Suffolk Law School in Boston - Suffolk University

Archived Video

The archive contains case video beginning with the 2019-2020 court year. Recent arguments are arranged by date below. Use "Search Archive" to find a specific case, or to pull up multiple cases matching your search criteria.

The Supreme Judicial Court removed older oral arguments from the archive, covering court years 2005-2006 to 2018-2019, after weighing the light concentration of traffic seeking access to these older cases against the substantial cost of maintaining it. The Supreme Judicial Court is currently studying alternative options to again make those older oral arguments available to the public.

For questions regarding the archive, please contact the Office of the Clerk for the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth (SJCWebCastArchive@jud.state.ma.us).

Summaries have been prepared by Suffolk University Law School. The summaries are not an official part of the court proceedings, and are presented so that those who access the website will have a general understanding of the legal issues in the cases set for oral argument.

The archive contains case video beginning with the 2019-2020 court year.
The Supreme Judicial Court removed older oral arguments from the archive, covering court years 2005-2006 to 2018-2019, after weighing the light concentration of traffic seeking access to these older cases against the substantial cost of maintaining it. The Supreme Judicial Court is currently studying alternative options to again make those older oral arguments available to the public.

For questions regarding the archive, please contact the Office of the Clerk for the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth (SJCWebCastArchive@jud.state.ma.us).

The summaries are not an official part of the court proceedings.

RECENT ARGUMENTS

Apr. 2021

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13081
Argued: 2021-04-05
Summary: unavailable

Commonwealth v. Tinsely

Docket: SJC-13052
Argued: 2021-04-05
Summary: Criminal-- The Commonwealth is appealing an order allowing the defendant's motion for new trial after a conviction for armed home invasion where the defendant did not arm himself until he entered an attached garage.

Shaw's Supermarket, Inc. v. Melendez

Docket: SJC-13054
Argued: 2021-04-05
Summary: Statute of Limitations; COVID-19-- In a personal injury action by a customer against a supermarket, whether the running of the statute of limitations was tolled by the COVID-19 orders issued by the Supreme Judicial Court addressing court deadlines during the pandemic.

Commonwealth v. Donald

Docket: SJC-13040
Argued: 2021-04-05
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant, convicted of crimes against the person, is appealing the denial of a motion for post-conviction forensic testing of bloodstains.

Commonwealth v. Alemany

Docket: SJC-12180
Argued: 2021-04-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Fournier v. Sudders

Docket: SJC-13059
Argued: 2021-04-07
Summary: Administrative Law; Medicaid-- Whether assets in an irrevocable trust may be considered to determine Medicaid eligibility where the grantor has the power to appoint principal to a non-profit or charitable organization.

DeCosmo v. Blue Tarp Redevelopment, LLC

Docket: SJC-13031
Argued: 2021-04-07
Summary: Gaming Law-- This is a suit by a player against a casino alleging that blackjack payments were made using odds that were inconsistent with the Blackjack Rules promulgated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Schuster v. Wynn Resorts Holdings, LLC

Docket: SJC-13060
Argued: 2021-04-07
Summary: Gaming Law-- The United States District Court has certified to the Supreme Judicial Court a question whether blackjack payments at a casino were made using odds that were inconsistent with the Blackjack Rules promulgated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Commonwealth v. Andrade

Docket: SJC-11529
Argued: 2021-04-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Town of Norton v. Pesa

Docket: SJC-13058
Argued: 2021-04-09
Summary: Administrative Law-- Various issues arising out of an action by a town conservation commission against the owners of real estate claiming a violation of an order of conditions regarding wetlands, including whether the commission's action is barred by a statute of limitations or statute of repose.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13068
Argued: 2021-04-09
Summary: unavailable

Suburban Home Health Care, Inc. v. Executive Office of Health and Human Services Office of Medicaid

Docket: SJC-13051
Argued: 2021-04-09
Summary: Administrative Law; Statute of Limitations-- Whether an administrative action by MassHealth to recoup alleged overpayments made over 10 years earlier to a provider of health services is barred by a statute of limitations or by the doctrine of laches.

Commonwealth v. Jacobs

Docket: SJC-10590
Argued: 2021-04-09
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Mar. 2021

Commonwealth v. Lessieur

Docket: SJC-13006
Argued: 2021-03-01
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant is appealing the denial of his request for a new trial after a murder conviction on the basis of results of DNA testing and of other newly discovered evidence.

