Centinarians

No. 820

I just read a Tweet that stated in 100 years there will be 500 Million dead people on Facebook. Pretty depressing.

Today, all of the survivors of the sinking of the Titanic, 100 years ago, are presumed to be dead. But not everyone who remembers that day in April, 1912 is gone. A 107 year old woman from Pittsburgh, recently interviewed on the radio, was one of them. Yet, centenarians are not all that rare anymore. In 2000, the were between 1,000 and 1,500 of them in Pennsylvania alone and that number has undoubtedly increased.

Living long is always compared to the alternative and found to be the better of the two. But most of us cringe at the idea of being feeble-minded and helpless in our dotage. And perhaps that is a consideration. I personally would still prefer alive and weak to dead and nothing.

But there is some evidence that many members of future generations will live with vigor to an age in excess of our maximum at the present time. Sign me up.

CLT

Category: The continuing American Revolution

14-10

No. 819

The jury in the Orie trial surprised some be reaching a verdict.

Third Chair:Pittsburgh was not alone in expecting a hung jury after they announced a deadlock. Apparently, the jurors knew how to compromise.

CLT

Category: Criminal Law, Oriegate

And Now the Defense . . .

No. 819

From the media accounts it sounds pretty grim for Senator Jane Orie. A gang of witnesses, including her ex-chief of staff have testified that campaign work was being done in the office on state time. On top of the evidence at the first trial, there is the forgery evidence — although nobody knows who is responsible for the apparent forgery.

Another difference — the Senator’s sister Janine is to be tried separately. Perhaps this is due to evidence that she erased some of the forgery evidence from the Senate computer system after the first trial.

But don’t overlook the possibility that the defense could put in a winning case. After all, at least some of the prosecution witnesses are testifying against the Senator to save their necks. Moreover, if the jury thinks that Janine and others did campaign on company time, but possibly without the Senator’s knowledge, or gets a whiff of the aroma of political vendetta, an acquittal could be in the cards. And Senator Orie is expected to testify in her own behalf. I hear that she was very convincing in her first trial.

And never forget, the standard for conviction is beyond a reasonable doubt.

Its possible. Ask Cyril Wecht.

CLT

Category: Criminal Law, Oriegate

PHFA May Be Lending Again.

No. 817

Rumor has it that the PHFA, which went out of the lending business last August, may be back in. The reason is reputed to be the settlement between the Attorneys General of almost all states, including Pennsylvania, and the largest lenders over abusive practices, such as robosigning.

In 1983, Act 91 established the PHFA lending program which was intended to enable borrowers who had been delinquent on mortgage payments through no fault of their own, to catch up on delinquent payments.

CLT

Category: Mortgage Foreclosure
Tags: PHFA

Screenshot: Could this become the most famous Weasel in Pennsylvania?

No. 816

Juanita the Weasel has been suggested as a replacement for Gus as the spokes-rodent for the Pennsylvania Lottery. She works cheap. Thank you, Virginia. See That’s Church for details.

Category: Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

New Feature: Screenshots!

No. 815

Welcome to Screenshots. While on the web, if I see something you might find interesting, I’ll just take a screenshot and post it.

This one is a screen of the daily tweets of Big Daddy’s Pizza. Big Daddy just started following PittsburghLegal on Twitter and I often retweet people who follow us.

Big Daddy has perfected the art of the interesting tweet. However, I cannot vouch for the truth of any of this. It would be nice to know how Big Daddy found out that one out of three hundred births occurs in a vehicle. If you want to see more of the same, look up Big Daddy on Twitter.

I see that there is at least one Big Daddy’s in the Pittsburgh area, actually in White Oak.

Big Daddy’s Pizza, 1624 Lincoln Way, McKeesport, PA 15131 (412) 673-0222

I can’t express an opinion on the Pizza either, but I may stop there the next time I am in White Oak. â€Ž

Category: Screenshots!

DON’T TEXT YOUR LAWYER!

No. 814

That’s right. Don’t send any confidential information by SMS (Short Message System) technology. It is not secure, and can be read by the network operator and staff.

At most, ask for a phone call or email. That’s it.

I will not reply to any text relating to a case or other confidential matter. Even if no apparent harm is done, it may constitute a waiver of privilege.

CLT

Category: Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

The Assessment Picture Becomes More Complete.

No. 813

Yesterday, the South Hills 2013 assessment values were posted on the County’s website. The Eastern suburbs were posted earlier. With the majority of the County up, the big picture is starting to become clearer.

Check out your assessment at this link.

Take the new value and divide it by the old value. If you come up with a number like 1.17 (with a bunch of digits)or less, you are in line with the median of the increase in prices paid for properties between the last assessment in 2002 and the last year for which stats were compiled, 2010. That is the equivalent of a 17% increase. When the new stats are announced by the State on July 1, it will probably raise the 2011 common level ratio to around 20%.

If your ratios above that, you will have to decide whether you should appeal. The County says that it is giving preference to appeals of properties showing a 45% increase, since those will probably result in a tax increase. That is a rather safe bet. However, since the majority of your tax is school and local, not county, the overall percentage of increase in your community ought to play a role. But bear in mind that many of the larger increases will probably be reduced, resulting in a lower aggregate increase.

The appeal deadline is April 2. Get an appeal form and if possible, file it in person in the County Office Building (corner of Forbes and Ross Street, on block East of Grant Street) on the third floor. Be sure to take away a clocked-in copy and keep it, so that you can prove you appealed if yours is lost in the shuffle.

CLT

Category: Property Assessments, Reassessment 2012

Theology and the Presidency

No. 812

Perhaps Rick Santorum made a mis-statement when he used the word theology when criticizing the Obama Administration’s approach to social issues. But, if so, it is a mistake that reveals a defective mindset.

Government is a secular institution. Policies should be established based upon what is deemed to be the greater good for the people, based upon earthly standards. Christian doctrine should not come into play. Nor should any other strictly religious doctrine. There are many activities that are not illegal, and shouldn’t be, that are clearly immoral.

Santorum says that some say that contraception is okay, but it is not, its wrong. Assume he is right. Does this establish a valid basis for government policy? It shouldn’t. That dialogue should be about what the government should do or not do for the benefit of society for strictly secular reasons. In this context, theology is a dangerous word.

CLT

Category: 2012

Half Mast

No. 811

New Jersey officially mourned the death of Whitney Houston yesterday, the day of her funeral, by directing that flags be flown at half mast. Pennsylvania did the same for Joe Paterno. Purists have pointed out that neither was qualified for what is essentially a military honor.

So what is anyone to do about it? Nothing, really.

In the case of Paterno, who had been a great influence in the lives of many, there was more than a twinge of regret over his name being dragged so recently through the mud of the Sandusky scandal. Yes, he was only a football coach, but he was a philanthropist and a leading figure in the community and the state for a half century.

Houston is a bit more problematic. She was only a singer. But she seems to have been loved by members of her church and community in an extraordinary way. Perhaps there was no real harm in it.

CLT

Category: 2012, News Commentary

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CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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