Suffolk Law School in Boston - Suffolk University

Archived Video.

The archive contains case video going back to 2005. Recent arguments are arranged by date below. Use "Search Archive" to find older case video, find a specific case, or to pull up multiple cases matching your search criteria.

The 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.

RECENT ARGUMENTS

Jun. 2019

In re Joseph

Docket: SJC-OE-0140
Argued: 2019-06-26
Summary: Judicial Misconduct-- This is a hearing on reconsideration of an order of the Supreme Judicial Court suspending District Court Judge Joseph without pay as result of her indictment by a federal grand jury on charges of obstruction of justice.

May. 2019

Commonwealth v. Vieira

Docket: SJC-12696
Argued: 2019-05-06
Summary: Criminal-- Whether the defendant, arraigned on a charge of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of fourteen, may be detained pretrial as a dangerous person.

Veolia Energy Boston, Inc. v. Board of Assessors of the City of Boston

Docket: SJC-12634
Argued: 2019-05-06
Summary: Personal Property Taxation-- This is an appeal of a decision to grant a personal property tax abatement involving the machinery exemption from taxation.

Commonwealth v. Gomes

Docket: SJC-12692
Argued: 2019-05-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a prosecution of a police officer, a mandated reporter, for indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of fourteen.

Commonwealth v. Reyes

Docket: SJC-11590
Argued: 2019-05-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

White v. Chief Justice of the Boston Municipal Court

Docket: SJC-12643
Argued: 2019-05-06
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition involves a complaint alleging misconduct by a clerk-magistrate in connection with a small claims matter.

Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC v. Chief Justice of the Trial Court

Docket: SJC-12681
Argued: 2019-05-07
Summary: Court Records-- Whether the public has a right of access to District Court records regarding show cause hearings in which a clerk-magistrate has found probable cause but has declined to issue process or a criminal complaint.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12695
Argued: 2019-05-07
Summary: Not available

Commonwealth v. Watt

Docket: SJC-12689
Argued: 2019-05-07
Summary: Criminal-- Whether the Commonwealth must refund fees paid by the defendant where his drug convictions were invalidated as result misconduct by an analyst at a state drug lab.

Marchese v. Boston Redevelopment Authority

Docket: SJC-12659
Argued: 2019-05-09
Summary: Municipal Law; Boston Redevelopment Authority-- This is a challenge to the taking of an easement by eminent domain in a street abutting Fenway Park by the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the transfer of those rights to the Boston Red Sox.

Davis v. Comerford

Docket: SJC-12712
Argued: 2019-05-09
Summary: Landlord-Tenant Law-- Whether a judge in an eviction action may order the tenant to make use and occupancy payments to the landlord during the pendency of the action.

Commonwealth v. Johnson

Docket: SJC-12673
Argued: 2019-05-09
Summary: Criminal; DNA Testing-- Whether the defendant, who was convicted of indecent assault and battery in Massachusetts and is now serving a federal prison sentence for failure to register as a sex offender, is eligible to seek post-conviction DNA testing.

Commonwealth v. Matta

Docket: SJC-12693
Argued: 2019-05-09
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a drug offense conviction committed within 100 feet of a public park or playground.

Commonwealth v. Robinson

Docket: SJC-08464
Argued: 2019-05-10
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Bryant

Docket: SJC-11675
Argued: 2019-05-10
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Lee

Docket: SJC-12383
Argued: 2019-05-10
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Rhodes

Docket: SJC-12235
Argued: 2019-05-15
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Apr. 2019

Boston Police Department v. Massachusetts Civil Service Commission

Docket: SJC-12653
Argued: 2019-04-01
Summary: Administrative Law—This appeal arises out of a police department decision not to hire an applicant as a police officer based on hair drug testing.

Commonwealth v. Odgren

Docket: SJC-11573
Argued: 2019-04-01
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction, including the propriety of a jury instruction that malice may be inferred from the use of a dangerous weapon.

Commonwealth v. Petit-Homme

Docket: SJC-12636
Argued: 2019-04-01
Summary: Criminal; Immigration Warning-- Where the defendant admitted to sufficient facts involving an assault with a dangerous weapon, whether the trial judge provided the defendant with the required statutory immigration warning.

UBS Financial Services, Inc. v. Aliberti

Docket: SJC-12662
Argued: 2019-04-01
Summary: Individual Retirement Accounts-- Whether a beneficiary of an Individual Retirement Account has stated claims for breach of fiduciary duty and violation of G.L. c. 93A against the custodian of the account.

