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 Our firm was recently honored by the Massachusetts Bar Association for its leadership in greening the practice of law at a special reception in Springfield on May 21, 2009. We were one of three firms statewide (the other two are in Boston) which received the prestigious Lawyers Eco-Challenge award. Our firm was honored for extensive and growing energy savings, recycling and waste-reduction practices. “We are pleased to once again recognize those law firms and attorneys who have shown, by example, how to make positive changes toward a more Earth friendly work environment, “” MBA President Edward W. McIntyre said. “We congratulate them on the hard work, which benefits us all.”
Some of The Law Offices of Sean J. Cleary’s green accomplishments include:
- Converting from inefficient electric heat furnaces to highly efficient natural gas furnaces;
- The use of energy efficient lighting throughout the interior and exterior;
- The use of dual screen monitors at all work stations to cut down on printing;
- Installation of state-of-the art scanning hardware and software to cut down on paper;
- Recycling of all paper, plastic, metal and glass items;
- Canceling all catalog mailings; and,
- Purchasing recycled products.
The Massachusetts Bar Association launched the Eco-Challenge in 2007. Nearly 100 firms, attorneys and other organizations have joined the Lawyers Eco-Challenge by signing the MBA Lawyers Environmental Pledge. By signing the pledge lawyers agree to do their best to adhere to the MBA’s Green Guidelines for Office and Landscape Management. For more information: www.massbar.org/ecochallenge.
The Law Offices of Sean J. Cleary is a full-service law firm which caters to the needs of regular folks and small businesses. The firm handles personal injury, criminal defense, divorce and family law, real estate, small business, bankruptcy and consumer protection matters. The firm’s attorneys are licensed to practice law in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Check them out on the web at: www.sclearylaw.com
Recent case of interest. My client, TigerPress, a commercial printer, made a catalogue. TigerPress then contracted with another company to bind (glue the pages and cover together). Regretably that company's work was of very poor quality--as soon as the catalogues were distributed the pages near the front began falling out! Needless to say this was not acceptable to TigerPress. The binding company insisted the work met "industry standards" and refused to take responsibility. TigerPress was forced to reprint the entire job from scratch (15,000 catalogues), and to pay a second company to bind the replacement catalogues. When TigerPress was not able to resolve the matter on its own I was contacted. I immediately found a binding expert and had the catalogues tested. The results showed that the binding machine had not been set up properly and that the wrong glue had been used. Before filing a lawsuit I confronted the Defendant binding company with these findings. The company and its lawyers continued to deny responsibility. TigerPress instructed me to file suit and to begin the discovery process. I believe the case was won at this stage because of our perseverance in going after the Defendant's own business records, which we were able to use to show the job had not been properly "set-up" or run. The result was a full value recover of all of TigerPress' out-of-pocket expenses for reprinting, binding and delivering the catalogue, as well as its lost profit.
Although the focus of my practice has always been personal injury, this case demonstrates that hard work in the discovery phase of a lawsuit is very often the key to a successful outcome. Please feel free to contact me
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for all your litigation needs.
On September 18, 2008 I was elected the President of the Hampshire County Bar Association. The Hampshire County Bar Assocation www.hampshirebar.org is one of the most well respected bar associations in the state. It is proud to enjoy a great reputation as a responsive, innovative and active bar association whose members take leadership roles on issues facing the legal community. I am honored to lead this great organization.
Deval Patrick, our supposedly grassroots, for the people Governor, has pushed rate deregulation onto the automobile insurance market here under the theory that our system is broken. Last time I checked our rates had dropped twenty (20%) percent over the past two years! In fact, without deregulation our rates this year would have dropped another ten (10%) plus percent. With deregulation the carriers are offering discounts that average seven (7%) percent. To me this is proof that deregulation does not benefit the people. One of the main complaints raised by the deregulation crowd is lack of competition. As proof, they cite the fact that most of the large national and regional carriers, such as Allstate, State Farm and Geico don't write here in Massachusetts. (This was one of Governor Romney's favorite refrains). Interestingly enough, as of this writing, not one single new carrier has filed to do business here in Massachusetts--despite deregulation. Time will tell whether deregulation with be a benefit to us or not. However my prediction is that it will not. Rates for intercity drivers will skyrocket leading to a hugh jump in uninsured drivers (because people need to drive and will drive whether then can afford car insurance or not). This will in turn drive up premiums for insured drivers. The natural result will be increased premiums.
A loved one recently ended up in Baystate Medical Center because her heart was not beating properly. It turned out she needed a pacemaker (defibrillator). Imagine my surprise then when I found out that Medtronic has recalled its line of Sprint Fidelis defibrillators because the leads (wires that carry the electrical impulse into the patient's heart) are apparently defective and have led to injury and reportedly death. Fortunately my loved one was not given a Sprint Fidelis pacemaker. However, if you or a loved one has been, you should contact me at
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or by calling (413) 549-7600 to find out more about your legal rights.
The Red Sox have won the World Series and thankfully, there has not been another Riot at UMass Amherst. The Southwest Residential Complex at the University of Massachusetts has a history of riots dating back to at least the mid-1980's. The most recent riot occurred on December 15, 2006 after the UMass Football team lost to Appalachian State in the championship game of the Division I-AA playoffs.
I defended several of the alleged students/visitors charged with failure to disperse, and/or disorderly conduct following the Football inspired riot. The UMass Police demonstrated their tech savvy by nabbing suspected rioters via digital video images obtained from security cameras mounted throughout the area, including inside the dormitory buildings, as well as encouraging students and staff to send anonymous tips to their webiste, www.umass.edu/umpd. Criminal charges for students also carried academic consequences as students faced a range of potential disciplinary sanctions up to an including expulsion from the University.
September 2007 - I have been voted the President Elect of the Hampshire County Bar Association. The Hampshire County Bar Association www.hampshirebar.org is one of the most well respected Bar Associations in the state. It is proud to enjoy a great reputation as a responsive, innovative and active Bar Association whose members take leadership roles on issues facing the legal community. The Hampshire County Bar Association offers many services and programs to the local community such as the Domestic Relations Program for Children, the Conciliation Program, Lawyer Referral Service, Mediation Services, as well as the parent education programs PACT, and For The Children.
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