"I'm Not That Kind of Lawyer"

Heavy traffic yesterday afternoon meant that it took gaming board members a bit longer than usual for them to make the meeting. It also have Board Chair Jay Finnigan just the opening he needed to take a shot at booth funeral directors and lawyers.

Hellertown funeral director David Heintzelman, who also is running for Mayor, came in nattily attired with a bowtie and well-tailored suit. Following behind him was Allentown Attorney Graham Simmons, who represents the Board.

"Were you in the same traffic Mr. Heintzelman was?" a Board member asked Simmons.

"He [Heintzelman] picked up business. How about you?" wisecracked Finnigan.

"I'm not that kind of lawyer," replied Simmons.

LV Municipalities Should Sever Ties With Allinson Law Firm

Scott Allinson

Norris McLaughlin and Marcus has stood by Allentown Attorney Scott Allinson. It's been widely known for some time that this self-described "economic development lawyer" has been a target of a federal investigation aimed at Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski's pay-to-play politics. He's largely been MIA while lawyers in that firm have picked up the slack. Not only is he still employed there,but some sources tell me the form has also been paying for his criminal defense. Allinson has expressed his appreciation by throwing the firm under the bus.

Scott Allinson - Pay-to-Play is the "way this shit works."  - According to the federal indictment filed earlier this week, Allinson himself has said that his firm receives its legal work, not because the partners are especially gifted, but because they engage in pay-to-play. He is quoted as saying it “isn’t like we are being hired because we are good guys. It’s not the way this shit works.” 

He also reportedly throws one helluva' party. Ask the people at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.
He's an "economic development lawyer" who managed to get himself installed as the solicitor to numerous public entities that dole out public money.

He was appointed as solicitor to the Northampton County Industrial Development Authority soon after John Brown was elected County Executive, replacing Ed Andres. This decision was prompted by consultant Matt Deibert and others at Integrity Personnel, two of whom are identified in the email that Allinson sent out last week, warning his "old friends" that he was about to be indicted.

Brown also awarded a no-bid $24,000 contract to Integrity for a "strategic assessment" of the County's workforce.

Members of the Industrial Development Authority who opposed Allinson's appointment were given the bum's rush and replaced.

Allinson also represents NorCo's Gaming Board, NorCo General Purpose Authority, NorCo Higher Education Authority, Lehigh’s Economic Advancement Project, NorCo New Jobs Corporation, Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation, Lehigh Valley Regional Loan Pool, Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and NorCo Industrial Development Authority.

Matt Sorrentino

Managing partner Matt Sorrentno is Lehigh County's Solicitor. He also represents Lehigh Valley Health Network. I have high regard for him and his legal acumen,  but standing by a lawyer in his firm who essentially accuses him of being a crook is foolish.

Richard Somach

Richard Somach represents Pawlowski contributor Rob Bennett and Bennett Auto Dealerships. Bennett built a new dealership at the former Exide Battery Plant on Lehigh Street, thanks in large part to $4.5 million in federal brownfield remediation grants.. Though the original construction was done by J. G. Petrucci, the last several additions to the site were done by North Star (J.B. Reilly) and Jim Gentile. Bennett sold their East Allentown - West Bethlehem location to the Banko family. Banko never used it, instead moving to a facility in South Whitehall. Somach is an Assistant County Solicitor, Lehigh County Assessment Board Solicitor and is a collections attorney for Nat Penn Bank, among others.

Somehow,he represents banks foreclosing on properties while simultaneously representing the County at Sheriff Sales.

Fed Ed and his family are rumored to have used Rich Somach's Florida Keys second home for vacations, although I doubt he'll be making that trip this year. .

Ollie Foucek

I'd be remiss if I neglected to mention Oldrich "Ollie" Foucek III, City Planning Commission member and chair, ANIZDA Board member, LV Chamber of Commerce Solicitor and major Fed Ed contributor. He was among those to approve plans for a wholesaler along the Allentown NIZ waterfront despite the fact that there were no ... plans. He is a walking, talking conflict of interest. Being on the Planning Commission and NIZ Board is bad enough, but to be part of a firm that is financially benefiting from both is obscene.

Given Allinson's remarks and his law firm's decision to stand behind him, it is irresponsible for any public entity to continue association with that law firm.

Updated 2 pm: In his email to his "old friends," Allinson claimed that "the firm is standing by me and is fully supportive. I expect to work here after charges are filed." Calls from the firm to clients and attorneys on the day before the indictment lead me to believe him. But I have just verified that Allinson's bio and listing have been removed from the NorrisMcLaughlin webpage. After his remarks about his own firm, as quoted in the indictment, I think the lawyers there had little choice. This action would answer my concern about this firm's ties to public entities.

Disciplinary Complaint Against Corriere Paints Dark Picture

A 51-page complaint filed by the Disciplinary Board [you can read it here] paints a dark picture of Bethlehem Attorney Donald Corriere. If true, it reveals a former District Attorney and County Commissioner who preyed upon innocent and unsophisticated people, instead of helping them. Unfortunately, several people are listed as the victims of a web of deceit.  If nothing else, this disciplinary action demonstrates that a lawyer who acts unethically can really hurt his client.