Commonwealth v. Abubardar

Docket: SJC-12661
Argued: 2019-04-01
Summary: Criminal-- In a prosecution for assault and battery, whether the defendant was entitled to a jury instruction on self-defense.

Commonwealth v. Grassie

Docket: SJC-12061
Argued: 2019-04-01
Summary: Criminal-- Whether a conviction of second-degree murder should be reduced to manslaughter.

Commonwealth v. Wassilie

Docket: SJC-12672
Argued: 2019-04-02
Summary: Criminal— Various issues arising out of prosecution for video recording of a nude person and for video recording under or around the clothing of a person.

Massachusetts Fine Wines and Spirits, LLC v. Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission

Docket: SJC-12654
Argued: 2019-04-02
Summary: Administrative Law-- This appeal involves the suspension of a license to sell alcoholic beverages on the ground that the licensee sold items at retail below the invoiced cost.

The McLean Hospital Corporation v. Town of Lincoln

Docket: SJC-12675
Argued: 2019-04-02
Summary: Zoning-- Whether a hospital’s proposal to operate a skills development program in a residential location constitutes an educational purpose within the meaning of the Dover Amendment.

Finn v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12687
Argued: 2019-04-02
Summary: Pretrial Detention-- Where a defendant was charged in the District Court for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and released after a dangerousness hearing, whether he may be subject to a new dangerousness hearing in the Superior Court upon indictment for the same charge.

Commonwealth v. Long

Docket: SJC-12694
Argued: 2019-04-02
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a prosecution for trafficking a criminal amount of marijuana, whether probable cause existed for purposes of obtaining a warrant to search a commercial building based on the odor of unburnt marijuana emanating from the building.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12669
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Summary unavailable

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12625
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Summary unavailable

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12660
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Summary unavailable

DaPrato v. Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Docket: SJC-12651
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Employment Law-- Various issues arising out of a damage action against an employer alleging that the employer terminated the plaintiff’s employment as retaliation for the employee having taken medical leave.

Miranda v. Suffolk Superior Court

Docket: SJC-12590
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant, convicted of drug violations, is seeking review of the denial of a motion for post-conviction discovery regarding drug testing.

Commonwealth v. Zagwyn

Docket: SJC-12663
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of conviction for operating under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

Commonwealth v. Sandman

Docket: SJC-12645
Argued: 2019-04-04
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- In this superintendence petition, the defendant is challenging the revocation of his probation.

Commonwealth v. Niemic

Docket: SJC-12436
Argued: 2019-04-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Ware

Docket: SJC-11387
Argued: 2019-04-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Amaral

Docket: SJC-12244
Argued: 2019-04-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Mar. 2019

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12652
Argued: 2019-03-04
Summary: Not available

Commonwealth v. Tiscione

Docket: SJC-12629
Argued: 2019-03-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of conviction for firearm violations.

Chawla v. Massachusetts Appeals Court

Docket: SJC-12488
Argued: 2019-03-04
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition arises out of a whistleblower proceeding under the Massachusetts False Claims Act.

Dickey v. City of Boston Inspectional Services

Docket: SJC-12613
Argued: 2019-03-04
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition is a challenge to the appointment of a receiver by the Housing Court with authority to sell a parcel of property in Boston.

Commonwealth v. Yasin

Docket: SJC-12568
Argued: 2019-03-05
Summary: Criminal-- After a jury convicted the defendant of second-degree murder, whether a judge may allow a motion that had been earlier reserved in which the defendant requested a required finding of not guilty.

LaPlante v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12570
Argued: 2019-03-05
Summary: Juvenile Law— A juvenile offender who was convicted of homicide is appealing a sentence of 45 years in prison before he is eligible for release on the ground that the sentence does not provide him a meaningful opportunity for release based on rehabilitation.

Chelsea Housing Authority v. McLaughlin

Docket: SJC-12635
Argued: 2019-03-05
Summary: Torts-- This is an appeal of the allowance of a motion for summary judgment for the defendant in a damage action alleging that an accounting firm failed to discover financial misconduct by the Executive Director of the Chelsea Housing Authority.

Snell v. Office of the Medical Examiner

Docket: SJC-11530
Argued: 2019-03-05
Summary: Mandamus-- This appeal involves a mandamus petition requesting that the Office of the Medical Examiner produce certain records relating to an employee of the office.

