Category Archives: Miscellaneous
Research Links Boston Marathon Bombing Victims to Gulf War Vets and NFL Players
The Boston Marathon Bombing is still fresh on our minds. The victims may be more seriously injured than we thought. Victims of the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013 may have traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) similar to the TBIs sustained by Persian Gulf War soldiers and National Football League players. Recent evidence suggests that even […]
Nursing Homes: Massachusetts 19th, Alaska Best, Texas Worst
In a recent inspection conducted by a nationwide advocacy group, over three-quarters of Massachusetts’ nursing care facilities were guilty of at least one deficiency. The Families for Better Care (FBC) state-by-state report card cited the number of facilities with serious deficiencies ( 24%), and the extremely high number of verified ombudsman complaints (95%) in ranking […]
As a well-known politician said, ‘Trust but verify’
Loyalty to a client is an essential element of the attorney-client relationship. This relationship binds them through ‘thick and thin’ and against all other persons with conflicting interests. Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:07 and the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility Rule 1.7 state that an attorney cannot continue to represent two or more clients at […]
Impanelment
I have been struck by how eager jurors are to serve. Jurors are engaged. They make eye contact with the attorneys during opening statements. When a witness is on the stand, they look at the witness and listen to his or her words. I have also noticed that jurors seem especially intrigued by visual aids. […]
Statements of Intent
In Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Hillmon, the Supreme Court rendered a famous and controversial judgement concerning the admissibility of a person’s out-of-court statement. Rule 803(3) of the Federal Rules of Evidence deals with the famous Hillmon case, but it restricts its applicability. In Hillmon, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed evidence of person A’s statement […]
Civil Litigators… In the Beginning… Continued
New lawyers are equipped with legal research and writing skill. The question becomes, however, how does that translate into writing the memoranda or other document in the real life world of advocacy? Something like an offer of proof for court, a brief in the discovery process, or certainly a demand letter to a tortfeasor’s insurer […]
The Benefits of Blogging for Attorneys and Their Clients
Blogs can be a great way for people to tell their story. However, in order for blogs to be useful, they must contain valuable information. Unlike other forms of web content, blogs rely on short, concise sentences to relay accurate information quickly to surfers. Below are three benefits of blogging for attorneys and clients alike: […]