Tuesday, August 11, 2009

THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT BERNARD V. O'HARE III, PART 3

How much is a lost life worth? I don't know the answer to that.

But I do know that all the money in the world isn't enough to buy back my only daughter, Sheena Villa. Sheena's dead, and gone forever, because of the outrageous negligence of the drunk driver who killed her, and the negligence of those who ignored the obvious warning signs of a catastrophic crash that was all too predictable, and preventable, in retrospect.

On May 21, 1982, Gerald White was operating a crane in downtown Scranton, filling in the abandoned Pinebrook coal mine. White's employer was working on contract with the U.S. Department of the Interior. While demolishing a concrete wall above the mine, suddenly, the 35-ton crane Gerald White was operating crashed through the roof of the mine shaft and plummeted 45 feet into the nearly 300-foot deep pit. Other crew members were able to escape falling into the gaping mine shaft, but 33-year-old Gerald White was trapped in a massive slide of dirt and sand that sucked him and his crane increasingly farther down and down under the earth.

All Gerald White's wife Lucille and their 3 children, ages 12, 9, and 3 at the time could do over the next several days was wait ... as surveillance devices failed to detect any sign of Gerald White's life.

On May 27, part of the concrete wall collapsed on rescuers as they searched for White; the next day, rescuers couldn't find the mine's entrance; three days later, the cable of a rescue crane got tangled up with a piece of concrete stuck in the mine shaft; the following day, the rescue crane burst into flames.

A month and a day after catastrophe had struck, Lucille White decided she wanted to have funeral ceremonies for her husband Gerald at what she probably assumed would be his "grave," alongside the open mine shaft. On July 3, fifty-eight days after the tragedy, Gerald White's body was recovered, 165 feet down in the mine shaft.

Four years later, in February 1986, Lucille White learned that a multi-million dollar settlement resulting from her wrongful death litigation against the U.S. Government had been denied.

Bernard V. O'Hare III, a then disbarred former Bethlehem attorney who had been an assistant U.S. attorney in Scranton at the time of Lucille White's litigation had "failed to clear the settlement with officials in Washington," according to U.S. District Judge William J. Nealon.

According to Lucille White's attorney, Joseph A. Quinn, all through negotiations between the plaintiff Lucille White, and the U.S. Government (represented, sadly, by Bernard V. O'Hare III ) ...

"O'Hare feigned contact with supervisors and approval of the settlement from his superiors in Washington. There were assurances made to me and to the court and calls were made to Washington." -The Morning Call "newspaper," Feb. 3, 1986

Readers ...

did Bernie O'Hare III unilaterally decide that Lucille White's case "had no merit," like he had "concluded" in the George Usry Civil Rights case?

Sure looks that way, doesn't it?

Especially since O'Hare III "handled" Lucille White's case in chillingly familiar fashion to how he had "handled" George Usry's case ... and that is ...

O'Hare ("feigned") LIED to the court, and to the grieving widow plaintiff, Lucille White, as he also MISREPRESENTED his client, the United States Government.

Just like O'Hare was never really "negotiating" w/ Bethlehem Steel (for two years) on behalf of his client George Usry as O'Hare had misled Usry to believe ...

O'Hare was never really "negotiating" (for four years?) w/ Lucille White's attorney on behalf of his client the U.S. Government-- as O'Hare misled U.S. District Court Judge William J. Nealon, plaintiff's attorney Joseph A. Quinn, Lucille White, and her three fatherless children to believe.

Readers: doesn't this feel eerily and creepily similar to how O'Hare III was (wink wink) pondering a series of increasing offers from Bethlehem Steel for George Usry?

Only this time, O'Hare was pondering how much money the U.S. Government (i.e., him, hot-shot U.S. Attorney/Negotiator O'Hare) was willing to bestow upon Lucille White ... but not really ... because, you see, the U.S. government, figuratively, "stopped payment on the check" ...

because O'Hare never got the U.S. Government's approval on what he was (wink wink) "negotiating."

The common thread in both cases is that prosecutor O'Hare III took it upon himself to persecute good guys-- already wronged, suffering families ... w/ evil intent.

From The Morning Call "newspaper," February 3, 1986:

"From January (1985) to June we were waiting day to day" for a check, said Mrs. White, who has been supporting her family on Social Security and retirement payments. "O'Hare kept saying he was going to Washington and we would have the checks." But in June, Mrs. White was told payments would be delayed while questions surrounding O'Hare's conduct were investigated. "Now we have to go back and try our original case," said Mrs. White, sadness in her voice.


