Book Description
This is a state-specific paralegal text and Study Guide that takes the student chronologically through the litigation process, covering not only the information necessary, but the experience of researching online, analysis, and producing work product just as paralegals do every day in litigation law offices.
Customer Reviews:
Good material---but Outdated.......2004-03-17
The title of my review says it all: the text and the study guide were fine at the time they were published in 1996, but this is 2004 and a great deal has changed in California's court system from the vantage of civil procedure. The publisher should have updated this book no later than 2000 when the courts were administratively unified; additionally, local and state rules of procedure have been dramatically altered to place greater emphasis on ADR (alternative dispute resolution) and the rules regarding Fast-track litigation have likewise undergone significant changes.
In short, a book which purports to teach the nuts and bolts of litigation procedure needs to be revised whenever there are major changes in the procedural law, as has been the case in California.
With that said, the examples, the case studies, and the explanations make this Study Guide an invaluable companion to the main textbook.
Next best thing to the law library.......1999-09-30
I bought this book in preference over several other self help law books I examined after I fired my lawyer and went in pro per. Lots of really helpful, accessible, thorough, and friendly information. In fact it was so good that I promised myself I would write its first online review. You won't get much help on how to act in court, though, as only attorneys can do that and not paralegals, who it was written for. But don't listen to me I'm not an attorney. My lesson in all of this was to stay out of court in the first place.
Customer Reviews:
Snapshots of the Trial.......2006-12-23
Joseph Bosco is a journalist who has written other books on true crime. He tells the story as he sees it. The `Acknowledgments' thanks the prosecution team, the defense team, the Sheriff's Office, the LAPD, the media reporters, and many, many others. This very readable book lacks an index and is not a good reference. But it is a unique eyewitness account of the trial. Chapter 21 explains "reasonable doubt". The State's case must "exclude all reasonable hypothesis of innocence". Any scenario supported by evidence that could exculpate the defendant creates reasonable doubt that requires a verdict of not guilty. Peter Bozanich said the media was biased against Simpson (p.258). They never criticized the conduct of the prosecution team and a poorly presented case (p.259). The jury followed the evidence and the law. What is the psychological problem of those who hate O. J. Simpson but pass over Timothy McVeigh (p.261)?
The `Introduction' says the book will present "snapshots" of the crime, the trial, and the events. It will probably be different to what you have read. Bosco was amazed by the taped and edited segments of the trial on television because it was different from what he saw in the courtroom (p.xv). This book will not cover broad aspects of the trial but with the pivotal "facts" of the case. In effect, it is why they voted "not guilty" (pp.xvi-xvii). Bosco's past knowledge of a "blood case" murder made him more knowledgeable; he was a friend of Dr. Henry Lee, the "pre-eminent forensic scientist". Bosco says Detective Vannatter did not call the designated Deputy District Attorney but Marcia Clark (p.xix). No explanation given.
Chapter 1 asks if the case against OJ was "almost too perfect" because it could be a frame-up (p.1)? Chapter 2 tells why the grand jury was dismissed - it would not indict on murder (pp.8-9). Chapter 4 comments on the DA's arrogance. Office politics eliminated the best prosecutors (p.22). The LAPD's rating is on page 23. [Did you see that on TV?] The public did not see all that happened (p.40). Reporters were afraid (p.42). Chapter 7 notes the blunders of the prosecution (p.57). The jurors did not believe in a lone killer (p.63). What happened in the court was not on TV (p.68). Chapter 8 lists the mysteries about the murders. Why was the security gate left open (p.73)? The Italian shoes were traced, "none to OJ" (p.75). What about the bloody fingerprints on those glasses (p.76)? The Medical Examiner's autopsies created a problem for the Prosecution (Chapter 10). There are questions about the blood spatter (pp.104-106).
The lack of extensive physical damage on OJ is an argument for his innocence (Chapter 11). Allen Park didn't see the Bronco, or Kato's car either (p.151). Chapter 12 has his comments on Nicole's family. Chapter 13 discusses the status of the blood evidence. The gloves didn't fit (p.167). Bosco blames Marcia Clark for losing the case (Chapter 16). What is the significance of Fuhrman's pointing to the glove (p.219)? There is a theory about planting the glove (p.224). There is more about Fuhrman's importance on page 228. Was there a hidden secret for the prosecution team (p.238)? Was the trial an exercise in Public Relations (p.244)?
The Trial of O.J. Simpson was the most publicized event since the Washington hearings on Watergate and Nixon's impeachment. Why did the corporate media push it so much? Was it a distraction to avoid the problems of NAFTA and similar economic attacks on the middle class? George Orwell's novel "1984" explains how sensational news is used to distract people from events in the real world.
