Whether your child is a senior in high school, about to start college this fall, or presently a college student, at some time in the next few years, there may be legal issues affecting you and them. This article addresses the following potential issues that may concern parents and students: alcohol and drugs, fake IDs, […]
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Many suppliers of goods have long-standing credit relationships with certain purchasers. A recent decision by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts illustrates the precarious situation a supplier can find itself in when it alters the terms of a credit agreement after learning the purchaser is in financial difficulty. The decision involved […]
In the dynamic world of real estate transactions, exclusivity agreements play a pivotal role in securing deals and protecting the interests of brokers and their clients. These agreements, often entered into between a broker and a prospective buyer or seller, grant exclusive rights to the broker to represent the client in a specific transaction or […]
The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is a federal law that was enacted in 2021 and took effect on January 1, 2024. Under the CTA, certain businesses must report the beneficial owners of the company to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crime Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). This blog post is intended to alert you to […]
Vinay Mehra (“Mehra”), former President of Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC (the “Globe”), brought a lawsuit against the Globe asserting claims to recover monies he claimed were owed to him after he was terminated by the Globe. Count I of Mehra’s complaint was a claim for violation of the Massachusetts Wage Act, G.L. c. 149, […]
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) approved a new rule prohibiting employment related non-compete clauses. FTC Commissioners voted 3-2 along party lines to approve the new rule. The rule will be effective 120 days after publication in the Federal Register, and employees and employers should expect the rule to become effective […]
Many real estate purchase and sale agreements contain a specific deadline by which the parties must perform and a clause stating that “time is of the essence.” This clause makes the deadline a condition subsequent, and if the deadline is not met or waived, then the parties’ obligations to each other are extinguished. Although “time […]
To combat fraud by companies seeking to profit off government contracts and reimbursement programs, Congress and Massachusetts lawmakers enacted what are known as “False Claim” acts. The Federal False Claims Act (FCA) and the Massachusetts False Claims Act (MFCA) have similar purposes and are similarly designed, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. […]
On October 31, 2023, a federal civil jury found that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has conspired to inflate commissions paid to homebuyers’ real estate agents. It determined that the NAR and its co-defendants (some of the largest real estate companies in the country) owed almost $1.8 billion in damages to the plaintiffs (a […]
In Massachusetts, the Supplier Diversity Program is a state program that encourages state agencies to award state contracts to certified diverse businesses. To qualify for the program, companies must be certified as a diverse business in any of the following categories: Minority Business Enterprises Women Business Enterprises Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises Veteran Business Enterprises Lesbian, […]