Edward M. Pikula

Representative Matters

• Savage v. Springfield, Jury trial, June 25, 2024, Defendants verdict
  
  • Lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in promotions. See denial of certification of class action dismissed, 2022.

• S.S. v. City of Springfield, 332 F.Supp. 3d 367 (D. Mass 2018) class certification denied 318 F.R.D. 210 (D. Mass. 2016) affirmed 934 F.3d 13 (1^st Cir. 2019).
  
  • Alleging students with mental health disabilities suffered violations of Title II of the ADA and IDEA.

• South Commons Condominium Assn. v. City of Springfield, Martone Place, LLC v. City of Springfield, 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 37553 (1^st Cir. 2018)‍
  
  • Affirming dismissal of civil rights claims arising from local planning and zoning decision.

• Roman Catholic Bishop v. City of Springfield, 724 F.3d 78 (!st Cir. 2013)‍
  
  • Affirming Summary Judgment in claim alleging violation of First Amendment and Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

• Springfield v. Department of Telecomm & Cable, 457 Mass. 562 (2010)‍
  
  • (rate charge appeal)

• Andrews v. City of Springfield, 75 Mass. App. 678 (2009)‍
  
  • Request for proposal in construction project subject to competitive bidding.

• Rothkopf v. Williams, 55 Mass. App. Ct. 294 (2002)‍
  
  • Injured party and spouse successfully appeal judgment of Superior Court finding Defendant was not negligent.

• Bain v. Springfield, 424 Mass. 758 (1997)‍
  
  • Reversing jury verdict based on retaliation in sex discrimination case.

• Santiago v. Fenton, 891 F.2d 373 (1^st Cir. 1989)‍
  
  • Affirming summary judgment for municipality in Police Civil Rights case.

• Springfield v. Kibbe, 480 U.S. 257 (1987)
  
  • ‍Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court involving standard of municipal liability under Civil Rights Act
  • Dissent of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor adopted in City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378 (1989)

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Awards & Recognition

Attorney Pikula has received awards for his volunteer work with the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Hamden County bar Association for his public service, and received honors from the St. Thomas Moore Society for outstanding integrity, professional excellence, commitment to justice and faith based values.

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Publications

• Civil Service Promotional Exams and Discrimination, in Massachusetts Municipal Association magazine, Municipal Advocate, Vol. 25, no.2 (July 14, 2018)

Communities should examine Civil Service and Layoff Strategies to avoid discrimination.

• MBA Lawyers Journal: Natural Disaster Recovery – Lessons learned at the local level. (Feb. 2012).

On June 1, 2011, tornados touched down in Western Massachusetts, leaving a 39 mile path of destruction across nine local communities.  This articles provides an overview of the law of public assistance to local governments and private non-profits.

• MBA Lawyers Journal: SJC Rules Private Nuisance claims against government are subject to Massachusetts Tort Claims Act. (Feb. 2011)
• “The Evidentiary Aspects of Day in the Life Films”,  69 Mass. Law Rev. 59 (1984)

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Bar Association Memberships

• Hampden County Bar Association
• Massachusetts Bar Association