Candidates for May 2021 Primary
Beth Tarasi Sinatra
Sinatra-judge.com info@sinatra-judge.com 412-519-5404
My profession as a trial attorney for over 29 years aligns me with the challenges presented to a judge when deciding cases that directly impact the citizens of Allegheny County Pennsylvania. I have the right combination of experience, integrity, compassion and temperament to serve on the Court of Common Pleas – Allegheny County.
I believe that I am particularly qualified for the position of a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas (Allegheny County) because of my life experiences and the fact that my court room experience is relevant. My Father, Lou Tarasi is a prominent attorney. I grew up with the law and learning what justice and injustice represent. Since being admitted to practice in 1991, I have practiced law in all courts in Allegheny County, family, civil, criminal and orphans. I am a civil trial attorney, meaning I litigate the cases that go before the civil division. (personal injury, product liability, contract, real estate and other civil matters) I am AV Preeminent rated by the judges and attorneys – this is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards. I am recognized by my peers and one of the Best Lawyers in America.
I was one of the first women to attend college on an athletic scholarship after the passing of Title IX. When I went to law school women were still in the minority. I learned that I had to work harder due to the implicit biases. I will bring this experience to the bench.
As a single mother of two sons, I learned what it was like for single mothers working while raising children. This taught me time management and I gain a further understanding of the human struggle people face.
I have been a committee member for 20 years and have worked hard to get democrats elected. I volunteered my services for the Voter Protection program and was involved with these past elections legal process of trying to deny the voters their vote.
I volunteer my time providing pro bono legal services at Operation Better Block. I coached my local boys catholic grade school team for 13 years. I have volunteered my time as a chef to raise money for kids Voice, McGee Women’s and Infants. Child Health, The Carnegie Free Library and St James Catholic Grade School.
I have been a lecturer for the legal community, with my recent lectures with the Wecht Institute.
My sons are now grown and when they went out the front door my parents came in the back. My parent will be 90 this year and I have them living with me. I would not want it
any other way. They cared for me growing up and now its my pleasure to care for them in their sunset years.
I will bring these well-rounded experiences to the bench.
I live up to the moral and professional responsibilities required of me as a practicing attorney. I contribute to society and volunteer my time. I believe that I possess the skill, the experience, the temperament and the work ethic and compassion to be an important contributor on the court. I would be truly honored to be able to serve as one of its judges
Name: Beth Tarasi Sinatra (yes, my husband is related to Frank Sinatra) Home Address: 1200 Camp Meeting Rd., Bell Acres Pa. 15143
Business Address: Tarasi & Tarasi P.C. 510 Third Ave 2nd Fl. Pittsburgh Pa 15219 Birthplace: 1960, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Family. Married to Anthony Sinatra.
Parents Louis M. & Patricia R. Tarasi Jr., (Both born in 1931)
Middle child of 6 children
Two adult sons Frederick J. Stevenson IV (5/18.1991) and
Benjamin W. Stevenson. (12/2/1992)
Education: 1991 – Juris Doctor – Duquesne University School of Law 1982 – BA Univ.of Pittsburgh (full athletic scholarship women’s basketball) 1978 – Quaker Valley High School, Leetsdale Pa
Employment: TARASI & TARASI P.C., 2006- Present
Senior Litigator & Shareholder
TARASI & TARASI & FISHMAN P.C., 2000-2006
Litigator & Shareholder
TARASI LAW FIRM. 1998-2000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Associate
TARASI, TIERNERY & JOHNSON 1987-1990/ 1991- 1998
Law Clerk – Associate
Full-time law clerk while attending the Duquesne law school night program.
Law Clerk – The Honorable William Standish United States District Court for the
Western District 1990-1991
Honors and Awards:
Martindale Hubble AV Preeminent pinnacle of professional excellence for legal ability and ethical standards Peer and Judicial review blind rating.
Best Lawyers in America, inducted in 2018
Million Dollar Advocates Forum inducted in 2016
Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame 1998
President Volunteer service Award 2006
Exceptional Heart Award – St James Catholic Grade School 2015
Lawyers of Distinction inducted in 2018
Bar and Court Admission:
Pennsylvania Bar (1991)
United States Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit (1993)
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1991) Pennsylvania (1991)
West Virginia (pro hac vice)
Ohio (pro hac vice)
Texas (pro hac vice)
Georgia (pro hac vice)
Volunteer-Committees-Bar Assoc Memberships
Allegheny County Bar Association Court Rules Committee
Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Board Member, Amicus Curie Committee. St. Thomas Moore Society
Pennsylvania Bar Assoc
St James Grade school -Volunteer boys basketball coach 13 years. Girls Hope Auctioned as Volunteer chef to raise money
St James Knights of Columbus Volunteer-hayrides during Oktoberfest and Lenten FishFry.
