Defending your life

There’s no more powerful human instinct than self-defense — of yourself, your family and your home. But that’s not surprising, considering that the world presents a chilling profusion of threats to cherished loved ones and prized possessions. So what happens when your instincts and the law intersect? We’re a long way from the days of frontier justice, when dangerous situations were settled by fists and guns. Vigilantes and trials-by-Smith & Wesson are strictly forbidden... More

Judge orders Hindu gods to testify in courtroom

Judge orders Hindu gods to testify in courtroom A judge in India has demanded that the popular Hindu gods Ram and Hanuman appear in his courtroom to give testimony in a real estate dispute. The argument over a 1.4-acre parcel pits temple priest Manmohan Pathak, who claims the land, against locals who say it was donated long ago to the gods. The case began in 1987 but was recently shifted to a “fast-track” property-dispute tribunal in the city of Dhanbad. “Since the land has been... More

Memories of a real-life paper chase

david.yas@exhibitAnews.com You’ve probably heard that law school is not the most pleasant thing. But are the stories of intellectual torture true? Well, yes and no, I guess. I attended law school in the early 1990s and had some memorable experiences with a couple of professors. Along with about 100 other students in the unfortunately labeled “C Section” of Boston University School of Law’s graduating class of 1993, I had Professor Daniel G. MacLeod for Civil Procedure and... More

The state’s top sports-law stories for 2007

david.frank@exhibitAnews.com Last year wasn’t big just for the Pats, Sox and Celts. It was also notable for those involved in various local legal-sports stories. In the spirit of year-in-review countdowns, here’s my list of the Top 5 sports-law stories in Massachusetts for 2007. 1. Ticket-Scalping Lawsuit Last October, District Court Judge Mark S. Coven ordered Admit One Ticket Agency to spill the beans on how it acquires tickets and sets prices. In what may be the only decision handed... More

7 tips for ordering Valentine’s Day flowers

Just when you thought the stress of buying holiday gifts was over for another year, February jumps out at you. Valentine’s Day. Sure, your sweetie may say: “Oh, don’t worry about that commercialized holiday. You don’t have to get me anything.” But when your significant other’s desk is empty, and co-workers are gushing over their beautiful bouquets, you’re in the dog house. So, flowers it is. But we have found floral fraud is flourishing. Here’s how... More

True or false? Crime in Massachusetts is dropping

david.frank@exhibitAnews.com With stories of mounting murder rates, record numbers of teens firing guns and brazen courthouse attacks regularly dominating the headlines, news that crime in Massachusetts has skyrocketed in recent years doesn’t exactly stop the presses. But this just might: Data collected annually by the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission shows that the number of individuals being convicted of criminal behavior in state courtrooms is down. Way down. Despite an 11 percent increase... More

Website zooms in on do-it-yourself legal services

You’ve seen that episode: The embattled victim, worn thin by the legal system, wary now even of his own attorneys, contemplating what will be left once the lawyers are done with him. “Criminy. They’re lawyering me to death!” Such portrayals of the intricacies of division of wealth have no doubt given pause to many a prospective beneficiary, prompting the question, “Couldn’t I just handle all this myself?” Well, welcome back to (what else?) the Internet, where... More

‘Expulsion of gas’ by co-workers immature, but not harassment

You can call someone a lunatic without having to worry about being sued over it. The Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled that the word is an expression of opinion, not fact, and thus cannot be the basis of a suit for libel or slander. An air traffic controller at Logan Airport once made a federal case out of “the expulsion of gas by male co-workers in her presence.” Her harassment claim was dismissed by a judge who found that “this behavior, however immature, did not exceed the... More

Should employers be allowed to deny jobs to smokers?

“I think they should because I hate smokers.” —Ying Juan Zenj, Boxborough “I smoke, and it would be terrible if I could not get a job. That downright seems tyrannical. It’s a personal choice to smoke or not smoke — and that has nothing to do with [one’s] performance ability.” — Allison Goldin, Belmont “No. It’s discrimination of some sort.” — Mary McAuliffe, Boston “No. It’s against their civil rights. They... More

Legal Briefs

Will website make jury duty a breeze? Jury duty. Even the most devoted citizens shudder at the thought. But now, thanks to a recently unveiled interactive website, prospective jurors in Massachusetts are the first in the country to have an online option for responding to all aspects of their jury duty. Those who receive a summons in the mail can access the website and confirm or postpone their service, request a hardship transfer or seek to be disqualified. The website also provides courthouse information,... More

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