Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

24-year-old Mario Rosa was shot to death in his apartment building’s vestibule in Revere, Massachusetts on Saturday. Police found him with multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to The Boston Globe, one of the neighbors in the area says that the building where Rosa was shot has a huge turnover rate and police have been to the property on a number of occasions. The Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit is investigating Rosa’s death.

Massachusetts Premises Liability
Property owners owe a certain duty of care to tenants, residents, visitors, patrons, and customers to make sure there is adequate security on the grounds. Depending on the type of property and what transpires there (for example, is it a business, a rental home, an apartment complex, or an office?) and the location of the premise, the security needs will vary.

Examples of security measures:
• Surveillance cameras
• Security patrols
• Controlled access entry
• Fencing
• Locks on entrances and exists
• Warning signs if recent crimes were committed in and around the area
• A working alarm system

If a property owner could have prevented a burglary, robbery, rape, sexual assault, or murder from happening on the premise and failed to act to do so, the victim or his/her family have grounds for a Boston inadequate security lawsuit or a wrongful death complaint.

Our Boston premises lawyers represent clients throughout Massachusetts that have suffered injuries because of inadequate security, falling merchandise, product defects, exposure to toxic substances, slip and fall, faulty electrical wiring, inadequate lighting, and other types of accidents that can occur on someone else’s property.

Man, 24, dies in Revere attack, Boston.com, January 31, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Premises Liability Overview, Justia

Proving Fault in Accidents on Dangerous or Defective Property, Nolo

Our Boston injury lawyers are aware that whistleblowers are doing a great service by reporting a wrongdoing by a company or organization when no one else will. Fortunately, there are laws, such as federal government’s False Claims Act (FCA), the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and several Massachusetts laws, which provide whistleblowers some protections, including protection retaliation from an employer. A whistleblower also may be entitled to a percentage of a settlement reached with the entity that has been sued over the illegal activity.

Private citizens can file a qui tam “whistleblower” lawsuit on behalf of the federal government against the party that committed the wrongdoing. The whistleblower must have direct and independent information about the alleged fraud—information that has not been publicly disclosed—and actual evidence that fraud has been committed. He/she might choose to report the wrongdoing internally or to regulators, the media, agencies, or attorneys.

Our Boston whistleblower lawyers know how intimidating it might be to expose illegal misconduct—especially when committed by your own employer. We can help stop this misconduct while protecting a client's rights and making sure he/she is compensated for having the courage to speak out and file a whistleblower complaint.

Recent whistleblower cases making the headlines:
• Last week, Lockheed Martin settled allegations that it submitted false claims on a US government contract for $2 million related to its work on the Naval Oceanographic Office Major Shared Resource Center. Its settlement is the same amount. The company’s alleged wrongdoings were reported in a whistleblower lawsuit. For filing the whistleblower complaint, David Magee, a former center employee, will get $560,000 of the settlement.

• Hospitals in several states have settled their qui tam lawsuit accusing them of fraudulent billing practices and charged Medicare too much for a surgery procedure known as kyphoplasty. The settlements with seven hospitals brings the total recovery of the case to $101 million. Whistleblowers Craig Patrick and Chuck Bates, who both used to work for one of the entities that also settled with the government over the fraud, are entitled to receive 15% to 25% of what the government recovers.

Lockheed to pay $2 million to settle lawsuit, The Washington Post, January 25, 2011

Medicare Claims Settlement Nets $6.3M from 7 Hospitals, HealthleadersMedia, January 6, 2011

Related Web Resources:
False Claims Act, Cornell University Law School

Massachusetts False Claims Act, TAF.org

Continue reading "Whistleblowers Lawsuits Can Lead to Financial Compensation for Those Brave Enough to Speak Out " »

Pharmaceutical companies, like other manufacturers, must make products that are safe for use. Medications that are defective or dangerous can prove fatal—especially if one takes too much or falls victim to serious side effects. In Massachusetts, you can file a Boston dangerous drug lawsuit over a dangerous prescription drug or over-the-counter med that caused you or a loved one to fall seriously ill, develop serious health issues, or die.

Two drugs that were recently pulled from store shelves were the painkillers Darvocet and Darvon, which are now linked to heart problems. Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals. Inc. and the Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of both drugs and their generic versions late last year.

