Lawmaker will not comment on chiropractor case

Facing questions about his connection to an Olney chiropractor accused of defrauding the city, State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas has buttoned up and lawyered up with a prominent criminal defense attorney.

Thomas' press aide, Marilyn Jewett, said Thursday that neither the lawmaker nor his office had any comment about federal charges against the chiropractor, Ethel C. Harvey, who was accused of gaining access to city accident records with the help of an unidentified state representative.

Both Jewett and Thomas' attorney, Nino Tinari, declined to say whether Thomas is the state lawmaker who allegedly accompanied Harvey to a meeting with Records Commissioner Joan Decker and made an official request on House letterhead. The representative's letter asked that Harvey be provided free access to the accident records.

The letter from the state representative stated that Harvey was "undertaking a very important research project which deals with seat belt injuries on African Americans," according to a filing by government prosecutors in U.S. District Court. Prosecutors described that statement as false.

Instead, Harvey is accused of using the accident records to solicit business for her chiropractic practice, Olney Pain & Rehabilitation Center, at 616 W. Olney Ave.

From 2008 through 2010, Harvey or her designee viewed more than 40,000 city accident records. The city normally charges $25 each for the records, leading prosecutors to value the access at $988,000.

Thomas, 64, now running without opposition for his 13th two-year term in the House representing sections of North Philadelphia, was linked to Harvey by state campaign finance records. They show that Harvey donated $300 to Thomas' reelection campaign in 2008 and $1,500 in 2010.

Harvey also filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

Harvey, 54, was charged with mail fraud by an information, which is typically filed by prosecutors when they expect a defendant to enter a guilty plea agreement.

Tinari said he had seen no documentation from the government describing Harvey's intentions or implicating Thomas in the alleged fraud.

Asked whether Thomas had acknowledged being the state representative who went to bat for Harvey with city officials, Tinari said he could not answer the question without violating the attorney-client relationship.