Town of Sudbury v. Energy Facilities Siting Board

Docket: SJC-12997
Argued: 2021-03-01
Summary: Administrative Law-- This is an appeal of a decision of the Energy Facilities Siting Board approving an underground electric transmission line within an inactive Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority right of way.

Hovagimian v. Concert Blue Hill LLC

Docket: SJC-13039
Argued: 2021-03-01
Summary: Employment Law; Wages-- Whether wait staff employed by a country club are entitled to the proceeds of payments collected by the country club from banquet patrons and designated as service charges pursuant to the Massachusetts Tips Act.

Commonwealth v. Rand

Docket: SJC-13047
Argued: 2021-03-01
Summary: Criminal; Right of Confrontation-- Various issues arising out of conviction for strangulation and assault and battery, including whether admission of evidence of a 911 call violated the defendant's right of confrontation.

Commonwealth v. Quiles

Docket: SJC-12733
Argued: 2021-03-01
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Cassouto-Noff & Co. v. Diamond

Docket: SJC-13026
Argued: 2021-03-03
Summary: Enforcement of Foreign Judgments-- The defendant is appealing a Superior Court decision enforcing an Israeli default judgment against her for unpaid legal fees under the Uniform Foreign Money-Judgment Recognition Act.

Randolph v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13033
Argued: 2021-03-03
Summary: Criminal; Post-Conviction DNA Testing-- A non-party to a criminal case is seeking review of an order requiring him to provide a DNA sample in connection with a post-conviction motion for scientific analysis filed by a defendant who had been convicted of murder.

Commonwealth v. Lowery

Docket: SJC-13050
Argued: 2021-03-03
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for trafficking of a person for sexual servitude.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13032
Argued: 2021-03-03
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Sharma

Docket: SJC-13035
Argued: 2021-03-05
Summary: Criminal; Sentencing-- A juvenile offender is raising issues regarding sentencing after a conviction of second-degree murder.

Commonwealth v. Henry

Docket: SJC-13048
Argued: 2021-03-05
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to withdraw guilty pleas to robbery and assault and battery.

Mullins v. Corcoran

Docket: SJC-13049
Argued: 2021-03-05
Summary: Civil Procedure; Issue Preclusion-- The plaintiff is appealing the dismissal of a claim against majority shareholders of a limited liability company arising out of a real estate development project on the ground of issue preclusion.

Commonwealth v. West

Docket: SJC-12489
Argued: 2021-03-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Feb. 2021

Commonwealth v. Ortiz

Docket: SJC-12975
Argued: 2021-02-01
Summary: Criminal; Search and Seizure-- Various issues arising out of drug conviction, including whether the trial judge erred in denying a motion to suppress evidence seized from an automobile without a warrant.

Oracle USA, Inc. v. Commissioner of Revenue

Docket: SJC-13013
Argued: 2021-02-01
Summary: Sales Taxation-- The Massachusetts Commissioner of Revenue is appealing a decision involving the apportionment of sales tax on computer software sold in Massachusetts where the purchaser uses the software in another state.

Curtatone v. Barstool Sports

Docket: SJC-13027
Argued: 2021-02-01
Summary: Civil; Wiretap Law-- The Mayor of Somerville is appealing dismissal of a civil suit alleging that the defendant recorded a telephone conversation with him after wrongfully obtaining the mayor's consent by posing as a Boston Globe reporter.

Commonwealth v. Davis

Docket: SJC-13014
Argued: 2021-02-01
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for armed assault with intent to murder.

Commonwealth v. Louis

Docket: SJC-11512
Argued: 2021-02-01
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Oquendo v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12944
Argued: 2021-02-01
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Yusuf

Docket: SJC-12989
Argued: 2021-02-03
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a firearms prosecution, the defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to suppress information obtained through the body camera of a police officer who had previously responded to a domestic disturbance at the defendant's residence.

Mandeville v. Gaffney

Docket: SJC-12980
Argued: 2021-02-03
Summary: Habeas Corpus; Civil Procedure-- In a matter certified to the Supreme Judicial Court by the United States District Court, whether a person, convicted of murder in state court and who has filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court, has exhausted his appellate remedies in state court.