Before I go on, I need to point out three things. First, I am a former lawyer who did damage clients. I disgraced myself, my family and my profession. Second,.there's been no finding that Corriere has done anything wrong. Though the Disciplinary Complaint does recount admissions of wrongdoing made by Corriere, there has been no formal finding. Finally, I am well aware of the common perception that all lawyers are crooks. But it's a myth made possible by a few unethical lawyers like me. Most lawyers I know are very honest, even if what they say will hurt them. This complaint is highly unusual. But the public has more than a right; it has a need to know.

The Case of Randi Ratushny  

This all starts with Randi Ratushny, a woman who suffered from addiction issues and depression. Not the kind of person you take seriously. Precisely the kind of person you can use. But a person with a sister who loved her. That love, in the end, may have have stopped Corriere.

When Randi's mother died, Corriere was appointed Executor of the Estate. She had another daughter, Robin Thomas, and the mother had already provided for her by setting up numerous bank accounts that were owned jointly, with the right of survivorship. (This means that when the mother died, the daughter automatically became the owner of these accounts)   Corriere suggested that Robin surrender those funds to him, and he'd use them to care for Randi. Robin agreed, liquidated all accounts, and gave him a check for $88,356.94. Using other monies from the mother's estate, Corriere was able to pool $142,277.86, supposedly for the care and maintenance of Randi.

Unfortunately, much of that money instead went to the care and maintenance of Don Corriere. Instead of depositing that money into a separate escrow account, Corriere deposited it in his IOLTA account, and then even withdrew a large portion of it to transfer into a separate savings account. He used the money to pay credit card bills, personal and law firm expenses. According to the Disciplinary Complaint, he converted and spent at least $50,622.73 of Ratushny's money.

He has never repaid this money despite promises to Disciplinary Counsel that he would do so.

In addition, he charged excessive fees. For example, he charged Randi Ratushny's sister, Robin Thomas, $2,500 from the mother's estate for legal fees, even though he never represented her. He charged $2,500 to set up a "custodial account" that never existed. He claimed nearly $9,000 in attorney fees to probate the mother's estate, and charged another $16,000 in fees while supposedly managing Ratushny's money.  

These fees appear to be in addition to what was outright stolen.

Eventually, the well started going dry. In February 2011, someone in Corriere's office told Ratushny that only $5,000 was left in her nonexistent custodial account. After what must have been a minor explosion, Corriere reported that he had found some additional funds and sent her a check for $13,000. He told Ratushny that since this money originally came from her sister, it would be unethical for him to meet and discuss it with her.

Randi Ratushny's Suicide

Ratushny, who suffered from mental illness, was unable to cope with what was happening to her. She found her relief in a bottle of pills in 2012.

Suicide, says the death certificate.

Multiple drug intoxication, says the death certificate.

But where did she get the pills to do herself in? She didn't drive, not after being caught behind the wheel drunk or drugged up, on several occasions. Believe it or not, the person who most likely drove her to pick up those pills - James Emlen - is the person who benefited from her death.

Originally, Ratushny left everything to her sister. Remember her? She's the one who without hesitation entrusted Corriere with $88,000 to provide for her sister. She's the person who paid the funeral bill for her sister. But guess wha?. A new Will was prepared, cutting out the sister and naming instead a man with problems of his own.

This would prevent the sister from asking all kinds of uncomfortable questions about just what happened to her own money.

Though the sister challenged the new will, the Courts accepted it, especially when Corriere's son testified this is what Ratushny wanted. The courts were never told that the firm had already stolen a great deal of Ratushny's money. On appeal, a disinterested Superior Court paid so little attention to details that it mistakenly called James Emlen, the new Executor and heir, Ratushny's brother..

He was not her brother. He may very well be the person who supplied her with the pills she abused to kill herself. Under the Slayer's Act, a person who assists another in committing suicide is barred from financially benefiting in that person's estate.

Had Ratushny's sister been appointed Executor, she would have pursued vigorously the alleged theft of her sister's money by Corriere. But with her out of the way and Emlen in, Corriere thought he was on easy street.

Until the Disciplinary Board began sniffing around.

Because of that, Corriere decided to steer Emlen to a new attorney, Chris Spadoni. Corriere misrepresented the claim against him as just $37,000.

Unfortunately, what happened to Randi Ratushny also happened to other clients.

Playing Games With Asbestos Money  - As the attorney for both the Martin and Virginia Jandris estates, Corriere was provided with substantial sums of money from the Peter Angelos law firm for asbestos claims they had pursued on behalf of the Jandris '. He eventually distributed over $25,000 to their beneficiaries, but only after complaints to the Disciplinary Board. He has failed to distribute about $15,000, and charged an amazing $12,000 in fees for work in which his sole job was to martial assets.

Playing Games With Wrongful Death Money. - Corriere represented the Snyder Estates, who had a wrongful death claim being pursued by another firm. When that matter settled, Corriere refused to distribute the money until the Disciplinary Board inquired. Then he charged excessive fees. In one of the Snyder estates, a spouse had elected to take against the Will. She was represented by Chris Spadoni. Corriere misrepresented the settlement figure in that matter as half of what it really was.

Corriere has declined public comment on the charges against him.

Ethical Charges Against Former DA Don Corriere

The Morning Call has reported that former District Attorney Donald Corriere is under an ethical cloud, having been accused by the Disciplinary Board of misusing client resources. It's a a 51-page Complaint, to which Corriere has filed an Answer denying all wrongdoing.

I've been aware of this matter for several days,but dd not want to write about it without the Complaint and Answer. I called Don yesterday. He is under the impression that he's unable to discuss the matter, So was I. Not so, says the Disciplinary Board. Once he files his Answer, the matter is public.

