Commonwealth v. Bryan (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-016-17)
Judge did not abuse discretion in declaring mistrial after defense counsel intentionally violated order excluding evidence of co-occupant's prior firearm conviction.
Category SJC Opinions
Commonwealth v. Edwards (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-015-17)
Officer lawfully stopped vehicle based on reliable witness report of armed individual combined with suspicious late-night conduct in high-crime area.
Bridgeman, et al. v. District Attorney for the Suffolk District, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-014-17)
Court rejects global remedy for 20,000+ drug convictions tainted by rogue chemist; adopts three-phase protocol requiring adequate notice, appointed counsel, and prosecutor-led case review.
Commonwealth v. Caruso (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-013-17)
Murder conviction affirmed where defendant sent pipe bomb to ex-restaurant coworker. Jailhouse informant properly testified; computer evidence reliable; prior victim testimony satisfied confrontation clause.
Commonwealth v. Gernrich (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-011-17)
Deputy sheriff is not a police officer under statute prohibiting false crime reports. Reversed; judgment of not guilty entered.
Genentech v. Commissioner of Revenue (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-012-17)
Biotech company qualifies as manufacturer under tax law. Single-factor apportionment formula does not violate commerce clause; applies uniformly to all manufacturers.
Commonwealth v. Calvaire (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-010-17)
Dismissal date for incompetent defendant calculated using Superior Court maximum sentence regardless of court where prosecution pending; statute constitutional.
Commonwealth v. Meneus (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-009-17)
NOTICE: All slip opinions and orders are subject to formal revision and are superseded by the advance sheets and bound volumes of the Official Reports. If you find a typographical error or other formal error, please notify the Reporter of…
Commonwealth v. Horne (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-008-17)
Conviction vacated where expert testimony describing typical physical characteristics of crack cocaine addicts used to prove defendant was dealer, not user.
Commonwealth v. Grassie (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-006-17)
Murder conviction affirmed where evidence showed defendant invited fight, positioned himself to fight vastly outnumbered, carried concealed knife, and stabbed brothers with preexisting intent.