Brent Corrigan Testifies

2 years, 1 month and 3 days since Cobra Video Owner/Producer Bryan Kocis was brutally murdered and his house burned down Brent Corrigan his biggest star, and former lover, all while underage, took the stand today in a packed courtroom in Luzerne County for the trial of Harlow Cuadra.

The day long awaited by Corrigan Watchers and Kocis Haters had arrived when Sean Lockhart (Brent Corrigan) would take the stand after swearing to Tell the Truth and Nothing But the Truth!

So what have we heard in today's crucial testimony?

Brent Corrigan first began to receive comments on My Space from Harlow Cuadra in the fall of 2006, they first began two way communication in December 06 (I was an observer of that)

He described Harlows desire and offers of exorbitant compensation($50,000) to star in videos together as "desperate"

He acknowledged for the first time in open court,under oath and at legal jepoardy to himself that he was indeed underage (17) when he filmed 4 DVD's for Cobra Video. That he procured a fake ID with his then boyfriend Chris Henriquez in order to film at Cobra.

He accepted on the stand FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for those actions!

Which I might add Sean Lockhart has done repeatedly since August 2005!
And in four formal interviews with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Not once has Robert Wagner,Bryan Kocis or Chris Henriquez acknowledged any culpability in this crime. Indeed Robert Wagner and Bryan Kocis were guilty of Obstruction of Justice and Conspiracy for actively pleading with Sean to "keep quiet" and Mr.Kocis even threatened to kill Sean in December 2004!

The defense of course and as expected zeroed in on this and other "Kocisphere lore and facts"
asking point blank questions of Lockhart about the nature of his relationship with Kocis,Cuadra and Grant Roy.


But the main reason for Sean's testimony today was to explain and prepare for the presentation of the Blacks Beach and Crab Catcher Wire Intercepts of April 27th and 28th 2007.

Videos (filmed by Joe Kerekes, Harlows partner and Grant Roy) of that nude beach encounter between Brent and Harlow were played for the jury. Yes an Eastern Penn jury was treated to some Soft-core nudity.

A seven minute video of Harlow Cuadra and Sean Lockhart playing catch with a football and walking nude on a beach near San Diego, Calif., was played to the jury on Friday. While walking along the beach on April 27, 2007, Lockhart said Cuadra and Kerekes were "opening up" about the murder.

This made Lockhart upset, he testified, and he fell behind. "Cuadra dropped back, he touched my arm and he said, 'don't worry, it was quick, he went quick,'" Lockhart testified while nearly sobbing.

After 2 years Sean Lockhart was a much more important star witness in this case than some had led us to believe. He was on the stand most of the day,before lunch and well into the afternoon, so much for the ten minutes I was flippantly told he would be on then dismissed.

Sean's testimony today was important and crucial to make the case that Harlow Cuadra was infatuated with Brent Corrigan, that he thought Brent was the answer to his financial dreams,that Harlow "Believed" Bryan Kocis was a rival and needed to be eliminated.

And more important to establish that Harlow thought he was doing Brent a favor by eliminating Kocis. Almost the reasoning of a love sick child not a man.

Today's testimony caps the first week of the Harlow Cuadra trial and will immediately lead into the crucial bombshell Intercepts on Monday. Grant Roy is expected to testify and based on his powerful testimony in late July 2008 we can expect some fireworks!

A personal note.
I have been following Brent Corrigan for nearly 5 years, as fans we always knew he was an amazing performer, a smart and articulate person, a good writer.

As a friend I have witnessed his humor,his personal integrity and most important his loyalty to his friends and family. Despite what haters may say it is what you witness first hand that convinces you someone is a person you can trust and respect.

Confident, poised and sure of his words.

A jury in Luzerene County witnessed what I have watched for 3 years, a confident persuasive young man. A young man who risked his life cavorting and chatting up two killers on that nude beach, to extract the evidence needed to convict them for the murder of a man who had ultimately betrayed his trust and threatened his life.

Today Brent Corrigan Testified like a Rockstar!

Brent Corrigan may be a Porn Star but Sean Lockhart is ...
A man to be proud of.

DeWayne Helms



A fellow Blogger Quickysrt is in Wilkes-Barre this week for the trial and has a lot more inside observations from the courtroom below.

quickysrt said...

ok, well it was quite a moment in the week, a week which wrapped up with star witness Sean taking the stand.

He arrived wearing a cherry red sweater, dark gray dress slacks, and crisp white collared shirt, he looked stunning. The pants were perfect fitting and his posture screamed confidence.

It became apparent he was going to answer the questions his way, and even request that some questions be restated. Several times, he stopped to consider the wording of a question and asked if it could be repeated. He actually took control of the pace of his entire testimony. While he looked all of 17 years old, he showed some skill at handling this kind of stress no 17 y/o would have.

The under age videos would be delved into in detail, what time frame his summers in PA, when he met Grant, and exactly what kind of relationship they had. Everything about Bryan's ideas for Sean's future with him, and the settlement which was going to be good for him financially and well as professionally both outside of Cobra, and with his own production company.

And of course the Vegas dinner and all email, myspace, AIM, and cell phone correspondence with Harlow were gone over.