WIDOW GETS NOTHING IN MINE CASE HANDLED BY EX-AREA ATTORNEY


The mine subsidence case in Scranton that former Bethlehem attorney Bernard V. O'Hare III "settled" two years ago for "$19 million" is finally over.


The plaintiff, the widow of a man buried in the subsidence five years ago, got nothing.


Gerald J. White, 33, a laborer, dropped into a hidden mine shaft in Scranton in 1982 during a mine-flushing job for the U.S. Office of Surface Mining.


At one time, widow Lucille White was led to believe by then-Assistant U.S. Attorney O'Hare that the federal government had accepted blame and would pay a structured settlement totaling the $19 million to her and her two children.


But U.S. District Judge R. Dixon Herman for the Middle District of Pennsylvania threw out the settlement on the ground O'Hare never got it cleared with his superiors in Washington.


Shortly after that, O'Hare lost his job with the U.S. attorney's office in Scranton.


White appealed to the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which turned her down this spring.


Now, the 90-day appeal time has lapsed for any appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.


The Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in January 1986 suspended O'Hare for two years for resorting to forgery and lies in the handling of a 1980 civil-rights case for a black Bethlehem Steel worker. O'Hare told client George Usry of Allentown he was working to get the man an $85,000 settlement. But O'Hare had already settled the case with Bethlehem Steel for $60 and forged his client's name to the settlement document, according to the findings of the Disciplinary Board.


At that time, O'Hare was a member of the Bethlehem law firm of O'Hare and Heitczman - the O'Hare being his father, a former Northampton County district attorney.


Tied to the suspension was the recommendation that any reinstatement "be conditioned on a medical report indicating he is emotionally and physically capable of resuming the responsibilities of his profession."


What's our point w/ all this?

We want you to know the ugly truth about Bernard V. O'Hare III ...the Bernie O'Hare who publicly threatened to sabotage Sheena Villa's wrongful death litigation which O'Hare discussed in signed comments at his "Troll Parade" blog w/ his Troll blog co-creator, attorney David Najarian, Lynn Township Supervisor ...

because, as you can see, O'Hare has never been rehabilitated; O'Hare has never changed his ways; and O'Hare's "ways" still involve a course of evil intent activity that is characterized by, in the conclusions of the PA Supreme Court:


The other O'Hare ... the one w/ the "serious emotional problem" ... the disgraced former prosecutor who delights in persecuting good guys ... w/ evil intent ... is still out there.

And very much so. In fact, O'Hare's popular blog, Lehigh Valley Ramblings, currently entertains an average of over 600 loyal visitors every day, according to O'Hare's "open" Sitemeter(R) that is located at the very bottom of his blog droppings.


Some of O'Hare's most loyal "regulars" include well-known elected officials in Northampton and Lehigh counties ... Judges even, who, we hear through the grapevine, are actually encouraging Bernard III to become a lawyer again.


I guess nobody cares. Hey. It's Miller time.


UpDate: Readers, The Morning Call "newspaper" has a new look at its website and some new functions. For example, at the bottom of their online "newspaper" droppings, you can now click on "Other News Sources," including some select local blogs. And guess what? So far, the local blog The Morning Call is linking to the most, by far, is ... Lehigh Valley Ramblings, by Bernard V. O'Hare, III.


The Morning Call just rewarded O'Hare w/ a promotion.


Read: Part 4: Still Duped By O'Hare?

Monday, August 10, 2009

THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT BERNARD V. O'HARE III, PART DEUX (2)

Morning Call "newspaper" Account

Here's the case that compelled the PA Supreme Court to stop Bernie O'Hare from practicing law in Pennsylvania. It was a good call.

George Usry, of Allentown, a black man, was "let go" by Bethlehem Steel in July 1976. Usry believed he was fired for being black. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission looked into it and agreed with Usry. In September 1979, the EEOC issued a "Notice of Right to Sue," finding reasonable cause to believe that Usry's race was indeed a factor in Usry's firing at Bethlehem Steel.

Sadly, George Usry hired Bernard V. O'Hare III to represent him. At the time, O'Hare was a rookie lawyer working at his father's esteemed law firm in Bethlehem, O'Hare & Heitczman. In August 1980, O'Hare III filed a Civil Rights suit on George Usry's behalf in federal court in Philadelphia.

