PDP Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

PDP proudly reflects on 25 years of advocacy and service on behalf of our clients and the community.

Read About Our 25th Anniversary

John J. Cloherty III

Partner
John J. Cloherty III
John J. Cloherty III
Partner

Attorney Biography

John J. Cloherty III is a Partner at Pierce Davis & Perritano LLP.

His practice is focused on litigation and trial advocacy in defense of individuals, corporations, and governmental subdivisions and agencies in federal court and in the state courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Mr. Cloherty represents public and private employers in defense of charges of discrimination before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. He is also a frequent lecturer for Continuing Legal Education seminars for fellow lawyers as well as for client seminars.

Mr. Cloherty has represented numerous individuals, corporations, municipalities, schools and school districts, and other governmental agencies in defense of negligence, motor vehicle torts, products liability, premises liability, negligent security, medical malpractice, civil rights, discrimination, zoning and licensing disputes, and intentional tort claims. He has represented individuals and public employers under the Civil Rights laws of the United States and Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as the state and federal anti-discrimination laws. His trial experience includes diverse cases such as First Amendment claims, police misconduct, motor vehicle torts, breach of contract claims, property nuisance, accounting malpractice, and employment discrimination.

Mr. Cloherty also has experience representing individual property owners and municipalities in claims brought under the Federal Telecommunications Act (TCA) concerning the permitting, site selection, and construction of cellular communications towers. Mr. Cloherty has defended product manufacturers in claims of liability alleging defective construction equipment and truck campers. Mr. Cloherty has an active practice representing elevator maintenance and installation companies in personal injury lawsuits. He has also represented higher education institutions in tort, contract, and employment claims.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cloherty served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston for three years. He also garnered substantial trial experience in criminal law while serving as a Rhode Island State Assistant Public Defender for two years. Attorney Cloherty began his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Donald F. Shea of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Prior to law school, Mr. Cloherty gained business experience as a Trust Accountant at a large Boston bank. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Army, obtaining the rank of Captain and achieving distinctions of Airborne and Ranger qualifications.

Attorney Credentials

Education

Providence College
1986
B.A.
,
cum laude
Suffolk University Law School
1993
J.D.
,
cum laude

Bar Admissions

Rhode Island
,
1993
Massachusetts
,
1994

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
1994
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
1996
Supreme Court of the United States
1998
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
1998

Attorney Experience

Representative Matters

Gutwill v. City of Framingham, 995 F.3d 6 (1st Cir. 2021)(affirming summary judgment in employment retaliation lawsuit alleging violation of First Amendment and Massachusetts Whistleblower Act)

2021
(affirming summary judgment in employment retaliation lawsuit alleging violation of First Amendment and Massachusetts Whistleblower Act)

Stuart v. City of Framingham, 989 F.3d 29 (1st Cir. 2021)(affirming summary judgment in wrongful termination lawsuit by Police officer alleging violation of First Amendment and Massachusetts Whistleblower Act)

2021
(affirming summary judgment in wrongful termination lawsuit by Police officer alleging violation of First Amendment and Massachusetts Whistleblower Act)

Zani v. Town of Ashland, 98 Mass. App. Ct. 1108, 152 N.E.3d 1156 (2020)(affirming allowance of defendants' motion to enforce a settlement agreement)

2020
(affirming allowance of defendants' motion to enforce a settlement agreement)

MSP Recovery Claims, Series LLC v. Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp., Inc., 404 F. Supp. 3d 470 (D. Mass. 2019)(dismissing class action claims under Medicare Secondary Payer Act due to overbroad designation without temporal time limitation and class definition sought to create an impermissible fail-safe class)

2019
(dismissing class action claims under Medicare Secondary Payer Act due to overbroad designation without temporal time limitation and class definition sought to create an impermissible fail-safe class)

DiSano v. Argonaut Ins. Co., 178 A.3d 982 (R.I. 2018)(Affirming arbitration award in favor of employer's insurer on employee's claim for underinsured motorist benefits)

2018
(Affirming arbitration award in favor of employer's insurer on employee's claim for underinsured motorist benefits)

Lief-Socolow v. Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp., 93 Mass. App. Ct. 1104, 103 N.E.3d 768 (2018)(reversing bad faith settlement practices judgment and ordering judgment in favor of Defendant insurer)

2018
(reversing bad faith settlement practices judgment and ordering judgment in favor of Defendant insurer)

Beach v. Town of Norfolk, 103 N.E.3d 768, 93 Mass. App. Ct. 1104 (2018)(affirming summary judgement for Town, rejecting real estate developer’s claims the conservation commission restrictions on subdivision development were unlawful regulatory taking of property).

