Dear Residents and Registry of Deeds Stakeholders,
It is timely to update Registry stakeholders and taxpayers of the status of the second “Registry law suit”. On June 28, 2024 Judge Cloutier of the Norfolk Superior Court ruled that the Norfolk County Commissioners and Norfolk County have violated a number of state laws. See the written decision William P. O’Donnell, vs. Joseph P. Shea, Peter H. Collins et al by downloading it here.
The Norfolk Superior Court ruled favorably for the Registry of Deeds. The Norfolk County Commissioners and Norfolk County violated Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 64D sections 11 and 12 when they failed to provide the required budgetary funding to the Registry of Deeds and when they spent funds and removed funds from a designated Registry of Deeds account.
Judge Cloutier found the County Commissioners’ actions to be unlawful. As Register of Deeds I was left with no choice but to litigate and prosecute this case on my own without the benefit of independent legal counsel which the Defendants have had throughout the court process. The law suit was prosecuted to insure the “automation, modernization and operation of the registries of deeds” as noted in the state law.
The Norfolk County Commissioners and Defendants filed a Motion to Reconsider despite Judge Cloutier pointing out in footnote #10 on page 11 that “…prior to 2020, the County’s interpretation of the statutes was largely consistent with the court’s interpretation.” This Motion to Reconsider was denied in a court ruling dated August 23, 2024 and received by the Registry of Deeds on August 28, 2024.
Sincerely yours,
William P. O’Donnell
Norfolk County Register of Deeds
P.S. The above case should not be confused with the other Registry lawsuit against Norfolk County Director John J. Cronin and the Norfolk County Commissioners – Joseph Shea, Peter Collins and Richard Staiti. A different Norfolk Superior Court judge ruled that County Director Cronin and the Norfolk County Commissioners violated state law in this case. See the written decision in 2282 CV 01001 by downloading it here.
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About the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website here. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at 781-461-6101 or e-mail us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.
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