By Frank Mulligan | Gatehouse News Service WAREHAM — The Civil Service Commission issued a unanimous decision Thursday to return Donald Bliss to his position as a Wareham Police lieutenant with an award of an estimated $200,000-plus in back pay and benefits lost since he was fired from the post in February 2009. His attorney, Andrew J. Gambaccini, stated in a press release, “At this
By Neal Simpson | The Patriot Ledger HINGHAM — A federal judge has dismissed charges against police officials made by a Hingham blogger who was accused of sending out a bogus campaign email – one that appeared to be from a selectman – in 2006. Russell Reeves, author of the Hingham Blog, has formally indicated that he will appeal the ruling, which was issued by
By J.J. Huggins | Eagle Tribune METHUEN — Police officers being sued for slander by one of their own have the First Amendment on their side, according to their attorney. Sgt. Larry Phillips is suing the city, police Chief Joseph Solomon, Capt. Randy Haggar, Lt. Michael Pappalardo, Capt. Katherine Lavigne, Officer Joseph Aiello, Officer Ronald Valliere and the patrolmen’s union. He alleges Solomon financed a
Additional Information: Can my former employer terminate severance payments (salary continuation) if I gain employment prior to the severance term expiring? ATTORNEY ANSWER: There is no obligation in Massachusetts for employers to pay severance in most instances. The employer may unilaterally set the terms upon which it will pay severance, or the employer and employee may agree to the terms of the severance as part
Additional Information: In my original employment offer letter, I was offered travel reimbursement as part of my compensation. I have submitted my travel expenses but my employer hasn’t reimbursed me. Are employers in Massachusetts legally required to pay vehicle expenses that were offered in a written employment offer? ATTORNEY ANSWER: The employment offer and your acceptance of it form a contract binding upon the employer
ATTORNEY ANSWER: Generally, an employer may not request information from a job applicant concerning any misdemeanor convictions older than five years. That does not mean that the prospective employer may not acquire the information from another source. Some employers, such as criminal justice agencies, armed forces, and many social services agencies or providers are authorized to obtain criminal record information about a job applicant. Once
ATTORNEY ANSWER: The employment reference process is one that the courts have recognized as privileged so long as the past employer conveys honest reference information. In other words, so long as your previous employer does not make any false factual statements, it can provide an unflattering, or “bad”, reference. Your previous employer has a duty to respond truthfully to questions about your employment or it
October 2010 Worcester law firm Reardon, Joyce & Akerson, P.C. announces that Attorney Andrew J. Gambaccini, an associate with the firm, again has been selected as a Massachusetts Rising Star by Law and Politics Media, Inc. The award follows a rigorous, multi-phased process of review and is limited to attorneys under the age of forty who have been members of the bar for less than
ANSWER: If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, there may be parties other than the at-fault driver who share responsibility for what happened. If the accident occurred because the other driver was drunk, and a business served alcohol to the visibly intoxicated driver before the accident, your state’s dram shop law may allow you to hold the business liable; this varies from
By J.J. Huggins | Eagle Tribune METHUEN — Joseph Solomon says he is ready and willing to return to work now that the state’s Civil Service Commission has ruled his firing as police chief was “without just cause.” “I am anxious to return to work, to advance the interests of Methuen and its Police Department and to mend any fences that have been broken throughout