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

May. 2022

Williams v. Board of Appeals of Norwell

Docket: SJC-13230
Argued: 2022-05-02
Summary: Zoning-- This case deals with the validity of a decision of a Zoning Board of Appeals regarding the propriety of a building permit, including whether the appellant's parcel qualifies for separate lot protection.

Clark v. Attorney General

Docket: SJC-13238
Argued: 2022-05-02
Summary: Initiative Petition-- Whether the Attorney General erred in certifying an initiative petition regarding dental benefit plans.

Archer v. Grubhub, Inc.

Docket: SJC-13228
Argued: 2022-05-02
Summary: Arbitration-- Whether delivery drivers for Grubhub, a food ordering and delivery service, are required to arbitrate their claims that Grubhub violated Massachusetts wage laws.

City of Boston v. Quincy Conservation Commission

Docket: SJC-13244
Argued: 2022-05-02
Summary: Wetlands Protection-- This is an appeal of a Superior Court judgment overturning a decision of the Quincy Conservation Commission that denied the City of Boston's application for an order of conditions regarding reconstruction of the Long Island Bridge connecting Boston and Quincy.

Anderson v. Attorney General

Docket: SJC-13257
Argued: 2022-05-04
Summary: Constitutional Amendment-- The plaintiff is challenging the Attorney General's summary of a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution authorizing an additional income tax on incomes in excess of one million dollars.

Commonwealth v. Escobar

Docket: SJC-13252
Argued: 2022-05-04
Summary: Criminal; Pretrial Detention-- Whether manslaughter and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury are predicate offenses for the purpose of pretrial detention on the ground of dangerousness.

Koussa v. Attorney General

Docket: SJC-13237
Argued: 2022-05-04
Summary: Initiative Petition-- This is a challenge to the Attorney General's certification of an initiative petition to amend the Massachusetts Constitution regarding the relationship between Network Companies, such as Uber and DoorDash, and app-based drivers who transport customers or deliver goods to customer.

Colpack v. Attorney General

Docket: SJC-13273
Argued: 2022-05-04
Summary: Initiative Petition-- This is a challenge to the Attorney General's certification of an initiative petition regarding the retail sale of alcohol.

Nicholas-Taylor v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13206
Argued: 2022-05-04
Summary: Bail; Juvenile Law-- Whether the defendant, charged with murder and assault, may be held pretrial at a Department of Youth Services facility.

Commonwealth v. Toolan

Docket: SJC-11589
Argued: 2022-05-04
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Apr. 2022

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13127
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: Unavailable

Doe v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield, a Corporation Sole

Docket: SJC-13219
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: Torts; Appellate Review-- Where the trial court denied the defendant's motion to dismiss an action alleging sexual abuse by clergy, whether the defendant may pursue an interlocutory appeal of a ruling that neither charitable immunity nor the First Amendment provides a basis to dismiss the plaintiff's claims.

Commonwealth v. Roderick

Docket: SJC-13212
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: GPS Monitoring; Sexual Offenses-- The defendant, convicted of rape, is challenging a court order requiring him to wear a global positioning system device as a condition of probation.

Vermont Mutual Insurance Co. v. Poirier

Docket: SJC-13209
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: Insurance Law-- Where attorneys' fees were awarded against an insured for violation of G.L. c. 93A, whether the insured's liability coverage for bodily injury extends to an award of attorneys' fees.

Cavanagh v. Cavanagh

Docket: SJC-13222
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: Family Law-- Various issues arising out of a divorce, including the interpretation of language in the Alimony Reform Act regarding consideration of income used in calculating child support and its impact on an award of alimony.

HSBC Bank USA v. Morris

Docket: SJC-13191
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: Mortgage Foreclosure-- This is a challenge to an eviction action after a mortgage foreclosure claiming that the underlying loan was predatory.

Rinaldo Del Gallo, III v Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13102
Argued: 2022-04-04
Summary: Unavailable

Bask, Inc. v. Members of the Taunton City Council

Docket: SJC-13218
Argued: 2022-04-06
Summary: Zoning; Land Court-- Various issues arising out of the denial of a special permit for a recreational marijuana dispensary, including whether the Land Court may (1) order a municipal licensing authority not to award other dispensary licenses or (2) order the licensing authority to consider a particular license application.

