Decision  Blake v. MTRS, CR-25-0039

Date:	12/05/2025
Organization:	Division of Administrative Law Appeals
Docket Number:	CR-25-0039

• Petitioner: Steven Blake
• Respondent: Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System
• Administrative Magistrate: Eric Tennen

Order of Dismissal

The Petitioner appealed the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System’s decision that it was not counting certain payments as regular compensation. On April 14, 2025, the Division of Administrative Law Appeals (DALA) ordered the Petitioner to file a pre-hearing memorandum by June 4, 2025. When he missed the deadline, DALA issued an order to show cause asking him to explain why he failed to do so. On July 25, 2025, he responded, explaining he was out of town and asking for more time to try to have the Everett administration fix an oversight he says led to this appeal. DALA allowed the request and asked that he file a status by September 30, 2025. The Petitioner failed to file a status that day. DALA again asked that he file a status report, this time by October 24, 2025. No status report was filed.

I then issued an Order to Show Cause on October 27, 2025 asking for a response by November 28, 2025. I indicated the matter would be dismissed if the Petitioner failed to provide a valid explanation for his failure to contact DALA. Again, no response was received. 

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered the appeal is dismissed for failure to prosecute.

Dated: December 5, 2025                              

Eric Tennen
______________________________
Eric Tennen, Magistrate
Division of Administrative Law Appeals
14 Summer St., 4th Floor
Malden, MA 02148
Tel: [phone]
www.mass.gov/dala