A PROBLEM WITH EVIDENCE= A PROBLEM WITH FAIRY TALES.......2002-03-11
People have talked about how O.J.(one reason) got off was because of his fame, thier craving to know someone famous to a apart, to be able to talk to their friends and tell them stories. This is Joseph Bosco. At times I felt I was reading the Joseph Bosco and the Trial of The Century. Here is a nobody who get lucky with the draw of the cards and gets a seat. He his with great authors as Dominick Dunne * Joe Ginness. I think he knows from the start they will speak the truth and has to go into another direction
..into the O.J Camp..rub shoulders there...more stories when he gets home or with others he can make an impression on. So he goes sneaking off playing their game..no wonder he was called a "sandbager" by the late Robin Clark, who also befriended him into their group. He was playing both sides of the fence.
I had watched the O.J. Trial almost everyday..yes I was addictive I guess. I have now been reading many books (except Marcia & Chris-I saw enough of that terrible duo) Reading everyones side and placing the pieces together.
Joseph Boscos" Book is a Fairy tale and should be in the Fiction part of the store. He repeats things especially in the end of the book when he hasn't any notes to copy (of others) like he was a fly on the wall in all these conversations NO Quotations .."Somethings wrong" Mr.Bosco KEEPS telling us he was the "Daily Courtroom Reporter." Well I have been in many a class where students were there EVERYDAY...and yet knew nothng about what was going on when the finals came ...and Failed..just like this book did.
Blinded by Celebrity.......2001-07-01
Joseph Bosco had a permanent seat at the O.J. Simpson trial,so you would think he would have something new to add.Unfortunately,he was so mezmerized by Mr. Simpson and his attorneys,that he must have forgotten to take notes during the prosecution phase of this trial,so what the reader ends up with is a rehash of the Dream Team's smoke and mirror act.One of the most telling statements arrives early in the book,when Mr. Bosco states that he can't understand why when he went back to his hotel every night and turned on the TV,Mr. Simpson didn't look sincere,as he claims,he apparently did when you watched him in person.The camera never lies,Mr. Bosco.It always knows when you're telling the truth and when you're lying.That's why some actors become stars,and others fade away after one movie.This is a great book for anyone who either can't or won't remember what the evidence really was.
Why OJ Simpson is truly "Not Guilty".......2000-04-27
The author was one of the few to sit through the entire trial. This book is a personal account of what he thinks. He wondered about the guilt or innocence of OJ, and I would like to answer his question.
The testimony of the two witnesses who cannot lie say that OJ Simpson is not guilty.
Blood and flesh were found under Nicole Brown's fingernails; the blood type did not match OJ (or Nicole or Ron). Ron Goldman walked to work, worked out, and practiced karate; his hands showed bruises from punching someone in the face or head more than once. OJ had no scratches or bruises on his hands, arms, face, or body: he could not have been a lone murderer.
The newspapers said that when the bodies were found after 12:15 AM their red blood was trickling down the sidewalk. The crime scene pictures printed in the National Enquirer showed the red blood. This says they were freshly killed, around 11:30, because their blood would be black and clotted if dead for over an hour (as in the Borden Murders).
The above physical evidence proves OJ Simpson to be innocent of these murders. Some say the 25 to 30 stab wounds on Ron Goldman suggest an emotional frenzy from a personal enemy, and Nicole Brown was the innocent bystander. The book "Killing Time" is the first and only objective book (arguments for both sides) to discuss all the evidence.
I hope that those who want to know the facts will read this, and reconsider any prejudgments that they made in June 1994.
Saying the Truth.......2000-04-26
J. Bosco's book is a personal account of what he witnessed as a witness of the complete trial. He wondered if OJ was really innocent.
The testimony of the two witnesses who cannot lie say that OJ Simpson is not guilty.
Blood and flesh were found under Nicole Brown's fingernails; the blood type did not match OJ (or Nicole or Ron). Ron Goldman walked to work, worked out, and practiced karate; his hands showed bruises from punching someone in the face or head more than once. OJ had no scratches or bruises on his hands, arms, face, or body: he could not have been a lone murderer.
The newspapers said that when the bodies were found after 12:15 AM their red blood was trickling down the sidewalk. The crime scene pictures printed in the National Enquirer showed the red blood. This says they were freshly killed, around 11:30, because their blood would be black and clotted if dead for over an hour (as in the Borden Murders).
The above physical evidence proves OJ Simpson to be innocent of these murders. Some say the 25 to 30 stab wounds on Ron Goldman suggest an emotional frenzy from a personal enemy, and Nicole Brown was the innocent bystander. The book "Killing Time" is the first and only objective book (arguments for both sides) to discuss all the evidence.
