Ex-Pennsylvania Mayor Loses Bid to Have Legal Costs Paid

A divided Pennsylvania state appeals court says the city of Erie and its insurance carriers aren’t obligated to pay the legal bills of the city’s former mayor.

Commonwealth Court said the city and insurers don’t have to reimburse Richard Filippi for the more than $370,000 he spent defending himself against public corruption charges.

A jury acquitted Filippi, a campaign manager and law partner in 2006.

They were accused of using inside information to profit from the purchase of vacant property near a proposed casino and race track site.

Presque Isle Downs & Casino opened in 2007.

The appeals court says there’s no case, statute or code that says a public official has to be reimbursed for defense costs after he’s acquitted of criminal charges related to his public office.