A recent Massachusetts Appeals Court ruling highlights the importance of negotiating and drafting applicable damages provisions in commercial lease contracts. When possible, landlords must seek a well-drafted liquidated damages provision in each commercial lease agreement, providing for the landlord’s ability to accelerate rent for the balance of the lease term in the event of a tenant default. Conversely, tenants will want to eliminate…
Read More
Developments in the Dynamic World
of Business and Employment Law
We are pleased to report that on April 9, 2012, Bennett & Belfort, P.C. attorney David E. Belfort served as an invited speaker in Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.’s (“MCLE”) conference entitled ‘Employment Case Law, Legislative Developments & Trends Update 2012.’ Attorney Belfort’s presentation focused on evolving trends and developments in employment law for the past year in the areas…
Read More
Pregnancy discrimination involves the disparate (different) treatment of a female applicant or employee because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. The federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”) forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, such as leave and…
Read More
In a split opinion, the Federal First Circuit Court of Appeals in the matter of Lawson, et. al. v. FMR LLC. et. al. , found that Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) s.806 (18 USC s.1514A) , a statute enacted to encourage the reporting of illegal conduct by employees of publicly traded companies, does not protect contractors of such companies who ‘blow the whistle’…
Read More
Bennett & Belfort, PC is pleased to announce that Attorney Michael L. Mason's article, "Taking Exception: The Universal Demand Requirement and Close Corporations," was published in this month's issue of the Massachusetts Bar Association's Lawyers Journal. The article, in which Attorney Mason advocates for an exception to the rule that requires a demand prior to filing shareholder derivative litigation, is available…
Read More
Recently, the Federal District Court (Massachusetts) dismissed a claim filed by an employee claiming that he was discriminated against and ultimately wrongfully terminated because of his wife’s disability, highlights a growing divergence between federal and state law on the subject. In a strongly-worded decision issued last month, the Federal District Court, Gertner, J., dismissed a disability discrimination claim based on…
Read More
The Massachusetts Independent Contractor/Employee Misclassification Law (M.G.L. c. 149 § 148B) sets out the Commonwealth’s test for determining whether an individual may validly be treated as an “independent contractor,” as opposed to an “employee.” The law and its strict interpretation serve as a trap for unwary business owners who wish to take advantage of the “independent contractor” designation for individuals…
Read More
Anyone who has bought or sold property is aware of the overwhelming amount of paperwork exchanged between the buyer and the seller. Many people gloss over these important real estate contracts and other documents without fully reading them. While many purchase and sales agreements provide for a fixed amount of damages (liquidated damages) in the event the buyers do not…
Read More
