A federal judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Beverly police by the mother of a 19-year-old woman who committed suicide in 2005 after leaving a hospital where officers had left her hours earlier. Judge Nancy Gertner ruled that Danielle Tarsook was not in custody when she died, so police had no duty under federal law to protect her at the time, the
By Jaime Rebhan | Wareham Week Nearly a month since the town was notified of damages in excess of $230,000 owed to Wareham Police Lieutenant Donald Bliss for his wrongful termination, Bliss has still not received the money. The delay prompted Bliss’ lawyer, Andrew J. Gambaccini, to notify the town Tuesday that he would be seeking payment through Superior Court. The town has since said
By Jaime Rebhan | Wareham Week The Town of Wareham owes Wareham Police Lieutenant Donald Bliss more than $232,000 and counting, according to Bliss’ lawyer, Andrew Gambaccini. More than two years after he was fired from his position with the Wareham Police Department for alleged violations of state ethics laws, the state Civil Service Commission determined last month that Bliss, a 24-year veteran of the
Additional Information: I have been at my job here in Worcester for 4 years and am moving to Florida in a few months to work for a competitor company. I’d like to give a substantial notice so they can hire someone else and I can help get the new person trained but I’m afraid they will fire me and then I’ll be without a job
Additional Information: Is it legal for an employer to take an unauthorized deduction from an employee’s paycheck for damage done to company property? ATTORNEY ANSWER: No, an employer may not take any deduction for such damage, even if ostensibly authorized by the employee under the employer’s policies, unless there has been a court determination that the employee is responsible to the employer for the damage
By Jaime Rebhan | Wareham Week The Town of Wareham will not appeal the state Civil Service Commission’s decision regarding the firing of Lieutenant Donald Bliss, according to Bliss’ lawyer, Andrew Gambaccini. “I have been advised by counsel for the town that there will be no appeal of the Commission’s decision,” Gambaccini wrote in an e-mail. More than two years after he was fired from
In a fierce battle waged over a prolonged period, RJA represented the Chief of Police of Methuen Massachusetts who was terminated by his appointing authority, the Mayor, after the political winds began to blow against the Chief and the Mayor seized the opportunity to score points leading up to a re-election bid. After the Mayor fired the Chief at the local level, the matter was
As some may know, generally a police officer’s challenge to discipline is not brought to arbitration by the officer, but only can be brought to arbitration by an officer’s union. There also are times when, for various reasons, an officer does not wish to be represented by union counsel. In a recent case handled by RJA, an officer wished to have RJA handle his challenge
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