I noticed that almost every seat has been taken while Sean is on the stand. Like word got out that this is the feature attraction or something.

On cross exam. Sean's posture changed, he was just slightly more slumped in seat with arms bracing him up rather than his back being perfectly straight.

But he still refused to let defense attorney put words into his mouth without adding his own reasoning to the record. Like 'you seem to be good at pretending to be into it" (after black's beach video was played in full) Sean answered that he knows when he "has" to do something, he does it, and he had to do this.

btw, the video from the nude beach was surreal, to be seeing this full frontal nude video in court, it was 7 min. long (7 minutes and 19 seconds to be exact)but felt like 45 min. Harlow did not look at the screen at all during it, nor did his Mother. Normally you hear coughs in court, or bits of whispering now and again. During the play of this video is was deadly quiet, not one sound in the room at all.

The point early on when asked about lying about his age for porn, he was stopped by the judge who asked him to consider a lawyer, consider not answering some questions without an attorney present, and offered him an attorney to be arranged.

There was a break while jury left the room to discuss this with Sean. Sean decided that it had been five years with no criminal complaint against him, and that he should not worry now about the past, and just carry on. Jury returned and carry on he indeed did.

It was pure balls, and I felt it gave his testimony even more edge. It also kept up the impression that Sean was running the show concerning his testimony. This court was not going to keep him from telling this story his own way.

It was damaging for the defense, and on cross examination the only thing they managed to prove is that Joe made some of the myspace add friend requests to Sean's page.

There were a few gasps, and laughs, like when the video title "Young Bucks In Heat" was mentioned. A few of us laughed and looked at each other.

Unreal day, and unreal end to the week.

Quickysrt

Some links from today...

Timesleader day 4 coverage

Citizens Voice trial Update

Gay Wired.com

Jims Silence of the Chinchillas

Rants and Views

Harlow and Joe Trial Blog

WNEP TV 16 below

Mafia Judges

Disgraced Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were Mafia Judges, associates of and serving mobster William “Big Billy” D’Elia head of the New York Bufalino crime family!

This is the explosive and dare I say not unexpected charge in today's Scranton Times.

A witness will testify before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that Ciavareela and Conahan conspired with disgraced Court Commissioner Ray Sharkey to "legally rub out" The Scranton Times, no doubt due to that newspapers reporting on "mob influence"!

Judge Conahan and Ciavarella have already been exposed selling children to private jails with Mob ties.

So my question when will the Child trafficking charges be leveled?

What about Child Prostitution and Underage video?

Why was Bryan Kocis not only tolerated but protected in Luzerne County?
Exactly who made the payments to Judge Conahan in 2002 allowing Bryan Kocis to have rape,child pornagraphy and child molestation charges reduced to a simple plea of "Corruption of a Minor" with no prison time,no sex offender status.

Despite VIDEO PROOF of the Rape and Sexual Abuse of the then 15 year old boy!

In January 2002 Bryan Kocis while he was under legal threat, facing YEARS in Prison signed an EXCLUSIVE distribution deal with suspected Mafioso Motti Green owner of Pacific Sun. His company controlled retail distribution of Cobra Video DVD's until Bryan Kocis death in January 2007. Green was also a neighbor of Kocis in the Back Mountain area.

The Russian and NYC "Italian" mafia have been fighting for control of sexual trafficking of minors and Pornography. Indeed many of the Gay Bars,Nightclubs and Video stores in NYC are mob owned or controlled. Bryan Kocis and Robert Wagner were frequently seen at Detention Thursdays at the old classic Stonewall Bar. Mob owned and controlled. Detention was the place underage males could be noticed and "picked up".

Young Men that is what Bryan Kocis needed and found at Detention Thursdays. He could also supply his Cobra Boy models to reward "his friends" on trips to New York City.

Dallas Township, Luzerne County Pennsylvania where Bryan Kocis operated a Child Pornography for 6 years! Guaranteed legal immunity by crooked Mob Judges!

I made this charge in 2006.

Vindication is sweet and more to come, stay tuned doubters.

You haven seen anything yet!

Suit says witness will tie mobster D'Elia to courthouse corruption

A witness will testify that one or both of the disgraced judges, Michael Conahan, top left, and Mark Ciavarella, top right, have 'direct connections' to jailed mobster William D’Elia, bottom left, according to a petition to be filed today in the state Supreme Court.

By Dave Janoski
STAFF WRITER

Published: Thursday, February 19, 2009
Updated: Thursday, February 19, 2009 5:49 PM EST

A witness will testify that one or both of the disgraced Luzerne County judges who’ve pleaded guilty to accepting millions in kickbacks have “direct connections” to jailed mobster William “Big Billy” D’Elia, according to a petition to be filed today in the state Supreme Court by lawyers for the owners of The Citizens’ Voice.

The petition asks the court to vacate a $3.5 million defamation verdict issued by suspended Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. in June 2006 against The Scranton Times L.P., a related company called The Times Partners and former Citizens’ Voice reporter Edward Lewis .

Following a non-jury trial, Ciavarella ruled in favor of West Pittston businessman Thomas A. Joseph, who claimed he was defamed in a series of newspaper stories in 2001 following federal raids at Joseph’s business and homes owned by Joseph, D’Elia and others.

