M Tran Properties LLC Is Using an Unqualified Lawyer for Residential Evictions

Mui Tran is using Thomas J. Scannell as a housing lawyer to evict her tenants at 948 Dwight Street in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Mr. Scannell is a commercial corporate lawyer who basically dabbles a little in housing, but does not know the rights of tenants in an eviction case whatsoever. For instance, Mui Tran has repeatedly played mind games with her tenants—especially myself—by saying one moment that she wants me to apply for rental assistance to keep my tenancy at the property, and then doing the opposite the next. Submitting all the proper documentation for rental assistance takes about forty-five minutes to apply online, providing you have all your documents scanned and ready to upload at the end of the application. Mui Tran has uploaded all her documentation as well, and it takes basically the same amount of time to do her portion of the application as it does mine. The only way she can refuse the funds from the program is if she figures out how to reverse it. We won't tell her how, as she is clearly too inept to figure that out on her own, which is why I do not understand her logic at this point. Now Mui Tran has hired this high-paying corporate commercial lawyer who charges about six hundred dollars an hour. Here is where you are probably thinking, "Okay, so he is charging this kind of money, but here is the odd thing." Mui Tran complains to all of her tenants that she cannot pay her basic property tax, water and sewer tax, insurance on the building, electricity for the common hallway areas, gas, and the mortgage on the property. So here is the main question, folks: if she is having a hard time paying all of those basic expenses, how is she paying this lawyer? Here is how she is doing that: the lawyer and Mui Tran have a special relationship. What I mean by that is when they show up for court appearances, Thomas comes in with Mui and puts his arm around her waist like a boyfriend would do. This is not professional at all. I asked to speak to him at one point outside of the courtroom about the eviction situation I am dealing with. He said it was fine, but when I mentioned what I wanted and told him it was a reasonable request, he shut down, refused, and literally lunged at me. Now, I should mention that I am legally blind—completely blind in my right eye, with only thirty-five percent vision remaining in my left eye. This was again very unprofessional for Mr. Scannell. Considering he works for a high-powered law firm that allows this sort of behavior to go on with the clients they represent, my question to them and Mr. Scannell is this: is this what they teach in law school? If the client cannot pay, do they pay in another way like Mui Tran is doing? She is obviously paying with multiple favors, as they seem pretty romantically inclined with each other. Not to mention, Mr. Scannell treats Mui like a pet when they walk out of the courtroom together after trials, saying, "Good girl, you did exactly what I said to do." Does that sound professional at all to anyone? Here is some background information on Mr. Thomas J. Scannell: Primary Role: Partner at Bowditch & Dewey LLP in Worcester, MA. Background & Specialization: He is a veteran trial litigator with nearly 40 years of experience. His core practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, construction disputes, and personal injury claims. Real Estate & Housing Connection: While he handles commercial real estate disputes and landlord/tenant issues as part of a general litigation practice, he is primarily a general corporate/commercial trial attorney—not an attorney who exclusively practices residential housing law or tenancy law. The Law Firm: Bowditch & Dewey LLP Address: 446 Main Street, Suite 1101, Worcester, MA 01608. Overview: Bowditch is one of the largest and most well-established full-service corporate law firms in Central Massachusetts. They represent businesses, developers, institutions, and high-net-worth individuals. They focus primarily on commercial transactions, corporate litigation, employment law, and commercial real estate development. If someone is presenting him as a dedicated residential housing law specialist or housing advocate, that does not align with his actual background. He is a commercial litigator who handles broad civil trial disputes. Firm History: He practiced as a litigator at Bowditch & Dewey from 1986 to 2003, spent several years as a partner and litigation team leader at another Worcester firm (Fusaro, Altomare & Ermilio), and rejoined Bowditch's litigation practice in 2024. Bar & Court Admissions: He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Core Specialty: His work centers on commercial litigation, business contract disputes, construction conflicts, and general civil trial work in state and federal courts. Housing & Real Estate Role: His involvement in housing-related matters is tied to broad commercial real estate litigation and landlord/tenant disputes. He is a general civil trial litigator rather than a dedicated residential tenant-rights attorney or public housing law specialist. Alternative Dispute Resolution: Beyond trial advocacy, he frequently acts as a neutral mediator, arbitrator, and conciliator for local court programs. Now here is the funny thing: if you just read all of that, Thomas J. Scannell does not really practice residential housing law. From what you have read, he basically dabbles in it on a very small scale because he works with major corporations, not small-time landlords like Mui Tran. She cannot even maintain a property that has over 66 code violations from the Holyoke Board of Health, building inspector, plumbing and gas inspector, and fire inspector. Does this sound like someone who can afford this kind of lawyer? She is using personal favors in this case and evicting tenants because they call code enforcement on her for problems she refuses to fix. When she evicts them, she thinks the problems go away and she doesn't have to fix them anymore. What does this all say to everyone? Please comment or write to talkinghendrix@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions if you have any on what to do with this situation. The Mayor of Holyoke has been informed about her, and the Attorney General's Office has been informed about her. The law firm and the lawyer have been reported to the Board of Bar Overseers for legal issues and poor courtroom behavior regarding Mr. Scannell. In fact, I am in the process of working to get his law license removed so he can never practice law again anywhere, as he acts more like a reprobate than an upstanding lawyer for the community.