Wilkes-barre Injury Lawyer

Jury seated; Riccardi trial to start

Selection began Monday, and the individual questioning of 134 jurors was completed Friday. More than 160 jurors were called to be questioned, if needed.

Riccardi, of Wilkes-Barre, is charged in the June 2009 death of 34-year-old Donald Skiff, of Plymouth.

Senior Judge Joseph Augello said the trial will begin Monday with initial instructions to the jurors and opening statements from prosecutors, District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll, Deputy District Attorney David Pedri and Assistant District Attorney Molly Hanlon Mirabito, and Riccardi’s attorneys, Mark Bufalino, William Watt and Paul Galante.

Attorneys expect testimony in the case to last about a week. If Riccardi is convicted of first-degree murder, the case will then go to a penalty phase.

At that point, jurors will decide if Riccardi will spend the rest of his life in prison or receive the death penalty for his crimes.

According to arrest records, Skiff was fishing with friends in Shickshinny and was kidnapped by Simonson and Riccardi.

Skiff was allegedly beaten in his Ford Ranger pickup and taken to two credit unions in Plains Township, where co-defendant, Michael Simonson and Riccardi used a bank card to withdraw money from Skiff’s account.

Skiff’s vehicle was found charred a day later. Skiff was driven to a secluded area off Suscon Road, Jenkins Township.

Simonson led investigators to Skiff’s body on June 4, 2009, at the location.

In August, Simonson, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Skiff’s death and was immediately sentenced to life in prison.

It is unknown if Simonson will be called to testify at Riccardi’s trial.

Employee loses leg in Wilkes-Barre workplace accident | Lowenthal ...

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating a workplace accident at the Mountain Productions facility in Wilkes Barre on Frederick Street.

The accident occurred last month when workers were moving large pipe with a piece of machinery.  Something went wrong while moving the pipe and it fell on an employee, severing his leg.  The worker was taken to the trauma unit at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center were doctors amputated the leg.

Investigators are trying to figure out if the machinery used to transport the pipe was defective or if any workplace safety violations were committed.

If you or someone you love has been injured in the workplace by defective equipment, contact the Philadelphia defective equipment lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.

Bulletin of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Industry

A history of Wilkes-Barré, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material

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Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Families of the Wyoming Valley, biographical, genealogical and historical. Sketches of the bench and bar of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania