Juvenile Law Center Announces Partial Settlement in Luzerne County Juvenile Litigation

Juvenile Law Center has announced that a partial settlement for over $17 million has been reached in the Luzerne County juvenile-court civil litigation. The settlement, which must receive court approval, is between Robert K. Mericle and Mericle Construction, Inc., and counsel representing juveniles and parents of juveniles who appeared before former juvenile court judge Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr. Hangley Aronchick attorneys Daniel Segal and Rebecca L. Santoro have been co-counsel with Juvenile Law Center, representing the juveniles and parents, since early 2009.

"Mr. Mericle and Mericle Construction approached the settlement process in an open and honest way," said Marsha Levick, Deputy Director and Chief Counsel of Juvenile Law Center, "and we are pleased with this settlement."

"We are very pleased with the Mericle settlement and delighted that it will address the needs of the children affected by this matter," said Segal.

The civil lawsuits are continuing against, among others, the former judges and the private juvenile facilities.

For more information on the Luzerne County "kids-for-cash" scandal, visit our Luzerne page.