RSS
A New Solicitor in Penn Delco
It appears Michael Levin Esq. has been selected to be the interim solicitor for the Penn Delco School Board.
From everything I've heard about the guy, Penn Delco is lucky to have him even if it is only on a temporary basis.
He is General Counsel to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and by all accounts, one of if not the top school board lawyers and education law experts in the state.
You can't do much better than that.
From everything I've heard about the guy, Penn Delco is lucky to have him even if it is only on a temporary basis.
He is General Counsel to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and by all accounts, one of if not the top school board lawyers and education law experts in the state.
You can't do much better than that.
posted by Spencerblog at
10:54 PM
37 Comments:
Gil, in one of your earlier posts, you accused another attorney of allowing his own self interest to cloud his legal judgement. Your words, not mine.
Yet, isn't the Michael Levin whom the Penn Delco school board just appointed as its interim Solicitor the very same Michael Levin who you (reluctantly) disclosed had just given a legal opinion to that very same board declaring vacant the very same office of solicitor to which he just sought and obtained appointment?
So Michael Levin can help create a job opening, and then apply for the job, and then get it. That's a neat trick. Wish we all could do that for ourselves.
Gil, do you really think that's kosher?
Gil, when, if at all, can we expect your legal ethics experts to weigh in?
Gil, when, if at all, can we expect you to question the ethics of the honorable Michael Levin?
Gil, when, if at all, can we expect you to criticize the board for such a foolhardy decision?
Or is none of that part of the agenda you have decided (or been told) to follow?
Not that I think you have an axe to grind. (Your words, not mine.)
Nice try but hardly convincing.
It is more likely that Levin was asked to apply for the job based on his experience and excellent reputation.
He is, afterall, one of the top education lawyers in the state. And it's only an interim assignment.
Penn Delco needs Levin a lot more than Levin needs Penn Delco.
As I said they are lucky to have him. Even if the job does come with anonymous critics and cranks.
What has he to fear from them? Nada.
Why don't you answer that poster's question? Do you think it's kosher or not what this lawyer Levin did?
The lawyer told them that they had a vacant solicitorship. Then he was asked to be the interim solicitor - that means temporary. There is nothing wrong with that. I know, I am a lawyer.
All these anonymous posters who are constantly maliciously attacking Gil and others sound like they are very close to the situation.
Take it from me, I'm a Rocket Scientist.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist nor someone very close to the situation to see a conflict here.
I'm curious if Penn-Delco has received a written opinion on the validity of the vote from anyone besides Interim Solicitor Levin?
Yes, several.
When will you people understand? Spencer is a hack, plain and simple. He knows it. He gets paid on others misery. He is the lowest form of person there is. Sources are easy to hide behind. Believe me, if I were a few of the people he has blasted, I would be suing. Different information on different occassions. He turns more than the weather. Hated Seitz, now loves him, does think that back dating STATE forms is a big deal. You kidding me. If they do that, what else will they do? That means they lied on their forms because they knew they did something wrong. It is really that simple.
How childish to get fired, then strike out at everyone else! Somebody needs to move on! JMO
anonymous describes Gil as;
"....He gets paid on others misery. He is the lowest form of person there is. "
I must have missed it, Gil when did you become a lawyer?
I am a lawyer and Gil is right on. A lawyer is allowed to tell a government board that they no longer have a solicitor as a result of a majority vote of a quorum, and then accept the appointment. It happens all the time.
Sereni was tossed! Now Levin is in! What don't you get about that?
to Pro Christ/Pro Gun
If you are truely a lawyer, I think I love you for that!
From his own contemporaries no less! Nice!
How much is the DT paying this miscreant for his drivel?
Today's piece was priceless. Gil Spencer's "bad man's" view of the law.
Good to know Gil thinks it is okay to backdate state ethics forms, and spend money earmarked for kids' education on crap. Didn't you hear Dave Seitz admit at a recent school board meeting that the Penn Delco School District may have to pay back $100,000 for money spent by the educational foundation?
