IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
• WHAT'S NEW? Webinar, Professional Presentations, Staff News
• CASE SUMMARY: Cunningham v. Thomas — Divorce Modification
• ARTIST OF THE QUARTER: Carmela Cattuti
• MINDFULNESS MATTERS: Make time for gratitude and laughter
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Understanding Domestic Violence:
Cynthia Runge Interviews Lovern Gordon, Founder of Love Life Now Foundation
Thursday, April 6, 2023, 12:15pm EST
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On April 6, 2023, 12:15 pm EST, Cindy will interview Lovern Gordon, a two-time sur-THRIVER of domestic violence (a child witness until she was 15 years old in Trinidad, as well as a 2-year, young adult relationship in the United States). Ten years after escaping the adult relationship, she became the Founder of Love Life Now Foundation, Inc. (LLN), where she used 2 back-to-back pageant wins to increase awareness around issue in 2010 and the following year, LLN was formed. Today, Lovern continues to head LLN, a global awareness and education organization that supports survivors of abuse through their year-round initiatives and direct assistance to other domestic violence programs. Lovern will discuss:
- What is domestic violence (DV).
- Recognizing the signs/red flags of someone dealing with DV.
- Becoming acquainted with the concepts of DV (why victims stay).
- How to support someone experiencing abuse.
- What resources are available.
A short Q&A will follow Lovern’s presentation.
PANEL PRESENTATIONS
MCLE Limited Assistance Representation
On March 31, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Cindy will Co-Chair a panel with Attorney Shannon Barnes, also of Peridot Family Law, addressing the benefit of using Limited Assistance Representation in family law matters. Peridot Family Law is a huge proponent of using LAR to help clients. If you have questions about how you might be able to use LAR, check out our website or give us a call.
MCLE Family Law Conference
On May 19, 2023, Cindy will Co-Chair a panel with Attorney Barbara Richmond to enhance attorney wellness. The panel will present on time management, tips about how to stay on-top of your litigation practice and pointers about how to deal with procrastination. Speakers include Jared Correia, Esq., Andrew Kang, Esq, and Eric Parker, Esq., for the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) New England.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
MBA Mock Trial
February 1, 2023, 3:30 pm EST, Cindy participated as a Judge in the MassBar Association’s (MBA) 2023 High School Mock Trial Competition. This event was hosted by Malden Catholic High School which competed against Revere High School. Cindy was thoroughly impressed by the performances of all the students and aspiring young lawyers who were involved.
STAFF NEWS
Best Wishes Sarah!
Sarah, who has been a law clerk in our office since her 1st year, is now a 3L student and will be taking the Bar Exam this Summer. We know that Sarah will crush the bar!
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Welcome Liam Healy!
Liam joined Peridot Family Law last month as an Administrative Assistant. Liam will be graduating from Suffolk University with a Bachelor’s in Law this Spring. He is also gearing up to take the LSAT and apply to law schools.
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NEW CASE SUMMARY
Jane E. Cunningham VS. Jerry E. Thomas, Massachusetts Appeals Court, (2023) No. 21-P-956.
DIVORCE MODIFICATION
Summarized by Sarah Zweerink
A new case which discusses addresses the requirement of the Court following its own Pre-Trial and other Probate Court Procedural Orders.
A new case in which the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that allowing a new issue to be raised at the time of trial and denying recourse to the parties was an abuse of judge’s discretion.
The Parties were formally divorced in January of 2017; in which their Judgment required the Father to pay $6000 a month in unallocated support to the Mother, who had primary custody of their three children. The Parties were also required to list the marital home for sale by April 2017 and would split the proceeds evenly.
In December 2018 the Mother filed a Complaint for Modification for greater support as the Father had failed to exercise any parenting time leaving her the sole, not just primary, caretaker. The Father counterclaimed for a reduction of support due to slightly declined income and the ability to enter the marital home and list it for sale as it had not yet occurred.
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ARTIST OF THE QUARTER
The work of our next featured artist, Carmela Cattuti, will be on exhibit at Peridot Family Law beginning in April 2023 through the end of June 2023.
Carmela is a painter and author of three books. Coming from a New York Italian family where creativity was celebrated, she knew from an early age she would become an artist. Carmela has traveled extensively in western Europe and received her graduate degree in English Literature from Boston College.
Her career as an artist began in the early 1990s when she studied at the Museum of Fine Arts and then at the Academy of Realist Art, Boston. She continues to study at the Academy to hone her skills in realism. Carmela exhibits throughout the Boston area and online and was a first winner in the Masters Academy of Art Head Start Competition 2022.
Carmela’s goals are to continue to exhibit in the US and Europe and to grow as a painter, exploring other styles and genres. Please visit her web site at www.ccattuticreative.com.
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MINDFULNESS MATTERS
MAKE TIME FOR GRATITUDE AND LAUGHTER
I belong to a family law roundtable, which is comprised of divorce professionals who work in all aspects of the divorce sphere. I think our group is comprised of a great bunch of folks, who are interested in making a positive impact and difference in the lives of their clients.
Every February (except last year due to Covid), our group has hosted a gathering around Valentine’s Day to meet up, reconnect and have fun. This year, we had a double whammy event, because we held it on Ground Hog’s Day! To celebrate this, we even purchased an adorable stuffed ground hog as a gag gift for the winner of our sole trivia question: “How many bottles of Pol Roger Champagne did Winston Churchill consume during the course of his life? (Multiple choice options: a. 11,000; b. 19,000; c. 35,000; d. 42,000). P.S If you want to know, email me back for the right answer! (P.P.S. we are out of groundhogs). See pictures from our party below! I’m very grateful that we have built such a great network of professionals and that we can help and support each other (and our clients).
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Although a “Valentine’s Day” party for divorce professionals might seem a little macabre, the irony of it makes me smile (at least when planning it and attending the event). Connecting with others who also work with divorcing individuals and who understand the multi-dimensional dynamics of working in this field is validating, and comforting.
When you are going through a divorce, it may be hard to feel grateful or to find humor in your situation. But no matter what your circumstances, there are probably a few things (or maybe just one thing) for which you can be grateful. Gratitude practice, even if it is for one small thing, can make a huge difference in one’s ability to cope and find a reason to move on. What are some things for which you are grateful? We’d love to hear!
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Peridot Family Law is a full-service family law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. Our goal is to help our clients transition through their family law matter in the best possible way. We do this by listening to our clients' goals and objectives. We meet our clients where they are in the process and offer practical, reasonable solutions to produce a positive outcome for their situation.
Cynthia Runge, Founder and Sole Member.
Admitted to the bar in Massachusetts and New York.
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