• Former Westmoreland County landfill owner N.Z. sobbed and hugged his attorney last night after a Westmorland County jury acquitted him of brokering an abortive Murder contract on a state environmental official.
Defense Attorney David S. Shrager attacked Smith relentlessly on cross-examination.
N.Z. and his wife, Elaine, praised Shrager for his defense. "We call David our Goliath.
As featured in the Tribune Review.
• Jury finds man not guilty of molesting child.
A Washington County courtroom erupted into shouts of joy as a verdict of not guilty was reached for a Washington man accused of molesting a young boy more than two years ago. M. D. was found not guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child under the age 13, indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.
Defense Attorney David S. Shrager, "We're pleased with the verdict because it helps restore M.D.'s good name, and I think that the fact following a three-day trial the jury returned a not guilty verdict in a half an hour speaks volumes of the commonwealth's case."
As featured in Observer-Reporter.
• Man found not guilty in molestation case.
J.K. of Cranberry just had one thought Friday afternoon. "I'm born again," he said sobbing, as he embraced the scores of family and friends who turned out to support him.
After 11 hours of deliberations, a jury made of seven women and five men found him not guilty on charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault, indecent exposure, and corruption of minors. Defense Attorney David S. Shrager said, "J.K. is innocent and has been innocent since the very first day... this man was wrongfully accused."
As featured in the Butler Eagle.
• An Allegheny County jury has acquitted a Homewood man of homicide charges in the slaying of an East Liberty man during a shootout between two groups in the parking lot of a Penn Avenue bar.
Defense Attorney David S. Shrager said a witness, who is under police protection, identified E. I. as the person she saw sitting in a white Pontiac at the scene. But Shrager pointed out the witness had to view a police lineup twice because she was apparently uncertain of the identification. "That raised a reasonable doubt with the jurors," Shrager said.
As featured in the Tribune Review.
• T. K., a 13 year-old Clairton boy charged with shooting his best friend to death no longer has to worry about the possibility of spending his entire life in prison. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Gerard M. Bigley decided that T.K. is amenable to treatment and should be transferred to the juvenile court system.
David S. Shrager, defense attorney for T. K., applauded the decision. "I am gratified that Judge Bigley showed the integrity, courage and fair-mindedness to follow the evidence which showed that T. K. should be transferred to juvenile court," he said.
As featured in Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
• A former Westmoreland County football star L.F., sentenced to three to six years in jail for the possession and sale of crack cocaine, was granted a new trial by the state Superior Court because the prosecution had asked "improper" questions.
Shrager said his client maintains his innocence and is happy about the decision. "He is ready to move on to the next step in this proceeding," Shrager said.
Shrager said he is considering filing a motion to dismiss the charges based again on the improper questions posed to L.F.
As featured in the Tribune Review.
• Mother dodges criminal charges.
To avoid a possible criminal charge of child endangerment, a Mt. Lebanon woman agreed to take a parenting class in positive parenting.
"I think based on everything that has happened, she is satisfied with this as a fair resolution to this matter," Shrager said.
As featured in Tribune Review.
• With her hands cuffed behind her back, 14 year-old N. W. was smiling in the courtroom as she gazed into the faces of some of her relatives.
The smile my have been generated by the conversation she had with her defense attorney David S. Shrager, before she headed to Common Pleas Judge Donald E. Machen's courtroom.
"I explained to her that she's not going to be facing life in prison," Shrager said.
His comments came moments after Machen granted his petition to have N. W. decertified so that she can be prosecuted as a juvenile instead of an adult on charges of second-degree murder and arson.
As featured in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
• A Fayette County jury convicted M. P. of voluntary manslaughter for the shooting of his ex-wife's ex-con paramour. M. P. of Normalville, put his head down briefly after the verdict was announced. Jurors also considered possible verdicts of first- and third-degree homicide in the shooting of J. C.
As featured in Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
• A judge acquitted a Wilkinsburg man of sex assault charges yesterday and held his 15 year-old sister in contempt of court for refusing to testify about the alleged abuse.
Defense Attorney David S. Shrager moved for acquittal, which Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning granted. The acquittal means prosecutors cannot reinstate charges against the defendant.
As featured in Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
