MA-COURTS

Adoption of Ilee - Massachusetts Appeals Court

The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a Juvenile Court judge's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights and approve adoption by foster parents. The mother appealed, but the court found no error in the judge's findings or rulings.

Anthony Khorzoughi v. Department of Unemployment Assistance - PUA Benefits

The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a decision denying pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) benefits to Anthony Khorzoughi. The court found that Khorzoughi failed to demonstrate he was working in Massachusetts when his business was impacted by COVID-19, thus upholding the denial of benefits.

Coppenrath v. Pontiff Cranberries - Appeals Court Opinion

The Massachusetts Appeals Court issued a non-precedential opinion in Coppenrath v. Pontiff Cranberries, affirming a lower court's dismissal of a complaint challenging an earth removal permit. The court found the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the permit issued by the town of Carver's earth removal committee.

Commonwealth v. Shannon Bennett - Criminal Threat Case

The Massachusetts Appeals Court issued an opinion in Commonwealth v. Shannon Bennett, concerning a conviction for threatening to commit a crime. The court acknowledged an instructional error regarding First Amendment rights, requiring a vacatur of the conviction.

Commonwealth v. Owen R. Broadhurst - Non-Precedential Opinion

The Massachusetts Appeals Court issued a non-precedential opinion in Commonwealth v. Owen R. Broadhurst. The case involves an appeal of 2018 convictions for OUI and negligent operation, with subsequent actions related to a prior OUI case affected by Commonwealth v. Hallinan.

Commonwealth v. Tanner - DNA Testing Postconviction Relief

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled in Commonwealth v. Tanner that a judge retains discretion to allow postconviction DNA testing to proceed even if the defendant dies after the testing has been ordered but before completion. The court affirmed the denial of the Commonwealth's motion to vacate the testing order.

Gorbatova v. Lynn - Municipal Citation Appeal

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts affirmed a lower court's denial of a petition for relief concerning municipal citations and fines issued by the City of Lynn. The court found that the petitioner had an available alternative remedy through an appeal to the District Court, precluding extraordinary intervention.

Commonwealth v. Caraballo-Nieves - Criminal Case Appeal

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court vacated a judgment dismissing drug charges against Jesus R. Caraballo-Nieves. The court found the trial judge abused discretion by refusing to allow the Commonwealth to proceed on a motion to suppress without presenting fentanyl-containing drugs as evidence, citing a conflicting court policy.

Lombardi v. Commonwealth - Appeal of Denial of Motion to Dismiss

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts affirmed a single justice's denial of a petition for relief under G. L. c. 211, § 3. The petitioner sought to dismiss criminal charges based on an alleged extraterritorial arrest, but the court found that such claims must be raised on direct appeal after trial, not through extraordinary relief.

Supreme Judicial Court Vacates Plea Withdrawal Denial

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court vacated the denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea for Jorge Santana, who faces deportation. The court found that the defendant may be entitled to an evidentiary hearing on his claim that his plea counsel failed to adequately advise him of the deportation consequences of his plea.