Archive for June, 2010

Disturbing Phone Call From Joseph Allen

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Dear Friend of Justice,

Yesterday my partner Jim and I had a wonderful lunch with Joseph Allen, NCRJ Treasurer Frank Kane, and an NCRJ supporter.

Less than half an hour ago I received a most disturbing phone call from Joseph Allen.

(Read about the Smith/Allen case here.)

Over a year ago, Judge James Burge rightfully ordered both Joseph and his co-defendant, Nancy Smith, acquitted.

Shamefully, this decision was appealed by the District Attorney and Ohio’s Attorney General.

If I understood Joseph correctly, the Appeals Court has decided to let Smith’s acquittal stand but has thrown out Joseph’s acquittal.

The reason: in 1994 Smith’s attorney filed a motion for acquittal but Joseph’s lawyer did not.

I am stunned by this news. But nothing about the criminally dysfunctional American “justice” system surprises me anymore.

I am trying to find information online but thus far I have not. I’ve asked Joseph to call me if he finds out anything more. If any of you have any relevant information, please let me know.

Sad and angry as I am, I haven’t given up hope.

-Bob Chatelle

Rosario Video From the Globe

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Click here.

Boston Globe Article About the Victor Rosario Case

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Dear Friend of Justice,

This case has long been sponsored by my organization, the National Center for Reason and Justice.

This was the lead article in today’s Boston Globe.

-Bob Chatelle

Back in Court With Bernard Baran

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Almost exactly three years ago —on June 22, 2006 —I was in a courtroom with Bernard Baran. On June 16th of that year, Judge Francis Fecteau had granted Baran’s motion for new trial. On the 22nd, Fecteau granted Baran bail. Baran had been brought into that courtroom in handcuffs and shackles and would leave the same way. But we knew he would soon be free.

The next time we were in a courtroom together was on February 12th, 2008. Berkshire County DA David Capeless had appealed Fecteau’s ruling and was determined to send Baran back to prison. The Massachusetts Appeals Court was holding a hearing on Capeless’s motion. While Baran was not in handcuffs and shackles, he was wearing a GPS bracelet and living under the sort of severe restrictions that now burden those sex offenders considered the most dangerous. He was far from a free man.

On May 15th 2009, Baran received a favorable ruling from the Appeals Court that was even stronger than the decision handed down by Fecteau. All charges were finally dropped on June 9th.

This afternoon I was again in a courtroom with Baran. But this time, someone else was the defendant.

Baran last January filed suit against his previous lawyers. The defendants are the estate of Leonard Conway (his trial lawyer), his appellate attorney (David Burbank), and Burbank’s firm at the time, Cain, Hibbard, Myers, and Cook.

Cain Hibbard has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Statute of Limitations prevents Baran from acting. Today’s hearing was on that motion. Cain Hibbard was represented by a Boston law firm hired by their insurance company. Baran was represented by John Swomley and Eric Tennen. The Judge was Leila Kern.

Judge Kern began the proceeding by stating that “Plaintiff has been horrifically served by the legal profession and by the prosecutors.” We were encouraged (but a bit surprised) by this remark. Baran even turned to me for confirmation that he was the plaintiff in the case. Kern also went on to make clear that her ruling would have to be in compliance with the Statute of Limitations.

Judge Kern, unfortunately, is very soft spoken and I couldn’t hear much of what she said. But I think I understood the gist of her remarks throughout the proceedings.

The insurance-company lawyer (who in my opinion did his job professionally but without enthusiasm) first argued that Baran would have had to file his claim against the trial lawyers within three years of his conviction and against his appellate lawyers within three years of the denial of his direct appeal.

The judge commented that requiring this of someone convicted by jury and serving a sentence would place a considerable burden on the plaintiff.

The insurance-company lawyer argued that there is no legal requirement for exoneration before someone can file a legal malpractice suit. He cited the example of a lawyer who neglects to bring a plea bargain to a client and the client ends up serving a more sever sentence as a result. In such a case the client has the right to sue without exoneration.

The insurance-company lawyer went on to argue that even if exoneration were held necessary, the Statute of Limitations would have started tolling on June 16, 2006, the date of Fecteau’s ruling.

Judge Kern said that the Commonwealth had appealed Fecteau’s ruling within the allotted ten-day window. She asked whether Baran would have needed to file his suit within that ten-day period. The lawyer countered that Baran could have filed at any time before the Appeals Court ruled.

He also argued the importance of the Statute of Limitations in protecting defendants from countering a lawsuit caused by actions that occurred decades ago.

Eric Tennen argued that the essential question in the case was: When did the damages accrue? One cannot bring a lawsuit if there have been no damages. And there were no legally provable damages until Baran was exonerated. Tennen argued that exoneration was quite different from post-conviction relief. Fecteau’s ruling did not exonerate Baran. Baran was still under indictment and these indictments were not dropped by Capeless until June 9, 2009. Only at that time did Baran have legally provable damages.

Tennen also pointed out that in cases dealing with events that happened decades ago the discovery burden weighs heavier on the plaintiff because it is the plaintiff that has the burden of proof.

I am not sure how long Judge Kern will take to rule. My impression was that she is sincerely outraged about what was done to Bernard Baran. But it is also my impression that her ruling will be carefully crafted to withstand the scrutiny of appellate review.

However she rules, I’m sure the matter will almost certainly be referred to the Appeals Court. And if the Appeals Court permits Baran’s suit to proceed, I predict that the insurance-company lawyers will offer a settlement.

Baran has suffered more than most people can imagine. There’s not enough money in the world to compensate him and his family for the pain the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cruelly inflicted upon them. We can hope at least that the terrible financial burdens that now weigh upon him will be somewhat alleviated.

Baran has also filed for compensation by the Commonwealth under a Massachusetts law that provides payment to those wrongfully convicted. These efforts are being vigorously opposed by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

NCRJ’s Four Lives Lost Case Accepted by Texas Innocence Project

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

NCRJ is pleased to announce that one of the cases we sponsor has been accepted for post-conviction work by the Innocence Project of Texas (www.ipot.org).

The case has four defendants:

Anna Vasquez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Elizabeth Ramirez.

In 1994 they were young women, ages 19 to 21, living and working in San Antonio, TX. None had any mental health problems or any criminal record. However, all were lesbians and one, Elizabeth Ramirez, was being pursued by her ex-brother-in-law, who wished a romantic relationship with her. Elizabeth rejected the overture but was close to her seven- and nine-year old nieces, the man’s daughters. She offered to care for them during a week in summer 1994, as she had in the past.

After the daughters returned to their father, he and his mother filed a complaint alleging that Ramirez and her three gay friends gang-raped the little girls over a two-day period in a sadistic, ritualistic manner. The man had previously made at least one complaint against others for allegedly sexually abusing his daughters. On investigation, authorities did not validate the prior report(s).

The four accused young women staunchly maintained their innocence and rejected generous plea bargains. Unfortunately they had mediocre legal representation, and their trials were conducted in an atmosphere of frank homophobia, both in the courtroom and in the community at large. In addition, investigators for the state suspected the four women were “satanic ritual” abusers, and they communicated this to prosecutors. “Junk science” medical evidence also played a major part in convicting the defendants.

The women have been imprisoned since 1997 and 1998 and are serving 15 and 47 years. There is concern that even if they finish their terms they will be civilly committed afterward.

NCRJ was alerted to this case by a concerned community advocate. We listed it over a year ago and are grateful that the Innocence Project of Texas has taken it on.

Find out more about the case at www.fourliveslost.com.

Please donate to NCRJ at www.ncrj.org so we can continue fighting injustices like the one perpetrated on these four gay women in Texas.