The Trial Court Committee on Small Claims Practices and Procedures was appointed by Honorable John E. Fenton, Jr., Chief Justice for Administration and Management, in May, 1994 and submitted its interim report in February, 1995. Since then, the Committee, under the direction of Chief Justices for Administration and Management John J. Irwin, Jr. and Barbara A. Dortch-Okara, has labored to propose amendments to Trial Court Rule III, Uniform Trial Court Rules, and to develop these Standards to assist in the implementation of the amended Rules.
Most Recently, the Committee consisted of:
Honorable R. Peter Anderson, Chair
First Justice
Brighton District Court
James A. Bisceglia
Clerk-Magistrate
Worcester Housing Court
Sandra Caggiano
First Assistant Clerk-Magistrate
East Boston District Court
John R. Cavanaugh
Assistant Clerk-Magistrate for Civil Business
Boston Municipal Court
Harvey J. Chopp
Court Administrator
Housing Court Department
Lawrence E. O'Brien, Esquire
Ganick, O'Brien & Sarin
Dorchester
Andrew R. Quigley
First Assistant Clerk-Magistrate
Hingham District Court
Diane L. Szafarowicz
Assistant Attorney General
Consumer Protection & Anti-Trust Division
Wendy A. Wilton
Clerk-Magistrate
Ayer District Court
Former members of the Committee include:
William T. Clark
Clerk-Magistrate
Gardner District Court
James. R. Gianelis
Assistant Clerk-Magistrate
Boston Municipal Court
Glenn Hannington, Esquire
Formerly Assistant Clerk-Magistrate for Civil Business
Boston Municipal Court
Deirdre Cummings
Mass. Public Interest Research Group
John F. Burke, Senior Staff Attorney of the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, provided assistance and support to the Committee throughout its activities. Others who assisted the Committee in its efforts include Michael J. Shea, Deputy Court Administrator and Legal Counsel, District Court Department; Ann A. Meagher and Brian T. Mulcahy, Legal Staff, Administrative Office of the Trial Court; Christine P. Burak and Barbara M. Diamond, staff of the Supreme Judicial Court; and Martha A. Coravos, Esquire.