Robert Cornetta
{{short description|American judge}}
{{Infobox Politician (general)
|image =
|imagesize =
| name = Robert Cornetta
| birth_date = 1951
| birth_place = Winthrop, Massachusetts
| death_date =
| death_place =
|restingplace =
| nationality = American
| website =
| occupation = Attorney
Government official
Judge
College professor
| residence =
| party =
| spouse =
| alma_mater = Suffolk University
Suffolk University Law School
| title = Saugus, Massachusetts Town Manager
| term_start = 1980
| term_end = 1981
| predecessor = Thomas E. Duff
| successor = Paul Rabchenuk
}}
Robert A. Cornetta is an American jurist who currently serves as a Lawrence Superior Court judge and is an adjunct professor at the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover.{{cite web|title=ADJUNCT FACULTY|url=http://www.mslaw.edu/Faculty_Adjunct.htm|work=Massachusetts School of Law at Andover|publisher=Massachusetts School of Law|accessdate=19 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205080447/http://mslaw.edu/Faculty_Adjunct.htm|archivedate=5 February 2012}}
Early life
Cornetta was born in 1951 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. He graduated with honors from Suffolk University (1972) and Suffolk University Law School (1976).{{cite web|title=Honorable Robert A. Cornetta|url=http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/judgesandjudicialofficers/cornettar.html|work=The Massachusetts Court System|publisher=Administrative Office of the Trial Court|accessdate=19 February 2012}}
Government work
In 1978, Cornetta served as an assistant district attorney in Essex County, Massachusetts. He then served as town clerk of Saugus, Massachusetts. On March 28, 1980 Cornetta was named temporary town manager. From 1980 to 1981 he was the town manager.{{cite news|title=Weld picks judge for Ipswich court|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=March 6, 1992}} He then served as an assistant commissioner and director of the Division of Hearings in the Department of Public Welfare from 1981 to 1983.
In 1983 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Saugus Board of Selectmen.{{cite news|title=Saugus|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=November 9, 1983}}
Judicial career
In 1992, Cornetta was appointed Associate Justice of the Ipswich District Court by Governor William Weld. In 1997 he was named that court's Presiding Justice. In 1998 he was named Presiding Justice of the Salem District Court and Regional Administrative Justice for Region II.
=Notable cases=
- City Bank of South Dakota vs. DeChristoforo. Declaring unconscionable and therefore unenforceable high credit card interest rates{{cite news|title=Credit card interest the subject of a court fight|url=http://www.salemnews.com/local/x554665188/Credit-card-interest-the-subject-of-a-court-fight|accessdate=17 December 2012|newspaper=Salem News|date=January 27, 2011}}
- 15 Gloucester Parents vs. Gloucester Community Arts Charter School. Upholding school's operation in the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts{{cite news|title=Judge tosses anti-charter suit|url=http://gloucestertimes.com/local/x2145131519/judge-tosses-anti-charter-suit|accessdate=17 December 2012|newspaper=Gloucester Times|date=January 11, 2012}}
- Griess vs. Talx Corporation{{cite news|title=Contesting Jobless Claims Becomes a Boom Industry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/us/04talx.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|accessdate=17 December 2012|newspaper=New York Times|date=April 3, 2010}}
- Bill Hudak's libel suit against Congressional opponent John F. Tierney{{cite news|title=Tierney fends off Hudak subpeona{{sic|hide=y}}|url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1364877429/Tierney-fends-off-Hudak-subpeona|accessdate=19 February 2012|newspaper=Gloucester Times|date=October 27, 2010}}
- Lawrence, Massachusetts Public Works Director Frank McCann's lawsuit against the city and former Mayors Kevin and Michael Sullivan{{cite news|last=Messenger|first=Brian|title=Judge dismisses McCann lawsuit against city|url=http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x223861097/Judge-dismisses-McCann-lawsuit-against-city/print|accessdate=19 February 2012|newspaper=The Eagle-Tribune|date=August 17, 2010}}
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Dooling. Enforcing animal cruelty and neglect charges{{cite news|title=Man sentenced in 'horrific' cat case|url=http://salemnews.com/local/x546344927/Man-sentenced-in-horrific-cat-case/print|accessdate=17 December 2012|newspaper=Salem News|date=September 23, 2009}}
- Mills vs. AMC Theatres Slip and fall cases in darkened movie theatres are governed by the modern liability theory of "mode of operation", not by traditional negligence law{{cite news|title=Moviegoer can sue theater over injuries|url=http://masslawyersweekly.com/2012/12/06/moviegoer-can-sue-theater-over-injuries/print|accessdate=21 January 2013|newspaper=Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly|date=December 6, 2010}}
References
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Category:Massachusetts School of Law faculty
Category:Massachusetts District Court judges
Category:People from Saugus, Massachusetts
Category:People from Winthrop, Massachusetts
Category:Suffolk University alumni
Category:Suffolk University Law School alumni