Thursday, November 19, 2009

Luzerne County Courthouse happenings

Luzerne County Human Resources Director Doug Richards resigned effective December 4th then was fired because he wouldn't spill the beans to Maryanne Petrilla about a dodgy contract with a New York temp agency that doesn't seem to have an address. The Feds raided his office after he was escorted out of the courthouse but tried to take records with him before he left the building.


Judge Michael Toole has unexpectedly decided to take a vacation for a few weeks. That's a bit odd because President Judge Chester Muroski is screaming for help to clear the backlog of cases because the bench has been short a few judges the last year or so. Maybe he just needs a break and it has nothing to do with all the rumors swirlling around him the last few months. Florida is nice this time of year for a boat ride after you get there on a private jet. It looks like like Chet has help on the way because Ann Lokuta will soon be restored to the Court.



A first. Former superintendent of the Pittston Area School District pleaded guilty to taking a $5,000 bribe for helping a contractor obtain work in the district and was sentenced to 13 months in prison reported to the Fort Dix federal correctional institution in New Jersey. The poor bastard, I wouldn't wish anyone having to spend time in New Jersey no matter what they did.

15 comments:

Mean Old Man said...

Young Mr. Toole is a fine, upstanding and hardworking gentleman, as is his father. If anyone deserves a vacation from the rigors of the workaday world, it is him. I pray that he is not another innocent being railroaded by the Obama Justice department.

D.B. Echo said...

I'm concerned. I have Jury Duty starting December 1. I'm worried some of us may get tapped to be judges.

Anonymous said...

Mean old man, you have the metality of the same people that cause this mess.

Just because you THINK somebody is " a fine, upstanding and hardworking gentleman, as is his father" doesnt necessarily make it true escept for in your head.

Then you go off on an Obama rant. I dont care for Obama either but that has nothing to do with the corruption in Luz Cty. it's the "I'll pat your back if you pat on mine" mentality that ruined this whole area.

Ask senior Tooles Wife how she got her job as Nanticoke Housing Authority.

Anonymous said...

DB- I have duty too. I hope to get picked to get a 1st hand look .

Anonymous said...

Mean Old Man -- :)

Anonymous said...

Now we learn that the County's Personnel Manager did not keep his own time records up to date. What the hell is Mr Urban The Watchdog doing and Petrilla is busy ducking responsibility. Could it be that Skrep is the tamest of the See No, Hear No, Speak No? This is roof that being at work is not the same as working. When I was a kid, we played Blind Man's Bluff but we didn't know it would be played 40 years later under the Dome.

Anonymous said...

That's right 6:16 go arrest Urban for wanting to fire Richards 2 years ago. Now we must vote democrat for sure to prevent higher crony unemployment levels in the county.
What an asshole!

Anonymous said...

So I saw SKREP on WBRE tonight and he sounded like a babbling buffoon... he is getting nervous.

I had high hopes for Skrep when he first gotr in there but greed always seems to overcome in the courthouse.

Powermongers.... it's sad.

And whats this Toole crap taking a vacation on his own call.... If any one of us did that in our job, it would be a BYE BYE BUDDY!!!

Anonymous said...

10:54 so I guess that any Republican is better than no Republican? Urban is a total waste and never opens his mouth with cause. If he had a solid reason for getting rid of Richards, why wasn't he shouting from the roof tops? If he is the watchdog, why didn't he know that Richards was not keeping good records, especially if he wanted him fired two years ago. All three should resign at first light and then a clean sweep of their management team. We need a fresh start but how can that happen when Urban actually has defenders?

Big Dan said...

"Unexpected" - "unplanned" vacation. Hmmmmm......

Judges stayed at Conahan condo

Toole, Olszewski did not know condominium was connected to alleged criminal activity.

“I was graciously invited to play golf with Judge Ciavarella,” Toole said. “He is a friend and was kind enough to invite me to stay there.”

http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Judges_stayed_at_Conahan_condo_02-09-2009.html

Federal authorities are looking at Luzerne County Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole as part of their investigation into alleged corruption at the Luzerne County Courthouse, sources have confirmed to The Legal Intelligencer.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202429026473

A Luzerne County judge in 2004 ruled in favor of attorney Robert Powell in a dispute regarding the docking of his yacht at a marina at the Florida condominium connected to judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan.

The Oct. 21, 2004 ruling by Judge Michael Toole allowed Powell to continue to dock the 56-foot “Reel Justice” despite the protest of the attorney for the Jupiter Yacht Club Marina Condominium Association that the case should have been handled in Florida.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/DOCK_ON_THE_DOCKET__01-29-2009.html

Big Dan said...

If you admit that a judge is your "friend", isn't that a conflict of interest ruling on a case with your "friend"? I suppose that had nothing to do with ruling in favor of his "friend", just like when local school boards hire their relatives and friends, that has nothing to do with it.

Anonymous said...

I'm just wondering how many "friends" Amiesbury and Gartlett made during their campaign efforts so are they now not capable of rendering a fair decision?

Anonymous said...

big dan what kind of isolanist bullshit world do you reside? so anyone who becomes a judge must severe all ties from life prior to election? should they all become ebenzer scrooge and reside in solitiude?

true professionals can seperate their personal and professional life. those that can't must be removed. those like you who are too imature to realize this distinction should never be elected.
alas, the problem with democracy, the people actually get to make the decision, not a nit wit internet poster

Anonymous said...

11:30 :)

Anonymous said...

Remember the great words of John Adonizio when he was picked up DUI and then fought with the officer on duty. " I know Dave Lupus and you will be sorry. You will lose your job". Thank God he went in front of Peter Paul. I guess he didn't know him. Anyway you look at it we need People with character in public office and not characters acting like decent people.Say good-Bye Toole, Shrimpneck and I hope Vonderboy