News

July 9, 2008

Judge is picked for law firm case issues

Centre County Senior Judge Brown selected in case from which Ciavarella recused self.

By Andrew M. Seder aseder@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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The administrator of the state Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed a Centre County judge to preside over all issues involved in the ongoing legal malpractice case between the estate of Thomas E. Slusser and the Laputka, Bayless, Ecker and Cohn law firm.

Senior Judge Charles C. Brown Jr., has been assigned to the case though no date has been scheduled for the case to resume. A hearing was scheduled for June 30 in Luzerne County, but on June 26 Luzerne County Court Administrator William Sharkey requested an out-of-county judge be assigned by the state because of concerns over conflicts of interest alleged during the proceedings.

Among other matters, Brown may decide whether a $3.4 million judgment against the Hazleton law firm should stand.

The Slusser family sued the Laputka firm in 2000 for legal malpractice, alleging the firm was negligent in its handling of the estate.

The ongoing civil case has received heightened attention since Philadelphia attorney Jeffrey B. McCarron, who is representing the Laputka firm, accused Judge Mark Ciavarella of having a conflict of interest in the case.

Ciavarella recused himself from the case and ordered the county court administrator to assign another judge to rule on two motions filed by McCarron – both essentially seeking a new trial based on Ciavarella’s potential conflict with the Robert Powell law firm of Butler Township. In a court filing, Ciavarella said he didn’t believe there was a conflict.

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