Pa. paper asks judge to throw out $3.5M verdict

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper has asked a judge to throw out a $3.5 million defamation verdict against it, claiming the case was fixed by two corrupt judges and a reputed mobster.

Attorneys for The Citizens’ Voice of Wilkes-Barre were in court today to argue that the 2006 verdict in Luzerne County should be vacated.

The state Supreme Court ordered a review of the newspaper’s claim that corruption was involved in the handling of the lawsuit filed against it by businessman Thomas Joseph and one of his companies.

The high court appointed Lehigh County Judge William Platt to review the case. The court says the newspaper only has to show there was “an appearance of impropriety” to establish prejudice in the case.

George Croner, an attorney for Joseph, argues the verdict should stand.