New Domestic Violence Legislation (Signed August 8, 2014 by Deval Patrick) The new domestic violence statute has made monumental changes in response to the Jared Remy case (Remy Details), which was a tragic occurrence for all in Boston. Largely in response to the issue of marriage or a substantial dating relationship being the only conditions […]
What the heck does that mean? In a recent Supreme Court Case, SINGH v. CAPUANO , the Supreme Court held that an evidentiary hearing must be held in a restraining order case and that the statute 209A must be closely followed and that one’s right against self-incrimination is weighed in the context of the hearing […]
In Silva v. Carmel, the SJC held that an abuse prevention order, more commonly known as a restraining order, does not apply in a group home setting. Looking at the strict elements of the statute, because they were not family members or in an intimate relationship, the protection of the restraining order would not apply. […]
In a recent SJC position, in Moreno v. Naranjo, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that it was improper for a district court judge to makes inquires related to family visitation in considering a 209A Abuse Prevention Order. The purpose of a prevention order is to protect the plaintiff. I often will advise clients that […]
209A Abuse Prevention orders are valuable tools to protect families from domestic violence. A judge can issue a 209A that requires an abuser to stay away from his or her partner, or extend the order to include any children in the household. Because of the power of a 209A (they often are in effect for […]
