Dog bite cases may seem uncommon but the Centers for Disease reports that there are around 4.5 million cases per year in the U.S. resulting in approximately 800,000 injuries requiring medical treatment. But unlike having to prove negligence in a motor vehicle accident claim, Massachusetts law imposes strict liability on dog owners for any injuries their animal causes.
Read MoreWith the recent snowstorms and frigid temperatures, there are always unfortunate incidents as a consequence of our severe weather. In early January, a fire in a Bronx, New York apartment complex caused by a space heater killed 17 people. Here in Massachusetts, we have our own complement of apartment fires that have led to unnecessary deaths and tragedies. At Burns & Jain, we have represented victims of space heater fires.
Read MoreDoes anyone really miss happy hour? The practice of discounted drinks, special promotions, and 2-for-1 drinks was discontinued or banned in 1984 in order to reduce the incidence of drunk driving accidents. However, its return will be decided by Massachusetts voters in November 2022 along with 15 other proposals including legalizing fireworks, stricter voter ID requirements, and how ride-share drivers are to be classified.
Read MoreJudges and defense lawyers in personal injury cases like to warn injured plaintiffs and their attorneys that juries are often stingy or conservative in their verdicts and to not expect large compensatory awards, even in serious injury cases. However, a jury in Woburn, Massachusetts recently awarded $26.6 million to a union steward who sustained permanent, life-altering injuries while on a construction site. With accumulated interest, the award was actually $45 million.
Read MoreWith summer in full bloom and the lifting of many restrictions due to the vaccines, many Massachusetts residents took to the water for boating, fishing, and swimming. Unfortunately, and for whatever reason, our state has seen an increase in the number of drownings among children and adults. In May 2021 alone, there were 18 reported drownings.
Read MoreWhen you send a text message, do you assume that no one other than the intended recipient has a right to see what you texted? In other words, do you have a reasonable expectation of privacy when you send a text message to another party? According to a recent ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, you do not.
Read MoreSummer offers us a respite from work and school and an opportunity to enjoy our beaches, parks, waterways, and iconic historical destinations. It is also a time for fireworks, barbeques, camp fires, and bonfires on the beach. Unfortunately, Massachusetts has its share of out-of-control fires that seriously injure scores of people and leave many permanently disfigured.
Read MoreIn an effort to address the increasing incidents and fatalities at railroad crossings in five states, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that $40 million in grants were to be awarded to the states of Washington, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. An eligibility factor was that the commuter authority in that state must have experienced at least one accident at a railway-highway crossing that was investigated and reported on by the National Transportation Safety Board between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018.
Read MoreIn early January 2021, the Massachusetts Fire Marshall issued an astonishing statement that no children perished in a fire in our state during 2020. This is the first time since records on fire-related fatalities have been kept that this has occurred. This extends to records maintained since the 1940s.
Read MoreIt is no secret that the times that we are living in are changing drastically with the ongoing spread of the coronavirus. As a community we have had to change and adapt to fit these new circumstances. On March 24, 2020, Governor Baker’s emergency order went into effect, closing all nonessential businesses to its employees, customers, and the public. For essential businesses, such as law offices, we have been encouraged to shelter in place, and practice social distancing. In compliance with these recommendations, many on the work force have now had to make the transition from working in the office to working remotely.
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