PHILADELPHIA – On Wednesday, a state court judge ruled the plaintiff counsel in a pending negligence legal proceeding would be allowed to withdraw from representing his client.
Judge Linda A. Carpenter of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas ruled attorney Michael E. Greenberg, of Kane & Silverman in Philadelphia, would be relieved of the duty of providing legal counsel for client Cinquetta Anderson.
Carpenter ordered Anderson be served with notice of this ruling, in addition to a reminder that an arbitration hearing in case would be scheduled for Jan. 26.
Anderson’s failure to appear at that hearing would result in a Judgment of Non Pros and dismissal of her case, though she was granted with the ability to request a continuance for that arbitration hearing.
Greenberg initially stated his intention to withdraw as Anderson’s attorney through a motion made June 4. Greenberg raised the point of “confidential ethical issues” which he said precluded him from representing Anderson, ones he felt could be described to the court in an ex parte manner.
Greenberg also requested a 90-day stay of proceedings, in order for Anderson to have time to secure new counsel.
Greenberg added he made many attempts to inform Anderson of this development, to no avail. According to court records, Anderson had been using her sister Beverly Christian’s address on South 26th Street to receive legal correspondence, but letters and telephone calls to that address had largely gone unanswered. Except for one call, Greenberg said, where Anderson scheduled a meeting with him for April 24, but never appeared.
Though Anderson alleged a slip-and-fall accident in April, listing city resident Sharon Davis and the City of Philadelphia as defendants, a complaint was never filed. The most recent rule to file a complaint had been issued May 27.
The defendant is represented by Sean Kirby & Frances Iacovangelo, in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas case 150403158
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com