Posts Categorized: Recent Announcements

Yesterday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the state’s most sweeping alimony reform in decades. The new law is designed to erase what many attorneys, judges and divorcing parties believed to be an outdated and often times inconsistent formula for determining alimony awards. Most notably, the law significantly limits “lifetime” alimony payments by providing… Read more »

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court last week ruled that a judge may ask potential jurors about the “CSI effect.” a defendant in an Essex County murder case had argued that a judge’s questioning directed at potential jurors about whether they believed that the Commonwealth could prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt without forensic evidence… Read more »

AILA Consumer Advisory on the Obama Administration’s Immigration Announcement posted Aug 23, 2011, 7:54 AM by Michael Vosilla   [ updated Aug 23, 2011, 8:52 AM ] The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has issued a Consumer Advisory regarding the recent announcements by the Obama Administration concerning prosecutorial discretion and the difference between low and high… Read more »

Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, speaking on behalf of President Obama, announced that discretionary relief may be available to non-criminal offenders currently in removal/deportation proceedings.  Secretary Napolitano reiterated that DHS’s primary focus would be on “enhancing border security and identifying and removing criminal aliens, those who pose a threat to public safety… Read more »

USCIS Director Mayorkis blogs on the progress made by USCIS regarding the 9/11 Commission Recommendations.  For more information, please click here.

The Diversity Visa Lottery, otherwise known as the Green Card Lottery is administered by the U.S. Department of State.  If you receive an e-mail from someone claiming you won the Green Card Lottery, IT IS A SCAM.  The Department of State does not utilize e-mail notification of Diversity Visa winners.  For more information from U.S.C.I.S. on this… Read more »

On June 22, 2011, the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) released a press release announcing that it was enhancing its outreach to combat immigration fraud.  As of this date, all immigration courts will be distributing a flyer to help in the fight against the unauthorized practice of immigration law.   This flyer cautions respondents in… Read more »

Nicholas LaFountain & PeggyAnn K. Wollman would like to extend a special thanks to Century 21 Commonwealth, especially Rita Gardner and Diane Taber, for inviting them to participate in their Landlord Rights and Responsibilities Information Session.  We would also like to extend our appreciation to Peter Patsio for the wonderful information he provided regarding various insurance programs for Landlords and homeowners… Read more »

Landlord Rights and Responsibilities Information Session posted May 18, 2011, 3:35 PM by Michael Vosilla   [ updated May 19, 2011, 7:30 AM ] Founding partners, Nicholas J. LaFountain and PeggyAnn K. Wollman have been invited to be featured speakers at Century 21 Commonwealth’s Landlord Rights and Responsibilities Information Session on Monday, May 23, 2011… Read more »

It was announced that Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for Haitian beneficiaries has been extended until January 22, 2013. Further, it was announced that Haiti is being re-designated for TPS, meaning that TPS is now available for Haitians who entered the United States between January 13, 2010 and January 12, 2011. Please contact one of the… Read more »