Stoughton / Canton Area Personal Injury Lawyer - Wrongful Death - Most Commented

Parents Can't Sue Son's Employer For Wrongful Death

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:14:00 GMT

The parents of a store clerk stabbed to death by a shoplifter cannot sue the store for wrongful death, the state’s high court ruled.

The parents sued Massachusetts CVS Pharmacy, the owner of the Boston store that employed the high school student. In February 2004 he was fatally stabbed outside the store when he confronted a shoplifter who had stolen several boxes of toothpaste.

He is now serving a life sentence for first degree murder.

The Supreme Judicial Court said in its decision that the lawsuit was barred by a provision in the state workers' compensation law that prohibits lawsuits by workers against employers for work-related injuries.

“The ruling is terribly unfair,” Richard Campbell, an attorney for the parents told the Boston Globe of the court’s ruling.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Woman Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Cheerleading Gym

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:25:00 GMT

A Massachusetts woman whose daughter was killed in a cheerleading accident is hopeful that her loss will lead to tougher safety standards across the state.

Three years ago Ashley Burns suffered a fatal fall in a cheerleading accident, now her mother is suing the gym where it happened for wrongful death.

The girl, who was 14 at the time of the accident, died from a lacerated spleen in August 2005 at the East Elite Cheer Gym. According to the lawsuit, Burns was “popped” up by two cheerleaders and attempted to perform a double-twist dismount, but she fell.

Her mother, Ruth Burns, has been living her “worst nightmare” and wants to know who’s responsible for what happened to her daughter. She hopes the lawsuit will lead to new national safety standards for cheerleaders.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Jury Awards Parents $1.5M in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Fraternity

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:17:10 GMT

The parents of a Plattsburgh State freshman who died on March 12, 2003 after 12 days of continuous hazing, has been awarded $1.5 in a wrongful death lawsuit against one of the fraternity members.

The New York Supreme Court has ordered him to pay the family $1 million in punitive damages, $400,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 for wrongful death.

He'd been deprived of sleep for days, repeatedly forced to drink alcohol until he vomited, and forced to consume drinks that had been urinated in. He also had to sit in a sweat box after he was forced to do calisthenics.

The Saratoga County resident died of water intoxication after being forced to drink so much water that his brain swelled and he went into a coma.

The Psi Epsilon Chi fraternity was banned from Plattsburg Campus, at the time of his death, for alcohol related incidents that date as far back as 1998.

13 other fraternity members have settled out of court since 2004.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole