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Criminal – Murder
Where a jury found a defendant guilty of first-degree murder, the conviction should be affirmed despite the defendant’s argument that the judge erred in seating a biased juror, the prosecutor made improper statements in closing argument, the judge abused his discretion in admitting autopsy photographs, and the judge erred in denying the defendant's pretrial motion to suppress.
Swaps or bets? SJC digs into sports prediction market case
Supreme Judicial Court justices queried attorneys on May 4 whether Kalshi's sports-event contracts are swaps or bets, a key point in the case determining whether the popular prediction market can continue making those offerings available in Massachusetts.
SJC: Instagram not protected by Communications Decency Act
The Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that the Communications Decency Act does not shield Meta's Instagram from claims alleging addiction of children.
Consumer protection – Instagram – Communications Decency Act
Where the commonwealth filed a complaint alleging that the defendant, which owns and operates the social media platform Instagram, engaged in unfair business practices by inducing compulsive use by children, engaged in deceptive business practices by deliberately misleading the public about the safety of the platform, and created a public nuisance by engaging in those unfair and deceptive practice[...]
Juvenile – Effective assistance – Transfer hearing
Where a transfer hearing was held to determine whether a defendant should be tried as an adult, the defendant was entitled to the effective assistance of counsel at the transfer hearing.
Defendant entitled to effective assistance at transfer hearing
The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a defendant is entitled to effective counsel at transfer hearings determining adult trial eligibility under G.L.c. 119, §72A.
Campbell’s motion to strike audit case kicked up to full SJC
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court will review whether Auditor Diana DiZoglio can be represented by outside counsel in her audit dispute against the Attorney General.
Indeterminate sentences vacated on appeal
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court vacated sentences for two defendants sentenced under G.L.c. 269, §10(m), ruling the maximum term must be at least two and one-half years.
Criminal – Murder
Where a defendant was convicted of first-degree murder, the defendant’s conviction should be affirmed despite his challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence of deliberate premeditation.
SJC justice rejects DiZoglio’s bid for representation in legislative audit case
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court justice denies Auditor Diana DiZoglio's motion to appoint special counsel in her bid to audit the state Legislature.
Habeas corpus – SDP – Commitment
Where a petitioner challenged his civil commitment under G.L.c. 123A on the ground that no qualified examiner opined that he was a sexually dangerous person, a Superior Court order granting habeas corpus relief should be vacated because the petitioner had an alternative avenue to challenge his civil commitment.
Habeas relief denied in SDP appeal
The Supreme Judicial Court has vacated a Superior Court order granting habeas corpus relief to a petitioner challenging his commitment as a sexually dangerous person.
Verdicts & Settlements
- Injury during baby’s adenoidectomy leads to stroke
- Construction worker’s hand caught in cement mixer
- Worker trapped in freezer, dies during steam cleaning
- Pedestrian, 69, hit by motor vehicle while in crosswalk
- Four-vehicle pileup leaves driver with spinal cord injury
- Nursing home staff blamed for kidney-failure death
- Pharmacy’s late delivery blamed for patient’s death
- Man, 25, drowns after swimming lesson at fitness club
Opinion Digests
- Jurisdiction – Forum selection clause – Non-signatory
- Criminal – Responsibility
- Attorneys – Lien
- Landlord and tenant – Default judgment
- Zoning – Constructive grant – Comprehensive permit
- Fraud – False Claims Act – Settlement share
- Civil practice – Discovery – Cybersecurity
