Inmate Sucker Punches Lawyer, Lawyer Sues

A defense attorney is suing a central Pennsylvania's county commissioners, prison board, district attorney and sheriff's deputies -- but not his former death-row inmate client -- for somehow allowing the handcuffed prisoner to sucker punch the lawyer in a courtroom May 13.
 
Blair County officials aren't commenting on the lawsuit reported Tuesday by the Altoona Mirror.
 
Defense attorney Timothy Burns contends officials should have done more to prevent 46-year-old Andre Staton from slugging Burns, Staton's court appointed lawyer. Staton is awaiting trial on assault charges, and was reportedly upset with Burns because a judge ruled against Staton at the appeal hearing.
 
Staton is appealing his conviction on charges he fatally stabbed his girlfriend, Beverly Yohn, of Altoona.
 
Burns was knocked out and is still dealing with post-concussion issues.

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