Carol A. Starkey has been appointed to serve on the Joint Bar Committee (JBC) for Judicial Appointments for a three year term beginning September 1, 2010. The JBC consists of a group of attorneys from across the Commonwealth charged to review, evaluate and report on the qualifications of individuals under consideration for judicial appointments, including clerk-magistrates, to all Courts of the Commonwealth. The Committee also, from time to time, evaluates candidates for judicial appointment to Federal Courts having jurisdiction over Massachusetts. |
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Massachusetts recently reformed the law concerning criminal offender record information (CORI). Among other changes, the reform limits employers' ability to ask applicants about their criminal records. For more information, read the client advisory authored by Constance M. McGrane. |
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Andrew R. Dennington has been named co-chair of the new Consumer Finance Committee of the Boston Bar Association. The role of the committee will be to identify and address emerging issues in the field of consumer finance that are of concern to regulators, stakeholders, private attorneys and in-house counsel. |
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The Boston Bar Association endorsed proposed revisions to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s regulations at 940 C.M.R. §§ 7.00 et seq. regarding collection activities by "creditors" of debts incurred "for personal, family, or household purposes." This proposal was drafted by the BBA's Consumer Finance Working Group, co-chaired by Andrew R. Dennington and Adam Ruttenberg, Looney & Grossman LLP. |
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James F. Kavanaugh, Jr. was quoted in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article entitled "Jury waiver agreement called solution to anti-plaintiff bias". The article examines the practice of two Springfield lawyers who are persuading defendants to forfeit their rights to a jury trial in order to avoid what some attorneys believe to be a widespread bias by Massachusetts juries against personal injury plaintiffs. Mr. Kavanaugh commented, the agreement raises "tricky" ethical questions for defense counsel because of the conflict it creates between the defendant and the insurance company. "In the typical case, the individual defendant's interests would always be to make the deal because his exposure would be eliminated by the plaintiff's offer, and there would be no downside, but the insurance company, in a lot of cases, is going to feel differently." |
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Michael T. Sullivan has been appointed to a three-year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals in the Town of Manchester, Massachusetts. The Board is responsible for the application and enforcement of all state and local zoning laws. |
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The Massachusetts Superior Court granted summary judgment entirely dismissing a breach of contract suit brought by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office against a Conn Kavanaugh client, a general contractor. James B. Peloquin and Andrew R. Dennington briefed and argued the summary judgment motion. In a prior personal injury trial, Conn Kavanaugh obtained a defense verdict for this client in 2003. The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed the decision in 2009, and held that the Commonwealth was solely responsible for the plaintiff's injuries. The Superior Court's recent decision affirmed that Conn Kavanaugh's client has no obligation to indemnify the Commonwealth for the judgment rendered against it.
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James G. Wagner was quoted in a New York Times front-page article entitled "In Law Schools, Grades Go Up, Just Like That." The article examines the increased practice of grade inflation as schools attempt to make students more competitive in a tough economic climate. Mr. Wagner is currently the firm's Hiring Partner. |
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Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly published an article written by Thomas E. Peisch entitled "Attorney conflicts of interest: recent decisions and lessons”. The article reviews two recent decisions that clarify the strict penalties for misunderstanding or ignoring the conflicts rules. Mr. Peisch suggests all law firms to have a sophisticated conflicts-detection system to be used in every matter and attorneys to remember to use common sense in dealing with any conflict of interest situation. |
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Erin D. Wolf has been elected to serve on the New Hampshire Women's Bar Association's Board of Directors as Out of State Liaison for the 2010-2012 term. |
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James B. Peloquin spoke at the MCLE’s “Construction Law & Litigation: Practical tips and expert guidance” seminar. This program explained the nuances of the specialty practice of construction law - both public and private. Jim focused his discussion on public construction and has been a part of this annual program for several years. He is also the editor of MCLE's "Massachusetts Construction Law and Litigation". |
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Carolyn C. Van Tine was elected town moderator in Norfolk, Massachusetts. The town moderator runs the Town Meeting and appoints members to the town’s Advisory Board and Bylaw Committee. She has served on the town’s Advisory Board since last year. |
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Conn Kavanaugh is partnering with the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association to participate in the National Conference of Women's Bar Associations' food donation project aimed at feeding hungry children.
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The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a summary judgment win for our client in a breach of contract case, confirming that he is owed over $100,000 for loans and a joint representation fee. Constance M. McGrane and Andrew R. Dennington handled the summary judgment motion and appeal. |
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Michael Sullivan spoke at the Boston Bar Association. The program, “Biting the hand that feeds you: Handling disputes between co-defendants with ongoing business relationships”, discussed the litigation, business, and ethical dilemmas that arise when two litigation co-defendants are involved in a dispute that may affect their business relationship.
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Constance M. McGrane presented at a Women's Bar Association event entitled "What They Didn't Teach You in Law School." |
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Conn Kavanaugh attorneys and staff volunteered to serve dinner on three evenings in March and April at Rosie's Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women in the Boston area. |
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Lurleen A. Gannon has been elected as Vice President of Membership and Statewide Outreach for the Massachusetts Women's Bar Association. |
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Thomas E. Peisch was invited to participate as a guest legal commentator on WBZ Radio's "Nightside" program, which is hosted by long-time Boston newsman, Dan Rea. The program related to the disbarment of a Massachusetts political figure. Mr. Peisch is a former member and Vice-Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, which regulates and disciplines lawyers. |
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Conn Kavanaugh attorneys and staff raised almost $6,000 in donations during the firm's annual campaign for United Way. The proceeds go to community service organizations that aid members of the Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley communities. |
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