2018
(affirming summary judgement for Town, rejecting real estate developer’s claims the conservation commission restrictions on subdivision development were unlawful regulatory taking of property).

Morgan v. Town of Lexington, MA, 823 F.3d 737 (1st Cir. 2016)(affirming dismissal of Due Process and Title IX claims arising from alleged failure to prevent student bullying)

2016
(affirming dismissal of Due Process and Title IX claims arising from alleged failure to prevent student bullying)

Chadwick v. Duxbury Pub. Sch., 475 Mass. 645, 59 N.E.3d 1143 (2016)(refusing to recognize union member-union privilege and ordering Plaintiff teacher to disclose requested communications to defendant School in employment retaliation case)

2016
(refusing to recognize union member-union privilege and ordering Plaintiff teacher to disclose requested communications to defendant School in employment retaliation case)

Moore v. Town of Billerica, 83 Mass. App. Ct. 729, 989 N.E.2d 540 (2013)(affirming summary judgment because Town had governmental immunity from liability for injuries suffered by child hit by baseball while visiting town park)

2013
(affirming summary judgment because Town had governmental immunity from liability for injuries suffered by child hit by baseball while visiting town park)

Dinitto v. Pepperell, 77 Mass. App. Ct. 247, 929 N.E.2d 979 (2010)(Affirming dismissal of motorcyclists' personal injury claim because vegetation causing accident was a defect in or upon a way within the meaning of the highway defect statute)

2010
(Affirming dismissal of motorcyclists' personal injury claim because vegetation causing accident was a defect in or upon a way within the meaning of the highway defect statute)

Ciampi v. Westerly, 598 F.Supp.2d 257 (Dist. R.I. 2009)(granting summary judgment, in part, on §1983 procedural and substantive due process claims arising from storm water drainage onto plaintiff's residential property)

2009
(granting summary judgment, in part, on � 1983 procedural and substantive due process claims arising from storm water drainage onto plaintiff�s residential property)

Assoc. of Comm. Org. Reform Now v. East Greenwich, 453 F. Supp. 2d 394, (D. Mass. 2006) Affi'd, 239 Fed. Appx. 612 (1st Cir. 2007)(holding advocacy group was not entitled to preliminary injunction preventing town from requiring a permit and setting time limits on door-to-door solicitation of money based on insufficient evidence of First Amendment violation)

2007
(holding advocacy group was not entitled to preliminary injunction preventing town from requiring a permit and setting time limits on door-to-door solicitation of money based on insufficient evidence of First Amendment violation)

Doe v. East Greenwich Sch. Dept., 899 A.2d 1258 (R.I. 2006)(affirming dismissal under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA))

2006
(affirming dismissal under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA))

McNiff v. Dracut, 433 F. Supp. 2d 145 (D. Mass. 2006) (granting summary judgment in disability discrimination case because police captain's successful cancer treatment which was not fully disclosed to employer did not substantially limit major life activity of working and was not a "disability" under ADA)

2006
(granting summary judgment in disability discrimination case because police captain�s successful cancer treatment which was not fully disclosed to employer did not substantially limit major life activity of working and was not a �disability� under ADA)

Lacava v. Lucander, 791 N.E.2d 358 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003)(holding prisoner was not denied equal protection by Town's refusal grant burial plot in same Town cemetery where prisoner's murder victim wife was buried)

2003
(holding prisoner was not denied equal protection by Town�s refusal grant burial plot in same Town cemetery where prisoner�s murder victim wife was buried)

Mullin v. Town of Fairhaven, 284 F.3d 31 (1st Cir. 2002)(affirming directed verdict for Town in First Amendment claims by Conservation Commissioners removed from office due to unlawful change in chairmanship of commission mid-term)

2002
(affirming directed verdict for Town in First Amendment claims by Conservation Commissioners removed from office due to unlawful change in chairmanship of commission mid-term)

