Commonwealth v. Charley (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-033-17)
Probable cause supported defendant's arrest when he spontaneously mentioned a shooting that officers had not disclosed, demonstrating guilty knowledge.
Lawyers
Massasoit Industrial Corporation v. Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-031-17)
Employer unlawfully terminated seventy-four-year-old employee based on age and perceived disability following hospitalizations for pneumonia and heart attack, despite notification of absences.
Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette Inc. v. Board of Assessors of Attleboro (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-049-17)
Religious shrine's welcome center and maintenance building exempt as connected with religious worship; safe house and wildlife sanctuary taxable despite charitable use.
Commonwealth v. Dragotta (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-048-17)
Mother convicted of recklessly permitting boyfriend to assault infant daughter. Conviction reversed where evidence showed mother had no reason to suspect serious injury.
Commonwealth v. Fantauzzi (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-030-17)
Defendant entitled to self-defense instruction on felony-murder charge when underlying felony was not inherently dangerous and evidence supported that defendant was not aggressor.
Chitwood v. Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-046-17)
Shareholder has proper purpose to inspect corporate records when he identifies specific facts suggesting possible wrongdoing, without proving actual misconduct occurred.
Ferri, et al. v. Powell-Ferri, et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-047-17)
Trustees of an irrevocable trust may decant assets to another trust when authorized by the trust instrument's language and the settlor's intent, discerned from the document as a whole and extrinsic evidence.
Commonwealth v. Kang (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-028-17)
Defendant charged with unlicensed firearm possession claimed antique exemption based solely on website labeling. Court affirmed exclusion of his belief testimony and denial of jury instruction.
Commonwealth v. Rutherford (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-045-17)
Affirmed murder conviction despite prosecutor's inappropriate closing remarks about victim's final moments and expert witness, given overwhelming evidence and proper jury instructions.
Copley Place Associates, LLC v. Téllez-Bortoni (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-029-17)
Fraud claim against restaurant lease operator vacated. Landlord failed to prove detrimental reliance on false representations of officer status.