I learned this two days ago, when I first found out about the complaint. I called there and spoke to an Elaine Bixler.

"Your name sounds familiar," Bixler told me.

Uh oh.

I was suspended in '85, and Bixler told me she's been with the Disciplinary Board since the '70s.

Once I get copies of the Complaint and Answer, I will post them here.

Corriere is a former Northampton County Commissioner and has long been involved in local Democratic politics.  He's a former District Attorney who was unseated in by a little-known Bethlehem Attorney named John Morganelli.

In all his years as DA, Morganelli tells me he has never had a complaint about Corriere.

When I practiced law, I acted unethically and disgraced my profession and family. In my case, my misconduct occurred because I thought i could do anything when I was drinking, even if it was just a small amount. It's not how much, but what it does to you.

I know numerous other lawyers over th years who have had problems with alcohol, drugs or both. It does not excuse the misbehavior, but explains it.

The fact that Corriere has been charged with misconduct does not mean he is guilty of anything.

Barb Hollenbach Listed Top Lawyer

Just saw that Barb Hollenbach has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2015.

Though she tries to deny it, Barb and I graduated from law school together.

We were a pretty bad class. One or two of us had cocaine issues, I had booze issues and Bud Dwyer ended up killing himself on national TV. The worst of us became a judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

But Barb, you done good.

Richard Huntington Pepper and Princess Hope

Rich Pepper, Princess' Counsel

Today is the first day of criminal court, so Rich Pepper will be too busy to have me arrested today. But I've been dying to tell this story about one of Northampton County's more colorful lawyers. He once represented a Princess.

His name is Richard Huntington Pepper. He's a blueblood who flies airplanes, skis and hangs around with rich people. For reasons known only to his psychiatrist, he's always had a soft spot for me, a penniless drunk. Once, while slightly under the influence during a sailing trip in the Chesapeake Bay, I blasted a foghorn right into his ear. I was waking him up from a sound sleep in the middle of a foggy night. Though we couldn't see more than two feet, he was furious, and chased me around the boat. He finally caught me and tossed me overboard. I ended up in the drink, tangled up in crab traps. That normally would have been the end of it. But in the mists, we could hear the "put-put-put" of several motorboats. On our port side. Then starboard. Then the stern, Then the bow.

We blew the horn.

"What the fuck was that?" asked a voice in the distance, followed by put-put-put..

Before we knew it, we were surrounded by furious crabbers and swarms of all kinds of flies that followed their boats in the fog. We were apparently right in the middle of their crabbing fields. They were ready to execute us, right then and there, on the high seas. I wanted to board them and fight, and gave the order as Captain. Pepper, Chris Spadoni and Dwight Danser ignored me and put their legal training to work. The crabbers spared us, drifting away after being bought off with apologies and alcohol.

The flies stayed.

Fast forward a few years. Pepper is appointed to represent a woman accused of not paying her hotel bill. When he visits her at jail, she tells him she can't be prosecuted because she has immunity. She's Princess Hope, from some Caribbean country. Her father the King  would be unhappy to learn that his daughter was in jail over such a trifling matter. So Pepper filed a motion demanding the immediate release of Princess Hope.

The hearing was conducted by Judge Jim Hogan, another sailor who accompanied my father on several expeditions before Northampton County lawyers were eventually banned from sailing.  

Pepper noticed two older women in the back of the courtroom, who were just shaking their heads. He called Princess Hope to the stand, and she very convincingly explained that, as a Princess, she was immune from our petty laws. After all, her face was on the currency in her homeland. She closed by telling Judge Hogan, "And by the way, Mr. Pepper has the biggest cock I've ever seen!"

Judge Hogan, who had also sailed with Pepper, took judicial notice that the object mentioned was, in fact, considerably smaller than represented. That alone provided a basis for discounting the rest of Princess Hope's testimony, as compelling as it might be.

Then the two women in the rear of the courtroom spoke. They were the princess' mother and grandmother. The Princess was, in fact, from New Jersey. She was a college student who had stopped taking her meds.

The young lady was committed until things could be sorted out. She eventually did graduate from college and Pepper tells me she sent him a nice note.

Supreme Court Suspends Lawyer Who Accepted Oral Sex as a Fee

Att'y: Would you like to go to Space Mountain?

Sexy Client: Oh, fuck off.

Att'y: Well, I guess a blow job would really be out of the question then?

According to the Pa. Supreme Court, it is. They just suspended a Bucks County lawyer for a year for accepting about three or four of them from a client in a DUI case.

NorCo Suspends 1st Ass't Public Defender

Last week, I told you that Northampton County's First Assistant Public Defender Anthony Martino is under an ethical cloud, involving the possible misuse of money in private practice.

Anonymous trolls, of course, had to dispute what I posted. "This would be BIG NEWS to most papers, WHY haven't they said it or do they wait for the truth?"

In other words, don't believe it unless you see it in a newspaper. Well, Martino has since been since been suspended by Executive John Stoffa, without pay. He's under criminal investigation by the DA. And, oh yeah, there's now an article in The Morning Call.

By the by, in recent years, Martino has been at the wrong end of numerous tax claims filed by the state and IRS.

