NO FREE BITES – DOG BITE LAW 101

There’s an old saying that there are no bad dogs, only bad dog owners.  Massachusetts law recognizes the truth of the saying and holds dog owners responsible for injuries or property damage caused by dogs.  The following are some of the basic principles of the law relating to dogs. There is no such thing as […]

MASSACHUSETTS POLICE OFFICER INJURED AT DOMESTIC RECEIVES $880,000 FOR INJURED LEG

Domestics are among the most pervasive and the most volatile situations our officers must routinely walk into.  In fact, the National Institute of Justice statistically confirmed they are the most lethal of all calls.  We routinely represent Massachusetts Police officers injured at domestics in a variety of contexts, and this is one example. HOW BALLIN […]

$900,000 FOR OFFICER HIT BY HOME HEALTH AID DRIVING TO PATIENT’S HOME

The home health aide industry usually avoids liability by not paying employees until they arrive at the patient’s home. Not this time The morning started out great for young Officer Williams.  He was working as a special police officer on his first road detail.  He’d spent the summer interning for a local department prior to […]

POLICE MUST CONSIDER THEIR OWN SAFETY ON ROAD DETAILS

As the warm weather approaches, so does the increase in road work which requires a police presence to protect the workers and traveling public.  The National Safety Council reported in 2018 over 46,000 people were injured or killed in crashes within roadway work zone sites.  Police officers who work details in these zones are often […]

$255,000 for Massachusetts Police Officers – Injury Responding to Domestic Violence

With the rise in domestic incidents during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is critical that Massachusetts police officers know their rights before an injury during these difficult calls. Massachusetts Police Officers Must Know Their Rights When Injured In a Domestic Among the horrible repercussions of the ongoing pandemic are increased incidences of domestic violence.  And while […]

$71,000 FOR MASSACHUSETTS POLICE OFFICER INJURED BY DRUNK HOMEOWNER DURING HOUSE CALL

The law in Massachusetts is clear: The lawful orders of a Massachusetts police officer must be followed, especially when making an arrest (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268 Section 32B).  As Massachusetts police officers know too well, though, there are frequent confrontations with those who refuse to comply peacefully, especially when alcohol is involved. A report by […]

$100,000 FOR OFFICER INJURED BY UNINSURED VEHICLE

A simple fact: many officers are still unaware that their personal auto insurance provides coverage for on-the-job injuries caused by cars in a wide array of ways, such as pursuits, crashes during emergency responses, pedestrian strikes on a road detail, and during traffic stops, as you will see here.  This coverage was especially important to […]

$1 MILLION FOR OFFICER INJURED DURING DETAIL

The Acme employee arrived at the work site in a pickup truck with a front seat passenger.  They were towing a large enclosed trailer behind it.  Traffic in the eastbound side was shut down to avoid drivers continuing through the work site.  Officer Jones and other officers were on scene to re-direct traffic away from […]

$90,000 FOR OFFICER DRAGGED BY CARJACKER ON MUSHROOMS

Around 3:45 a.m., Gerald Stamby is high on mushrooms.  He wanders a busy local road on foot, trying to get into vehicles passing by.  Calls pour in to the police and Officer George Velmos responds.  Officer Velmos gets out of the cruiser and calls Stamby over to talk.  Stamby audaciously (or deliriously, for that matter) […]

$95,000 FOR OFFICER REAR-ENDED TWICE DURING SNOW STORM

During rush hour, Jacob Gomes takes a locally known shortcut to avoid traffic. Heading downhill and around a bend, Mr. Gomes does not account for the snowy conditions. Mr. Gomes crashes into the rear end of a police cruiser, which is stopped on the side of the road with its emergency lights on, tending to […]

$100,000 FOR INJURED OFFICER DESPITE INSURANCE DENIAL

Around 7:30 pm, wearing only his underwear, Raymond Bishop is high on mushrooms and out of control at his family home. Raymond’s parents call the police and go through the house collecting car keys; however, there is still a set of keys in his mother’s Jeep. Raymond runs outside and past the responding police officer, […]

CAN A BAR BE LIABLE WHEN A DRUNK BITES A RESPONDING OFFICER?

In some cases we handle, seemingly clear instances of negligence escalate into complex legal battles as defendants and insurers look for any way to avoid compensating an injured police officer.  The case of Jessica Rondinelli vs. Emma Wiley and JMRS Restaurant, Inc., Essex Superior Court Civil Action No. 2016CV01298 was no different. On a Saturday […]

$300,000 FOR OFFICER ATTACKED ON DUTY, SUFFERS PTSD

This case involves an all-too familiar scenario – the police are forced to handle a disturbed and out-of-control individual resulting in an injured officer. Drivers swerve around a young man walking around in a busy tunnel.  Shirtless and covered in soot, the young man is in obvious need of help.  A passing officer puts his […]