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Bompiani Named to Top 40 Under 40

Bompiani Law Group — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:26:00 GMT

Attorney L. Anthony Bompiani was named to The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. The Top 40 Under 40 is a professional organization of the nation's top young trial attorneys. Membership is by invitation only and is extended exclusively to those individuals who exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as a young lawyer under the age of 40. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. The result is a credible, comprehensive and impressive list of young attorneys chosen to represent their state.

The Top 40 under 40 is restricted to only 40 attorneys per state per year and each attorney must be under the age of 40 as of January 1, 2012. Attorneys must also specialize in the areas of civil plaintiff or criminal defense law. Each candidate must also be in good standing with the state licensing board and must never have been subject to disciplinary action.

The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 is an essential source of information and networking for top young trial lawyers throughout America. It provides accreditation to those distinguished young attorneys in the areas of civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense law and applauds them for their hard work and honored achievement.

Greensburg Rape Suspect's Hearing Reset

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:28:00 GMT

By Bob Stiles, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, September 2, 2011

A preliminary hearing for a rape suspect was rescheduled for later this month because the alleged victim failed to appear before Greensburg District Judge James Albert on Thursday.

Aven Joseph Wallace, 33, of 32 W. Fourth St., Greensburg, faces charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and kidnapping.

The victim was not subpoenaed to appear yesterday, Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Chris Flanigan told Albert when asking to reschedule the hearing.

Albert lowered Wallace's bail from $50,000 to $25,000 straight and cautioned Wallace's attorney, county Assistant Public Defender Anthony Bompiani, about his client contacting the alleged victim.

"No contact of any kind," Albert added. "Not even a pigeon ... with a note."

Earlier, Bompiani told Albert the alleged victim has been contacting Wallace at the Westmoreland County Prison where he is housed because he's unable to post bail.

"The alleged victim is writing him in jail, apologizing," Bompiani said.

Flanigan objected to Bompiani's characterization of the letter.

"It's a loving letter, but there's no apology here. And there's nothing that 'it didn't happen,' " Flanigan said.

Wallace has no criminal record, Bompiani told Albert.

The alleged victim, who knows Wallace, accepted a ride from him after they attended a party Aug. 21 in Youngwood, Greensburg Patrolman John Swank said in court papers.

They drove to Greensburg, where the woman lives, and Wallace said, "You're not going home," according to the court papers.

Wallace drove to his house, grabbed the woman's arms and pulled her from his vehicle, police said. He dragged her to his bedroom and sexually assaulted her, authorities said.

The Tribune-Review does not identify victims of alleged sexual assaults.

The woman went to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, where she was treated and her clothing was confiscated as possible evidence.

Wallace claimed that the sex was consensual, police said, and that he didn't restrain the woman with a belt.

Wallace's hearing is rescheduled for Sept. 22.

Read more: Greensburg rape suspect's hearing reset - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_754685.html#ixzz1XCLJkUUp

Two Greensburg Men Cleared of Aggravated Assault and Robbery Charges

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:48:00 GMT

By Bob Stiles
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, June 25, 2011

A Westmoreland County jury acquitted two men this week of assaulting another man on the Five Star Trail in Greensburg in November, defense attorneys said Friday.

The jury deliberated about two hours on Thursday before finding Richard Allen Derry, 20, and Jamie Fabiszewski, 21, both of Greensburg, not guilty of aggravated assault, robbery, theft and conspiracy offenses.

"I was confident from the beginning that Jamie was innocent," said defense attorney Anthony Bompiani, who represented Fabiszewski. "Justice was served."

"From the outset, I know Richard said he had no involvement with it," said attorney Jim Silvis, who represented Derry.

Joseph McBride told Greensburg police that the pair assaulted him the night of Nov. 5 on a trail bridge that crosses Mt. Pleasant Street, near Schaller's Bakery.

McBride testified during a preliminary hearing before Greensburg District Judge James Albert that the pair took $250, an iPod and a Blackberry from him, broke earphones he was using, and punched and stepped on his face several times.