Pa Dep't of Revenue:
2007-J-2724, filed 4/11/07 for $10,020.29
2008-J-5257, filed 5/30/08 for $3,866.64
2010-J-14166, filed 12/17/10, for $4,656.94
2011-J-1762, filed 2/24/11, for $6,026.65

IRS:
2004-FT-6381, filed 8/23/04, for $189,065.70
2009-FT-6621, filed 6/29/09, for $50,763.87
2009-FT-8437, filed 8/7/09, for $39,064.92
2009-FT-9946, filed 9/11/09, for $107,187.60
2010-FT-2403, filed 3/12/10, for $21,427.33
2011-FT-8982, filed 9/16/11, for $45,476.98
2012-FT-2119, filed 3/2/12, for $44,185.73
2008-FT-12442, filed 11/24/08, for $26,782.48

It gives me no pleasure to write this story. I know and like Anthony, and consider him an excellent attorney. I feel this must be reported because of his position.

NorCo First Ass't Public Defender Under Ethical Cloud

A prominent Slate Belt Attorney, who has served as Solicitor to Northampton County Council and is currently its First Assistant Public Defender, may himself need a lawyer. Bangor Attorney Anthony J. Martino is no longer associated with the Martino and Karasek law firm. That might be the least of his concerns.

Reliable sources tell me that Martino may have been taking money from the law firm's till, without letting his partners know. He also has been accused of "borrowing" some of his clients' money, without their permission. He has reportedly denied these accusations.

Martino was first admitted to practice in 1986, and has no record of any disciplinary action. Although the Disciplinary Board still lists his office at the Martino, Karasek and Martino law firm, a drive by the office reveals that his name has been removed.

Easton NAACP Prez Acquitted on Theft Charges

Easton Barristers Josh Fulmer, Colin Monahan & Phil Lauer

John Moses Robinson, President of the Easton NAACP and Prison Advisory Board member, has been acquitted of criminal charges that he stole $55,000 from his mother-in-law. A jury of 9 women and 3 men reached a "not guilty" verdict last night, after a four-day trial. They deliberated for little more than an hour.

Robinson's estranged wife thought she'd be getting that money, even though her mother actually lived with Robinson and his three children.

"I have been told we have a verdict, although I don't know what it is," Judge Michael Koury announced as he came into the courtroom.

While everyone waited for the jury, an apprehensive Robinson sat next to lawyers Phil Lauer and Colin Monahan. Robinson's children sat in the row behind their Dad. Five deputy sheriffs were strategically located throughout the courtroom.

While waiting, onlookers whispered to each other about just when the jury left to deliberate, 6:15 PM or 6:25 PM. "The jury went out to deliberate at 6:11 PM," answered Judge Koury. "The acoustics in this room are excellent!"

Either that, or he has superpowers.

Veteran prosecutor Mike Filingo arrived a few minutes before the jury, with a disgusted look on his face. He seemed to sense he had a loser.

There were three charges, so the jury's foreman had to answer "Not Guilty" three times. But as soon as he announced the first "Not guilty" verdict, there was a visible sign of relief from the largely pro-Robinson crowd.

After announcing their verdicts, Judge Koury thanked the jury. "Thank you for staying here late tonight. You have arrived early and stayed late. You have served the County of Northampton very well and you are free to go." He then turned to Robinson. "Mr. Robinson, you have been found Not Guilty by a jury of your peers. You are free to go."

It was only then that Robinson, dressed in his finest, began to really cry. Turning around, he reached out for his children and they all hugged each other. His nightmare is finally over.

Normally very talkative, a very relieved Robinson had few words after the verdict. Joined by his children, he quickly left the courthouse.

All the might and power of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had been brought to bear against him. That even included Northampton County Controller Steve Barron. I knew he already considers himself a County Executive, asbestos investigator and union organizer. Apparently, he's a criminal investigator, too. Although absent for the verdict, rendered at dinner time, the $65,000 per year Controller spent the entire week sitting in on this trial.

How can Barron audit the DA's office when he works for them? Isn't that a built-in conflict? And while he's running around playing detective, who's minding the finances of Northampton County?

At the magistrate's level, Barron essentially usurped the fact finding role reserved to juries. In addition to detailing Robinson's bank transactions, Barron would add they were "interesting," raised red flags and even revealed a "veil of deceit."

Thanks to a good defense team and a fair prosecutor, this nonsense stopped once a jury got involved. Lead defense attorney Phil Lauer, objecting to Barron's qualifications as some kind of fraud expert, filed a motion in limine to preclude the County's supposed fiscal watchdog from essentially telling the jury that Robinson is guilty.

After some initial opposition, prosecutor Filingo agreed, especially since it appeared likely that Judge Koury would rule in Lauer's favor anyway. To his credit, Filingo kept Barron on a tight leash during the trial, shutting the Controller down when he still tried to stray into matters that are beyond his competence.

As a result, Barron had little to say.

You might say justice was done because Robinson was innocent anyway ... or because he had good character witnesses ... or because a jury saw through Robinson's estranged wife, who wanted that money for herself. You might even be right.

I say justice has nothing to do with it. Robinson won because he had a good legal team.

Easton lawyers Phil Lauer, Josh Fulmer and Colin Monahan did a great job in jury selection, making sure that the jury of Robinson's peers actually included three African Americans. And 9 women? That's obviously because Lauer was going to argue that this was a "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" case, as opposed to a criminal matter. Although it's hard to generalize, you do that in jury selection, and women do tend to be tougher on each other than they are on men.

In addition to picking a sympathetic jury, Lauer effectively clipped the Controller's wings.

