Pietryga, Russ

Attorney Dan Cronin was an Assistant District Attorney in Worcester County from 1986-1990, and was assigned as a Superior Court prosecutor during his last two years in the office from 1988-1990.  He served as a Special Prosecutor in the Worcester District Attorney's Office since 1990, handling 2 to 4 cases per year on a contract basis, until 2008.  Since becoming a solo practitioner in 1990, he has been Superior Court Rule 8 certified and has accepted hundreds of Superior Court appointments.  Since 2005 he has also been on the federal court Criminal Justice Act panel, and accepts criminal defense appointments in the Worcester and Boston Federal Courts. He has served as a Resource Attorney for CPCS for approximately the past 10 years, assisting new lawyers in their bar advocate practices.

In March of 2006, Dan Cronin was nominated by the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission as a finalist to become Associate Justice of the Ayer District Court. In February of 2009, he served as a faculty panelist for the MCLE seminar entitled Applying for and Executing Search Warrants.

Dan has also trained and supervised attorneys during his time in the District Attorney's Office from 1986-1990, where he served in a supervisory capacity.  He has also supervised and trained attorneys in many years of service as a resource attorney for CPCS, specifically in the Leominster and Worcester District Courts.  He served four years as a Selectman in the Town of Lunenburg, is known to be skilled at municipal law; having hired, trained and supervised town attorneys, department heads and administrators during his tenure as selectman.

Practice Areas:

1. Crimes of Violence: Murder, Homicide, Manslaughter, Domestic Assault & Battery, Rape, Kidnap, Burglary, Breaking & Entering;
2. Motor Vehicle Crimes: Motor Vehicle Homicide, DUI/DWI, Operating to Endanger, Leaving the Scene of property Damage or Personal injury;
3. Drugs, Controlled Substance and Narcotics Crimes: Drug Trafficking, Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute, School Zone Violations, Cultivation, Manufacturing of narcotics. Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs, Minimum Mandatory Sentences;
4. Firearms, Guns & Weapon Charges: Discharging Firearms, Right to bear Arms. Carrying/Possession of Firearms, Armed Career Criminals., Repeat offenders;
5. Federal Crimes: Statutory, Constitutional Rights, Narcotics Distribution, Illegal Re-Entry After Deportation, Firearm Charges, Career Offender, Sentencing Guidelines, Minimum Mandatory Sentences, Parole & Probation Violations;
6. Computer Crimes: Cyberlaw, Internet Pornography, Illegal Downloading, Copyright Infringement, Trade Secrets, First Amendment Rights, "Sexting";
7. White Collar Crimes: Fraud & Racketeering, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, Corporate Fraud, Mortgage Fraud, Allegations of money Laundering, Embezzlement, Violations of Fiduciary Duties;
8. Public Corruption / Professional Misconduct: Professional Licensure & Administrative Hearings;, Board of Bar overseers. Board of medicine, State Ethics Commission;
9. Business Litigation: Corporate Disputes and Enforcement of Business Agreements, Restrictive Covenants, Covenants Not to Compete, Patent S Trade Secret infringement; Severance Agreements; ERISA Rights;
10. Personal Injury: Wrongful Death, Dram Shop Litigation, Liquor Establishment Liability, Social Host Liability, Industrial Explosions, Workplace Accidents, Motor Vehicle Personal Injury, Rear End Collision, Slip S Fall, Dog bites, Premises Defects and Liability, Homeowner insurance Claims.

Education

Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana

J.D. - 1985

College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts

B.A. - 1982

Honors: Dean's List

Major: Political Philosophy

Recent Criminal Cases:

Commonwealth v. E. V. , (June 15, 2009)  Worcester District Court, Lead Defense Counsel, Judge David Ricciardone allows defense Motion to Suppress Search of Automobile Trunk, as not pertaining to instrumentalities of any suspected crime, a search conducted in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 14 of the Massachusetts Declarations of Rights.  Firearm Charges Dismissed.

