Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped countless clients locally and nationwide through their most difficult times in life. He understands that when a client is faced with a challenge, there is nothing more important than an attorney who cares deeply about his client's welfare and who takes a personal interest in the outcomes of his clients' cases. There are no "small" cases to Mr. Lento because he understands that whatever challenge a client may be facing, it is affecting that client's life in some fundamental manner. Understanding what is at stake, Mr. Lento does everything in his power to make certain that any such challenge is resolved as favorably as possible for a client.
Mr. Lento takes every client's case personally, but there are of course some cases that captivate the interest of the media, and Mr. Lento stands tall in the limelight; having been involved with many cases that not only have generated local and national press coverage, but also international press coverage. The following is a small sample of Mr. Lento fighting on behalf of clients and his involvement in cases and matters in various capacities featured in the local and national media:
- The Philadelphia Inquirer - Alleged carjacker shot dead by security officer in CVS parking lot in East Germantown - December 6, 2020 (My client, a Good Samaritan, saved a man's life when he intervened in an attempted carjacking and shot and killed the carjacker. There is a question as to whether the carjacker was armed, and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office (DAO) was considering whether to file homicide charges against my client. Although a layperson may mistakenly believe that such a decision would be made solely based on the facts, the DAO's decision whether to file homicide charges was complicated by today's political climate, social justice issues, and the fact that homicides are a major concern in Philadelphia in 2020. Through immediate and ongoing steps taken on my client's behalf, I was able to get the District Attorney's Office to not file homicide charges against my client.)
- Los Angeles Times - One year after pledge died, San Diego State struggles to control its fraternities - November 22, 2020 (Maintaining a responsible Greek life is of course important, but colleges and universities can be overzealous in their attempts to hold fraternity members accountable for matters with which they had no involvement. I represent a student at San Diego State University who is the unfortunate victim of the University's overzealous attempts to hold students accountable who had no involvement in the alleged hazing and unfortunate death of a 19-year-old freshman after an event hosted by the fraternity house he was pledging. The pledge later fell out of the top bunk bed at his dorm, suffering a blow to his head that killed him. This is of course a tragedy, but the San Diego State University Police cleared the fraternity of any wrongdoing. Despite this exoneration, the University continues to pursue action against fraternity members for hazing irrespective of their involvement. We are working to see that the University is not inappropriate in it actions and that our client's rights and interests are protected.)
- NJ 101.5 - Lawsuit: NJ Funeral Home Let Body Decompose Claiming COVID Death - November 12, 2020
- Times Union - Judge halts RPI sexual misconduct hearing - October 26, 2020 (Although not unique to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), colleges and universities across the nation have found themselves in a quandary over Title IX sexual misconduct cases which started before the Title IX Final Rule went into effect on August 14, 2020. I am not the attorney for the case referenced in this article, but I also am representing a male respondent client at RPI who is facing the concerns expressed by the federal judge in this article: "RPI's current regime may be discriminating against [males] on the basis of [their] sex...this Court must be satisfied that (RPI) adequately protects male students...before [they] can be threatened with discipline." Regrettably, this is not a concern unique to RPI, as schools across the United States continue to apply uneven standards in Title IX cases to the detriment of male respondents even in the face of oversight. Update as of January 9, 2021: My client at RPI was found not responsible for the Title IX sexual misconduct charges.)
- University of Illinois "The Daily Illini" - 63 UI students on probation, 15 dismissed for COVID-19 violations - September 30, 2020 (Preventing outbreaks of COVID-19 remains a focus of colleges and universities across the nation, and schools have taken drastic action against students found responsible for violating health protocols including suspending, dismissing, and expelling students. At the University of Illinois, among other schools across the nation, I am representing students who regrettably have gone through the University disciplinary process without professional assistance and/or with someone not suited to the task in an effort to seek recourse and/or a more reasonable resolution. I am also representing students accused of COVID-19 violations at many other schools from earlier in the disciplinary process which will always allow for the best prospect of a fair process and a favorable outcome.)
- NY Daily News - Trans woman who spent 11 days in Florida men’s jail over unpaid traffic tickets sues sheriff’s office for mistreatment - August 28. 2020
- ABC News - University of Notre Dame changes 'battle plan' after rise in COVID-19 cases - August 27 2020 (Preventing outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus is obviously important, but many schools, including the University of Notre Dame, are taking severe action against students accused of non-compliance with campus COVID-19 protocols. I represent students at Notre Dame facing "'severe disciplinary action,' including dismissal", for what would arguably be considered marginal non-compliance at best, and I am working to achieve a positive outcome. In addition, the school itself has not always set the best example, with the "university's president apologizing...after failing to comply with the school's recommended social distancing guidelines while taking selfies with students." Regrettably, schools cannot be relied upon to be fair or reasonable, and that is why disciplinary action, or any school-related concern, should never be taken lightly.)
