Massachusetts False Claims Act: Ignorance Is Not Bliss
By: Anthony B. Fioravanti, Esq.
A recent Massachusetts Superior Court case serves as an important reminder that contractors working on public projects must ensure that their subcontractors comply with prevailing wage laws. A failure to do so can put the contractor at risk under the Massachusetts False Claims Act (the “False Claims Act”) and expose the […]
Kenney & Sams Attorneys Named to 2023 Boston Magazine Top Lawyers List
Kenney & Sams is proud to announce, for the third consecutive year, the following attorneys have been recognized by Boston magazine as a “Top Lawyer” in 2023, which recognizes lawyers in the Greater Boston area for their excellence in legal work:
- Christopher A. Kenney – Civil Law Litigation
- Michael P. Sams – Construction
Kenney & Sams Named One of the Best Places to Work
Kenney & Sams is proud to announce our Firm has been named one of the 2023 Best Places to Work: Law Firms.
Conducted in partnership with Best Companies Group, this program honors firms that prioritize their employees’ well-being and creates a positive work environment. Kenney & Sams was one of only 28 law firms nationwide, five of […]
Kenney & Sams Named Among 2024 “Best Law Firms” by Best Lawyers®
Kenney & Sams is pleased to announce our Firm has been recognized in the 2024 Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list with five national and eight metro rankings.
To be eligible for a 2024 ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in a […]
Herling Romero Selected to the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Leadership Academy
Kenney & Sams is pleased to announce that Herling Romero, an associate of the firm, has been selected to join the 2023-2024 Massachusetts Bar Association’s Leadership Academy. Herling will continue the firm’s presence within the Leadership Academy and joins both past and present colleagues aspiring to assume leadership roles within the legal community.
Herling is a commercial litigator […]
PFML Changes: Topping Off Now Permitted, 2024 Contribution Rates & Maximum Weekly Benefit
By: Michelle De Oliveira and Parker L. Williams
Topping Off PFML Benefits
Beginning on November 1, 2023, Massachusetts employees who receive PFML benefits from the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) may supplement their leave benefits with accrued vacation, sick time, or other available employer-provided accrued paid leave benefits.
This is a sweeping change as Massachusetts employers were previously prohibited from […]
U.S. Department of Labor Proposes Rule to Extend Overtime Protections and to Increase the Number Of Overtime-Eligible Employees
Employers should regularly review job descriptions and their system for classifying employees as exempt and non-exempt from overtime pay as a regular part of their employment processes. This best practice has recently become more important after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule that, if implemented, will once again modify […]
Mechanic’s Lien for Rental Equipment Not Reduced Because of “Idle Time”
By: David Viens
A recent Massachusetts Appeals Court case reinforces the proposition that the Massachusetts Mechanic’s Lien Statute will be strictly construed by our courts and provides important clarity for owners and subcontractors on projects involving rental equipment and delays.
In Bruno v. Alliance Rental Group, LLC, the Appeals Court considered, among various other issues (not discussed in this article), whether […]
Insurers Beware: Acknowledging a Duty to Defend
By: Zachary Sullivan
In a recent decision, the Massachusetts Appeals Court held that a contractor was entitled to recover its costs of bringing a coverage suit against its insurer when the insurer acknowledged its duty to defend but failed to pay the contractor’s reasonable defense costs and reserved the right to recoup any fees it may pay toward the contractor’s defense. […]
Massachusetts Appeals Court Dismisses Action for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction Over Insurance Company that “Has Done Substantial Business” in Massachusetts
Case Alert By: Matthew Welnicki
Establishing personal jurisdiction over a defendant is a threshold each plaintiff must clear before it can proceed to the merits of a claim. In a recent decision, the Massachusetts Appeals Court reminds us that this analysis requires more than a cursory inquiry into whether the defendant does business in the Commonwealth. […]