New Rule from FTC Bans Noncompete Agreements  By Hannah Lejter  On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a new rule in a 3-2 vote which bans noncompete clauses between employees and employers. The FTC labeled noncompete agreements as an “unfair method of competition and therefore a violation of Section 5 of...Read More

Teddy Bear’s Custody Triumph In the March 7, 2024 ruling of Lyman v. Lanser, the Appeals Court affirmed the agreement to share custody of Teddy Bear. You might find it odd that a teddy bear would be at the center of a custody dispute, and you’d be right: Teddy Bear is not a stuffed animal,...Read More

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued a landmark decision to disbar attorney James Hayes, a practitioner at City Hayes & Dissette PC. The case highlights a series of egregious ethical violations, leading to his disbarment. We will delve into the details of the...Read More

In a shocking turn of events, a recent Appeals Court decision has sparked considerable debate within the realm of family law and separation agreements. Following the incident where a man’s ex-wife attacked him with a hatchet, the court ruled that he was excused from further payments under their separation agreement. This decision, based on a...Read More

Levine-Piro Law, P.C. is proud to announce that four attorneys of the firm (Melissa Levine-Piro, Katie (Kathleen) Murphy, Christine Boutin and Amanda Castro) were all named top 2021 attorneys by Boston Magazine. Only 1,099 attorneys were chosen. To read more on the selection process and see other attorneys who made the list, please click here.Read More

MA Paid Family and Medical Leave Starts January 1, 2021 By Christopher Wurster, Esq.  2021 is a great year to be an employee in Massachusetts because on January 1, 2021, employees can begin accessing paid leave under the new MA Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. Under PFML, employees can take leave to take...Read More

ALIMONY AND THE COMMON HOUSEHOLD ARGUMENT By Jessica L. Peterson, legal intern Is your ex-spouse trying to suspend, reduce, or terminate alimony payments owed to you because you live with someone else or with someone new? Have you been living with another person continuously for more than three months? If so, your ex-spouse might be...Read More

SUPREME COURT EXTENDS WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION TO LGBTQ COMMUNITY Did you know Massachusetts was the second state to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation? Following the state of Wisconsin, Massachusetts amended its anti-discrimination statute to protect an individual’s sexual orientation in the public and private employment sector. In 2011, gender identity was also...Read More

 Massachusetts Court Rules Divorcing Couples Can Disparage Each Other All They Want By Melissa Levine-Piro   In a somewhat surprising decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Court held that divorcing couples have the right to disparage each other, including on social media.  Prior to this order, it was not uncommon for family court...Read More

Violence Against Women Act to Expire? …. Again? Did you know October is Domestic Violence Awareness month? Domestic Violence is still so prevalent in our society. Every 9 seconds a woman in the United States is assaulted by a current or ex significant other. Its estimated that 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence...Read More