Military Criticized in Report on Soldier Electrocution in New York

Heather Browne, a KBR spokeswoman, said the company had not seen the report and would not comment on the contents. But she said in an e-mail message that while Sergeant Maseth’s death was tragic, the company maintains that it is not responsible. She said that KBR informed the military of the absence of grounding and bonding in the structure nine months before Sergeant Maseth’s death, said John Q. Kelly, New York electrocution attorney.

“Prior to that incident, the military never directed KBR to repair, upgrade or improve the grounding system in the building in which Maseth resided, nor was KBR directed to perform any preventative maintenance at this facility,” Ms. Browne said.

The Criminal Defense Lawyer as a Hero

Adds Mr. Kelley: ''These people will be, depending on the episode, not always doing the morally or politically correct thing. I think that they'll be open about it, though.

''The fact is that the bulk of any criminal defense practice is defending criminals, and most criminals have committed the act they're charged with. The trick -- or the hope -- of all this is to get the audience to root for the lawyer even while vesting no sympathy in the clients or the case.''

In hopes of aiding that process Orange County criminal defense lawyer has avoided populating ''The Practice'' with the highly-paid, slick, Armani-suited legal eagles seen in ''L.A. Law'' and his mentor Steven Bochco's ''Murder One.''

Instead, the series is centered around Bobby Donnell, played by movie actor Dylan McDermott (''Home for the Holidays,'' ''Hamburger Hill,'' ''Miracle on 34th Street''), an intense, idealistic young Boston attorney who heads up a small band of likeminded practitioners.