Mediator Resume

Retired Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court; served 19 years as an Associate and First Justice in Essex and Norfolk Counties. Family Law attorney for more than 24 years. Recognized by the Norfolk County Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Oracle Award from the Massachusetts Family & Probate Inn of Court, Haskell Freeman award from the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers. Experience, compassion, problem solver and decisive. In 2021, accepted the National Child Support Enforcement Association Innovative Partnership/Collaboration award.

Suffolk University Law School

Attorney, Judge, Practitioner in Residence

Practitioner in Residence, Suffolk University Law School, 2025-Present; Judge, Massachusetts Trial Court, 2006-2025; Partner, Casey & Thompson P.C., 1983-2006; Asst. City Solicitor, City of Attleboro, MA, 1982-1983.

Twenty four years of criminal defense and family law litigation. Extensive trial experience. Trial Court Justice for more than 11 years hearing complex financial and child related issues. Served seven years as Chief Justice of the Court overseeing more than 50 judges and over 500 staff. Initiated innovative reforms to the Probate and Family Court while also steering the Court through the pandemic crisis. Advocated successfully with the Legislature and Governor for an increase of eight judges. Initiated a Pathways case management system which has diverted more than 1000 cases per month to a form of mediation. A majority of those cases are resolved without judicial intervention. Created a completely new child support establishment and enforcement system which has been recognized nationally. Partnered with a private mediation company to provide on site, no cost mediation services to self represented litigants. Most recently, have created an online dispute resolution innovation clinic at a law school in Boston. These 8 students are customizing ODR platforms for use in Massachusetts for low income individuals seeking divorce in low conflict cases. Have served as the co-chair of the Massachusetts Family Law Trial Advocacy week long program and been the keynote speaker at numerous Bar and related organizations. Have also been a frequent panelist at state, county and local Bar programs.

During 19 years as a judge, thousands of cases come before the session at pre-trial conference. By being prepared, listening, helping the attorneys and parties focus on the key issues, a majority of cases settled then or shortly thereafter. The partnership with a private mediation company illustrated the skills required to be an effective mediator and witness the benefit of having parties take ownership in the process.

Complex financial issues regarding compensation, valuation, asset division, child custody and parenting time, inheritance and other contested issues in family law.

Pre-mediation briefs will be required and more details will be shared upon being retained. Any questions resulting from the review of the briefs will be done jointly, but with counsel only. Meetings with counsel and each party, individually, will be scheduled remotely. The joint session(s) will also be done remotely. Exceptions may be made in the discretion of the mediator. Following the joint session(s), the mediator may request a brief post session memorandum. A final session will be scheduled for the mediator to explain to counsel and the parties what their decision would be and the rationale behind the decision.

Experience with Zoom technology. Extensive use of Word. Familiar with Google Docs.

Suffolk University Law School (JD - 1982); Bates College (BA, Political Science - 1979).

Admitted to the Bar: Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1982); U.S. District Court: District of Massachusetts (1983).

Massachusetts Bar Association.

Hourly Rate: $500.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $500.00/hr Cancellation: $500.00/hr Cancellation Period: 1 Days Comment: In most cases, a retainer of $10,000.00 will be required, though that amount may be increased for specific cases in the discretion of the mediator. This represents approximately 20 hours of study and hearing compensation. Unless otherwise agreed upon, the mediator will stop working upon the exhaustion of the retainer. Work will continue if the parties advance an additional retainer in an amount the mediator deems appropriate to resolve the case.

English

United States of America

Boston, Massachusetts