Commonwealth v. Palermo (Reserve Case)

Docket: SJC-12639
Argued: 2019-03-07
Summary: Evidence; Criminal-- Various issues arising out of conviction for assault and threat to commit a crime, including whether the admission of a docket sheet showing the conviction of a coventurer was correct.

Commonwealth v. Wentworth (Reserve Case)

Docket: SJC-12633
Argued: 2019-03-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues involving the Massachusetts Armed Career Criminal Act.

Stevenson v. TND Homes I LLC

Docket: SJC-12581
Argued: 2019-03-07
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition brought by tenants involves the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits program.

Commerce Insurance Company v. Szafarowicz

Docket: SJC-12655
Argued: 2019-03-07
Summary: Insurance Law

Szafarowicz v. Commerce Insurance Company

Docket: SJC-12656
Argued: 2019-03-07
Summary: Insurance Law

Commonwealth v. Holbrook

Docket: SJC-10592
Argued: 2019-03-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Tavares

Docket: SJC-11264
Argued: 2019-03-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Moseley

Docket: SJC-11805
Argued: 2019-03-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Barnett

Docket: SJC-11910
Argued: 2019-03-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Feb. 2019

Commonwealth v. Carrillo

Docket: SJC-12617
Argued: 2019-02-04
Summary: Criminal-- Whether a person who supplied heroin to a college classmate may be convicted of involuntary manslaughter where the classmate subsequently died of a drug overdose.

Commonwealth v. Bennefield

Docket: SJC-12640
Argued: 2019-02-04
Summary: Criminal; Jury Trial-- Where a criminal case proceeded before a District Court jury of five, the defendant is seeking a new trial on the basis that there was no written waiver of the right to a trial before a six-person jury.

Commonwealth v. German

Docket: SJC-12601
Argued: 2019-02-04
Summary: Criminal; Search and Seizure—Various issues arising out of armed robbery conviction, incluing whether the pretrial showup identification of the defendant should have been suppressed on the basis that it was unduly suggestive.

Sullivan v. Sleepy’s LLC

Docket: SJC-12542
Argued: 2019-02-04
Summary: Employment Law-- In this case certified from the United States District Court, whether a 100% commissioned employee is entitled to additional compensation for overtime hours under regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards.

Tavares v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12580
Argued: 2019-02-04
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- In this superintendence petition, the petitioner is seeking relief form a conviction.

Barbosa v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12526
Argued: 2019-02-05
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- In this superintendence petition, the petitioner is seeking relief form a conviction.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12594
Argued: 2019-02-05
Summary: Summary unavailable

Commonwealth v. Newberry

Docket: SJC-12575
Argued: 2019-02-05
Summary: Criminal Procedure; Pretrial Diversion-- Where a defendant is charged with a crime, whether a judge may decline to arraign the defendant and whether a judge may require conditions of release, such as GPS tracking.

Commonwealth v. Hardy

Docket: SJC-12637
Argued: 2019-02-05
Summary: Criminal-- Whether there was sufficient evidence to convict the defendant of involuntary manslaughter where a child was improperly restrained in the automobile and the child died as result of an automobile accident.

Commonwealth v. Jeannis

Docket: SJC-12630
Argued: 2019-02-05
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a drug prosecution, the defendant is appealing the denial of a motion to suppress where drugs were seized from his body.

Commonwealth v. Rodriguez

Docket: SJC-12638
Argued: 2019-02-07
Summary: Criminal; Sentencing-- This case deals with the proper sentence that may be imposed upon a defendant convicted of possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device.

Board of Higher Education v. Commonwealth Employment Relations Board

Docket: SJC-12621
Argued: 2019-02-07
Summary: Labor Law-- This case deals with the validity of a collective bargaining agreement involving state college faculty that limits the percentage of courses that may be taught by part-time faculty.

Hedberg v. Wakamatsu

Docket: SJC-12624
Argued: 2019-02-07
Summary: Evidence; Medical Malpractice-- In a medical malpractice action by a patient against a surgeon, whether a statement made to the patient by a medical student who was present during surgery regarding the surgery is admissible.

Aronova v. Mohamed

Docket: SJC-12578
Argued: 2019-02-07
Summary: Summary unavailable

Taylor-Cameron v. Walcott

Docket: SJC-12532
Argued: 2019-02-07
Summary: Summary unavailable

Mullane v. Barclays Bank Delaware

Docket: SJC-12534
Argued: 2019-02-07
Summary: Small Claims-- In a small claims case by a consumer against a credit card issuer, the consumer is seeking a jury trial on the defendant’s counterclaim for money owed.