I hope that those who want to know the facts will read this, and reconsider any prejudgments that they made in June 1994.
Book Description
Lawsuits over coffee burns, playground injuries, even bad teaching: litigation "horror stories" create the impression that Americans are greedy, quarrelsome, and sue-happy. The truth, as this book makes clear, is quite different. What Thomas Burke describes in Lawyers, Lawsuits, and Legal Rights is a nation not of litigious citizens, but of litigious policies--laws that promote the use of litigation in resolving disputes and implementing public policies. This book is a cogent account of how such policies have come to shape public life and everyday practices in the United States.
As litigious policies have proliferated, so have struggles to limit litigation--and these struggles offer insight into the nation's court-centered public policy style. Burke focuses on three cases: the effort to block the Americans with Disabilities Act; an attempt to reduce accident litigation by creating a no-fault auto insurance system in California; and the enactment of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Act. These cases suggest that litigious policies are deeply rooted in the American constitutional tradition. Burke shows how the diffuse, divided structure of American government, together with the anti-statist ethos of American political culture, creates incentives for political actors to use the courts to address their concerns. The first clear and comprehensive account of the national politics of litigation, his work provides a new way to understand and address the "litigiousness" of American society.
Customer Reviews:
The Constitutional Underpinnings of our Litigious Society.......2005-03-05
Why are Americans so litigious? That is the question author Thomas F. Burke tries to answer in his book: "Lawyers, Lawsuits, and Legal Rights."
After dismissing some of the old standby explanations like rights consciousness, erosion of community values and an overrepresentation of lawyers in Congress, Burke focuses on how the fundamental structure of American government makes litigious policies an attractive option for activists seeking change.
Burke said the U.S. Constitution set up a government structure based on federalism, separation of powers and judicial independence that makes it hard for activist groups to advance social change through the legislative process.
According to Burke, the Constitution also shapes the way Americans view government and their own political interests; and distrust of centralized government power is at the core of the American constitutional tradition:
"American activists support court-based schemes in part because of their ambivalent attitudes toward the welfare-regulatory state, attitudes that are strongly reinforced by the structures in the Constitution."
Burke's thesis is that this constitutional tradition creates specific incentives for activists to support litigious policies, rather than legislative or regulatory ones. Litigious policies help activists to:
1. Insulate their policies from political enemies
2. Gain power over the actions of states and localities
3. Do good things for constituents without spending government dollars.
Burke introduces four types of antilitigation efforts - Discouragement, Management, Replacement, and Resistance - and shows how key interest groups influence the political process in order to support reforms that advance their interests or undermine ones that don't.
He spends a good deal of the book exploring three attempts at litigation reform and explaining how the constitutional incentives to litigation affected the outcome of each. The examples are the Americans with Disabilities Act, the struggle over no-fault auto insurance in California, and the vaccine injury compensation program.
The book is written in a manner that is easy to read and easy to understand, and the author makes good use of detailed examples to explain and emphasize key concepts. The detailed blow-by-blow accounts of each attempted litigation reform get to be a little tedious at times, but they do paint a clear picture of America's litigious political system in action.
What Business Leaders Should Know about Litigation.......2005-02-05
This book is a must read not only for lawyers interested in litigation reform but for business persons who too easily decry the abuses within today's legal system. Burke explains why contemporary litigation is not the result of trial lawyers filing allegedly "junk lawsuits" in search of profits. Neither, of course, is it a phenomenon that can be chalked up to natural forces. Instead, Americans sue each other because Congress and our constitutional system encourage us to do so. Congress does this because it's cheaper to offer those at the bottom of the economic ladder a chance at a lawsuit than to provide actual funds which might help lift them up. Burke contrasts, for example, the temptation to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, with the more costly approach of providing government subsidies to the disabled. The constitutional advantage of litigation is that the analytical process of presenting tough problems to impartial, life-tenured judges is often better able at sorting out complexity than the log rolling process within legislatures. One added strength of the book is the rare focus on the nitty-gritty details of legislative action. Burke reminds readers of the debates and forces that led to passage of particular legislation rather than treating statutes as a fait accompli. In short, if you have any interest at all in today's debate over litigation as a technique for confronting social problems, you can't miss this book.
