| HOMICIDE CASES |
Commonwealth
v. Jones |
Defendant found NOT GUILTY after jury trial of all charges, including Criminal Attempt-Murder, Aggravated Assault and Possesson of Instrument of Crime based on "mis-identification defense".
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Hernandez |
Charges of Solicitation and Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder DISMISSED prior to trial, in case where defendant was accused of arranging the killing of victim whom prosecution claimed had bad blood arising from when defendant and victim were earlier in prison together.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Johnson |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of First
Degree Murder, Third Degree Murder and Involuntary Manslaughter in shaken baby prosecution
where it was alleged that defendant shook his ten week old infant and repeatedly
smashed her head against a wooden table causing her death. The defense retained a
forensic pathologist and pediatric neurologist who supported defendant's claim that
the injuries to the child were inflicted prior to the time he was attempting to feed
the lethargic baby.
(Lancaster County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Alicea |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Attempted
Murder, Aggravated Assault and Weapons charges arising from shooting case where defendant
maintained self-defense.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Casey |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Attempted
Murder, Aggravated Assault and Weapons charges arising from stabbing incident where
defendant maintained self-defense.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Underwood |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Attempted
Murder, Aggravated Assault and related charges arising from shooting outside movie
theater after movie "Juice" based on "mis-identification" defense.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Ransome |
NOT GUILTY after non-jury trial of
Third Degree Murder charges in stabbing case where defendant claimed self-defense.
(Philadelphia County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Rienzi |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial 1st degree
murder after jury trial based on no "specific intent" to kill defense.
(Philadelphia County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Nelligan |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of all
murder charges based on "no intent" defense.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
McDonough |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of murder
in baby shaking Case.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Davis |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of first,
second, and third degree murder in stabbing/robbery.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Diamond |
All charges DISMISSED in manslaughter
case based on "accident defense" arising from an explosion.
(Cameron County) |
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| FELONY DRUG CASES |
Commonwealth
v. Basulto-Guerrero |
Motion to Supress GRANTED where police lacked "reasonable suspicion" to furhter detain motorist after vehicle stop for tinted window violation after warning given. Fruits of vehicle search (Six pounds of cocaine) were suppressed.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Phillip Wynn |
NOT GUILTY of all charges, including Acquisition of Controlled Substance by Fraud, Forgery and Possession after a non-jury trial.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Giddings |
Defendant's Motion to Suppress granted arising from stop of police defendant's automobile which lacked "reasonable suspicion". Possession with Intent to Deliver cocaine charges (3 1/2 grams) DISMISSED.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Timer |
Motion to Quash charges including Possession with Intent to Deliver (16 ounces) of methamphetamine and Criminal Conspiracy GRANTED.
(Philadelphia County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Bird |
Motion to Suppress granted based on illegal police search of defendant's backpack. Possession with Intent to Deliver (134 pounds) of marjuana charges. DISMISSED
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
McCoy |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Possession
with Intent to Deliver Cocaine (over 12 grams).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Douventzidis |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Possession
with Intent to Deliver Cocaine (over 3 grams).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Floyd |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Possession
with Intent to Deliver Cocaine (over 100 grams).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Vargas |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Possession
with Intent to Deliver (122 pounds) of marijuana in tractor trailer.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Waldman |
Motion to Suppress granted based on illegal police search of vehicle. Possession
with Intent to Deliver (300 pounds) of marijuana.
ALL CHARGES DISMISSED.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Boggs |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial Possession
with Intent to Deliver kilogram of cocaine.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Davis |
Motion to Suppress granted based on illegal police search. Possession with intent
to deliver cocaine charges DISMISSED.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Constantino |
Seven to twenty year sentence for methamphetamine trafficking reversed by Pennsylvania
Supreme Court.
ALL CHARGES DISMISSED
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Lundy |
Motion to Suppress granted based on illegal police search. "seizure" not
supported by "reasonable suspicion". Possession with Intent to Deliver (8 grams) of cocaine DISMISSED.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Rozier |
Motion to Suppress granted based on illegal police search. Possesion with Intent
to Deliver (6 grams) of cocaine DISMISSED.
