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Brockton courthouse bans cell
phones
"It really does hamper law enforcement efforts from
the beginning of an investigation all the way through to a trial.
We're concerned about witnesses being retaliated against for coming
forward. They're going to be less willing to come forward in the
community. People go in with the intent of using that cell phone as
a weapon."
MBA Chief Legal Counsel and
Chief Operating Officer Martin W. Healy, The Enterprise (Brockton), October 4
Healy was quoted in a piece about a
ban on cell phones that will go into effect on December 1 at
Brockton District Court. There are now 30 courthouses in the state
that have banned cell phones. "It is a very dangerous thing. It
will prevent people from being willing to come forward in criminal
trials," added Healy.
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Tsarnaev friend using marijuana
defense
"If they
are trying to convince the jury that this wasn't a thought-out
scheme -- it was just that he wasn't thinking clearly and was
nervous on top of that -- this can only enhance that argument. I
think it's a smart move by the defense. It's clear that they want
to paint him as a kid who wasn't thinking clearly, and not a
diabolical schemer out to throw the police off
track."
MBA Criminal Justice Section
Vice Chair Peter Elikann, Boston Herald, October 7
Elikann spoke to the Herald about the defense of Robel
Phillipos, who is accused of lying to investigators during their
investigation of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The defense
team for Phillipos claims that he was smoking marijuana on April
18, 2013 when he was allegedly in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's dorm room
with Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev.
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No-fault auto insurance
"The idea behind no-fault
was, let's put a limit on what people can sue for, and then we'll
eliminate small claims, and people will save money."
MBA Past President Kathy
O'Donnell, NerdWallet.com, Sept. 25
O'Donnell was quoted by financial news site NerdWallet.com in a
piece on no-fault auto insurance. A total of 12 states, including
Massachusetts, introduced no-fault auto insurance to lower costs,
but results have been mixed. "It really has created an
administrative nightmare in terms of claims, and the costs are
passed on to consumers. Therefore, premiums increase," added
O'Donnell.
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Of note:
- MBA President Marsha V. Kazarosian appeared as a guest live on
FOX 25 to analyze the legal ramifications of a proposed flu shot
mandate for employees at Brigham & Women's Hospital (Sept.
26).
- Kazarosian was also featured in Armenian Weekly in advance of an
October 6 speaking engagement at a meeting of the St. James
Armenian Church Men's Club (Oct. 1).
- MBA Criminal Justice Section Vice Chair Peter Elikann also
recently made appearances as a guest on FOX 25. Elikann discussed
Catherine Greig being summoned before a grand jury investigating
the hidden funds of Whitey Bulger (Sept. 29) and the beginning of
jury selection in the trial of Robel Phillipos (Sept. 29).
- MBA members Michael S. Gove and Susan A. Mielnikowski were
featured in the monthly legal Q&A column in the Springfield Republican/MassLive.com. ("Ask the
Experts: Timeshare issues? Consult attorney where it is located -
Oct. 2).