Book Description
Filing a small claims case allows you to have the court determine your legal rights in cases of up to $5,000. Designed to be more simple and 'do-it-yourself' than typical court cases, small claims court can still be very complicated unless you know the process and language of the courts. How to Win in Small Claims Court in California simplifies and thoroughly explains everything you need to know to successfully handle your own small claims case, whether you are the plaintiff or defendant. Complete with court terminology, step-by-step instructions and the forms you need, this book makes filing or defending suits in small claims court inexpensive and hassle-free. This book explains in simple language: Whether you have a valid case How to file your case Arguing your case Defending your case Settling your case Countersuing Rules of evidence Using expert witnesses Following rules of evidence Collecting your judgment Garnishing wages
Customer Reviews:
A Beginner's Guide to Small Clams Court.......2007-05-16
A generally well written book, although I have found certain rules (such as the $5,000 maximum) either incorrect or out of date. The Los Angeles Superior Court Website indicates the maximum for small claims as $7500. Chapters such as how to locate and properly name defedents, how to collect judgments, rules of evidence, etc., are generally unchanging, and thus an understanding of these is critical for the plaintiff and defendant, and usually don't go out of date. I would not rely of the included forms and instructions; instead obtain these directly from your local court house or download them from the court's website.
In general, a fairly well written "how to" book, although I would give it only an average rating.
Average customer rating:
- can't completely review this item yet as I haven't finished reading it, but so far it's good.
- Tragedy and Triumph
- The Cure for Your Despair
- Amazing book, Amazing man
- One of the Best books I ever laid my hands on
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Last Man Standing: The Tragedy and Triumph of Geronimo Pratt
Jack Olsen
Manufacturer: Doubleday
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Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Blood in My Eye
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Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton
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We Want Freedom: A Life in the Black Panther Party
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Still Black, Still Strong (Active Agents)
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Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson
ASIN: 0385493673
Release Date: 2000-09-19 |
Book Description
With the epic scope of
A Civil Action,
Last Man Standing is an unforgettable chronicle of the twenty-seven-year struggle to break a conspiratorial abuse of power and free one of America's most famous political prisoners.
In 1968, twenty-year-old Elmer Gerard "Geronimo" Pratt returned from Vietnam with a chest full of medals and a Purple Heart into the most heated racial climate in American history. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, Pratt enrolled at UCLA, where the Black Panther Party was busy recruiting. Propelled by a diverse group of African Americans, the Panther agenda was a volatile mix of black rage, black pride, altruism, idealism, and violence. Under the charismatic leadership of Eldridge Cleaver, Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale, and Bunchy Carter, Pratt rose to the rank of Deputy Minister of Defense and became leader of the Los Angeles Chapter. The Panthers did not go unnoticed by J. Edgar Hoover. In the era of enemies' lists, his FBI drew up its own list of Panthers to be "neutralized" and began a systematic counterintelligence program to undermine black solidarity. Geronimo Pratt headed Hoover's list. When an FBI informer within the Panther party agreed to testify that Pratt murdered a young woman at a Santa Monica tennis court, his days as a free citizen came to an end.
If not for the unlikely alliance of a brash African American defense attorney (Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.), a radical Irish Jewish law student (Stuart Hanlon), a Protestant minister (Rev. James McCloskey), and the indefatigable Pratt-his spirit unbroken by eight years in solitary confinement-a horrifying miscarriage of justice would never have been rectified. As riveting biography, courtroom drama, and just plain narrative nonfiction,
Last Man Standing is certain to take its place among the finest works of American judicial history.
Customer Reviews:
can't completely review this item yet as I haven't finished reading it, but so far it's good........2007-02-22
I wanted to know the real scoop for years on the Geronimo Pratt case. Although I'm not yet finished reading the book, it is very obvious that Mt. Pratt got screwed, like so many others caught up in the "good old USA" system. Obviously this one is a case of racial prejudice, but it could have just as easily been some other kind of prejudice. It is clear that the concept of "innocent until proven guilty" is just a nice theory that should be strictly adhered to but rarely is. The presumed guilt is clear from the get go on the part of the police. It continues on to the top with lies and deception on the part of the police to get a conviction at any cost, especially with regard to the truth. It's frightening and a relief to know it's not me. But next time it could be me, or anyone who gets targeted by individuals in a position of power, who have no integrity, and don't give a hoot about the constitution of the US.
Tragedy and Triumph.......2006-04-20
This is certainly one of the best books I've ever read. Jack Olsen did an outstanding job of weaving together all the facts in a highly readable narrative of one of the most blatant chapters of injustice in 20th century legal history.
I already had considerable knowledge of the case before I read this book. In the early 1990s, the case was being publicized again. I was a reporter for Wave Newspapers in Los Angeles and journeyed with a co-worker to the state prison at Tehachapi where Pratt was then being held and we interviewed him. I then wrote several stories about his situation.