Shortly thereafter, as O'Hare would later glibly enlighten the Disciplinary Board of the PA Supreme Court, O'Hare came to the conclusion that his client George Usry's Civil Rights case "had no merit." Yup. O'Hare never mentioned his revelation to his client George Usry.

O'Hare also didn't inform Mr. Usry of a rather significant "turning point" in Usry's case:

On July 11, 1981, O'Hare settled George Usry's Civil Rights case against Bethlehem Steel for $60.00 (Usry's out-of-pocket costs for filing his lawsuit).

Apparently, defendant Bethlehem Steel agreed whole-heartedly w/ young plaintiff attorney O'Hare's legal opinion that O'Hare's negro client, "Mister" George Usry, had brought a completely meritless case against them, by God, and now someone get our young friend Bernard a cigar please.

Completely "out of the loop" on this back-door raw deal was George Usry.

O'Hare never told Usry that his case (the one w/ "no merit") was over as of July 11, 1981, by decree of Bernard V. O'Hare III.

And "over" really meant over, as O'Hare had entered into a "Settlement Agreement and General Release" with Bethlehem Steel (on Usry's behalf) that contained a stipulation of dismissal "with prejudice" (nice touch), meaning that the ("uppity?" or "well-spoken?") George Usry could never file his EEOC-endorsed case against Bethlehem Steel ever again, boy.

So how did O'Hare do this dirty deal with Bethlehem Steel w/ OUT the knowledge and approval of his client George Usry?

Simple. As concluded by the PA Supreme Court:

"O'Hare forged or caused to be forged the signature of George Usry on the agreement."

Shocked? Wait. For "hot-shot" attorney O'Hare III, the sadistic fun was just getting started.

Was "booze" to blame? You decide ... (Curiously, "booze" isn't mentioned anywhere in the 22 pages Lehigh Valley Somebody obtained recently from the Pittsburgh office of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania [No. 512 Disciplinary Docket No. 2 Disciplinary Board No. 25 DB 84 Attorney Registration 28024]dated January 9, 1986). 

Over the next two years, O'Hare shamelessly jerked George Usry around, while covering-up his unauthorized termination and settlement of Usry's lawsuit.

Client Usry phoned his lawyer O'Hare frequently throughout 1982 and 1983 requesting "updates" on his case, and O'Hare never told Usry that he had unilaterally arranged for Usry's case to be "dismissed w/ prejudice" and in favor of their legal opponent, the defendant, Bethlehem Steel.

Instead, in numerous phone calls, O'Hare told Usry that he (O'Hare) was pondering "a series of increasing offers" from Bethlehem Steel for the settlement of Usry's case.

George Usry testified before the Disciplinary Board that he ultimately "accepted" an "offer" from Bethlehem Steel (via O'Hare) of $85,000.00 ...

and on May 12, 1983, O'Hare told Usry that he had received Bethlehem Steel's $85,000.00 check and that he (O'Hare) would hold it for Usry for seven days until it cleared the bank.

O'Hare's next phase strategy was to engage in a "series of misrepresentations about said settlement check" (it's "in the mail?" "my dog ate it?") while jacking up the anxiety level in an increasingly concerned and frustrated George Usry.

O'Hare eventually told Usry that, "Bethlehem Steel had stopped payment on the check," (oopsie).

This of course was a lie too, there never was any check for $85K, and O'Hare had been purposefully lying to George Usry (and seemingly for the "sport" of it) all along.

Booze? Yeah. Right.

Readers, I'm gonna end "Part 2" right here, because the slithery machinations O'Hare attempted in trying to dupe the PA Supreme Court into believing him will likely end up being a separate post of its own down the road.

What's our point w/ all this? We want you to know the ugly truth about Bernard V. O'Hare III too, because O'Hare has never been rehabilitated; O'Hare has never changed his ways; and O'Hare's "ways" still involve a course of evil intent activity that is characterized by, in the conclusions of the PA Supreme Court:


The other O'Hare ... the one w/ the "serious emotional problem" ... the disgraced former prosecutor who delights in persecuting good guys ... w/ evil intent ... is still out there.

P.S. O'Hare pocketed George Usry's $60.00 "settlement." Maybe he spent it on "booze" (wink wink).

THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT BERNARD V. O'HARE III, PART DEUX (2)

Morning Call "newspaper" account

Here's the case that compelled the PA Supreme Court to stop Bernie O'Hare  from practicing law in Pennsylvania. It was a good call.