Commonwealth v. Ramos

Docket: SJC-12678
Argued: 2022-04-06
Summary: Criminal; Forensic Testing-- The defendant, convicted of murder, is appealing the denial of a motion for post-conviction forensic testing.

Zoning Board of Appeals of Milton v. HD/HW Randolph Avenue, LLC

Docket: SJC-13221
Argued: 2022-04-06
Summary: Land Use-- This case deals with the authority of the Housing Appeals Committee with regard to a proposal for a residential development that included affordable housing units.

O'Leary v. Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission

Docket: SJC-13229
Argued: 2022-04-06
Summary: Retirement Law-- This case deals with consideration of payments in lieu of vacation time in determining a public employee's retirement allowance.

Commonwealth v. Tate

Docket: SJC-13227
Argued: 2022-04-06
Summary: Criminal; Professional Responsibility-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction, including whether a lawyer has an ethical obligation to disclose information to the Commonwealth that was received from a third person implicating the lawyer's client.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13224
Argued: 2022-04-06
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Gamboa

Docket: SJC-13063
Argued: 2022-04-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Melendez

Docket: SJC-12889
Argued: 2022-04-08
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Mar. 2022

Rodriguez v. Massachusetts Parole Board

Docket: SJC-13197
Argued: 2022-03-07
Summary: Parole-- This appeal challenges a parole board decision denying parole to a 61-year-old person for a crime he committed as a juvenile.

Mahan v. Boston Retirement Board

Docket: SJC-13208
Argued: 2022-03-07
Summary: Public Pension Law-- Whether the pension of a former city employee is subject to forfeiture where the former employee was convicted of offenses that occurred after the date of his retirement.

Commonwealth v. Dawson

Docket: SJC-13213
Argued: 2022-03-07
Summary: Criminal-- Whether the defendant may be charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of his coventurer who was engaged in an attempted robbery during which the coventurer was killed by the intended victim.

Armstrong v. Theoharides

Docket: SJC-13210
Argued: 2022-03-07
Summary: Administrative Law-- This is a challenge to a decision by the Department of Environmental Affairs concerning the Downtown Water District Municipal Harbor Plan of the City of Boston.

Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC v. City of Waltham

Docket: SJC-13195
Argued: 2022-03-07
Summary: Zoning-- The City of Waltham is appealing a Land Court decision allowing use of residential property as an access road to commercial property for the purpose of constructing a solar energy facility.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13220
Argued: 2022-03-07
Summary: Unavailable

Kligler v. Healey

Docket: SJC-13194
Argued: 2022-03-09
Summary: Physician-Assisted Suicide-- Whether a physician may be prosecuted for manslaughter for prescribing medication used by a competent, terminally ill person to commit suicide.

Commonwealth v. Pope

Docket: SJC-13202
Argued: 2022-03-09
Summary: Criminal-- The defendant is appealing the denial of a motion for new trial claiming that the Commonwealth had withheld exculpatory evidence in his 1986 murder trial.

The Haven Center, Inc. v. Town of Bourne

Docket: SJC-13198
Argued: 2022-03-09
Summary: Municipal Law; Marijuana-- The plaintiff, seeking to engage in the cultivation and sale of marijuana, is challenging a municipal bylaw prohibiting the use of nonmedical marijuana.

Commonwealth v. Pingxia Fan

Docket: SJC-13207
Argued: 2022-03-09
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for human trafficking, including whether the Commonwealth must prove the identity of a specific victim.

Commonwealth v. Exxon Mobil Corporation

Docket: SJC-13211
Argued: 2022-03-09
Summary: Anti-SLAPP Statute-- Whether the Massachusetts anti-SLAPP statute requires dismissal of an action under G.L. c. 93A brought by the Attorney General against ExxonMobil.

Commonwealth v. Grier

Docket: SJC-11386
Argued: 2022-03-11
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Cheng Sun

Docket: SJC-12870
Argued: 2022-03-11
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Feb. 2022

Commonwealth v. Baxter

Docket: SJC-13190
Argued: 2022-02-02
Summary: Criminal; Double Jeopardy-- In a prosecution for murder and firearms violations, whether the defendant can be retried after the court declared a mistrial because of a hung jury.