Pratt was imprisoned for 27 years for a crime he clearly did not commit. The prosecution was part of the FBI's notorious COINTELPRO operation-essentially a war against numerous dissenting groups in the 1960s including the Black Panther Party. As Olsen makes clear, in Pratt's case this also involved LAPD and the L.A. County District Attorney's office.
Pratt was convicted of the December 1968 Santa Monica tennis-court murder of school teacher Caroline Olsen. There was considerable doubt about the credibility of key-witness Julius Butler, who had a previous falling out with Pratt, and was later proven to be an informant. (When I was a reporter, I actually contacted Butler. He yelled that he was "tired of this" and hung up on me.) Plus, numerous other Panthers could have confirmed he was at a meeting in Oakland the day of the murder but most wouldn't testify because of a severe split in the ranks.
Appeal after appeal was turned down despite more and more evidence being discovered pointing to Pratt's innocence. In all probability the crime was committed by two low-level Panther members to obtain money for drugs.
That ties in with the only complaint I would make about Olsen's book. He really glossed over the fact that the FBI and police campaign against the Panthers (which I am not defending) was not just because of their militant political rhetoric. They had a lot of criminal types within the group.
Regardless, this is an extraordinary book about another era and the governmental abuses of that time. Johnnie Cochran redeemed himself in my eyes by getting Pratt released. That was after he was involved in a travesty of justice, himself, by getting O.J. Simpson off. But that's another story.
The Cure for Your Despair.......2004-12-01
The courage and essential goodness of Geronimo Pratt, in spite of receiving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit, is truly inspiring. This is a wonderful book.
Amazing book, Amazing man.......2003-06-15
Geronimo Pratt had one of the most honorable and incredible lives I have ever heard of. This book documents his entire life, from is Morgan City childhood to his unjust incarceration for the murder of Caroline Olsen. I literally had trouble putting this book down. It is a great read for anyone interested in the judicial system, the FBI's COINTELPRO, the Black Panther Party, and racism in general. READ THIS BOOK!!!
One of the Best books I ever laid my hands on.......2003-02-20
This book should be mandatory reading for every black person when they turn 15 years old. To read what the gov't put this man through was utterly shocking. After you read this book read "The Judas Factor - The Plot to Kill Malcolm X." You'll be numb after reading these two books back to back.
Amazon.com
Another addition to the ever expanding shelf of literature devoted to the Simpson trial. Attorney Robert Shapiro, architect of the defense strategy and assembler of the "dream team," offers his views of the characters and events of the trial.
Customer Reviews:
His Search for Truth.......2003-03-06
The Prologue tells about the Bill of Rights, and the duty of a defense lawyer to represent his client. RLS politely tries to educate the willfully ignorant about law and reality. The corporate media should be blamed for its misinformation. The death of a spouse focuses suspicion on a surviving spouse, especially if they were alone and have no alibi. An accusation is enough to destroy a life. This very readable book lacks an index and table of contents; it is not a good reference.
Chapter One tells why RLS has to know if his client committed the crime, else the prosecutor has an advantage. He asked OJ Simpson if he did it: "I did not do this" (p.10). Once the justice system locks in, innocence has nothing to do with the outcome of a case! Against OJ were 45 deputy district attorneys, the resources of the LAPD, and the assistance of the Chicago PD, the FBI, and Interpol. There was never any consideration of a plea bargain by anyone (p.13). Chapter Two tells of his recruitment of the experts. If a detective's job becomes "getting the guy", then that is improper and foolish. In a rush to judgment evidence is overlooked or mishandled, and procedural and investigative mistakes are made. They would let OJ take a lie detector test if the results would be admitted to court; Marcia Clark refused this (pp.26-7). This test creates charts that can be interpreted in different ways, and challenged on the basis of wrong questions framed the wrong way!
The murderer had to hav some bodily injury from this violent struggle. RLS had OJ's physical condition recorded immediately. There was an unprecedented swarm of reporters on this case (p.35). Why was it played up so much by the corporate media? Pages 60-62 explain why the grand jury was dismissed and a preliminary hearing was obtained. Pages 70-72 tell of the problems where four detectives left the Bundy crime scene to travel to Rockingham. The more important the evidence is to the prosecution, the lower the constitutional standard (p.86)! The judge is part of the prosecution team, usually a former prosecutor (p.109). The forensic criteria puts the deaths after 11PM (p.91). Mark Fuhrman was the key detective in the all-important first hours, but his name never appeared in the reports (p.93). Crime laboratories are exempt from regulation and review (p.149), that's why the defense wanted the evidence checked by their experts. The polling as to OJ's guilt was not based on what you knew, but on who your parents were (p.192)! Pages 218-9 summarizes RLS' dispute with F Lee Bailey. The gloves didn't fit because they didn't belong to OJ (p.295). Hair examinations have never been recognized as a positive means of identification (p.302).