Initially, McBride told police that Fabiszewski struck him first, according to a police report. At the preliminary hearing and trial, McBride said Derry punched him first, Silvis said.

Both defense attorneys said they believed their client's testimony during the trial helped convince the jury of their innocence.

Silvis said the area where the alleged assault occurred is unlit, and "it would be very difficult to positively identify anybody."

"The defendants' testimony that they had no involvement, I think, went a long way," he added.

Latrobe Man Found Not Guilty of Raping 8-year-old

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:24:00 GMT

After nearly five hours of deliberations Thursday evening, a Westmoreland County jury found a Latrobe man not guilty on charges that he raped an 8-year-old girl several times over a 13-month period years ago.

Joseph Troy Keslar, 25, testified that accusations were false that he sexually assaulted a then 8-year-old girl five times from December 2004 to January 2006 and then threatened to kill her and her parents if she spoke of the incidents.

Mr. Keslar testified in his defense on Thursday. "No, I never touched her, I am 100 percent certain," Keslar testified. The accuser testified Wednesday that she told a family member about the sexual assaults in 2007.

Defense attorney, Anthony Bompiani argued that there was reasonable doubt throughout the case and that the allegations were untrue. "I believed my client was innocent of these disturbing crimes from the beginning," Bompiani said.

Keslar, who faced six sexual assault-related charges, was acquitted of all charges in the case.

Trial Begins in 2008 Murder of Ligonier Businessman

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:05:00 GMT

The trial has begun for a man accused of killing a Ligonier businessman and then setting his house on fire in 2008.

Anthony Mowry walked into the Westmoreland County Courthouse with a smile on his face Tuesday morning. He waved to his family and said "Good morning."

Mowry is charged with the first-degree murder of Ligonier businessman Mike Jones.

The alleged murder happened in September of 2008.

District Attorney John Peck said that Mowry beat and stabbed Jones to death with a meat cleaver and chimes from a grandfather clock, among other items.

He then allegedly set the house on fire to destroy the evidence.

In opening statements, Mowry's attorney told jurors that this case actually began many years prior to the incident when Jones allegedly sexually assaulted Mowry as a teenager.

His attorney said that Mowry did not intend to cause Jones' death while in a fit of rage.

Mowry was AWOL from the Army at the time of the incident.

The trial is expected to last for at least two weeks.

Man Attacked by Pit Bull in Pittsburgh

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:36:00 GMT

A man was taken to the hospital Sunday evening after a dog attack in Pittsburgh's Arlington Heights section.

Police say a pit bull chased the victim up a set of city stairs and attacked him.

He was taken to Mercy Hospital with wounds to his arm, shoulder and back.

The owner of the dog blamed for the attack says that her dog was inside during the incident.

"It wasn't my dog. They're always blaming our dogs all the time, and they don't want to look at anybody else in the neighborhood," she said. "It's Arlington; there's pit bulls everywhere."
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Attorney L. Anthony Bompiani represents individuals involved in dog bite incidents. Call today for a free consultation.

Allegheny County DA Responds to Judge's 'White Boy' Plea Deals Comment

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:42:00 GMT

PITTSBURGH -- District Attorney Stephen Zappala said he sees an Allegheny County judge's comments about plea agreements for white defendants as a criticism of one case, not the whole justice system.

"I don't see a racial issue," Zappala told Channel 4 Action News on Thursday.

Judge Joseph Williams, who is black, rejected a plea deal Tuesday for a man accused of fighting with police during a traffic stop, saying it was "a ridiculous plea that only goes to white boys" and a black defendant in the same situation would not have been treated as leniently.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said Williams made the comments after a prosecutor proposed three months of probation for 24-year-old Jeffery McGowan, a white man with no criminal record who agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct.

"I just think, based on that particular case, I reviewed the case myself, obviously, I don't see a racial issue there," said Zappala.

