Dalton Chief Jeffrey E. Coe takes settlement, bows out amid review of conduct By: Larry Parnass | The Berkshire Eagle DALTON — Dalton’s police chief is out but will pocket what his attorney characterizes as a sizable severance payment, after town officials conceded they did not have grounds to carry through with a disciplinary action. Chief Jeffrey E. Coe and the town’s Select Board reached
Granby fire chief suspended over reckless behavior, online comments By: MICHAEL CONNORS | Daily Hampshire Gazette GRANBY — Fire Chief John Mitchell, who has been suspended without pay for the month of June due to accusations of speeding and recklessness while driving town cars, will continue his suspension into July after coming under fire for questionable Facebook comments. Mitchell was placed on unpaid leave after
Wherever and whenever an auto accident happens, it is never convenient, but is often overwhelming, and at times life-altering. If you have recently been in an accident in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this article will help you sort out what the process looks like here, giving you a sense of what you have already done and what remains to be done to get your life back on track. For
Protesters outside hearing call for Dalton chief’s firing, next hearing June 18 By: Larry Parnass | The Berkshire Eagle DALTON — Whether Dalton’s police chief helped or hindered the career of a former rank-and-file officer lies at the heart of an investigation into his eight-year management of the department. A hearing that began Friday into Chief Jeffrey E. Coe’s conduct in office ran for three
In the Winter 2020 edition of the Boston Bar Journal, RJA Attorney Andrew Gambaccini published a case focus article entitled Reid v. City of Boston: Extending the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act’s Interpretive Complexity. The article discusses the historical difficulties associated with the legislative and judicial shaping of the concept of governmental immunity in Massachusetts, including how those long-existing problems continue to impact the development of
In a February 13, 2020 decision from the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission, RJA Attorney Andrew Gambaccini obtained a favorable decision in which a terminated Chicopee police officer will be returned to work. Fired over sharing photos of murder victim Amanda Plasse, Chicopee police officer wins back job By: Jeanette DeForge | Mass Live CHICOPEE — A former police sergeant who lied about his role in
The sharing economy and start-ups have brought many new and wonderful services to consumers, but sometimes the law struggles to catch up to these innovations. In the case of ridesharing platforms like Uber and Lyft, some municipalities have struggled to create regulations and taxes on individual drivers or on the rideshare companies. Ensuring passenger safety with thorough background checks on potential drivers and with swift penalties for those who take advantage of passengers has also been
Slip and fall accidents are common when weather conditions are wet and icy. As a Massachusetts resident, there are a few things to consider, if you’re contemplating filing a personal injury claim after a slip and fall on snow or ice in a public place. When it comes to maintaining the safety of public areas, such as parking lots or sidewalks, the property owner has a
RJA Attorney Andrew Gambaccini recently secured an arbitrator’s reversal of a three day suspension that was imposed upon a New Bedford police officer based upon an allegation that the officer improperly failed to document the disposal of an arrestee’s property. By way of background, the officer had arrested an individual for various offenses, including the possession of a knife of illegal length. After the arrest,
As the weather gets colder in New England, many people are already carrying out winterization measures to protect their homes and businesses. Road salt purchased, shovels dug out of garages, and tires swapped out. All this attention paid—and rightfully so—to the hazards of traveling on foot or by car through a winter wonderland. However, paying attention to snow on the ground should not come at