In its petition, Scranton Times L.P. alleges that then-President Judge Michael T. Conahan and his first cousin, Court Administrator William T. Sharkey Sr. “steered” the case into Ciavarella’s courtroom, ignoring the usual practice in which cases were assigned on a rotating basis. Ciavarella issued one-sided rulings and ignored evidence that Joseph and D’Elia were close associates who were suspected of money laundering, the petition says.

D’Elia was arrested on money laundering charges in May 2006, a month before the trial. Joseph was never charged.

In his opinion, Ciavarella wrote “there was no credible evidence presented at trial linking the two men beyond being social acquaintances.”

In the past week, Conahan and Ciavarella have pleaded guilty to accepting $2.6 million in kickbacks from a juvenile detention owner and contractor and Sharkey has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $70,000 from the county.

“The unusual handling of judicial assignments in Joseph v. Scranton Times, the scope and subject of newspaper articles in question, and a cascade of recent revelations regarding corruption in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas strongly suggest the $3.5 million non-jury verdict was rigged …” the petition says.

“Petitioners have identified a potential witness who, on reliable information and to Petitioners’ belief, would testify concerning direct connections between D’Elia and Judge Conahan and/or Judge Ciavarella.”

The petition asks the court to allow Scranton Times L.P. to gather evidence that it believes will reveal additional evidence of ties between D’Elia and one or both of the judges.

Kevin C. Abbott, an attorney for Scranton Times L.P., declined comment on the petition or the identity of the unnamed witness.

“We’re going to let it speak for itself,” he said.

Joseph and his attorneys did not immediately return phone messages. Conahan, Ciavarella and Sharkey could not be reached for comment.

Ciavarella’ attorney, Albert Flora Jr., said he hadn’t seen the petition and could not comment. Conahan’s attorney, Philip Gelso, and Sharkey’s attorney, Bruce Miller, did not immediately return phone messages.

D’Elia’s attorney, James Swetz, did not immediately return a phone message.

D’Elia, 62, the longtime reputed head of the Bufalino crime family is serving nine years in federal prison for money laundering and witness tampering.

Scranton Times L.P.’s petition argues that Ciavarella ignored evidence in federal search warrant affidavits presented during the trial that stated D’Elia and Joseph were “involved in and/or have knowledge of various federal criminal violations.”

The affidavits quoted confidential sources who alleged Joseph and D’Elia were involved in money laundering.

The petition also argues that Sharkey and Conahan worked together to ensure the pre-trial hearings and the actual trial would be assigned to Ciavarella even though Ciavarella and Conahan had assured Scranton Times L.P. that the selection of a trial judge would be made at random by the Court Administrator’s Office.

The petition cited a record recently obtained from the Court Administrator’s Office that notes the case was assigned by WTS, which are Sharkey’s initials, at the direction of MTC, which are Conahan’s.

Conahan refused a request from Scranton Times L.P. to have a judge from another county hear the case.

Scranton Times L.P. unsuccessfully appealed the Ciavarella’s verdict in state Superior Court, which upheld the verdict in September.

The petition to be filed today cites numerous aspects of the corruption investigation that led to charges against Conahan, Ciavarella and Sharkey including:

• A statement from attorneys for Robert J. Powell, a Butler Township attorney whose company allegedly paid some of the kickbacks to the two judges, that claimed Conahan and Ciavarella had extorted payments from him because he was “particularly vulnerable to the pressures that these Judges could bring to bear on him and his clients.”
• A review of the system for appointing neutral arbitrators in certain insurance cases in Luzerne County Court ordered by President Judge Chester B. Muroski in reaction to media reports of rumors of case-fixing and the possible manipulation of that process by Conahan and Ciavarella.
• A column in the legal journal The Legal Intelligencer citing rumors that “the investigation of the judges was the result of William D’Elia talking.”

D’Elia has been in federal custody since October 2006. In July 2007, he appeared before a Dauphin County grand jury that later recommended perjury charges against Dunmore landfill magnate Louis A. DeNaples. DeNaples is accused of hiding his ties to D’Elia and other crime figures when seeking a state casino license.

Joseph appeared before the same grand jury in August 2007.

Federal prosecutors say D’Elia aided the Dauphin County case against DeNaples and he could win a reduced sentence for continued cooperation. The perjury case against DeNaples has been stalled by his appeals in state Supreme Court.

Conahan and DeNaples served together on the board of First National Community Bank in Dunmore, where DeNaples was chairman until federal bank regulators suspended him in reaction to the perjury charges in January 2008.

Conahan resigned from the board last month after the charges against him were announced.

In the past two weeks the bank has filed legal action to collect $4.15 million from defaulted loans guaranteed by Conahan, Ciavarella, bank board member Michael G. Cestone, Powell and his law partner, Luzerne County Prothonotary Jill A. Moran.

The loans were taken by W-Cat Inc., the company behind a failed townhouse development in Wright Township.

Conahan,Ciavarella and the Drug Dealer

Lets take a trip way back to 1990 and Judge Michael Conahans first brush with Political and criminal corruption.

Conahan was described by the federal prosecutor in the Ronald Belletiere Drug trafficking trial in 1991 as an “unindicted co-conspirator.”

