Thomas Frisardi

Practice Focus and Experience

Tom Frisardi practices in the Business Law, Litigation, and Real Estate and Environmental areas. He has represented clients in a wide variety of disputes, ranging from insurance coverage to defense contracting fraud and civil rights. His land use and real estate practice encompasses title, leasing, zoning, subdivision, and environmental issues and representation before local boards.

Representative Matters

• Dismissal of a defamation case against a former state representative, and recovery of attorney's fees, under Massachusetts' Anti-SLAPP law. This law protects political speech from harassing litigation.
• Settlement of a lead poisoning liability case on behalf of a landlord, paid for fully by an insurer who had initially denied coverage, then defended under a reservation of rights.
• Arbitration of a multimillion dollar earn out dispute.
• Trial of easement rights under a 19th century deed.

Representative Reported Cases

• Meaney v. Dever, 326 F.3d 283 (1st Cir. 2003) - Obtained reversal from Court of Appeals of District Court decision in case defining limits of First Amendment rights for public employees.
• Lapidus v. Board of Appeal of Boston, 51 Mass. App. Ct. 723 (2001) - Case established time limit for Boston zoning enforcement in favor of Boston restaurant owner whose use and occupancy permit was challenged by an abutter too late.

Professional

• Distinctions: Peer review "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest bestowed rating; Massachusetts Super Lawyer, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
• Admitted: Massachusetts; United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
• Member: Boston Bar Association; American Bar Association.

Community Involvement

• Member of the Wellesley Planning Board from 2001 to 2008 (Chairman from 2007 to 2008 and from 2003 to 2005).
• Member of Wellesley Town Meeting from 2002 to 2008.

News

• Eleven Davis Malm Attorneys Named 2009 Massachusetts "Super Lawyers"
• Thomas Frisardi Named "2008 Outstanding Citizen Planner" by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association
• Thomas Frisardi and Stacey G. Bloom Participate in "Massachusetts Land Law for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors" Seminar

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