Proud To Provide Over A Century Of Service


John D. Lanoue

Current Employment
- Retired
Practice Areas
- Real Estate Law, including Title Insurance
- Banking, including Mortgages & Foreclosures
Biography
My hero as a kid was a lawyer - a long-time friend of our family and a great guy. I wasn't sure what attorneys did, but I figured that whatever he was doing was definitely worthwhile. Later I realized that it's about helping people.
I served in the Army as a lawyer - general practice at Fort Devens, criminal law in Vietnam, the Court of Military Review in Virginia and the Court of Military Appeals in Washington D.C.- and gained wide experience. I grew up in North Adams and after the Army, I wanted to return to this area. Having great respect for Norman O'Connor, I looked forward to joining the firm. Eventually my interests focused on real estate law, which is now my main area of practice, as well as banking, probate, wills, contracts and a general office practice.
Education
- Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania
- J.D. - 1968
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: The Order of the Coif
- Law Review, Villanova Law Review, 1966, 1968
- Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island
- A.B. - 1965
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Dean's List (Four years)
- Major: Political Science
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1968
- Rhode Island, 1968
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1970
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1973
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1985
Honors
- Massachusetts Bar Association Community Service Award
- Fellow, Massachusetts Bar Foundation
Published Works
- The "Truth-In-Negotiating Clause" of P.L. 87-653, 13 Villanova Law Review 604, 1968
Pro-Bono Activities
- Past President and Past Campaign Chairman, Northern Berkshire United Way, 1973 to 1989
- Past Chairman, St. Patrick's Church Finance Commission, 1984 to 2001
- Richard A. Ruther post 152 Williamstown American Legion, Present
Professional Associations
- Massachusetts Bar Association, 1973
- Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts, 1974
- Berkshire Bar Association, Member, 1973
Representative Cases
- Ungerer/Pyramid v. Smith/City of Pittsfield, 765 F.2d 264, 1985, U.S. Ct. of Appeal First Circuit
- Hazen Paper Co. v. USF&G, 407 Mass. 689, 1990, Supreme Judicial Court
Past Positions
- Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army, Captain, 1965 to 1973