News - 2016

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly selected Melinda Thompson as one of its 2015 Lawyers of the Year, featuring her in a special section accompanying its Jan. 18 issue.

Ms. Thompson was honored for her work on behalf of Aisling Brady McCarthy, the Irish nanny accused of murder in the death of 1-year-old Rehma Sabir. Ms. Thompson successfully persuaded the Massachusetts Office of the State Medical Examiner to take the highly unusual move of changing its findings on the cause of death of the child in Ms. McCarthy's care.

The medical examiner changed the cause of death from homicide by shaken baby syndrome to "undetermined," prompting the Middlesex District Attorney's office on Aug. 31, 2015, to dismiss the murder charge against Ms. McCarthy.

Prosecutors had alleged that Ms. McCarthy on Jan. 14, 2013, had caused massive brain injuries to Sabir.

Ms. Thompson and Todd & Weld Partner David Meier presented expert medical evidence challenging the medical examiner's determination of homicide by shaken baby syndrome, initially leading to Ms. McCarthy being released on bail in May 2015 after spending nearly 2½ years in jail awaiting trial.

Ms. Thompson, a partner at the firm, concentrates her practice in the areas of government investigations and criminal defense.