If the Commonwealth ever decides all its resources down on you, it helps to be innocent. But you better have a good lawyer, too. Fortunately, Robinson had one of the best.

Colin Monahan, incidentally, is the son of another good criminal defense lawyer, Brian Monahan. This was Colin's first criminal trial. I told him to quit now and he can claim he is undefeated.

Lehigh County: 2d Highest Pa. Verdict in 2011

Philadelphia County is where lawyers who want large verdicts try cases, if they can. But did you know that in 2011, Lehigh County was home to the second largest verdict awarded in the Keystone state? A $23 million medical malpractice award in Smoyer v. Garcia was awarded there last year, according to The Legal Intelligencer.  Ironically, a Philadelphia lawyer represented the Plaintiffs.

Northampton County is home to the 14th largest verdict. In Reifer v. Russo, a $4.2 million legal malpractice verdict was entered against Allentown Attorney Don Russo, although he told The Express Times he'll never have to pay a dime because he had already been released.

Russo is also a former op-ed columnist with The Morning Call.

An Emmy For Lehigh Lawyers?

Back in August, I told you that Lehigh County's Bar Association had just snagged an Emmy nomination for Not Behind the Wheel, a video that discourages teens from texting while driving. It's the second time this conclave of barristers has been nominated for a regional Emmy.

Since that time, Executive Director Dan LaBert has been pretty much insufferable. He insists on being called Megatron for some reason, and demands three chilled bottles of San Pelligrono delivered to his office daily, which he's started calling his dressing room.

It's only going to get worse. The Bar Association won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy on September 24 at some swanky hotel in Philly.

"I want to thank my parents for having a child as good-looking as me. This is not as much fun as chasing an ambulance, but it's close. Looks like I finally got lucky."

Att'y Dick Haber - As Good as They Get

Flamboyant. Urbane. Extremely intelligent. Most important of all, extremely funny.

These are just a few of the many adjectives I could use to describe Dick Haber, the closest thing I've ever seen to a Renaissance man. He's been a distinguished lawyer for the past 46 years, but that just scratches the surface. He's also known for his orchids, which he often hands out at real estate closings. Most amazing of all, this is a man who entered the Julliard in Manhattan at age 65, and 4 1/2 years later, was a conductor.

Dick would probably be content to continue conducting and composing, but as Blackstone once said, the law is a jealous mistress. So now, instead of a conductor's baton, he's wielding the sword of lawyers everywhere - the mighty pen.

And he's doing it six days a week!

Haber and I hooked up yesterday at Sharswood, at his wonderful home at 150 West Macada Road. While driving up the long and winding driveway, the first thing you see is a sign warning you, "Psychotic resident. Enter at your own peril." From his home, we took a short trip to Panera's on Center Street to discuss his practice.

Everyone knows me at Panera, so I expected a good reception there. But when they saw Dick, everyone lit up. One young blond positively gushed when she saw him, and came around the counter to give him a nice hug.

Bruno hugged me.

It just wasn't the same.

As we were leaving, I asked Bruno how the business was doing.

"It gets real busy, and then it suddenly stops," Bruno complained.

"That's like my heart," wisecracked Haber. "It gets real busy and then it suddenly stops. The Northampton County Bar is praying for my heart to stop."

Despite his humor, this is a man who really cares about people. I asked him why he would ever want to leave his beautiful home. In a rare serious moment, Haber told me he owed it to his clients.

Haber had a long partnership with Don Corriere, but can now be reached at his home office. His office number is 610.691.5417, and I suggest you call him for a consultation. The drive up his driveway alone is worth the trip.

Should LC Comm'rs Have Their Own Lawyer?

In Northampton County, Phil Lauer serves as its part-time Council Solicitor, too. His position is expressly identified in the Home Rule Charter. Some object that Lauer represents Angle in a will dispute, but he sees no conflict of interest. Angle adds that, in the past, Council solicitors have represented other Council members in private matters.

Unlike Northampton County, Lehigh's Commissioners do not have a Solicitor they can call their own. They instead rely on the advice supplied by the County Solicitor. But the County Solicitor is appointed by and answers to the Executive, not them.

If you want to talk about a real conflict of interest, there it is.

The First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers

When I left you Friday, I told you that this week, I'd detail some of the problems in the Northampton County Solicitor's office. But after thinking about it all weekend, I think I'm being unfair.

As most of you are aware, I'm angry that a Register of Wills report concerning a Ron Angle will contest was prematurely leaked. The Solicitor's office is up to its neck in that matter. Now it is admittedly impossible to prove that lawyers in that office have had anything to do with it. But there's no denying that Solicitor Karl Longenbach has despised Angle for years, and recently involved himself in litigation against him with, of all people, not-so Jolly Joe Timmer. Even Chris Spadoni, the attorney who wrote the decision for the Register of Wills and played traffic cop during all the testimony, told an Angle family friend to stay away from them.

Both have denied playing games. I've known both a long time. I started practicing with Chris, and actually went to law school with Karl. Both have always been straight with me, and have acted with integrity. Neither has ever lied to me, and that should mean something.

Given their feelings towards Ron, I do believe it was a mistake for them to have been involved in the Angle Will controversy. Even if there were no bias, Angle still has a lot to do with their budget, and that creates a conflict of interest. The matter should have been kicked upstairs for resolution by the Court of First Guess, which is what happened with the high profile Karoly Will dispute. That will be appealed to the Court of Final Error.