Oh and Gil, while you are enjoying your lovefest with your puppet Dave Seitz (who you have previously called spineless - until he started doing what you wanted him to), didn't you hear Dave Seitz publicly admit at a recent school board meeting that he has lied to you? So which one of you is lying now? It's so hard to keep up.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mr. Anonymous a/k/a Mr. Sereni - You need to understand how powerful it is not to have to be right. My experience is that the only people impressed by the self-important, are the self-important. No matter how many times you say the same thing over and over again, on SpencerBlog and Go Aston site, people won't listen to you because somewhere along the way, you crossed the line. I think it would have been in your best interests to bow out gracefully a long time ago.
You remind me of a teenager fighting with his father. You need to move on. This is just my opinion.
To "Anonymous" posting to Mr. Anonymous aka Mr. Sereni: I can only speak for myself but I am not Mark Sereni and I think Gil Spencer is toe jam.
I don't support an individual in PD however, Mike Levin is more politically connected than Mr. Sereni. He is the lawyer to the PSBA, you think you get that soley on merit? PD just stepped into the big time. Levin will milk that District for every thing he can. The amount of money he is requesting is crazy. He has 0 influence in Delaware County (which is very important) and he has no business being in that district. He will cost them MORE money not less. Dave Setiz's comments were the most stupid things I have read in a long time. Does he have a brain? Executive sessions don't cost $100,000. The money is spent on issues that are brought forward. Levin will cost you more money smart guy. People are right you are not that smart.
I'm not Sereni either and I think you have behaved disgracefully towards him. You've made a joke of yourself, not him. People just see you as obsessed with him and you look silly. He is an extremely successful and prominent DelCo attorney, both school law and trial attorney, and everyone who matters knows it. Can't say the same for you Gil. You look really jealous and/or nuts.
Haven't seen you named Super Opinion Columnist, or Super-Anything for that matter.
Levin is charging the district $170 per hour ($30 more an hour than the previous solicitor) and also for about an hour each way commute to the district. Not a fiscally smart move. Whose brilliant idea was this anyway? Must have been Gil and Dave on a bender.
$170 instead of $140? Penn Delco just gave its solicitor a 20% raise?
I thought Gil said a couple weeks ago that Penn Delco doesn't even need a solicitor?
And now they not only have a solicitor but paying 20% more than the old one?
I thought Gil was looking out for the taxpayers.
No, Jeremy, I'm afraid not. Seems to me that Gil is looking out not for the taxpayers but for his cronies aka anonymous sources. He just like to paints it that way and some readers are lame enough to buy it. Not me. He's obviously pushing an agenda here - why else has he focused all of his attention on the solicitor when there have (unfortunately) been many other newsworthy stories coming out of Penn-Delco that he's barely given the time of day.
I feel like I'm reading a script for dumb, dumber and dumberest.
You people are insane.
I agree that it's shocking that Gil has totally ignored or poo-pooed the alleged misdeeds of school board members which have been made public. I mean, this is some really disturbing stuff some current PD school board members and a current administrator have reportedly admitted to or just plain been caught doing! Is Gil trying to whitewash because he got scooped by the Daily News, or is it because the naughty people are his sources for the libel he has written about the solicitor? He seems desperate to protect those sources, because when they go down, so does he.
I have a PERSONAL challenge for anyone on this blog regarding the question of conflict of interest of Michael Levin serving as solicitor for Penn Delco. I challenge anyone to even attempt to get the State Ethics Commission involved in investigating Levin, OR to see if you can obtain the (authentic) Statements of Financial Interest for Michael I. Levin, either as sole proprietor of the Levin Legal Group or as General Counsel to the PSBA. Good luck, bloggers, you will need it!
As a lawyer and member of the bar, attorney Levin SHOULD be subject to the State Ethics Commission as as a solicitor to school boards and/or political subdivisions. As General Counsel to PSBA or even legislative, non-profit lobbying groups, one would think Levin should also be obligated to file statements of financial interest.
