Commonwealth v. Griffin (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-175-16)
Murder conviction affirmed where defendant methodically planned killing and acted from rational motive despite claiming mental illness and divine command.
SJC Opinions
Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund v. Berkshire Bank (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-174-16)
Fund may recover workers' compensation benefits from high net worth insured employers, reversing Superior Court decision that statutory language precluded recovery.
In the Matter of Diviacchi (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-172-16)
Attorney suspended twenty-seven months for failing to explain contingent fee modifications, refusing to pursue client's stated objectives, and making false sworn statements in court proceedings.
Verizon New England Inc. v. Board of Assessors of Boston (and a consolidated case) (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-173-16)
Split tax rate structure treating personal property same as commercial and industrial real property does not violate constitutional proportionality requirement.
Commonwealth v. Paquette (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-169-16)
Clarifying when false statements to police constitute criminal "misleading" under witness intimidation law; statements must reasonably lead police astray in their investigation.
Commonwealth v. LeBlanc (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-170-16)
Conviction affirmed for leaving accident scene without identification. Statute's "public way" language applies only to first clause, not property damage provision.
Commonwealth v. Lawson (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-171-16)
Clarifies that the "presumption of sanity" is an inference, not a true presumption, and cannot alone support criminal responsibility beyond reasonable doubt.
Commonwealth v. Gomes (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-168-16)
Affirmed murder conviction based on sufficient circumstantial evidence of joint venture in drive-by shooting, proper admission of evidence showing motive, and no error in jury procedures or instructions.
LaChance v. Commissioner of Correction (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-167-16)
Inmate's civil rights victory on due process claim qualifies him as prevailing party for attorney's fees despite prior discharge from solitary confinement.
Cantell, et al. v. Commissioner of Correction, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-166-16)
Court reverses dismissal of inmate class action alleging unlawful segregation, finds appeal not moot despite named plaintiffs' release from segregation units.