George Usry, of Allentown, a black man, was "let go" by Bethlehem Steel in July 1976. Usry believed he was fired for being black. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission looked into it and agreed with Usry. In September 1979, the EEOC issued a "Notice of Right to Sue," finding reasonable cause to believe that Usry's race was indeed a factor in Usry's firing at Bethlehem Steel.

Sadly, George Usry hired Bernard V. O'Hare III to represent him. At the time, O'Hare was a rookie lawyer working at his father's esteemed law firm in Bethlehem, O'Hare & Heitczman. In August 1980, O'Hare III filed a Civil Rights suit on George Usry's behalf in federal court in Philadelphia.

Shortly thereafter, as O'Hare would later glibly enlighten the Disciplinary Board of the PA Supreme Court, O'Hare came to the conclusion that his client George Usry's Civil Rights case "had no merit." Yup. O'Hare never mentioned his revelation to his client George Usry.

O'Hare also didn't inform Mr. Usry of a rather significant "turning point" in Usry's case:

On July 11, 1981, O'Hare settled George Usry's Civil Rights case against Bethlehem Steel for $60.00 (Usry's out-of-pocket costs for filing his lawsuit).

Apparently, defendant Bethlehem Steel agreed whole-heartedly w/ young plaintiff attorney O'Hare's legal opinion that O'Hare's negro client, "Mister" George Usry, had brought a completely meritless case against them, by God, and now someone get our young friend Bernard a cigar please.

Completely "out of the loop" on this back-door raw deal was George Usry.

O'Hare never told Usry that his case (the one w/ "no merit") was over as of July 11, 1981, by decree of Bernard V. O'Hare III.

And "over" really meant over, as O'Hare had entered into a "Settlement Agreement and General Release" with Bethlehem Steel (on Usry's behalf) that contained a stipulation of dismissal "with prejudice" (nice touch), meaning that the ("uppity?" or "well-spoken?") George Usry could never file his EEOC-endorsed case against Bethlehem Steel ever again, boy.

So how did O'Hare do this dirty deal with Bethlehem Steel w/ OUT the knowledge and approval of his client George Usry?

Simple. As concluded by the PA Supreme Court:

"O'Hare forged or caused to be forged the signature of George Usry on the agreement."

Shocked? Wait. For "hot-shot" attorney O'Hare III, the sadistic fun was just getting started.

Was "booze" to blame? You decide ...

Over the next two years, O'Hare shamelessly jerked George Usry around, while covering-up his unauthorized termination and settlement of Usry's lawsuit.

Client Usry phoned his lawyer O'Hare frequently throughout 1982 and 1983 requesting "updates" on his case, and O'Hare never told Usry that he had unilaterally arranged for Usry's case to be "dismissed w/ prejudice" and in favor of their legal opponent, the defendant, Bethlehem Steel.

Instead, in numerous phone calls, O'Hare told Usry that he (O'Hare) was pondering "a series of increasing offers" from Bethlehem Steel for the settlement of Usry's case.

George Usry testified before the Disciplinary Board that he ultimately "accepted" an "offer" from Bethlehem Steel (via O'Hare) of $85,000.00 ...

and on May 12, 1983, O'Hare told Usry that he had received Bethlehem Steel's $85,000.00 check and that he (O'Hare) would hold it for Usry for seven days until it cleared the bank.

O'Hare's next phase strategy was to engage in a "series of misrepresentations about said settlement check" (it's "in the mail?" "my dog ate it?") while jacking up the anxiety level in an increasingly concerned and frustrated George Usry.

O'Hare eventually told Usry that, "Bethlehem Steel had stopped payment on the check," (oopsie).

This of course was a lie too, there never was any check for $85K, and O'Hare had been purposefully lying to George Usry (and seemingly for the "sport" of it) all along.

Booze? Yeah. Right.

Readers, I'm gonna end "Part 2" right here, because the slithery machinations O'Hare attempted in trying to dupe the PA Supreme Court into believing him will likely end up being a separate post of its own down the road.

What's our point w/ all this? We want you to know the ugly truth about Bernard V. O'Hare III too, because O'Hare has never been rehabilitated; O'Hare has never changed his ways; and O'Hare's "ways" still involve a course of evil intent activity that is characterized by, in the conclusions of the PA Supreme Court:


The other O'Hare ... the one w/ the "serious emotional problem" ... the disgraced former prosecutor who delights in persecuting good guys ... w/ evil intent ... is still out there.


P.S. O'Hare pocketed George Usry's $60.00 "settlement." Maybe he spent it on "booze" (wink wink).