In October, 2018, a motorcyclist was involved in a traffic accident and ended up injured in the median of a roadway. A Chicopee police officer came upon the scene and began to check on the well-being of the motorcyclist while calling for medical aid. The motorcyclist wanted no part of any interaction with the officer trying to render assistance. That desire presumably was a function
In 2022, an individual sued two members of the Revere Police Department along with a private citizen. The plaintiff alleged that he entered into a business partnership concerning real property with the private citizen and, after a period of time, the relationship soured. Members of the Revere Police Department became involved in the dispute in various ways over time and, the plaintiff claimed, two officers
In a recent Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article, Andy Gambaccini was interviewed in connection with a federal summary judgment decision in which the Court determined that the City of Cambridge did not violate a police officer’s free speech rights when the City suspended the officer following a Facebook post by the officer that dealt with police reform legislation that was named for George Floyd. While the
In August of 2016, an individual went on a violent crime spree in Worcester, Massachusetts. This individual, in a short period of time, committed multiple sexual assaults, a carjacking and kidnapping as well as an armed robbery. Worcester police officers were able to locate and to arrest this individual at the scene of the armed robbery. The individual later was convicted criminally and sentenced to
Andy Gambaccini recently was interviewed in connection with a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article discussing a Cambridge police officer’s civil rights lawsuit alleging that his free speech rights were infringed when his employer issued a four-day suspension following the a Facebook post from the officer. While the full story is below, the portion featuring Gambaccini is excerpted here: Worcester lawyer Andrew J. Gambaccini, who represents law
The First Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a judgment entered in favor of three members of the Fall River Police Department represented by RJA. The plaintiff in the civil rights case alleged that he had been assaulted by the police, that the police had committed fraud and engaged in a conspiracy to frame the plaintiff and that the police improperly caused the destruction of
Original Article By Pat Murphy on masslawyersweekly.com Q: Does former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin have a viable argument for a new trial based on claims he was denied a fair trial because of media coverage, pre-trial disclosure of the $27 million civil rights settlement with George Floyd’s family, pre-verdict pronouncements of his guilt by political leaders, and/or the denial of his request for a
Pighetti put on leave in February after traffic stop Alison Bosma The Milford Daily News MILFORD — Two months after Police Chief Michael Pighetti was put on paid leave, the town is still investigating the complaint that put him there. “I can’t confirm that there even is any investigation ongoing, as we have not been contacted by anyone associated with the Town of Milford
In 2016, members of the Fall River Police Department were involved in a criminal investigation of an individual based upon allegations of abuse perpetrated on the individual’s siblings and the neglect of the individual’s mother, who subsequently passed away. After his arrest and criminal conviction, the plaintiff brought suit against members of the Fall River Police Department. The plaintiff claimed, among other things, that he
At the close of 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed, and Governor Charlie Baker signed, a bill entitled “An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth.” This so-called police reform legislation promises to usher in a broad range of profound changes to Massachusetts policing at a number of levels. On April 5, 2021, a distinguished set of panelists will be