On Friday, I told you the Home Rule Charter bars our Solicitor from performing legal services for any other municipality. That should apply to assistant county solicitors as well, even excellent lawyers like Dave Backenstoe. What's bad for the goose should be bad for the gander. One of you, citing a 1995 PBA Opinion, disagrees. "There is nothing per se in the representation of [City] which would be adverse to [County]. In fact, you could argue in many instances their interests may be the same."

For years, I've maintained, correctly or incorrectly, that this practice creates unnecessary conflicts. There's nothing personal in this criticism.

But going into the job performances or work histories of individual assistant solicitors, especially without talking to them and getting their side of the story, is unfair. Writing about it is really motivated more by my anger about the leak than by any desire to improve that office.

I've been highly critical of the Anglephobes out there who rush to condemn Ron over a family matter, without knowing the facts. But I'm afraid I was about to do the same thing to the Solicitor's office. Fortunately, I had a weekend to come to my senses. I will write about it again, but only after I've cooled down.

Is Angle Being Set Up in Will Dispute?

They say you can judge a man's influence by the number of his enemies. If that's true, then Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle is certainly a powerful man. He has nearly as many detractors as admirers.

It's no secret he's being pressured to run to succeed Rich Grucela in the state house. Some say he'd be unhappy as a very small fish in a very big pond. But others are convinced the Bulldog's grenade-style approach to government might be just what is needed in the land of midnight payraises. He'd likely win.

So Ron's enemies are doing what they always do - playing dirty. This past week, the attacks against Angle have come with an intensity I haven't seen since he was last re-elected. He's been accused of everything from shoplifting cigars to forging his father's will. In fact, the Northampton County Solicitor's office appears to be doing its best to bury Ron.

Let me fill you in.

On Monday, Angle was accused (anonymously) of shoplifting three cigars during a publicly televised news conference announcing the grand opening of Cigar International's Call Center. That goofy charge was laughed off by store managers, who noted that every cigar on display was there for public consumption.

At the very time these cigar allegations were going up in smoke, new and much more serious charges were being made. This time, instead of being called a mere cigar thief, Ron had forged his father's Will. This blast comes in an anonymous comment posted here, and by someone who obviously has a legal background. The same anonymous claim also appears on Villa's hate blog.

Ron's father, Fred, was an interesting man. A minor league ball player, railroad man, stock enthusiast and atheist, he was an iconoclast who liked to do things himself. Ron loved his dad, visited him every day and would tease him nonstop about his attraction to "nightcrawlers." When Fred died in May, I came up for the viewing, and Ron proudly showed me all the pictures of his dad in different cars and baseball uniforms.

After the funeral, Ron offered a Will, dated May 15th, for probate. Ron is sole heir.

This is when Joanie Place enters the picture. She's Ron's sister-in-law and Fred's daughter-in-law, having been married to Ron's now deceased brother. Joanie never got along with Fred or Ron. She refused to let Fred attend her wedding to his son and even barred him from attending his own son's funeral.

She drove up from Florida and offered another will for probate. This one was executed on May 7th, prior to the one submitted by Ron. In this Will, 1/4th of Fred's estate goes to Ron, and the remaining 3/4 is divided among his grandsons. One of these grandsons, Frederick, just happens to be her son. This disposition, incidentally, makes no sense. Fred had already set up trusts for his two grandsons through Ron.

Joanie Place was nowhere to be found when Fred died. She skipped the funeral, too. But she was quite the busy beaver earlier that month. When word trickled out that Fred was sick, she drove up from Florida, and carted Fred and one of his "nightcrawlers" to her lawyer in Stroudsburg, Daniel M Corveleyn. Two days later, when the Will was ready, she shipped him up there again. This time, Fred wouldn't even get out of the car, so Att'y Corveleyn came outside and leaned into the car through a window to get the necessary signature. He refused to give Fred the original, and incorrectly told him he had to see him if he needed to revoke it.

The very next day, during Fred's 89th birthday party at Ron Angle's home, Fred quietly approached Ron's wife, Sharon, and told her he had "messed up." He explained what had just happened, and wanted to redo the Will so that everything just went to Ron.

Fred was something of a scrivener. I'm not sure whether he distrusted lawyers or was simply too cheap, but he was used to preparing all the wills for the Angle family. Of the numerous wills he had drawn himself, one was for Amanda (Mandy) Angle. Fred asked Sharon to get "Mandy's will" and type it up for him, and he'd sign it.

About a week later, Sharon took this will to Fred and he signed it. Sharon saw him sign it. So did her son, Ron, Jr. I find that interesting, because Ron, Jr. knows that the other Will gives him 25% of Fred's estate while this later Will gives him nothing.

Northampton County Register of Wills Dorothy Cole had to decide between two wills. What's a Register of Wills to do? Hold hearings, of course. Joanie Place went through four lawyers until she finally found one willing to accept her case, and he was from far away Honesdale. Naturally, they were asking for continuances all the time, and hearings did not conclude until December. Sitting in on all these hearings was Northampton County Assistant Solicitor Chris Spadoni, who would advise the Register.

While Joanie Place was going through lawyer after lawyer, Fred's funeral bill has gone unpaid. That really disturbs Sharon Angle, who feels some provision should have been made for payment by now.

When I visited the Register of Wills on Wednesday to obtain copies of these competing Wills, I was denied access. Register Dorothy Cole told me that, although she had decided which Will to probate, her decision would not be released to the public until some time next week. What she did not realize was that everything but her decision was already on the computer, and I had already gone through the file.

