PUGLIESE, FINNEGAN & SHAFFER, LLC (Partner)
Practice Areas: Municipal Law, Civil litigation: personal injury, commercial /business, construction, insurance defense, workers' compensation and family law matters.
LUZERNE COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE (January 2005 to 2008)
Solicitor: Responsible for representation of the Luzerne County Coroner's Office in all legal matters.
EDWARDSVILLE BOROUGH (January 2004 to present)
Solicitor: Responsible for representation of the Borough of Edwardsville in all legal matters.
THE CITY OF NANTICOKE (2007 to present)
Solicitor: Responsible for representation of the City of Nanticoke in all legal matters.
LUZERNE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (January 2000 to present)
Part-time Assistant District Attorney: Assigned to twelve weeks of criminal trials per year including successful prosecution of multiple homicide cases.
PA BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS (1995 to Present, Examiner since 1998)
Examiner: One of seven lawyers in Pennsylvania responsible for the biannual
preparation of the essay portion of the Pennsylvania Bar Examination.
WILKES-BARRE CITY ATTORNEY (January, 1988 to January, 1996)
Chief Legal Counsel: Responsible for the overall representation of the City of
Wilkes-Barre in legal matters including representation of the City's Mayor,
Council, Police Department, Fire Department and all other City departments.
WILLIAM T. FINNEGAN, JR., ESQUIRE (June 1989 to December 1991)
Sole Practitioner: Represented clients in civil and criminal matters including
personal injury, business, wills and estates, real estate and family law.
THE HONORABLE RONALD P. WERTHEIM, Washington, D. C. (1987)
Judicial Clerkship: Prepared advisory memoranda, drafted opinions and orders
and performed administrative duties in both the felony and family calendars.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, E. D. PA, Philadelphia (1986)
Law Clerk: Researched evidentiary, appellate and grand jury issues; drafted
jury instructions; prepared internal memoranda on tax fraud, mail fraud and
racketeering issues; observed trials and attended lectures on trial advocacy.
THE HONORABLE PATRICK J. TOOLE, JR. P.J., Wilkes-Barre, PA (1985)
Judicial Clerkship: Researched and wrote five court opinions which
encompassed constitutional, insurance, property, contract and tort law issues;
observed pre-trial conferences, trials, and other court proceedings.
FARRELL, FRANK & MATTERN, Wilkes-Barre, PA (1984)
Law Clerk: Researched and wrote legal memoranda and pleadings in a variety
of civil and criminal areas including personal injury, contracts, custody and divorce.
WILKES-BARRE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Wilkes-Barre, PA (1984)
Law Clerk: Researched and wrote legal memoranda and pleadings on municipal
legal matters; assisted in the prosecution of municipal code violators.
EDUCATION:
ANTIOCH SCHOOL OF LAW, Washington, D. C.
J.D. conferred May 1987
Clinical Experiences:
Adult Misdemeanor: Instructed on trial advocacy, represented clients
in the Washington D.C. court system.
Litigation Courses: Trial Advocacy, Criminal Appellate Advocacy, Moot Court.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, University Park, PA
B.A. in Pre-Law conferred in May 1984
PERSONAL/CIVIC:
Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Boy Scouts of America
Eagle Scout; Co-Counsel to Board 1997 - 2003;
Board of Directors 1988 - Present;
Chairman, Mountain Trailblazer District 1999;
Nominating Committee Member 1999;
Risk Management Committee Chairman 1999;
Capital Projects Management Committee 1997;
Chairman of Scout Day in Government 1995;
Eagle Board of Review Chairman 1994 - 1996;
Principal Speaker at Miscellaneous Eagle Dinners
St. Nicholas Church Lector 1989 - Present
Holy Redeemer School Board (President 2008)
St. Nicholas/ St. Mary School Board 2005-2007 (Vice President 2006-2007)
Leadership Wilkes-Barre Graduate/Advisory Board Member
United Cerebral Palsy Board of Directors 1988 - 1990