Interestingly, on December 19, 1979, the PA State Ethics Commission filed an opinion in response to Michael Levin's argument that school board solititors to political subdivisions should NOT be considered as either public employees or public officials, and hence not subject to public financial disclosures. Blog readers can see this source of information by clicking on the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission website and looking at Advisory Opinion #79-076. It begs the question of why Levin would argue that school board solicitors to political subdivisions should be exempt and not subject to financial disclosure requirements pursuant to the Act and jurisdiction of the PA State Ethics Commision. Here is the SOURCE.
http://www.ethicsrulings.state.pa.us/Index.asp?documentID=36917&FolderID=1&SearchHandle=5&DocViewType=ShowImage&LeftPaneType=Hidden&dbid=0&page=1
Under Anonymous, I previously posted a challenge to bloggers questioning the potential conflict of interest with Michael Levin serving as the new solicitor to Penn Delco School Board.
Bloggers, you may also want to check out CV 98-2768; United States District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Opinion and Order by Lowell A. Reed, Jr., S.J, dated October 13, 1999. Attorney Michael Levin’s role as counsel for the PSBA Insurance Trust and as named counsel for the defendant district (Marple Newtown School District) was questioned by Middle Eastern District Judge Lowell A. Reed in the matter of Sciotto v Marple Newtown School District.
In denying attorney Levin’s amicus curiae motion submitted on behalf of the PSBA Insurance Trust, Judge Reed opined:
“If that were not enough, counsel for the petitioner [PSBA Insurance Trust] has already entered an appearance on behalf of Marple Newtown, see Appearance of Michael I. Levin for Defendant Marple Newtown School District....Fourth, the petitioner cannot be said to be impartial in the matter before the Court. Petitioner [PSBA Insurance Trust], as an association of school district insurers, has a specific pecuniary interest in the defendant’s perspective in this particular case......”
See the SOURCE: http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/99D0839P.pdf
Wallflower
The link was cut off: Here it is again:
......” http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/99D0839P.pdf
Wallflower
Thanks for the info., Wallflower!
I would have thought that Gil would have told us about all of that!
So Levin may have not only a conflict of interest in being Penn Delco solicitor because he gave the written opinion to the Penn Delco school board that the solicitor job that he applied for was really vacant and then TOOK THE JOB (at a 20% raise) instead of bowing out, but a conflict of interest due to his ties to Penn Delco's insurance company as well?
Gee, Gil, what's your spin on all of that?
What does Dave Seitz have to say?
Gil, hey Gil, are you there?
BTW, Gil, where's the written opinion letter Levin sent? Why are you refusing to post that? Probably be more enlightening than that SNL Belushi routine you posted? May be even funnier?
Dear ProChristProGun:
I don't have any problems with Jesus Christ, and I'm not some anti-gun fanatic, but I do have a huge problem with your attacking Mr. Sereni and siding with Mr. Spencer without first disclosing to all of us your axe to grind with Mr. Sereni, as Mr. Spencer himself requested.
Not a very Christian thing to do, now is it, sir?
You're a lawyer all right. I've verified that.
In fact, I checked your firm's website, and then I checked Marple Newtown School District's web site. Not long ago, your firm sued Marple Newtown School District and others for a lot of money saying that a kindergarten teacher broke the law by asking your adult authority-figure client not to read the Bible aloud during class to a captive audience of our kindergarten students, little impressionable kids whose parents hadn't even been given the chance to say yes or no to that.
Sereni defended Marple Newtown School District, and won for us in court.
That means, unfortunatley for you, your side lost.
Aren't you just a sore loser, sir?
Sincerely,
PRO MARPLE NEWTOWN PARENT
Hey Pro Merle:
My firm didn't lose anything. There was another organization involved and we bowed out of the litigation early on. You knew that...
By the way, why can't a Christian parent read a story out of the Bible to public school kids especially during a program tht allows the child to pick what he is going to read? Sounds like normal viewpoint discrimination to me - Marple style.
