Friedens Criminal Lawyers

David T. Leake is the owner of the Law Office of David T. Leake, Esq. located in downtown Somerset. Attorney Leake opened his office after working for Joseph B. Policicchio, an attorney with 40 years of experience in Somerset, who transferred his law practice to Attorney Leake. His office occupies an entire building on Center Street and he has a full time paralegal/secretary/public notary on staff with over twenty years of experience to assist him as well as an assistant paralegal. Attorney Leake has extensive courtroom experience as his practice focuses mainly on courtroom litigation. He has presented countless cases before...

As a native of Western Pennsylvania and a current area resident, I am strongly invested in the community. Since founding my Somerset criminal defense and personal injury law firm in Somerset in 1997, I have worked hard to protect the rights and best interests of the individuals and businesses I represent. In addition to my legal practice, I serve on the Somerset County Bar Association Board of Directors.

Reported cases

Commonwealth v. Three Hundred Ten Thousand Twenty Dollars ($310,020.00) In United States Currency, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 894 A.2d 154 (2006)
Gilmour Properties v. Board of Assessment Appeals of Somerset County, Commonwealth...

Phi Kappa Phi. Member: Willis Society; Ohio Northern University Law Review, 1986-1987.

My name is Michael Worgul. I was born and raised right here in Pittsburgh, and it’s probably no surprise that I’ve settled down here too. I went to Duquesne University for my college and law degrees; right after being admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2004, I joined Arthur Bloom & Associates, LLC, a small private practice. I later joined the Allegheny County Office of Conflict Counsel for two years, representing indigent criminal defendants who needed legal help. I’m a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Criminal Litigation section, as well as a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar...

We have handled hundreds of criminal and civil litigation matters throughout southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.

With almost two decades of experience in family law and criminal defense, Attorney Tibbott focuses on strategic communication to bring clients freedom and peace during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

My name is Samir Sarna, and I am a Partner at Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2007 to attend the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. While in Pittsburgh, I met my wife, fell in love with the city, and decided to settle down here and dedicate my legal career to defending the rights of those accused of committing crimes.

After graduating law school, I clerked at the Office of the Public Defender for Allegheny County and later became an Associate Counsel at the Allegheny County Office of Conflict Counsel. Serving at...

Attorney Benjamin F. Goodwin, Esquire was born, raised, and educated in Southwestern Pennsylvania. For nearly a decade, Attorney Goodwin has strived to practice law with the same virtues that Southwestern Pennsylvania and its people have come to embody- integrity, tenacity, and above all things hard work. Attorney Goodwin has represented countless individuals and has a proven track record of excellence successfully trying numerous cases to a jury verdict. He is a partner of Goodwin Como, P.C.

Attorney Dana Jo-Ann Richardson has been a proactive advocate for her clients since entering the Bar in 2007. Her ambitions in the pursuit of law began at Duquesne University School of Law, where Dana was a class representative in the Student Bar Association, and where she became a finalist in the prestigious Carol Los Mansmann Appellate Advocacy Competition. Upon graduating from Duquesne University and receiving her Juris Doctorate in 2007, she sat for the bar examination and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar that year. While a law student at Duquesne, Dana was hired by the law firm...

Jennifer Price is a special education attorney in the Pittsburgh metro area who has received awards for her legal skills and advocacy. She was a former prosecutor for the Allegheny County Office of the District Attorney in both the adult and juvenile divisions, where she prosecuted cases major felonies. As a special education attorney, she believes in making sure every child has an opportunity to succeed both in school and in life. Her boutique law firm provides disability law-related legal services in special educational law, guardianships, and special needs trusts. With over 10 years of experience, Jennifer Price...

I'm a criminal trial and appellate lawyer. I try cases to juries and, if necessary, I take my clients’ cases up on appeal, as far as necessary, to ensure that they've received a constitutionally guaranteed fair trial and adequate due process.

Not all lawyers are both trial and appellate lawyers; the roles are different and require different skill sets. But I believe that my doing both enables me to stand out from the hundreds of criminal-defense attorneys who are all offering either one thing or the same thing. In this dual role, my trial...

To sum me up....I care about the lives of the people who call me. Every person is unique and their needs are paramount to me. I'll never treat a person like a piece of paper and it's one of the reasons I don't like the legal field and what I see happening to it anymore. Commercials/ Billboards. The lack of caring between the attorney and client...the personal dynamic is getting lost so much out there. Not with me. My practice areas include: Personal Injury - Wrongful Death, Car and Truck Accidents, Slip and...