Commonwealth v. Wardsworth

Docket: SJC-11125
Argued: 2019-02-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Buttimer

Docket: SJC-12085
Argued: 2019-02-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Colon

Docket: SJC-11610
Argued: 2019-02-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Garcia

Docket: SJC-11423
Argued: 2019-02-27
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Jan. 2019

Commonwealth v. Rivera

Docket: SJC-12605
Argued: 2019-01-07
Summary: Criminal-- Whether the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant of being an accessory after the fact of murder.

RCA Development Inc. v. Brockton Zoning Board of Appeals

Docket: SJC-12619
Argued: 2019-01-07
Summary: Zoning-- Whether a landowner who believes that approval of a plan under the subdivision control law is not required must apply to the planning board for an endorsement that approval is not required.

Commonwealth v. Adams

Docket: SJC-12620
Argued: 2019-01-07
Summary: Criminal-- Whether Massachusetts recognizes the common law crime of interfering with a police officer in the lawful performance of duties; whether there was sufficient evidence that the police officers were in lawful performance of their duties when the defendant refused to surrender his firearms.

Boston Housing Authority v. Y.A.

Docket: SJC-12623
Argued: 2019-01-07
Summary: Landlord-Tenant-- Whether the Violence Against Women Act provides a defense to a public housing tenant in an eviction for non-payment of rent where the failure to pay rent was attributable to domestic violence.

D.R. Peck Excavating v. Machado

Docket: SJC-12497
Argued: 2019-01-07
Summary: Superintendence Petition--This superintendence petition seeks review of a decision after a District Court jury trial in a small claims appeal.

Blackwell v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12491
Argued: 2019-01-07
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This is a superintendence petition by a prisoner who pleaded guilty to assault and battery and firearms violations.

In Matter of Chapman

Docket: SJC-12537
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Sexually Dangerous Persons-- This is a petition by victims claiming they are entitled to notice of the release of a sexually dangerous person and seeking to enjoin his release.

Branch v. Commonwealth Employment Relations Board

Docket: SJC-12603
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Labor Law-- Whether requiring public employees who do not join a union to pay an agency or service fee violates the First Amendment.

Roberio v. Tressler

Docket: SJC-12482
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Juvenile Law-- This case deals with a juvenile offender’s eligibility for parole after a first-degree murder conviction.

Blanchard v. Steward Carbey Hospital

Docket: SJC-12618
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Not available

477 Harrison Ave., LLC v. Jace Boston, LLC

Docket: SJC-12600
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Anti-SLAPP Statute-- This case, arising out of a zoning appeal involving neighboring properties, deals with whether a special motion to dismiss under the anti-SLAPP statute should be allowed.

Brown v. Federal National Mortgage Association

Docket: SJC-12583
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition seeks to invalidate a Housing Court judgment for possession in a summary process case after a mortgage foreclosure.

Chapman v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-12632
Argued: 2019-01-08
Summary: Sexually Dangerous Persons-- Whether the Commonwealth may proceed to trial in a sexually dangerous person proceeding notwithstanding the opinions of the qualified examiners that the individual is not sexually dangerous.

Commonwealth v. Beauchamp

Docket: SJC-12519
Argued: 2019-01-10
Summary: Superintendence Petition-- This superintendence petition by a prisoner seeks to invalidate an Appeals Court decision affirming his conviction for second-degree murder.

Boston Globe Media Partners LLC v. Department of Public Health

Docket: SJC-12622
Argued: 2019-01-10
Summary: Public Records-- The Boston Globe is appealing the denial of its request seeking electronic indices of birth and marriage records from the Department of Public Health.

Commonwealth v. Larose

Docket: SJC-12610
Argued: 2019-01-10
Summary: Criminal; Search and Seizure-- Where a vehicle crossed the edge line separating the travel lane from the shoulder for a few seconds, whether there is a marked-lane violation that would allow the police to stop the vehicle.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-12599
Argued: 2019-01-10
Summary: Not available

Myrick v. Massachusetts Appeals Court

Docket: SJC-12402
Argued: 2019-01-10
Summary: Not Available

Meyer v. Veolia Energy North America

Docket: SJC-12606
Argued: 2019-01-10
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Simon

Docket: SJC-11666
Argued: 2019-01-11
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Mack

Docket: SJC-12319
Argued: 2019-01-11
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Silva

Docket: SJC-12336
Argued: 2019-01-11
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Rivera

Docket: SJC-12424
Argued: 2019-01-11
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

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