Why building permits are so important in Massachusetts Building permits are required for a lot of the work that might be done on homes in Massachusetts. For non-state owned buildings, the local municipality where the building is located is responsible for issuing...
How to Request Speed Bumps in Massachusetts: A Step-by-Step Guide to Safer Streets
Communities that have genuine concerns about the speed that traffic is moving in their immediate neighborhood have ways in which they can bring their concerns to the relevant municipal authority for attention. There is a variety of tried and tested calming measures...
Water Pipe Damage Disputes in Massachusetts
When a water pipe bursts through corrosion, old age, excess pressure or the accidental misuse of machinery, the results can be devastating and very expensive. It’s not the cost of replacing the plumbing that makes these sorts of dramas so expensive, but the damage...
The Legal Requirements for Ensuring Accessibility in Construction Projects in MA
Accessibility in construction projects is a legal requirement in Massachusetts. Both state and federal legislation ensures that any new buildings and facilities they provide, or modifications to existing buildings, are accessible to all, regardless of their physical...
Massachusetts Lemon Laws
Massachusetts, like other U.S. states, has its own specific Lemon Laws that give purchasers of defective cars certain legal rights as consumers. Calling a defective car a “lemon” is something that has been around for at least the last 100 years. The term “lemon”...
Changes to Massachusetts Landlord-Tenant Laws during 2023
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office (AGO) earlier this year released its annual report on consumer complaints. For the first time, the report had more complaints concerning rental housing in the state than complaints against used car dealers. The difference...
Making a Complaint Against a Local Business in Massachusetts
If you have a complaint about a local business in Massachusetts, there is an established pathway that can be followed to make a complaint and seek a resolution. Both state and federal agencies can help to investigate and seek to resolve your complaint. Failing a...
Required Home Disclosures When Selling A Property in Massachusetts
When selling your property in Massachusetts, you need to be aware that there are disclosures that are a legal requirement in the state. These disclosure requirements are relatively minor compared to some other states, but if you ignore the requirements or are unaware...
Debt Collection Laws in Massachusetts
If you are in debt to an individual, business, or any other organization and are experiencing pressure to pay your debt or are facing a lawsuit you should make yourself aware of Massachusetts debt collection laws. These provide protection against unfair or illegal...
What Does Self-Employed Business Insurance Cover in Massachusetts?
If you are planning to start a new business, it can be an exciting time. Being self-employed brings numerous advantages over having a regular job and an employer who dictates everything you do. Self-employment brings the possibility of earning as much money as your...
Does State Law Override Local Rules?
Vaccine and mask mandates are gradually being wound down in many parts of the U.S. including here in Massachusetts, as an increased vaccination rate and the gradual reduction in the severity of the Omicron wave take hold. But who actually had the authority to issue...
When Does the Right To a Lawyer Apply In Massachusetts?
The only constitutional right to a lawyer in Massachusetts at present is if you have been accused of a criminal offense and you do not have enough money to pay for a lawyer yourself. The court will appoint a lawyer to defend you throughout the proceedings against you....
Tips to Settle a Dispute With a Residential Contractor
There are many reasons why there could be a dispute with a residential contractor. In fact, disputes between owners and contractors, contractors and sub-contractors and between them and suppliers of materials are commonplace. This doesn’t mean that disputes cannot be...
When Is It a Good Idea To Use a Cease and Desist Letter In Massachusetts?
Cease and desist letters are a response to actions by an individual or business which is doing something wrong which affects you in some way. Common reasons for sending a cease and desist letter in Massachusetts includes incidences of bullying, intimidation,...
The COVID-19 State of Emergency and Its Legal Implications for Citizens of Massachusetts
The COVID-19 virus is affecting every facet of society. Though the long-term legal implications are still unclear, this article explores some of the legal issues that residents of Massachusetts are currently grappling with due to the COVID-19 state of emergency and...
Misrepresentations of Product or Service in Massachusetts: Know Your Consumer Rights
Consumers rely on product or service assertions made by manufacturers, sellers, and distributors to make informed purchasing decisions, or so they think. Any agreement or sale depends on the goodwill and honesty of the participants, typically the seller and the buyer....
Massachusetts Contractor May Be Liable for Building Code Violation at Owner’s Request
On behalf of Law Offices of Richard Mucci posted in Construction Law on Tuesday, June 21, 2016.Massachusetts law protects homeowners from contractors who violate the safety provisions of the building code. Unfortunately, meeting safety requirements can add to the...
The Collection of Zip Codes by Gas Stations and Massachusetts Consumer Protection
On behalf of Law Offices of Richard Mucci posted in Consumer Protection on Tuesday, August 4, 2015. Massachusetts has enacted laws to protect consumers, including a law that prohibits a business from requiring personal identification information, other than that...
Can An Online Reviewer Be Sued For Defamation For Posting A Negative Review?
On behalf of Law Offices of Richard Mucci posted in Business Litigation on Friday, March 28, 2014. As online review sites such as Yelp continue to grow in popularity, many users may wonder if a negative post can subject the user to a defamation lawsuit. This issue was...
Commercial Landlords Beware: Listen to Your Tenant’s Complaints About Defects As A Court Has Ruled that You Can Be Liable For Double or Treble Damages
On behalf of Law Offices of Richard Mucci posted in Business Litigation on Friday, July 12, 2013. In a stern warning to commercial landlords, a Superior Court judge in Kuong, et al. v. Wong, et al., has ruled that a commercial landlord could be held liable for double...