News + Insights from the Legal Team at Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein

Archives

Published on: | by

David-2Attorney David Russcol spoke to The Concord Bridge about the prosecution of a local resident for violating a harassment prevention order protecting school superintendent Laurie Hunter.  Hunter had obtained a harassment prevention order against John Grace after he engaged in actions over the course of the last few years that targeted her. Last month, Grace was charged with violating that order because he is alleged to have placed makeshift scarecrows around the town with messages including “the hatchet for Hunter” and “fire liar Hunter.” Attorney Russcol noted that signs calling for Hunter’s ouster as superintendent are likely protected speech that cannot be the basis for a harassment prevention order or criminal prosecution. If, however, the messages are deemed to be threats of violence, that would remove the First Amendment protection afforded to speech.

Read the article.

Learn more about restraining orders and harassment prevention orders here.

 

 

Published on: | by

This week, a federal judge held that a new law that exempts universities and health care entities from compliance with certain provisions of the Massachusetts Wage Act. Attorney David Russcol spoke with Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly about the decision, saying: “The Wage Act makes very clear as a matter of public policy exactly how employees are supposed to be paid and when a payment is on time and when it’s not. What’s happened here is that these universities have allegedly violated the Wage Act so much that they’ve told the Legislature that there are billions of dollars at stake. The lesson seems to be that if you violate the law that much, you can get the Legislature to bail you out.”

Read the full article here: https://masslawyersweekly.com/2025/09/04/bu-wage-act-immunity-ruling/

Published on: | by

On Friday, the federal Department of Education announced an investigation into the Maine Department of Education, alleging that it has violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Department alleges that Maine schools have improperly withheld information about transgender students from their parents. Attorney David Russcol spoke to the Bangor Daily News about FERPA and what rights it does and does not grant parents. Read more here:

Experts blast federal probe into Maine’s transgender student policies as ‘unprecedented’

Published on: | by

See below for press coverage on the retaliation claim filed by Attorney David A. Russcol against the Town of Williamstown on behalf of a police sergeant who blew the whistle on discrimination, retaliation, and police misconduct. For coverage of the sergeant’s underlying suit, click here.

CONTINUE READING ›

Published on: | by
Attorneys Naomi R. Shatz and David A. Russcol spoke to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly about a recent decision in Harrington v. Lesley College reaffirming that university employees can bring sex-discrimination claims under both Title IX and Title VII. Shatz said “I’m frankly surprised that attorneys for schools, especially in the 1st Circuit, are still making the argument that Title IX does not apply to employees when the case law is clear that it does.” Russcol agreed, noting, “Congress can prescribe different sets of procedures and remedies for different wrongs, even if sometimes more than one applies to the same person. It is important that all these avenues remain open to plaintiffs in appropriate situations.” Click here to read more.

Published on: | by

See below for press coverage on a discrimination and retaliation suit recently filed by Attorney David A. Russcol against the Town of Williamstown. Read the full complaint here.

CONTINUE READING ›

Published on: | by
Attorneys Ruth O’Meara-Costello and David Russcol spoke to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly about last week’s decision in Helfman v. Northeastern University, et al. The Court held that colleges have a duty to protect their students from alcohol-related harm under certain circumstances. Attorneys O’Meara-Costello and Russcol discussed the implications of this decision for colleges going forward. Click here to read more.

Published on: | by and

Attorneys Naomi Shatz and David Russcol were interviewed by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly about the right to cross-examination in sexual misconduct investigations at private colleges, following the First Circuit’s recent decision in Doe v. Boston College. Click here to read the article, and click here to read Attorney Russcol’s blog post about the decision.

Justia Lawyer Rating
Super Lawyers
Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers
Best Law Firms
Chambers Spotlight MA 2026
Contact Information
2 Oliver St #200
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-742-6020Fax: 617-742-3269Email: info@zalkindlaw.com

Please do not include confidential or sensitive information in an email, text message, or voicemail. Although we will maintain the confidentiality of information sent to us by potential clients, we cannot control information that may be transmitted through insecure means. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2026, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design