John H. Lacey

Practice Areas

Data Security and Privacy
Government Regulations
Litigation

Biography

Mr. Lacey concentrates his practice in the emerging area of data security and privacy. Based on his relevant experience, Mr. Lacey consults with companies dealing with Massachusetts Data Privacy Law, M.G.L. c. 93H and the associated rules under 201 CMR 17.00, recently enacted by the Massachusetts Legislature. Virtually all businesses located in Massachusetts, or which interact with Massachusetts residents, are required to comply with this new law. Mr. Lacey assists those businesses in attaining compliance and in preventing penalties associated with breaches of data security

Prior to joining The McCormack Firm, Mr. Lacey was an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County in the Special Prosecution Unit. While an Assistant DA, Mr. Lacey tried criminal cases at both the District Court and Superior Court level and led numerous Grand Jury investigations. Mr. Lacey has prosecuted hundreds of cases including those involving large scale embezzlement, mortgage fraud, identity theft, organized crime, public corruption and missing persons. He has substantial training and experience in electronic evidence investigations. His involvement was key in bringing down a large organized gambling ring operating in Boston, New York and the Dominican Republic, which resulted in the largest seizure of electronic evidence in Massachusetts history.

Mr. Lacey is a graduate of the National Computer Forensic Institute operated by the United States Secret Service. He was also named 2006 Prosecutor of the Year by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. Mr. Lacey has been on criminal law panels sponsored by the Boston Bar Association and has been a trainer at the New England State Police Information Network.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Lacey ran a small real estate firm that grossed over a million dollars a year.

Education

Suffolk University Law School, 2004
University of Massachusetts, BA (Economics), 1996

Honors/Awards

2006 Prosecutor of the Year – International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Boston Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators
International Association of Privacy Professionals

Publications

Author of "Massachusetts Data Privacy Law Blog" (http://www.massdataprivacy.com)

Practice Areas

Contact Info

The McCormack Firm, LLC
Attorneys at Law

One International Place, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02110

Phone: 617-951-2929
Fax: 617-951-2672

What's New

Attorney Robert La Hait recently obtained the dismissal of a 93A action against a major worker's compensation carrier in the Suffolk Superior Court, arguing, among other things, that the insurer could not be liable for unfair and deceptive practices under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 93A based upon actions by the insurer that were governed and controlled by Massachusetts General Laws chapter 152.
McCormack Firm partner Stephen Rosenberg will be a featured speaker at "The Year of Disclosure: New Retirement Plan Regulations and Legislation Impacting 401(k) and 403(b) Plans," presented by the New England Employee Benefits Council. Attorney Rosenberg will be addressing regulatory initiatives affecting the definition of "fiduciary" for purposes of ERISA governed plans. More information on the March 9, 2012 event, along with registration information, can be found
by clicking here.
Joseph Aronson is now providing mediation and arbitration services. To schedule a mediation or arbitration, please call (617) 951-2929 or email mediations@mccormackfirm.com.
Stephen Rosenberg, the head of the firm's ERISA and insurance coverage practice groups, has a new article in the Journal of Pension Benefits, published by Aspen. The article, published in Volume 19.2 of the periodical, is titled "Structural Impediments to Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims," and continues Attorney Rosenberg's series of columns for the Journal on ERISA litigation issues.
Stephen Rosenberg, in conjunction with co-counsel Mitchell Ross of Boston's Sweder and Ross, defeated a motion to dismiss in an ERISA case brought on behalf of a former corporate officer seeking to recover under deferred compensation agreements, commonly known as "top hat" plans. In denying the motion to dismiss, the court allowed claims for breach of fiduciary duty and denial of benefits under ERISA, as well as potential state law causes of action, to proceed.
The McCormack Firm's ERISA litigation group, led by partner Stephen Rosenberg, defeated multiple motions filed by a private company and certain present or former officers seeking to dismiss a breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit brought by several current and former employees of the defendant, in which the plaintiffs allege they were underpaid for the stock held in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, commonly known as an "ESOP." The court rejected challenges based on ERISA's statute of limitations and on the impact of a release. Associates Nadine Bailey and Of Counsel Caroline Fiore of The McCormack Firm were also heavily involved in obtaining the favorable result for the firm's clients.
The Boston ERISA and Insurance Litigation Blog, authored and published by McCormack Firm partner Stephen Rosenberg, has been selected as one of LexisNexis' Top Insurance Law Blogs for 2011. This is the third year in a row Mr. Rosenberg's blog has been honored by LexisNexis. True to its name, the blog covers developments in the law governing ERISA and insurance disputes, and includes detailed commentary on major pieces of litigation in these fields. Clicking on this link will bring you to LexisNexis' announcement of the award, and clicking here will bring you to the Boston ERISA and Insurance Litigation Blog. http://www.lexisnexis.com/community/insurancelaw/blogs/topblogs/archive/2011/11/11/the-winners-the-insurance-law-community-top-blogs-for-2011.aspx http://www.bostonerisalaw.com
On November 3, 2011, Attorney John Lacey was guest speaker at the Boston Bar Association's "Brown Bag Lunch" Series where he discussed pending Federal legislation in the area of data privacy and data breach notification. The event was well attended and well received by members of the Bar. For more information, please see https://www.bostonbar.org/membership/events/event-details?ID=8110
On October 26, 2011, the United States Court of Appeals For the First Circuit issued its written opinion affirming a defense verdict obtained by Robert La Hait on behalf of Stonebridge Life Insurance Company. The preceding jury trial had involved a dispute over whether the plaintiff was entitled to the death benefits payable under three accidental death policies as a result of the named insured's death. After three days of trial, including testimony by experts for each side, the jury found in favor of Stonebridge.
On May 10, 2011, Attorney John Lacey was a guest on Legal Talk Network's program, Lawyer2Lawyer hosted by Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi. The Topic was the recent massive data breach at Sony Corporation.
Listen to the show here…

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What's New

Personal Injury

Insurance Presentation

Quoted in the News

Pension Webinar

ERISA Seminar

Product Liability

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Collapsing Wall

Domestic Violence