Attorney Mark W. Tanner Files Civil Suit Against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane and Philadelphia Daily News

Feldman Shepherd Co-Managing Partner Mark W. Tanner has filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of former State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan  and former employees of the Attorney General’s Office Randy Feathers, Richard A. Sheetz, Jr., E. Marc Costanzo, and Frank Fina,  against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, Attorney General investigator Michael Miletto, Philadelphia Daily News reporter Christopher Brennan, and the Philadelphia Media Network.  The case arises from Attorney General Kane’s abuse of the powers of her office in an effort to intimidate, silence, and retaliate against her critics and those who exercised their right of free speech in bringing her wrongdoing to light.  Claims include those for retaliatory violations of plaintiffs’ right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, conspiracy, defamation, false light and invasion of privacy.

The complaint asserts that Attorney General Kane continuously abused and misdirected the power of her office, and its publicly funded resources, for personal and unconstitutional purposes through a pattern of intimidation, attempted blackmail, and vindictive retaliation against those who have lawfully exposed her criminal actions. “The Attorney General is responsible for using the powers of her office to prosecute criminals, not to act like one,” said Tanner.  “Every day it grows increasingly clear that, since assuming office, Attorney General Kane has repeatedly and maliciously abused the powers of her office and tax-payer funded resources in a vindictive effort to destroy the lives of those who rightfully resisted her unethical behavior.  Our clients have had long and exemplary careers furthering the administration of justice in this Commonwealth.  Some have worked under as many as five Attorney Generals.  They have not sought the spotlight; they are not politicians.  They are law enforcement officers and prosecutors who have become the target of Attorney General Kane’s animosity because they refused to remain silent in the face of her unlawful activity. “

In 2012, Kane was elected Attorney General after running a hostile campaign against the prior Attorney General and his professional staff, including the Plaintiffs. Once elected Kane repeatedly violated her oath of office in an effort to silence her critics, including disregarding clear conflicts of interest in the Tyron Ali bribery investigation, conspiring to unlawfully release grand jury evidence in an investigation involving the former head of the Philadelphia N.A.A.C.P., fabricating allegations of delays resulting in additional victims in t­­he Jerry Sandusky investigation, launching horrific and completely false allegations of alleged involvement in child pornography, and selectively releasing the plaintiffs’ private emails in an attempt to embarrass them and their families, and to undermine their professional and personal reputations.

All inquiries should be directed to lead attorney Mark Tanner at 215-567-8300 orMTanner@FeldmanShepherd.com. The suit was filed in The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig LLP has handled cases producing some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The firm represents plaintiffs in significant personal injury, class action, and other complex civil litigation. Clients include victims of medical malpractice, defective products, unsafe workplaces, motor vehicle accidents, legal malpractice and insurer misconduct.