Skip to content

Throw out verdict against newspaper, judge says

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A $3.5 million defamation verdict against a Pennsylvania newspaper was tainted by the misconduct of two judges at the center of an unrelated corruption case, a judge ruled Tuesday.

    Inquirer
    Published 

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A $3.5 million defamation verdict against a Pennsylvania newspaper was tainted by the misconduct of two judges at the center of an unrelated corruption case, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Lehigh County Court Judge William Platt recommended that the state Supreme Court throw out the verdict against the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice and order a new trial.

The high court appointed Platt to review the newspaper's claim that corruption was involved in the handling of the lawsuit, filed against it by businessman Thomas Joseph and one of his companies. The newspaper contended that the verdict was fixed by reputed mobster William D'Elia and former Luzerne County Court Judges Michael T. Conahan and Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. - AP

    Inquirer