by George Georgountzos A lease functions as the basis of the contractual agreement between the landlord and tenant, outlining the parties’ obligations to each other. When disputes arise, parties, counsel and courts look to the lease as the starting point in determining what the parties agreed to and whether there has been a breach. Peculiar […]
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The ABC Store in Anytown is hiring!! Immediate opening for part-time mother’s hours, M-F 8:30am-2:30pm with some Saturdays (as needed). Individual should have good customer service skills, some computer skills, ability to multi-task and handle packages up to 30-40 lbs. Call John Doe at 781-224-2500 or come in to the store @ 15 Lincoln St. […]
by George Georgountzos Landlords who lease residential units face new challenges in dealing with legalized marijuana use. Legal use of medicinal marijuana has been around for a while and Massachusetts courts have addressed issues about offering reasonable accommodations for individuals who are prescribed marijuana under a doctor’s care. Now that Massachusetts has legalized recreational use […]
by Robert P. Rudolph According to the US Census Bureau, there are nearly one million renter-occupied housing units in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is estimated that 75 percent of rental units are owned by small property owners who do their own management instead of contracting it out. When a new tenant moves in, it […]
by James L. Rudolph and Robert P. Rudolph On November 8, 2018 the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued Opinion Letter FLSA 2018-27 which rolls back the Obama-era’s enforcement of what is commonly referred to as the “80/20 Rule.” Many states allow an employer to pay a lower tipped rate to tipped service employees, such as […]
by Adam J. Shafran On May 21, 2018, in a highly anticipated 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that class action waivers in employment arbitration agreements prohibiting employees from bringing class action lawsuits are enforceable and do not violate the National Labor Relations Act. The decision in Epic Systems Corporation v. Lewis maintains […]
by George Georgountzos A common provision in condominium documents for new construction projects is language protecting the developer from potential lawsuits for defects in common areas and facilities. This limits individual lawsuits by single or minority disgruntled unit owners, but such protections are not limitless. A recent Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision, Cambridge Point Condominium […]
On October 1, 2018, Massachusetts’ new noncompete law (G.L. ch. 149, § 24L) goes into effect. While the new law largely codifies existing common law, it also alters the legal landscape in significant ways that will pose traps for unwary and overprotective employers. Particularly, although the law offers enforceability incentives for narrowly drafted noncompetes, it […]
by Adam Shafran On June 28, as part of a comprehensive new employee wage and benefits initiative, Massachusetts adopted an expansive paid family and medical leave law that substantially expands the job protection rights of nearly all workers throughout Massachusetts. While the details are still coming out, the following are the basic points of this […]