Williams recused himself after making his comments, and another judge accepted the plea agreement for McGowan, who originally faced a more serious charge of aggravated assault.

County Councilman William Robinson said he plans to meet with President Judge Donna Jo McDaniel to discuss the issue.

Williams' secretary on Wednesday told The Associated Press the judge does not give interviews.

Jury Picked in Westmoreland County Murder Trial

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:28:00 GMT

A jury has tentatively been selected to hear evidence in the first-degree murder case of an AWOL soldier accused of beating and stabbing to death a Ligonier businessman two years ago.

Eight women and four men were chosen over the last four days for the trial of Anthony Blaine Mowry, 20, of Unity, who is charged with the Sept. 17, 2008, murder of 75-year-old William McMichael Jones.

Six jurors were selected yesterday to fill out the panel.

Earlier in the day, Westmoreland County Judge Al Bell dismissed one woman after her Utah-based employer sent a letter that said she could not miss three weeks of work to serve as a juror on the trial.

The defense excluded another juror who had been chosen Wednesday after it was discovered he is friends with a state trooper.

Attorneys will attempt to select two alternate jurors today.

Opening arguments are slated to begin Tuesday.

Jury takes little time convicting legless Derry Township man for rape

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:21:00 GMT

By Rich Cholodofsky
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, October 8, 2010
Last updated: 8:14 am

A Westmoreland County jury deliberated just 55 minutes Thursday afternoon before convicting a legless Derry Township man of rape and sexual assault for repeatedly molesting a teenage girl for more than 10 years.

Marc A. Barger Sr., 39, was found guilty after a three-day trial in which the prosecution presented evidence that he raped the now 18-year-old girl before and after he had his legs amputated following a 2005 accident.

The victim testified that Barger forced himself on her repeatedly since she was five years old. She said she went to the hospital after the last sexual assault on Dec. 10, 2007, and reported that incident to police.

Her clothing collected at the hospital that night was tested, and prosecution witnesses testified during the trial that they found genetic materials on those items that were consistent with Barger's DNA.

Barger did not testify during the trial. His defense lawyer, public defender John Sweeney, told jurors that Barger was being set up by the accuser.

During the trial, Sweeney said there was not enough evidence for the jury to find that Barger raped the young woman and that the genetic material found could be linked to other male members of the Barger family.

"That's reasonable doubt," Sweeney said.

Assistant District Attorney Judy Petrush said yesterday that Barger faces a minimum sentence of at least 10 years in prison.

Barger, who uses a wheelchair, will be formally sentenced in about three months by Westmoreland County Judge Debra Pezze.

Pezze yesterday revoked Barger's bond and ordered that he await his sentencing hearing in jail.

Bompiani Named 2010 Super Lawyers Rising Star

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:50:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce that L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire has been named as a 2010 Super Lawyers Rising Star.

Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.

The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in the selection of a lawyer, the list is limited to attorneys who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.

The Super Lawyers selection process involves three basic steps: creation of the candidate pool; evaluation of candidates by the research department; and peer evaluation by practice area.

Only 2.5 percent of the attorneys in the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania are named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.

Bompiani Receives "Superb" Rating on Avvo.com

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:24:00 GMT

Attorney L. Anthony Bompiani is rated 9.4/10.0 for his quality work as an advocate for his client. The rating is based on his experience, industry recognition, and professional conduct.

Bompiani Recognized as Outstanding Young Lawyer

Wed, 05 May 2010 19:50:00 GMT

LATROBE BULLETIN - At the annual meeting of the Westmoreland Bar Association, Attorney Anthony Bompiani was recognized as the 2010 Outstanding Young Lawyer. This award is given to the young lawyer who best exemplifies outstanding leadership and distinguished service to the legal profession and the community.

Bompiani has been a member of the Westmoreland Bar since 2004. He is the immediate past chair of the WBA Young Lawyers Committee, and volunteers his time and expertise in many ways including Wills for Heroes program, which provides free wills for first responders; Get Help Now!, a Gov. Rendell initiative that provides legal assistance to Westmoreland County citizens; Pro Bono Program, which provides legal representation for the indigent, and CASA supporter.