Collins v. Nuzzo, 244 F.3d 246 (1st Cir. 2001)(affirming summary judgment in civil rights claims brought by used car dealer denied renewal of license and holding one member's alleged retaliatory motive is not imputed to a legislative body for §1983 liability)

2001
(affirming summary judgment in civil rights claims brought by used car dealer denied renewal of license and holding one member's alleged retaliatory motive is not imputed to a legislative body for §1983 liability)

Standifird v. Town of Boxborough, 84 F. Supp.2d 213 (D. Mass. 2000); aff'd 230 F.3d 1347 (1st Cir. 2000)(Granting summary judgment because police officer had probable cause to stop motorist, and 45-minute traffic stop did not exceed a permissible length of detention under the Fourth Amendment)

2000
(Granting summary judgment because police officer had probable cause to stop motorist, and 45-minute traffic stop did not exceed a permissible length of detention under the Fourth Amendment)

Rogan v. Menino, 175 F.3d 75 (1st Cir. 1999)(reversing district court grant of summary judgment at final pretrial conference where judge did not provide plaintiff with adequate notice)

1999
(reversing district court grant of summary judgment at final pretrial conference where judge did not provide plaintiff with adequate notice)

Verdicts/Awards/Settlements

  • August 2021 – Obtained defense verdict in federal civil rights jury trial alleging Fourth Amendment violations during arrest of Plaintiff for probation violation
  • January 2020 – Obtained Arbitration award of $750,000.00 on behalf of insurance company in breach of contract/indemnification action against insurance agent
  • May 2019 – Obtained settlement payments totaling $1,750,000.00 on behalf of estate of elderly passenger killed in motor vehicle accident
  • August 2015 – Obtained settlement payment of £286,786.16 (equivalent to $448,246.77 at contemporary exchange rate) on behalf of London Biopharmaceutical Executive in breach of employment contract claim against start-up Biotechnology Company

Awards & Honors

  • Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory, AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating
  • Selected to Massachusetts Super Lawyers List, 2016-2023
  • A.M. Best’s Recommended Insurance Attorneys

Association Memberships

  • Boston Bar Association
  • Rhode Island Bar Association
  • Massachusetts Council of School Attorneys (COSA)
  • The Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (MMLA)
  • The International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA)

Media

  • Burial laws raised in Tsarneav matter, Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly (May 7, 2013)

Charitable & Civic Involvement

Attorney News

Publications

Author, Chapter 12, "Damages Actions Under Section 1983," published in Federal Civil Litigation in the First Circuit, MCLE (July 2017) (revised July 2019) (2021 update pending publication)
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Author, Chapter 5, "Legal Representation in Civil Lawsuits Arising from Police-Involved Shootings," published in Suicide by Cop: A Comprehensive Examination of the Phenomenon and its Aftermath, (Vivan B. Lord) (Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc. Feb. 2015)
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Author, "The Supreme Court's Vance and Nassar Decisions: The Burden of Proof in Employment Discrimination Cases and Other Developments", published in Employment Law 2014 - Top Lawyers on Trends and Key Strategies for the Upcoming Year, Aspatore Publishing, Thomas/Reuter, 2014 WL 343156 (February 2014)
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Author, Chapter "A Discussion of Emerging Trends in Municipal Law," published in Aspatore Books: Navigating Municipal Employment Issues, (West Services Inc. 2011) online at Thomson/Reuter, 2011 WL 6740832 (December 2011)
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Co-Author, Chapter 2: "Massachusetts Rules of Evidence in the Federal Courts, Massachusetts Evidence" A Courtroom Reference(MCLE 2008)
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Chapter 5, "Legal Defense of Law Enforcement Officers in Police Shooting Cases," published in Suicide By Cop " Inducing Officers to Shoot: Practical Direction for Recognition, Resolution, and Recovery, (Vivian B. Lord) (Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc. 2004)
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Note, The Serious Juvenile Offender in the Adult Criminal System: The Jurisprudence of Rhode Island's Waiver and Certification Procedures, 26 Suffolk U.L. Rev. 407 (1992) - cited by RI Supreme Court in Re Harrison, 992 A.2d 990, 998 (RI 2010) and State v. Day, 911 A.2d 1042, 1048 (RI 2006)
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Developments in Municipal Law newsletter articles
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Speaking Engagements