GPS Tracking Like a Steakout
"Arson suspects Michael P. Dreslinski and John D. Rousseau, both of Clinton, had been spotted by police across the state since previous charges against Mr. Rousseau of setting five fires in Clinton were dropped last December and he was released from house arrest.

"Reports from various police departments and other agencies that the two 28-year-old men had been seen in the evening and early morning hours at various, far-apart cities and towns would be regularly posted on the Clinton Police Department bulletin board. Among the locations were Wayland, Sudbury and Rutland, and Greenfield and Rowe in the western part of the state. ..." [Read More]

Murder Case Challenges Witness Testimony
"A Fitchburg murder defendant's questioning of police procedures in interviewing witnesses in his case is the latest in what has become a trend in which lawyers doubt the accuracy of witness testimony and identifications. ... Worcester Superior Court Judge John S. McCann has held pretrial hearings that could last through next week in the case of John Y. Yang, who is charged with murder. Mr. Yang has questioned the same police techniques that are now being reformed throughout the state. The hearing is expected to continue today at 11 a.m. ... Fitchburg-based lawyer Edward P. Ryan Jr. has challenged the accuracy of witness statements and police handling of the witnesses. ..."

Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Sept. 15, 2004

Partial Settlement In Suit Alleging Priest Abuse
"Timothy P. Staney, formerly of Worcester and now of Wesley Chapel, Fla., has partially settled his lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon and Raymond Tremblay, a former religious education teacher. The lawyers involved would not discuss terms of settlement, but no paperwork filed with the court shows there was admission of guilt by Rev. Gagnon or Mr. Tremblay, or if any payment had been made. ... Mr. Staney and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne Staney of Spencer, were represented by Daniel J. Shea of Houston. Mr. Tremblay was represented by James J. Gribouski of Worcester. Rev. Gagnon was represented by Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg. ..."

Worcester Telegram & Gazette
June 3, 2004

'Fairness' Should Be Focus In Evaluating Judges, Lawyers Say
"The manner in which judges are evaluated is among the hottest topics for lawyers in 2004. With a steady drumbeat of criticism over the past several years, the local media has pounced upon judges who have made unpopular decisions ... Most members of the bar would like to answer these charges by demonstrating to the public what nearly every lawyer seems to agree upon: that while 'problem' judges certainly do exist, the vast majority of judges are very good at what they do. The [Massachusetts Bar Association] already had its toe in the water when it came to judge evaluations. In 2000, Edward P. Ryan became the first bar president to launch statewide judicial evaluations. The evaluations were conducted by mail and concluded that 92 percent of judges were doing a 'favorable' job. At the time, Ryan saw the effort as precursor to an annual procedure that might be expanded. But the bar presidents who followed Ryan dropped the project, and it has not been revived until now. ..."

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
April 5, 2004

Defendant Sentenced To Low End Of Guidelines Range

"A federal judge told a 22-year-old Worcester man yesterday that he is lucky: He will be getting out of prison while he still has some youth left in him. One more conviction, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton warned Nicholas Aghapour, and it may be a one-way trip to the penitentiary. Judge Gorton imposed a four-year, nine-month sentence on the shackled Mr. Aghapour on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition. It was the lowest possible sentence called for under federal sentencing guidelines, and it was agreed to by prosecutor Paul G. Casey and defense lawyer Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg as a result of a plea agreement. ..."

Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Oct. 30, 2003

Officers Applaud New Bike Equipment

"It was in the spring when Police Chief Edward F. Cronin, still new on the job, sought guidance from Main Street merchants at a community meeting at the Fay Club. ... The merchants said they wanted more of a visible presence downtown. Several months later, [Kit Tucker, owner of Roux Travel] and several businesses helped make that happen by donating to the Police Department's community support unit. ... The donations helped fund a new program in which police officers patrol downtown on mountain bikes instead of police cruisers. ... Close to $6,000 in donations -- with Mr. Tucker, Banknorth Massachusetts and attorney Edward P. Ryan Jr., of O'Connor and Ryan, P.C. on Academy Street, being the main contributors -- helped equip eight officers on the bike patrol. ..."

Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Sept. 3, 2003

New Drunk Driving Law Enacted

Under a Massachusetts law enacted in July 2003, a driver is automatically deemed to be legally intoxicated if an alcohol breath test showed a reading of .08 or higher. In addition, the new law, increases the initial license suspension for refusal to take an alcohol breath test from 120 days to 180 days and decreases the initial license suspension for drivers who take the breath test and fail from 90 days to 30 days.

Click here to read an overview of the new law.


NEWS
	GPS Tracking Like a Steakout "Arson suspects Michael P. Dreslinski and John D. Rousseau, both of Clinton, had been spotted by police across the state since previous charges against Mr. Rousseau of setting five fires in Clinton were dropped last December and he was released from house arrest. "Reports from various police departments and other agencies that the two 28-year-old men had been seen in the evening and early morning hours at various, far-apart cities and towns would be regularly posted on the Clinton Police Department bulletin board. Among the locations were Wayland, Sudbury and Rutland, and Greenfield and Rowe in the western part of the state. ..." [Read More] Murder Case Challenges Witness Testimony "A Fitchburg murder defendant's questioning of police procedures in interviewing witnesses in his case is the latest in what has become a trend in which lawyers doubt the accuracy of witness testimony and identifications. ... Worcester Superior Court Judge John S. McCann has held pretrial hearings that could last through next week in the case of John Y. Yang, who is charged with murder. Mr. Yang has questioned the same police techniques that are now being reformed throughout the state. The hearing is expected to continue today at 11 a.m. ... Fitchburg-based lawyer Edward P. Ryan Jr. has challenged the accuracy of witness statements and police handling of the witnesses. ..." Worcester Telegram & Gazette Sept. 15, 2004 Partial Settlement In Suit Alleging Priest Abuse "Timothy P. Staney, formerly of Worcester and now of Wesley Chapel, Fla., has partially settled his lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by the Rev. Jean-Paul Gagnon and Raymond Tremblay, a former religious education teacher. The lawyers involved would not discuss terms of settlement, but no paperwork filed with the court shows there was admission of guilt by Rev. Gagnon or Mr. Tremblay, or if any payment had been made. ... Mr. Staney and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne Staney of Spencer, were represented by Daniel J. Shea of Houston. Mr. Tremblay was represented by James J. Gribouski of Worcester. Rev. Gagnon was represented by Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg. ..." Worcester Telegram & Gazette June 3, 2004 'Fairness' Should Be Focus In Evaluating Judges, Lawyers Say "The manner in which judges are evaluated is among the hottest topics for lawyers in 2004. With a steady drumbeat of criticism over the past several years, the local media has pounced upon judges who have made unpopular decisions ... Most members of the bar would like to answer these charges by demonstrating to the public what nearly every lawyer seems to agree upon: that while 'problem' judges certainly do exist, the vast majority of judges are very good at what they do. The [Massachusetts Bar Association] already had its toe in the water when it came to judge evaluations. In 2000, Edward P. Ryan became the first bar president to launch statewide judicial evaluations. The evaluations were conducted by mail and concluded that 92 percent of judges were doing a 'favorable' job. At the time, Ryan saw the effort as precursor to an annual procedure that might be expanded. But the bar presidents who followed Ryan dropped the project, and it has not been revived until now. ..." Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly April 5, 2004 Defendant Sentenced To Low End Of Guidelines Range "A federal judge told a 22-year-old Worcester man yesterday that he is lucky: He will be getting out of prison while he still has some youth left in him. One more conviction, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton warned Nicholas Aghapour, and it may be a one-way trip to the penitentiary. Judge Gorton imposed a four-year, nine-month sentence on the shackled Mr. Aghapour on a charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition. It was the lowest possible sentence called for under federal sentencing guidelines, and it was agreed to by prosecutor Paul G. Casey and defense lawyer Edward P. Ryan Jr. of Fitchburg as a result of a plea agreement. ..." Worcester Telegram & Gazette Oct. 30, 2003 Officers Applaud New Bike Equipment "It was in the spring when Police Chief Edward F. Cronin, still new on the job, sought guidance from Main Street merchants at a community meeting at the Fay Club. ... The merchants said they wanted more of a visible presence downtown. Several months later, [Kit Tucker, owner of Roux Travel] and several businesses helped make that happen by donating to the Police Department's community support unit. ... The donations helped fund a new program in which police officers patrol downtown on mountain bikes instead of police cruisers. ... Close to $6,000 in donations -- with Mr. Tucker, Banknorth Massachusetts and attorney Edward P. Ryan Jr., of O'Connor and Ryan, P.C. on Academy Street, being the main contributors -- helped equip eight officers on the bike patrol. ..." Worcester Telegram & Gazette Sept. 3, 2003 New Drunk Driving Law Enacted Under a Massachusetts law enacted in July 2003, a driver is automatically deemed to be legally intoxicated if an alcohol breath test showed a reading of .08 or higher. In addition, the new law, increases the initial license suspension for refusal to take an alcohol breath test from 120 days to 180 days and decreases the initial license suspension for drivers who take the breath test and fail from 90 days to 30 days. Click here to read an overview of the new law.