(Montgomery County) |
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| RAPE AND SEXUAL OFFENSES |
| Commonwealth v. Hetrick |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Rape
of Minor (2 counts), Corruption of Minors (3 counts) and Indecent Assault (3) counts.
(Cumberland County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Morris |
All charges of Rape, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor involving
alleged sexual assault of 13 year old DISMISSED
prior to trial.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Jaramillo |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Aggravated
Indecent Assault.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Martinez |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Statutory
Rape, Sexual Assault and related charges.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Gordon |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of multiple
Rape and Child Molestation Charges.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Balogun |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Rape
and Aggravated Indecent Assault charges based on 'consent defense'.
(Bucks County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Flagg |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Rape
and Aggravated Indecent Assault charges.
(Montgomery County) |
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| AGGRAVATED ASSAULT & ROBBERY |
Commonwealth
v.
John Jones |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of all charges, including Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault and Recklessly Endangering.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Lockman |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy, and Possession of Instrument of Crime.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Carden |
NOT GUILTY after non jury trial of Simple Assault, Possession Instrument of Crime and Carrying Weapon on Public Streets.
(Philadelphia County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Bisignaro |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Solicitation
and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Burglary/Robbery as well as Robbery and Burglary,
after a jury trial, where it was alleged that defendant "masterminded"
a home invasion robbery of drug proceeds.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Trunk |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of all
charges, including Aggravated Assault, Endangering Welfare of Children, Simple Assault
and Recklessly Endangerment. Defense presented expert medical testimony that six
week old infant's twenty fractures were likely birth related.
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Hagner |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of all
charges, including Simple Assault and Recklessly Endangerment.
(Montgomery County) |
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| WEAPONS OFFENSES |
Commonwealth
v.
Dancy |
Motion to Suppress granted based on illegal police stop and search of defendant.
Weapons charges DISMISSED.
(Montgomery County) |
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| THEFT OFFENSES |
Commonwealth
v.
Smoltze |
defendant, the police chief of Temple Borough at the time, NOT
GUILTY after jury trial of Theft of Movable Property and Theft by
Deception, arising from allegation of theft of seized cash as police evidence.
(Berks County) |
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| DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE / DUI |
United States
v. Birchall |
NOT GUILTY after non-jury trial of Driving Under the Influence (first offense).
(Federal Court-Eastern District of Pennsylvania) |
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Commonwealth
v. Latona |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Scott |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Guhl |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Durkin |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (first offense).
(Chester County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Harhi |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(York County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Antrim |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Rhue |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Montgomery County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
DiSandri |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Chester County) |
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Commonwealth
v.
Dannaker |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Chester County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Pacor |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Chester County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Porter |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Driving
Under the Influence (second offense).
(Carbon County) |
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| MISCELLANEOUS |
Commonwealth
v. Dymond |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Furnishing
Alcohol to Minors, where intoxicated minor driver and two passengers were injured
in automobile accident.
(Wyoming County) |
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Commonwealth
v. Oke |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of all
charges, including Neglect of Care of a Dependent Person and Recklessly Endangering
Another Person, where defendant nurse was accused of intentionally failing to reconnect
a respirator on an elderly female patient after she repeatedly had disconnected it,
causing bodily injury to the patient through prolonged oxygen deprivation.
(Montgomery County) |
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| RECENT FEDERAL VERDICTS |
United States
v. Malik Snell |
NOT GUILTY after jury trial of Possessing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence and Intimidation of Witness, and hung jury on remaining charges of Criminal Conspiracy and Robbery (Hobbs Act). |
|
United States
v. Malik Snell |
HUNG JURY on all charges including Criminal Conspiracy, Robbery (Hobbs Act), Possession of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. |
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| CIVIL VERDICTS - PREMISES LIABILITY |
|
Estate of Joan DeMarco
v. The Marquis |
Decedent business tenant of apartment/office complex owner murdered by former employee
of defendant in violent assault during office burglary. Plaintiff's estate alleged
negligent security theory of liability against defendant. Settlement negotiated with
responsible insurance company in excess of One Million Two
Hundred Thousand ($1,200,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. |
|
Khaled Bakar
v.
