News & Press
BENEFITS CARD TIES MAN TO CARJACKING
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, April 09, 2008 By Scott J. Croteau
RELEASE ORDERED FOR MAN JAILED IN SEX ABUSE CASE
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, September 29, 2007 By Gary V. Murray
RIVERA A VICTOR IN LEGAL FIGHT
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, May 05, 2007 By Gary V. Murray
COURT ASKED TO COMMIT EX-FOSTER PARENT
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, April 27. 2007 By Gary V. Murray
DIP FOR DOLLARS PLUNGE BENEFITS SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, February 4, 2007 By Matthew Bruun
SEX OFFENDER'S KNIFE SHOP DRAWS IRE OF LOCAL PARENTS
Clinton police receive complaints
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, January 27. 2007 by Karen Nugent
EX-SOCCER CHIEF FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MOLESTATION
Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, 01/13/06 by J.J. Huggins
A judge has found the former president of the Leominster Youth Soccer League not guilty of molesting a 12 year old boy..Davis’ attorney Bruce E. Hopper of Worcester, said the judge sided with the defense because Davis ‘was innocent’. ‘There is certainly a sense of some vindication and that he (Davis) can get on with his life,’ Hopper said Wednesday, ‘His name was out there and the accusations were out there in the press.’… Hopper said the boy, his mother and the investigating police officer showed up for the trial, but the only evidence they presented was their testimony. Davis did not testify, Hopper said. Hopper said the allegations ‘didn’t add up from the beginning,’ and that he didn’t know where the alleged victim came up with the story. ‘Whatever motivated this young man—it’s too bad, that isn’t what happened,’ Hopper said.
MOTHER’S DEFIANCE IS PRAISED
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 06 by Dianne Williamson
Maria Rivera-Ortiz, who practices family law in Worcester, noted that few judges would deny a parent contact with their children unless ‘clear evidence’ exists that the relationship is harmful…’Most judges take great pains to protect the rights of both parents,’ said Ms. Rivera-Ortiz. ‘And if there’s already an order in place, the judge will enforce it unless there’s a clear showing of harm to the child. Normally , the courts will only deal with what’s before them.’
RIVERA SUED BY FORMER MANAGER TANKANOW
One-Third of Fighter’s Future Purses Sought
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, April 19, 2006 by Bud Barth
Claiming he was assured verbally and in writing that he’d be Jose Antonio Rivera’s manager ‘for as long as (Rivera) continues to fight,’ Steven J. Tankanow of Worcester has filed a lawsuit against the boxer in Worcester Superior Court, seeking one-third of the former World Boxing Association welterweight champion’s future purses. Rivera said last night he couldn’t comment on the lawsuit. His sister, lawyer Maria Rivera-Ortiz of the Worcester law firm Bruce E. Hopper and Associates, said the suit ‘has basically no merit whatsoever and that will be proven in court.’
UPPERCUT LOOMS IN COURTROOM
2 Opponents Now Look For Rivera Knockdown
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, April 20, 2006 by Dianne Williamson
Tomorrow, the boxer and his former manager are due to duke it out in a court of law..The suit comes just three weeks before Rivera’s big fight May 6 against Alejandro Garcia of Mexico, a fight to be televised live on Showtime cable television. Yesterday, I cajoled an interview with Rivera and his two lawyers, Bruce E. Hopper and Maria Rivera-Ortiz, who also happens to be Rivera’s sister. ‘He was starving himself to make the weight, said his sister, Ms. Rivera-Ortiz. ‘It became apparent that financial issues were more important to Tank than Jose’s health.’ His lawyer, Mr. Hopper, added, ‘The timing of this is so cruddy. Mr. Tankanow has been grumbling and whining for so long and he did nothing. Now on the eve of Jose’s fight, he does this.’
HEARING HELD ON BOXING SUIT
Ex-Manager Asks Judge For One-Third Of Rivera’s DCU Purse
Worcester Telegram & Gazette, April 22, 2006 by Gary V. Murray
Judge Bruce R. Henry held a hearing yesterday in Worcester Superior Court on Steven j. Tankanow’s motion for attachement of Rivera’s contract with Don King Productions Inc. Mr. Hopper argued that the attachment was flawed procedurally. He said the request should have been filed in Florida, where Don King Productions is based. Mr. Hopper maintained it was unlawful to attach wages and said an attachment could not be granted on a purse that his client would not be entitled to until after the fight. Mr. Hopper cited Massachusetts Boxing Commission regulations, which he said required that all contracts between boxers and managers be in writing and be limited to three years. He referred to the federal ‘Muhammed Ali Act,’ which he said was designed to protect professional fighters from exploitive business practices. ‘They’re trying to exploit my client,’ Mr. Rivera’s lawyer told the judge.
Postcript, the motion was denied and the client was able to retain the purse proceeds. Mr. Rivera won his world championship title fight against Alejandro Garcia.
FORMER PRIEST ARRAIGNED ON INDECENT ASSAULT AND BATTERY CHARGE.
Associated Press, August 28, 2003.
A former priest in the Diocese of Worcester has pleaded innocent to charges of assault and battery of a person over 14. The Rev. was released on personal recognizance after his arraignment Wednesday in Brockton Superior Court. ‘Procedurally, we think this case doesn’t have merit because of the statute of limitations, and beyond that, we think the case doesn’t have merit because he’s innocent,’ said his attorney Bruce Hopper. A pretrial conference scheduled for Oct. 2 in Massachusetts, but Hopper said his client has permission from the court to stay in Florida on that date.
Postscript, after jury trial the client was acquitted.
ENGLISH-ONLY POLICIES PIT WORKERS’ RIGHTS AGAINST EMPLOYERS
Some see imposition of language rules as mask for antiforeigner sentiments.
The Boston Sunday Globe, July 2, 2000 by Diane E. Lewis
Former housekeepers Ursula Porga and Maria Henao quit their jobs, angered by an English-only rule. Attorney Bruce Hopper represents them. Porga is one of two plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging that prior to their resignations a manager mocked the women’s broken English, and Spanish-speaking workers in the hotel’s housekeeping department received unequal treatment. The lawsuit also alleges that Porga, who translated for non-English-speaking hotel workers at company meetings, has been blackballed by the city’s hotel industry because of her outspoken ways.
In filing suit the housekeepers joined a growing number of workers alleging discrimination on the basis of culture, religion, or language, in an ongoing battle in the workplace over English-only policies.
