- “Evans: Body cams ‘positive’; Walsh: ‘Yes’ to fund them,” Dorchester Reporter (March 14). Charu Amrita Verma, a member of the MBA’s Criminal Justice Section Council, testified on behalf of the MBA at a recent hearing of Boston City Council’s Committee on Public Safety in support of police-worn body cameras.
- “Trial Court’s ban on fentanyl drawing fire,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (March 12). MBA member Randy Gioia, deputy chief counsel in the public defender division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, was quoted in a story on the Trial Court’s recent precautionary decision to bar fentanyl and carfentanil from state courtrooms. The physical ban on these synthetic opioids, which must now be introduced as evidence via alternative means, raises concerns for the constitutional rights of defendants, according to Gioia.
- “Employment bar welcomes AG’s pay-equity guidance,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (March 12). MBA members Nina J. Kimball, Rebecca Pontikes, Christina L. Lewis and Arielle B. Kristan were quoted in a story on new guidance issued by the Attorney General’s Office in preparation for the July 1 effective date of Massachusetts’ updated Equal Pay Act.
- “Teacher can depose school personnel over adverse actions vs. other employees,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (March 12). MBA member Dahlia C. Rudavsky was quoted in a case story regarding a constructive discharge claim filed by a teacher against his former employer. A U.S. magistrate judge ruled that the automotive instructor, who resigned over accusations of bias and theft, could depose school personnel for information on the discipline of other employees.
- “State, SEC begin to take action against cryptocurrencies,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (March 12). MBA member Michael Licker, an associate at Boston-based Foley Hoag, joined two of his colleagues in writing an opinion piece advising Massachusetts companies to exercise caution before investing in cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings, citing “increasing law enforcement oversight.”
- “Alexander Holmes v. National Collegiate Student Loan Trust: Don't co-sign your children's student loans,” Condemned to Debt: The $tudent Loan Crisis (March 7). The MBA's Student Loan Bankruptcy Assistance Project was singled out for praise in a blog post by University of Louisiana at Lafayette Professor Richard Fossey, who said student-loan debtors benefit greatly from the services of a lawyer, faring much better than those without representation. Under its new program, the MBA matches distressed student borrowers with attorneys and law firms willing to represent them on a pro bono basis in bankruptcy.
In Other News
Articles, blogs and other news recently shared on the Massachusetts Bar Association's social media sites.
"SJC to hear landmark Michelle Carter texting suicide appeal," Boston Herald, via @BobMcGovernJr (March 15).
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