Article written by Trial Attorney Kim Alley:  It’s called the “Grand Bargain” and was signed by Governor Charlie Baker into law in June 2018. The new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (“PFML Act”), M.G.L. c. 175M, creates a statewide program for eligible employees to...

Attorney Rob Anctil writes in our Spring newsletter the following piece:  On May 15, 2019, the Massachusetts Appeals Court held in Trustees of the Beechwood Village Condominium Trust v. US Alliance Federal Credit Union (“Beechwood”) that where the holder of a mortgage...

Senior Partner Charlie Perkins forwards the following news:  The Massachusetts Association of Realtors is thrilled to share with you that they have received clarification from the Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave that real estate services are exempt from...

David R. Chenelle, Esq., a Partner and Director at Perkins & Anctil, P.C. writes in our recent newsletter: Upon filing for protection under the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code all creditors are immediately prohibited from instituting further...

News this week that mortgage rates are approaching 4%, down from around 4.75% a year ago, has people submitting more loan applications than in recent months. Refinance applications are at a three year high, constituting around 49% of all mortgage apps, although...

Attorney Charlie Perkins would like to make HOA, Condominium and Community Association residents aware of some tasks they can complete before a storm, things to do in case they need to evacuate, methods of maintaining communications, techniques for post-storm...

Attorney Charlie Perkins is concerned about the affects on property owners and has forwarded an update from the Community Associations Institute's Advocacy Blog.  They begin: The partial government shutdown impacts several federal agencies and programs important to...

Senior Partner Charlie Perkins has received notice that the Massachusetts State Senate is considering a bill that would benefit condominium and homeowner association owners in the form of H. 4236.  The bill would change the law so that the running of the statute of...

Attorney Charlie Perkins is concerned that, as property owners in a homeowners’ association or condominium, residents will not receive the federal disaster relief they deserve. This is because FEMA is of the opinion that streets in these communities are private and do...

With the advent of hurricane season, condominium property managers and homeowners should take the time to review Governor Charlie Baker’s four preparedness stratagems. His office will emphasize one for each week in September: 1) Be Informed and Receive Emergency...

Senior Partner Charlie Perkins has received notice that Massachusetts House of Representatives is considering two bills that would benefit condominium and homeowner association owners in the form of H. 4235 and H. 4236. These bills would respectively: Prevent a...

Independent Electric, a P&A client for many years, has recently completed the job of adding solar panels to its rooftop in Somerville, MA. After examining the cost to benefit ratio, it took “All of five minutes to agree to do it because the economics were so...

Managing Partner Rob Anctil attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Inn this morning. He joined John Amaral, Partner with project developer Omni Properties and approximately 75 others to celebrate the revival of hospitality service in downtown Groton after fire...

The Commonwealth is set to allow recreational pot smoking in July. Given its pungent nature, the activity is likely to set neighbor against neighbor in some densely built associations - even more so than cigarette smoking did when its social acceptability was...

Senior Partner Charles A. Perkins is concerned about fire safety and noticed that the fire safety product maker Kidde has issued a recall on its dual sensor smoke alarms for a manufacturing defect.  He forwards this link for those who may have these...

Senior Partner Charles A. Perkins would like to make people aware of potential changes coming to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae via a congressional effort to “Re-privatize” the institutions. CAI members are concerned the effort may hamper accountability of lenders toward...

Our senior partner Charles A. Perkins, Jr., director of lien enforcement David R. Chenelle and partner Scott J. Eriksen are in Palms Springs, CA from January 31 to February 3 to attend the Community Associations Institute’s annual event.  Learning opportunities at the...

Attorney Charles A. Perkins is one of many specialists involved in repairing the damage to multiple units after an owner accidentally set fire inside his unit.  The displaced residents include several neighbors as well as parents of young children, all living in...

Based on the insane amount of snow Massachusetts experienced this winter, some experts foresee lenient juries in slip and fall cases.  Most people remember being unable to keep up with the extreme accumulations, especially in late January and early February.  This...

Attorney Charlie Perkins has been following this bill since its introduction in the House of Representatives and, like the Community Association Institute, is concerned it will take away existing review procedures for community association boards regarding radio...