Neutrals Massachusetts

Education
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut, BS Accounting
New England School of Law
Boston, Massachusetts
Graduated: June 1976
University of Bridgeport
1967 to 1971
Bridgeport, Connecticut Bachelor of Science Major: Accounting
Minor: Economics
Admission to Practice
Passed Massachusetts Bar Examination: November 1976
Admitted to Massachusetts Bar: December 1976
Professional
January 1977 to present
Self employed as an attorney in Brockton, MA, involved in all phases of civil and probate litigation. Main areas of practice include personal injury, divorce and probate.
January 1990 to present
Arbitration and mediation of personal injury claims for Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, (CMCI), 130 Liberty Street, Brockton, for numerous insurance companies including Safety, Commerce, Liberty Mutual, Hanover and Arbella
January 1985 to January 1990
Arbitration of personal injury claims for American Arbitration Association. Certified as an arbitrator for AAA after attending training course.
Personal
American Jurisprudence Award
1975 – Conflicts of Law
1976 – Jurisdiction

Education
1979 J.D., Suffolk University Law School
1970 M.A., University of Connecticut
1968 A.B., Emmanuel College
Admission to Practice
U.S. District Court, 1980
Massachusetts Bar, 1979
Professional
1997 – present
Private practice; Of Counsel, the Law Office of Drew Elinoff; plaintiffs’ and defense litigation
1980 – 1997
Trial Attorney; handling a variety of personal injury and property damage lawsuits in general liability, automobile, product liability, 176D and 93A, including pleadings, discovery, trial and appeal; preparation of reports, opinion papers, memoranda of law, reports of educational seminar material for clients and colleagues; arbitrator of cases, sole and as a tribunal member; mediator in the Stoughton Conciliation/Mediation Program
1978 – 1980
Division Claim Examiner; responsible for overseeing the handling of large or complex claims, evaluating their potential, and directing the course of investigation, discovery, settlement or trial of those cases; instructor in claim staff seminars
1972 – 1978
Division Claim Educator; responsible for training and evaluating newly employed claim adjusters, developing course materials and seminars for staff education in matters affecting policy content and claim handling procedures, reviewing and analyzing legislation affecting insurance, participation in industry conferences, Claim Manager’s Council meetings, instructor at Certified Insurance Counselor program at Dartmouth, organizing and developing agenda and material for Branch Claim Managers’ meetings
1969 – 1972
Claim Adjuster; responsible for handling a variety of bodily injury, no-fault, and property damage claims, including investigation and evaluation of coverage, liability, and damages, negotiation, settlement or other disposition
Affiliations
Massachusetts Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Arbitration Association

To schedule with Christopher Muse please contact Donna Orlando at donna@commonwealthmediation.com.

Education
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. B.A. Government
University of Fribourg , Switzerland (Junior year abroad)
Boston State College, Boston, MA M.Ed. Urban Education
Suffolk Law School, Boston, MA J.D. / Cum Laude / Law Review

Professional
2001-present: Massachusetts Superior Court, Associate Justice of this court of general and equitable jurisdiction, involved in the trial of serious crimes, and civil litigation involving claims of damages in excess of $25,000.00.

1988-2001 Committee for Public Counsel Services, Boston, MA
From list of Approved Attorneys, represented indigent Defendants on murder indictments.v

1980-2001 Committee for Public Counsel Services, Boston, MA
From list of Approved Attorneys, represented indigent Defendants on serious felony indictments.

1981-2001 Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society
Labor counsel to Detective’s Unit of Boston City Police Department; Appeared in criminal courts, and before federal and state grand juries on charges of improper conduct, including, excessive force, wrongful death, perjury, neglect of duty, and assorted other allegations; Appeared before State Labor Relations Commission, Civil Service Commission, Division of Administrative Law Appeals, and State and Federal Courts.

1979-1999 Service Employees International Union Local 254, Boston, MA
Staff counsel to union representing Massachusetts Trial Court employees.

1977-1986 State Advisory Commission for Special Education, Boston, MA
Legal counsel to school administrator/parent council, with statutory authority to review appropriateness of placements and programs of special needs students pursuant to Federal and State Statutes (P.L. 94-142 and ch. “766″).

1977-2001  Muse and Muse, Boston, MA
General trial practice involving criminal, civil and employment law litigation.

1977-1979 Middlesex County Indigent Defender, Cambridge, MA
Represented indigents charged with misdemeanor and felonies in Eastern Middlesex County.

1970-1977 Boston Public Schools, Boston, MA: Teacher: Boston Latin School; East Boston High School; Lewis Middle School (Roxbury)