Mederi Inc. v. City of Salem

Docket: SJC-13010
Argued: 2021-02-03
Summary: Municipal Law; Retail Sale of Marijuana-- The plaintiff is seeking to require a municipality to execute a host community agreement in connection with the plaintiff's attempt to obtain a license for the retail sale of marijuana.

CommCan, Inc. v. Town of Mansfield

Docket: SJC-13029
Argued: 2021-02-03
Summary: Municipal Law; Retail Sale of Marijuana-- The plaintiff is seeking to convert a facility for dispensing medical marijuana to a facility for the retail sale of marijuana.

Commonwealth v. Fernandes

Docket: SJC-11586
Argued: 2021-02-03
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13015
Argued: 2021-02-05
Summary: Unavailable

Hornibrook v. Richard

Docket: SJC-13030
Argued: 2021-02-05
Summary: Conservatorship-- Whether a court-appointed conservator is entitled to quasi-judicial immunity from suit.

Lesage v. Massachusetts Treatment Center

Docket: SJC-13041
Argued: 2021-02-05
Summary: Sexually Dangerous Persons-- The Commonwealth is appealing a Superior Court order determining that the Commonwealth violated due process by insisting on a jury trial in a petition by a sexually dangerous person for discharge from civil commitment in light of the unavailability of jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cobble Hill Center LLC v. Somerville Redevelopment Authority

Docket: SJC-13028
Argued: 2021-02-05
Summary: Municipal Law; Eminent Domain-- Whether the Somerville Redevelopment Authority was authorized to take the plaintiff's property by eminent domain under the urban renewal statute.

Commonwealth v. Welch

Docket: SJC-11839
Argued: 2021-02-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Jan. 2021

Deweese-Boyd v. Gordon College

Docket: SJC-12988
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Employment Law-- In this employment discrimination action, a faculty member claims that she was denied promotion because of her opposition to the college's policies and practices; whether the college is entitled to assert a ministerial exception defense.

Osborne-Trussell v. Children's Hospital Corp.

Docket: SJC-12991
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Employment Law-- Whether an employee has stated a viable claim that her employer terminated her employment upon being informed that the employee had a harassment protection order.

Commonwealth v. Davis

Docket: SJC-12998
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Criminal-- The Commonwealth is appealing a Superior Court order granting the defendant, convicted of murder in 1986, a new trial based on postconviction DNA evidence.

Commonwealth v. Gumkowski

Docket: SJC-12670
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12908
Argued: 2021-01-04
Summary: Unavailable

Governo Law Firm LLC v. Bergeron

Docket: SJC-12948
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Business Litigation; Law Firms-- Various matters arising out of a civil action by a law firm against former employees of the firm claiming that the defendants engaged in unfair or deceptive business practices by taking files and data belonging to the law firm.

Commonwealth v. JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Docket: SJC-12973
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Business Litigation-- This action by a private person under the Massachusetts False Claims Act seeks to redress alleged fraud against the Commonwealth by banks involving marketing of tax-exempt bonds.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12986
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Hinds

Docket: SJC-12953
Argued: 2021-01-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Town of Brookline v. Alston

Docket: SJC-12974
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Administrative Law-- The Town of Brookline is appealing a Superior Court judgment affirming a Civil Service Commission decision that ordered reinstatement of a firefighter who claimed that he had been terminated because of racial bias on the part of his employer.

Massachusetts Port Authority v. Turo Inc.

Docket: SJC-13012
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Business Litigation-- The Massachusetts Port Authority is claiming that the defendant, which operates an online platform arranging peer-to-peer car rental transactions, is engaged in an unauthorized car rental business at Logan Airport.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13011
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Medina

Docket: SJC-12987
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Probation-- Various issues regarding whether the probation of the defendant, who had been convicted of sex offenses, had terminated.

Commonwealth v. Witkowski

Docket: SJC-12717
Argued: 2021-01-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Dec. 2020

Town of Concord v. Littleton Water Department

Docket: SJC-12947
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Land Use; Water Rights-- This is an appeal of a Land Court decision regarding water rights in a pond located in the towns of Littleton and Acton.

