The Venango County Court of Common Pleas, located in Franklin PA, today blocked a subpoena from Episcopal priest Bob Malm that would have required my mother, dying of COPD, to be deposed. The order further prohibits any future efforts to have Mom appear in person as part of discovery in this case, citing threats to her health.
The decision underscores the seemingly thin ethics behind Bob Malm’s conduct in this case, as well as that of his attorney and former member of the church vestry, Jeff Chiow.
As Mom’s attorney notes in his pleading, Pennsylvania, which normally decides such issues in cases involving subpoenas from other states, bars discovery in cases of this sort under state rules of civil procedure.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that Virginia’s Episcopal bishops are well aware of Bob’s abusive conduct and continue to condone his actions.
Res ipsa loquitor