Jill Mancini Still Awaits Her Payday

I've written several times about the Jill Mancini case. She was a full-time assistant NorCo solicitor who was summarily fired in a Christmas phone call by the Brown administration. A federal jury concluded that her due process rights were, in fact, violated, and she was awarded $94,000. Her attorney was awarded $186,000. That finding was upheld on appeal to the Third Circuit as well. Her claim for reinstatement and back pay were unresolved.

After years of going back and forth between the Personnel Appeals Board, Common Pleas Court and Commonwealth Court, President Judge Craig Dally ruled in 2024 that Mancini be reinstated, that she be awarded back pay and all fringe benefits between 2014, the date of her termination, and 2018, when she found alternative employment. He scheduled a hearing for damages. But Judge Dally has decided to remand her claim to the Personnel Appeals Board to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the issue of damages and report back. You can see his Order below.

Judge Dally has determined that the Personnel Appeals Board has failed to determine Mancini's damages and fringe benefits and her administrative remedies must first be exhausted at that level. 

This case has now been litigated through three different county executives. 

Mancini Remand by BernieOHare

How Much Will Mancini Suit Cost?

Last Friday, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal jury verdict awarding $94,232 to former Ass't NorCo Solicitor Jill Mancini. That jury concluded that she was fired by incoming Executive John Brown and Solicitor Vic Scomillio without due process of law. In addition, the Court affirmed an order awarding Allentown Attorney Pat Reilly, who represented Mancini, $186,018.60 in attorney’s fees and costs.

Exactly how much money is the county out-of pocket? Will Brown appeal? Will Reilly seek additional attorney fees? Will Mancini attempt to seek re-instatement?

At Northampton County's September 15 meeting, both Ken Kraft and Hayden Phillips requested Controller Steve Barron to run up a tab. "This Scomillio debacle has cost the County and who's paying for it or should be paying for it?" asked Kraft.

Though Barron agreed to research the matter, Executive John Brown promised Council he would report on exactly how much the Mancini lawsuit has cost the County.

The County is covered by insurance with PCoRP, and has a $50,000 deductible. Brown indicated he is meeting with their attorneys next week.

"When that position was created, I voted against it, and I sit here vindicated," said Council President John Cusick.

Except he doesn't.

The full-time Assistant Solicitor position was created by resolution dated December 7, 2006. All members of Council voted for it, including Cusick.  At Council's January 18, 2007 meeting, the resolution authorizing a full-time assistant solicitor had to be voted on a second time because of a mistake in the first resolution. Once again, all members of Council supported it, including Cusick.

Given that he voted to create the position twice, it's a bit odd that Cusick would claim he is "vindicated."

NorCo Spent $49,000 Defending Mancini Civil Rights Case in 2014

On Friday, a federal jury found that Northampton County violated the procedural due process rights of Jill Mancini. She's a former assistant County Solicitor, and was its sole full-time lawyer. She learned she was losing her job just two days before Christmas, when newly appointed Solicitor Vic Scomillio phoned her from his car. She pursued a claim before the Personnel Appeals Board (the result there was a 2-2 tie) and filed a civil rights lawsuit.

For liability claims, Northampton County participates in a risk pool including numerous Counties, administered by PCoRP. That insurer hired Thomas Thomas and Hafer to defend the Mancini claim. The County must pay a $50,000 deductible before insurance kicks in.

In 2014, the County paid Thomas Thomas and Hafer $49,000 to defend the Mancini claim. Insurance will likely cover remaining attorney fees, the $94,000 verdict and Mancini's attorney fees. This will easily exceed the amount of the verdict.

This will no doubt have an adverse impact on the insurance premium for liability.

Mancini Celebrates Win at Detzi's - Leaves No Tip

Jill Mancini was just awarded $94,000 in lost wages on Friday. According to a federal jury, her civil rights were violated when incoming Northampton County Solicitor Vic Scomillio fired her as an Assistant just two days before Christmas. Rather than letting her know in person, he did it over the phone, from his car. I thought that was tacky, especially from a judicial candidate. But Mancini is pretty tacky herself. She proved that last night.

She and Karl Longenbach (her boyfriend and former boss) dropped in at Detzi's Tavern in Wind Gap to celebrate. Naturally, they bumped into Scott Parsons, a Detzi's regular. The three of them ponied up to the bar.

While they dined, Mancini ripped into Brown and Scomillio. She's become bitter.

When their $67 bill came, they paid it. Then they left. Though Mancini was just awarded $94,000, neither she nor Longenbach could be bothered to tip the person who served them.

Maybe they forgot.

12:45 pm Explanation From Barfly: I have received a telephone call from someone who claims he was at the Tavern last night and knows what happened. I'll call him Barfly. He claims that the tab was picked up by a third party, sitting at one of the tables. Longenbach and Mancini left no tip, but the Good Samaritan left money for a tip and paid for their meal and drinks as well.

Brown Right To Fire Mancini

Both The Express Times and Morning Call are reporting that former Assistant County Solicitor Jill Mancini is suing Northampton County over her dismissal in January. She gambled in politics and eventually lost. Above, she is whistling and cheering on the night that Scott Parsons beat Ron Angle in a County Council race. Her boss, John Stoffa, supported Angle.

She's a far better cheerleader than a lawyer. She had to be replaced as Right-to-Know officer because she was ignoring requests, turning molehills into mountains.

When Scott Parsons and other council members refused to make her some kind of Super Solicitor, despite the impassioned pleas of her boyfriend, Solicitor Karl Longenbach, she grew bitter.

Her luck finally ran out. She was an active Callahan supporter in November's Executive race, but an obscure Slate Belt Mayor, John Brown, came out of nowhere and won.

She likely believed that her career service status exempted her from political reprisal.

She found out she was wrong when she got her walking papers.

Though an indifferent lawyer at best, Mancini was still one of the Executive's legal advisers. Brown has every right to insist on lawyers whose advice he trusts, regardless how she is classified. Obviously, he would be an idiot to trust her.

So I believe he made the right call here. She has proven how much she really cares about the County by suing.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.