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

Oct. 2021

Jinks v. Credico (USA) LLC

Docket: SJC-13106
Argued: 2021-10-04
Summary: Employment Law-- This case deals with the classification of plaintiffs, who performed sales and marketing work, as independent contractors under Massachusetts wage laws.

Commonwealth v. Ng

Docket: SJC-10476
Argued: 2021-10-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of denial of defendant's motion for new trial after a murder conviction.

H1 Lincoln, Inc. v. South Washington Street, LLC

Docket: SJC-13088
Argued: 2021-10-04
Summary: Business Law-- Various issues arising out of an action alleging breach of contract and violation of G.L. c. 93A in connection with the landlord's termination of a lease involving an automobile dealership.

Herring v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13083
Argued: 2021-10-04
Summary: Pretrial Release; COVID-19-- The defendant, indicted for first-degree murder, is seeking pretrial release from confinement, citing concerns about COVID-19.

Perrier v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12925
Argued: 2021-10-04
Summary: Criminal; Double Jeopardy-- Where the trial court granted the defendant's motion for new trial after a conviction of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor on the ground of closing remarks by the prosecutor, whether holding a second trial violates double jeopardy.

Commonwealth v. Comenzo

Docket: SJC-13119
Argued: 2021-10-06
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a prosecution for possession of child pornography, the defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to suppress evidence where a search warrant rested in part on evidence from a pole camera used to determine where the defendant lived.

The Masonic Temple Association of Quincy, Inc. v. Patel

Docket: SJC-13109
Argued: 2021-10-06
Summary: Torts; Insurance Law-- Various issues regarding liability and insurance coverage arising out of a fire that destroyed a Masonic Temple.

Commonwealth v. Dufresne

Docket: SJC-13123
Argued: 2021-10-06
Summary: Abuse Prevention; Criminal Proceedings-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for violation of a civil restraining order issued in a c. 209A proceeding; whether there was a violation of the defendant's right to counsel where he was convicted of violating a c. 209A order because had not been represented by counsel in the prior c. 209A proceeding.

Nemirovsky v. Daikin North America, LLC

Docket: SJC-13108
Argued: 2021-10-06
Summary: Torts-- Various issues arising out of a damage claim alleging defects in a heating and cooling system in the plaintiff's residence.

Reuter v. City of Methuen

Docket: SJC-13121
Argued: 2021-10-06
Summary: Employment Law-- Various issues under the Massachusetts Wage Act in a suit by the plaintiff against her former employer, including entitled to attorneys' fees and costs.

Commonwealth v. Gonsalves

Docket: SJC-12565
Argued: 2021-10-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Kostka

Docket: SJC-12381
Argued: 2021-10-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Bonner

Docket: SJC-12721
Argued: 2021-10-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Sep. 2021

Berry v. Commerce Insurance Co.

Docket: SJC-13089
Argued: 2021-09-08
Summary: Massachusetts Tort Claims Act-- Whether a police officer whose motor vehicle struck another officer was immune from liability under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act.

Commonwealth v. Rossetti

Docket: SJC-13036
Argued: 2021-09-08
Summary: Sentencing-- Whether a state prison sentence for a period of less than five years is legal upon a conviction for a second and subsequent offense involving failure to register as a sex offender.

American Family Life Assurance Co. of Columbus v. Parker

Docket: SJC-13090
Argued: 2021-09-08
Summary: Life Insurance; Divorce-- Whether the statutory "revocation on divorce" provision applies to a life insurance policy that was issued prior to the effective date of the statute.

Commonwealth v. Carrasquillo

Docket: SJC-13122
Argued: 2021-09-08
Summary: Search and Seizure; Social Media Posting-- In a firearms prosecution, the defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained by an undercover officer from a posting on the defendant's social media platform Snapchat; whether the defendant's privacy settings on the social media account are relevant to his expectation of privacy.

Sacks v. Dissinger

Docket: SJC-13105
Argued: 2021-09-08
Summary: Torts-- Whether the plaintiffs' tort action arising out of the elimination of their beneficial interests in a trust and their claim for restitution were time-barred.

Commonwealth v. Garner

Docket: SJC-13103
Argued: 2021-09-10
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a firearms prosecution involving a motor vehicle stop, whether the trial judge's order allowing a motion to suppress was correct.

