Homeless defendant's trespass convictions vacated where he presented sufficient evidence of necessity defense based on exposure danger and lack of lawful shelter alternatives during winter months.
Prosecutor's closing argument improperly bolstered complainant's credibility based on willingness to testify, attributed sexual knowledge to defendant without excluding other sources, and implied uncalled corroborating witnesses.
Vehicle stop unlawful where officer testified speed was unreasonable but provided no articulable facts supporting that conclusion. Suppression order affirmed.
Murder conviction affirmed where defendant waived Miranda rights voluntarily and jailhouse recordings corroborated consciousness of guilt.
Abutter challenging zoning board decision lacks standing when claimed injury concerns private easement rights rather than land use concerns the Zoning Act protects.
Supreme Judicial Court held that amended Massachusetts Rule of Professional Conduct 3.5(c) permits attorneys to initiate postverdict contact with discharged jurors without prior court approval, effectively overruling Commonwealth v. Fidler.
Attorney's affidavit under Massachusetts law may cure a defect in a mortgage's acknowledgment by supplying omitted mortgagor names and confirming voluntary execution.
Former spouses who cohabit after divorce and remarry may have marriage length extended to include prior marriage and cohabitation periods if they maintained economic marital partnership.
Murder conviction upheld where codefendant's statements made nearly two years after killings were admissible under joint venture exception because concealment efforts remained ongoing.
Law firm violated duty of loyalty by representing corporation and its shareholders simultaneously without consent when their interests were directly adverse.
