Newly elected state rep. hits constituents with 'slip-and-fall' suit

A newly elected state legislator from Northeastern Pennsylvania is apparently unhappy

with two of his constituents, as is evident by the slip-and-fall suit he slapped the couple with after he took a spill on their property.

Marty Flynn, who was set to be sworn in Jan. 1 in Harrisburg as the new representative of the 113^th state House District, which covers portions of Scranton and surrounding areas, filed suit in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas against Phillip and Arlene Scavo, who own a property at 641 N. Main Avenue, according to a recent article in the Times-Tribune newspaper.

The newspaper reported that Jackie Lavelle and Lori A. Trager, who resided at the home, have also been named as defendants in the premises liability action, in which Flynn, a former boxer, seeks $50,000 in damages.

Flynn told the paper that he was jogging back on March 22, 2011, when he fell on defective sidewalk outside the home.

The state representative-elect was quoted as saying he did not have health insurance at the time to cover his bruised elbow and slightly separated shoulder, and that he racked up a large amount of medical bills due to the incident.

Flynn is apparently being represented by attorney Joseph Pulcini, Jr., of the Pennsylvania-based firm Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, which has offices in Harrisburg, Bethlehem, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre, as well as in New Jersey and Maryland.

Flynn’s West Scranton district includes the Main Avenue home at which he allegedly sustained his injuries.

Records show that the lawsuit was filed in mid-November, a week after Flynn was elected to the state House of Representatives.

According to his biography on the state House’s web page, Flynn, a Scranton native, is a Democrat who formerly worked as an inmate education and program coordinator at the Lackawanna County Prison, at which time he also chaired the Prison Misconduct Board.

Flynn previously had spent time as a Lackawanna County prison guard, mixed martial arts fighter and professional boxer.

A copy of the actual complaint was not immediately available.

Pulcini, Flynn’s lawyer, did not return a message from the Pennsylvania Record seeking a copy of the lawsuit.