Blogger, and former attorney Bernie O'Hare has long had influence with Northampton political kingpins Ron Angle and John Stoffa. That influence, until recently, had been limited to a stream of good press on his blog and perhaps some ghost writing. The Gracedale episode seems to have elevated Bernie from press agent to legal advisor. His joint lawsuit with an elected official against the petition was quite unusual. Stoffa's comments that O'Hare saved the County money seem to compound the blurriness; The Morning Call has done a story on that topic. The second flank of the attack against Gracedale, centered on Stoffa's claim that a ballot question not only challenged the Home Rule Charter, but the actual Constitution of the United States. Once again we learned that O'Hare studied the Charter, and reprimanded The Morning Call for not accurately reporting Stoffa's somberness during the press conference. Could O'Hare now also be a stage director, in addition to writer and legal advisor? Could we have an Orson Welles in our midst? Citizen O'Hare.
Apr 27, 2011
The Consigliere
Blogger, and former attorney Bernie O'Hare has long had influence with Northampton political kingpins Ron Angle and John Stoffa. That influence, until recently, had been limited to a stream of good press on his blog and perhaps some ghost writing. The Gracedale episode seems to have elevated Bernie from press agent to legal advisor. His joint lawsuit with an elected official against the petition was quite unusual. Stoffa's comments that O'Hare saved the County money seem to compound the blurriness; The Morning Call has done a story on that topic. The second flank of the attack against Gracedale, centered on Stoffa's claim that a ballot question not only challenged the Home Rule Charter, but the actual Constitution of the United States. Once again we learned that O'Hare studied the Charter, and reprimanded The Morning Call for not accurately reporting Stoffa's somberness during the press conference. Could O'Hare now also be a stage director, in addition to writer and legal advisor? Could we have an Orson Welles in our midst? Citizen O'Hare.
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The county's law firm worked with O'Hare, to the tune of $15,000.00 in legal billings paid by Northampton County (a subcontractor arrangement). Stoffa says he handed the case off to O'Hare (So in reality, O'Hare was then representing the interests of Stoffa and/or Norhampton County). O'Hare's law license is revoked for unethical conduct. When someone without a law license files a lawsuit and appears in court on behalf of another, it is the unauthorized practice of law, which is a criminal offense.
ReplyDeleteanon 8:23, the purpose of this post was to note the influence that o'hare has in northampton county policy, as an unelected citizen. i chose the term former lawyer because o'hare himself uses it. i do not wish to discuss why he is a "former", it is not relevant. two courts accepted his cases on the petition issue, so your last sentence may be legal speculation. at any rate, please restrict comments to citzen o'hare's influence on northampton public policy.
ReplyDeleteJust as I support your right to post about anything that strikes your fancy, I support O'Hare's right to do the same. Whether or not you agree with O'Hare's position on Gracedale, you can't deny that Bernie brings passion to the Gracedale issue, and his writing on the topic has been extensive and (IMHO) excellent.
ReplyDeleteThe legality of O'Hare's antics is not something I am qualified to judge, and I would agree that O'Hare's involvement in this case is "unusual." But, then again, O'Hare strikes me as an unusual guy.
Both of you are talented writers. Your blogs tackle issues in completely different manners, and I am grateful to have both blogs on my "favorites" list. I'd rather see you skewer more deserving targets, but...as you say...the subsription price to your blog is right, and I could always choose to not read you. I wish both of you the best and thanks again for the fantastic blog.
it appears ohare has a very friendly relationship with stoffa and angle .... buying him expensive gifts etc... he apparently gets inside information from the both of them which is curious and really annoys me as a taxpayer. futher it doesn't make any sense for ohare to be hande off the lawsuit the county was persuing ? to save money ? but the county paid eckert seamans 15,000 i just think the powers that be are corrupt john stoffa's competency should be looked into.
ReplyDeletemonkey momma, this post was not intended to skewer bernie. the influence he welds with angle and stoffa entered the public arena with the lawsuits. when i read bernie posting for weeks that the gracedale ballot question violates the charter, then afterwards stoffa says that he is "obligated to take it to court", and bernie then reveals on his blog that he had been studying the charter before that announcement, there is an elephant in the room to discuss. it is not my intention to disparage bernie, or question legalities as in the first comment here, but to point out bernie's influence.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Monkey Momma. You both are very different bloggers but I appreciate your efforts to bring issues to the public.
ReplyDeleteMM -
ReplyDeleteI kind of wish you guys would lay off one another, but I respect your rights to say whatever you want.
I suspect many will take exception to my most recent post, brimgimg up Mazziotti's political past, but the hell with it. It needs and deserves examination. As do we all.
Psychiatric examination!
chris, your comment is the second to assume it was written out of a motivation to skewer bernie, it wasn't. bernie appeared on business matters with angle about gracedale, he will now appear again with stoffa. why bernie is the third face of northampton county is the question of this post? who elected him?
ReplyDelete