Legal News

Have you ever wondered when Massachusetts’ 6-year statute of repose for defective design, planning and construction is triggered when dealing with the construction of a multi-building, multi-year condominium construction project?...By: Pierce Atwood LLP

NEW GUIDANCE ON PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HOUSING PROPOSALS - The Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) recently issued guidance for municipalities regarding housing development. This guidance relates to a municipal relief act passed in April (Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020). Chapter 53 stayed all statutory deadlines requiring municipal boards and commissions to act on development applications for the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency....By: Pierce Atwood LLP

Effective August 7, 2020, Massachusetts removed Rhode Island from one of its “Lower-Risk States” COVID Travel Exemption. This applies to Massachusetts recently imposed travel restrictions that commenced on August 1, 2020....By: Pierce Atwood LLP

The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently decided that a settlement agreement resolving a zoning case brought by the Town of Bourne did not prevent neighbors from obtaining zoning enforcement inconsistent with that settlement. The case, Stevens v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Bourne, involved the use of a property in a residential zoning district as a wedding venue (commercial uses were not allowed). There were two sequential cases involving challenges to the use....By: Pierce Atwood LLP

On July 2, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a new state permitting order that rescinds and replaces his March 26, 2020 order. The new order sets specific dates for agencies to take action and for appeals of state permits to be filed. The main takeaways of the new order are......By: Pierce Atwood LLP

In a striking blow, stripping a city of a judgment of nearly $1 million, the Massachusetts Appeals Court recently reversed a superior court summary judgment awarding fines to the City of Haverhill for a developer’s violations of zoning laws....By: Pierce Atwood LLP

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court: No Further Deadline or Statute of Limitations Extensions - On June 24, 2020, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued an order further staying certain hearings and trials and limiting access to courthouses until at least July 13, 2020....By: Pierce Atwood LLP

On June 4, 2020, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS issued Notice 2020-39 to provide relief regarding various deadlines applicable to the federal opportunity zone program....By: Pierce Atwood LLP

Supreme Judicial Court Issues Order Signaling End of Deadline and Statute of Limitations Extensions - On May 26, 2020, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued an order further staying certain hearings and trials and limiting access to courthouses...By: Pierce Atwood LLP

Non-essential private construction projects were suspended on March 31, 2020 in Massachusetts. That suspension had been in place for the construction industry until yesterday— May 18, 2020....By: Pierce Atwood LLP