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Latest Articles by Terrie Morgan-Besecker

February 5, 2010

Ex-sheriff given OK for 1 claim in lawsuit

SCRANTON – A federal judge has ruled former Luzerne County sheriff Michael Savokinas can proceed with a retaliation claim in a federal lawsuit he filed against Avoca borough and its former police chief, Edward Lukowich.

February 5, 2010

Judge urges tossing most of cop’s suit

SCRANTON – A federal magistrate judge has recommended dismissal of nearly all the counts in an age discrimination lawsuit filed by a police officer who was charged Monday with stealing from a drug education program.

February 5, 2010

Paralyzed prisoner’s suit vs. jail may go on

SCRANTON – An inmate who was paralyzed in a fall while trying to escape from the Luzerne County prison should be permitted to continue with a lawsuit that alleges the prison failed to provide adequate accommodations for his handicap, a federal magistrate judge has recommended.

February 4, 2010

DeNaples’ board status still in limbo

SCRANTON – A federal judge has dismissed a petition filed by Louis DeNaples that sought to block banking regulators from preventing DeNaples from returning to the board of directors of First National Community Bank.

February 4, 2010

Juvenile rights advocate: Sexting bill is overreaction

A proposed bill that would make it a misdemeanor for a minor to transmit a nude photo of himself or herself via a cell phone or the Internet is an over-reaction to a problem that would be more properly addressed through increased education, several juvenile rights advocates said Thursday.

February 4, 2010

Pizzella guilty of corruption

SCRANTON – Former Wilkes-Barre Area school director Frank Pizzella Jr. could have challenged a corruption charge based on the statute of limitations, but his attorney said he decided to plead guilty so he could put the matter behind him.

February 3, 2010

Ex-wife won’t get pension of deceased cop, rules court in reversal

WILKES-BARRE – A state appellate court has reversed a Luzerne County judge’s ruling that ordered Wilkes-Barre city to continue paying pension benefits to the ex-wife of a police officer after the officer died.

February 3, 2010

Taking $600K gets adviser 45 months

SCRANTON – When financial adviser Jamie Lake began pilfering money from his clients in 2006, he was “so full of himself” that he thought he could earn it back and no one would know, Lake told a federal judge on Wednesday.

February 2, 2010

Couple must account for estate’s assets

WILKES-BARRE – Attorneys for the United Way and the state Office of Attorney General have agreed to give a couple accused of mismanaging the estate of late labor leader Anthony Kane another three months to provide a full accounting of their handling of the estate’s assets.

February 2, 2010

W-B Area head signs plea deal

WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes-Barre Area School Board President Frank Pizzella Jr., charged with passing a bribe onto another school board member, has signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Superintendent Jeff Namey confirmed Tuesday.