Justice is the case of Conahan has been a long time coming!



91 Case looms large casting shadows...

Former Hazleton resident Ronald Belletiere was at the center of a trial 18 years ago.

By Jerry Lynott jlynott@timesleader.com
Business Writer

SCRANTON – When his name came up in a federal trial 18 years ago during his tenure as a district justice in Hazleton, Michael Conahan distanced himself as far as he possibly could from an admitted drug trafficker.

Last week, Conahan, a retired Luzerne County judge, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to unrelated charges before the same judge who heard the accusations in 1991.

Senior U.S. Judge Edwin Kosik accepted Conahan’s plea and that of his fellow county jurist Mark Ciavarella to tax evasion and participating in a scheme to defraud the public of their honest services by accepting $2.6 million in kickbacks involving two juvenile detention centers.

The two disgraced judges will appear before Kosik at a later date for sentencing.

Though nearly two decades separate the cases, common connections of people, place and profession link the figures in this ongoing and growing investigation of corruption in Luzerne County Court.

Among them are:

Ronald Belletiere – a former Hazleton resident and convicted drug dealer who served nearly four years in prison.

A witness at Belletiere’s trial before Judge Kosik in 1991 said Conahan advised the witness his brother’s name was being mentioned by law enforcement at Hazleton City Hall regarding drug activity. The witness, Neal DeAngelo of Hazleton, said Belletiere later called him “at the direction of Mike Conahan … to see if we can do some business.”

Belletiere also was listed as a permanent guest on the list of people who visited the Jupiter, Fla. condominium managed by Conahan’s wife,Barbara.

In 2004, Belletiere opened a used car dealership in Florida with the judge’s wife.

Judge Mark Ciavarella – (left front in photo) defendant in the current case before Judge Kosik. Ciavarella’s wife Cindy is listed as a partner with Barbara Conahan in the Pinnacle Group of Jupiter, LLC which owns a condominium at the Jupiter Yacht Club. The condominium has been for sale since July 2008. They purchased the condo in 2004 for $785,000. The asking price is $995,000.

Judge Michael Conahan – (top right in photo) defendant in the case before Judge Kosik.

Conahan was described by the federal prosecutor in the Belletiere trial as an “unindicted co-conspirator.”

The prosecutor, Malachy Mannion, now a U.S, Magistrate Judge in Wilkes-Barre, summed up the testimony of witness Neal DeAngelo for Judge Kosik during a sidebar conversation not made available to the jury.

Mannion said, “… they were looking for a drug source and Conahan began giving him information that his brother (Paul DeAngelo) was in trouble with the law enforcement authorities and said … ‘I’ll get you somebody from Florida.’ And Ronnie Belletiere called and they met as a result of Conahan’s involvement …”

Conahan denounced the testimony as bogus and said the statements tying him to the Empire drug ring were made by “common criminals trying to help themselves at my expense.”

In the latest charges, federal authorities said Conahan and Ciavarella laundered some of the money they received in the kickback scheme as expenses for the Jupiter, Fla. condo where not only Belletiere stayed, but also attorney Robert Powell, another permanent guest. Powell docked his $1.5 million yacht, the “Reel Justice” in the marina outside the condo. Powell, identified as “Participant 1” by federal authorities, has been implicated in the kickback scheme involving the PA Child Care LLC juvenile detention center he co-owned, but has not been charged.

Neal DeAngelo – witness at Belletiere’s trial and co-founder with his brother Paul of DBI Services, 100 North Conahan Drive, Hazleton.

DeAngelo testified he flew back from Miami in 1987 carrying in his luggage cocaine he bought in Miami. His brother Paul and Neil Forte accompanied him on the trip. Neal DeAngelo was not charged. Forte pleaded guilty in 1989 to operating a criminal enterprise and tax evasion and received a 10-year prison sentence.

Paul DeAngelo - co-founder of DBI Services with his brother Neal.

Paul DeAngelo was sentenced by Judge Kosik to 18 months in prison for his guilty plea to aiding with the distribution of a kilogram of cocaine in 1987. The prosecution sought a departure downward from the mandatory minimum of five years in prison for DeAngelo’s cooperation. He wore a wire in an effort to obtain statements from a “public official” in Hazleton. He and Belletiere also met with the state Judicial Conduct Board to provide information about the “public official” whom prosecutors have never publicly identified.

Senior U.S. Judge Edwin Kosik – will sentence judges Ciavarella and Conahan for their roles in an ongoing public corruption probe in Luzerne County.

Kosik presided over the Belletiere trial in 1991 in which Conahan’s name came up. The federal judge also sentenced Paul DeAngelo for his role in the Empire drug ring.

Attorney Robert Powell – references in criminal complaint against judges Ciavarella and Conahan point to the attorney as “Participant 1” in the kickback scheme.

However, attorneys for Powell portray him as a victim of the demands for payment by the judges.

Powell had been co-owner of the juvenile detention facilities operated by PA Child Care LLC. But his connections to the judges run deeper. He visited the condo managed by the judges’ wives in Florida and docked his boat in the marina there as well.