Darvocet is one of the most commonly prescribed pain meds. The drug has been given to more than 22 million people. However, the FDA has said that the pain relief benefits are not great enough compared to the related risks. Not only that, but, prior to the recall in 2009, the FDA insisted that Darvocet come with a “black box” warning about its different side effects.

Of course, the 2010 recall is too late for some, including Cornelius Kellehar, who died last November before the drug was pulled off the shelf. He was prescribed both Darvocet and Darvon. According to his widow’s wrongful death lawsuit, he died from heart problems because he used the drugs. Kellehar’s family claims that Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals should have warned patients and doctors about such a dangerous side effect.

Even if a drug manufacturer never intended to make a dangerous drug, the company can still be held liable for Boston products liability if taking the medication causes injury, illness, or death.

Darvon, Darvocet Lawsuit Blames Painkillers for Sudden Death, Newsinferno, January 28, 2011

Manufacturer Pulls Darvon, Darvocet; FDA Wants Generic Makers to Do the Same, ABC News, November 19, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Food and Drug Administration

Continue reading "Boston Dangerous Drug: Taking Darvocet or Darvon Can Cause Heart Problems " »

Our Boston injury lawyers recently posted a blog about how the winter months will surely put the new Massachusetts slip and fall standard to the test. Unlike the previous standard, which required that the victim prove that “unnatural” causes and the landowner’s negligence caused the slip and fall snow hazard, now, a person injured in the slip and fall only has to prove that the landowner was negligent or failed to use reasonable care to remove the ice or snow that became a slip hazard. That is, of course, unless the slip and fall accident occurred on a public sidewalk or street.

What can a property owner do to remove snow or ice that has naturally accumulated? Placing salt or sand on the ice is one way. Shoveling snow off walkways is another. That said, the haphazard clearing snow or ice can also create a slip hazard. It is important that you work with an experienced Boston slip and fall law firm that knows how to handle this type of injury case.

Hopefully, the new standard will make it easier for a victim to obtain Boston slip and fall injury recovery. That said, chances for financial recovery in most Massachusetts personal injury cases are usually greater when you retain the services of lawyers that know how to gather and analyze the evidence for this type of case, as well as prove liability.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a million people are injured in fall accidents and about 20 thousands others are killed in slip and fall accidents each year. Although a slip or trip accident may sound minor, this is often not the case. The pain, discomfort, and disability that can result can cause physical, emotional, and mental hardship—not to mention the toll that medical and rehabilitation costs and lost wages from time off work can take.

Related Web Resources:
Winter Weather Tests Massachusetts Slip and Fall Ruling by SJC, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, December 23, 2010

High court changes rules on slip-and-fall lawsuits, Boston.com, July 26, 2010, July 26, 2010

Slip and Fall, Nolo

Continue reading "Boston Slip and Fall Accidents Usually Require the Attention of an Experienced Injury Attorney" »

Another chapter in the tragic death of 4-year-old Rebecca Riley has reached an end. Last night, the Massachusetts wrongful death lawyers for her estate announced that a $2.5 million Boston medical malpractice settlement was reached with her psychiatrist, Dr. Kayoko Kifuji of Tufts Medical Center.

If you’ll recall, Kifuji was the one who prescribed the psychiatric drugs that Rebecca overdosed on after her parents gave her too much of the medications. Michael and Carolyn Riley were convicted of Rebecca’s murder in separate criminal trials last year.

The $2.5 million Boston psychiatric malpractice settlement is the maximum allowed under Kifuji’s insurance policy. The child psychiatrist, who continues to work at Tufts Medical Center, has not admitted any wrongdoing.

Kifuji was the psychiatrist for all three Riley kids. She diagnosed all of them with bipolar illness and ADHD.

During the criminal trials, testimony was provided claiming that Michael and Carolyn deceived Kifuji into thinking that their kids were suffering from serious psychiatric illnesses so that they could receive federal disability checks for the mental disorders. Kifuji, who consented to testify in return for immunity from prosecution, claimed she was not aware that that the couple was overdosing the kids. She said that she followed treatment protocols and diagnostic criteria when providing the children with psychiatric care. Although many legal and medical professionals believe she should be held criminally accountable for Rebecca’s death, a grand jury refused to indict her and the Board of Registration let her resume her medical malpractice following an investigation.

