# Pirillo v. Pirillo

> Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · October 23, 1975 · 462 Pa. 511

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9651460

## Case

- **Full name:** Anthony D. PIRILLO, Jr., Esquire, Et Al. v. Honorable Harry A. TAKIFF; Anthony D. PIRILLO, Jr., Esquire, Et Al. v. Honorable Harry A. TAKIFF and Walter M. Phillips, Jr., Esquire
- **Court:** Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- **Decided:** October 23, 1975
- **Citations:** 462 Pa. 511; 341 A.2d 896
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Dissent by Manderino
- **Judges:** Jones, Eagen, O'Brien, Roberts, Pomeroy, Manderino, Nix
- **Cited by:** 85 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9651460

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- affirming disqualification of attorney representing twelve police officers subpoenaed to testify in grand jury proceedings on police corruption because attorneys’ fees paid by Fraternal Order of Police, which maintained policy of non-cooperation with government
- finding conflict requiring disqualification when legal fees of attorney representing multiple grand jury targets are paid by entity with interests hostile to government cooperation

## Opinion text

MANDERINO, Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent. The twelve witnesses in this case have knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily chosen to be represented by the two attorneys who are the petitioners.
*533 The majority’s decision, denying the witnesses their choice of attorneys, is rooted in a presumption that the witnesses are guilty of crimes, even though there is not one shred of evidence in this record to warrant such a conclusion, and even though under state and federal law, the witnesses must be presumed innocent — not guilty. I cannot agree with the novel proposition that the state can deprive a citizen of his right to be represented by the attorney of his choice by speculating that he may be guilty.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/9651460. Public record. Not legal advice.