Samuel C Stretton

June 01, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am hiring an associate at my law firm and I put together an employment agreement. What can I do, if anything, to prevent the associate from leaving and taking clients and files with them?

By Samuel C. Stretton

11 minute read

May 25, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a lay person who reads your columns. I am very concerned about the integrity of the U.S. Supreme Court and what will happen to it.

By Samuel C. Stretton

14 minute read

May 18, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

Recently, I had two separate clients I was representing in criminal cases who contacted two lawyers I was friendly with, and those lawyers took over the cases. Those lawyers never contacted me. I found out through the docket entries. Is there anything wrong with that?

By Samuel C. Stretton

10 minute read

May 11, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a criminal defense lawyer and I am engaged in negotiations with an assistant district attorney for a plea bargain. During the discussions, the prosecutor advised me that she would amend the bill of information to add more serious charges if the client did not take the plea. Is that unethical, or a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct?

By Samuel C. Stretton

7 minute read

May 04, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I am a district judge and before my hearings began, a local borough official was in the courtroom, and came up to talk to me. I knew the person years ago when I was an elected council person. The person mentioned in passing that they were here for one of the litigants. Do I have to recuse myself?

By Samuel C. Stretton

5 minute read

April 27, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

There have been a number of news articles about gifts with regard to the U.S. Supreme Court justices. What is the status for Pennsylvania judges?

By Samuel C. Stretton

11 minute read

April 20, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I saw in the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers acting as lobbyists, the rules were amended to have a one-year waiting period. What is the back story?

By Samuel C. Stretton

9 minute read

April 14, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I received a letter from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel that also has a one-page statement "Your Pennsylvania Bar License is at risk." Is this something new?

By Samuel C. Stretton

12 minute read

April 06, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

I was recently involved in an estate case where there was a guardian but there was no counsel appointed for the supposed disabled person. Though judges were approving the guardian's fee, the needs of the person did not seem to be met and relatives were not allowed to see the person. Is there a problem with guardianships in Pennsylvania?

By Samuel C. Stretton

14 minute read

March 30, 2023 | The Legal Intelligencer

How do I know when a fee I am charging is excessive?

By Samuel C. Stretton

10 minute read