Medical Duty of Care
Psychiatrists, like other physicians, owe their patients a duty to provide them with a certain level of care. When the psychiatric care provided drops below that standard and injury, illness, or death results, the victim and his/her family can sue for Boston psychiatric malpractice. Proving mental harm can be tough without the help of an experienced Boston injury law firm. Medical professionals may have to be brought in by your attorney as witnesses that can help prove your case.

Tufts settles suit against doctor in girl’s death for $2.5m, Boston.com, January 25, 2011

Rebecca Riley's estate gets $2.5 million in lawsuit settlement with psychiatrist, Patriot Ledger, January 25, 2011

Boston Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Against Rebecca Riley’s Psychiatrist to Move Forward, Boston Injury Lawyer

Related Web Resources:
What is psychiatric malpractice?, Power2u.org

Michael Riley sentenced to life in prison without parole, CNN, September 24, 2010

Carolyn Riley gets life sentence for daughter’s death, Wicked Local, February 10, 2010

Massachusetts assisted living facilities are supposed to make sure that their residents are given the best and proper care possible all year round. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and as our Boston nursing home neglect lawyers have reported in the past, it is the patients who end up suffering.

The sick and the elderly are especially susceptible to illness and infection during the winter months when cold weather can make it easier for them to catch a cold or cough that can turn serious, lowering the immune system and placing them at risk of serious health complications. Patients must be properly bundled so that they stay warm and it is important that they keep their strength up with enough rest, food, fluids, and vitamins. A nursing home should be properly heated and doors must be secured so that residents at risk of wandering don’t end up lost out in the cold where they can freeze to death. Patients who are already sick should be closely monitored, immediately treated, and kept away from other residents.

Not only is Massachusetts nursing home neglect and abuse against the law—violators can be sent to jail—but patients who are victims of such mistreatment and the recipients of poor nursing care can seek damages for Boston personal injury or wrongful death. It is a good idea to report the suspected abuse to the authorities immediately and retain the services of an experienced Boston nursing home abuse law firm that can immediately begin gathering evidence and building your case.

While some Massachusetts nursing home negligence cases can be resolved out of court, many cases are decided by a jury. There are important legal arguments that can be made to prove why your loved one and your family are entitled to damages.

Related Web Resources:
Health experts offer tips on staying healthy during cold and flu season, ConsumerAffairs, November 1, 2010

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Nursing Homes Health and Human Services

Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

Continue reading "Winter Weather Combined with Boston Nursing Home Neglect Can Cause Some Patients to Get Very Sick" »

25-year-old Dorzell Porter sustained serious injuries on Sunday when he was involved in a Framingham pedestrian accident. He was walking on Rte. 9 when he was struck by a Honda Civic. The driver of the vehicle is a Milford woman. Massachusetts State Police and Framingham Police are investigating the cause of the Middlesex County, MA injury accident.

Police are also investigating another Massachusetts pedestrian accident that occurred on Sunday. Killed in this traffic crash was Wareham teenager Kourtney Viera. A minivan fatally struck the 18-year-old while she was in the right travel lane of Interstate 195 East near Marion.

Viera had gotten out of her car after it ran out of gas. It appears that she may have slipped and fallen on the icy road prior to getting hit by the vehicle.

Viera was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The driver of the minivan has not been charged.

Our Boston pedestrian accident lawyers know how serious injuries from this type of crash can be. We also are aware that dealing with a legal case is likely not what you want to be focusing on as you recover or cope with the loss of your loved ones. That said, the sooner you explore your legal options, the better for you and your Boston injury case.

Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, broken bones, head injuries, severed limbs, neck injuries, and massive internal injuries are some of the serious that can result during a pedestrian accident. The costs from recovering from or living with such injuries can be astronomical. Obtaining Boston pedestrian accident recovery from all liable parties can help with these expenses.

Rte. 9 accident victim in critical condition, WickedLocal, January 18, 2011

Tragic accident takes life of teen, WPRI, January 17, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Pedestrian Safety Program, NHTSA

According to Massachusetts’ Division of Capital Asset Management, a worker sustained serious leg and arm injuries in the Salem construction accident at the Ruane Judicial Center site last summer because a contractor used the wrong kind of screws on a limestone panel. The 500-pound panel ended up falling four feet to the ground, where it broken into piece, some of which struck Stoneham worker Vincent Leahy. Lighthouse Masonry Inc. of New Bedford is the company that allegedly used the wrong screws.