Commonwealth v. Gonzalez

Docket: SJC-12936
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a murder prosecution, the Commonwealth is appealing a Superior Court order allowing a motion to suppress statements.

Commonwealth v. Trotto

Docket: SJC-11930
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Caldwell

Docket: SJC-12907
Argued: 2020-12-02
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant is appealing the denial of a motion for new trial after a conviction of rape, claiming newly discovered evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Attorney General v. Facebook Inc.

Docket: SJC-12946
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: Business Litigation; Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product-- Whether the Massachusetts Attorney General may require Facebook to produce information gathered through an internal investigation by counsel; the investigation was conducted to assess Facebook's legal risk after a third party obtained personal data involving Facebook users.

Commonwealth v. Caliz

Docket: SJC-12932
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: Criminal; Jail Credit-- Whether the defendant is entitled to jail credit for days he was incarcerated where certain prior convictions were vacated because of misconduct at a state drug laboratory.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12933
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: unavailable

Commonwealth v. Concepcion

Docket: SJC-12382
Argued: 2020-12-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Moore v. Executive Office of the Trial Court Administration (Reserve Case)

Docket: SJC-12966
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- A Superior Court Assistant Clerk-Magistrate is seeking review of a trial court decision suspending her without pay after her indictment for federal criminal offenses.

Garcia v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12863
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Criminal Responsibility-- Where the defendant was found not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility for carjacking and related offenses, whether the judge's order hospitalizing the defendant involuntarily violated the defendant's due process rights.

Diaz v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13009
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Motion to Suppress Hearing; COVID-19-- In a drug prosecution, whether an evidentiary hearing on the defendant's motion to suppress may be held by video conference over the defendant's objection.

Commonwealth v. Rodriguez-Nieves

Docket: SJC-12307
Argued: 2020-12-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Nov. 2020

Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless v. City of Fall River

Docket: SJC-12914
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Constitutional Law; Panhandling Statute-- Homeless persons are challenging the Panhandling Statute, claiming that it is violative of free speech protections under both the United States and Massachusetts Constitutions.

Commonwealth v. Delgado-Rivera

Docket: SJC-12919
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Search and Seizure-- Where the defendant sent a text message to a third person, whether the defendant has standing to challenge a warrantless search of the third person's cellphone in a drug prosecution; whether the defendant has a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding the contents of the text message that was received by the third person.

Commonwealth v. Montarvo

Docket: SJC-12905
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Criminal; Sentencing-- The defendant, convicted of assault-related charges, is appealing his sentence as a habitual criminal.

Commonwealth v. Velez

Docket: SJC-11503
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Abuzahra v. City of Cambridge

Docket: SJC-12920
Argued: 2020-11-02
Summary: Eminent Domain-- Whether a landowner may challenge the validity of an eminent domain taking after accepting a pro tanto award for the taking.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12967
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: Unavailable

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12964
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: unavailable

Sullivan v. Five Acres Realty Trust

Docket: SJC-12934
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: Sale of Real Estate; Torts-- The defendants are appealing a jury verdict for the plaintiffs in a damage action involving defects in a home that the defendants renovated and sold to the plaintiffs.

Commonwealth v. Martinez

Docket: SJC-12393
Argued: 2020-11-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Henley

Docket: SJC-12951
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Zachery

Docket: SJC-12952
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Criminal; Search and Seizure-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction, including the propriety of a warrantless search involving information contained in defendant's MBTA Charlie Card used for public transportation.

Fitzpatrick v. Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers of New York, Inc.

Docket: SJC-12937
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Torts; Civil Practice-- In this damage action against a restaurant, the issue is whether the trial judge was correct in granting a mistrial on the basis of improper closing argument by the plaintiff.

Commonwealth v. Pearson

Docket: SJC-12930
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Search and Seizure-- Whether the trial judge erred in denying a motion to suppress evidence obtained during a warrantless entry into the defendant's home.

Commonwealth v. Chalue

Docket: SJC-12457
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Comments For Justice Lenk

Docket: SJC-CommentsForJusticeLenk
Argued: 2020-11-06
Summary: .

The Honorable Ruth I. Abrams Memorial Sitting

Docket: SJC-AbramsMemorialSitting
Argued: 2020-11-12
Summary:

2:00 - 3:00 pm.

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