CONTRACTORS’ INSURERS SETTLE INJURY CLAIM FOR POLICE OFFICER STRUCK BY EXCAVATOR FOR $305,000

Negligent excavator operator

As usual, the insurers for the contractors and their attorneys tried to put all the blame on Officer Shea, for getting to close to the excavator. Our response was that the risk that someone is within the “swing radius” of the excavator is the exact reason why the operator needs to make sure that no one is in the area before swinging the excavator around. We did all the work necessary to take the case to trial. Once we had demonstrated that we were fully prepared to try the case if we did not get a decent settlement offer, the contractors’ insurers agreed to go to mediation. The mediation was conducted over ZOOM, and we were able to settle the case for $305,000.

$7.5 Million Liquor Liability Settlement for Injured Motorcycle Passenger

Prevent Underage Drinking

Shortly after midnight, on the main street of a local town in metro-Boston, the 20-year-old boyfriend operates his motorcycle in a 30-mph zone. He approaches a curve in the road which he was very familiar with.  The boyfriend brakes hard. The motorcycle skids, the boyfriend loses control and jumps off the motorcycle. The female passenger […]

PERSONAL UMBRELLA POLICIES MAY NOW COVER INJURIES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENT MOTORISTS

Umbrella insurance

A few years ago, I wrote about Arthur Vee’s case. Arthur was riding his motorcycle when he was cut off by a motorist who was turning left into a gas station. Arthur suffered horrific, permanent injuries to his leg. The defendant operator had $250,000 of coverage on his auto policy; however, I discovered after filing […]

INJURED MASSACHUSETTS POLICE OFFICER WINS ARBITRATION FOR AGGRAVATION OF PREEXISTING CONDITION

Massachusetts Police Cruiser Crash

Preexisting conditions do not prevent you from recovering compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.  The law in in Massachusetts is clear, you are entitled to full compensation for any aggravation of a preexisting condition, which means compensation for however the condition is made worse.  This is just as true for Massachusetts Police Officers […]

$145,000 FOR MASSACHUSETTS POLICE OFFICER INJURED DURING DOMESTIC CALL

Police officer's injured knee sustained while on duty.

The law in Massachusetts is clear: The lawful orders of a Massachusetts police officer must be followed especially when making an arrest.  As per Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268 Section 32B it is a crime to resist arrest.  As Massachusetts police officers know too well, though, there are frequent confrontations with those who refuse to […]

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 […]