Purdom, Clayton C.

Attorney Melissa J. Garand brings over twenty years of legal experience to Koufman and Frederick. Ms. Garand has concentrated her practice in the defense of health care organizations, doctors and nurses against claims of medical malpractice, negligence and wrongful death; civil rights litigation; employment litigation in the field of sexual harassment and divorce law.

Ms. Garand's practice encompasses trial work in both the state and federal court systems as well as appellate experience before the MA Court of Appeals and the MA Supreme Judicial Court. Ms. Garand also practices before administrative boards and agencies including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Board of Labor Relations and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.

Ms. Garand is a graduate of Northeastern University, Magna Cum Laude and the University of Toledo, College of Law. As the former General Counsel to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, Ms. Garand provided advice and counsel to the Sheriff and management staff while overseeing the operations of the General Counsel's Office, Inmate Legal Services and Standards and Compliance. Ms. Garand also represented the Department in litigation and employment matters, including investigations into employee misconduct, collective bargaining and arbitration.

Ms. Garand is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States District Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Instructor to correctional staff at training academy in the areas of Excessive Use of Force, Inmate’s Rights and Criminal Offender Record Information.

Conducted a training seminar directed to medical professionals on medical malpractice litigation and the law on negligence and deliberate indifference to medical need.