Judge: Belchertown condo complex can’t order sign removal
By BERA DUNAU
NORTHAMPTON A Belchertown condominium complex cannot order the removal of signs at or near the units of residents, a Hampshire Superior Court judge has ruled.
Judge Richard Carey cited the free speech provision of the Massachusetts Constitution in making his ruling in a case in which Margery Jess, a resident of Summer Hill Estates development, was ordered to remove her Black Lives Matter sign by the trustees of the development or face daily fines.
The case was filed by the Northampton law firm Sasson Turnbull Ryan & Hoose, alongside the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Jess.
Judge overrules Belchertown condo association that tried to bar ‘Black Lives Matter’ lawn sign
Updated Jan 15, 2021;
BELCHERTOWN A condominium owner prevailed over trustees who attempted to fine her $50 a day for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign in her flower bed, after a judge ruled in her favor in Hampshire Superior Court on Friday.
Margery Jess, owner of a unit at Summer Hill Estates, in October sued trustees of the condominium association who tried to strong-arm her into taking down the sign, threatening fines that would have amounted to more than $18,000 annually.
Judge Richard Carey initially granted Jess a temporary injunction to prevent the association from forcing her to take the sign down or face fines. Carey ruled Friday the condo association’s bylaw designed to control the content of signage is unconstitutional and violates free speech protections.
LIVE BLOG - CORONAVIRUS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: 624 new COVID-19 cases, four new outbreaks announced
Update: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 3:45 p.m.
New Hampshire health officials announced 624 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, and no new patient deaths. According to state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire s test positivity rate is holding steady at around 9.1%.
Current active cases in New Hampshire number 6,485, with 297 patients hospitalized with the virus. So far, 656 residents have died from the virus, including 52 in the last week, Chan said.
Chan also said that in order to mitigate the spread of the virus, the state is encouraging anyone who has symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested for the coronavirus.
LIVE BLOG - CORONAVIRUS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: Twenty-four thousand doses of Moderna vaccine arriving tomorrow
Update: Monday, Dec. 21, 5:55 p.m.
The state of New Hampshire is expecting to receive over twenty-four thousand doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine tomorrow (Tuesday). Moderna’s vaccine, which is being partially produced in Portsmouth, was recently approved for emergency use by the FDA. New Hampshire also received close to 9,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine Monday, fewer than originally expected. Those doses are all going to the state’s most vulnerable residents, including health care workers. Long term care facilities will begin distributing shots to their residents and staff this week.
LIVE BLOG - CORONAVIRUS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: N.H. announces 12 additional COVID-19 deaths
Update: Saturday, Dec. 19, 5:26 p.m.
Twelve additional residents have died due to the coronavirus, state health officials announced Saturday.
The state reported 676 new infections and 6,725 active cases statewide. There are 258 people hospitalized with the virus.
The results reported Saturday include new results confirmed for previous days: 38 on Dec. 14, 189 on Dec. 15, 134 on Dec. 16, 153 on Dec. 17, and 162 on Dec. 18.
Since the pandemic began, New Hampshire has recorded 650 COVID-19 deaths and confirmed 35,609 positive test results.
- NHPR Staff
U
pdate: Saturday, Dec. 19, 12:41 p.m.
The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester is closing after this weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic.