Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania county mails capital defense lawyer’s checks to another person with same name

A Pennsylvania county intending to pay a lawyer for capital defense work sent two checks for more than $40,000 to the wrong person. Luzerne County sent the checks to Pittston mason Bernard Brown rather than Carbondale lawyer Bernard Brown. The Citizens’ Voice, the Wilkes Barre Times-Leader and the Associated Press…

Jan 21, 2015 6:15 AM CST

Judge says top Penn State lawyer didn’t represent ex-officials, clearing way for obstruction trial

In a Wednesday ruling that clears the way for an obstruction case against three former Pennsylvania State University officials to proceed to trial, a Dauphin County judge held that Penn State’s then-general counsel did not represent the trio as individuals during their grand jury testimony about Jerry Sandusky. Judge Todd…

Jan 15, 2015 1:00 PM CST

Ex-judge is latest to get time in federal ticket-fixing case targeting Philadelphia traffic court

Michael Lowry was acquitted last year on most charges in a federal criminal case targeting Philadelphia traffic court judges accused of fixing tickets. However, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel gave little credence to arguments by the former jurist’s lawyers Wednesday that being convicted only of perjury, for lying to the…

Jan 14, 2015 5:55 PM CST

Lawyer’s personal assets, bank accounts at risk as opponents seek to collect $1M sanction

Lawyers for a cancer patient’s family are seeking to collect a $1 million sanction imposed on a Pennsylvania lawyer for allegedly allowing an improper reference in a medical malpractice case. The lawyers filed a writ of execution in an effort to obtain assets from the sanctioned lawyer, Nancy Raynor of…

Jan 14, 2015 7:38 AM CST

Special prosecutor subpoenas reporters who said grand jury recommended charges against state AG

A special prosecutor investigating Pennsylvania’s attorney general has subpoenaed two reporters for the Philadelphia Inquirer to appear before a grand jury in Norristown. The subpoenas seek to find out the names of the unidentified sources relied on by Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis in reporting that a grand jury had…

Jan 13, 2015 1:10 PM CST

Two lawmakers call for resignation of Pennsylvania AG over reports she may be indicted

Two state representatives are calling for the resignation or impeachment of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane based on leaks from unnamed sources who say a grand jury has recommended criminal charges be filed against her. Reps. Steve Bloom, R-North Middleton Twp., and Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, have co-sponsored a prior…

Jan 9, 2015 11:45 AM CST

Jailed suspect in triple slaying at municipal meeting sues warden over prison food

A Pennsylvania man facing three murder charges over slayings at a municipal meeting in is now involved in a new legal battle. Rockne Warren Newell has filed a federal lawsuit against the warden of the Monroe County prison where he has been held since the August 2013 shooting at a…

Jan 9, 2015 6:20 AM CST

Blank Rome raids Duane Morris and Reed Smith to open new Pittsburgh office

A well-known Philadelphia law firm is expanding its footprint in the state and has raided two major Pennsylvania-based competitors to do so. As of Friday, Blank Rome will have a five-partner office in Pittsburgh, headed by a former managing partner from the Duane Morris office there, the Philadelphia Business Journal…

Jan 7, 2015 12:55 PM CST

State supreme court nixes lifetime registration for juvenile sex offenders

A lifetime registration requirement for juvenile sex offenders is unconstitutional, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently found. According to the Morning Call, the 5-1 opinion held that the state’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act denies juveniles a chance to prove they are unlikely to commit more sex crimes. The case…

Jan 5, 2015 3:27 PM CST

Top state court toughens rules for lawyers who give investment advice to clients

New legal ethics rules adopted last week by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court impose stricter standards on lawyers who give investment advice to clients and strengthen the enforcement process against those who transgress. When the rules take effect in less than 60 days, a lawyer will be prohibited from offering or…

Jan 5, 2015 10:15 AM CST

Controversial Pennsylvania judge announces retirement

A Pennsylvania judge has announced her retirement amid allegations that she altered a transcript to remove her intemperate remarks and eavesdropped on private courthouse conversations. Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca, 61, said her retirement will be effective on Monday, report the Valley Independent, the Observer-Reporter and the Pittsburgh…

Dec 31, 2014 8:54 AM CST

Was law firm duped? ‘Lawyer’ practiced there a decade and won partnership; was she licensed?

A Pennsylvania law firm says it was apparently deceived by a woman who practiced law there for nearly a decade and was promoted to partner in April. The woman, Kimberly Kitchen, is under investigation as the state Attorney General’s office tries to determine whether she has a law license, report…

Dec 30, 2014 7:58 AM CST

Now-retired justice’s pornographic emails were only impropriety found in special counsel’s report

Raunchy emails between the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office and the state’s top court involved only messages sent by one justice on a personal account to at least one OAG employee, an appellate lawyer appointed as special counsel to look into the matter has found. Seamus McCaffery was that one justice.…

Dec 22, 2014 12:51 PM CST

Another AG won’t defend state law; this one gives NRA standing to challenge gun regulations

Following the lead of other state attorneys general, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane is refusing to defend a new state law. The Pennsylvania law says membership organizations such as the National Rifle Association have standing to challenge local gun regulations, the PittsburghPost-Gazette reports. The challengers could also seek damages, according…

Dec 22, 2014 9:11 AM CST

Sheriff: Murderer’s claimed contact with 2 jurors in court elevator didn’t happen exactly as he says

Corrected: A convicted double murderer in Pennsylvania is seeking a new trial in his latest case based on his claim to have had unsupervised contact, in a courthouse elevator, with two of the jurors who later convicted him. The November encounter occurred after he became separated from the court deputies…

Dec 19, 2014 4:55 PM CST