Massachusetts General Law Chapters 93A and 176D, long a compelling and formidable mechanism for consumers, has been extended beyond its usual confines to become a further source of consternation in the insurance industry. The Consumer Protection Act and the Unfair Methods of Competition and Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices in the Business of Insurance […]
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In the matter of Empire Dealer Services, Inc., et. al. v. Kimberly A. Guerin, et. al, a Massachusetts Court recently granted a preliminary injunction to a corporation enjoining a minority shareholder/former employee from directly competing. Kimberly Guerin (“Guerin”) was vice president and a minority shareholder of Empire Dealer Services, Inc. (“Empire”). In March of 2022, […]
Jim Rudolph, the firm’s managing partner and a construction litigator, was quoted in “Building contractor’s suit against insurer revived” in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly on April 13. The article discusses the Appeals Court’s decision in John Moriarty & Associates, Inc. v. Zurich American Insurance Co., where the court ruled the general contractor for a Boston construction […]
We are pleased to announce that Sean Cullen has joined the firm as an associate. Sean is an experienced litigator with more than 15 years of experience. He has a successful track record in state and federal court defending against claims for alleged violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Credit Cost Disclosure Act (MCCCDA), the Fair […]
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the “SJC” or the ‘Court”) recently issued a noteworthy decision in a case involving the rights of joint tenants and their heirs when one joint tenant passes away during a partition proceeding. The case of Brattle v. Howard arose out of a petition to partition filed in the Massachusetts Land […]
When it comes to home improvement, homeowners and contractors must have mutual trust and confidence. Homeowners deserve quality finished work, and contractors deserve prompt and fair payment. A written contract is one of the ways in which the parties can ensure a fair bargain and hold each other accountable. This article suggests a number of […]
Jon Friedmann will present at the Social Law Library’s three-part webinar series “Starting Your Practice—What You Need to Know!” this fall. The first session “Getting Started” will be held on October 6 and will focus on IOLTA accounts, practice management systems, calendar system, billing, document management solutions, website/social media presence, cloud systems, and malpractice insurance. […]
After a summary process trial before him (without a jury), a Superior Court judge recently held that a commercial landlord could not evict a tenant despite proving the tenant had repeatedly breached provisions in the lease because the breaches were not material. While the facts in making this decision were unique and specific to this […]
Bobby Rudolph recently represented a real estate developer in a civil lawsuit against its former project manager who was accused of stealing nearly $400,000 from his employer by paying fake subcontractor accounts on projects and then converting the funds into his personal bank account. Within days of discovering the theft by the employee, Bobby filed […]
Jon Friedmann recently represented Robert DeVoe as both trustee of R&M Realty Trust and individually in a case tried in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts (Lassman v. DeVoe, No. 18-01192, 2022). The case involved a commercial lease between Nouhad B. Bechara and Mona M. Bechara (“the debtors”) and R&M Realty […]