Shaw v. Massachusetts Bay Insurance

On May 28, 1997, this case was before the Court for argument on the defendant’s, Massachusetts Bay Insurance Company (MBIC), motion in limine to allow into evidence at trial, through the testimony of two police officers, the statements of one Michael Russo (Russo) that the plaintiff, Stanley Shaw, Jr. (Shaw), paid Russo to set fire to Shaw’s home. In support of its motion, the defendant argues that Russo’s statements were against his penal interest and as such are admissible as an exception to the hearsay principles extant in the Commonwealth. The plaintiff argues, however, that Russo’s…