Incarceration of officer and attorney sought
Attorneys for a man who says a Philadelphia police officer sexually assaulted him are seeking the incarceration of the officer and his attorney.
In March 2007, Officer Michael A. Paige allegedly forced James Harris to perform oral sex on him in a secluded area of Fairmount Park while Paige was on duty.
The following year, Paige was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
But last June, a federal jury awarded Harris $165,000 in damages due to the alleged assault.
Brian F. Humble, an attorney for Harris, filed a legal pleading last month seeking the incarceration of Paige and his attorney, Brian M. Puricelli.
The pleading contends that both men violated a Jan. 24 court order issued by U.S. District Judge Robert F. Kelly, which requires Paige and Puricelli to inform the court of Paige’s expected return to Pennsylvania, after Paige completes military duty in Missouri.
“[Paige] has a well-documented history of disobeying this court’s orders,” the March 26 pleading states. “The only time he complies is after he is imprisoned.”
At presstime, a hearing on the pleading hadn’t been scheduled.
Puricelli had no comment for this story.
In a brief interview, Humble also expressed hope that Kelly will order Paige to pay Harris about $3,100 in legal fees and expenses stemming from a discovery dispute in the protracted litigation.
Settlement conference in discrimination case
A May 31 settlement conference has been scheduled in the case of Bobbie E. Burnett, a city worker who alleges discrimination due to her transgender status.
Burnett, 56, has been employed by the city as a library assistant for about 22 years.
In 2009, she sued the city and four coworkers for allegedly violating her constitutional rights and creating a hostile work environment due to her transgender status.
The case is in the discovery phase of litigation.
Burnett alleges ongoing workplace harassment and discrimination dating back to 2001, shortly after she transitioned to the opposite gender.
Her lawsuit alleges constitutional violations of right to due process, equal protection under the law, freedom of expression and other rights.
She’s also suing under Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for discrimination on account of her sex.
Additionally, Burnett alleges that four of her coworkers intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon her, which is prohibited under state law.
Neither side had a comment at presstime.
Burnett is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages.
The conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 31 in Courtroom 3E of the federal courthouse, 601 Market St., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski.
If a settlement isn’t reached, a jury trial is expected sometime in the fall.
City: No lease for Scout troop in city facility
The city doesn’t have a lease with a Boy Scouts of America troop that occupies a city-owned facility in Roxborough, according to the city Law Department.
BSA Troop 474 occupies the “Scout House,” a city-owned facility at 726 E. Wigard St.
Last year, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter chided the city for trying to evict the BSA Cradle of Liberty Council from a city-owned facility near the Ben Franklin Parkway, without also trying to evict Troop 474 from the Scout House.
The judge said the apparent contradiction indicated that the city was “selectively enforcing its nondiscrimination laws in a manner that lacked any rational basis.”
Since then, the city hasn’t entered into a lease agreement with Troop 474 that contains comprehensive antibias language, nor has it tried to evict the troop.
In an April 1 email, Assistant City Solicitor Benjamin S. Mishkin said “no such lease can be located” with Troop 474.
A property file for 726 E. Wigard St. is at the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
At presstime, the city hadn’t granted permission for PGN to review the file.
The city’s attempt to evict Cradle from the Parkway building remains pending at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Trial set for detention-center assault
A jury trial has been scheduled for Kevin V. Hannig, who is accused of assaulting openly gay inmate Kenneth J. Houck Jr. at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. June 3 in Courtroom 14B of the federal courthouse, 601 Market St., before U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr.
On Nov. 10, 2011, Hannig and Justin O’Brien allegedly entered Houck’s detention-center cell while he was reading a gay novel.
The defendants allegedly pulled Houck from his bunk and stomped on him, breaking his leg.
According to Houck, the defendants hurled anti-LGBT epithets at him during the incident. But they weren’t charged with a hate crime.
Instead, they were charged with causing serious bodily harm to another individual and face an additional 10 years in federal lock-up.
O’Brien has pleaded guilty to the assault, but a date for his sentencing hasn’t been scheduled, according to court records.
At the time of Houck’s assault, O’Brien was in the detention center after robbing three banks in Northeast Philadelphia, which he has admitting doing, according to court records.
Hannig was in the detention center for an offense stemming from an unrelated bank robbery.
Houck was in the detention center awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to one count of transporting child pornography.
Houck continues to recover from his injuries at the Federal Detention Center in Butner, N.C. — Tim Cwiek
LGBT youth conference
Mazzoni Center will present its annual LEAD conference, focused on middle- and high-school gay-straight alliance members, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 6 at Science Leadership Academy, 55 N. 22nd St.
The event is geared toward current GSA members or those interested in launching a group, as well as parents, teachers and counselors.
The event features workshops, spoken-word performances and prizes. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, as will SEPTA tokens.
For more information, contact Louie Ortiz at 215-563-0652 ext. 251 or [email protected].
— Jen Colletta
Philly shows LGBT support
Philly Supports Liberty will host a rally in support of the LGBT community at 2 p.m. April 6 at the Liberty Bell, Sixth and Market streets.
Individuals are encouraged to take a photo with the Liberty Bell in their favorite LGBT gear and bring supportive signs. The event will use the Twitter hashtag #PhillySupportsLiberty.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PhillySupportsLiberty.
Perform at Black Pride
Have some dance moves you’ve wanted to show off? Submit a two- to three-minute video of your dance and you could receive a cash prize and perform at the 2013 Mr. and Miss Philadelphia Black Gay Pride.
Submissions are due by 5 p.m. April 11, and the winner will be notified on April 15. The contest is being organized by Smoke, Lilies and Jade Arts Initiative.
There is a $10 registration fee and submissions can be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject line, “SLJ Dance Competition.” Registration fees can be mailed to Dance/USA Philadelphia, 1427 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/slj.a.initiative.
Bebashi fights hunger
Dine on all-you-can-eat pancakes and help fight hunger from 8-10 a.m. April 15.
The fundraiser, which will help support Bebashi’s Hunger Relief Program, will be held at Applebee’s, 8601 Henry Ave.
Tickets are $7 per person, with $5 of each ticket benefiting the program.
For more information, call 215-769-3561.
Elsevier gives back to Foyer
Elsevier, a science and health information publishing company, and its LGBT organization will host a fundraiser for Foyer of Philadelphia, 4 p.m. April 13 at Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St.
Foyer provides transitional housing for LGBT young adults who are homeless or have transitioned out of foster care. The event will feature a Texas Hold’Em poker tournament with 50/50 raffles, live entertainment and an auction.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/434672329955851/.
— Angela Thomas