Why do they bother asking?

I'm talking about reporters when they report on some trial or court proceedings. I can almost predict what is going to be written or said. Here is some news out of today's Sun-Sentinel I'll use for an example.

STUART · The Delray Beach concrete contractor erecting a building that collapsed last year in Hobe Sound pleaded no contest Thursday to a felony charge of failing to carry worker's compensation insurance for his employees.

In a brief court appearance, Richard J. Meccariello Jr., 39, owner of Macs Construction & Concrete Inc. of Boca Raton, responded with yes and no answers when quizzed by a judge about the plea deal.

His company was pouring concrete at the Tranquility townhouse development in Hobe Sound when two workers were killed in a building collapse July 22, 2004. In November, Meccariello was charged by the Florida Department of Financial Services with failing to insure employees, including the two killed in the accident. Five others were injured, state records show.

Straightforward news reporting. The next part I find predictable. That's when the reporter asks for the reaction of the defense attorney.

These reactions are always one of the following.

1- No comment or couldn't be reached for comment.

2- If the defendant was found guilty, his attorney says 'it was a miscarriage of justice and we plan to appeal.'

or

3- The reply in today's story.

Meccariello's Stuart attorney, Robert Watson, said he plans to ask Senior Circuit Judge John Fennelly to sentence Meccariello to probation.

"The state is going to be asking for the maximum time and restitution; we don't object to those parts of the recommendation," Watson said. "They are also going to request house arrest and an adjudication of guilt, which we will oppose."

Watson said he intends to show that "the building collapse here was completely unrelated to this case and that Mr. Meccariello was not responsible for that."

Say your client who pled guilty or no contest should get a light or even no sentence at all. These reactions by defense attorneys are predictable. Why bother reporting them?

By the way Mr. Meccariello needs to pay for what he did. A sentence of house arrest would be a joke.

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