Later that day, I got a call from Angle. Against all odds, Cole had decided to allow the Will offered by Joanie Place. The decision had gone out to Angle's lawyer and the Honesdale attorney, but it was still considered a private matter. It had been prepared by Ass't County Solicitor Chris Spadoni.

Thursday night, while this decision was still supposedly private, it was anonymously plastered onto Villa's hate blog.

Now who could have done that? Angle's lawyer would have no reason to post it. The same goes for Joanie Place's Honesdale lawyer, who could hardly be expected to know a thing about the local blogosphere. That leaves the Northampton County Solicitor's Office. They obviously leaked it, and in an effort to damage Angle's state house bid. In fact, the decision itself, which will be quickly reversed, makes no sense. It basically accepts the word of a gold digger who couldn't be bothered to attend Fred's funeral, over the word of his own family.

This morning, I visited the Register to tell her I had seen this supposedly private decision on another blog. While I was there, a Morning Call reporter was already printing out documents, having been tipped off as well. This supposedly private decision was also leaked to WFMZ-TV69.
Are you beginning to get the idea someone is trying to burn Angle?

Sharon Angle told me she was having lunch with a girlfriend who his represented by Chris Spadoni. When he found out that she is close to Sharon Angle, Chris asked, "Why do want to hang with those people?" In addition to this personal animosity, Spadoni is a partisan Democrat.

It is clear to me that Angle is being set up as a Will forger, another John Karoly, solely to discourage him from running for the state house. This will hurt him, at least temporarily, until he gets the decision reversed in a de novo hearing before a judge. A decision that should still be private has been leaked to the press and the blogosphere. It's very obvious that the anonymous commenter who started this is a lawyer. He refers to the "Commonwealth" of Pennsylvania instead of the "state" and writes things like "notarized by a Notary authorized to witness signatures in the Commonwealth of Pa."

I thought the Northampton County Solicitor's office exists to give legal advice to the County, not the local Democratic party. Not only is the decision itself a trainwreck that should be obvious to everyone, but the manner in which it has been leaked reflects very badly on the County's supposed legal advisors.

This leak should be investigated.

Update: Here are links to accounts from The Morning Call, Express Times and WFMZ-TV69.

McClure Caught Trying to Rig Outside Lawyer Contract

If there were any doubts in my mind about DA John Morganelli's intention to remove Ron Angle from County Council for purely political reasons, they were erased at last night's County Council meeting. Morganelli lackey Lamont McClure made sure of that. Before the night was over, Angle had established that McClure tried, and very nearly succeeded, in steering the county's labor lawyer contract away from its current firm. Caught red-handed, all a petulant McClure could do in the end was mouth "Bye, Bye," to Angle, in an obvious reference to Morganelli's threat. It's a tale of two councilman - one who is out to hose the taxpayers and another whose absence would be sorely missed. Let me tell you the story.

Hallman Tudders & Sorrentino are the legal beagles who conduct the County's labor negotiations with 11 different unions. Lamont McClure, himself a lawyer, obviously realizes this is a specialized field. He knows in-house lawyers are at a disadvantage when negotiating complicated union contracts without outside help.

That's exactly what he wants! He may be elected by the taxpayers, but his Master is the Union.

Naturally, McClure has been complaining about "excessive" fees paid to this firm. The Stoffa administration, realizing it had no contract for outside legal help, requested proposals from Hallman Tudders and other firms. These were evaluated and graded by a committee. Guess who managed to get himself appointed to that committee? That's right. It was Lamont McClure. He even volunteered.

Here's what he did. He made sure he gave Hallman Tudders very low ratings, completely out of sync with other members. By doing this, he effectively took this firm, which knows the County, out of contention. As a result, the Administration had no choice but to propose awarding this contract for outside legal services to another firm.

When the matter came up last night, McClure made a mistake. He decided to play cute. Although a member of the committee making this recommendation, he told Council he would refuse to introduce the resolution. He really just wants to prevent the County from getting any half decent labor lawyers to deal with 11 different unions.

This made the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, suspicious. He began asking questions. When the smoke finally cleared, he had proven that McClure was manipulating the bidding process, trying to deprive the County of its labor lawyers.

Here's a transcript of the exchange among Angle, Fiscal Affairs Director Vic Mazziotti, McClure, Jerry Seyfried and Mike Dowd.

Angle: "Would I be safe in saying that Mr. McClure's votes were extremely low in one case, extremely, extremely low in one case, and extremely, extremely high in another case?"

Fiscal Director Vic Mazziotti: "I don't know if I can characterize the votes. Is it appropriate that I share this ...

Angle: "Well, you know, I inquired earlier about the possibility of going into executive session. I rarely like executive sessions, quite frankly, because you don't do the people's business in executive session. But I don't think this qualifies for executive session. I think it's the people's business and I think I am entitled and the public's entitled to every piece of information that you have."

Mazziotti: [after conferring with the Exec] "Well, I don't object."

At this point, Angle rambles offtrack about the Sunshine Law, and Vic agrees Ron's an expert.

Jerry Seyfried: "Do you think that the numbers were skewered?"

Angle: "Thank you. Wonderful question. You're co-counsel, you're giving closing arguments. I like that."

Mazziotti: [pause] "I don't think it's appropriate for me to characterize whether that's true or not ..."

