Pa. representative calls for probe of Philly Family Court deal

A Republican state representative, not satisfied with Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille's internal investigation, called Wednesday for the state auditor general to probe a failed Family Court development deal.

Rep. Curt Schroder (R., Chester) said an independent agency was needed to figure out the Family Court "fiasco" overseen by Castille.

The courts spent $12 million in public money on a deal that blew up after The Inquirer reported that Jeffrey B. Rotwitt, a lawyer hired by the courts, was also being paid by the project developer.

The state has taken over the $200 million project, planned for 15th and Arch Streets, and the FBI has opened a criminal investigation.

Castille, meanwhile, hired lawyer William G. Chadwick to review the deal. Chadwick was Castille's second-in-command when Castille was Philadelphia's district attorney in the 1980s.

Castille previously retained Chadwick this year under a $150,000 consulting contract to review the Philadelphia court system.

Schroder noted that Chadwick was the second lawyer Castille had hired to review the Family Court project.

"I think the public is right to be concerned about these things," he said, referring to questions raised about Rotwitt's potential conflict and Castille's oversight.

"I don't think it's adequate to do more self-policing, more internal reviews, and declare everything's fine once that is over," he said.

Schroder sent out a memo inviting other House members to cosponsor a resolution that would require Auditor General Jack Wagner's office to investigate the deal.

Another possibility, Schroder said, would be an independent commission, like the one looking into corruption in Luzerne County courts.

Chadwick, who runs Chadwick Associates, a Washington consulting firm, said he had begun reviewing documents in the transaction. He has also been hired by the House Democratic caucus to research legislative practices after the Bonusgate scandal.

"In the end, transparency and the work product will speak for itself," he said. "We will certainly cooperate with any legitimate investigation by anyone."

Castille could not be reached for comment.

In a hurry to get a new Family Court building, Castille in 2008 authorized millions in payments to Rotwitt, architects, and developer Donald B. Pulver without bids or a final development contract.

Castille has said he was relying on Rotwitt's advice on the payments and had no idea that Rotwitt was also getting a cut of Pulver's development fees. Rotwitt insists that Castille knew all along about his role as codeveloper.

Pulver and Rotwitt have since been kicked off the project, and Castille has said he might seek to get some of the $12 million back.

Castille first appointed Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., a lawyer with Ballard Spahr, to investigate. But that arrangement drew criticism because Ballard has also been working on the Family Court deal since 2008.

Schroder said Castille's decision to replace Hockeimer with Chadwick had failed to assure the public that all the facts would come to light.

"There's a perspective out there that sometimes the court likes to keep itself shielded from public accountability," he said. "My point is, that cannot continue."