Foster v. Mici

Docket: SJC-13125
Argued: 2021-09-10
Summary: Prisoners' Rights; COVID-19-- Prisoners alleging that the Department of Correction was deliberately indifferent to the risks created by COVID-19 in prisons are appealing the denial of their request for a preliminary injunction.

Commonwealth v. Curran

Docket: SJC-13093
Argued: 2021-09-10
Summary: Criminal Proceedings and Remote Trials; COVID-19-- Whether a defendant in a criminal trial must be advised of specific rights that are waived where the trial was conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13107
Argued: 2021-09-10
Summary: unavailable

Open Case

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13120
Argued: 2021-09-10
Summary: unavailable

Commonwealth v. Aduayi

Docket: SJC-12109
Argued: 2021-09-13
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Denson

Docket: SJC-11251
Argued: 2021-09-13
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Paige

Docket: SJC-12806
Argued: 2021-09-13
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Jun. 2021

Committee for Public Counsel Services v. Barnstable County Sheriff's Office

Docket: SJC-13116
Argued: 2021-06-01
Summary: Unavailable.

May. 2021

West Street Associates LLC v. Planning Board of Town of Mansfield

Docket: SJC-13069
Argued: 2021-05-03
Summary: Zoning; Marijuana-- This case deals with the validity of a municipal zoning bylaw restricting the issuance of a special permit to non-profit entities to construct and operate a marijuana dispensary.

Laramie v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.

Docket: SJC-13070
Argued: 2021-05-03
Summary: Wrongful Death; Punitive Damages-- Various issues arising out of a judgment for the plaintiff in a tobacco wrongful death case against a cigarette manufacturer; whether an award of punitive damages against the defendant is barred by a Master Settlement Agreement in prior litigation brought by the Massachusetts Attorney General.

Commonwealth v. Kozubal

Docket: SJC-13092
Argued: 2021-05-03
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of prosecution for indecent assault and battery on a person under the age of 14 by a mandated reporter.

Commonwealth v. Bailey-Sweeting

Docket: SJC-13086
Argued: 2021-05-03
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a firearms prosecution, the defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to suppress arising out of a motor vehicle stop.

Commonwealth v. Rintala

Docket: SJC-12310
Argued: 2021-05-03
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Edwards v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Docket: SJC-13073
Argued: 2021-05-05
Summary: Employment Litigation-- Various issues arising out of plaintiff's claim of violation of the Massachusetts Whistleblower Act in connection with her former position as Chair of the Sex Offender Registry Board.

McGilloway v. Safety Insurance Co.

Docket: SJC-13053
Argued: 2021-05-05
Summary: Insurance Law-- Various issues arising out of insurance coverage in connection with physical damage to an automobile.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13072
Argued: 2021-05-05
Summary: unavailable

Commonwealth v. McDermott

Docket: SJC-13091
Argued: 2021-05-05
Summary: Criminal; Bail or Stay of Execution of Sentence-- Whether a judge may consider that a detainee or prisoner has been infected with COVID-19 or has received the COVID-19 vaccine in connection with a request for bail or a stay of execution of a sentence.

Emma v. Massachusetts Parole Board

Docket: SJC-13101
Argued: 2021-05-05
Summary: Medical Parole-- This case deals with the authority of the Parole Board and the Commissioner of the Department of Correction with regard to medical parole.

Open Case

Commonwealth v. Odegard

Docket: SJC-11384
Argued: 2021-05-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

In re Sushchyk

Docket: SJC-13077
Argued: 2021-05-07
Summary: Judicial Conduct-- The Supreme Judicial Court is considering a report and recommendation from the Commission on Judicial Conduct regarding discipline of an Associate Justice of the Probate and Family Court.

Commonwealth v. Vigiani

Docket: SJC-13087
Argued: 2021-05-07
Summary: Juvenile Law; Evidence-- This case deals with the admissibility of a parent's testimony against a child who had been indicted in Juvenile Court for firearms violations as a Youthful Offender.

Commonwealth v. Mushwaalakbar

Docket: SJC-13098
Argued: 2021-05-07
Summary: Pretrial Detention; COVID-19-- This case concerns the continued pretrial detention of the defendant during the COVID-19 pandemic without trial in connection with domestic assault charges.

Commonwealth v. Carter

Docket: SJC-11517
Argued: 2021-05-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Pinckney

Docket: SJC-11518
Argued: 2021-05-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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