The Massachusetts Board of Regulations and Standards has issued the 9th edition of the State Building Code (780 Code of Massachusetts Regulations). It was published in Massachusetts Register #1350, and it became effective on October 20, 2017. There is a concurrency period with the 8th edition from October 20, …Continue Reading State Building Code- new 9th edition
Early in 1692, a group of girls in Salem Village (now the town of Danvers) began to accuse people of witchcraft. Accusations swelled, and soon, many people had been examined and jailed, awaiting trial. What laws were followed during the Salem witch trials of 1692? Under …Continue Reading Witchcraft law up to the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office issued amended open meeting law regulations that became effective on October 6, 2017. (940 Code of Mass. Regulations 29) The regulations were published in Massachusetts Register #1349, and they “will streamline, modernize, and clarify Open Meeting Law compliance while simultaneously sustaining the …Continue Reading Open Meeting Law Regulations Amended
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an important decision this week regarding access to a decedent’s email. The case of Ajemian v. Yahoo arose after Robert Ajemian died in a bicycle accident and left no will. His siblings were named the personal representatives of the estate, …Continue Reading Court rules on right to access email account after death
Massachusetts regulations (105 CMR 590.007) follow the federal Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code (1999 edition) (section 6-501.115), which states that “live animals may not be allowed on the premises of a food establishment”, with certain exceptions, which include fish in aquariums or edible seafood under refrigeration …Continue Reading Can You Take your Dog to a Restaurant or Grocery Store?
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a June 15, 2012 Memorandum . In the Memorandum, the DHS “announced that certain individuals without a lawful immigration status who were brought to the United States …Continue Reading DACA and Advice for Immigrant Families in Massachusetts
The power to grant executive clemency for offenses violating state law, including both pardons and commutations, is held in Massachusetts by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council. The governor’s power to pardon is rooted in the Constitution of the …Continue Reading Governor’s Power to Pardon
Since Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question legalizing recreational use of marijuana in 2016, the State legislature has been working on rewriting the marijuana laws. A major amendment was signed into law on July 28, 2017. The legislation is called “An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana.” (Chapter 55 of the Acts of …Continue Reading Marijuana law approved
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was signed into law by Governor Baker on July 27, 2017. Chapter 54 of the Acts of 2017 grants more protections against discrimination to pregnant workers in Massachusetts. Specifically the law prohibits an employer from denying a reasonable request for …Continue Reading Pregnant workers gain more protections in Massachusetts
Words of Law is a regular feature of Massachusetts Law Updates, highlighting a particular word or phrase and its meaning in law. Today’s phrase is in pari delicto. in pari delicto (in par-I dә-lik-toh), adv. [Latin “in equal fault’] Equally at fault <the court denied …Continue Reading Word(s) of the Month – in pari delicto
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