He also had a hand in W-Cat Inc., the company behind the development of The Sanctuary townhouse project in Wright Township. He later transferred his interest to his law partner and Luzerne County Prothonotary Jill Moran. The judges and their wives guaranteed $4.5 million in financing for the development, but First National Community Bank of Dunmore obtained a judgment against them on Wednesday for W-Cat’s default on the loans.

Conahan had been a director at the bank along with Louis A. DeNaples. But DeNaples, owner of the Mount Airy Casino Resort in the Poconos, stepped down as a bank chairman after a grand jury indicted him on charges he allegedly lied to state gambling officials about his ties to organized crime members. Conahan resigned as director after federal authorities announced charges against him last month.

Attorney Richard Sprague – counsel for attorney Robert Powell and Louis A. DeNaples.

Sprague, of Philadelphia, said Powell “made a mistake in giving in to the judges’ demands and for not immediately reporting them to authorities.” Powell eventually did notify authorities and cooperated with them to provide “integral” assistance to the prosecution of the judges, Sprague said.

In addition to representing DeNaples in his pending perjury case, Sprague defended The Times Leader in 1991 on charges it published contents of an illegally tape recorded telephone conversation. The charges were later dismissed.

A few years earlier, Sprague was co-counsel in the team that represented former Luzerne County Judge Arthur Dalessandro. Midway through his 1989 trial, Dalessandro pleaded guilty to attempted tax evasion and was later sentenced to one year in federal prison.

More recently, in December, Sprague sat on the Court of Judicial Discipline that heard testimony in the misconduct complaint filed against Luzerne County Judge Ann Lokuta and ordered her removed from the bench.

Lokuta was in the courtroom Thursday when Ciavarella and Conahan entered their guilty pleas. Ciavarella embraced her at the end of the proceeding.

Bipartisanship? Hell No!

Franklin Roosevelt didn't get it or want it! Then as now Republican obstructionists and zealots were willing to sacrifice the middle class to serve their corporatist masters. President Obama needs to learn to use his power and that of a Democratic Congress to enact his mandate.

If George Bush could impose a 6 year one party Dictatorship of the plutocracy despite failing to win the popular vote in 2000, Barrack Obama can certainly claim MANDATE and tell the Republicans,,
Go away and eat your young its ALL YOUR GOOD FOR!
DH

Bipartisanship No, Working Majority Yes

From the Intrepid Liberal Journal
14 Feb 2009 12:05 PM CST

In the grown up world, honorable and reasonable people may initially disagree but eventually compromise upon a collective review of empirical evidence. It was in this spirit, that the nascent Obama administration reached out to Republicans with respect to their proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which finally passed both houses of congress yesterday.

Unfortunately, most Republican politicians are neither honorable nor reasonable. Instead, most Republican politicians are predatory conservatives dedicated to establishing a permanent corporate theocratic plutocracy. As far as they’re concerned, the 2008 election is merely a temporary setback and attempting bipartisanship with this crowd resulted in legislation far less bold than most economists hoped for.

Hence, it is in the spirit of admiration and support that I urge this new administration to absorb the following lesson: Bipartisanship No, Working Majority Yes. President Obama is a quick study and has likely absorbed this lesson for himself. Indeed, I recall him often using the phrase “working majority” during the campaign. Nonetheless, it is instructive for both liberal activists as well his administration to always keep this simple phrase on the front lobes of our brains. Repeat after me: Bipartisanship No, Working Majority Yes.

This phrase is especially pertinent to the United States Senate. Senators are divas with parochial interests, outsized ambitions and a Constitution that empowers their narcissism. Hence, the only language these people truly understand is leverage with a proper dosage of ego massage. They know that any one of them has the power to hold any piece of proposed legislation hostage to their whims.

Indeed, senators sometimes behave as if they have the power of little Anthony Freemont in the classic Twilight Zone episode “It’s A Good Life.” Like that little boy, one can just imagine Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell, fantasizing about wishing supporters of universal healthcare into a cornfield never to be seen or heard from again. That is the mentality we’re dealing with.

The upside however is there will always be enough politicians prepared to bargain in order to elevate their own importance, demonstrate independence and serve the interests of their constituents. With respect to the stimulus legislation the three so-called Republican moderate senators were Pennsylvania’s Arlen Specter and Maine’s Olympia Snow and Susan Collins. Connecticut’s “Independent” Republican patsy Joe Lieberman and conservative Nebraska Democrat, Ben Nelson, also joined those three in bargaining with the Obama administration, the Senate majority and the House of Representatives.

Had President Obama initially proposed legislation far bolder they still would have bargained, a filibuster majority still would have been achieved and the end result would have been far superior to the legislation that ultimately passed. Next time around it may be a different group of Republican senators and recalcitrant Democrats doing the bargaining, perhaps related to geographic interests. As long as President Obama’s political standing remains high, it will always be possible to cut deals on favorable terms with a rotating group of senators because their relevance depends upon it.

Hence, a working majority will always be ripe for plucking even without a filibuster proof majority. And even if we had sixty Democratic senators a few of them would threaten denying a filibuster proof majority to promote their independence and get what they want. At the end of the day, bipartisanship has nothing to with it. Leverage, enlightened self-interest, service to constituents or contributors and political survival are everything. There is no love in politics. Only leverage, respect and fear.

