Accomplishments

-Successfully argued cases before the United States District Court-MAD, Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court. (illustrative list attached)-Successfully argued cases before various state adjudicative forums. (illustrative list attached)

-Codified municipal ordinances, rules & regulations and policies. (Code on line at www.ci.methuen.ma.us )

-Standardized municipal RFP’s, contracts and agreements.

-Prepared and handled real estate transactions for development and sale of municipal properties. (Including the Forest Lake Development, Sargent Building and 55 plus housing complex on the Ashford School property)

-Formed non-profit corporations for local cable television and senior citizen centers. 

Professional History

2005 to date – Private practice, Methuen, Ma.     

General practice of law.

1980 to 2005- City Solicitor, City of Methuen, Ma.

Duties included;

-Representation of City and its officers before various federal and state courts.              

-Representation of the City and its officers before various state agencies and in arbitration before AAA.

-Issuance of opinions to the city council, mayor, officers, boards and commissions of the municipality.

-Preparation of legal instruments such as home rule petitions, deeds, RFP’s, bid documents, contracts, resolutions, leases, ordinances and eminent domain petitions.

-Representation of the City in labor negotiations with Public Safety, Public Works and General Government Unions.

Bar Admissions

Admitted to practice in;

Commonwealth of Massachusetts- 1977

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (CM/ECF registered)-1978

United States First Circuit Court of Appeals- 1980 

Education

Juris Doctorate- Suffolk University Law School, Boston Massachusetts

Bachelor of Science, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Professional Memberships

Articles and Programs

Panelist, Massachusetts Bar Association Professional Education “Recent developments under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act”                                                                

Contributing Author, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Municipal Law Update.

Strengths

-Expertise in Computer usage, Westlaw research and Microsoft Office.

-Extensive experience in handling litigation from commencement to completion including discovery, motion and brief writing

-Proficiency in negotiating and drafting legal documents.

-Recognized ability to analyze factual issues and develop legal strategies to handle them.

-Strong problem solving skills during contract and labor negotiations. 

Sample listing of cases before various courts

 Beal vs. Blache and City of Methuen, USDC-MAD 2005 WL 352861

Monahan vs. Methuen, Supreme Judicial Court, 408 Mass. 381

Blaser vs. Town Manager of Methuen, Appeals Court, 19 Mass. App. 727,477 N.E.2d 417, review denied 395 Mass. 1102     

Wightman vs Methuen, Appeals Court, 26 Mass App. Ct. 279 

Listing of Administrative Forums cases tried before