EDTA is used to preserve blood samples (p.313). If EDTA is found in blood evidence, then it was planted as real evidence on those socks and the back gate. In August 1995 the McKinney tapes were turned over to the defense. who tried to get them into court. Page 318 suggests to me that the substitute for the coroner committed prosecutorial perjury: submitting opinions for fact. Page 319 tells how Marcia Clark tried to protect a prosecutorial witness from his perjury, then tried to replace the judge! RLS was "stunned" by the speed of the verdict, but isn't that usual when they don't believe the prosecution's case? RLS tells of the errors in the prosecution's case, and why the "mountain of evidence" collapsed (p.352-4). Could the anti-defense attitude in the press corps (p.357) be explained by the policy of the National Association of Editors & Publishers or the corporate media owners? That's a bigger problem than in just one criminal case.
The Final Verdict.......2001-12-06
For OJ to be guilty, you must believe that he quickly disposed of the bloody clothes, shoes, and knives so they would NEVER be found, yet brought the socks and glove back to his home! And then smeared blood all over the console!
The coroner who did the autopsies testified "the forensic evidence says the murders occurred after 11PM". The limousine driver testified he brought OJ to the airport at that time. When you read this book, note how they avoid discussing these facts.
Quoting the author, Robert Shapiro, on "Search for Justice":.......2000-11-21
"This is a work of fiction that reads like nonfiction."
No more need be said.
The "Quarterback's" journey through the trial of the century.......1999-06-14
Robert Shapiro tells the story of HIS roller coaster ride from June 13th until the day of the verdict. The readers get an honest peak at the impact that this trial had on perhaps one of the most well-respected criminal attorneys. Shapiro is not reluctant to address his opinion on O.J. Simpson, Johnny Cochran, Marcia Clark, Judge Ito and even the jurors.
A Defense Attorney's Moment of Self Glorification.......1997-04-27
One book reviewer said that the OJ Simpson Trial will not truly be over until everyone involved has written a book about it. Robert Shapiro has thrown his log on the fire with this recent book.
In it he delivers an account of the OJ Simpson trial in a manner that makes him look like the savior of the American justice system. F. Lee Bailey is an underhanded crook who leaked information to the media and who can't cross examine to save his life.
Cochran is a blatant race card player who was all fluff and no substance, and even had the audacity to compare Mark Fuhrman to Hitler. On top of that, Shapiro was the only person who was willing to cooperate with the LAPD.
This self righteous angle takes away from any value the book might possess. Unfortunately it is the only angle that separates it from the library of commentary the trial has generated.
My recommendation is to leave it on the shelf, because you can probably get better facts on the trial around the water cooler at work.
Amazon.com
Some may find it unbelievable that a 20-year-old Oregon woman could be enslaved by a sexual sadist for seven years--that even after being able to move freely during the day, she would allow him to lock her into a wooden box every night. Perhaps it's a minor failing of this book that the authors do not elaborate on the psychology that made her such a "perfect victim." In other respects, though, the story is well told, with an impressive accumulation of details: the woman's capture, the tortures she endured, the brainwashing techniques, the fiendish contraptions her captor constructed, the slave contract he made her sign, and the increasingly strained relations within the peculiar family that included master, slave, wife, and child, all inside a single-wide trailer. As well-known attorney and author Vincent Bugliosi writes, "A gripping and disturbing story of the secret life of apparently normal people. At once, horrific and engrossing."
Customer Reviews:
Scary that this could happen in Napa.......2007-06-08
This book was great. It went through the whole story and didn't leave anything out. The ending was great although I got really mad at the girl for staying with him. I don't want to give too much away about the ending. It's amazing that this could happen in such a small town as Napa but it did! I live close by but at the time this occured I was living in Florida and didn't hear anything about it. It was recommended by a co-worker and I have passed this one on for many friends to read. If you like true crime then this is a great book!
Could have been better.......2007-05-11
This book was sadly disappointing. I was expecting this elaborate book. What I read was a giant mess. The author skipped back and forth from when she was kidnapped to the court case. It made for a big huge puzzle of confusion and was not as good as it could have potentially been! I actually went through and read all the parts of her being kidnapped and what she went through and then went back and read the court case at the end. Then it seemed to make more sense to me but I still feel like I want my money back so I can buy a good true crime book, by a good author like Ann Rule....then I know I won't be disappointed!
depressing, yet uplifting.......2007-05-01
Four stars for the book, five stars for the story and five stars from my dearest sympathy.
