Decision  Sampson v. State Bd. of Ret., CR-25-0347

Date:	10/09/2026
Organization:	Division of Administrative Law Appeals
Docket Number:	CR-25-0347

• Petitioner: Warren Sampson
• Respondent: State Board of Retirement
• Administrative Magistrate: Thomas E. Bocian

Order of Dismissal

The petitioner, a Residential Supervisor/CO with the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, appealed a decision by the respondent, the State Board of Retirement (“Board”), declining his request for Group 4 classification of his position.  See G.L. c. 32, § 3(2)(g).  During the pendency of this appeal, on September 24, 2026, the Board reconsidered its decision and classified the petitioner’s position “in Group 4 for retirement purposes.”  The next day, the Board moved to dismiss on mootness grounds.  The petitioner has not filed a response.  Given the Board’s classification of the petitioner’s position in Group 4, it is correct that this appeal is now moot.  See City of Lynn v. Murrell, 489 Mass. 579, 582 (2022) (explaining a matter is moot when a tribunal “can order no further effective relief” (quotation omitted)); Sullivan v. Langtry, 233 Mass. 543, 546 (1919) (declaring a case is moot when “[i]t can have no practical result”).  So, the motion to dismiss is ALLOWED and the appeal is DISMISSED.

Dated: October 9, 2026                                        

_____/s/ Thomas E. Bocian____________________
Thomas E. Bocian
Chief Administrative Magistrate
Division of Administrative Law Appeals
14 Summer Street, 4th floor
Malden, MA 02148
Tel:  [phone]
www.mass.gov/dala