CONTACT:  Vince Camiolo
e-mail address: vcamiolo@yahoo.com

Paul Camiolo files suit in Federal Court against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and Law Enforcement Authorities

Philadelphia, PA
July 26, 2000

Paul Camiolo and the Estates of his Mother and Father filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, various employees of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Upper Moreland Township, Upper Moreland Township Police Department, its ex-police chief and various police officers, Upper Moreland Township Fire Department, Fire Marshall Sullivan, Trooper Investigative Services, various employees of Trooper Investigative Services,, Robert H. Jones Associates, Inc. and various employees of Robert H. Jones Associates, Inc.

The complaint alleges that State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and various employees of State Farm Fire and
Casualty Company, conspired with Upper Moreland Township, Upper Moreland Township Police Department, its ex-police chief and various police officers, Upper Moreland Township Fire Department, Fire Marshall Sullivan, Trooper Investigative Services, various employees of Trooper Investigative Services, Robert H. Jones Associates, Inc. and various employees of Robert H. Jones Associates, Inc. to place an innocent man in prison for the arson murders of his mother and father.

It is alleged that the motive of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and various employees of State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, was to avoid payment of money to repair the fire damage sustained in a fatal fire at the family residence on September 30, 1996.

It is alleged that the motive of Upper Moreland Township, Upper Moreland Township Police Department, its ex-police chief and various police officers, Upper Moreland Township Fire Department, Fire Marshall Sullivan was done to enhance its/their crime fighting reputation.

It is further alleged that all parties sued exchanged information with each other and conspired to take Paul Camiolo’s freedom from him by using outdated and improper investigative and scientific procedures and not producing evidence that would lead to proof of his innocence. The actions of these parties placed Paul Camiolo in prison for ten (10) months before he was released after presentation of evidence not presented to the Assistant District of Montgomery County PA by the law enforcement authorities and  scientific evidence information by his criminal defense counsel.

 The matter was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and assigned the number 00 CV 3696.

Camiolo suit dismissal upheld by Federal Court; rules that allegation alone is evidence of guilt

Click HERE for 3rd Circuit Opinion (pdf format)

June 30, 2003

On June 30th the 3rd circuit court of appeals upheld the dismissal of Paul Camiolo’s Civil Rico and Civil Rights lawsuit against State Farm insurance, Upper Moreland Township, and Montgomery County Pennsylvania District Attorney Independent Expert George Wert.  Access to the State Investigating Grand Jury Testimony was denied Camiolo’s counsel (although defendant’s were granted unfrettered access by the District Attorney’s office) because the Judges found that proper deference was not paid to the state court judge when asking for transcripts for the testimony (alternate means to uphold lawsuit’s dismissal) thus in effect assuring secrecy for wrongdoing, and forcing people such as Camiolo to petition the very court which trampled over their rights in the first place. 

Despite testimony in front of the judges which showed from the presentment, reports and depositions that many improper activities occurred this did not sway the 3rd circuit.     Evidence included the Upper Moreland Township Fire Marshall ruling the fire everything – accidental, incendiary, and undetermined.  He also had different origin points as the reports changed and no explanation for the origin changing.   Sullivan covered up the accidental report to the grand jury (as per his deposition), and the DA who presented the case allowed this misdirection to take place (Miller affidavit – knew of Sullivan accidental report).  Junk Science and improper procedures were allowed to be testified to the grand jury as fact.   Despite crazed glass only being recognized as indicitive of fire suppression efforts independent Expert Wert (report, deposition) found it indicitive of an accelerated fire.  A misleading vhs tape of a sofa burning (as per presentment)  was shown to the grand jury of furniture dissimiliar to the furniture in the Camiolo house.  No attempt was made by Wert to obtain a fabric sample and determine the materials flammability versus the material in the vhs he showed the grand jury.    According to the presentment, flashover did not happen.  The flashover or lack thereof was used to discredit truly independent expert Steve Avato ATF, CFI in the presentment.  Of course later on, Wert admits to flashover in his deposition, and Sullivan admits to flashover as well.

And in a presentment being presented as a gasoline accelerated fire, it is amazing to note that Independent Expert Wert did not even believe the fire was gasoline accelerated in the first place (Wert Deposition).   And after taking a job as an independent expert, Mr. Wert found it necessary to review only the arson reports before coming to his opinion.

The facts portion of the presentment was as bad than the science portion of the presentment.   During the evidence presentation my mother’s hand burn was suppressed to the grand jury to rule out an accidental scenerio.   The presenter, now Assistant US Attorney Mark Miller  by this time had her medical records from the accident for 1 year by then and her autopsy report which clearly showed the burns Mr. Miller was implying to the jury did not exist.   Also, my mother was conscious and communicative for several periods after the accident prior to her death.  Why no effort to get a statement from another survivor ?   And last, but not least according to Ex-Police Chief Stauch (deposition) and the brief filed by the township before the appellate court, evidence tampering is admitted to.  

What is your office hiding Mr. District Attorney Bruce Castor ?   Why the effort to protect the wrongdoers ?