Thursday, February 26, 2009

Look At The Latest Defendants In The Juvenile Law Center Lawsuit

The Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia has jumped into the foray over the Luzerne County juvenile court scandal by filing a class action lawsuit against parties involved according to the Times Leader.

The following defendants are named in the suit: MARK A. CIAVARELLA, JR.; MICHAEL T. CONAHAN; ROBERT J. POWELL; ROBERT MERICLE; GREGORY ZAPPALA; CINDY CIAVARELLA; BARBARA
CONAHAN; MERICLE CONSTRUCTION, INC.; MIDATLANTIC YOUTH SERVICES; PA CHILD CARE, LLC; WESTERN PA CHILD CARE, LLC; PINNACLE GROUP OF JUPITER, LLC; VISION HOLDINGS, LLC; BEVERAGE MARKETING OF PENNSYLVANIA,INC.,Defendants.


Item 636 of the document is interesting in that it seems to elevate the allegations.

In particular, the defendants intentionally conspired and agreed to acquireor maintain interests in and control of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, as described in Count VI. Additionally, the
defendants intentionally conspired and agreed to conduct and participate in
the conduct of the affairs of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering
activity, as described in Count V.


I am particularly intrigued by this statement in the lawsuit. The defendants knew that their predicate acts were part of a pattern of racketeering activity, and the defendants agreed to the commission of those acts to further the schemes described in Counts V and VI. It will be interesting to see the facts that will be presented to the court to support that allegation.

Again I want to stress that these are allegations that will most likely be defended against. No one should infer liability at this point. Please keep in mind that the defendants can petition the court to be dropped from the lawsuit at a later date. It is a civil action that will need to work its way through the court system.

I am sure this action will not be the last we see in this

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