Welcome to the Sugarman blog. We'll be sharing our perspectives on the state of the law and current legal issues in Massachusetts personal injury law. Issues relating to medical malpractice, construction site injuries, premises liability, product liability, motor vehicle accidents, insurance, and more will all be reviewed here by our team of lawyers who have prosecuted some of the most complex cases in Massachusetts personal injury law.
Banzai Pool Slide Recalled Following Massachusetts Product Liability Verdict
Today, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of a dangerous and deadly product, the Banzai Falls Inflatable Pool Slide.
This recall came after lawyers at Sugarman and Sugarman proved to a jury that the Banzai Inflatable Pool Slide was a defective product and killed an innocent 29-year-old mother.…
Personal Injury Attorney Fees – Contingent, Hourly or Set Fee? Part I
Whenever you need a lawyer, an important part of the choice is how and how much the lawyer is to be paid. Much legal work is done by lawyers based on an hourly charge or based on a set fee for a specific project. Divorce, wills and estate planning, and criminal defense…
H.R. 5 Bill Threatens Patient Safety
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the so-called “Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely, Health Care (HEALTH) Act of 2011” (“H.R. 5”). If passed into law, this H.R. 5 bill would take away the rights of injured patients by capping all compensatory damage awards for pain and suffering in…
Finding Current Recalled Products In Your Home
The majority of products sold in the United States have met minimum government safety standards, which are established by a variety of government agencies. Safety standards for most retail products are set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC); vehicles, tires, and car seats are regulated by the National Highway Traffic…
Hit and Run Insurance Claims: What to Do in Case of Hit and Run Accident
As mentioned in previous automobile personal injury posts to this blog, when someone is injured or killed in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligent driving, a claim can be made against that person’s automobile insurance carrier. But what happens if the party responsible for causing the accident leaves…
Social Host Liability: Laws on Minors Serving Alcohol and Teenage Drinking at Parties
Several times a year, it seems, we hear a story about a teenage drinking party leading to unfortunate consequences. Recently, a parent in Hingham, MA, was criminally charged for allowing such a party, apparently while the parent was at home. Thankfully, no-one was hurt.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/newsnow/x826294106/HINGHAM-POLICE-Parent-to-be-charged-under-Social-Host-Law.
But suppose it wasn’t just a case of…
Goodyear Tire Recall Affects Thousands
In February, 2012, Goodyear Tire & Rubber announced (see Reuters article) that it was voluntarily recalling six (6) versions of its Wrangler Silent Armor tires due to the risk of tread separation. This recall is expected to affect approximately 41,000 tires that Goodyear made in 2009. According to the Notice of…
Punitive Damages in Massachusetts Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
When personal injury lawsuits are discussed, whether in casual conversation or in media coverage of jury verdicts, the subject of punitive damages inevitably surfaces. Whatever feelings people may have for or against punitive damages, the facts and the legal theory behind them are often poorly understood. This blog will attempt…
Nursing Home Patient Neglect and Abuse
Nursing Home Liability for Patient Neglect
Discussion on the quality of care in America’s nursing homes. A must read for all with family members in intermediate care.
Nursing homes and other skilled nursing facilities are entrusted with the duty to take care of our elderly and disabled family members. These licensed skilled…
Signing Away Liability: Release & Waiver Laws
As a parent of three, it seems like at least weekly I am asked to sign a Release or Waiver of liability for some activity my children want to participate in. Whether a birthday party at a gym, a ski school, or a simple field trip, more and more businesses…
