Record bail set for the man once known as Rockefeller

From Lawyers Weekly correspondent David Frank: It may take the help of some resourceful friends, but if Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, a.k.a. Clark Rockefeller, wants a shot at freedom, he can have it for a cool $50 million. Following his arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court this morning, Gerhartsreiter, facing charges arising out of... More

We Need to be Smart on Crime, but Jessica’s Law Isn’t the Answer

by Cynthia Stone Creem Being the only “no” vote on a crime bill named in memory of a little girl is a tough spot to be in for an elected official, but that is my situation after the Senate overwhelmingly passed “Jessica’s Law.” For 10 years I have been deeply involved in reforming the state’s sex offender laws, and we have made Massachusetts safer for children. Unfortunately, and in spite of its popularity, Jessica’s Law has serious flaws and will do little... More

Lawyers, guns and politics

In a decision issued in June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals the right to bear arms for non-military uses. Gun-control advocates reacted strongly, fearing that gun-rights supporters would now have a powerful new legal tool at their disposal to strike down laws regulating firearms across the nation. A... More

Social Sites Can Pose New Challenges for Employers

Over the last few years, employers have had to deal with the implications of the expanding digital age and its encroachment into the workplace. Employers have revised policies and procedures to encompass BlackBerrys, cell phones and the Internet, as used during work hours and to conduct work during off hours. Now, as these technologies have become commonplace, along comes the explosion of “social network” and a new set of legal challenges. Social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace,... More

Should perfume be allowed in the workplace?

“An allergy should be handled by HR, but other than that it should be a case-by-case issue. I’d rather smell perfume than something else.” — Joe Donovan Boston “Some people can really smell strong and offensive. I like perfume, but the more you wear it, the less you can smell it. This can be uncomfortable in small environments.” — Lori Markus Toronto, Canada “Perfume shouldn’t be used in the workplace if it’s bothering someone. It’s similar to someone with a peanut allergy;... More

Brushing up on hisotry of the comb-over

A federal judge in Florida once ordered two bickering attorneys to play “rock, paper, scissors” on the courthouse steps to resolve a dispute about where to hold a deposition. The “comb-over” was patented in 1977. It is illegal to molest butterflies in Pacific Grove, Calif. A second-grade teacher has sued to get her job back after she was... More

Exhibit A News moves to web-only delivery

With a growing online readership, Lawyers Weekly today announced changes to two of its Boston-based products. LawyersUSA, the national news source for attorneys, is expanding its Web offerings and reducing its traditional reliance on print delivery to its readers. Exhibit A, the Boston-based year-old monthly news magazine about the law, will soon move entirely to the Web. “We’re going where our readers are going,” said Susan Bocamazo, publisher of LawyersUSA. “Lawyers increasingly... More

Class of Their Own: Law of School

Labor Day. For many in Massachusetts it means one thing only: back to school to learn a lot of stuff, most of it useful, some not so much. But one thing they don’t teach you is that classrooms and lecture halls are governed by their own set of laws, and students, whatever their age or grade level, are subject to a different legal system than those on the “outside.” In order for a student to get justice, it helps to know how the system works. After all, knowledge is power - or so... More

No cash windfall after tumble from window

If your child falls out of a window and sustains injuries while playing at a neighbor’s house, you may recover nothing, according to one recent case. A Worcester mother contacted the woman next door and arranged to go shopping with her. During the shopping expedition, the mother left her daughter at the neighbor’s home in a three-decker.... More

The write stuff; For Quincy lawyer, writing well-received crime novel at night all in a day’s work

Raffi Yessayan Age: 39 Profession: Criminal defense lawyer in Quincy Claim to fame: Author of recently published Boston-based crime novel “Eight in the Box” Q. You’re a former Suffolk County prosecutor. Was there a particular case you handled that was the inspiration for “Eight in the Box”? A. No, it’s pure fiction. I never worked on a serial-killer case. Fortunately, we haven’t had one that I know of. Q. How did you find time to write a book and work at... More

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