Dog Bites Attorneys Serving Boston Residents
If a dog bit you in Boston, the owner or keeper is liable under M.G.L. c. 140, sec. 155 without any proof the dog had bitten before; the only defenses are that you were trespassing or teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog, and a child under seven is presumed to have done neither.
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Boston: the short answer
Massachusetts is a strict-liability state for dog attacks under M.G.L. c. 140 sec. 155. The owner or keeper of the dog is liable for the injury without any need to prove the animal had bitten before or that the owner knew it was dangerous, so the common-law one-bite rule does not apply here. The statute provides only two defenses: that the injured person was trespassing, or that the person was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog at the time. A child under the age of seven is presumed by the statute not to have done either, which strengthens claims involving young children. Recovery usually comes from the owner's homeowner or renter insurance. The three-year limitations period under M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 2A applies. Jim Glaser Law evaluates Massachusetts dog-bite cases at no cost. Dog-bite matters are accepted on contingency, meaning no attorney's fee unless and until the matter resolves with a recovery to the client; case-related costs and expenses are addressed in the written fee agreement.
The full Massachusetts rules, statutes and typical timeline are on the dog bites page; this page covers what is specific to Boston.
Courts that serve Boston for dog bites matters
Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court, which M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1 divides into eight divisions (Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury), each covering a set of Boston wards, so which division hears a case depends on the neighborhood. Boston is in Suffolk County, so a Superior Court case brought by a Boston resident goes to the Suffolk County Superior Court.
A District Court civil case can be filed in the district where any party lives or has a usual place of business, or in an adjoining district (M.G.L. c. 223, sec. 2). Where the event happened does not decide it.
| Court | What it hears | District or address |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Municipal Court | Civil claims up to $50,000 | divisions by Boston neighborhood |
| Suffolk County Superior Court | Civil claims over $50,000 | 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 |
First steps
- Get medical care and keep every record. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital are among the hospitals listed for Boston, and the firm requests the records itself once you sign an authorization.
- Know the court: the Boston Municipal Court hears claims up to $50,000 and the Suffolk County Superior Court hears larger ones.
- Call (617) JIM-WINS before you file or appear, so the deadline and the right court are checked against your facts.
Key terms
- Judicial district
- The towns one District Court division serves, as listed in M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1. For Boston, the divisions follow the city wards.
- Venue
- The county or district where a case may be filed. Massachusetts sets it by where the parties live or work (M.G.L. c. 223, secs. 1 and 2).
Talk to the firm about your dog bite matter
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Frequently asked from Boston
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Which District Court covers Boston?
Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court, which M.G.L. c. 218, sec. 1 divides into eight divisions (Brighton, Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston and West Roxbury), each covering a set of Boston wards, so which division hears a case depends on the neighborhood.
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Where does a Superior Court case go from here?
A Superior Court case is filed in the county where one of the parties lives or has a usual place of business (M.G.L. c. 223, sec. 1). For someone who lives in Boston, that is Suffolk County, and the Suffolk County Superior Court sits at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108.
Related Massachusetts legal answers
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Browse every question in the Massachusetts legal answers library.
Information on this page is published as legal information, not legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney advertising under Mass. R. Prof. C. 7.1 to 7.5. Responsible attorney: Jim Glaser, Massachusetts.