From beginning to end, I experienced only .001% of what the victim must have experienced. It was just a smidgen, but I felt sad and I wanted to reach out to her... as well as beat the snot out of the sadist.
It's heart-breaking at times, but also uplifting with splashes of teeth-bearing disgust. Very notable for a true crime book.
Interesting case! Book? Not so much........2007-03-13
The story of what happened to Colleen Stan really is horrendous, and so therefore this book is automatically pretty interesting. Trying to imagine years - YEARS - spent in darkness and sensory isolation, periodically broken by abuse and rape, is pretty terrifying. It is a wonder that Colleen Stan was able to hold it together in any way and retain some fragment of herself. That head box is pretty horrifying to think about.
The writing is where this book falls short. It was a very bad move, in my opinion, to switch back and forth from Colleen's ordeal to McGuire's life. It was silly; going from this poor girl's trauma to the young prosecutor's new job in a redneck office. I was really, really, PAINFULLY aware that the author WAS the prosecutor. Growing more and more frustrated with updates on her marriage, descriptions of her daughter, and illustrated moments (holding her baby while juxtaposed against a backdrop of hardcore porn is one of them) written in third person, I became a wee bit annoyed with this book.
But, the facts of this case, the details of the "Company", the empathy you feel for Colleen Stan and the urge to understand what happened within her mind, all outweigh the prosecutor/author's fascination with herself, and make for a very interesting book.
The 'Oh, my God!' factor.......2007-01-10
Christine Mcguire did a wonderful job of telling this horrible true story. The crimes committed against these two women are almost unbelievable. I had a hard time putting the book down, because I became so ingrossed into finding out what happened. I needed to know if Colleen was able to move on with her life. Colleen is a remarkable woman. The only thing that I did not feel was necessary was all the information of the writer's life, while prosecuting this case. I felt that it took away some of the attention from the main story, and really wasn't something that the reader would really care about.
Customer Reviews:
A strange pair of experts.......2006-01-24
This information is TRUE!
I rate it one star because that is as low as you can go.
Paul and Shirley Eberle: A Strange Pair of Experts
by Maria Laurina
Paul and Shirley Eberle wrote The Politics of Child Abuse, a book that accuses mothers, mental health professionals, and prosecutors of feeding children stories about sexual abuse. Since the book was published by Lyle Stuart in l986, the Eberles have been cited as experts in sexual abuse trials. They were featured speakers at a conference of the Victims of Child Abuse Laws, a group formed to protect accused parents.
What is startling about the Eberles' reputation as ground-breaking experts in the field is that their dubious credentials have not been widely challenged. Paul and Shirley Eberle edit a soft-core magazine in California called the L.A. Star that contains a mixture of nude photos, celebrity gossip, telephone sex ads, and promos for The Politics of Child Abuse.
In the 1970's, however, the Eberles were also publishing hard-core pornography. Their publication, Finger, depicted scenes of bondage, S & M, and sexual activities involving urination and defecation. A young girl portrayed with a wide smile on her face sits on top of a man whose penis is inside of her; a woman has oral sex with a young boy in a drawing entitled "Memories of My Boyhood."
The Eberles were featured nude on one cover holding two life-size blow up dolls names "Love Girl" and "Play Guy." No dates appear on the issues and the Eberles rarely attach their names, referring to themselves as "The L.A. Star Family."
The Eberles were the distributors of Finger and several other underground magazines, says Donald Smith, a sergeant with the obscenity section of the Los Angeles Police Department's vice division who followed the couple for years. LAPD was never able to prosecute for child pornography: "There were a lot of photos of people who looked like they were under age but we could never prove it." The pictures of young children in Finger are illustrations, and child pornography laws were less rigid a decade ago than they are today.
"Sexpot at Five," "My First Rape, She Was Only Thirteen," and "What Happens When Niggers Adopt White Children" are some of the articles that appeared in Finger. One letter states: "I think it's really great that your mags have the courage to print articles & pixs [sic] on child sex...Too bad I didn't hear from more women who are into child sex...Since I'm single I'm not getting it on with my children, but I know of a few families that are. If I were married & my wife & kids approved--I'd be having sex with my daughters."
Another entry reads: "I'm a pedophile & I think its [sic] great a man is having sex with his daughter!...Since I didn't get Finger #3, I didn't get to see the stories & pics of family sex. Would like to see pics of nude girls making it with their daddy, but realize its too risky to print."
Lyle Stuart plans to print the Eberles' forthcoming book on the McMartins preschool trial. Carole Stuart, the publisher, describes the Eberles as "experts in the field," and family friends "for years."
(...)
McMartin.......2005-12-10
Did any of the reviewers attend the McMartin Preschool? Are any of you related to someone that attended the school? All of the reviewers and the author must be related to Peggy or Buckey.
