1,100 Mass. inmates' cases might be tainted by lab

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dad-defends-chemist-center-mass-lab-scandal-0

Massachusetts officials say they have identified more than 1,100 defendants serving state sentences based at least in part on drug tests by a chemist accused of failing to follow protocols and mishandling samples in a now-closed state drug lab.

The number was released Monday by David Meier, an attorney appointed to help sort through the legal quagmire created by the lab scandal. Officials say chemist Annie Dookhan was involved in 34,000 cases overall.

Meier says it's unclear how many of the cases might have been tainted. He says prosecutors and defense attorneys were given the list Monday because Gov. Deval Patrick has given priority to incarcerated people. Meier says it's up to the lawyers to bring those cases before a judge.

Dookhan hasn't been charged, but the state attorney general's office is investigating.