All PoconosB2B, News, Classified and all about life in Poconos
  

Read News

Pocono News Section

Ciavarella Denies Fixing Newspaper Verdict

Ciavarella Denies Fixing Newspaper Verdict - Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 6:00PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Thursday, Jul 2, 2009 @ 06:00pm EST
ALLENTOWN, LEHIGH COUNTY- Ex-judge Mark Ciavarella provided all new details Thursday about a judicial scandal that led to his career crashing to the ground. Ciavarella appeared to defend himself against claims he fixed a verdict against a Wilkes-Barre newspaper.

The key players in a sweeping judicial corruption scandal are beginning to tell their sides of the story. Up first, Mark Ciavarella. According to published reports, the disgraced ex-judge said on the stand Thursday in Allentown, he never fixed a $3.5 million verdict against the parent company of the Citizens Voice.

That's not exactly the picture painted by several witnesses, who earlier claimed reputed members of the mafia routinely met with ex-judge Michael Conahan.

It's alleged case outcomes were mapped out over breakfast. It's said the Citizens Voice was one of those cases discussed.

Luzerne County businessman Robert Kulick testified he ate with Conahan and alleged mob boss William "Billy" D'Elia. And he claimed they all partied together during the holidays, along with Ciavarella, who distanced himself from the smoldering juvenile justice scandal which he's been pegged the mastermind.

Ciavarella called lawyer and developer Robert Powell a liar, claiming he never extorted money from the disgraced attorney who on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges related to the broader corruption scandal.

Powell claimed in court Wednesday he would deliver cash-filled fed-ex boxes to the judges.

Powell formerly owned PA Child Care and in seeking bids in 2002 for the center, Ciavarella testified he received a 2-million-dollar finder's fee after helping his friend Robert Mericle bid on the job.
 


Discuss this news

Your Name (nickname):
Your Email: (will remain private)
Your Comments:
  


Home | News | Businesses | PA places | Classified | Cars for Sale | Account | Products | Home Recipes | Manuals | Stock Images | Earn Commissions | Advertise | Contact Us | Search
Raw Hack

© 2024 AllPoconos.Com All rights reserved.