| |
 MELISSA
J. GARAND
Associate
- Litigation
Koufman
& Frederick, LLP
The Prince
Professional Building
265 Essex Street, Suite 301
Salem, MA 01970
(978)
745-2212 x114
mgarand@kflawyers.com
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|
LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
| Koufman
& Frederick, LLP |
Salem,
Massachusetts |
| Associate |
December 2004 -
present |
| |
Litigator |
Areas
of practice: civil litigation, medical malpractice
defense, civil rights, and personal injury. |
PREVIOUS
EXPERIENCE:
| Law
Office of Melissa Garand |
Andover,
Massachusetts |
| Partner |
February 2003 -
April 2004 |
| |
Litigator |
Areas
of practice: criminal appeals of distict court cases
as private bar counsel to the Committee for Public
Counsel Services. |
| Suffolk
County Sheriff's Department |
Boston,
Massachusetts |
General Counsel
Acting General Counsel |
October 2000 -
February 2003
March 2000 - October 2000 |
| |
General
Counsel |
Chief
legal counsel to the Sheriff of Suffolk County.
Provided advice and counsel to the Sheriff and
management staff of an 1,100 employee agency responsible
for the operation of two correctional facilities.
Responsible for the defense of all legal actions
brought by and against the Department. Division
Manager responsible for the operations of the
General Counsel’s Office, Inmate Legal Services
and Standards and Compliance.
|
| |
Supervised all operations of a seven lawyer law
office including management of cases, budget, employee
discipline, liaison with outside counsel;
• Responsible
for supervision of Inmate Legal Services Division
which provide legal services to over 2,500 inmates
in pre-trial and sentenced correctional facilities;
• Oversight
of the Standards and Compliance Division responsible
for enforcement of state regulations and accreditation
of Department’s correctional facilities;
• Chair
of the policy review committee which has resulted
in the complete revision of all policies and
procedures for the Department in order to ensure
compliance with the standards of the American
Correctional Association, the Code of Massachusetts
Regulations and State and Federal Law;
• Member
of the Training Advisory Committee responsible
for implementing and establishing the training
curriculum for the Department
|
| Deputy
General Counsel |
Boston,
Massachusetts |
Assistant
General Counsel
Staff Attorney |
November 1991 -August
1994 |
|
• Representation of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s
Department and the City of Boston in the defense
of negligence, discrimination and civil rights cases
in State and Federal Count and at state agencies
including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination,
and the Labor Relations Commission. Represented
the Sheriff in collective bargaining and at arbitration
of labor disputes; acted as a hearing officer in
employee discipline cases.
•
Participation in contract negotiations with employee
unions. Provided advice and counsel to management
negotiators. Impact bargained with the Department’s
unions on management issues, which resulted in
increased placement of new beds in the facilities.
• Conducted all phases of
litigation including case planning, investigation,
discovery, legal research, depositions, negotiation
of settlement, arbitration, trial preparation
and litigation.
• Responsible for advising
the Sheriff and his Command staff regarding legal
issues and administrative matters on a daily basis.
• Drafted Department policy
and procedure regarding operations of its facilities
resulting in publication of a new employee manual.
• Instructor
at the Department’s Training Academy.
|
| Hamel,
Deshaies & Gagliardi |
Amesbury,
Massachusetts |
| Law
Clerk |
May 1988 - August
1988 |
| |
•
Worked exclusively in the area of real estate as
a title examiner. Research and rundown of titles,
recorded deeds, mortgages and financial statements.
|
| North
Shore Children’s Law Project |
Lynn,
Massachusetts |
| Law
Clerk |
June 1987 - August
1987 |
| |
•
Met with various state agencies, (DYS, DMH) and
youth groups to discuss client cases. Attendance
at court with attorneys in their Guardian Ad Litem
capacity. Extensive client contact. |
Governor’s
Anti-Crime Council
Committee on Criminal Justice
|
Boston,
Massachusetts |
| Research
Assistant to Executive Director |
November 1985 -
March 1986 |
| |
•
Research and memorandum on Massachusetts drunk driving
laws, the legality of drug testing, and forensics
for presentation to the Governor and Crime Council.
Member of High Technology, Forensics and Private
Security subcommittees. |
EDUCATION:
| The
University of Toledo College of Law |
Toledo,
OH |
| Juris Doctor |
May 1989 |
| Northeastern
University |
Boston,
MA |
| Bachelor of Science
in Criminal Justice |
June 1986 |
• Awarded Cum Laude, Minor in Political Science,
Education Program
• Activities: Member of the Women’s
Crew |
MEMBERSHIPS:
-Massachusetts Bar
-Federal Bar (U.S. District Court for the District of
Mass. & U.S. Court of
Appeals 1st Circuit)
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IMPORTANT
DISCLOSURE & NOTICES:
This site was prepared by Koufman & Frederick, LLP for informational
purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or a legal
opinion for any specific circumstances or facts. Receipt of this
information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship
between sender and receiver. You should not act upon information
in this site without seeking professional counsel. Material at this
site may be considered advertising under the rules of the Supreme
Judicial Court of Massachusetts. |
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