Barrett, C. William

Opinions Summarized in Lawyers Weekly

• Loss of source code section spawns successful spoliation motion
• Evidence – Spoliation – Source code
• In rare decision, judge dissolves lien in construction case
• Contract – Statement of account – Lien
• PI attorney gets video deposition over COVID objection
• State can’t take annuity for spousal MassHealth costs
• Social services – Reimbursement – Annuity
• Landlord and tenant – Application fees – Lock and key fees
• Employment – Termination – Public policy
• Real property – Condominium – Water leakage

Decisions Reviewed on Appeal

• Search and seizure – Anticipatory warrant
• Evidence – ‘High-low’ settlement agreement – Medical malpractice
• Appeals – One-photograph identification procedure
• Criminal – Double jeopardy
• Criminal – Firearm – Licensure exemption
• Lack of license deemed an element of firearm possession
• Municipal – Employment contract – Fire chief
• Social services – Annuity – Medicaid
• SJC: MassHealth can recover costs from spousal annuity
• Remainder of annuity awarded to state
• Search and seizure – Warrantless entry – False identity
• Criminal – Effectiveness of counsel – Expert
• Search and seizure – Threshold inquiry – Reasonable suspicion
• Consumer protection – Repossession notice – Retroactivity
• Employment – Constructive discharge
• Civil practice – Judicial estoppel – Unclean hands
• Criminal – Parole – Youthful offender
• Municipal – MTCA – Sewer backup
• Litigation privilege doesn’t shield lawyer from defamation claim
• Attorneys – Litigation privilege – Defamation

Articles about the judge, quoting the judge, etc.

• Gov’s Council clears Cronan for judgeship
• Gov nominates two for Superior Court