Author Archives: Jessica Murphy
Recovery of Attorney’s Fees and Costs in Construction Disputes
When construction projects become construction disputes, contractors and suppliers start thinking about how to recover their attorney’s fees and other legal costs. Massachusetts follows the “American Rule” for recovery of legal expenses that states each party must pay their own … Continue reading
A Turn of Events for Worcester’s Former County Courthouse
The former Worcester County Courthouse at 2 Main Street was supposed to be converted into residential housing units and retail space after the City reached an agreement in March 2015 to sell it to Brady Sullivan Properties, LLC, a New … Continue reading
Real Estate Agents Not Covered by Independent Contractor Statute
In 2004, the Massachusetts Legislature passed M.G.L. c. 149, § 148B, known as the independent contractor statute, to prevent the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, which would deny them benefits they would otherwise be entitled to as employees. When … Continue reading
Breathing New Life into Worcester’s Former County Courthouse
Since 2007, the Worcester County Courthouse at 2 Main Street has been largely vacant. After the trial courts moved to the new Worcester Regional Judicial Center at 225 Main Street in the fall of 2007, the Worcester Law Library was … Continue reading
Massachusetts Mechanic’s Liens: What a subcontractor or supplier needs to know
The first thing I think about when a subcontractor or supplier hasn’t been paid on a job is whether a mechanic lien can be filed. On private construction projects, subcontractors (or sub-subcontractors) and suppliers can assert a mechanic’s lien against … Continue reading
Massachusetts Mechanic’s Liens: The Basics
A “mechanic’s lien” is a misnomer: it has nothing to do with mechanics or cars. A mechanic’s lien is security for payment of labor or materials supplied to a private construction project. G.L. c. 254 governs Massachusetts mechanic’s liens. From … Continue reading