Thomas S. Fitzpatrick
Shareholder
President
direct 617.589.3865
fax 617.305.3165
Practice Focus and Experience
Tom Fitzpatrick practices in the Business Law and Litigation areas. Tom is a trial lawyer focusing primarily on business, corporate, and commercial litigation. He has considerable experience in all manner of business disputes, including litigation and arbitration in corporate, real estate, construction, and shareholder cases.
Representative Matters
- Successfully represented minority shareholders in an action for declaratory judgment, which permitted them to sell or otherwise dispose of their shares in any manner they see fit. The Supreme Judicial Court upheld the Superior Court’s decision that the shareholders owed no fiduciary duty to the corporation or their co-shareholders, as the issue was specifically governed by the articles of organization.
- Successful prosecution of a corporate indemnification action in the
Delaware Chancery Court. Read more.
- Successful defense of a bank, a mortgage company and its loan officer
in a case brought by a construction loan borrower alleging fraud and violation
of Chapter 93A. Read more.
- Successful prosecution of an action brought by an intestate estate to
recover funds from a former administratrix of the estate. Read more.
- Successful defense of a federal court action alleging fraud and breach
of fiduciary duty by former chief financial officer and treasurer of investment
banking firm. Read more.
- Successful defense of a Chapter 93A suit for a commercial lessor brought
by its commercial lessee.
- Successful defense of a $7.9 million breach of fiduciary duty arbitration
claim brought against a general partner of a Rhode Island limited partnership.
Read more.
- Proceedings before the Delaware Chancery Court involving competing proposals
for the tax-free division or sale of assets of the corporation for the
owners of 50% of a large privately held convenience store and retail gasoline
business.
- Conversion from a brick and mortar manufacturing operation to a licensing-based
operation for a 100-year old sporting goods company.
- Successful defense of a general partner of a New Hampshire limited
partnership from a petition for dissolution brought by limited partners.
Read more.
- Successful defenses of mechanics lien claims for numerous real estate
owners.
Representative Reported Cases
- Merriam v. Demoulas Super Markets,Inc., 464 Mass. 721 (2012) - Represented minority shareholders who prevailed in upholding a Superior Court decision in a declaratory judgment action concerning sale of stock. The court’s finding that the minority shareholders owed no fiduciary duty to the corporation or their co-shareholders allowed them to sell or otherwise dispose of their shares in any manner they see fit.
- Clean Harbors, Inc. v. John Hancock Life Ins. Co., 64 Mass. App. Ct. 347, rev. denied, 445 Mass. 1105 (2005) - Concerning the enforcement of a liquidated damages provision of a securities purchase agreement and compliance with the Massachusetts usury statute.
- Lattuca v. Robsham, 442 Mass. 205 (2004) - Represented plaintiff Trustee in claim against an agent and lender to the trust who had used access as lender to facilitate diversion of trust assets to himself. Trial court found that agent/lender had violated fiduciary duty and the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the decision.
- V.S. Haseotes & Son, L.P. v. Haseotes, 819 A.2d 1281 (R.I. 2003) - Represented a partner of a real estate partnership that prevailed in upholding a favorable arbitration award. The case established standards necessary to set aside an arbitration award on the grounds of arbitrator bias.
- Demoulas v. Demoulas, 57 Mass. App. Ct. 456 (2003) - Concerning the methodology and principles applicable to tax deductions in the context of a disgorgement remedy.
- Demoulas v. Demoulas, 432 Mass. 43, 732 N.E.2d 875 (2000) - Concerning bona fide purchaser status, judicial recusal and the taxation of costs.
- Demoulas v. Demoulas, 428 Mass. 555 (1998) - Concerning numerous issues, including the burden of proof for purported bona fide purchasers, use of "fair value" of minority shareholder's stock in a breach of fiduciary duty action, and rescission of stock sales
accomplished through breaches of fiduciary duty.
- Arthur S. Demoulas v. Demoulas Super Markets, Inc., 428 Mass.
543 (1998) - Concerning judicial recusal.
- Arthur S. Demoulas v. Demoulas Super Markets, Inc., & others,
424 Mass. 501 (1997) - Establishing numerous important
principles of law in the areas of shareholder derivative litigation, corporate
fiduciary duty, and limitations of actions.
- Kettenbach v. Demoulas, 901 F. Supp. 486 (D. Mass. 1995) - Concerning "newly discovered evidence" as grounds for granting a new trial and the admissibility of the statements of a co-conspirator.
