September 10, 2012

• Steven Topazio wrote this April 27, 2014 at 6:28 pm

The client, a 52 year old mother of one, broke up with her boyfriend of one year, received an Abuse Prevention Order from her ex-boyfriend and a Harassment Prevention Order from the new girlfriend, hired Boston Criminal Defense Lawyer Steven J. Topazio to represent her. Harassment is defined as 3 or more acts of willful and malicious conduct aimed at a specific person committed with the intent to cause fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property. The definition of abuse under Chapter 209A and harassment under Chapter 258E is different. Abuse for purposes of a 209A Order is the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members: (a) attempting to cause or causing physical harm; (b) placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm; (c) causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress. Massachusetts Criminal Attorney Topazio contested both orders. Today on the hearing of the permanent orders, Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer Topazio established that the petitioners did not meet their burden to issue both the 209A and 258E restraining orders, and the Court Agreed.