Judicial Biography

Year admitted to bar:

1982

Year appointed/elected:

2012, by Gov. Deval L. Patrick

Background

Education:

New York University School of Law (1981); Princeton University (1975)

Professional

Legal Employment History:

After finishing law school, Wilson spent a year as a law clerk for the Honorable Orinda Evans of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Next, he joined the law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, a position he held until his appointment to the bench in 2012

Reported Decisions
Other Links

Opinions Summarized in Lawyers Weekly

Criminal – Ineffective assistance – Expert
Municipal – Martha’s Vineyard Commission – Luxury housing
Tort – SLAPP – Section 51A report
Civil practice – Compulsory joinder – Loss of consortium
Civil service – Probationary employee – Jurisdiction
Civil practice – Sex offender – Risk of reoffense
Real property – Statute of repose – Restaurant fire
Tort – Website advertisement – Communications Decency Act
Contract – Subcontractor – Municipal liability
Zoning – Standing – Cellphone tower
Real property – Sale – Undue influence – Fraud
Contract – Subrogation waiver – Fire suppression system
Evidence – Affidavit – Deceased plaintiff
Insurance – Intentional loss provision – Reformation
Innocent co-insured can recover for damage caused by fiancé’s arson
Union workers can pursue class action over unpaid overtime
Civil rights – Termination – Intimidation
Judge weighs arguments in political finance case
Civil practice – Default judgment – Court clerk
Negligence – Rape – Parking garage – New trial
Civil rights – Bridgewater State Hospital – Restraint – Seclusion

Decisions Reviewed on Appeal

Motor vehicles – Storage fees
Retirement – Traffic duty pay – ‘Regular compensation’
Criminal – Murder
Real property – Issue preclusion
Ejected guests can bring 93A claim against hotel chain
Consumer protection – Chapter 93A – Hotel ouster
Negligence – Foreseeability – Commercial landlord
Landlord not liable for fatal shooting at nightclub
SJC to MassDOT: owner must be compensated for taking
Real property – Eminent domain – Easement
Compensation owed over MBTA test track easement
Criminal – Firearm – Licensure exemption
Lack of license deemed an element of firearm possession
SJC: Wage Act remedies preempted by federal law
Employment – FLSA – Wage Act
Wage Act remedies preempted by FLSA
Criminal – Exculpatory evidence – Call log
Social services – Immunity – Social worker
SJC grants social workers absolute immunity
Employment – Whistleblower – Statute of limitations
Criminal – Attempt – Overt act
Search and seizure – Nexus – Drug distribution
Retirement – Forfeiture – Criminal conviction
Social services – MassHealth – Billing
Insurance – Innocent coinsured – Fire
Woman whose fiancé set fire to home entitled to half of policy proceeds
Appeals – Present execution – Immunity
Negligence – Rape – Parking garage
Landlord and tenant – Lost profits – Specific performance
Appeals Court reinstates parking garage rape victim’s $4 million verdict
Civil practice – Sex offender classification
Negligence – Housing development – Shooting
Civil practice – New trial – Attorney misconduct
Appeals – Present execution – Immunity – Wage Act
Elections – Contributions – Business corporations
Environmental – DEP – License – Amendment
Employment – Wage Act – Individual liability
Civil practice – Sex offender registration – ‘Like offenses’
Education – University – Endowment – Fossil fuels
Landlord and tenant – Mixed-use condominium – Parking
Insurance – G.L.c. 176D – Settlement – Loss of use
Negligence – Store – Mode of operation

Judicial Profiles

Wilson, Paul D.