Professional
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Distinctions: Peer Review AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest bestowed rating: Massachusetts Super Lawyers, 2005-2006, 2011-2014.
- Admitted: Massachusetts; United States District
Court for the District of Massachusetts.
- Fellow: Massachusetts Bar Foundation.
- Member: Massachusetts Bar Association; Boston Bar Association.
Community Involvement
- Volunteer attorney for Shelter Legal Services, Inc.
Publications and Speaking Engagements
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Former CEO of Maine Today Media Accused of Stealing More Than $500,000 From Company,
Thomas S. Fitzpatrick interviewed by WGME 13 News, Portland
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Press Herald Parent Accuses Former CEO of Misusing More Than $530,000,
Portland Press Herald, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (quoted)
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MaineToday Media Accuses Former CEO of Stealing $500,000,
Bangor Daily News, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (quoted)
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New England Business Litigation Conference 2013, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, January 2013, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (Co-Chair and Presenter)
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Many Area Law Firms Are Resisting the Urge to Merge,
Boston Business Journal, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (quoted)
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New England Business Litigation Conference 2012, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, January 2012, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (Presenter)
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Pay Dirt: Recycler Undeterred in Fight vs. Major Trash Hauler,
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Laurence M. Johnson, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick, and Neal J. Bingham (interviewed)
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Fiduciary Duties of Directors, Officers and Owners of Closely-Held Businesses, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, May 2007, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (Presenter)
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Fiduciary Duties of Directors, Officers and Owners of Closely-Held Businesses, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, August 2004, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (Presenter)
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Demoulas: An Inside Look at the Twists and Turns of a Legal Blood Feud,
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Carol R. Cohen and Thomas S. Fitzpatrick (quoted)
News
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Twenty-Six Davis Malm Attorneys Listed in 2014 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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Davis Malm Hosts Junior Achievement Skills to Achieve Program
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Davis Malm Attorneys Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Co-Chairs MCLE 13th Annual New England Business Litigation Conference
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Thirty Davis Malm Attorneys Listed in 2013 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Co-Chairs MCLE 12th Annual New England Business Litigation Conference
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Twenty-one Davis Malm Attorneys Listed in 2012 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Serves as Faculty Member at MCLE 11th Annual New England Business Litigation Conference
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Fifteen Davis Malm Attorneys Named 2011 Massachusetts "Super Lawyers"
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Laurence M. Johnson, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick, and Neal J. Bingham Obtain $10.375 Million Jury Verdict in Federal Court
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Successfully Prosecutes Chapter 93A Claim Obtaining $7.4 Million Judgment
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William F. Griffin, Jr. and Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Participate in MCLE Program "Fiduciary Duties of Directors, Officers and Owners of Closely Held Business"
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Twelve Davis Malm Attorneys Named 2006 Massachusetts "Super Lawyers"
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Wins Breach of Lease and 93A Case in Massachusetts Appeals Court Case
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Successfully Defends Mechanics Lien Suit
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Wins Construction Arbitration Case
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick and Joshua S. Grossman Successfully Pursue Corporate Indemnification Action in Delaware Chancery Court
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Successfully Defends Bank, Mortgage Company and Loan Officer In Case Alleging Fraud and Violation Of Chapter 93A
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Successfully Defends Federal District Court Action Against Former CEO and Director of Corporation
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Wins Appeal of Denial of Long Term Disability Insurance Benefits
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Settles Probate Case and Recovers Disputed Funds for Estate
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Settles Pro Bono Case with DSS and DOR
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William F. Griffin, Jr. and Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Participate in Seminar Panel "Fiduciary Duties of Directors, Officers and Owners of Closely Held Businesses" for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Successfully Defends and Obtains Dismissal of Claims Alleged Against Senior Executive of Investment Banking Firm
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Gary S. Matsko, Thomas S. Fitzpatrick and Judith Ashton Successfully Preserve After Trial Judgment in Massachusetts Appeals Court and Win Award of Appellate Fees and Costs
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Wins Summary Judgment in Corporate Officer Suit
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick Successfully Defends Appeal to Rhode Island Supreme Court of Judgment Confirming Arbitration Award
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Thomas S. Fitzpatrick and John G. Serino Successfully Defend Petition for Dissolution of Limited Partnership in Rockingham, New Hampshire Superior Court