SJC Opinions

Charitable trust enforcement standing denied; parkland converted to school use by 1950 statutes before Article 97 adoption; no legislative approval required.

Sex offender entitled to expert funding to challenge SORB's application of regulatory factor on dangerousness based on multiple offenses lacking empirical support.

General contractor owed no negligence duty to subcontractor's employee where no retained control over safety practices and negligent hiring claim against general contractor rejected where employee could pursue workers' compensation.

Mandamus petition denied where petitioner had adequate alternative remedies available in trial court and ordinary appellate process for obtaining court orders and appealing rulings.

Defendant convicted of murder for stabbing victim outside shelter. Court upholds conviction, finding counsel's tactical decision not to introduce victim's prior violent history was reasonable and sudden combat instruction was not warranted.

Cell phone seizures incident to arrest were reasonable despite 109- and 123-day delays in seeking search warrants where devices had independent evidentiary value and involved child sexual abuse.

Defendant seized during police pursuit before discarding drugs; reasonable suspicion existed based on distinctive suspect description from surveillance video and detective's observations.

Insurer must defend physician in medical board license suspension proceeding arising from patient complaint alleging improper prescription of addictive medication, despite complaint also including unrelated criminal allegations.

Massachusetts taxpayers seeking to prevent installation of Catholic saint statues on public building, funded by city. Held: plaintiffs have standing; statues likely violate article 3 prohibition on religious subordination; affirmed.