By Jim Russell SOUTH HADLEY – The police officers union has filed in Suffolk Superior Court a complaint of contempt against the town for refusing to refund $222,870 in back pay to an officer who was fired in 2009 and rehired in 2013 following an arbitration ruling. According to the complaint, interest on the amount is accruing at $625 per week. The action follows a
RJA’s client was driving in Carver, Massachusetts on a Sunday afternoon when a driver on an intersecting street went through a stop sign and crashed into our client’s vehicle. The force of the collision caused our client’s vehicle to perform a 360 degree spin until it came to rest against a telephone pole. As a result of the accident, our client suffered a fracture to
Massachusetts workers who are injured on the job often do not know where to turn if the insurer rejects their claim. There were nearly 70,000 workplace-related injuries and illnesses in Massachusetts last year, according to a report that was compiled with help from several agencies including the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Most Common Injury and illnesses Fortunately, most of the injuries and
By Lyle Moran | Original Article LOWELL — A Superior Court judge has denied a police sergeant’s request for a preliminary injunction preventing the city and Police Superintendent William Taylor from promoting two other sergeants whom he alleges live in New Hampshire. Sgt. Steven O’Neill alleged in a Superior Court complaint that Lowell police Sergeants Donald Crawford and John Cullen live out of state, in
By Lyle Moran | orignal article LOWELL — Police Superintendent William Taylor is making three promotions to lieutenant in the midst of an ongoing legal case in which two potential promotions of other sergeants are being challenged in Superior Court. Taylor said Friday he is promoting Sgts. Gregory Hudon, Steven Coyle and temporary Lt. Matthew Penrose to lieutenant. The promotions become effective Sunday. Coyle, an
By Lyle Moran | Original Article LOWELL — The court-ordered prohibition on the city promoting a police sergeant who lives in New Hampshire will continue until at least next Tuesday. Police Sgt. Steven O’Neill of Tyngsboro last week obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting the city and Police Superintendent William Taylor from promoting Sgt. Donald Crawford to lieutenant because he lives in New Hampshire, which
In Massachusetts, if you are the owner of a private pool, either as an individual, corporation or perhaps part of a club or association, or if you manage a semi-public or a public pool, then you are responsible for knowing the regulations and laws regarding pool safety. Finding laws or regulations that govern safety issues for pools in Massachusetts can be a bit difficult. The
By Jim Russell | Original Article SOUTH HADLEY — An employee at the municipally owned South Hadley Electric Light Department, who says there has been an ongoing hostile environment at the agency for years, filed a police report in December alleging he was the victim of an assault perpetrated by a fellow worker. However, the employee did not file an action in court on the
In the state of Massachusetts, domestic violence laws include physical harm or the intent to physically harm, the infliction of fear of physical harm, and involuntary sexual relationship against a family or other household member. This crime is especially serious if the victim was violated by the suspect while a protective order was in place. Definition of a household member: people who are or have
In 2012, a police officer in Springfield was convicted criminally based upon actions taken during the course of an arrest. Following the conviction, the officer retained RJA to pursue an appeal on his behalf. In the brief filed with the Massachusetts Appeals Court, RJA argued that the trial judge did not instruct the jury properly on the applicable law, as she failed to provide guidance