The appropriate posture is to treat reluctant politicians with symbolic respect, bargain hard for every penny and compromise from a position of strength. That is the best way to maximize potential of a working majority going forward while simultaneously maintaining broad public support. Sometimes, operating a working majority will require President Obama to demonstrate toughness, walk away and threaten vetoes if a few senators opt to behave like Anthony Freemont in the name of bipartisanship.

Barack Obama is an impressive human being with many admirable qualities. Indeed, Obama represents an ennobling change of pace after George W. Bush’s insipid indecency. He is learning however that governing is delicate balance requiring the dual personalities of Mahtatma Ghandi and Don Vito Corleone. If anyone can achieve that delicate balance it’s this president. Nonetheless, we must remain vigilant and toughen his hide.

Bipartisanship No, Working Majority Yes.

Repost from Robert Ellman

For Many, It Was 'Better to Know Him'

You have to be a San Diegan to appreciate George Stahlman the "King Stahlman" of the Bail bondsmen for over 60 years!

They don't make TV AD Personality's like this anymore.

He was always known for his pithy common sense pitch phrases like,“Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.”

and “It is better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me”

Always spoken in a deep gravelly voice and you could not help but wonder if he was quietly lecturing his potential clients on how to "stay out of trouble" before they needed his help to stay out of Jail!

A Movie Theater Ad for UltraStar Cinemas



You KNEW Jason Mraz was discovered in San Diego at Java Joes right?
Jason Mraz singing "King Stahlman's Bail Bonds Blues" live at Java Joe's Jan 6th 2004
While taking a break from touring, Jason made a pitstop in San Diego to visit some old friends and grab a pint at Java Joe's new pub. Coincidentally it was open mic night, so Jason and Pete Thurston picked up some guitars and played for a crowd of 30 people.





from NBC7 San Diego News

George “King” Stahlman, of "King Stahlman Bail Bonds" has died, according to his son-in-law Michael Hardwick.

Hardwick released this statement Friday afternoon:

San Diego has lost a great legend and one of its most colorful characters today. George “King” Stahlman died peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family. With some irony, he passed away on a Friday the 13th, the same day his ship was sunk during World War II.

The King was born on June 26, 1923 in Hollywood, California. Most of his childhood was spent between Hollywood and St. Joseph Missouri. Those years during the Depression helped to form a lot of the strength and drive that made him a success in the bail bond business.

In the spring of 1941, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Navy and was shipped off to fight in World War II with the Pacific Fleet. On Friday, November 13, 1941, his ship was torpedoed and sunk at Guadalcanal. Filled with shrapnel, bleeding and near death, he spent nearly 14 hours in the water with a few surviving shipmates surrounded by sharks before being rescued by the Marines. He was transferred to New Zealand to recover form his injuries and received a Purple Heart for bravery and the wounds he sustained.

After the war, King returned to Los Angeles to work with his father, a famous District Attorney and representative to many of the Hollywood stars of the 40’s and 50’s. It was not long before he was drawn to the bail bond business and the characters and gangsters of that era. He left Los Angeles to start his own bail bond business in San Diego in 1946.

King’s motto from his early days was “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.” This served him well in the fiercely competitive bail bond business. He has built a family bail bond business on a foundation of integrity and honesty – a rarity in today’s world. His newest singing jingle “It is better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me” will forever be in the hearts and minds of the San Diego faithful.

Over the years, he ran for Mayor of San Diego in the 1970’s – even flying an advertising plane over the top of one of his competitors while they were speaking at a rally. He also ran a very successful California golf tour in the 1990’s which included another colorful character, Evel Knievel.

The King was known as a great philanthropist in the San Diego community, proudly supporting many causes to benefit children and military families.

They broke the mold when they made King Stahlman. San Diego has sadly lost an icon, a legend, a philanthropist and truly a colorful character.

Case Fixing in Luzerne County PA?

Rumors about Luzerne County Justice have been rampant in the legal community for years, the Federal probe is entering its 4th year and with two Judges and a Court Commissioner exposed, speculation now turns to further charges of corruption ensnaring Judges,lawyers and County Commissioners.

It seems Justice in Luzerne county could indeed be purchased. Something I have been alleging for years!

Indeed I specifically charged Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis purchased Justice in the courtroom of Judge Michael T Conahan in 2002. A charge which I made on the blogs in February 2007 and which resulted in the only direct(anonymous) threat made against me.

Case Fixing is the ultimate betrayal of the public trust!
Suffice to say the ramifications for Eastern Pennsylvania will last years and cost this county millions of dollars in judgments, fines and the complete and irrevocable loss of the public trust!

DeWayne H







Rumors Abound That Alleged Case-Fixing Is Target of Pa. Probe

The Legal Intelligencer

Leo Strupczewski and Peter Hall

February 9, 2009

For a long time, auto insurance defense attorneys have considered it the cost of doing business in Luzerne County -- the difficulty of finding an agreeable neutral arbitrator, the large settlements, the funny feeling that something was off.

But, as the saying goes, what you know and what you can prove are two different things.

