Blog – Page 5 – Matthew Barison

Sealing Criminal Records (CORI) in Massachusetts

Nobody’s perfect; if you’ve been charged with a crime, the charge, regardless of the outcome of the case, is likely a part of your criminal record, known in Massachusetts as your CORI (criminal offender record information). Such information is routinely used by prospective employers and landlords; if you have a criminal record, you may be disqualified for jobs or housing, despite your credentials.

Thankfully, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made it easier for individuals to have their criminal records sealed. […]

By Matthew Barison|2020-11-01T17:37:58+00:00April 14, 2016|Court System, Criminal Justice|0 Comments

The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act – 93A

Massachusetts state law provides strong protections for consumers who have been subject to unfair or deceptive commercial practices. The Consumer Protection Act, also referred to as “93A” for the chapter in which it appears in Massachusetts laws (see text here), authorizes both individuals and the Attorney General to bring claims against offending businesses. When bringing a claim as an individual, the process begins with a 93A demand letter which outlines the nature of the […]

By Matthew Barison|2020-11-01T17:37:58+00:00November 30, 2015|Consumer Protection|0 Comments

BP Oil Spill Settlement

Today BP agreed to an $18.7B settlement agreement regarding its role in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The settlement effectively ends all federal and state claims against the oil giant. Here is a breakdown of that $18.7B figure:

$5.5B for violation of the Clean Water Act;
$7.3B for damage to natural resources;
$4.9B for state claims (LA, MS, AL, FLA);
$1.0B in claims by local governments.

This outcome is the largest environmental law settlement in US history.

Benefits […]

By Matthew Barison|2020-11-01T17:37:58+00:00July 2, 2015|Environmental Law|0 Comments

Personal Liberties & Ballot Initiatives: MA v. CA

In many states, including Massachusetts, residents can legislate directly through the ballot initiative process. Recently, such proposals have included: expanding bottle deposits, repealing the casino law, and mandating paid employee sick leave.

In MA, the process for bringing forth such petitions is detailed in Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution. First, the proposal must have the support of ten voters. Then, the Attorney General must review the proposal to make sure it does not […]

By Matthew Barison|2020-11-01T17:37:58+00:00March 26, 2015|Constitutional Law, LGBT Rights|0 Comments

Crimes of Moral Turpitude, J-1 and J-2 Visas, and Deportation.

In addition to snow, the Metro Boston area has a lot of other assets, such as the fact that we are home to many of America’s top educational institutions. Beyond the academy, we have robust aerospace, defense, robotics and biotechnology industries. Our unique education to employment pipeline fosters innovation and attracts talent worldwide.

Many of our foreign students, scholars and researchers are residing here under the State Department’s J-1 work-study visa program; in fact, there are over […]

By Matthew Barison|2020-11-01T17:38:15+00:00February 9, 2015|Criminal Justice, Immigration Law|0 Comments