candidates, are also excellent attorneys. But it has to drive all four of them nuts to know that the Supreme Court could pull the rug out from under all of them, after they've spent as much as $100,000 each.

Like Spadoni, Jenn Sletvold is everywhere. By 10 AM, she has usually already consumed three breakfasts. At a Hanover Supervisors meeting a few weeks ago, she came to introduce herself to everyone.

These lawyers are campaigning full time while trying to put bread on the table, too.

But there's a dark cloud on the horizon. Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Castille, who can only stay on the bench until next year, wants to kill that mandatory retirement age provision carved into the Pennsylvania Constitution. He and his fellow Supremes have already reached down to the Commonwealth Court and grabbed the case. He must think he has a constitutional right to be a judge.

Now if this were me, I'd be threatening to sue somebody. Maybe everybody. That's why I'm not exactly judicial material.

When I asked Spadoni about this mess tonight, he just smiled and said this could be the first time in County history that voters pick a candidate who can't run for judge. I guess this Buddhist answer is evidence of what you call a judicial temperament. Either that or he just ate.

Abe Atiyeh: I Am Not An Animal

Abe Atiyeh 

Developer Abe Atiyeh just missed on his 547,839th attempt to persuade Bethlehem's zoners to allow a drug rehab center tonight. Yes, the vote was 5-0 against him, but it took them a half hour. I'll have a story tomorrow with all the details, although The Express Times's Zach Lindsey has already beaten me.

But before I get into my own rendition, I want to share a little kerfuffle between Atiyeh and City Council Solicitor Chris Spadoni. The Bethlehem Barister was peppering Atiyeh, and Abe finally blew up.

"I am not an animal. If you want to talk to me like an animal, I'll talk to you like an animal."

So nobody talked like an animal.

Chris Spadoni

Bethlehem City Council Solicitor Chris Spadoni Turns 60

Soon after passing the bar exam, Chris Spadoni and I tried our first cases against each other. He was an Assistant DA. I was representing a drunk driver with a .35 BAC. I argued that a 0.35 is only 1/3 of the .10 that was then required for DUI. But some asshole on the jury did the math, and it was light's out for me.

President Judge Al Williams was doing a slow burn during the trial, in which he had to put up with two inexperienced lawyers who were taking shots at each other the whole time. When the case was over, he looked over his glasses at us and said, "You two. In my chambers. Now!"

When we got in there, he complimented both of us and said we'd go far.

He was half right.

Since that time, Spadoni is the person who actually helped me run in my first long race, back in the day when he was a runner himself.

He's also told me that whenever Ron Angle and I are on the same side of an issue, he knows we must be wrong. Spadoni recently failed to take his own advice and sided with us on a Gracedale issue. All three of us went down in flames.

Over the years, Spadoni has mastered the art of looking extremely serious, as you can see in this picture from last night's zoning hearing.

If you see Chris, be nice. He just turned 60, and will probably be dead soon.

Norco Registrar DePaul Tries to Soak County for $2470 Private Lawyer Bill

H.R.H. Deborah DePaul, Northampton County's voting registrar, brought her own mouthpiece to last week's citizen panel studying our election troubles. But that didn't shut her up. No, siree! Hired gun Lawrence Otter and H.R.H. DePaul doubleteamed to drown everyone else out. She justified this paid windbag as a "buffer" to protect her "from the falsehoods and basic lies."

Here's my question. Who's going to protect us from her?

H.R.H. DePaul's attorney has just billed the county $2,470.78 to represent her last Wednesday, according to some county employees I won't name. He even billed the county for a $36.83 din din with DePaul at Uncle Wesley's! Mmmm. H.R.H. DePaul wants the county to pay for her crabcakes. Otter ate fish and frogs.

Otter also billed taxpayers $33.95 for his swim up from Doylestown. No wonder he was hungry.

Why would H.R.H. DePaul direct her shill, who supposedly represents her, to bill the county for his services and even their dinners? This is just unbridled arrogance from an employee who will never understand she's here to serve the people, not to be fed crabcakes by them.

Did someone in the county administration pre-authorize this ridiculous charge? Director of Administration John Conklin, H.R.H. DePaul's boss, tells me he knew nothing about the bill until it came in the mail. I'm sure he'd like crabcakes, too. Hell, he can hire me as a consultant and I'll just bill the county.

Whoopee!

Funny thing. Nothampton County has a seasoned attorney, Chris Spadoni, who is paid to represent H.R.H. DePaul officially. He also attended last Wenesday's meeting, waiting for someone to ask him a question or offer him crabcakes or something. And Chris loves crabcakes. He'll eat just about anything that isn't nailed down. I found that out when I sailed with him many years ago. We had to go without food for several hours, and Spadoni ate a dentist.

Maybe Norco Dem Chair Joe Long will pay the bill. Long already thinks he runs the elections office, anyway. And he is a crab.

Why is H.R.H. DePaul still employed by the county? The Express Times, said it best. "DePaul must accept public criticisms of the office and make it more user-friendly, or step aside for someone who will." It's bad enough she felt an irrational need to bring a lawyer to a meeting of fellow citizens. But now she is trying to stick taxpayers with the bill. It's time for her to step aside. After all, PennDot could use her for our next Valentine's Day storm.

Update: The Express Times and Morning Call both report the latest DePaul dis. Last Wednesday, H.R.H. DePaul claimed to have brought an attorney because "Enough is enough" and "It's time the truth comes out." But her attorney is not her attorney. "I didn't hire him." Confused? Welcome to the bizarro world of Debbie DePaul.