On Sunday, June 8, 2025, PennLive.com reported that a judge in Pennsylvania has initiated a lawsuit against a criminal defendant from California, alleging that he is conducting a smear campaign filled with falsehoods aimed at damaging her reputation.
Judge Lori Hackenberg, who serves as the president judge of Snyder and Union counties, filed the lawsuit against Daniel Bozin, a Beverly Hills resident, along with his companies, Bozin Media Group and Bozin Holdings, in the U.S. Middle District Court.
In her legal complaint, Judge Hackenberg is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, asserting that Bozin’s actions have placed her in a misleading light before the public. The conflict reportedly began after Judge Hackenberg issued a bench warrant for Bozin’s arrest due to his failure to appear in court for scheduled proceedings.
According to the lawsuit, following the issuance of the bench warrant, Bozin allegedly launched a series of defamatory attacks against the judge. These attacks include manipulating a grieving mother into making false accusations against Hackenberg regarding the death of her son. Bozin is accused of attempting to blackmail Snyder County and its judicial system in an effort to have the charges against him dismissed.
The complaint details several specific accusations made by Bozin against Judge Hackenberg. He purportedly accused her of corruption, leading to the creation of a petition on Change.org calling for her impeachment. Furthermore, Bozin allegedly spread false claims that Judge Hackenberg received payments similar to those received by two Luzerne County judges convicted of accepting bribes for incarcerating children in for-profit facilities. Other accusations include fabricating stories about Judge Hackenberg’s minor daughter hosting underage drinking parties and orchestrating local media articles that misrepresented her conduct.
The lawsuit highlights Bozin’s alleged efforts to maximize the impact of his smear campaign against both Snyder and Union counties. Judge Hackenberg contends that, as a result of Bozin’s actions, she is now unjustly perceived as corrupt, responsible for a child’s death, and involved in bribery and condoning underage drinking.
Bozin, who is 47 years old, faces criminal charges related to harassment and stalking of a Geisinger employee. He was charged on November 20, 2023, but failed to appear for court proceedings, leading to the bench warrant issued by Hackenberg on February 1, 2024. He neglected to show up for his formal arraignment on April 29, 2024.
The lawsuit also references a custody case that was ongoing before Judge Hackenberg, involving a child whose father, an oncologist, was relocating to Florida. Hackenberg ruled that the father would have primary custody, a decision that was upheld by higher courts. The child tragically passed away on March 2, 2024, while his mother was in Israel, and a criminal investigation concluded that there was no foul play involved.
Bozin allegedly exploited the mother’s dissatisfaction with the custody ruling to launch a campaign against Hackenberg, framing it as a means to retaliate for the bench warrant issued against him. The complaint describes how Bozin left threatening messages at local courthouses, indicating he would use his media resources to damage Hackenberg’s career unless his case was dismissed.
Judge Hackenberg’s complaint includes evidence of Bozin’s smear campaign, featuring images that portray her in a derogatory manner. She claims that his actions represent a deliberate scheme to tarnish her reputation, leading to significant emotional distress.
In addition to her damages claim, Hackenberg is requesting that Bozin and his companies preserve all relevant documents and communications related to the case, which is now assigned to Judge Matthew W. Brann in Williamsport. A new judge will also take over Bozin’s criminal case in Snyder County, following recusal by Hackenberg and another judge last August.
Source: PennLive.com
