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Resource Center : information on common legal topics under Massachusetts law, including legal rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, basics of contract drafting, information on trade secret law, nondisclosure agreements, and employee noncompete agreements, and other legal resources.
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Publications by Attorney Smith-Lee
REPRESSED MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, Boston College L. Rev., March 1996
THE CHANGING FACE OF FOOD SAFETY LAW, GMA Forum, Mid-Winter 2007-2008, http://www.mwe.com/info/pubs/GMAForumFoodSafetyLaw.pdf
FOOD FIGHTS- GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD AND THE LAW, ABA The Brief, 32-43, Summer 2007
Samples of Attorney Smith-Lee's Reported Cases:
Daniel v. Fisons, 138 Ohio App. 3d 104 (2000)(Ohio Court of Appeals): defense of product liability litigation involving asthma medication.
Foster-Miller v. Babcock & Wilcox Canada, 210 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2000) (appeal from the United States District Court, Massachusetts): litigation involving breach of contract, use of confidential information, and trade secret misappropriation.
CSC v. Nervewire, et al, 13 Mass. L. Rep. 535, 2001 Mass. Super. LEXIS 391 (July 12, 2001)(Massachusetts Superior Court): litigation involving trade secret misappropriation and tortious interference with contract.
Linnen v. A.H. Robins, et al, 11 Mass. L. Rep. 16, 1999 Mass. Super. LEXIS 491 (Dec. 14, 1999) (Massachusetts Superior Court): exclusion of expert witness in prominent fen-phen litigation.
Monsanto v. Garst, 241 S.W. 3d 401 (Mo. App. 2007)(Missouri): reversal of trial court decision in litigation over contract between two major seed producers.
Foundation for Seacoast Health v. HCA New Hampshire, et al, 157 N.H. 487 (2008) (New Hampshire Supreme Court): contract litigation involving enforcement of a right of first refusal.
Update: trial court judge rules that the Foundation should have been given the opportunity to exercise its right of first refusal, December 17, 2009. See press coverage.
About Attorney Smith-Lee
I received my undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, and my law degree from Boston College Law School, summa cum laude. I practiced for thirteen years in Boston, Massachusetts in the litigation department of McDermott, Will & Emery. At McDermott, I gained experience in business litigation, health care litigation, product liability and tort defense, litigation involving food safety and genetically modified food products, contract litigation and litigation involving former employees, trade secret misappropriation, and noncompete agreements. While at McDermott, I represented numerous clients in the pharmaceutical, health care, agricultural, and other fields in litigation including claims under trade secret, product liability, and contract law. Examples include the Fen-Phen Diet Drug litigation, Starlink Corn litigation, and successful defense of a large seed company in litigation alleging misappropriation of trade secrets in a corn breeding program. I am licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and in the Federal Courts in Massachusetts, and have handled litigation pro hac vice in ten different jurisdictions over the years.
In 2009,
I decided to bring that legal experience to my hometown of Sharon,
Massachusetts (located in Norfolk County in the South Shore area of
Boston), to serve the litigation and other legal needs of small business
and individuals. With easy access to Boston as well as courts
throughout Massachusetts, I also enjoy the small town setting, low
overhead, and accessibility for clients that a suburban office can
provide.
I believe that effective legal representation
requires not only legal expertise and experience but common sense,
creativity, and the ability to hear client concerns. I
also believe that litigation can often be avoided with early legal
advice, but that it is not obvious to many small and medium sized
businesses (or individuals) where to go to get that early advice. The vision of Smith Lee LLC is to provide an
affordable and accessible entry point for people with questions about
their legal needs as well as experienced and high quality full
litigation services if a lawsuit cannot be avoided.
Whether you need help with a pending or anticipated
litigation, advice on a potential legal problem, review of a business
contract, or simply a reliable starting point for advice about what
legal services are most appropriate for your needs, I will provide
effective and affordable legal representation.
Example Smith Lee LLC legal matters include:
Individual Clients
Homeowner in lawsuit seeking to avoid foreclosure and require mortgage loan servicer to comply with the Home Affordable Mortgage Program (“HAMP”) guidelines;
Former employee in lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and violation of federal and state overtime laws;
Former employee in lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment that a broad non-compete agreement is unenforceable under Massachusetts law;
Former employee in lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment that a non-compete was terminated and/or waived, and damages for misclassification as an independent contractor and violations of the Massachusetts Wage Act;
Former employee seeking payment of owed wages and damages under the Massachusetts Wage Act;
Former officers and employees defending a lawsuit alleging trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and civil conspiracy;
Residential tenant seeking return of security deposit; and
Residential tenants defending a summary process complaint and pursuing counterclaims for retaliatory eviction, violation of Chapter 93A, and mishandling of security deposit.
Business Clients
Software start up company defending a lawsuit by minority shareholder alleging corporate “freeze out;”
Human Resource consulting company: ongoing legal advice as needed;
Equipment lease financing broker defending a lawsuit alleging failure to make “due inquiry” about a customer who later claimed to be the victim of identity fraud;
Independent Sales Organization (“ISO”) defending a lawsuit alleging breach of an agreement for the sale of a portfolio of credit card processing agreements; and
Health care provider responding to subpoena from a government agency.
Not-for-Profit Clients
Foundation for Seacoast Health v. HCA: currently representing a New Hampshire non-profit in contract litigation relating to a right of first refusal to purchase a community hospital.
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About Smith Lee LLC
Smith Lee LLC is a litigation practice serving the legal needs of small business and individuals in the South Shore area of Boston. Smith Lee LLC is located in the center of Sharon, Massachusetts in Norfolk County, with easy access to the highway and commuter rail. As a solo practice, I can keep my services cost-effective, but I also have a wide professional network to call on if we require additional staffing or expertise to meet your needs. Contact us with any questions.
One Post Office Square Sharon Massachusetts 02067 781-784-2322
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