In the wake of U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Martin C. Carlson's announcement last month of fraud charges against former President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael T. Conahan and charges of embezzlement against a third court official last week, buzz that the U.S. Attorney's Office is targeting lawyers has reached a fever pitch. There are rampant rumors that federal authorities are investigating alleged case fixing.

Carlson, in an interview Tuesday, would not discuss aspects of his investigation beyond the charges already filed, but did say that it is ongoing.

Although law enforcement has not made allegations of case fixing, sources have said in numerous interviews with The Legal Intelligencer that an alleged quid pro quo scheme for some plaintiffs attorneys was established in uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist arbitration cases in Luzerne County long ago.

"That's been the rumor and innuendo for years here," said Lesa Gelb, a Kingston, Pa., plaintiffs attorney.

"There's nothing inherently wrong with going to the court for a neutral [arbitrator]," she continued. "The question is if it's stacked. The rumor in Luzerne County -- and it is a rumor -- is that the decks were stacked."

James K. Thomas, the managing partner of Thomas Thomas & Hafer's office in Harrisburg, said he sees Luzerne County as a "very difficult place to be a defense lawyer."

"You always wound up with people we considered to be very pro-plaintiff," Thomas said. "You wound up with what we considered to be outrageous awards."

"Frankly we recommended to a number of our clients that they move to get the arbitration provisions out of their policies because of what we perceived to be rampant abuses in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area," Thomas said.

Thomas C. Raup, a retired Lycoming County Common Pleas judge, said he was shocked when he began working as an arbitrator in 1998 by the stories he heard from insurance defense lawyers about "ridiculous settlement offers" and the appointment of plaintiffs lawyers as neutral arbitrators.

"I have refused to sit there," Raup said. "But I did sit on one case as a defense arbitrator to see if I could see it from the inside."

In that case, Raup said, the plaintiff's counsel opened with a statement that the case was worth $2.5 million. Raup said he stated why he had agreed to serve as the defense arbitrator and the case eventually settled for far less than the seven figures the plaintiff initially sought.

"I thought it would be interesting and in the interest of the profession to do that," said Raup. "I have never been asked to be a neutral over there."

However, another plaintiffs attorney said there was nothing improper about the system.

Talk of case assignments surfaced during the trial of former Luzerne County Judge Ann H. Lokuta before the state Court of Judicial Discipline, more than a year ago. Lokuta is now challenging the court's finding that she violated the Code of Judicial Conduct and the state constitution and its decision to remove her from the bench.

Lokuta testified that she has spoken to the U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI agents about instances in which three cases assigned to her were suddenly reassigned to Ciavarella or Conahan, according to the transcripts. Francis J. Puskas, deputy chief counsel for the Judicial Conduct Board, and the man who prosecuted the case against Lokuta, told The Legal Intelligencer recently that Lokuta testified during her trial that she spoke to the FBI about docketing in Luzerne and identified three cases that had been reassigned from her.

A PROFOUND EFFECT

James C. Haggerty, of the Philadelphia defense firm Swartz Campbell, said arbitration practices in Luzerne County have had a profound effect on Pennsylvania law.

"[Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth, Department of Insurance (Koken),] was pursued because of the outrageous UM/UIM awards coming out of Luzerne County," said Haggerty, who is chairman of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute's auto insurance committee.

In that 2005 state Supreme Court decision, the Insurance Federation won a holding that automobile insurance carriers are not required to include a mandatory arbitration clause in auto insurance policies for the resolution of UM/UIM cases. Defense and plaintiffs lawyers, alike, agree that Koken has altered the landscape of auto insurance arbitration.

"It has changed," said an attorney with a Philadelphia defense firm who does defense work in Luzerne. "Koken had a chilling effect. These guys know now that they cannot control the process. A lot of these cases are still going to arbitration, but this now allows us to get a fair arbitration panel."

NO NOTICE

A Luzerne County lawyer who has handled UM/UIM arbitration cases there said plaintiffs attorneys involved in the alleged scheme rarely approached defense counsel to compromise on a neutral arbitrator -- a practice common in many other counties. Instead, defense counsel would often receive a phone call informing him or her that the plaintiffs attorney had already filed a petition for a neutral arbitrator.

And that is where connections allegedly came into play.

The judge handling the petition was left to pick a name, the lawyer said, because there was no list from which UM/UIM arbitrators were pulled.

It was an arrangement that allowed for a system in which plaintiffs attorneys could receive an arbitrator who would lean their way and raise the value of the case, the source alleged. In exchange, the plaintiff's attorney allegedly returned the favor.

"It's the same players getting the same people appointed," the lawyer said.

Conrad Falvello, a Sugarloaf, Pa., plaintiffs attorney, said he doesn't believe there was ever a practice of rigging UM/UIM arbitration. He also said he has seen no indication that members of the plaintiffs bar are under investigation.

However, Falvello said there were idiosyncrasies in Luzerne County's civil court procedures that did leave defense lawyers out of the loop when it came time to appoint a neutral arbitrator.

Falvello said in most arbitration cases, he was able to agree with defense counsel on a neutral arbitrator. When he failed to reach an agreement, he would tell his opposing counsel that he planned to present a petition in motions court and tell them the date.

