------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prosecutor, public defender
salaries
"How much are we going to invest in making sure
people are properly prosecuted and defended? We owe it to ourselves
to use this commission to make it right."
MBA President Douglas K. Sheff,
Boston Business Journal, Dec. 12
Sheff spoke to the Boston Business
Journal about the MBA's newly appointed Blue Ribbon Commission
on Criminal Justice Compensation and bar members concerns about
"whether Massachusetts salaries discourage many talented lawyers
from seeking working in the public sector." MBA Chief Legal Counsel
Martin W. Healy was also quoted in the article, referencing the
MBA's 1994 "Striking a Balance: Adequate Compensation Effective Representation" report that "helped
prompt legislators to increase the hourly rate paid to private
attorneys doing court-appointed work among other changes."
"Massachusetts has lagged behind.''
MBA Chief Legal Counsel Martin
W. Healy, Patriot Ledger, Dec. 12
In an article about the MBA's commission, Healy noted that
Massachusetts lags behind New York, New Jersey and Connecticut when
it comes to salaries for state prosecutors and public defenders.
The article noted that former Congressman and Norfolk County DA
William D. Delahunt was one of several top leaders serving on the
MBA panel. MBA President Douglas K. Sheff was also included in the
article, where he stated: "The lack of proper compensation in our
criminal justice system is not simply a court issue; it is a direct
affront to the public's constitutional rights to a fair and speedy
trial and effective assistance of counsel."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business trade secrets
"This case is all about a company that had a lot of hope and
promise, but didn't have any profits."
MBA Vice President Christopher
P. Sullivan, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Dec. 5
(subscription req'd)
Sullivan, partner at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi,
provided outside commentary in an article about oral arguments in a
trade secret case recently heard by the Supreme Judicial Court. The
appeal involved a trial court judge's decision to exclude an
expert's testimony on future lost profits. Calling the issues
"fascinating," Sullivan, who is not involved in the case, said the
outcome of the case could affect the ability of start-up companies
to collect damages for predicted future lost profits.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------