- Duquesne University "The Duquesne Duke" - Title IX changes spark concern from DU students - August 27, 2020 (Having handled multiple Title IX cases at Duquesne University, Duquesne, as with many colleges and universities throughout the United States, is arguably trying to balance multiple interests, including its own, in creating new Title IX policies in light of the Title IX Final Rule going into effect on August 14, 2020. How Duquesne is responding to the Title IX Final Rule, in addition to its general practices in Title IX cases, raises serious concerns, however.)
- WUSF - Tampa Bay, FL - Transgender Woman Sues Pinellas County Sheriff's Office For Mistreatment In Jail - August 27, 2020
- NJ.com - Officers voice support of suspended N.J. police chief, call for reinstatement - August 2, 2020
- George Mason University "The Fourth Estate" - Students lobby for changes to computer science honor policies - April 29, 2014 (I am representing a student who was falsely accused of academic misconduct at George Mason University during the 2019 - 2020 school year. This article touches upon fundamental related concerns that have existed at GMU for years. Such concerns are not unique to GMU. False allegations of academic misconduct are made by colleges and universities across the nation.)
- Courier Post - Camden mom claims Boyd Funeral Home demanded 'ransom' to release son's body - July 2, 2020
- Penn Live / The Patriot-News - Florida man arrested in Pa. in connection with nationwide computer repair scam: police - June 20, 2020
- Princeton University "The Daily Princetonian" - Math TA posted false solution online to catch students in violation of academic integrity - May 26, 2020
- Newsweek - Ex-New Jersey Police Officer Who Is Muslim Sues, Says He Was Called 'Taliban' and 'Terrorist' - May 23, 2020
- The Hill - Muslim police officer sues department for discrimination, alleging his peers called him 'terrorist' - May 23, 2020
- Associated Press - 8 charged in home invasion, shooting of state trooper - April 28, 2020
- The Philadelphia Inquirer - 3 charged in shooting of N.J. state trooper in Salem County trailer park - April 28, 2020
- NJ.com - Man charged with attempted murder in shooting of State Police trooper investigating home invasion - April 28, 2020
- MSN.com - Man charged with attempted homicide in Lancaster stabbing - April 27, 2020
- Princeton University "The Daily Princetonian" - Student suing U. over expulsion for alleged Title IX violation will not be reinstated to finish academic year (I represented "Jane Roe" in the Princeton University Title IX case which involved cross-complaints and serious allegations against my client. "Jane Roe" was exonerated in the Princeton University Title IX case.) - April 26, 2020
- The Philadelphia Inquirer - N.J. Trooper shot while investigating home invasion, A.G. says - April 26, 2020
- NJ.com - N.J. state trooper was shot investigating home invasion. - April 26, 2020
- Lancaster Online - New Providence man charged with possessing, sharing child pornography - December 15, 2019
- Fox 29 - Philadelphia, PA - Mother, 5-year-old daughter missing from West Philly since mid-November - December 14, 2019
- University of Maryland - "The Diamondback" - The federal government has opened two new probes into UMD’s Title IX process this year - December 1, 2019
- California Lutheran University - "The Echo" - Reporting Processes, Title IX at Cal Lutheran: Three Women’s Stories - November 19, 2019
- The Press of Atlantic City - South Woods State Prison inmate sues over high-sodium, sugary foods - October 10, 2019
- Vox - What’s next for #Metoo? This college might have the answer. - October 10, 2019
- Daily Journal - State's prison food cruel, unusual, federal lawsuit says - October 4, 2019
- ABC 6 - Philadelphia, PA - Fiery tractor trailer crash shuts down portion of New Jersey Turnpike - September 29, 2019
- NJ.com - Tractor-trailer driver killed in fiery N.J. Turnpike crash - September 29, 2019
- WMC 5 - Memphis, TN - Rhodes College lawsuit ‘resolved’ - August 6, 2019
- New Jersey Globe - Ex-Assemblyman accused of stealing employee pension funds - July 15, 2019
- The Press of Atlantic City - Ex-Galloway construction firm employees allege administrators kept retirement money - July 12, 2019
- Daily Journal - Former employees claim NJ construction firm raided retirement funds - June 26, 2019
