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Rotary Club of the Abingtons: Little library takes shape

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Group from Abingtons will run Scranton Marathon in memory of Mari Lutz-Delicati, who died of acute myeloid leukemia at age 45

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Salem Township has 45 days to amend sections of its civil complaint against an engineering firm it says botched the construction of a new sewer system.An order filed Monday in Luzerne County Court grants three motions made last year in preliminary objections by Michael J. Pasonick, Jr. &amp; Associates, Inc. of Wilkes-Barre.The firm moved in November to strike sections of the complaint claiming the plaintiff failed to cite specific details and was excessive in requesting $1 million dollars in damages along with &#8220;any other relief&#8221; the court deems necessary.President Judge Richard M. Hughes III in Monday&#8217;s order granted these objections, allowing Salem Township 45 days to amend the portions in question.Filed Oct. 6, Salem Township&#8217;s suit claims the engineering firm failed in 2007 to uphold its $600,000 contract to construct a waste-water treatment system. Alleged infractions ranged from failure to properly test soil to installing Canadian manhole covers instead of the required American-made covers.Due to design flaws and supervision failures on the part of the firm, the township also has been forced to contract additional work to repair private property, the suit says.The township claims negligence and breach of contract, saying the engineering firm didn&#8217;t build the sewer system it promised.A gag order granted in early December precludes attorneys, employees and representatives on either side of the suit from making public comment.A motion filed Nov 6. on behalf of the firm claimed the township was attempting to defame the firm in the media, citing reports from local news outlets, including the Times Leader.Public comments made by the township, the motion said, are part of efforts to &#8220;contaminate any potential juror pool.&#8221;

Luzerne County judge grants Pasonick engineering firm’s objections to Salem Twp. civil suit