"Some guys would just pop up with a petition to appoint a neutral without giving defense notice," Falvello said. "I don't doubt that was done by some guys. But I also don't know of any rule that required notice."

Falvello said there were also inconsistencies between members of the bench.

"It depended on the judges. Some would appoint. Some would say, 'Notify defense counsel and come back,'" Falvello said. "At that time, I don't think there was a specific local rule that addressed that procedure. So, in that sense, I don't know that any rules were violated."

One insurance defense lawyer who works in-house for a major insurance carrier in Luzerne County said the effort to control the appointment of neutral arbitrators was more regimented. He claimed to recall that in about 2003 an order was printed in the Luzerne County Register, a weekly publication of the Luzerne County Law and Library Association, that directed all petitions to appoint neutral arbitrators to be brought before Conahan, who was then president judge. Later, a similar order was allegedly published directing such petitions to Ciavarella, who was elected president judge in 2006.

"If I knew what I know now, I should have saved those and bronzed them," the attorney said.

A search of the Luzerne County Court rules failed to turn up such an order. The county law librarian said such orders are not kept beyond a year. A call to the prothonotary's office was not returned before press time.

A LOOK AT THE DOCKET

Though court records seem to back up allegations that plaintiffs lawyers took turns serving as neutral arbitrators in each other's cases, the Luzerne County lawyer said only a fraction of the arbitration conducted in the county would have been linked to the names of insurance companies.

Some petitions for a neutral arbitrator are filed with the third party as the defendant and others don't get docketed at all, the lawyer said.

Most often, though, the threat of a petition is enough to convince a defense attorney to agree to an arbitrator without involving judges.

The lawyer said it can be better that way.

"[You think to yourself,] 'I know I'm not going to do very well with the court,' so you agree to somebody who's not going to screw me completely," the lawyer said. "You're not going in there thinking you're getting somebody who's a decent arbitrator."

According to court records examined by The Legal Intelligencer involving a selected group of 10 major auto insurance companies, plaintiffs lawyers filed petitions to appoint neutral arbitrators on 43 occasions between 1995 and 2008.

In 29 of those cases, the same six law firms represented the plaintiffs. In 13 of the 43 cases, attorneys from the same six firms, all of which market themselves as plaintiffs firms, were also appointed as neutral arbitrators. Twice, there were no records for plaintiffs attorneys. The names of the appointed arbitrators were not recorded in seven cases.

In 22 of the 43 cases, the judge was either Conahan or Ciavarella. There was no record of a judge in two of those cases.

The outcome of arbitration in which the lawyers named participated is not a public record. There is no evidence to suggest that the result of arbitration in the cases examined was improper. Nor is there anything to suggest plaintiffs law firms did anything improper to be appointed neutral arbitrators. Ciavarella and Conahan have not been charged with anything related to allegations of case fixing UM/UIM cases.

In one of the cases reassigned from Lokuta to Ciavarella, Pockevich v. Lindstrom, a jury returned a $352,500 verdict that included no economic damages. The verdict included $250,000 for past and future emotional distress, $75,000 for loss of life's pleasures and $27,500 for pain and suffering. The verdict came after Ciavarella granted a plaintiff's motion to preclude a defense psychiatric expert from testifying.

The lawyer with the Philadelphia defense firm said he often perceived the appointment of neutral arbitrators to be predetermined, even when he had a chance to weigh in.

"I've submitted lists of 25 to 30 names of extraordinarily qualified judges and lawyers as arbitrators," he said. "They'd all be rejected."

The in-house lawyer said he has also grown accustomed to reasonable suggestions being rejected.

"I've recommended [former] Supreme Court Justice [Russell M.] Nigro and they've rejected him," he said. "I've recommended these guys who are fairer than the day is long and they've rejected them."

"It's beyond coincidence that these guys constantly got each other as neutrals," the lawyer said.

If there have been improprieties in the conduct of Luzerne County insurance arbitration, it would be very difficult to prove, the lawyer with the Philadelphia firm said.

He said plaintiffs lawyers used inflated demands to deflect questions about the fairness of neutral arbitrators.

"They put these huge, ungodly numbers on the board, but that's their cover. When a smaller number comes back, no one gives it a second look," he said. "Even if the neutral arbitrator comes back with half that ungodly number, everyone says, 'Oh, that wasn't bad. He only gave her half the economic loss.'"

But in a system that functions on honesty and judgment of lawyers sworn to seek justice, perceptions carry little weight, the lawyer said.

"There's no smoking gun, and until you get your smoking gun you're not going to get anything," he said.

Further reading Justice for Sale

UPDATE:
The United States District Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has posted an information and clearing house WebSite for judicial Corruption in Luzeren County.

Anyone with reports of maleficence and criminal behavior is encouraged to contact the FBI.

LUZERNE COUNTY CORRUPTION PROSECUTIONS

If you believe that you were a victim of an offense being prosecuted as part of the Luzerne County corruption prosecutions, and if you want to learn more about your rights as a victim, please contact us in writing at the following address: United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Attention: Laurie Reiley, P.O. Box 1023, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Please include details that explain why you feel you are a victim in this case.

If you believe that you have information relating to criminal wrongdoing please contact FBI Special Richard Southerton at 570-344-2404... or the IRS at 570-969-5300..