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Allison Dunn

Allison Dunn

Allison Dunn is a reporter on ALM's Rapid Response desk based in Ohio, covering impactful litigation filings and rulings, emerging legal trends, controversies in the industry, and everything in between. Contact her at [email protected]. On Twitter: @AllisonDWrites.

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May 19, 2023 | Law.com

Legal Aid Works Managing Attorney Selected for State Legal Aid Award, Obtaining $1.13M in Support Awards

"Working with Tamara for the past three years has been an experience like no other and is truly an honor," Intake Specialist Tamesha Cook wrote. "She is a logical and analytical thinker who asserts confidence and empathy. ... I believe her dedication for justice is unshakable and makes her the perfect candidate for this award."

By Allison Dunn

2 minute read

May 19, 2023 | Law.com

Virginia State Bar Seeking Comments on New Rule Prohibiting Agreement Not to File Bar Complaint

Written comments in support of or opposition to the proposal may be submitted to the Virginia State Bar by Aug. 31. Statements may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Cameron M. Rountree, executive director of the Virginia State Bar, 1111 East Main St., Ste. 700, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

By Allison Dunn

1 minute read

May 19, 2023 | Law.com

Finding 'Actual Value of Online, Post-COVID Education' to Be 'Indeterminable,' Judge Rejects Class Certification vs. Brandeis University

"The Court's conclusion as to superiority depends upon its findings on predominance. Because the actual value of online, post-COVID education in Spring, 2020 is indeterminable and there is no damages model applicable class-wide, individual issues prevent a finding of superiority," wrote U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton for the District of Massachusetts.

By Allison Dunn

6 minute read

May 18, 2023 | Law.com

Maine Supreme Court Accepting Comments on Proposal to Allow Mediation of Consumer Collection Actions

The proposed amendment to Rule 92 regarding mediation is consistent with new legislation. Comments must be submitted to the Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court by 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.

By Allison Dunn

1 minute read

May 16, 2023 | Law.com

'Completely Farfetched, Tinfoil-Hat-Wearing Doubt': Court Says Prosecutor's Remarks Don't Warrant New Trial

"The judge instructed the jury that closing arguments are not evidence, and that it was their duty to determine the facts and to apply the facts to the law as explained by the judge. The judge also properly instructed on the meaning of reasonable doubt. In light of these instructions, and the strength of the Commonwealth's case, we are confident that the ill-advised comment would have had no effect on the jury's verdict," Justice Frank M. Gaziano wrote on behalf of the unanimous Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

By Allison Dunn

5 minute read

May 11, 2023 | Law.com

Appellate Court Divided Over Requirement to 'Remain at the Scene of the Overdose' to Qualify for Medical Amnesty

"To arrive at this counter-intuitive construction, the majority exploits a grammatical awkwardness and arrives at counter-intuitive results because the location of the overdose is wherever someone has a good faith belief that they have a life-threatening condition relating to the ingestion of drugs," Judge Vernida R. Chaney wrote in a dissenting opinion.

By Allison Dunn

6 minute read

May 11, 2023 | Law.com

12% Post-Judgment Interest Is Constitutional: State High Court Upholds $37M Judgments Against Philip Morris

"Given Philip Morris's research regarding compensation and mutagenicity, the jury could find that these representations were knowingly false. Greene testified that she received these false messages, that she believed them, and that she switched to Marlboro Lights because of this belief. Particularly against the backdrop of her exposure to the conspiracy's broader disinformation campaign, a reasonable jury could conclude that Greene was exposed to the fraud and deception in the particular marketing and messaging regarding filtered cigarettes and that she relied on it to justify her continuing to smoke Marlboro Lights," Justice Scott L. Kafker wrote.

By Allison Dunn

7 minute read

May 10, 2023 | Law.com

In Records Fight Over Judges' Indictment, ICE Ordered to Explain Search of Ex-Administrator's Phone

The plaintiffs, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and American Oversight, are seeking text and email communications from seven senior ICE officials stemming from an underlying criminal investigation of Massachusetts Judges Shelley M. Richmond Joseph and court officer Wesley MacGregor.

By Allison Dunn

6 minute read

May 09, 2023 | Law.com

Companies Agree to Separate Settlements for Illegally Polluting Waterways, State AG's Office Claims

"Improperly managed stormwater runoff poses significant risk to Massachusetts water quality and has the potential to harm our aquatic ecosystems as well as residents' health," Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said in the statement. "My office is committed to enforcing violations of clean water laws to protect the quality of the Commonwealth's water and the health of these surrounding communities."

By Allison Dunn

3 minute read

May 05, 2023 | Law.com

In Robinhood Case, Mass. High Court Mulls Whether State Secretary Can Enforce Novel Fiduciary Duty on Broker-Dealers

"We think this rule falls far outside what is a reasonable rule of unethical because one, it conflicts with the SEC's rule; two, it conflicts with the common law; and three, the secretary has pointed to no authority outside the state that has adopted a similar rule," Amy M. Saharia, a partner at Williams & Connolly, argued on behalf of Robinhood, noting that Section 415 of the act in question makes clear to "make the law of Massachusetts uniform with its sister jurisdictions and the federal government."

By Allison Dunn

5 minute read