- Inside Higher Ed - Constitutional Due Process at Private Institutions? - June 25, 2019
- PA Post - A Philadelphia attorney bought a $3,500 gun safe in response to Pa.’s new domestic abuse law - April 30, 2019
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New York Times - Men stabbed by fellow inmate while handcuffed sue officers - April 3, 2019
- Washington Post - Men stabbed by fellow inmate while handcuffed sue officers - April 3, 2019
- Associated Press - Men stabbed by fellow inmate while handcuffed sue officers - April 3, 2019
- NBC 4 - Columbus, Ohio - Men stabbed by fellow inmate while handcuffed sue officers - April 3, 2019
- ABC National News - Feds target ex-con ‘attorney imposter' for allegedly preying on undocumented immigrants - March 14, 2019
- ABC 6 - Philadelphia, PA - I-95 crash leaves Millville teen dead, 4 others injured in Philadelphia - February 24, 2019
- NJ.com - Fugitive wanted in Hard Rock Atlantic City shooting arrested in Georgia, cops say - February 14, 2019
- NJ.com - Students urge Rutgers to strip tenure from professor accused of sexual misconduct - February 13, 2019
- Associated Press -Student pleads guilty to starting dorm fire at NJ university - February 10, 2020
- U.S. News and World Report - Student Pleads Guilty to Starting Dorm Fire at NJ University - February 10, 2020
- NJ.com - Shooting at Hard Rock Atlantic City injures 1 - February 2, 2019
- Associated Press - Video shows brutality of knife attack on helpless inmates - January 25, 2019
- Rutgers University - "The Daily Targum" - Professor returns amid sexual assault lawsuit - January 22, 2019
- George Washington University - "The GW Hatchet" - Proposed Title IX guidelines could force GW to abandon single-investigator model - November 19, 2018
- WDAM 7 - Hattiesburg, Mississippi - USM football player reinstated by federal court - October 15, 2018
- The College Fix - Judge bans university from revoking accused student’s scholarship: didn’t get to cross-examiner accuser - September 27, 2018
- California Lutheran University - "The Echo" - DeVos Proposes New Era of Title IX - September 18, 2018
- The University of Montana - "Montana Kaimin" - Still Carrying that Weight - September 11, 2018
- New Jersey News 12 - Seton Hall starts probe into potential abuse at seminaries - August 23, 2018
- Reading Eagle - Wanted in Berks: Gary Jucks, Sonia Cartagena - May 26, 2018
- Rutgers University - "The Daily Targum" - Rutgers professor sexual assault investigation finds neither party can be believed - April 24, 2018
- NJ.com - Rutgers prof cleared of harassment, but mystery of stain on pants remains - April 23, 2018
- Rutgers University - "The Daily Targum" - Rutgers investigates sexual assault allegations made against professor - March 17, 2018
- NJ.com - Rutgers professor, 75, accused of sexually harassing 29-year-old student - March 15, 2018
- Philly Voice - Rape suspect's bail lowered after fiancée pleads for mercy days before wedding - May 2, 2017
- Philadelphia Court Docket - Case dismissed against suspect in "Geno's Steaks ISIS Attack" - October 3, 2017
- The Philadelphia Inquirer - Suspects in violent beating outside Geno's identified - October 3, 2016
- ABC 6 - Philadelphia, PA - Suspects sought in brutal attack outside Geno's Steaks - October 2, 2016
- Lehigh Valley Times - Suspect in 3 sex assault cases heads to possible trial - February 6, 2016
- Lehigh Valley Times - Man accused of raping child, sexually assaulting two others - January 8, 2016
- Philadelphia Inquirer - Conflict-of-interest removal of prosecutor confirmed - May 21, 2011
- Philadelphia Daily News - Source: A.D.A. pulled from case after being romantically linked to alleged drug dealer - May 20, 2011
- Fox 29 Philadelphia, PA - Suspects Lawyer Explains Bus Shooting - August 8, 2011
- Philadelphia Inquirer - 4 held for trial in bus strafing: Video captures targeted shooting at rider following his remark to a young mother. - August 5, 2011
- Philadelphia Inquirer - Passenger recounts shooting terror on SEPTA bus - August 4, 2011
There is always more than one side to the story, but regretfully, people at times judge without knowing all of the facts. I gave a voice to my client because she was being wrongfully vilified and was not in a position to defend herself - August 8, 2011



