Center City trial lawyer George Bochetto said, if monies were awarded in the wrongful death lawsuit brought against the city, the girls' siblings could get a cut.

During a Center City news conference, the attorney attempted to clear the air about the lawsuit brought against the city's Department of Human Services.

Mr. Bochetto demanded a public apology from the mayor, the district attorney and the local media for "their factually inaccurate and intentionally inflammatory reporting" of Ms. Kelly's death case.

Last week, Mr. Mildenberg hired Mr. Bochetto to help him address claims about the media's and the city's depiction of his representation of the girl's estate as well as her parents. Mr. Mildenberg claims to have received death threats, and his reputation has allegedly been smeared, even though he admitted the wrongful death suit could amount to monetary damages for Ms. Kelly's parents.

Mr. Mildenberg and Eric Zajac, the two lawyers hired in the civil suit, acknowledged Andrea and Daniel Kelly could potentially benefit should they be exonerated from pending criminal neglect and homicide charges. The lawyers claim to have negotiated, with Ms. Kelly's parents, a settlement of one-third of any judgment to a trust fund for her 11 siblings.

"The siblings of young Danieal Kelly are entitled to compensation," Mr. Bochetto told the press. "I don't think I have to tell anybody just how destitute and poor these siblings are."
Any monetary decision for the children would be contingent on the parents' receiving an award.

When news broke of the parents' wrongful death suit last week, Mayor Michael A. Nutter called it "insane, obscene and disgusting." When asked if he would issue a public apology yesterday, Douglas Oliver, the mayor's press secretary, said the mayor stands by his comments.

"This sad, sickening legal circus deserves no further attention or comment," the mayor said. District Attorney Lynne Abraham released a statement saying she would not comment on the civil suit, but she remains focused on the criminal charges brought forth in the grand-jury report.

News articles and Internet blogs call Mr. Mildenberg a "money-grubbing lawyer," a "hearse chaser," etc. Mr. Bochetto called the charges lies.

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