City of Lynn v. Murrell

Docket: SJC-13193
Argued: 2022-02-02
Summary: COVID-19 Emergency Orders-- Where a municipality issued a cease and desist order against an employer for not requiring face masks, the employer is challenging the validity of the Governor's emergency COVID-19 order requiring face masks.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13170
Argued: 2022-02-02
Summary: Unavailable

Executive Office of Health and Human Services v. Mondor

Docket: SJC-13179
Argued: 2022-02-02
Summary: Medicaid Law-- Whether the Commonwealth is entitled to the remaining proceeds of a spousal annuity purchased with spousal assets where the institutionalized spouse received MassHealth long-term care benefits.

Dermody v. Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Docket: SJC-13199
Argued: 2022-02-02
Summary: Medicaid Law-- Whether the Commonwealth is entitled to remaining proceeds of a spousal annuity purchased with spousal assets where the institutionalized spouse received MassHealth long-term care benefits.

Commonwealth v. Vega

Docket: SJC-13182
Argued: 2022-02-04
Summary: Criminal; Pretrial Detention-- The defendants, charged with illegal possession of firearms, are challenging the constitutionality of their pretrial detention without bail on the ground of dangerousness.

Tocci v. Tocci

Docket: SJC-13180
Argued: 2022-02-04
Summary: Corporations; Torts-- Various issues arising out of a dispute regarding the rights of three brothers who were shareholders in a closely held corporation.

FBT Everett Realty, LLC v. Massachusetts Gaming Commission

Docket: SJC-13196
Argued: 2022-02-04
Summary: Torts-- This lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission arises out of an option agreement to purchase the real estate on which the Encore Boston Harbor Resort is located.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13200
Argued: 2022-02-04
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Steeves

Docket: SJC-12981
Argued: 2022-02-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Brown

Docket: SJC-13025
Argued: 2022-02-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Commonwealth v. Moore

Docket: SJC-11582
Argued: 2022-02-07
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Jan. 2022

Test v Just Testing

Docket: SJC-99994
Argued: 2022-01-03
Summary: z

VAS Holdings & Investments, LLC v. Commissioner of Revenue

Docket: SJC-13139
Argued: 2022-01-05
Summary: Taxation-- Whether Massachusetts may tax the capital gains of a Florida S corporation in connection with its sale of a Massachusetts limited liability company.

Barbetti v. Stempniewicz

Docket: SJC-13149
Argued: 2022-01-05
Summary: Trusts and Estates-- Whether a person may delegate through a power of attorney the power to create a trust and if so, whether the power of attorney must authorize the creation of a trust.

Commonwealth v. Moreau

Docket: SJC-13168
Argued: 2022-01-05
Summary: Search and Seizure; Driving Under the Influence-- Where the police obtained blood for testing without the defendant's consent pursuant to a warrant, whether the test results are admissible in a prosecution for driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor.

Bassichis v. Flores

Docket: SJC-13175
Argued: 2022-01-05
Summary: Torts; Litigation Privilege-- In an action against an attorney alleging that he colluded with his client and the client's former spouse to obtain a divorce judgment in which all marital assets were awarded to the spouse, whether the claims of creditors of the client are barred by the litigation privilege.

Commonwealth v. Gebo

Docket: SJC-13203
Argued: 2022-01-05
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of a conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over the age of 60, including whether the trial judge erred by denying the defendant's request, made on the day of trial, to waive a jury and to proceed with a bench trial.

Matter of Kelley

Docket: SJC-13145
Argued: 2022-01-07
Summary: Bar Discipline-- Bar Counsel is appealing a decision of the Board of Bar Overseers in which an attorney was charged with disclosing confidential information about his former client in violation of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13153
Argued: 2022-01-07
Summary: Unavailable

Verveine Corp. v. Strathmore Insurance Co.

Docket: SJC-13172
Argued: 2022-01-07
Summary: Insurance Law-- Restaurants are seeking insurance coverage for loss of business income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders issued by state and local governments.

Devaney v. Zucchini Gold LLC

Docket: SJC-13176
Argued: 2022-01-07
Summary: Wage Law-- Various issues arising out of a suit by restaurant workers against their former employer claiming wage violations under federal and state law.

David v. Commonwealth

Docket: SJC-13096
Argued: 2022-01-07
Summary: Pretrial Detention-- Charged with various criminal offenses, the defendant is seeking review of an order of pretrial detention on the ground of dangerousness.

