Notable 2020 Firm Victories

Our Experience, in addition to the other areas described elsewhere in more detail, we have skill in handling a wide variety of general litigation.

Case Results

• U.S. District Court Grants Summary Judgment in Favor of Municipal Defendants on Police Lieutenant's First Amendment Retaliation and Whistleblower Suit

Stuart v. City of Framingham, 2020 WL 360552 (D. Mass. 1/22/20)

• U.S. District Court Grants Summary Judgment in Favor of City on First Amendment Retaliation Suit by Police Detective Disciplined for Untruthfulness

Gutwill v. City of Framingham, 2020 WL 360486 (D. Mass. 1/22/20)

• U.S. District Court Dismisses Suit for Wrongful Death Arising out of Suicide During Police Standoff

Reeves v. Town of Hingham, 2020 WL 759370 (D. Mass. 2/14/20)

• Superior Court Holds Town Immune Under Sections 10(f) and 10(j) of Massachusetts Tort Claims Act for Failure to Restrict Neighborhood Shooting Range

Cloutier v. Town North Attleborough (Bristol Super. Ct. 6/20/20)

2020 PDP Firm Victories

• Superior Court Dismisses Suit Arising out of Access to Public Beach

Hersey v. Town of Hingham (Plymouth Super. Ct. 6/25/20)

• Superior Court Holds Town Immune Under Section 10(j) of Massachusetts Tort Claims Act for Golf Cart Accident

Zerfas v. Town of Reading (Middlesex Super. Ct. 7/6/20)

• U.S. District Court Dismisses Homeowner's Suit for Unlawful Taking of Property

Zarba v. Town of Oak Bluffs, 2020 WL 4597012 (D. Mass. 8/11/20)

• Superior Court Dismisses Administrative Appeal as Time-Barred

Furtado v. Town of Falmouth (Suffolk Super. Ct. 9/11/20)

• Superior Court Dismisses Suit for Injuries Arising out of Motor Vehicle Accident for Failure to Make Timely Presentment Under Massachusetts Tort Claims Act

Bryant v. Town of Chatham (Barnstable Super. Ct. 9/25/20)

• Superior Court Dismisses 129-Page Civil Rights Complaint Against Town, Police Department and Fire Department

Coombes v. Town of Manchester By the Sea (Essex Super. Ct. 9/28/20)

• Superior Court Holds Town Immune Under Sections 10(b), 10(e), 10(f) and 10(j) of Massachusetts Tort Claims Act for Failure to Enforce Developers Compliance with Special Permit Provisions

Starbard v. Town of Plymouth (Plymouth Super. Ct. 11/4/20)

• U.S. District Court Grants Summary Judgment on 14 of 15 Counts in Deputy Chief's Suit for Disability Discrimination and First Amendment Retaliation

Slattery v. Town of Framingham, 2020 WL 6566553 (D. Mass. 11/9/20)

• U.S. District Court Dismisses Suit Alleging Town's Assessment and Collection of Property Taxes on Parcel Used as Religious Library Violated First Amendment and Other Federal and State Laws

Stark v. Town of Rumford, 2020 WL 6785935 (D. Me. 11/18/20)

• Superior Court Grants Summary Judgment in Favor of Town and Board of Selectmen on Whistleblower Retaliation Suit by Former Employee

Armato v. Town of Stoneham (Middlesex Super. Ct. 11/18/20)

• Massachusetts Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of Workplace Defamation Suit Arising out of Statements Made by Co-Worker During Personnel Investigation

Lawless v. Estrella, __ Mass. App. __, 2020 WL 7319240 (12/10/20)

• Massachusetts Appeals Court Affirms Enforcement of Settlement Agreement in Suit Alleging Unlawful Taking by Conservation Commission

Zani v. Town of Ashland, 98 Mass. App. Ct. 1108 (8/10/20)

• Arbitration Award of $750,000.00 Obtained in Favor of Insurance Company Following Three Day Hearing in Breach of Contract/Indemnification Dispute with Insurance Agent

Private Arbitration in AAA (January 2020)

• Massachusetts Appeals Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Favor of School Department and School Officials in Suit for Disability Discrimination

Chadwick v. Duxbury Pub. Sch., 97 Mass. App. Ct. 1106 (3/17/20)

• Federal Court Affirms Bureau of Special Education Appeals Decision that School District's Proposed Individualized Education Plans Provided Student with a Free Appropriate Public Education

C.D. v. Natick Public Schools, 2020 WL 7632260 (D Mass.12/22/20)