An assistant public defender for Westmoreland County and founder of Bompiani Law Group LLC, he is a graduate of Hempfield Area High School, St. Vincent College and Duquesne School of Law. Bompiani resides in Greensburg with his wife Kristi, and their sons, Domenic, Gino, and Rocco.

Prosecutor Removes Ash From Forehead at the Request of Judge

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:49:00 GMT

The following article was published in the American Bar Association's Journal this month.

A defense lawyer objected last Wednesday when an Iowa prosecutor returned to an attempted murder trial after a lunch break with ash on his forehead.

Assistant Marshall County Attorney Paul Crawford was observing Ash Wednesday, the Marshalltown, Iowa, Times-Republican reports. Defense lawyer Aaron Hawbaker objected, saying he feared jurors could be swayed for or against the prosecution by the religious display.

Judge Michael Moon said he tended to agree with the defense objection, spurring Crawford to remove the ash, the story says. "I understand his position and his request was made out of an abundance of caution," Crawford told the newspaper. "I can live with it."

Rob Boston, a spokesperson for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Times-Republican that the issue involves a gray area. In some instances, a display of religious preferences can be the basis for an appeal or mistrial, but he was unsure if this instance would meet the criteria.

'Harry Potter' Author Accused of Plagiarism

Bompiani Law Group LLC — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:55:00 GMT

The following article was recently published in the American Bar Association Journal.

The estate of the deceased author of a children's book has accused the author of the stunningly successful "Harry Potter" books of plagiarizing concepts and themes from Adrian Jacob's The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No 1 Livid Land, which was published in 1987.

J.K. Rowling, who became the world's richest author due to the success of Harry Potter, has strongly disputed the claim, reports the London Times.

Bloomsbury Publishing, which printed the books, was named as a defendant in the London lawsuit in June, the newspaper recounts. However, Paul Allen of Australia, who is trustee of Jacob's estate, initially thought the statute of limitations had run on a potential case against Rowling, says Max Markson. An agent in Sydney, he represents Allen.

"I estimate it's a billion-dollar case," Markson tells the Times. "When you think of all the money that's involved, I would say $1 billion is a conservative estimate."

Who Gets What in a Pennsylvania Divorce?

L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:10:00 GMT

Pennsylvania is not a 50/50 state. It is an equitable distribution state regarding the division of property in a divorce proceeding. Specifically, i n an action for divorce or annulment in Pennsylvania, the court shal l, upon request of either party, equitably divide, distribute or assign, in kind or otherwise, the marital property between the parties without regard to marital misconduct in such proportions and in such manner as the courtdeems just after considering all relevant factors, including:

1. The length of the marriage.

2. Any prior marriage of either party

3. The age, health, station, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of each of the parties.

4. The contribution by one party to the education, training or increased earning power of the other party.

5. The opportunity of each party for future acquisitions of capital assets and income.

6. The sources of income of both parties, including, but not limited to, medical, retirement, insurance or other benefits.

7. The contribution or dissipation of each party in the acquisition, preservation, depreciation or appreciation of the marital property, including the contribution of a party as homemaker.

8. The value of the property set apart to each party.

9. The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage.

10. The economic circumstances of each party, including Federal, State and local tax ramifications, at the time the division of property is to become effective.

11. Whether the party will be serving as the custodian of any dependent minor children.

All real or personal property acquired by either party during the marriage is presumed to be marital property regardless of whether title is held individually or by the parties in some form of co-ownership such as joint tenancy, tenancy in common or tenancy by the entirety. [Based on Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes - Title 23 - Sections: 3501 & 3502]

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when dividing martial property. For this reason, it is best to consult with an experienced attorney to learn your rights.

If you have any specific questions regarding divorces in Pennsylvania, please contact, L. Anthony Bompiani, Esquire at (724) 925-9600.