$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 […]

INSULATION CONTRACTOR CAUSES HOUSE FIRE & PAYS $1.6 MILLION TO INJURED FIREFIGHTER

Beware of the hidden dangers when insulating an attic with blown-in cellulose insulation to save money on heating bills. Some insulation contractors have awful safety records. The Smiths had enough of high heating bills.  They call Cramden Inc. for a free energy audit.  Cramden Inc. runs the free energy audit program for local utility companies.  […]

$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 PASSENGER’S FRACTURED HIP FROM OFF-ROAD VEHICLE CRASH

Off-road vehicle operators and passengers frequently suffer serious injuries in crashes, even at lower speeds than in a car or truck.  There is typically little to no protection for occupants depending on the type of off-road vehicle.  These vehicles are often referred to as all-terrain vehicles or ATVs.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported […]

$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 […]

$47,000 FOR MASSACHUSETTS OFFICER INJURED BY DRUNK DRIVER

  Randall Jones spends the day drinking and gambling at the casino.  Just after midnight, Mr. Jones starts his drive home on a local highway.  Without warning, Mr. Jones suddenly attempts a left-hand turn directly across the path of a vehicle travelling toward him from the opposite direction with a green light.  Mr. Jones crashes […]

$300,000 FOR OFFICER HIT BY ALLEGEDLY UNCONSCIOUS TRUCK DRIVER

During the morning of August 23, 2013, a gas delivery driver for Acme Propane was driving a box truck loaded with propane cylinders.  It was a dry, clear day.  He drove past orange safety signs alerting him that he was approaching a work zone then drove over two orange cones.  He drove off the road […]

$500,000 AND FULL WAGE BENEFITS FOR SPECIAL OFFICER INJURED-ON-DUTY

Erica DiMaio suddenly veers over double yellow lines on Main Street. Three eyewitnesses watch in horror as Ms. DiMaio violently crashes head on into a police cruiser operated by Officer Avery. The Fire Department is already on scene by the time Officer Avery comes to. He wakes up to the sounds of firefighters using a […]