Myths of the legal system: Don’t believe the hype

david.yas@exhibitAnews.com Don’t believe the hype. That advice was first offered to the American public, however abrasively, by the rap group Public Enemy sometime in the 1980s. But it still holds water today. Urban myths are usually false. The actor who played Mikey on those Life cereal commercials did not die after ingesting a lethal dose of Coca-Cola and Pop Rocks; there are no Satanic messages hidden in Disney movies; and no one is interested in drugging you for the purpose of removing... More

Robbery attempt foiled by Miss America 1944

Robbery attempt foiled by Miss America 1944 An Ohio man has been charged with attempting to loot scrap metal near Waynesburg, Ken., after being apprehended by the woman who won the Miss America pageant in 1944. Venus Ramey, 82, says she was alerted to the theft on her tobacco farm by her dogs. She says she got in her truck and drove to the building that was being looted, blocked an SUV and stepped out of her vehicle with a .38-caliber revolver. According to Ramey, the man, Curtis Parrish, told her... More

A call reversed

On a recent Monday morning, listeners tuning into WEEI sports radio were treated to something they hardly ever hear on the station: an apology. John Dennis, co-host of the No. 1-rated “Dennis & Callahan” show, apologized over the airwaves for accusations he and his partner, Gerry Callahan, had made earlier against a sitting judge, retired judge and high-ranking state prosecutor. (See page 21 for text of retraction.) “It’s a pretty extraordinary event for radio talk-show... More

Need a lawyer? Here’s where to start

If you’re looking for a lawyer, chances are it is not the most stress-free time of your life. And with every Tom, Dick and Harry hanging up legal shingles, and aggressive suits pandering to you during your daytime soaps, how’s a person to choose? More importantly, how do you avoid losing your shirt in the process? Exhibit A asked several “legal eagles” to set the record straight about everything from contracts to outrageous legal fees. Here’s what they had to offer. Edward... More

Off course

david.frank@exhibitAnews.com A swing that misses its mark on a golf course can damage more than a player’s handicap. Occasionally, errant shots have been known to strike other players, crack car windshields and sail through (closed) living-room windows — resulting in legal trouble for those who delivered the poorly aimed fades and nasty slices. But when it comes to personal-injury lawsuits — in which golfers are sued for shots that allegedly hit and hurt other people — several... More

Bringing a case in small claims court

noah.schaffer@exhibitAnews.com Looking to sue the repair shop that recently charged you $1,200 for not fixing your car? The good news is that anyone who wants to sue an individual or business for an amount under $2,000 can have his or her day in court by way of a simplified process that doesn’t require an attorney. The bad news? The victory — assuming there is one — may turn out to be moral only, since collecting an award from small claims court is not necessarily easy. Following... More

Should pit bulls be outlawed in Massachusetts?

“No, because they are a legal breed, and they’re just used for fighting.” — Darius Morris - Boston “I actually do think pit bulls should be outlawed in Massachusetts because I’ve known quite a few people who have had unpleasant experiences with them in the past.” — Sean Coleman - Brighton “Pit bulls are being trained to be vicious animals. Even the nice ones in a nice family — we’ve been hearing that they’ve been attacking people.... More

Legal Briefs

Official warns of dastardly deeds Buyer beware: the Southern Essex County register of deeds warns that scammers are going after homeowners once again. According to Register of Deeds John L. O’Brien, residents of the county’s 34 cities and towns should be aware of a rip-off scheme that first surfaced last March. Under the scam, which the register said “may be legal, but is highly unethical,” a company calling itself National Deed Service, Inc., of Washington, D.C., is sending... More

Spitting into the wind proves rapist’s undoing

Expectorating on public sidewalks is against the law in Massachusetts — a law that a convicted rapist probably wishes he had abided by. After spitting on a sidewalk, the man lost his constitutionally protected privacy right in his saliva so that it could be analyzed for DNA evidence and used against him in a rape trial. The man in question was suspected of raping a mentally disabled girl. After he refused to take a DNA test, the victim’s family hired a private investigator to follow him When... More

Nothing Flake-y about this lawyer

Q. As vice president and chief operating officer at a sports and entertainment agency, you must have some celebrity clients. Who has been your highest-profile client? A. Carlton Fiske [catcher for the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox] — he played more years as catcher than almost anybody — and Cam Neely, who played for the [Boston] Bruins.   Q. How did they find you and your company, Blue Sky Sports & Entertainment? A. Both of them have been clients for a long time …... More

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