I guess none of the reviewers saw the aftermath of what that sick and demented school did to the children that attended.
If the school was still standing, would you send your child there?
I am disgusted!
Seemed very biased at the time.......2005-12-04
At the time this book was written is seemed very biased but now, years after the trial and after the Satanic Ritual Abuse scandals, it is closer to the truth than most imagined.
The authors of The Abuse of Innocence is written by two authors who have a predisposition against child sexual abuse allegations. However, they clearly state this opinion and I simply skipped those sections. Normally, I would not rate a book highly when the authors show such bias, but history has showed that when it came to the McMartin case, they were in fact correct.
This book illustrates the faults of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, problems with the testimony of the witnesses, and most important, the inaccuracies of confessions obtained on procedures similar to the Miami Method.
A good book that deserves a larger readership.......2000-09-07
With all the publicity surrounding the McMartin preschool trial, now over a decade removed, one would suppose that the definitive book on the subject-and this is certainly the definitive book, and a good one at that-would be a best seller, but it didn't happen. Why? Because the public wanted a villain, somebody to hate, and what they got were some innocent people wrongly accused. With that kind of result the public lost interest. The Jon Benet Ramsey case sold a lot better because the public had clear targets for its hate, John and Patsy Ramsey. Here, Ray Buckey was to be the designated fall guy with his creepy glasses and his nerdish style, but he wouldn't fall because he was clearly innocent of the sensational charges against him. So the public was stuck with no clear villain on whom to vent. The real villains, as graphically revealed in this book, were the press, the prosecutors and the social workers, especially Kee MacFarlane, who indoctrinated the children into describing perverted events that never took place.
This was written from the trenches on a daily basis when the overwhelming tide of public opinion was that of a lynch mob desperate to hang Buckey and his family from the nearest tree. The Eberles built a strong case in blaming the media for poisoning the public's understanding of the case, partially through incompetent reporters, and partially through a media lust to sensationalize. Part of what's interesting about this book is how it presages the O.J. trial, especially in the incompetence seen in the district attorney's office. Ira Reiner was D.A. at the time with Garcetti as a critical underling. It is scandalous that they would find the need to use a paid felonious informant to bolster their case against Buckey. He was a five-time loser, no less, who previously had falsely testified for the prosecution in exchange for favorable treatment. Also stupid was the prosecution's use of an incompetent and prejudicial child abuse "expert," Dr. Gordon, who said that he possessed "the largest collection of photographs of children's anuses in the state of California." [p. 106] The authors estimate that 97.5 percent of the people in L.A. thought Buckey was guilty. The sad truth is what he was really guilty of was being a young man who liked to work with preschool children. Now THAT ain't natural was what a large number of people thought. I hope we're getting over that prejudice because what our children need are role models and guides from both sexes.
The book is peppered with courtroom asides from an unidentified lawyer. Here's one of the most pertinent from page 105, a exchange between a friend of the Buckeys and the lawyer:
"They're putting on witnesses who they know are lying. They concealed exonerating evidence. Don't we have enough criminal conduct by the prosecutors to put them behind bars?"
"It doesn't work that way," the lawyer laughed. "The law is just for the little people. When we break the rules we go to jail. When they break the rules they go to lunch. And maybe get a promotion if they do it right."
"But what about the law?" the woman gasped. "What about the Constitution?"
"I'm afraid that's just one of those nice, comforting fantasies like the tooth fairy. There are only two classes of people. Those who hold power and those who do not. And in any dispute the guys who hold power will decide which way it's going to go. And if there's any problem the rules go out the window. I hope you understand that this is not about child abuse, just as McCarthyism was not about Communists." Amen.
Difficult Read Pays Off for McMartin Buffs.......1999-03-02
This book consists mostly of extremely lengthy excerpts from trial testimony as recorded by the husband and wife authors, who attended the McMartin trials.
The book does not follow the standard true crime formula and takes some diligence to read. There are hardly any breaks in the text or chapters in the trafitional sense, so stopping in a convenient place can be difficult.
The authors do a good job in showing how the overzealousness of the L.A. County D.A's office lead to the abuses suffered by the defendant's in the McMartin case.
However, at times the authors go off on what seem like paranoid tangents as they rail against what they perceive as the ritual child abuse industry.
If you saw the HBO movie about this case, the book is an interesting companion and goes into more detail.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent look at the Twilight Zone disaster.......1999-08-17
This book not only delves into the Twilight Zone disaster but also examines the history of stunts-gone-wrong in Hollywood. It also examines the background of John Landis which reveals much about his motivations.
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