Two little-noticed lawsuits allege Corbett has mismanaged Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office

By Tom Infield
Inquirer Staff Writer

Two little-noticed lawsuits that have been slowly working their way through a federal court raise questions about the management style of Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett - and contend that Corbett squelched evidence of mismanagement in the state Attorney General's Office for political reasons.

The suits, brought by one former employee and one current worker in the office, paint a picture of Corbett as a hands-off executive who depends on a military-style chain of command to tell him what he needs to know about the workings of his department, which has about 800 people.

In a March deposition, Corbett answered "I don't know" to numerous questions about how his office was run. He said he could not remember whether any claim of mismanagement had crossed his desk.

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The cases, which are being handled as one, are moving toward the trial stage only now. They have the potential to become an issue as Corbett heads toward his fall campaign for governor against Democrat Dan Onorato.

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On Friday, Billman launched a lawsuit of his own against Corbett in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. It alleges that Corbett's bodyguard "grabbed" Billman when he tried to ask Corbett a question about the Kimmett case at an event the day before the May 18 primary. The suit says Corbett "shook his finger angrily in Billman's face."

More:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100621_Two_lawsuits_allege_Corbett_has_mismanaged_Pennsylvania_Attorney_General_s_Office.html

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/bfbarbie/status/17249317854