Commonwealth v. Richard Mierzejewski,  (April 29, 2009), Worcester CDC Jury Trial, Judge David Ricciardone, Assault &Battery/Dangerous Weapon: To-Wit: Motor Vehicle (2 counts). Road Rage Alleged against Defendant: Jury Verdict:  Not Guilty.

Commonwealth v. Bernard Agyekum,  (2008) Fitchburg Jury Trial.  Judge Elliot Zide,  OUI Liquor 2nd Offense, Verdict: Not Guilty.

Commonwealth v. Shawn Legere, (2008) Fitchburg Jury Trial, Judge Andrew Mandell, OUI Liquor, Jury Verdict: Not Guilty.

Commonwealth v. Ken Crowley, (2007) Fitchburg Jury Trial, Judge Elliot Zide, OUI Liquor, Jury Verdict Not Guilty.

Commonwealth v. Jeremy LaViolette (2006) Fitchburg Jury Trial, Judge Andrew Mandell, Assault & Battery/Dangerous Weapon, Jury Verdict Not Guilty.

Commonwealth v. Tanya Jackson, (2006) Fitchburg Jury Trial, Judge Edward Reynolds, ADA David Ferracco, Assault & Battery/Dangerous Weapon, To-Wit: Chair: Jury Verdict: Not Guilty.

Commonwealth v. Julio Machado, (2004), Fitchburg Jury Trial, Judge Andre Gelinas, Assault & Battery, Jury Verdict Not Guilty.

Civil Actions and Personal Injury Recoveries:

James McMaster v. ChemDesign Industries:  (1997) Worcester Superior Court, Lead Counsel for Plaintiff, a burned welder, $500,000.00 settlement in industrial accident, chemical explosion case.

William Alleva v. Viking Motorcrafts, (1999), Worcester Federal Court, Admiralty Personal Injury Case, Lead Counsel for Plaintiff, $250,000.00 settlement in product liability and negligence action, arising out of a boating accident on navigable ocean waters at Cape Cod.

Bruce Rellstab et als. v. John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Charter financial Services, et als,  (2004)  Worcester Superior Court, Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs, $400,000.00 settlement for unfair insurance practices, tortuous interference with advantageous business relations. 

Estate of Rocheleau v. Choice Insurance Agency, Allain, et als, (1998)Worcester Superior Court, Lead Defense Counsel for Insurance Agency sued for fraud, misrepresentation and embezzlement of insurance trust funds, representing successor principal after prior corporate president imprisoned.  Successful motion for summary judgment was allowed exonerating individual successor, and then initiated third party action for declaratory judgment as against errors and omissions insurer, who ultimately provided coverage for the $1.3 Million Jury Verdict against the corporation.

Borocsky v. EBK Corp., (1997)  Barnstable Superior Court, Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs in Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Action, $350,000.00 settlement.

Estate of Mitchell v. Borowsky  (1995) Springfield Superior Court, Represented Estate in Wrongful Death Action alleging negligent security, $100,000.00 settlement.

Significant Municipal Law Cases:

City of Fitchburg v. City of Leominster, (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1992)  Served as Special Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Fitchburg, in municipal litigation regarding water rights and environmental issues at the Notown Reservoir in Fitchburg.  Also served as Special Counsel to the Fitchburg Human Rights Commission.

B. Marple v. Town of Lunenburg, (Worcester Superior Court, 2002)  Served as pro bono legal advisor (not counsel of record) to plaintiff initiating lawsuit against the town to force an election for a vacant Selectman seat, as required by Town Charter.  In response to petition for injunctive relief, the town held an election for selectman on the same ballot as a debt exclusion proposing a new 5 Million police and fire station in Lunenburg.  In this election in October  of 2002, Attorney Cronin ran for selectman and was defeated by 13 votes, without recount.  The new public safety building passed by 300 votes and was dedicated in 2004.  Attorney Cronin served on the Public Safety Building Committee and was later elected a Lunenburg Selectman in 2003, serving two terms until 2007, when he decided not to run again for re-election.

Note:  Attorney Cronin has also been involved in Open Meeting Law municipal litigation and has served pro bono to ensure that public officials comply with the state Open Meeting Law.