McLane Middleton highly recommended in 2024 benchmark litigation
The law firm of McLane Middleton recently announced that the firm was recently recognized in the 2024 Benchmark Litigation rankings as “Highly Recommended” in New Hampshire for Dispute Resolution. This is the highest level rank given out by Benchmark Litigation.
Firm attorneys Bruce W. Felmly, Wilbur A. Glahn III, Scott H. Harris, Jennifer L. Parent, and Mark C. Rouvalis were all recognized individually as “Litigation Star(s).”
Jennifer was further recognized being named to the “2024 Top 250 Women in Litigation” list.
Alexandra S. Cote was recognized on the “40 and Under List” and in addition, Alexandra and Steven J. Dutton were both recognized in the “Future Star(s)” list.
Benchmark Litigation is the only publication on the market to focus exclusively on litigation work. Since its inception, the Benchmark brand has grown dramatically and garnered industry-wide accolades as the definitive hub for in-depth analysis of the players shaping the dynamic practice of litigation. In keeping with Benchmark’s sharp rise in popularity, its publishing staff increasingly aims to respond to the demands of its audience. Benchmark Litigation currently offers insight into the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe & Asia-Pacific legal markets.
Windham man convicted of defrauding United Way
A 50-year-old Windham man was convicted Tuesday by a federal jury for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a financial scheme to steal $6.7 million from the United Way.
After a two-week trial, Imran Alrai was convicted of 12 counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering, according to U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire Jane E. Young. He was ordered detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 17.
“Imran Alrai abused his position of trust with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley to steal millions of dollars to which he knew he wasn’t entitled, money that was intended to help the less fortunate in our area,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
“Instead, he used it to pay off his house, and increase his personal wealth.”
Between 2012 and 2018 while employed as an IT professional at United Way, Alrai obtained around $6.7 million in payments for IT services supposedly provided to United Way by an independent outside contractor, DigitalNet Technology Solutions, which he owned and controlled. In early 2013, he rigged the bidding process for a major contract so that DigitalNet was chosen.
Alrai then gave fake references and false information about DigitalNet to United Way and fraudulently concealed his connection with DigitalNet from his colleagues.
For the next five years while serving as United Way’s Vice President of IT Services, Alrai steered additional IT work to DigitalNet, so that his company soon became United Way’s second-largest outside vendor, receiving more than $1 million annually.
When the fraudulent activity came to light in June 2018, officials at the United Way confronted Alrai and terminated him. Federal agents then executed a search and seizure warrant on Alrai’s home office in Windham, where they seized incriminating documents and data and around $2.2 million in fraud proceeds in bank and investment accounts.
During the scheme, Alrai wired $1.2 million in fraud proceeds to DigitalNet bank in Lahore, Pakistan. According to expert testimony at the trial, United Way lost at least $5 million as a result of DigitalNet’s excessive billing, duplicate billing and billing for services not delivered. — Katelyn Sahagian, Eagle-Tribune
Judge dismisses electioneering complaint against Goffstown Library, AG review still pending
The Goffstown Public Library is still deciding whether to publish a recent candidate survey, after a superior court judge dismissed a petition from two Republican candidates trying to block its release.
Ross Berry, who is running for a House seat, and Keith Murphy, who is running for the State Senate, alleged that the library’s candidate questionnaire violated the state’s electioneering rules for public employees. Before the candidates filed their civil complaint, they first consulted with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office, who said that the library’s actions were likely legal.
In a ruling Tuesday, Judge Michael Klass didn’t address the legality of the library’s actions but instead said Berry and Murphy lacked standing to seek court action in the first place, since the state’s electioneering law doesn’t lay out an option for a civil suit. Instead, the judge noted that enforcing electioneering claims is up to the Attorney General’s office.
The Attorney’s General office is still reviewing a separate complaint Berry filed with their office about the library survey.
Meanwhile, Berry said that he won’t appeal the court’s decision.
“To continue to do it would eat up the town’s resources for something that ultimately may or may not prevail,” said Berry, who served two terms in the House representing Manchester, before moving to Goffstown.
But if re-elected, Berry said he would seek to change the law to allow judges to look into complaints alleging electioneering violations.
Goffstown Library Director Dianne Hathaway said she and her staff put the survey together with community input, and she wishes the lawsuit hadn’t happened. The survey included questions about how candidates planned on supporting reproductive rights given that many in the state favor them and how candidates plan on addressing disparities found in LGBTQ+ communities
“I think it’s just an attempt to stop dialogue about important issues,” she said, “and if anything we should be talking more about the issues that are affecting all of us.”
Hathaway said they are still accepting responses to the survey, even though the original deadline has passed.
She said the library’s board of directors will vote Wednesday night on whether they plan on publishing the survey’s results. — Olivia Richardson, NH Public Radio
603 Legal Aid partners with law firm to provide free name change assistance
603 Legal Aid has launched a new initiative with New Hampshire law firm Shaheen & Gordon to support people seeking to change their names.
The project is intended to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community and others “who may seek to change their name for safety reasons,” according to a news release from the law firm.
603 Legal Aid is an organization that provides free civil legal advice and information for low-income people in New Hampshire. To be eligible for the 603 Name Change Project, applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet 603 Legal Aid’s income and asset eligibility requirements. Eligible applicants will be paired with an attorney from Shaheen & Gordon who will assist them with the name change process for free, according to the release.
The idea for the project came from Heather V. Menezes, a Shaheen & Gordon attorney and member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, according to the firm’s marketing manager, Paige Moulton. When the firm suggested the idea to 603 Legal Aid, it was well received and the project was able to move forward quickly, launching about two months after the idea first came up.
Moulton said the firm’s staff is excited about the project, which is different than many of the initiatives that have come out of the DEI Committee. “A lot of the efforts the committee does are internal, focused on training or offering opportunities for our staff,” Moulton said. “This is a great opportunity for us externally.”
According to the Movement Advancement Project, an independent, nonprofit think tank, many transgender people change their legal name to better reflect their gender identity. GLAAD, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, notes that many transgender people may not be able afford a legal name change.
In New Hampshire, people can complete the name change process through the state’s TurboCourt program and don’t necessarily need assistance from an attorney. However, it helps to be familiar with the general rules of the Circuit Court Probate Division, which most non-attorneys aren’t. An attorney can help someone who wants to change their name make sure they have all of the right paperwork and complete the required steps during and after the process, such as notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles. The filing fee for a name change petition in New Hampshire is $130. That fee is waived for people receiving assistance through 603 Legal Aid, according to 603 Legal Aid Deputy Director Emma Sisti.
Sisti said the organization is excited about the partnership, which she said will help “alleviate the stress of this process” for people who need to change their names.
“Everyone deserves to have their legal name match their identity. We’re honored to partner with 603 Legal Aid to provide these services to those who do not have the means to hire an attorney,” said Lyndsay Robinson, a partner at Shaheen & Gordon and co-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, in a statement.
LGBTQ+ people are one group who may seek assistance with a name change, but not the only people for whom it can be helpful.
Moulton said the firm’s announcement about the project gained a lot of attention on social media and was shared by several domestic violence and emergency shelters.
Moulton said people in crisis situations like those who have left a violent relationship are one of the groups who may be assisted with a name change. “People who have gone through significant challenges may need to change their name for safety reasons,” Moulton said.
Twenty Shaheen & Gordon attorneys have signed up to donate time to the project, according to Moulton.
People can apply for assistance with a name change at 603legalaid.org or by calling 603-224-3333. — Abigail Ham, Keene Sentinel
