In recent months, a wave of lawsuits has swept across the nation, targeting websites for allegedly violating state wiretapping laws through their use of tracking software. Despite none of these statutes explicitly addressing...more
Trustees have many duties, including the duty of loyalty, the duty to invest prudently, and the duty of impartiality to all beneficiaries. Trustees must also effectuate the wishes of the trust’s settlor. These duties often...more
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Appellate Judges Education Institute (AJEI) Summit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Summit was an enriching experience, offering deep insights into the evolving dynamics of...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) often uses civil penalties to punish environmental violators. The EPA can either pursue a penalty through its internal administrative process or have the Justice...more
As a follow up to my previous blog post on the $70,000 engagement ring, the Supreme Judicial Court has now joined the majority of states by ruling in Johnson v. Settino that the engagement ring must be returned if the wedding...more
Good amicus briefs contribute to the development of the law and the administration of justice. They can benefit courts, parties, and, of course, the amici themselves. Courts benefit from having a more robust exposition of the...more
In a critical new decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has confirmed that the state’s anti-wiretapping statute does not extend to website tracking technologies. In Vita v. New England Baptist Hospital, the Court...more
Every week, the Array team reviews the latest news and analysis about the evolving field of eDiscovery to bring you the topics and trends you need to know. This week’s post covers the period of October 28-November 3. Here’s...more
On October 24, 2024, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued its highly anticipated decision in Vita v. New England Baptist Hospital, rejecting a plaintiff’s attempt to pin Wiretap Act liability on two hospitals...more
In a long-awaited decision affecting the scope of privacy protections in Massachusetts, on October 24, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) held that collecting and transmitting user browsing activities,...more
Keypoint: Massachusetts’ highest court ruled the use of software that tracks users’ activity on its website does not violate the state’s Wiretap Act, which was intended to prevent the recording or interception of...more
Does G.L. c. 40A, § 3, ¶ 4 “impose[] a per se requirement that all sober homes be treated in all circumstances as would single family homes as a matter of law?” In anticipation of December 2024 oral arguments, the Supreme...more
In a significant decision for website operators, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified that tracking users’ web activity does not constitute illegal wiretapping under the state’s Wiretap Act. The court found that...more
In a closely watched decision, the highest court in Massachusetts has rejected the theory that third-party website tracking technology violates G. L. c. 272, § 99, the Massachusetts Wiretap Act....more
Businesses that use website tracking software to monitor activity for marketing purposes must comply with a growing list of state laws – but does that include a nearly 60-year-old Massachusetts law requiring consent to record...more
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (the “SJC”) has held that the state’s wiretap act does not prohibit the tracking of a person’s browsing of and interaction with published information on websites. On behalf of...more
On October 7, 2024, the Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) heard oral arguments from the Attorney General’s Office and the Town of Milton regarding the Town of Milton’s noncompliance with the so-called MBTA Communities Act. For...more
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court answered “no” to a certified question from the First Circuit Court of Appeals asking whether plaintiff franchisees “‘perform any service’ for 7-Eleven within the meaning of [the...more
Who keeps the engagement ring when the knot is never tied? A new answer to this age-old question may be coming to Massachusetts as the Supreme Judicial Court considers the case of Johnson v. Settino. The engagement ring at...more
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) just delivered a win for franchisor-franchisee relationships. Specifically, the court held that 7-Eleven franchisees are not performing a “service” for their franchisor, meaning...more
On September 5, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) answered a second certified question in Patel, et al. v. 7-Eleven, Inc., et al. (“Patel II”), a long-running case where 7-Eleven franchisees claimed they...more
Sullivan was pleased to file an amicus brief on behalf of NAIOP Massachusetts – The Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP) in the case of Attorney General v. Town of Milton. The case involves the Town’s...more
In its September 13, 2024 decision in Bodge et al. v. Commonwealth et al., SJC-13567 (2024), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) ruled that an employer’s policy of denying the accrual of certain benefits to...more
On September 13, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the “SJC”) ruled that the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (the “Act”) does not guarantee the accrual of benefits such as sick leave, vacation...more
On September 5, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) ruled in Patel v. 7-Eleven that 7-Eleven franchisees are not employees of the franchisor under the independent contractor statute. The SJC looked beyond...more