JUDGE UPHOLDS JURY VERDICT AGAINST PHILADELPHIA DEMOCRAT WARD LEADER

Case shines light on Philadelphia’s shadowy ward system and street money politics

PHILADELPHIA, PA - 01/31/2017 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

A Pennsylvania state court judge has upheld a jury verdict obtained by Wally Zimolong, Esquire awarding real estate developer and former Philadelphia City Council candidate, Ori Feibush, $60,000 against Democrat 2^nd Ward Leader, Ed Nesmith and his political action committee, Citizen Organizing for Pennsylvania Securities (“COPS”). Judge Rosalyn Robinson of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas also ordered that Nesmith pay Feibush an additional $2,250 in pre-judgment interest.

Feibush brought the case after he paid Nesmith and COPS $106,000 for election day services and did not receive the services that were promised. The evidence at trial showed that Nesmith and C.O.P.S. could not account for all of the money that Feibush paid them. Nesmith and C.O.P.S. also admitted despite receiving money from candidates and making campaign expenditures, they had not filed campaign finance disclosure statements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the City of Philadelphia.

The case is welcome news to good government advocates who have long argued that the City of Philadelphia’s Ward system lacks transparency and abhorred the payment of so called “street money” to Ward leaders to garner their support.

About Wally Zimolong:

Wally Zimolong, Esquire is the founder of Zimolong, LLC. He is free market champion, and staunch believer in the Constitution and free enterprise. He has ferociously defended individuals and companies that are threatened, coerced, and bullied by the federal, state, and local government and building trade unions.

In 2016, he obtained a landmark jury verdict against a sitting member of Philadelphia City Council for violating his client’s First Amendment Right to free speech. The case received wide spread media attention and news of the verdict appeared on the front page of Philadelphia’s largest newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In 2012, he was asked to represent a high school student who was forcible removed from class for wearing a t-shirt supporting the campaign of Mitt Romney. Wally successful sued the Philadelphia School District and the teacher for violating his client’s first amendment rights.

Wally has appeared as a guest on the Dom Giordano Program (1210 AM), the Mike Rosen Show (850 KOA, Denver), and the Larry Mendte Show (106.9 FM). Wally’s has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philadelphia Magazine.