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Attorneys Upton and Richardson obtain ruling for the City of Nashua to acquire Pennichuck Water Works.

Attorney's Robert Upton, II, and Justin C. Richardson, members of the firms municipal and administrative law practice groups, received a favorable decision from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission granting the City of Nashua authority to acquire the assets of Pennichuck Water Works, Inc., an investor-owned utility that supplies drinking water to the City of Nashua and eight other communities. In a 120 page decision, the Commission found that it was in the public interest to allow Nashua to acquire the system and set a value for the Company's assets of $203 million.

Upton & Hatfield, LLP represented the City of Nashua before the Public Utilities Commission and in two related lawsuits brought by the Company. In approving the City's petition, the Commission noted that "from the outset, there have been serious legal questions of first impression … and every step in the proceeding has been hotly contested." The decision discussing the case is available here. The decision is subject to pending motions for rehearing and appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.