In Att’y Gen. v. Town Milton, the court ruled that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (“MBTA”) Communities Act, G. L. c. 40A, § 3A (“Section 3A”), is constitutional, and that the Attorney General has the authority...more
In North End Chamber of Commerce (“NECC”) v. City of Boston, the NECC and several restaurants in the North End neighborhood of Boston (“Plaintiffs”) filed suit against the City of Boston (“City”), alleging that the City...more
When is the executor nominated by the decedent in a will deemed unfit to serve as executor? Rarely – but a recent decision in Surrogates Court set forth the standard and deemed the nominated executor in that case unfit to...more
What constitutes undue influence sufficient to invalidate a deed? In Erikson v. Erikson, 105 Mass. App. Ct. 1115 (February 24, 2025), the Appeals Court of Massachusetts affirmed the Land Court’s invalidation of a deed on the...more
On March 21, 2025, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued an interim final rule that significantly changes the reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). This alert summarizes...more
3/24/2025
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Business Ownership ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Financial Crimes ,
FinCEN ,
Foreign Entities ,
Pooled Investment Vehicles ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements
On February 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas lifted the nationwide injunction it had previously issued against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). As a result, the CTA...more
2/20/2025
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Business Ownership ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Filing Deadlines ,
FinCEN ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements
Kearsarge Walpole LLC v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Walpole involved a dispute over where a large-scale solar array could be placed in Walpole, Massachusetts. In Kearsarge, a solar developer (Kearsarge), along with Norfolk...more
On December 26, 2024, the merits panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an order effectively reinstating the District Court's nationwide injunction of the Corporate Transparency Act....more
12/27/2024
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Business Ownership ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Filing Requirements ,
FinCEN ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Stays
On December 23, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit lifted the injunction issued earlier this month that had paused enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). In response, the U.S....more
12/24/2024
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Business Ownership ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Deadlines ,
Filing Requirements ,
FinCEN ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Stays
On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide injunction halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). In response, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s...more
12/12/2024
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Business Ownership ,
Compliance ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Filing Requirements ,
FinCEN ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Stays
Generally, under New York EPTL 5-1.1-A, if a decedent is survived by a spouse, a right of election is given to the surviving spouse to take a share of the decedent's estate “equal to the greater of (i) fifty thousand dollars...more
The clock is ticking—just 49 days remain until the one-year filing deadline for the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)! Entities established before January 1, 2024, must submit a beneficial owner information report (BOIR) by...more
Somerville Off. Assocs. Ltd. P'ship v. Cresset Dev., LLC, 104 Mass. App. Ct. 1108 (2024).
In Somerville Office Associates Limited Partnership v. Cresset Development, LLC, plaintiff Somerville Office Associates (“SOA”)...more
Fleming v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Oxford, 103 Mass. App. Ct. 1128 (2024)
In Fleming, the Massachusetts Appeals Court grappled with some scaley zoning issues arising out of personal ownership of 460 reptiles. In this...more
Meadow Wood LLC v. City of Brockton, 230 N.E.3d 1065 (Mass. App. Ct. 2024) -
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently interpreted G. L. c. 41, § 81P, which governs “approval not required” endorsements....more
Varano v. PDJM Land Tr., LLC, 103 Mass. App. Ct. 1127 (2024) - We last wrote about Varano v. PDJM in our November 2022 issue of Law of the Land. In the first iteration of Varano, the Superior Court held that a commercial...more
Can a person claiming to be the decedent’s biological child out of wedlock obtain a court order directing DNA testing of the decedent’s acknowledged children, in order to verify her claim? In Matter of Estate of McGuire, 203...more
Does the phrase “if they survive me” demonstrate a testator’s intent to avoid the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (“MUPC”) anti-lapse statute, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 190B § 2-603? The Massachusetts Supreme...more
Porter v. Bd. of Appeal of Bos., No. 22-P-974, 2024 WL 187241 (Mass. App. Ct. Jan. 18, 2024).
The case of Porter v. Bd. of Appeal of Boston is the latest case that involves an eternal question posed by developers: how...more
Porter v. Bd. of Appeal of Bos., No. 22-P-974, 2024 WL 187241 (Mass. App. Ct. Jan. 18, 2024).
The case of Porter v. Bd. of Appeal of Boston is the latest case that involves an eternal question posed by developers: how does...more
Griffin v. Melrose MA Plan. Bd., No. 23 MISC 000277 (KTS), 2024 WL 146450 (Mass. Land Ct. Jan. 12, 2024) -
In Griffin v. Melrose MA Plan. Bd., pro se plaintiff David Griffin (“Griffin”) appealed a decision of the Melrose...more
While undue influence claims are commonly asserted in probate proceedings, especially with the increased prevalence of dementia and similar disabilities, two recent cases from New York’s Appellate Division illustrate how...more
This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. Our lawyers are at the forefront of this area of the law, shaping how it is handled in...more
EVALUATING EFFECTIVE NOTICE IN EXERCISE OF OPTIONS -
Sourcing Unlimited, Inc. v. Cummings Properties, LLC, 102 Mass. App. Ct. 653 (2023) -
In Sourcing Unlimited, Inc., plaintiff-tenant Sourcing Unlimited, d/b/a...more
NONCONFORMING USE CLAIMS "ROCKED OUT" BY APPEALS COURT -
Butler v. Zoning Bd. of Appeals of Mattapoisett, 22-P-463 (Mass. App. Ct. Apr. 19, 2023) -
In Butler, Maureen and George Butler (the “Butlers”) asked the...more