Angle: "I have said many times, numbers are your specialty. You are an expert on numbers. His question was very fair. Do you believe, as an expert in numbers, that the numbers were skewered, yes or no?"

Mazziotti: "I think Mr. McClure's ..."

Angle: "Yes or no, I'm not asking Mr. McClure, I'm asking you."

Mazziotti: "Well, you have to define for me what you mean by ..."

Angle: "Very low, very high."

Mazziotti: "Yes, I would say that's true, in a couple of categories."

Angle: "Thank you very much. So at this point in time, if you want my opinion, we need to throw out how this process was done, and frankly, I'm not a fan of Tallman Hudders, but I think they did get the shaft. We need to throw out the process, I'd like you to have a new committee, and not have anybody on that committee who has personal axes to grind. The system was flawed, and the system should never be flawed so that it is skewered. I say that and I am not a Tallman Hudders fan. I am just the opposite, I'm not fond of that firm. But in all fairness, fair is fair, right is right, wrong is wrong. You want to table this? This would be a great time to table it ..."

Seyfried: "It hasn't been introduced."

Mike Dowd (presiding for an absent Ann McHale): "It hasn't been introduced. At the moment, it hasn't been introduce, so we don't have anything to discuss."

Angle: "This is not the first time this has happened, quite frankly, and it's very disturbing to me."

Dowd: "It has not been introduced, then it fails for want of not being introduced, and we will ask the Administration to come back."

Angle: "I would hope, Mr. Executive, that you would do the process over so that the process is not flawed and it is done 100% above board."

McClure: "Well, what was not above board?"

Angle: "What was not above board was, your numbers on the outfit that won it were extremely high. It was enough to sway it over, that that's who it went to. Your numbers on the firm that came in second were extremely low, and not in line with anybody else's numbers."

McClure: "Are you sure about that? Are you sure about that? Why were my numbers on the outfit that won it extremely high?"

Angle: "I'm not done yet."

McClure: "Why were my numbers on the outfit that won it extremely high?"

Angle: "I'm not interested in this. Mr. Mazziotti has answered my questions for me. But I can give you many areas where you've done the same thing."

McClure: "Oh no, I want to know from you, in public, why my numbers on the outfit that won it ere extremely high?"

Angle: "For once, you got caught."

McClure: "I got caught doing what, Ron?"

Angle: "The same thing you caught caught for with the Gambling Authority. Hauling somebody in. Using your influence as a County Councilman, you brought a law firm in from Harrisburg and said, 'These are experts,' trying to lobby for that firm. That's not what you should be doing."

McClure: "So the law firm that got recommended by the Administration tonight got recommended because of my extremely high grades for them?"

Angle: "Well, let's try this. Mr. Mazziotti, had Mr. McClure's votes not been calculated and only the votes of the other people, would not Tallman Hudders have been the high score?"

Mazziotti: "I believe so."

Angle: "Thank you very much. End of case. I don't want to discuss it with you, Mr. McClure, you've been caught. Let's move on."

McClure: "Caught doing what, sir?"

Angle: "Your usual stuff is what you were caught doing?"

McClure: "What is the usual stuff? What is the thing I've been caught doing?"

Angle: "Mr. President, let's move on."

McClure: "Move on to what? You've made an accusation, now state it."

Angle: "I've proved my accusation."

McClure: "You've proved what?"

Ignoring McClure for the moment, Jerry Seyfried asked Executive John Stoffa to establish another committee to take a second look at the proposals. Acting president Dowd agreed the process has to be redone, and Council voted to do so. Jerry Seyfried then suggested that McClure might want to explain what he was doing.

By this time, a very red and angry McClure shouted, "Do I want to explain anything? I don't want to explain anything. [Angle] made an allegation about a tainted score. I want to know what he means."

As Acting President Dowd moved onto the next item on the agenda, McClure put his hand over the mike and started mouthing "Bye, Bye" to Angle. The Bulldog turned his mike on and barked at McClure, "I'm not going bye, bye, Lamont. Your buddy John going to send me away? I don't think so."

I don't think so either. But if Angle had been ousted from Council, McClure would have a much easier time screwing the County out of the lawyers they need to deal with unions.

Maybe Morganelli should seek an emergency hearing.

Part-Time Lawyer Salaries in Northampton County

Shakespeare may have wanted to "kill all the lawyers." but these legal part-timers are getting more money in Northampton County next year.

Controller Solicitor - from $10,710 to $18,000

County Council Solicitor - from $47,025 to $49,141

County Solicitor:

County Solicitor - from $52,099 to $54,444
First Assistant County Solicitor - from $44,346 to $46,341
Assistant County Solicitor (4) - from $38,170 to $39,888

Court Masters:

Child Custody - from $38,240 to $39,961
Dependency - from $38,240 to $39,961
Divorce (2) - from $38,240 to $39,961
Juvenile - from $46,706 to $48,808
Mental Health Examiner - from $38,240 to $39,961

District Attorney:

Second Deputy District Attorney - from $47,910 to $50,066
Assistant District Attorney (9) - from $40,695 to $42,526

Public Defender:

Chief Public Defender - from $51,974 to $54,313
First Assistant Public Defender - from $51,843 to $54,176
Deputy Assistant Public Defender, Administration - from $51,715 to $54,042
Assistant Public Defender (13) - from $40,695 to $42,526

Domestic Relations:

Domestic Relations Staff Attorney - from $30,391 to $31,759