DAs begin task of dealing with tainted drug cases

BOSTON (AP) -- Prosecutors are beginning the process of figuring out how to deal with thousands of drug cases handled by a chemist who is accused of mishandling drug samples and tainting evidence.

State police shut down the lab late last month, after discovering that a chemist had failed to follow testing protocols and may have purposely mishandled evidence. Officials have produced massive lists of the chemist's cases covering 34,000 defendants and more than 60,000 drug samples.

Prosecutors are now contacting defense attorneys for defendants who are already serving prison terms.

Attorney Rosemary Scapicchio said a Norfolk County prosecutor told her Friday that they plan to bring her client, a man serving a 10-year sentence for cocaine trafficking, into court next week for a hearing that could lead to his release on bail.