The state says that the zinc-coated screws were the “direct cause” of why the fell and were not what was “specified in the design of the fastener system." Simpson Gumpertz & Hegerm, the national forensic engineering company that conducted the investigation into the Massachusetts work accident, also found “similarly failed fasteners” when it removed other panels. The probe concluded that the “adhesive anchor from the stone that fell” was improperly installed in a hole that hadn’t been correctly cleaned.”

Beginning January 9, 2011, the masonry company is barred from bidding on public building projects for a year. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has slapped Lighthouse Masonry with three “serious citations” over the Salem construction accident. OSHA also cited Daniel O'Connell's Sons, which is the company that manages the construction project.

Salem Construction Accidents
Proving liability in a construction site can be challenging—especially when there are so many parties involved. This is why it is important that you worker with a Boston construction accident law firm that understands the different kinds of Massachusetts job site accidents that can occur and knows how to determine who should be held liable. Crane accidents, excavation accidents, welding accidents, electrical shock, fall accidents, on-site explosions, and accidents involving falling debris, are just some of the many types of construction accidents that can cause serious injury. An injured worker may have grounds for filing a Massachusetts workers’ compensation claim, in addition to third party lawsuits.

Wrong screw caused courthouse accident in Salem, The Salem News, January 5, 2011

Court project worker hurt as 500 pounds of rock fall, Gloucester Times, June 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
OSHA

Ruane Judicial Center, Mass.gov

Three months after police shot and killed 20-year-old Massachusetts local DJ Henry in his car outside a bar, his family has filed notice of claim seeking $120 million in wrongful death damages against the New York town of Mount Pleasant and the village of Pleasantville. Henry died last October.

According to police, on October 17, 2010, Henry, who is a student and football player at Pace University, allegedly struck two officers with his vehicle. Some witnesses, however, dispute this claim and contend that the 20-year-old was actually attempting to move his car at a cop’s request.

Henry’s parents, Angella and Danroy Sr., are calling his death a murder. They are claiming that not only were the police officers negligent in their use of excessive force, but also that they were inadequately trained.

They contend that their son had no time to stop his auto because one of the police officers had jumped in front of his Henry’s vehicle with his weapon already drawn. Pleasantville Officer Aaron Hess then allegedly got on the hood of the car and fatally shot him. Henry's parents also believe that the police officers’ decision to handcuff and delay getting him medical care also contributed to his death.

Meantime, Hess is claiming that the impact of getting hit by Henry’s car is what caused him to end up on the hood of the vehicle. He contends that the only choice available to him was to shoot Henry.

Excessive Use of Force
Police are at no time supposed to use excessive or unjustified force when doing their job. Many people are not aware that Massachusetts police brutality violates their civil rights. It can also cause serious injuries and deaths that would otherwise preventable were it not for police negligence, carelessness, or recklessness.

DJ Henry's family plan $120m lawsuit, MyFoxBoston, January 11, 2011

Henry family will sue police, Boston.com, January 12, 2011

Investigators are trying to determine whether the height of the treetops close to the Orange Municipal Airport played a factor in the Massachusetts plane crash that claimed the life of one woman on New Year’s Day. The victim, Jessica L. Fay, was the daughter of Steven T. Fay, who was piloting the twin engine Cessna 310. Steven survived the crash with injuries.

The private plane crashed into a swamp as it approached the airport. The Federal Aviation Authority, which is investigation the Massachusetts aviation accident, says that the plane’s wings had separated from the fuselage right before impact. Investigators are looking into whether the landing gear hitting the trees may have caused Fay to lose control of the aircraft.

Witnesses found Jessica unconscious in the swamp. CPR was performed to try and revive her. Unfortunately, she died at the Orange, Massachusetts plane accident site.

If the tree tops had been penetrating the airspace, could the owner of the premise where the trees are located be held liable for Jessica's Massachusetts wrongful death? Any hazard on a property that causes injury can be grounds for a Massachusetts premises liability case.

