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Wrongful Death Lawyer for Boston, MA
If someone from Boston died because of another person's negligence, the personal representative of the estate brings the claim under M.G.L. c. 229, sec. 2 for the spouse, children or next of kin, recovering lost income, services, care and companionship, plus funeral and burial expenses.
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Boston: the short answer
A Massachusetts wrongful-death claim is brought under M.G.L. c. 229 sec. 2 by the personal representative of the deceased person's estate, for the benefit of the statutory beneficiaries, usually the spouse, children, or next of kin. Recoverable damages include the loss of the deceased person's reasonably expected net income, services, protection, care, companionship, comfort, guidance, counsel, and advice, plus reasonable funeral and burial expenses. The statute also allows punitive damages of at least five thousand dollars where the death resulted from gross negligence or from malicious, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct. A separate survival action under c. 229 sec. 6 recovers for the conscious pain and suffering the person endured before death. The claim must generally be filed within three years of the death under M.G.L. c. 260 sec. 4. Jim Glaser Law evaluates Massachusetts wrongful-death matters at no cost. Wrongful-death 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 wrongful death page; this page covers what is specific to Boston.
Courts that serve Boston for wrongful death 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 wrongful death 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.
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This page is legal information for $Boston, Massachusetts readers, not legal advice for any particular matter. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Attorney advertising under Mass. R. Prof. C. 7.1 to 7.5. Responsible attorney: Jim Glaser, Massachusetts.