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On October 10, 2019, the Bristol Superior Court issued a decision denying the Fall River City Council’s motion for a preliminary injunction, through which the City Council sought to require Fall River Mayor Jasiel F. Correia II to relinquish control of his Office. While the City Council argued that a certain provision of the Fall River Charter affords the Council broad discretion to take such action, in denying the City Council’s motion the Court rejected the Council’s interpretation, in part upon principles of statutory construction requiring that the Court construe the relevant Charter provision in its context. The Court also noted, among other things, that the Charter’s history likewise supports the Court’s decision.

Peter Mello and Matthew Feeney, of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP represented Mayor Correia in this matter. MHTL is a law firm that serves private, public and nonprofit clients in the full range of practice areas, including litigation, labor and employment, governmental and municipal law. Attorney Mello serves as the President of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association. The Massachusetts municipal law bar association is comprised of hundreds of members who provide legal services to cities and towns or otherwise devote a substantial portion of their practice to the advancement of municipal law. At MHTL, Attorney Mello advises and represents clients with respect to a variety of legal issues in litigation and other matters. Peter Mello’s clients include private companies and organizations, municipalities and other governmental entities.