Massachusetts Airplane Accidents
Injuries from any type of aviation accident are usually catastrophic, and fatalities are common. It is important that you work with a Boston personal injury law firm that knows how to determine who or what caused your plane crash. Common causes of aviation accidents have included:

• Pilot error
• Faulty plane parts
• Poor maintenance
• FAA regulation violations
• Problems with the plane design or structure
• Air traffic controller mistakes

Pilot's Daughter Killed in New Year's Day Airplane Accident, Lawyers and Settlements, January 6, 2011

Woman killed, father injured in plane crash, Telegram.com, January 2, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Plane Accidents, Justia

Federal Aviation Administration

The parents of Landon Zimmerman have filed a Boston wrongful death lawsuit against Crib manufacturer Simplicity, its successor company SFCA Inc., and retailer Hayneedle Inc. over the tragic crib accident that killed the 1-year-old. Landon died from asphyxiation when he became entrapped between his Simplicity crib’s frame and mattress.

His Massachusetts crib death was one of the reasons that the Consumer Product Safety Administration recalled all Simplicity cribs that have a mattress support frame made of tubular metal. According to Landon’s parents Lauren Zimmerman and Jeremy Fontaine, the retailer was grossly negligent because it failed to warn that the Simplicity Ellis Deluxe 4-in-1 Convertible Sleep System crib that it was selling had “dangerous and defective characteristics.” For example, In the event that one of the crib’s frames were to detach, bend, or cause a portion of the mattress to collapse, a space could get created that a toddler or infant might fall through or get stuck or entrapped in. Also, per the CPSC, the Simplicity crib’s defects made it a hazard for suffocation, strangulation, and fall accidents. The boy’s parents contend that Hayneedle failed to provide warning on what were the safe and proper ways to assemble, maintain, and use the crib. Simplicity and SFCA Inc. are no longer in operation.

Crib defects cause injuries every year. Because children are frequently left alone in cribs, it may be too late by the time that someone discovers that the baby or toddler that had been left sleeping has suffocated or strangled in a Boston crib entrapment accident. Crib manufacturers and retailers can be held liable for Boston products liability or wrongful death if negligence or errors on the part of the manufacturer and/or the seller contributed to allowing the crib accident to occur.

Deadliest Crib Seller Sued , Boston Herald, January 7, 2011

Death of Massachusetts Toddler from Crib Entrapment Leads to Latest Simplicity Crib Recall, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 30, 2010

Final Rule on New Crib Safety Standards, CPSC (PDF)

Products Liability, Justia

Health officials say that during three unrelated spinal surgeries, surgeons at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center operated on the wrong vertebrae of each patient. According to the hospital’s health care quality senior vice president Dr. Kenneth Sands, each Boston wrong-site surgery (the first one occurred last September) involved surgeons who miscounted the vertebrae and instead operated on the one above or below the segment that was diseased. Two of the botched spinal operations were conducted by the same doctor.

Sands says that although human mistakes caused the Boston surgical errors, the surgeons involved did follow standard procedures, including taking a “time out” to confirm what type of surgery was to be performed and on what body part. The medical mistakes occurred even though the teaching hospital had taken preventive steps.

The medical errors were detected in post surgical X-rays. While one person’s back pain got better despite the wrong-site surgery, two patients had to undergo second surgeries. The Boston medical malpractice attorney for one of the patients says that his client, a 37-year-old female, now suffers from limited mobility and continues to experience pain.

Massachusetts and federal health inspectors have since cited Beth Israel Deaconess for problems with its surgical service. The hospital says that since these three Boston wrong-site spinal surgeries, it has already made improvements, such as adopting a checklist to help surgeons mark the right vertebrae and hiring an outside expert to assess the hospital’s spinal surgery procedures.

Spinal surgeries can lead to serious injuries and complications, including disability, chronic back pain, nerve damage, dural tear, infection, bleeding, incontinence, and permanent disability. Patients that have sustained injuries because a surgeon or another medical professional was negligent may have grounds for a Boston medical malpractice lawsuit.