Kids Voice Auctioned as Volunteer chef to raise money.
McGee Woman’s and Infants Auctioned as Volunteer chef to raise money. Good Samaritan Counselling- Volunteer 50 Fabulous Chef’s yearly fundraiser Operation Better Block -Homewood-. https://obbinc.org/ , volunteer to draft wills provide advice and draft document for real estate matters.
Allegheny County Democratic Committee
Committee Member 20 years, former chair.
Quaker Valley Democratic Committee
Pennsylvania Voter protection program 2016-present.
Appellate Court Work
Hughes v Consol, et al., 945 F.2d 594 (1991)
Eritano, v. Comm. of PA, 547 Pa. 372, 690 A.2d 705 (1997)
Miller v Bike Athletic Co., 80 Ohio St.3d 607 (1998).
Poole, Jr., v. WCAB (Warehouse Club, Inc.), 810 A.2d 1, 182 (2002) Tener v Pavinich, GD 13-015688 (2017) Affirmed Superior Court (2017) Fischer v. Erie Insurance Superior Court of Pennsylvania No.: 1597 WDA 2018 Amicus Brief for the Pennsylvania association for Justice (2018) Eileen Gibson et. Al v State Farm Mutual Automobile – Third Circuit Court of Appeals 20-1589 – Amicus Brief for the Pennsylvania association for Justice (2020)
Litigation: Significant cases:
Hughes v. Consol, et al., 945 F.2d 594 (1991) The case involved fraud which was perpetrated on landowners by Consol. Consol told the landowners that it had the right to condemn their property for a price certain, when it did not. The case resulted in a multimillion-dollar verdict with the award of punitive damages.
Eritano v. Comm. of PA, 547 Pa. 372, 690 A.2d 705 (1997) This case assisted in establishing the dangerous dog law.
Miller v Bike Athletic Co., 80 Ohio St.3d 607 (1998) Plaintiff Miller broke his neck while playing football rendering him a quadriplegic. Plaintiff alleged that the helmet he was supplied by his school was defective. We were successful on appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court to change the rules of evidence for the admissibility of expert testimony.
Reinstadler, et al. v General Electric, No. 04-0831, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The Plaintiffs where employees were intentionally exposed to mercury poisoning at their place of work, the Bridgeville Glass Plant. We successfully obtained compensation outside of the workers’ compensation statute for the workers.
Paul v State Farm (2010-2016) No. 2:14-cv-01382, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania This case involved claims for underinsured motorist coverage and insurance bad faith which arose out a motor vehicle/pedestrian accident in which the Decedent sustained injuries. Plaintiff alleged the Decedent’s injuries led to his use of drugs which resulted in his death.
Yingst v Unified Investigations, Erie Ins et al. No. GD 09-014600, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas I was the lead attorney for Plaintiff Yingst, who was accused by Erie Insurance of burning her house down to recover insurance proceeds. Erie assisted the District Attorney’s office in bringing criminal charges against Plaintiff Yingst. This case was successfully litigated for the plaintiff.
Lippert v. Erie Insurance, No. GD 14-006617, Court of Common Pleas Allegheny County I was an attorney of record in this case along with my partner, Louis M. Tarasi, Jr. This case involved an insurance bad faith claim arising out of a motor vehicle accident in which Plaintiff Lippert sustained injuries. Plaintiff alleged that Erie failed to properly evaluate her claim for underinsured motorist benefits, failed to make a reasonable offer to settle her claim and worked with the insurance carrier for the tortfeasor to deny coverage to her.
Petitte v. Consol C-63-CV-1999-4194 action involving a mining lease, Consol had mined out all of the coal and after mining the coal, the property reverts back to the owner (Petitte) however, after mining the coal Consol continued to use the property to haul coal through the property under ground. I brought an action for trespass and argued that Consol owed Petitte for their use of the property to haul coal through.
Warne v. Goldfarb, Posner, Beck, DeHaven & Drewitz, & David Posner, (2010-2015) No. 2010-4477 (2010-2015), Washington County Court of Common Pleas Plaintiff Warne’s prior counsel, Posner, and Posner’s law firm committed legal malpractice when they failed to reserve oil & gas rights for Plaintiff’s 85 properties after being instructed to
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do so by Plaintiff. For some properties the oil & gas rights were reserved and for others they were not.
Sincevich v Consol Pennsylvania Coal Co., No. 2007-8394, Washington County Court of Common Pleas Plaintiff’s coal was mined without her permission and without payment.
IN RE: CONDEMNATION BY THE MON VALLEY SEWAGE AUTHORITY FOR INSTALLATION OF A SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW TREATMENT FACILITY Westmoreland Realty Corp., Tax Map No. 20-02-04-00-0089, (2016- 2018) Represented Condemnee, Westmoreland Realty, in tripling the estimated just compensation received.
Asbury et. Al. v EQT Corp.et al 2:18-cv-1005 – I presently represent hundreds of property owners in South Western Pennsylvania in this gas storage case. The energy company is using the property owners subterrain property to store gas without the land owner’s permission.
Lancaster v Varndell et al. Court of Common Pleas Greene County No. AD 630-2020 I represent oil and gas owners who were defrauded of their oil and gas rights through improper title work by the energy company.
Laurel Hill v. IDC, et al/Range Resources-Appalachia, Court of Common Pleas Lycoming County No. 90-01896 I represent oil and gas owner in this action wherein the energy company took the oil and gas rights without giving notice to the rightful owners.
Teaching & lectures:
National Business Institute – Oil & Gas and Product Liability
PBI – Product Liability
Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers on Voir Dire
Allegheny County Bar Association, Seminar for newly admitted attorneys University of Pittsburgh School of Law on the practice of Law and
Beaver County Community College on American Government
Pennsylvania Association for Justice – Distracted Driving seminar.
Wecht Institute – Ethics in Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions Wecht Institute – Ethics Whistleblowing on Attorney and Judicial Misconduct.
William Caye, Nicola Henry-Taylor, Lisa Middleman
Meet the Candidates for Judges: William Caye, Nicola Henry-Taylor, Lisa Middleman
Anthony Deluca For Judge
Dear Ms. McIntyre:
As you hold the important role of chair of the Upper St. Clair Democratic Committee, I wanted to formally announce to you that I am running for Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
I am an attorney with 23 years of experience. I have worked as a clerk for Appellate Court Judges, provided representation as a Criminal Defense Attorney, served as an Assistant District Attorney, and presented labor unions, which includes the representation of over 560 groups of law enforcement officers for their labor work. I have also done work in the Family, Civi, and Orphans courts.
I was instrumental in the development of Allegheny County’s mental health court and continue to work with individuals charged with crimes who suffer from mental health issues.
In our troubled times, improvement can only be attained through understanding the perspectives of all the people drawn into the court system. I have worked intimately with the different stakeholders in the criminal justice system. These groups include victims of crime, criminal defendants and their families and police officers. My hope is that by understanding the stresses and burdens of those involved in the system, I may fashion, through programs and my rulings, decisions that consider those needs and concerns and further the goal of justice for all.
I hope you will provide me with the opportunity to speak with you, and I would greatly appreciate it if you would let me know of any opportunities to speak with your committee.
Thank you for your time. I may be reached by phone or text at 412-4016963 or email at DeLucaforJudge2021@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Anthony “Tony” DeLuca
Konieczka for Judge
Dear Committee Member,
Your work on the committee is so very important and places you in a leadership role in our communities. What you and other committee members do on a regular basis by donating your time and effort is greatly appreciated. Our campaign process ensures candidates must first undergo your scrutiny before earning an endorsement.
As a former committee member in Shaler, where my wife, Maureen of 34 years, still serves as secretary we know the value of the endorsement process. So now as a judicial candidate for the Court of Common Pleas, I want to earn your trust, your support and eventually your endorsement.
I cannot succeed without your help. Like many of you, I am a lifelong resident of Allegheny County with a humble beginning in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Morningside. My mom, Sheila and my dad, Dan Sr. raised eight children, four boys and four girls, of which I am the oldest. Being the oldest instilled a sense of protectiveness for my younger siblings and I now want to extend that sense to all residents of Allegheny County.
I currently have the honor and privilege of serving the citizens of Shaler, Etna, Millvale and Reserve as their Magisterial District Judge for the past three years. Prior to becoming a judge, I served as a Deputy District Attorney for 23 years and then seven years as a criminal defense attorney. This unique tri-level background provides me with the experience to know what works and what doesn’t work in our court system.
Our citizens should demand that a judge possess experience, integrity and compass1. Many believe I possess those qualities. I humbly request your help in my campaign to further serve our community as a Court ofCommon Pleas judge. Thank you for your time.
Take care and be safe,
Dan K
Facebook — facebook.com/dankforjudge website –