In today’s world, political discourse is rarely civil and can often lead to potentially tense and/or hostile disagreements. However, if an employee makes the choice to discuss hotly contested political topics in the office, could that employee be subject to discipline for his/her viewpoints, or does the First Amendment protect free speech and shield the […]
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Perhaps more than others, small business owners have found it difficult to weather the sudden and seemingly endless rounds of shutdowns, restrictions, moratoriums, and reopenings. With fewer financial resources at their disposal and a steady upward trend of new Coronavirus cases, even with the almost-tangible feeling of hope that arrived with news of an effective […]
Due to the pandemic, boat sales are up significantly this year. Before you buy or sell a boat, you should have a clear understanding of all your legal obligations, or risk running aground. Unlike other areas of the law, boating law is specialized and may require legal counsel that is knowledgeable about the business of […]
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in reliance on force majeure and other clauses in construction contracts due to delays caused by COVID-19, such as construction shutdowns and social distancing. This has caused construction projects to stop or slow, stopping or slowing payment, and has resulted in an increase […]
Two recent decisions from the Massachusetts Housing Court revisited and clarified the importance of procedural details to landlords seeking to evict tenants. While the procedures reviewed dealt with residential evictions, the message is equally important in commercial settings. The first step to commencing an eviction is to provide the tenant with notice of his or […]
A life estate is an interest in real property for the duration of a person’s life, that person is known as the “life tenant.” The life estate ends at death and ownership of the property then passes to a “remainderman.” In the case below, the Massachusetts Appeals Court discusses what happens when the remainderman predeceases […]
It is widely accepted throughout the legal community that there will be a wave of COVID-19 related litigation once the immediate impact of the pandemic settles. As COVID-19 spread, employers quickly closed their offices and transitioned employees to remote working without time to plan. When the dust settles, employers should expect that they will be […]
In the recent matter of Bellalta v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Brookline 481 Mass. 272 (2019), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the “SJC”) ruled that a variance was not required for a homeowner to add a dormer to their roof (only a special permit) despite the additional living space increasing a nonconforming Floor Area […]
Giving Notice on Lien and Bond Claims We expect that some of the construction projects which have already been or may be shut down will not resume so quickly. Many construction contracts have provisions in them allowing the general contractor (or owner) to terminate or suspend the contract for convenience. Keep in mind that, although […]
The outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted all of our lives and generated numerous questions on various employment and other legal issues. We are working diligently to counsel our clients as issues arise throughout these uncertain times. This article is intended to provide answers to some of the most common legal issues related to COVID-19 […]
