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Thursday, August 07, 2003 Page: 2A
WILKES-BARRE – A Butler Township couple has filed a veterinary malpractice
lawsuit in the death of their Labrador retriever, Mongoose.
David and Randi Bunchalk, of Applewood Drive in Drums, filed the suit
Wednesday against Animal Emergency Clinic of Wyoming Valley, Avoca, and Carol
Kleinman-Ewing, a clinic employee.
Mongoose was specially trained, certified by the Pennsylvania Police K-9
Association in obedience and by the Philadelphia K-9 Academy in explosives
detection, according to the suit.
The couple is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
According to the lawsuit filed in Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas:
On Aug. 11, 2001, the Bunchalks took Mongoose to the Animal Clinic because
Mongoose ate some stones. Kleinman recommended Mongoose undergo an emergency
operation to remove larger stones.
Four days after the surgery, which cost between $1,223 and $1,529, Mongoose
collapsed and later died. A postmortem examination showed Mongoose died of
peritonitis due to a rupture of sutures.
The Bunchalks said the surgery was unnecessary and inadequately performed.
The suit also says Kleinman was not licensed to practice veterinary
medicine in the state.
The Bunchalks spent an additional $900 on post-surgical care and burial.
The value of his training was more than $12,000, the suit says.
WILKES-BARRE – A Luzerne County judge on Wednesday turned over the vehicle
of convicted murderer Michael Meleski to his family.
Meleski was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison on a third-degree murder
charge in the death of his girlfriend, Lisa Mae Fullington, in Pittston
Township.
WILKES-BARRE – Rachel Rogers, 29, of North Main Street in Ashley, was
sentenced Wednesday to 15 to 36 months in a state prison for burglary.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Burke sentenced Rogers on
a single count of the charge. Police said Rogers in July 2001 played a role in
stealing a television from a South Meade Street home.
WILKES-BARRE – Michael Wright, 18, of Green Street in Edwardsville, was
sentenced Wednesday to 11 1/2 months to 23 months in the Luzerne County
Correctional Facility for an attempted robbery.
Police said Wright on Nov. 12 went into Kunec’s Market in Plains Township
with the intent to rob it. Wright fled before stealing anything.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Burke sentenced Wright on
a single count of criminal attempt.
WILKES-BARRE – The state Department of Environmental Protection has asked a
judge to order a Duryea recycling center to remove tires from its property.
According to court papers filed in the Luzerne County Court of Common
Pleas, the state says Hawk Recycling was not properly storing tires at its
Clark Road facility.
The state learned about the violation during a December tire fire at the
facility. The DEP wants a judge to order Hawk to stop accepting tires and
remove excess tires. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Aug. 25.
WILKES-BARRE Joseph Lombardo, 27, of Luzerne Avenue in West Pittston, was
sentenced Tuesday to 16 to 48 months in a state prison for delivering heroin.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Burke sentenced Lombardo
on a single count of delivery of a controlled substance.
Police said Lombardo on Aug. 14 sold four bags of “Heavy Hitter” heroin to
a confidential informant for $100 in Pittston.
WILKES-BARRE A Nescopeck boy was awarded $25,000 Monday in a lawsuit
settlement for injuries he suffered in a dog attack.
Jackson Jaffin filed the lawsuit through his parents, Carolyn and Brian
Jaffin, of West Maple Road, against Martin and Betty Smith.
Court papers say the Smiths were co-owners of a German Shepherd that
“viciously and ferociously attacked” Jackson Jaffin in September 2001. The
attack caused the boy to suffer permanent injuries and scarring.
The court papers also say the dog was involved in a similar incident with
another child a week before the Jaffin attack.
The settlement, approved by Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Hugh
Mundy, calls for $8,745 to be paid to the law firm of Lenahan and Dempsey for
fees and costs, between $1,500 and $2,614 for medical bills, and between
$13,910 and $15,025 to the plaintiffs.
WILKES-BARRE Robert S. Helme, 20, of Shickshinny RR3, was sentenced
Tuesday to three to six years in a state prison for an attempted robbery.
Police said Helme on June 25, 2002, was wearing a mask, gloves and dark
clothes and wielding bolt cutters when he entered a Pittston convenience store
and ordered the clerk to a back room of the store.
The clerk refused and Helme fled. He was later apprehended.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Burke sentenced Helme on
a single count of criminal attempt.
WILKES-BARRE Daniel Hannon, 41, of South Hancock Street in Wilkes-Barre,
was sentenced Tuesday to four to 12 months in the Luzerne County Correctional
Facility for threatening to beat and kill two police officers.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Hugh Mundy sentenced Hannon on
single counts of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
Police said they responded to the lobby of a High Street apartment building
in Wilkes-Barre early Jan. 1 for an argument between Hannon and his fiancee.
An intoxicated Hannon challenged police to a fight and yelled obscenities
at them, police said. When they attempted to arrest Hannon on a charge of
disorderly conduct, he became more disruptive and made an “aggressive move”
toward the officers before threatening to “beat us to death,” police said.
WILKES-BARRE Wayne Granahan, 40, of Pocono Trailer Park in Plains
Township, was sentenced Tuesday to four to 12 months in the Luzerne County
Correctional Facility for a vehicle collision.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Burke sentenced Granahan
on a single count of accidents involving damage to vehicles or property.
Police said Granahan on Aug. 21 was driving a vehicle that struck another
vehicle in Exeter. Granahan fled the scene before police arrived.