Leeson Lawfirm Arson Sparks Lawsuit Against City Worker

On February 9, 2014, in the early morning hours, a fire erupted at the Leeson Law offices at 68-70 E. Broad Street in Bethlehem, just beyond the City's National Historic District. Leeson brothers Bill and Jay watched as firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze at a firm founded by their father, the late Joseph Leeson. Parts of the building, along with many memories, literally went up in smoke. Fire Marshal Craig Baer ruled that this was no accident, but an arson. Two years later, no charges have been filed. But earlier this month, just before the two-year statute of limitations on a possible civil action was set to expire, an insurance company representing the Leesons has filed suit.

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.

Did Jay Leeson Buy His Judicial Nomination?

In a recent letter to the editor, Northampton County's former Fiscal Director Charles L "Pete" Houck asks readers to check the "money trail" in Attorney Jay Leeson's contributions to Senator Bob Casey. His point apparently is that Leeson has bought his nomination to the federal bench. He adds that Leeson is unqualified because he's never been a judge.

I checked.

Between 2006 and the present, Leeson has made a grand total of 12 donations to Senator Casey, totaling $12,000. That's $1,500 a year. No U.S. Senator is going to sell a judicial nomination for that paltry sum. Even a lowly member of the House of Representatives must raise $2 million every election cycle.

NIZ twins Joe Topper and JB Reilly gave a combined $50,000 to NorCo Executive John Brown's race, where far less money is needed. That's how you buy someone.

Houck's other point is sheer nonsense. Federal judges are selected from both the bench and bar. Wearing a black robe is no prerequisite.

Congrats to Jay Leeson

It was a pleasant surprise to learn on Friday that Bethlehem Attorney Joseph "Jay" Leeson has been nominated by President Obama to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pa. We'll be lucky to have this very able advocate.I've seen him in action, and can attest first hand that he, like his brother, is a class act.

Here's two things about Jay that you may not know.

First, he helped write Northampton County's Home Rule Charter. That's the Constitution of our County.

Second, he's part of an unusual group of lawyers who after graduating from law school, teamed up and drove to Philly daily one summer in the same shitty car to study for the bar. They scarfed hot dogs for lunch if they had money. This distinguished cadre of young men included John Morganelli (Northampton County DA), Phil Hof (tireless child advocate) and Jack Panella (Superior Court Judge) and Jay. They were all admitted to Northampton County's Bar together.

The picture included here was taken on Ash Wednesday.