Lawyers Ordered to Apologize for Playing Recorded Screams in Philly Neighborhood

Federal Judge Condemns Predawn Scream Test as “Disturbing”

Lawyers involved in a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia have been ordered to apologize after they blasted a looped recording of a woman screaming in a south Philadelphia neighborhood as part of their case. The loud test, which took place on the morning of September 23, left residents rattled and led a federal judge to describe the situation as “deeply disturbing and potentially dangerous.”

U.S. Judge John F. Murphy issued the order last Thursday, directing the lawyers to deliver both written and in-person apologies to residents by the end of October. The hour-long scream test, conducted before dawn, took place near the intersection of South Broad Street and Passyunk Avenue, close to row homes and a day care center.

Neighbors React: “It Was Just Really Awful”

Rachel Robbins, a local resident, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the piercing screams were “so jarring” and “really awful,” disrupting the peaceful neighborhood. The day care center nearby was preparing to open when the loudspeakers began blaring the unsettling sound, further alarming the community.

The lawyers, representing a man suing the city for wrongful conviction and police misconduct, carried out the test as part of their argument in the case. Their client had spent 19 years in prison for sexual assault before his conviction was vacated in 2020. He claims he was attempting to help the victim, and a key issue in the case is whether the man could have heard the woman’s screams from two blocks away.

Judge Criticizes Lawyers’ Lack of Foresight

Judge Murphy sharply criticized the lawyers’ decision to conduct the test, saying their “disregard for community members fell short of the ethical standards by which all attorneys practicing in this district must abide.” Murphy emphasized that the loud scream test caused unnecessary distress to the residents and day care staff, noting that the situation could have escalated to a more dangerous outcome.

Apologies Demanded for “Transgression”

The judge’s order requires the lawyers to explain their “transgression” in their apologies and take full responsibility for the impact of the scream test. The written apology must address the harm caused by the disruption and acknowledge the inconvenience faced by the residents.

The legal team has until the end of October to issue their apologies. When contacted for comment, the lawyers representing the man suing the city had not yet responded.

This unusual incident highlights the sometimes extreme measures taken in civil cases and the importance of considering the broader community when conducting legal tests.