Lansford to Hire Law Firm
By Caleb Brown (News Director)
Lansford Borough Council has voted to approve a motion to hire the law offices of Thomas,
Thomas, and Hafer to represent the borough et.al in a recent lawsuit filed by part-time police
officer Gilbert Diaz.
According to the agenda for their monthly meeting, the costs of hiring the firm sit at $250 per
hour for partners, $200 per hour for associates, and $125 per hour for work performed by
paralegals.
This comes after Diaz filed a lawsuit claiming he was deprived of due process after being
removed from the schedule earlier in the year. Named in the lawsuit were the Borough, along
with four members of council, Joseph Butrie, George Gilbert, Jennifer Staines, and Jack
Soberick. Also named in the lawsuit are Lansford police Sergeant Shawn Nunemacher and
Lansford Mayor Hugh Vrablic.
CC Broadcasting staff would speak with Council President Bruce Markovitch. During this
discussion, Markovitch confirmed the cost for paying the law firm would be coming from “the
general fund.”
During last month’s meeting, Markovitch would state that two of the Borough’s three insurance
policies would not cover the Borough’s lawsuit, but they were waiting to hear back from the
third. Markovitch would confirm, “They are not covering it.”
When brought to a vote, the motion would be passed unanimously.