Wvw Swimmers Off To Fast Start, Trounce Hazleton

Advertising Employee Is Times Leader's '94 Best

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Tuesday, December 13, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





KINGSTON -- Frank "Bunky" Sorochak wants his reputation restored. He blames
James Straub for taking it away. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On Friday, former Kingston mayor Sorochak filed a civil suit in Luzerne
County Court against Straub, who in 1993 repeatedly bashed him publicly and
demanded his resignation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The lawsuit hasn't silenced Straub, though. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a letter to the editor in Monday's Times Leader, Straub praised Kingston
Mayor Gary Reese for wiping out much of a multi-million debt Straub blames on
Sorochak. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He was responsible for putting Kingston in a $4 million debt," Straub said
of Sorochak in an interview Monday, shortly after receiving a copy of the
civil suit against him. The debt actually was tabbed at about $3.4 million. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sorochak's lawsuit is the latest salvo in a deeply rooted feud between the
two registered Republicans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sorochak is seeking more than $20,000 in damages for emotional distress he
attributes to fallout from a civil suit filed by Straub against him in July
1993. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Some people shoot off their mouths and bash people thinking they can get
away with it," Sorochak said Monday. "Those people need to be taught a
lesson." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sorochak's suit said he has suffered "direct and ill repute among his
friends, neighbors and business associates ... has been subject to great
humiliation, has undergone great suffering of mind and body." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sorochak also contends that Straub filed the suit solely to injure his
re-election bid against Reese in November 1993. Reese, a democrat, topped
Sorochak 2,374 votes to 1,922. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Straub's suit never reached the courtroom. Luzerne County Judge Correale
Stevens tossed it out in October 1993, about one week before the general
election. He ruled that Straub failed to file legal briefs to support his
case. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the 1993 lawsuit, Straub accused Sorochak of violating the town's code
of ethics and demanded that he be removed from office. Straub said Sorochak
directed municipal workers to chauffeur him in municipal vehicles to personal
appointments and errands. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sorochak refused to resign. He admitted using municipal personnel to drive
him around, but said it was for official business. He added poor health
prevented him from driving. Sorochak underwent a partial leg amputation in
April 1993 and could not drive. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Straub's suit made headlines," recalled Sorochak's attorney, Thomas
O'Connor. "He filed his suit and made

Sorochak Files Suit Against Vocal Critic 
Former Kingston Mayor Seeks $20,000 In Damages For 
Emotional Distress He 
Says Archenemy James Straub 
Has Caused

Sorochak Files Suit Against Vocal Critic Former Kingston Mayor Seeks $20,000 In Damages For Emotional Distress He Says Archenemy James Straub Has Caused