Page 44 - BusinessWest November 10, 2021

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the par- ties listed, or the court, for more information concern- ing the individual claims.
Court Dockets
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Michael J. Chernick, personal representative for the estate of James Kenney and Linda Kenney v. Pride Convenience Inc., Robert Bolduc, and Roberta Bolduc
Allegation: Neglience; slip and fall causing personal injury; wrongful death: $10,789.11
Filed: 10/4/21
Ann Lesser v. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Allegation: Motor-vehicle neglience causing injury: $51,066.55
Filed: 10/5/21
Joseph Belanger v. Corey Colonial Assoc. and Rebecca Gonzalez
Allegation: Neglience; slip and fall causing personal injury: $75,587.51
Filed: 10/12/21
Robert Jasenec and Pamela Jasenec v. Burritt L. Haag, M.D.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $110,000
Filed: 10/15/21
Reginald Core v. New North Professional Condo- minium Assoc.
Allegation: Neglience; slip and fall causing personal injury: $44,714.91
Filed: 10/19/21
both worlds — a growing, professional city sur- rounded by the landscape of mountains, rivers, and forests right at your fingertips.”
These qualities may well help attract people to Western Mass., but will it attract them to West- ern Mass. firms? This is a big question moving forward as remote work becomes plausible and more attractive for those toting law degrees in their briefcases.
“You need to compete with markets that you didn’t have to compete with before for talent,” said Stratton, noting that someone drawn to the Western Mass. lifestyle, or who has family here and wants to stay here, no longer has to limit his or her options to Western Mass. firms. “As a young lawyer, you can, potentially, work out of the Boston or Washington, D.C.
Meghan Barnes, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Riverside Park Enter- prises Inc. d/b/a Six Flags New England Allegation: Non-payment of wages: $5,000,000 Filed: 10/22/21
Dominick Pugh v. Mardi Gras Entertainment Inc. Allegation: Neglience causing personal injury: $700,000
Filed: 10/23/21
Sara Mirolli v. Heather Love, M.D.; Kimberly Mara- kovits, M.D.; Nada Kawar, M.D.; Nicole Thompson, M.D.; Donald Kirton, M.D.; Laurie A. Friedman, CNM; and Lauren Jammallo, M.D.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $1,030,000 Filed: 10/27/21
Lawyers
Continued from page 27
it doesn’t
Bottom Line
Looking ahead, those we spoke with said the process of adjusting to everything COVID-19 has wrought is ongoing. That includes looking at the amount of space being rented and whether downsizing might be in order.
“We’re talking about what the future looks like in terms of physical space,” Mulhern said. “And that’s one of the things we’ll talk about — do we still still need all the space we have?”
The firm has more than two years left on its lease, he went on, adding that the answer to that question will come at another time. The answers to some of the questions, especially those regard- ing recruitment and gaining additional business,
have the big-city lifestyle and, more importantly to most
young lawyers, it doesn’t have big-city rates for legal services — or big-city salaries.
“Like many cities, Springfield is a proud community with historic charm and continued growth. Andyet,itisnotBoston,NewYork,or Washington, D.C., and in most circumstances, one major difference may be the salaries,” Quick said. “As a Western Mass. firm, we are able to offer a healthier work/life balance and a unique geo- graphic landscape. The challenge is communicat- ing this value to candidates because, if they are not familiar with the business climate in Western Mass. and all it has to offer, attracting new talent to the area can be difficult.”
Stratton agreed. “If I were to have a job posting tomorrow for a junior lawyer with one to three years of experience that fits our practice and say, ‘you come to East Longmeadow, Mass., Monday through Friday, 9 to 5,’ I would get zero applica- tions of qualified attorneys. That might be an exaggeration, but it would be close to zero.”
Albano agreed. He said the pandemic has exacerbated an already-difficult situation when
it comes to attracting lawyers to Western Mass. He told BusinessWest the same thing he told Mas- sachusetts Lawyers Weekly when it asked him the same question.
“It’s been very difficult to hire quality lawyers and paralegals during this COVID pandemic,” he explained. “The quality of résumés we’re getting in from people in Western Massachusetts and also outside the area is very weak.”
Moving forward, he noted, the number could be much higher because that lawyer doesn’t need to be in East Longmeadow, at least not Monday through Friday, 9-5, meaning recruiting might become easier — that’s might — because of
the pandemic and the manner in which it has changed how people work. It’s also changed some opinions about urban living.
“Many lawyers are growing tired of the city life,” Quick noted. “They want to find a reputable firm where they can advance their career and continue to work with high-level clients. At the same time, they are realizing that work/life bal- ance matters. Western Mass. offers the best of
markets primarily, and the legal rates charged in those markets are higher, and the pay is higher.”
That’s the downside of the changing dynamic, he went on, adding that there is plenty of upside as well, including the abil- ity to look well beyond the 25-mile circle around Springfield that most young lawyers are currently recruit- ed from.
“The pandemic taught us many things, including how to work more efficiently, utilize available resources, and communicate better to keep teams connected. I anticipate many changes will remain with us in a post-pandemic world.
Much of this is speculation right
now, he went on, adding that, over the next six to 12 months, firms like his will have a far better understanding of just how — and how much — the recruiting picture has changed.
Albano agreed, noting that, overall, Bacon Wilson will entertain a hybrid schedule, to one degree or another, but it would certainly prefer its lawyers and paralegals to be in this market.
“I got an e-mail with a résumé from a young man in New York, indicating that he was look-
ing to apply for a job here, but he plans on living in Boston,” he recalled. “First of all, his résumé didn’t coincide with what we were advertising — and we’re seeing a lot of that — and, number two, there needs to be that one-on-one connection. You need to be in the office if you’re going to work in Springfield; if you’re a full-time person working remotely, it doesn’t work out, and it wouldn’t work out — not for us.”
”
including some from other markets, might be answered much sooner.
Overall, this is a time of change and looking at things differently than they been looked at for decades.
“There has undoubtedly been a transforma- tion of the practice of law, and we believe that there are many positives amid all of the disrup- tion,” said Quick, referring to those at Bulkely Richardson while also speaking effectively for all those we spoke with. “The pandemic taught us many things, including how to work more effi- ciently, utilize available resources, and communi- cate better to keep teams connected. I anticipate many changes will remain with us in a post-pan- demic world.” u
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
44 NOVEMBER 10, 2021
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