Yet, despite all the preparation and trepidation involved, I love jury trials and the jury system. And I’m not alone. Throughout history the jury system has been a foundational pillar of civilized societies.
To the relief of parents and the chagrin of students, summer is over and a new school year has begun. That makes this an opportune time to convene another session of Professor Dave’s Shade Tree Legal Academy. During today’s lecture I will discuss whether the law allows public school teachers and administrators to search students […]
Citing serious concerns and numerous unanswered questions about the circumstances surrounding Betty Jean Winston’s death while in custody at the Mercer County Jail, Attorney David Betras and members of Ms. Winston’s family today called on Mercer County District Attorney Peter Acker to allow an independent agency to investigate the tragic incident. Ms. Winston, who was […]
On Friday, June 30, the nine learned women and men who preside over the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued their final decisions for the 2022-2023 term, sent their black robes to the dry cleaners, and high-tailed it out of the nation’s capital—some, perhaps on private jets, a topic I’ll address in a […]
If there is one thing I’ve learned during my three decades as an attorney, it’s that laws don’t always make sense. As an example, I offer into evidence, the Ohio statute that governed the purchase and use of consumer-grade fireworks by private citizens from 2008 until 2022. During that time, you or I could walk […]
Statutes of limitations (SOL), laws that establish the maximum amount of time that parties involved in civil or criminal matter have to initiate a legal action, have been with us since the days of the Greek Republic and the Roman empire, which means they have been vexing and frustrating attorneys and citizens for thousands of […]
In the 220 years that elapsed since Ohio became a state, the General Assembly has never scheduled a special election for the sole purpose of considering a legislatively initiated constitutional amendment. That streak is about to come to an end. As I write this week’s column, the state’s 88 county boards of election, are preparing […]
The weather is breaking and that means people across the Valley are breaking out their motorcycles. Each year at this time we re-post this video from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), AAA, law enforcement, and the National Highway Safety Foundation: https://vimeo.com/543457795 and important tips for car and truck drivers who aren’t used to seeing bikers […]
Betras, Kopp & Markota (BKM) one of the region’s leading personal injury and complex litigation law firms, is pleased and proud to announce that Managing Partner David Betras is now officially licensed to practice law in the state of Florida. While Atty. Betras will continue to spend most of his time at the firm’s headquarters […]
Judging by the number of people who have yelled, “Hey Betras, what the xxxx (readers are free to insert the word of their choice) is up with that Murdaugh trial?” I am not the only person who has been obsessed with the sordid saga of the once prominent South Carolina trail lawyer who was recently […]
Police accident report clearly illustrates cause of most common motorcycle/car crashesMay 22, 2025 - 11:01 am
Ohio General Assembly considers new legislation dealing with dangerous dogs irresponsible ownersMay 15, 2025 - 1:44 pm
In defense of the rule of law – reflections for Law Day: Michael P. DonnellyMay 1, 2025 - 7:01 am