Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that Attorney Fine’s clients had rights to access Coffins Beach in Gloucester.

Experienced litigator in Superior, Land, Probate, and Appellate courts

Representative cases

Ivas v. City of Gloucester and FUD, LLC. 103 Mass.App.Ct. 1102 (2023). In July 2023, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled in favor of Attorney Fine’s client, a Gloucester property owner who wanted to convert an attic into a one-bedroom apartment.

Back Beach Neighbors Committee v. Town of Rockport et al. Land Court Docket No. 21 MISC 000174. Land Court dismissed case against Attorney Fine’s ten clients who were being sued in Land Court over ownership of Beach Street and Back Beach.

Mazzola v. O’Brien. 100 Mass.App.Ct. 424 (2021).  In October 2021, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that Attorney Fine’s clients had rights to access Coffins Beach in Gloucester. The case turned on interpreting the language in the relevant deeds.

Matter of Estate of Jacqueline Ann Kendall, 486 Mass. 544 (2020). Groundbreaking case determining right of MassHealth to collect money from an estate. Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of Attorney Fine’s client, saying MassHealth has only three years to file a claim on an estate.

Woytkiewicz v. Hamilton et al. Middlesex Probate Court Docket No. MI15E0148QC. Middlesex Family & Probate Court set a new legal standard for performing DNA test on a deceased parent.

Cape Ann Marina LLC et al v. Boston Business Services Inc. et al, Essex Superior Court Docket No. 1577CV00380. Pierced the corporate veil to recover 100% of client’s loss resulting from theft by its payroll company.

Donald B.Corner et al v. T. Ewell Hopkins. Jr., Land Court Docket No. 18MISC000366.  Represented owners of a historic commercial building in downtown Oak Bluffs in zoning appeal.

In the Matter of Michael J. O’Brien, Essex Family & Probate Court Docket No. ES12P0676. An early test of the priority of claims under the new Uniform Probate Code.