One other thing (Merle):
I think that case you refer to is on appeal. In fact, we have several other free speech cases on appeal. It really hasn't been a good several years for the Christian viewpoint. We will keep up the fight and we will prevail.
Pro Marple Newtown Parent - Thanks for shedding light on the real "pro Christ pro Gun." A lawyer, huh? Did you check out this lawyer's web site? It speaks volumes. And there's a very well-written letter to the editor in Friday's Daily Times about this lawyer, called "Accepting the Shields challenge." Does it seem like this lawyer tries to make a living bashing gays, lesbians, anyone who isn't of the Christian faith, and in fact, anyone who does not agree with his extremist views? Talk about viewpoint discrimination! This kind of lawyer really worries me. As the gentleman who wrote the letter to the editor suggested, we need the kind of lawyer "who makes rational decisions based on cold hard facts, as opposed to one who claims to be carrying out the will of God!" Can I get an Amen?
To Don't Like Hypocrites:
I happen to like hypocrites, especially open minded ones. For the record, I am neither a gaybasher or an extremist. I believe that homosexuality is immoral, it is unnatural, and it is a choice. I also think that abortion is a national tragedy as this nation has allowed the murder of more than 40 million babies since Roe v. Wade.
I could engage in real intellectual discussion with either you or Merle from Marle, but you both don't post any info about who you are or what you do.
Part of what I like about what I do and what I believe is that I don't have to remain anonymous.
As for the lawyer part, I spend most of my time defending rapists, murderers, drug dealers, sex offenders (even the gay ones) because I believe in the Constitution and that we live in a much better place than anywhere in the world because of it. I also represent Christians who are persecuted more than any other group.
Unlike my liberal detractors, I don't call people names, nor do I ever try to silence them through fear or intimidation. I want to hear people like you talk. In fact, talk to me and convince me of how wrong and extreme my views are. Feel free to cite examples, and include cites to various landmark Supreme Court cases, or even the Bible.
In the meantime check out this link. It is a video of an arrest that just occurred in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell (of all places). Tell me honestly what you think. I will be representing this man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV0-OhihAUo
By the way, why can't a Christian parent read a story out of the Bible to public school kids especially during a program tht allows the child to pick what he is going to read? Sounds like normal viewpoint discrimination to me - Marple style.
Wasn’t it also the Marple Library that was embroiled in controversy a couple years ago for having books about gay sex and how to perform fellatio in the Children’s Section? What, are the Marple folks going all Swarthmorian now? Once again we see dubious Libs attempting to replace God in our society with the Gay Agenda.
Unlike my liberal detractors, I don't call people names, nor do I ever try to silence them through fear or intimidation. I want to hear people like you talk.
I say this all the time: There’s no better way to turn people off to the sheer idiocy of Modern Liberalism than to let the dopes spout their garbage publicly. They do far more to harm their own warped agenda than we ever could without them. Let em weep!
Hi Randal:
You are right on about liberals not being able to make sound logical arguments. It is all about a rush to include as many viewpoints as possible, even the ones that hurt us.
The liberal movement is precisely why liberal talk radio can't make any money. All liberals should start listening to Glenn Beck in the morning, Rush in the mid afternoon, and Sean Hannity in the late afternoon. It would do them some good to hear arguments based upon facts and logic, instead of hysteria.
You got that right, Anon. Even if one has different views than those Righties it is hard to honestly dispute the logic and reason they use to arrive at their stated opinions. This is precisely why Libs always resort to petty name-calling and other shrill and shallow attempts to dismiss their better-armed adversaries. (Just look at Dave D. on this site as an example.) They well know that if all the sheeple would start to listen and think for themselves Libism and its “feelings” would be sunk for good. So they have to resort to the shout-down, they’re desperate. Just look at how worked up they get about FOX News, or Gil, for that matter. Why else would they feel so threatened by a single Rightie voice in the sea of Lib Crap?
Post a Comment
<< Home