Judge Refuses to Hear Ross Brothers Appeal of Fine for Lawn Decorations

Allegheny County Judge Robert Gallo refused to hear the appeal of Robert and William Ansell, who were fined $1,250 for not fully complying with a magistrate's order in May to remove offensive signs, lawn debris, seasonal displays and garbage from their property at 109 Fairley Road in Ross Township. 


Robert owns the home in which his brother, William, resides. 

Squirrel Hill magistrate Hugh McGough had threatened the brothers with a $3,000 fine but reduced the fine because the offensive signs had been removed.

At an appeal hearing on Aug. 22 before Judge Robert Gallo, William Ansell accused the judge of corruption and collusion, according to Ross solicitor Bonnie Brimmeier. Witnesses said the judge was clearly frustrated with Ansell and suspended the proceedings. A new hearing, presumably with a new judge, is now set for for Oct. 29.

Disputes among neighbors on Fairley Road have existed since at least 2005, when William Ansell erected an elaborate Christmas light display in his yard.

Robert Ansell accuses the township of shutting it down.

“It raised a lot of money for children’s hospital and Salvation Army, and to see it go this way? This is a township that bullies people,” Robert Ansell told KDKA.

But the township maintained back in 2010 that it never asked Ansell to stop the light show.
 
"We are not prohibiting him from having his annual Christmas lights display. He has had it for a number of years, and we have not ever tried to stop him from having it," former Township Manager Wayne Jones told KDKA TV in 2010. 

Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter. Check out some of today's other top stories here.