Home Properties, Inc. |
Plaintiff was standing on third floor balcony of friend's apartment owned by defendant,
when the floor suddenly collapsed causing plaintiff to fall to ground. Plaintiff
sustained fractured ribs, non-displaced tibia fracture and herniated disc, which
was treated with physical therapy and multiple epidural injections. Montgomery County
jury returned a verdict in the amount of Seven Hundred and
Sixty Nine Thousand ($769,000.00) Dollars. Plaintiff filed Motion for
Delay Damages which was granted and case was settled for Nine
Hundred Thousand ($900,000.00) Dollars. |
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| CIVIL VERDICTS - AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS |
|
Riccardo
v. Kim |
Plaintiff sustained fractured cervical vertebrae at C5-6 level which required two surgeries and metal screw,arising from a two vehicle automobile accident. Out-of-court settlement negotiated with responsible insurance carriers in amount of Four Hundred Thousand ($400,000.00) Dollars prior to trial.
(Chester County) |
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Estate of Robert Kane
v. Joseph Falco |
Decedent killed while passenger in one-car accident where intoxicated driver lost
control of vehicle. Wrongful death claim settlement negotiated with responsible insurance
company in the amount of Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand
($660,000.00) Dollars prior to trial. |
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Vinnie Moss
v. Baldi Transportation/Erie Insurance Company |
Plaintiff awarded Two Hundred Thirty Five Thousand ($235,000.00)
Dollars by jury after trial. Defendant trucking company bankrupt and uninsured.
Uninsured motorist claim settlement negotiated with plaintiff's insurance company
in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand ($200,00.00) Dollars. |
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| CIVIL VERDICTS - LIQUOR LIABILITY |
|
Gerald & Irene Kane
v.
Dublin Wine and Spirits and Commonwealth of PA |
Plaintiff husband and wife sustained multiple injuries in head-on collision with
drunk driver. Husband-plaintiff sustained head injury resulting in brain hemorrhage
and coma, with substantial recovery. Wife-plaintiff sustained broken ankle. Out-of-court
settlement successfully negotiated against defendants prior to trial. Husband's claim
- Two Hundred Forty Thousand ($240,000.00) Dollars.
Wife's claim - Ninety Thousand ($90,000.00) Dollars.
(Bucks County) |
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Edward Pisarek
v.
Adriatric Club |
Plaintiff police officer assaulted while on duty by intoxicated bar patron skilled
in martial arts. Plaintiff sustained permanent partial hearing loss and multiple
lacerations. Non-jury trial verdict in favor of plaintiff and against defendant in amount
of One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) Dollars.
(Philadelphia County) |
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| CIVIL VERDICTS - PRODUCT LIABILITY |
|
Keith Rosenberger
v.
Galoob Toys, Inc. |
Plaintiff sustained temporary partial loss of vision in one eye with increased risk
of future glaucoma, when struck in eye by defendants' children's toy, while plaintiff
demonstrated newly purchased toy for child. Out-of-court settlement successfully
negotiated against defendants in the amount of One Hundred
Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) Dollars prior to trial.
(Montgomery County) |
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Raymond Cost
v.
Caterpillar, Inc. |
Plaintiff sustained partial amputation of his lower leg, when his foot was crushed
in an unguarded pinchpoint of rotating couplings inside engine area, while plaintiff
was performing maintenance of defendant's heavy trash compactor/metal shearer. Out-of-court
settlement successfully negotiated against defendant in the amount of Four
Hundred Seventy Five Thousand ($475,000.00) Dollars prior to trial.
(Montgomery County) |
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