Beth Israel erred in 3 spinal operations, Boston.com, December 24, 2010

One Hospital: Three Wrong-Site Surgeries in Four Months, JDSupra

Related Web Resources:
Wrong-Site and Wrong-Patient Procedures in the Universal Protocol Era, Archives of Surgery

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Medical Malpractice, Nolo

Continue reading "Boston Medical Malpractice?: Three Wrong-Site Surgeries Performed at Beth Israel " »

More than four months after DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. and Johnson & Johnson announced the recall of its DePuy ASR(TM) Hip Resurfacing System and ASR(TM) XL Acetabular System, our Boston hip implant defect lawyers continue to be available around the clock to offer a free consultation to those that may have reason for a claim. Altman & Altman, LLP is currently handling a number of Massachusetts products liability lawsuits related to the DePuy ASR hip replacement recall. Contact us immediately by sending us an email or by calling (800) 481-6199.

The hip replacement devices were recalled after a number of patients who had used the DePuy systems ended up having to undergo another hip replacement procedure. Revision surgery is not a painless medical procedure to go through and recover from once let alone a second time—especially if the patient is an elderly senior or someone who is suffering from other health issues. Yet even though about 93,000 people have been implanted with a DePuy hip system, the National Hip Replacement Registry reported last month that only 60% of DePuy hip implant patients had been told about the recall.

Per unpublished information from the National Joint Registry (NJR) of England and Wales, there is an approximately 12% five-year revision rate for the ASR(TM) Hip Resurfacing System and an about 13% revision rate for the ASR(TM) XL Acetabular System. The risk of a revision surgery appeared to go up if the patient was female or had been fitted with an ASR head size that was below 50 mm in diameter.

Signs that there may be problems with your DePuy hip replacement device include walking difficulties, swelling, and pain. While these symptoms are normal soon after receiving the hip implant, a patient shouldn’t experience them and they aren’t supposed to recur. If the symptoms do persist or resume, this may indicate that:

• The implant has come loose.
• The bone around the implant may have fractured.
• The parts of the implant that are supposed to move against each other may have become dislocated.

Also, over time, the metal components of an ASR Hip can generate small microscopic particles as they move against each other. Unfortunately, some patients may experience a reaction to these particles, which can cause joint swelling, pain, and may even damage the bones, muscles, and nerves in the hip area.

DePuy Orthopaedics Voluntarily Recalls ASR(TM) Hip System, Johnson & Johnson, August 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
An Estimated 93,000 Depuy Hip Implants Patients In Danger, Nutrition and Diet News, December 15, 2010

ASR Hip System Recall Guide

National Hip Replacement Registry

DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.

Continue reading "Boston Products Liability Lawsuits Filed Over DePuy ASR Hip Devices " »

Melvin Jones III has filed a federal lawsuit against the Massachusetts city of Springfield, its police commissioner, and six officers. He is alleging the excessive use of police force and the violation of his constitutional rights.

Jones, who is black, claims that he was beaten, kicked, pushed, and struck with a flashlight and called a racial epithet during a traffic stop over a faulty muffler in November 2009. He says that he was beaten unconscious, sustained broken bones and teeth, and was at least partially blinded in one eye. A witness captured the incident on video. Jones was charged with resisting arrest and drug possession.

Jones says that the six cops named in the Massachusetts police brutality complaint tried to cover up the assault on him. One of the police offices, Jeffrey Asher, allegedly struck him with a flashlight at least 15 times. Asher was fired from the job and faces criminal charges. The three other cops that were at the traffic stop, Officers Michael Sedergren, Theodore Truiolo, and Lt. John Bobianski were disciplined. Jones is seeking unspecified monetary damages and fees and wants a jury trial.

Meantime, the police are saying that Jones was only subdued after he tried to get a hold of one of their guns. However, the footage of the Jones being apprehended by the Springfield officers has attracted a lot of attention and outrage.

Massachusetts Police Brutality
Police officers are never allowed to use police brutality or excessive force when doing their job. Boston police brutality is a violation of a person’s civil rights. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’ve committed a crime.

Many people who have been the victim of police violence are too scared to report what happened. However, not only may you have grounds for filing a Boston injury lawsuit but criminal charges may even be filed against the offending officer if the incident were brought to light.

Springfield man files suit against city, police, Boston Herald, January 3, 2011

Suit filed in U.S. District Court against Springfield, police commissioner and 6 officers claiming brutality in arrest of Melvin Jones III, MassLive, January 1, 2011

Springfield Police Department launches criminal investigation of four officers who beat black suspect, MassLive, January 7, 2010

Controversial Springfield Mass. arrest caught on videotape, NECN, January 8, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Police Brutality, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog

City of Springfield, Massachusetts