Attorney Tim Burns has been operating his regional general law practice in historic Ebensburg, Cambria County for nearly a decade. His office, located an hour and a half east of Pittsburgh, is conveniently located just steps from the Cambria County Courthouse. A Johnstown native, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Secondary Education from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he served as Editor-in-Chief of Juris, the school’s award winning legal newsmagazine. Prior to opening his law office, Attorney Burns was an Associate in the...

I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mineral Engineering for several mineral production companies. Afterward had gone to school for my MBA and subsequently obtained my law degree. I have worked as a lawyer for a little over 20 years, however, I worked as a paralegal for 7 1/2 prior thereto.

During these many years I have never learned of another lawyer with a mineral engineering degree. I urge you to check your future attorney's qualifications before engaging him, i.e. WOULD YOU HIRE A FOOT DOCTOR TO HAVE YOUR TEETH FIXED!

I have been the lead attorney for approximately 250 trials....

My practice is concentrated in criminal defense and personal injury litigation — including wrongful death, auto accidents, fall downs and other personal injury actions. I also handle general civil litigation matters, such as contract and landlord/tenant disputes. I've litigated scores of civil and criminal matters, including approximately 40 jury trials as of 2021. I've successfully litigated such trials in both federal and state court. Over a four year span, I was able to obtain total acquittals in six out of nine trials during this time period. I've had the chance to handle several high profile criminal cases, such as: a...

Jill Devine has been practicing law for more than 30 years. She worked as a government lawyer at the state, county and local levels before entering private practice. Jill is a trial lawyer engaged in the general practice of law. She is active in her community and volunteers at her church. Before becoming a lawyer, Jill was a news reporter for The Pittsburgh Press newspaper.

Joseph Alexander Paletta was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. After graduating cum laude from Washington & Lee University in Virginia in 1982, he returned to Pittsburgh, achieving his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University Law School in 1985. His father, Leonard J. Paletta, was a highly respected trial lawyer in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, and was the inspiration for Joseph becoming a lawyer. In fact, a Paletta has maintained a law office in the Frick Building, the heart of the Pittsburgh legal community, for almost 50 years.

Attorney Paletta has been engaged in the...

Stephen S. Stallings is an experienced trial lawyer with over two decades of public and private experience providing counsel in False Claims Act/qui tam matters, white collar defense, commercial and securities litigation, FCPA, corporate compliance and internal investigations. He frequently serves as lead trial counsel in complex federal cases.

Mr. Stallings served for over seven years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he prosecuted fraud and public corruption matters through investigation, indictment, trial and appeal in the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Southern District of Florida in Miami and the Western District of...

Steven C. Townsend is a graduate of Indiana State University (B.A. Criminal Justice) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., Civil Litigation Program). He serves as a Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania District Court and was a member of the Conflict Attorney Panel for Beaver County.He is a speaker and instructor for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Criminal Law Update, which is held each year to inform update and inform other members of the bar of recent and important changes in criminal law and he serves on the Veteran’s Court Task Force. He...

Since 1997, R. Anthony DeLuca has worked in the area of criminal justice. He handles all types of criminal defense cases, but focuses on matters involving DUI, involuntary manslaughter and white collar crimes.

Attorney DeLuca has prior experience as a prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney, for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. He moved to defense because he saw the need for experienced, quality representation for people in the criminal justice system. Attorney DeLuca has a down-to-earth, personable approach to his practice of law. He's truly is on the side of his clients.

Outside of work, Anthony spends quality time with his wife...

Attorney David J. Shrager is a widely known, decorated criminal defense lawyer and native Pittsburgher. His Pittsburgh-based law firm focuses exclusively upon defending individuals throughout Pennsylvania charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses at both the state and federal levels. Such offenses include DUI, drug crimes, sex crimes, theft crimes, assault crimes, white-collar crimes and more. Attorney Shrager was selected to Super Lawyers 2017 – 2023. He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. You’ll find his name often quoted in...

David S. Shrager is an attorney devoted to providing tough defense and aggressive representation to criminally accused individuals throughout Western Pennsylvania. He is a member of numerous associations including the Washington County Bar Association, the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American Bar Association. Mr. Shrager is known for the exceptional services he provides, and has even been included in the 2014 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list. To learn more about the services offered by Attorney Shrager, be sure to contact his firm, The Law Offices of David S. Shrager, today.

I grew up in suburban Pittsburgh in a blue collar family where I was instilled with working class ethics and values that continue to embody me today — and that I recognize and appreciate in many of the people I represent in the criminal court system.

I am dedicated to fighting for the rights of my clients to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, to fair and speedy trials, to just punishment, and to not be coerced into self-incrimination. I believe passionately that the basic principles regarding the rights of people accused of crimes are worth upholding and...