TOM AND SUSAN MOORE, PETER MOORE’S PARENT, TALK TO THE PLANET … plus … THE BB RUNS WITH IT BUT WITHOUT A BYLINE
By DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI News and commentary
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, FEB. 2, 2012) — THE PLANET continues to stay in touch with the family of Peter Moore. The human dimension of the tragedy that befell Peter can best be appreciated by a father’s resilience and a mother’s heartbreak, each clothed in thanks for the good people of Pittsfield and Berkshire County who have rallied on behalf of their son.
Imagine one of your children, run down by a driver, nearly killed, and left alone at the side of the room with severe injuries on a cold, December night.
The Moores follow the coverage THE PLANET is giving to the Nilan-Moore Case, and they are grateful for the expressions and gestures of compassion and support. As morale boosters, they have incalculable effect, especially as the family copes with the perception (and likely the fact) that The System railroaded justice to protect the privileged daughter of one of the area least respected GOBs.
Tom Moore, retired captain of the Hartford Police Department, writes:
Both Susan and I want to thank you very much for your interest in and for your efforts on behalf of my son Peter. He is progressing slowly but is making some improvement every day. It still will be a long convalesce before he can obtain any semblance of the level of activity that he enjoyed before being struck by Ms. Nilan. He still must wear a cervical collar 24 hours a day for the next two months. He has two of them so that the one he wears in the shower can dry while he changes to the other.At this point in time, it is not the injuries he received as the result of being struck but the feeling of being let down or betrayed by the State Massachusetts and the Berkshire County Justice System that troubles him the most. Ms. Nilan not being held accountable for her actions erodes the confidence we all must have in our government and social institutions. Crime is always a challenge in a free society.Neither Peter, nor any of his family, wish to see Meredith Nilan incarcerated. However, I personally wouldn’t mind seeing her in an orange jumpsuit picking up trash along East Street in Pittsfield for several weekends. A probable cause hearing held by what I have been told is not a judge, in secret, without the benefit of a public transcript should never be acceptable. I have been informed that by statute this is allowed in Massachusetts so maybe the outrageover what happened to Peter could be channeled into legislation to correct this injustice. You could call it “Peter’s Law.”————————————————[FORMAT ISSUE: PARAGRAPHING IS NOT HOLDING. PLEASE IGNORE. THE WORDS ARE STILL GOOD. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE]Tom Moore’s words are worth repeating:“At this point in time, it is not the injuries he received as the result of being struck but the feeling of being let down or betrayed by the State Massachusetts and the Berkshire County Justice System that troubles him the most. Ms. Nilan not being held accountable for her actions erodes the confidence we all must have in our government and social institutions. Crime is always a challenge in a free society.”
Tom Moore nailed it with that last line, which we have italicized. It’s a point THE PLANET has been trying to make from the start — If we can’t count on the integrity of our courts, this “Nation of Laws” that we presumably are cannot function properly. Maybe that is the darkest aspect of the Nilan-Moore Case, this possibility-cum-probability that we are no longer a Nation of Laws. Perhaps it is over for We The People. Perhaps it’s true, that we don’t have a chance.
Peter Moore’s mother, Susan, shared these comments with THE PLANET last night:
To Jeff and Silence Dogood and the many others on this site who have expressed good wishes for Peter and his family I thank you. I also want to thank the many neighbors in your map who have come out to help. Robin has to work and juggle children and Peter’s appointments to rehab which includes walking in the mall. She appreciates the gift cards and dinner baskets from so many people she hardly knows. It helps to take the sting out of the lack of support from the judicial system –especially since tax dollars pay for that! We are waiting anxiously for next weeks opinion but no matter what it is, life must go forward. Peter still has many rounds of tests and perhaps more surgeries in the future. Getting back as close to 100% physically and mentally is what he is focused on so he can also be back at work 100% to support his family. And to those who have expressed concern for Toby, as long as you don’t try to walk him near the spot where Peter was struck, he is back to playing in the house. Toby was so excited to see Peter come home from the hospital that he wouldn’t leave his side. He pretty much stays by Peter all the time. Both of them are looking forward to the day they can go for a walk together again.
We thank Susan and Tom Moore for their graciousness.
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THE BORING BROADSHEET NAMES APPELLATE JUDGE
The Boring Broadsheet today ran a story about the Pittsfield Police Department appeal of the magistrate’s decision in the show-cause hearing conducted Jan. 12 in the Nilan-Moore Case.
Here is the link to the article.
Judge reviewing Nilan case; answer expected next week
A few things are interesting about this. First is, again, the highly unusual practice of running a news story without a reporter’s byline. The story credits “Berkshire Eagle Staff” for these words.
Why by “staff”? Why not name the person or persons who wrote this?
Is it because they do not want any names printed, to protect a reporter or reporters from GOB backlash?
Was the newspaper ordered to print it that way? If so, by whom, and, again, why? Is there another explanation?
Was the story written by someone other than an Eagle staffer and supplied to the paper with a “request” to publish. Look at the first sentence: “A Springfield judge is reviewing the appeal brought by Pittsfield Police in their attempt to bring charges against Meredith Nilan in an alleged hit-and-run accident last month.”
Why the odd wording: ” … in their attempt to bring charges against …” ?THE PPD is not attempting to file charges. The Pittsfield Police HAVE filed charges. They were successful in charging her. The show-cause hearing determined if the evidence backed up the charges enough to send the case to trial.
The online story reports on page one that Nathan Byrnes, the Westfield magistrate, was brought in “because of Nilan’s father’s position.” It doesn’t address WHO made that call and WHY they decided on Byrnes, of many other choices. The BB does say why Springfield District Court Judge William Hadley is hearing the appeal, claiming that Hadley is the judge who steps in “when the potential for a conflict of interest exists.”
Is that why Byrnes was selected, because he is the “go to” magistrate. Or was he selected for other more nefarious reasons?
The BB does not mention that Byrnes closed the hearing, keeping out public, press, Peter Moore, and Moore’s attorney, until the well into the continuation on the jump page. In the online version of the story, it makes NO MENTION of Byrnes hearing being closed, an odd editorial choice, for a couple of reasons:
(1) The fact remains highly relevant
(2) There is no physical limitation to story length in cyberspace. It’s not that they “ran out of space.”
With fewer and fewer people buying the print version of the BB these days and more getting their information from the BB online, leaving out that Byrnes closed the hearing strikes this media critic as a dumb move. Did they leave it out at the behest of the GOB as one of the “inconvenient truths” of this case?
One of our newsroom sources wouldn’t address why the story went without a byline. She did say, though, that THE PLANET’s coverage “definitely” played into the BB running the update today, particularly when we broke the news yesterday as it came from PPD Chief Mike Wynn. Our source clearly did not want to talk about the case when we talked, since she was in the newsroom and because she said the case had become “such a hot political potato.” She said somebody in the newsroom might be listening in.
The BB’s print version described Peter Moore’s head injury, in which he suffered brain damage, with the adjective “mild.” Perhaps their tolerance to pain and that sort of thing of much higher than the rest of us.
The BB says in the story that Judge Hadley “is expected next week to render a decision on whether to proceed with the case,” but it does not reveal how it knows that.
To date, the BB still has not published ONE letter to the editor on Nilan-Moore, nor has it published any of the photographs taken of the SUV Meredith Nilan was driving the night of Dec. 8.
——————————————————-
FISHING IT OUT: ANECDOTAL PORTRAITS REVEAL MUCH, THOUGH WE CAN’T SAY WHAT
THE PLANET has heard from a number of sources, none of whom will go on the record or allow their names to be printed with information on Meredith Nilan and Peter Moore. These include habits, driving record, alcohol use, and other aspects of personality. A definite pattern emerges when we hear people present anecdotal portraits of these two people, not alike in so many ways, who have been brought together by the events of Dec. 8.
Our sources include residents in the Winesap Road-McIntosh Avenue enclave off East Street in Pittsfield, where both live; colleagues; members of Berkshire Young Professionals, and others.
The information, which we are using as backgrounder, helps shed light on the understanding of the incident of Dec. 8 and the behavior exhibited by both Nilan and Moore afterward.
Peter Moore, 46, is a father, husband, and son of two great parents, Tom and Susan. His father is an honored, respected retiree of the Hartford, Conn., Police Department. Meredith Nilan, 24, is single, lives at home with her parents, and is the daughter of a man who has long been known as an Ultimate Insider in the game of Pittsfield politics.
————————————————————————
ONWARD INTO THURSDAY WE JOURNEY, COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS AND MOVING WITH A LIGHT AND GRATEFUL HEART, WHISTLING ALL THE WAY …
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Dan your really grasping at the Eagle article. Who wrote this ? Who cares? Im just glad that they finally wrote something.
it does matter it shows how far the corruption runs they control the court the media the money and the people the media is supposed to be non bias and speak out against injustice not lay in bed with it I care.
SCOTT
The decision to run a major news piece without a byline is extraordinary in the high degree. That’s just not how credible newspaper do business. Just last night, in my writing class, the Professor encouraged/advised/admonished his students: Own Your Words! For the BB to post this story without a byline indicates something — we don’t know exactly what, but we don’t think it’s any good.
and by media we do not just mean the BB. The Sturgeon show has not been able to bring themselves to discuss this either. Probably not Bills doing.
STEVE
Why are you “glad” that “they finally wrote something”? Why should someone be “glad” that their daily newspaper is doing its job, or at least trying to present a reasonable facsimile thereof?
If the Moore’s do not wish to see Meredith incarcerated then I don’t care either.. (as long as this is standard punishment for all from now on) Cliffy, however, is another story.
By my reading of the hit and run statute, if she is found guilty of hit and run with injury (and without death), the law says she must be incarcerated for “no less than 6 months.” I don’t see anywhere where it says the judge can choose to not incarcerate, so maybe this is where the Nilans are getting hung up and trying to pull strings. If she could plead and just pay a fine and do community service, perhaps she would have admitted everything, assuming that she is guilty, something that we not legally know. I am not excusing their legal maneuverings by any stretch here, but just saying maybe we’ve found the rationale behind their attempts to get this squashed. The statute says:
Whoever operates a motor vehicle upon any way or in any place to which the public has right of access, or upon any way or in any place to which members of the public shall have access as invitees or licensees, and without stopping and making known his name, residence and the registration number of his motor vehicle, goes away after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any person not resulting in the death of any person, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than two years and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
at most she’ll be given probation pay a fine and have it continued with out a finding for a year wanna bet?
@BD Some hit and run cases are difficult to determine,such as the driver leaves the accident scene to go a block to her house and then walks back to the scene.In this case where she thinks the scene is.
I’m sure they’ll hang their hat on the words “knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to,” claiming she didn’t know she had hit a person – because a deer or a dog could easily cause that human-head-like impression in the windshield. That’s if this new judge does the right thing and lets this go to a trial.
The Moores strike me as good, decent, hardworking people, the kind who pay their bills, live by the rules, shoulder their responsibilities, treat people with kindness, and have family love and loyalty. They are the kind of people you would want in YOUR community. Pittsfield is lucky to have a man of character and substance (that would be Peter) living there. His story has touched a lot of people.
Dan Valenti,
Are you going to attend the Judge’s hearing?
– Jonathan Melle
What judge’s hearing? There is no judge’s hearing – at least not yet — the judge “could” go the route of holding another hearing, but supposedly, any decision will not be made until next week. And even if he chooses to hold another hearing, who knows if that one will be open to the public or not? So what are you talking about???
Don’t know yet, Jonathan. As many forget, THE PLANET has many other projects going . We don’t know if there will be a hearing or if the judge will simply make a finding based on his review of the audio from the Byrnes show-cause and other evidence he chooses to look at.
the appeal is of the decision and the record, not generally any new information, it would be remanded back to the magistrate….I’m guessing in Massachusetts they don’t teach civics….
SHH — No – it would not be remanded back to the Magistrate! The judge will either uphold the initial Magistrate’s ruling and the case would be ended, or he will rule that there IS enough evidence to move forward and then it goes to the DA, or he decides to hold his own “hearing” and then make a ruling from there.
he’d like to see her in an orange jump suit picking up trash on the weekend ha, ha good one.
Yes – we should all be so very grateful that the BB wrote anything at all!! Finally… And after Dan already did… Who cares that they had to wait for GOB approval to do so? Who cares who wrote the article? Who cares how strange the wording is? Just be grateful that they printed anything at all… I know that I’m bowing in both thanks and respect — NOT!!!!
I picked up the Pittsfield Gazette last week and it was filled with information that the BB should be providing regularly. It told of everything the City Council voted on and what discussions took place. It told of both District and Superior Court cases. It told of the disgusting vacant lot property tax shocker, upcoming events and public meetings, Mayor appointments, current city news, Beacon Hill Roll Call (nice to have that from somewhere!). Every page had very pertinent information for a change! I will certainly be subscribing to this newspaper! Amazing that a weekly newspaper had much more pertinent information in it than a year’s worth of the BB!! It was a bit disappointing, though, that they didn’t mention the “knitting bee”…
And planetvalenti.com keeps us informed of all current issues that “we the people” have a right to know and most importantly, Dan doesn’t need to get any approvals from the GOB’s to do so!!!!
Thanks so much for this site, Dan – and please stick with this story. You have a LOT of backing from a LOT of people who are relying on you to do the right thing — and you ARE!!! It is SO interesting to watch these GOB’s get so nervous about this site that they start making threats… Very interesting, indeed!!!
I so agree with Molly DV. Keep with it
DIANA, MOLLY, et al
Thanks for your expressions of support. I contend there’s no cause for gratitude when the local daily has to be shamed (and beaten at the draw) into covering a story like this.
I would like to thank Tom and Susan Moore for taking the time to let us know how Peter is doing.I will be praying for him and his family.I hope that now, thanks to Dan, that the blind fold is being taken off the public and being put back on Lady Justice.That way she can be objective without fear,regardless of money,power or identity!
I join Joe in thanking Tom and Susan Moore for letting us know how Peter is doing (and Toby!!). I hope that they know that so many people will not allow the injustices of this to stand — we will not stop! Nor will our prayers for him and his family stop.
Good point on the name of the person that wrote the article being published. I remember Rep. Jakubowicz use to file that type of legislation back in the day. Maybe a good piece of legislation for TFB to grab on to, or is she the darling of the media that wouldn’t touch that? Sorry forgot she didn’t even read this blog….
Your “newsroom” source must not read the newspaper. Andrew Amelinckx’s byline is front and center in my copy of the paper.
We’re talking about the truncated, online version, published with much of the information missing and “Berkshire Eagle Staff” as the byline. Why wasn’t AA’s byline on the online version? Why was the online version missing so much information. Usually its the other way around. Usually, the print version is briefer because of physical limitations, and the online story adds much more. Not in this case. Also, this: We can’t reveal our sources in the newsroom there, obviously, but we will say that because we refer to this source as female, it doesn’t necessarily mean she IS female. We learned that from James Bond (007) and John Drake (Secret Agent Man).
@Abtakoma most people on this site no longer get the newspaper, only read online version.Speaking for myself I will not give them any of my hard earned money until they can get it right.
JT [REDACTED]
I don’t pay for it either. Don’t know if that makes me cheap or not Steve. If I find a copy at work I may drag it into the john and read it whilst taking a dump though. Andy only let’s them print what he wants printed not what the people need to know. If this policy were to change and it became a real newspaper like in the real world hundreds of the old customers might come back. I am not holding my breath.
Why would I pay for something that is, in no way, worth even a nickel? In addition, by purchasing it, I am supporting them and until they begin acting like a “real newspaper” and stop taking direction from the GOB’s, I will NOT support them!!! It has nothing to do with being “cheap”, but has everything to do with supporting or not supporting a newspaper that has absolutely no morals. And I choose to NOT support it. I believe that’s my right, and everyone’s right, to do. And I would strongly encourage the few who do still purchase The Berkshire Eagle, to consider NOT doing that until they can be the independent, non-biased newspaper that we expect and that we will pay for.
Then why do you people read it online if you don’t like what is written?
Dan what was so bad about what I said?
Steve, How can you ask the question of why people read the paper if they disagree with it? Please Mr. Wade you disagree with just about every article, comment and thought put forth here yet you feel compelled to comment multiple time on each one.
As for the BB not only do I not read subscribe but I also make every attempt to not shop at or use the services of those that advertise in it. Why would I put my hard earned cash into an enterprise that is going to then spend a portion of those monies with an enterprise that perpetuates this rubbish?
🙂
I’m not sure how we got from “no byline = conspiracy” to “oh, I only read the online version,” but Ok. [REDCATED] (btw there is a byline on the full version that they posted on their site this morning: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_19873674)
yeah now because DV said something we know how you guys work. (wink, wink)
Clever, ain’t it?
ABTA
Explain, then, why they would remove the byline and publish the story by “Berkshire Eagle Staff”? That is not an error of omission but an act of commission. There’s a reason. Who what, in thy razoodock, do you think it might be? Think.
And there’s yet another “put down” and intimidation from one of the “Good ‘Ol Boys”. It’s NOT working! Even though you’ve brought in even more people to do this, and even though you’ve made threats. It’s not working! Calling the good citizens of this city “crackpots” because they are voicing their outrage of this injustice, is just another example of the way you people work.
What we need to do to recognize that The Planet is head above heals, more trustworthy than the B B, and it’s shadowy conclave of a newspaper.
It was so nice to hear from Mr. Moore’s family and it finally jogged what has been rattling around in my noggin’ for over a month now – why is this name so familiar to me. And now I’ve got it. Peter’s wife Robin is a realtor. Not just any realtor but a wonderful woman who went above and beyond for me. I used to live in the Orchards and she was also a down-the-street neighbor.
These are good people, as we have all heard. But, I have to say putting a face to the name, remembering how fondly Robin would speak about her husband and kids and it makes it a bit more real. I cannot imagine what she has been going through while her husband heals.
That being said, it seems like everyone is always in a rush to have benefits for everyone from the mom who was burned out of her house, to the woman who chose to end her own life. So, were is the benefit for Peter Moore?
DEE
Your testimony about Robin Moore matches everything I’ve heard about and experienced with the Moores. They are described as wonderful, caring, compassionate people. I cannot say I have heard such glowing descriptions of Meredith or Clifford Nilan.
Your right Dee. At the very least… Pittsfield should be having a benefit for Peter Moore and his family.
DIANA
At some point, we should make sure this happens, as a show of support. Diana, will you chair the committee?
Chair it? Not so good at that sort of thing but will definitely be a worker bee. Much better at getting tasks done. I would be one of the hardest workers. We really need to let The Moore Family know that there are many good people here that does not support the GOB or the injustice that they were treated to.
DIANA
Thank you. We now need someone with experience with this sort of thing to step forward and be the chair. We will need plenty of worker bees, and we are ready to be one.
unfortunately the GOB folk got all the money
and they are probably contributing to the Nilan defense fund
Who knows what this Judge will rule. If its not a fix there is no way that he will not find cause to let this go to court, where it belongs. I hope the Moorse’s are looking into real good civil lawyer. Who knows when the facts are in there could be several people and places they might be sued. Starting with Cliffy, his daughter, where she was in Gt. Barrington, if there was a coverup anyone involved, including court personel. The civil suit might bring the truth out more than the criminal case. This won’t be over for a long time folks.
‘Concerned’, maybe you can answer this: Does Allium Bar have any legal liability if Meredith Nilan goes to trial and evidence is introduced that it was Allium’s liquor that got her sauced prior to her hitting Moore, if in fact she was drinking?
While, the Bar in Great Barrington and any credit cards used to pay for drinks could be called into play, and with Point of Service software it may be possible via inventory control to id exactly what drinks were poured and paid for on her credit card.
More Importantly is what could Mr. Moores attorney drag in to both court and discovery to show the jurors a pattern of cover up and control? Will he be given any latitude to drag in say Mr. Stracuzzi and put him under oath and ask …Was Mr. Nilan aware of what occurred in Maine… etc or any other issue that doesn’t pass the smell test? Just to show reasonable belief that a cover up is plausible and a pattern or mode of operation?
Just askin
JOE P
This case, if it goes to trial, could very well lead into Angelo Stracuzzi Land, if the Moore’s attorneys want to try to establish a pattern on the part of Mr. Nilan of using his power to unduly influence the behavior of the courts on behalf of friends and family. If that happens, all we can do is quote Keith Jackson: “Woah, Nellie!” Because then we might learn a whole lot more, putting these people under oath, about extracurricular activities involving young boys. This could be reason for certain people to use all their influence behind the scenes to “convince” Judge Hadley NOT to send this to trial.
girls like her do not buy there own drinks do they?
Ray While we all think she was DWI I don’t think she ever had a blood test to verify this. How could Allium be held accountable if there is no proof?
CONCERNED
If there is a civil suit, witnesses will be called and put under oath. You are correct: Maybe even more information will come out in that venue than in a criminal proceeding. Even if there is a criminal proceeding, there could also be a civil action as well. As you say, this case is a long ways from being over.
Here’s the link to the Berkshire Eagle story that Dan is referring to (as it’s no longer readily found on their site):
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_19870309
“as it’s no longer readily found on their site.” We are smoking them out of the woodpile, apparently.
MASSLIVE.COM — CONOR BERRY ARTICLE
Conor Berry makes a very good point that Meredith Nilan has never apologized to Peter Moore.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/springfield_judge_reviewing_hi.html
What I will never understand is why Hit and Run in not a felony charge in the state of Massachusetts. I was in a hit n run 15 years ago in the state of Georgia yet it was my car that hit another vehicle that pulled out in front of me and then they drove away. I was fortunate not to receive any injuries other than a bit of shock.
The police found and arrested the individual. I was subpoenaed to court as a witness and the judge asked few questions before declaring he would be held over for trial by a jury of his peers.
The judge then turned to me and asked me if I was ok and if everything was being taken care of financially. Fortunately, it had been by my insurance.
The other driver was deported before trial as he was not a legal citizen of the states.
This to me seems like what would be the normal judiciary process.
I just keep thinking about if Peter’s injuries had been worse and he was not able to contribute to society and support his family any more, how much more sad we would be and how she would still be free to fully enjoy her’s without consequence. (other than perhaps her self inflicted guilt)
Perhaps the federal pin may be too much in this case, but I would prefer a trial by jury to decide her fate based on all the evidence.
I wish Abe Lincoln had been more inspiring to us all. Honesty should always be a priority.
HEATHER
Beautifully put. “Welcome” to Massachusetts. This is the Massachusetts created by a few privileged, corrupt Big Shots. It does not represent all the good folks, who have been beaten down by the corruption and subterfuge. This is the fake Massachusetts that good people everywhere shakes their heads at. This is the fake Massachusetts that good people within the Commonwealth have to put up with. This is the fake Massachusetts that must be defeated. Peter Moore’s case assumes that level of importance. He has come to represent very “little guy” dumped on by The System. In this way, perhaps a lot of good will come out of Peter’s suffering.
The prickly Berkshire Eagle strikes again.
DV, I posted a Disqus comment today to the Eagle article about the Springfield judge reviewing the Nilan case.
I said the fact there are no letters to the editor published in the Eagle about the Nilan hit-run must certainly mean the case doesn’t hold water and there’s nothing to the allegations.
When I login to the Eagle now, I get the message: “The site has blocked you from posting new comments.”
WHOA!!! So much for “freedom of speech”!!!! I saw that someone wrote that any comment he makes that even references planetvalenti gets “moderated out” – he had to refer to this site in a shortened form of the name. So I tried it and for me, they didn’t even give me the usual “this posting is waiting for Moderator approval” – they just immediately deleted the entire thing!!! I couldn’t believe it!! It’s getting pretty obvious that some people are getting scared… Interesting that I usually get “Moderator Not Approved” on anything to do with the Nilan case, that I can’t even mention planetvalenti and it gets immediately deleted, but for the Capeless story, I had no problems whatsoever – I could say ANYTHING. LOL They are really becoming way too transparent! Running scared!!! Add to that the number of GOB’s coming out of the woodwork here, along with the threats, well we must be hitting on something, ehe?? 🙂
MOLLY
Yes, the BB is out-and-out censoring these types of comments about the case, and they will not mention this website. Any editor who allows a mention of THE PLANET to get through gets docked! Virally, the word is getting out: The BB is wholly owned by the GOB. That’s why they are heading into the porcelain commode.
This week we learned according to the fallen eagle that their idea of “public criticism” consists of one anonymous lawyer who used to work for another DA’s office, one anonymous random Pittsfield resident, plus one so called friend of a victim who just feels something more coulda-shoulda been done, witnesses or none. This blog and its followers apparently do no constitute a public criticism at all.
CHARLEY
Yes. They’re in denial about THE PLANET!!
Dan the next time you are on the Sturgeon show you should put in a plug for the Planet. Let all the listeners know it exists. If Bill will let you
They are publicly in denial of the planet, but the fact that I can’t type it’s name in a comment tells me that they KNOW it’s hurting them and that they are TICKED! Either have a place for people to input their opinions (ALL opinions) or don’t – this type of censorship is, in my opinion, not legal. And I’m not talking about threatening posts or vulgar posts – just well-written non-abusive posts that mention the name “planet valenti”…
Amazing. CAn anyone have any shred of confidence on the BB? Who would buy the paper, give them your money, or support advertisers. I think it was Joe Pinhead who said we should start boycotting advertisers to the BB. Hit em where it hurts.
On the other hand, I also posted a comment in response to the article about the guy who was sentenced to state prison for kidnap and rape of a girl with whom he worked but whom he allowed to go to work during the day if she would return to him at night because she was fearful he was going to kill her parents or some such.
It might have been my comment, “The Palookaville dating scene”, that got me banned.
yeah that happened to me so I created another account now I just use my real one.
First to Molly: Heard Speranzo will be back to work at the court on Monday,
Second: Checked with someone in Springfield area. I was told that the Judge that is reviewing the appeal is a good Judge. That there is no way, they believe he would be influence by anyone. They also said he is a lenient Judge however, so you never know how he might rule.
Well good to hear that he will finally show up!!! Thanks!
Yeah – I looked up Judge William P. Hadley and prior to being appointed a judge, he specialized in Personal Injury cases. So at least he is very familiar with this! From the little bit that I saw when I did a search on him, he didn’t seem to be too lenient – he revoked a bail on a fireman facing charges (that was previously set by another judge), sent someone else to prison – I didn’t look too closely, but my initial impression was that he was no pushover. In any case, I’m glad to hear that they believe he would not be influenced by anyone!!! Maybe there is some hope!!! Thanks, Concerned!!!
‘Concerned’, once Justice Hadley was assigned this case, does everything related to it now go before him and him only?
For example, if Hadley overturns Magistrate Byrnes and orders a new show-cause hearing, or if there eventually are any criminal proceedings, does Justice Hadley automatically preside, rule on motions, etc.?
well they did not seek out this guy because he was going to put her in jail. I predict the illusion of justice with a cakewalk penalty. If it even gets that far.
But not only is the justice system on trial here but perhaps this case could be used by the republican party as to why NOT to vote democratic. It is symbolic of the prevalent and rife corruption that is now it is eating its own.
If I was running for governor as a republican or any other party I would be waving this case like a flag as to why not to vote democratic.
DUSTY
Interesting take. There is a case to be made along political lines, as you suggest.
No – my understanding is that Judge Hadley rules on the appeal. He may, as part of that, want to hold his own hearing and for that, he will preside over it. If his decision is that there’s not enough evidence, then the criminal portion of this case is done. If his decision is that there IS enough evidence to move this case forward, then it gets turned over to the DA and as for the judge, the head of the District Courts will likely assign a judge that is in a different “court system”. From what I’ve researched, this is what should happen.
DV, the good news is that if Associate Justice William P. Hadley of Greenfield District Court is the straight-shooter he appears to be, then Nilan attorney Tim Shugrue may finally be able to build the addition to his house, the extra space wife Joann has been bugging him about now FOR YEARS. There may even be enough left over for a nice backyard Olympic-sized swimming pool (heated, of course). Another bit of good news is that The Nilans will have an open invitation to swim anytime they feel like stopping by. The bad news is: Guess who foot the bill for all this construction work!
Justice Hadley was appointed in June, 2005 by Republican Gov. Mitt Romney; in addition, Justice Hadley is a former chair of the Springfield Boys and Girls Clubs; teaches seminars in law; and likes dogs.
Ray Im suprised you didnt include what size shoe he wears and what his favorite color is!
SW: 10 1/2; Brown.
Link: http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/judgesandjudicialofficers/hadleyw.html
Link: ‘Dog groomer faces animal cruelty charge’
https://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/18978/MA/US/
Here’s a photo of Justice Hadley on page 2 of the Springfield Boys and Girls Club 2002 annual report:
http://www.sbgc.org/images/images/02ar.pdf
If Clifford Nilan is shown to have manipulated the system and gets fired it could disqualify him from the substantial State Pension he’s looking forward too.
SD
If, the operative word, if Nilan is shown to have used his influence improperly in this or any other instance, yes, there must be a consequence re: his state pension. Nada.
Molly again thanks for the information. I double check with person(s) down in Springfield area, asked them about “lenient” They said they should have said ” a fair Judge”, not lenient. There is difference and Im glad you gave your information and I checked back with this person(s)
True enough about the Berkshire Eagle. I am waiting for stories from the Eagle telling what the job market is really like here in Berkshire County, especially Pittsfield. The fact that for every job advertised there are often more than 50 applicants and of course only one person will get the job. The fact that while the Boston area is booming, the Berkshires may never recover from this recession and that the unemployed in this area have lost extended unemployment benefits because the overall job numbers for the out of work have fallen below a certain percentage due to the fact that the Boston area and its high tech work force paints a false picture of what the hiring market is really like here in the western part of Massachusetts. Lots of hiring in the Eastern part of the state and very little here in the Western part.
Also networking for jobs as in these Berkshire Young Professional gatherings have become just another way for people to get jobs that are out of reach for people in the Berkshires who don’t have the RIGHT CONNECTIONS. This is what getting a decent job in Berkshire County has become. It’s all about who you know whether friends or relatives and is hardly a fair system of competition for what few jobs do exist in this area.
Of course I won’t hold my breath waiting for articles like that to appear because the BB only prints articles that show the Berkshires in a positively warm and fuzzy light. Remember that we are Pleasantville here in the Berkshires and that image must not be shattered at any cost even if people have to hide their heads in the sand and avoid facing reality to maintain this delusion.
Not to mention the fact that the unemployment rate, as published, is extremely misleading. There are so many people who are now working at a part-time job making minimum wage after being laid off from a job that provided income and benefits to support their families. These people are losing their homes and can’t afford to feed their families. It’s awful.
In reply to Molly:
So true. I am one of those people who has been working temp jobs on and off, but I am unable to get back to full-time work which is what I need. Even the temp jobs are sporadic. Temp jobs used to be a way to work somewhat steadily until something permanent came along, but that is no longer true. Now the few temp jobs that do exist are scooped right up.
We need articles in our local newspaper that reflect what is really going on in the lives of struggling families in this area rather than the articles that the paper usually prints. Stories about the real struggles that people are facing…..not stories about knitting groups and way too many stories about sports teams.