Commonwealth v. Andrew

Docket: SJC-12677
Argued: 2022-01-10
Summary: Unavailable

Kingara v. Secure Home Health Care Inc.

Docket: SJC-13173
Argued: 2022-01-10
Summary: Class Actions-- Where a plaintiff commenced a class action and died before the filing of a motion to certify a class, whether the attorney for the deceased plaintiff may act by sending a notice to the putative class members; whether a judge may order notice to the putative class members under such circumstances.

Battle v. Howard

Docket: SJC-13177
Argued: 2022-01-10
Summary: Real Property-- Where the plaintiff petitioned the Land Court for partition by sale of a joint tenancy, the issue deals with the effect of the plaintiff's death after a commissioner had been appointed and before the signing of a purchase and sale agreement.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13178
Argued: 2022-01-10
Summary: Unavailable

Commonwealth v. Duke

Docket: SJC-12047
Argued: 2022-01-10
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

Dec. 2021

Commonwealth v. DeJesus

Docket: SJC-13171
Argued: 2021-12-06
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of convictions for possession of a firearm and a large capacity feeding device, including whether the trial court erred in denying a motion to suppress evidence.

Commonwealth v. Santana

Docket: SJC-13146
Argued: 2021-12-06
Summary: Probation-- Various issues arising out of the revocation of the defendant's probation for violation of the terms and conditions of probation.

Commonwealth v. Costa

Docket: SJC-13157
Argued: 2021-12-06
Summary: Probation-- The defendant, convicted of sexual assault, is appealing the revocation of his probation, claiming that hearsay evidence should have been excluded.

Graycor Construction, Inc. v. Podium Developer, LLC

Docket: SJC-13142
Argued: 2021-12-06
Summary: COVID-19 Orders-- In an action by a general contractor to enforce a mechanic's lien, whether COVID-19 Orders of the Supreme Judicial Court tolled the statutory time period to file a notice of contract with the Registry of Deeds.

Springfield City Council v. Sarno

Docket: SJC-13154
Argued: 2021-12-06
Summary: Municipal Law-- This matter deals with the validity of a City of Springfield ordinance that replaced the Police Commissioner with a civilian Board of Police Commissioners.

In the Matter of Porter

Docket: SJC-13062
Argued: 2021-12-06
Summary: Bar Admissions-- The appellant is challenging a decision of the Board of Bar Examiners that he lacked the requisite character and fitness to be admitted to the bar of Massachusetts.

Commonwealth v. Fleury

Docket: SJC-13148
Argued: 2021-12-08
Summary: Criminal; Firearms-- Whether certain firearms must be forfeited and destroyed after a prosecution for illegal storage of firearms where the defendant was convicted of some counts and acquitted of others.

Ashe v. AM PM Safety LLC

Docket: SJC-13152
Argued: 2021-12-08
Summary: Torts; Discovery Motion-- In a negligence action arising out of a fall from scaffolding at a construction site, whether a judge properly allowed a discovery motion for an examination of the victim by a neuropsychologist who was not a physician.

Commonwealth v. Perry

Docket: SJC-13144
Argued: 2021-12-08
Summary: Search and Seizure-- In a homicide and robbery prosecution, the defendant is challenging a search warrant for cell site location data involving over 50,000 cell phone numbers where the warrant did not identify a suspect by name and did not indicate that the perpetrator of the crimes used a cell phone during the relevant time period.

Patel v. 7-Eleven, Inc.

Docket: SJC-13166
Argued: 2021-12-08
Summary: Labor Law-- The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has certified to the Supreme Judicial Court the question whether the test for independent contractor status under Massachusetts law applies to a franchisor and franchisee where the franchisor must comply with the Federal Trade Commission Franchise Rule.

Impounded Case

Docket: SJC-13072
Argued: 2021-12-08
Summary: unavailable

Commonwealth v. Huang

Docket: SJC-11575
Argued: 2021-12-10
Summary: Criminal-- Various issues arising out of murder conviction.

SEARCH ARCHIVE

Search Help?

1. The "Argued Between" fields can greatly refine your search.

2. Generally better to use last names in search.

3. Use single word searches, i.e. "Smith" NOT "Smith vs Doe".

4. Use Summary field to search by category, i.e. "Family Law", "Employment Law", "Reasonable Suspicion", etc.