A tragic shooting incident happened in Brockton on Thursday, October 7, around 5.45 p.m. Police officer Robert Otis was shot and injured during the Brockton standoff, while the suspected shooter and another person were killed.

The suspected shooter has been identified as Kevin Serpa, aged 32. The other person killed in the incident was identified as Christopher Gomes, 28. Gomes was found shot in his SUV. The hours-long standoff took place in Serpa’s Brockton home.

Sherpa, who is believed to have shot Gomes, also shot the police officer and then took his own life. Otis, a recent academy graduate, was shot four times, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Surveillance footage revealed an SUV was driving on Tabor Avenue and parking before a person walked up and fired. The vehicle moved forward where the gunman followed it and started firing again. Gunshots were fired from the second floor when a police SUV arrived at the scene. Otis was shot during this firing incident.

Chief Emanuel Gomes added that the local police force “almost lost a guy” and that, since he has a son in Boston PD, seeing young people involved in such tragic incidents makes him emotional. The police chief also said he was happy to see that Otis was safe and voiced appreciation for the officer’s actions that saved his and others’ lives. Otis was released from the Boston Medical Center on Friday, October 8.

An investigation into the Brockton standoff is currently underway.

If you or your loved ones suffered such a tragic incident, know your legal options with the help of a Brockton MA. personal Injury lawyer.

Source: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/police-search-for-explosives-after-officer-shot-in-deadly-brockton-standoff/2511565/

In a tragic accident, a Massachusetts State Police cruiser was hit by another vehicle. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon. The cruiser was pulled off a highway when it was struck by a vehicle. The crash occurred on U.S. Route 3 southbound side in Bedford. Police revealed that state police major, Mathew Gravini was on duty. He pulled over a Nissan Altima on Route 3. The Massachusetts State Police cruiser was stopped behind the car in the breakdown lane. A Honda CRV struck from behind. The cruiser was a Ford police interceptor.

According to the police, the cruiser of Gravini was pushed towards the right lane. Then the CRV hit the Altima. Gravini was immediately rushed to Lahey Hospital in Burlington. Gravini suffered moderate injuries that were not life-threatening.

The driver of the CRV was identified as a woman from Wilmington, aged 64. She was also taken to Lahey Hospital. She did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, according to the police. Police further discovered that the driver of the Altima, a man from Lowell, aged 24, did not suffer any injuries.

Following the crash, there were several delays on both sides of the highway during the rush hour on Thursday afternoon.

If you or your loved ones suffer an unfortunate accident, protect your legal rights through a Massachusetts car accident attorney. We aim to achieve successful outcomes for your claim. You deserve to be completely compensated for the losses including physical injury, mental distress, and financial burden.

Source: https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-state-police-vehicle-involved-in-crash-on-route-3-in-bedford/37294905

Last year, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued a written opinion in a medical malpractice case that required the court to discuss the continuing course of treatment doctrine as it applies to late-filed medical malpractice cases. The court ultimately determined that the doctrine does apply under Massachusetts law, but it only tolls a statute of limitations up to the point at which the allegedly negligent physician stops treating the patient.

The Continuing Course of Treatment Doctrine

Medical malpractice cases must be filed within a certain period of time, or by law, the court must dismiss the case. These time limits are called statutes of limitations. Generally speaking, a statute of limitations begins when the cause of actions accrues, meaning when the negligent medical act is performed. However, in some cases, a patient may not realize that they have been a victim of medical malpractice until months or years later.

In situations in which a patient does not immediately realize their injuries, there is an exception to the statute of limitations, and it may be extended or “tolled.” Under this exception, a statute of limitations will not start until the plaintiff realizes that they have been injured.

The continuing course of treatment doctrine is another exception to the strict application of a statute of limitations. Under the doctrine, a plaintiff’s case will not accrue (meaning the statute of limitations will not begin to run) until the allegedly negligent physician stops caring for the patient. The idea behind the doctrine is that a negligent physician who continues to treat the patient may not openly disclose that he has made an error. Instead, a physician would be incentivized to delay reporting an error to the patient until the statute of limitations expired. Thus, the continuing course of treatment doctrine makes sure that a physician’s failure to disclose a problem to a patient does not limit the patient’s right to recovery.

The Appellate Court’s Ruling

In last year’s ruling, Massachusetts high court officially adopted the continuing course of treatment doctrine. However, the doctrine was not applied under the specific facts of that case because the case was filed after the three-year statute of limitations, even after the time limit was extended by the continuing course of treatment doctrine.

The plaintiffs argued that the defendant doctor’s colleagues still treated their son after the defendant doctor had ceased treatment and that the statute of limitations should be tolled while the treatment was ongoing. However, the court declined to extend the doctrine to apply to the care provided by the negligent doctor’s colleagues.

Have You Been a Victim of Medical Malpractice?

If you or a loved one has recently been a victim of medical malpractice in Massachusetts, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Office of Robert C. Shea have extensive experience handling all types of personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and product liability cases. Attorney Robert C. Shea prides himself in taking a client-centered approach to his representation. Free consultations are available. Call 508.510.5107 to set up a meeting with an attorney.

Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/475/475mass368.html

A police officer from Brockton was arrested on Thursday, April 22 and charged with drunken driving in Florida. Upon arrest, the police officer reacted with a profanity-laced tirade.

The police officer has been identified as Mark R. Reardon, aged 57. Reardon started working with the Brockton Police Department in September 1988. According to the Brockton police log, Reardon has not been working for the police department since February 2020. Reardon was held under custody following an early morning motor vehicle stop.

It has been revealed that his retirement is currently pending. The officer is living in Florida. The police officer was charged at a traffic stop. It has also been confirmed that he was not actively working for the police. Police chief Emanuel Gomes said that Reardon is living in Florida and he no longer serves the police department as his retirement case is still pending.

It has been discovered through the Brockton Retirement Board’s Executive Director Jeanne M. Martineau that an Accidental Disability Retirement application has been received from Reardon on 16th April. Physical examination details such as the doctor’s statement on the file were missing, however.

He further adds that the statement was received on 27th April, however, the process of application is still under process.

If you or your loved ones are charged with drunken driving, know your legal rights through a Brockton, MA car accident attorney. In such accidents the situation can escalate quickly, you should immediately call for help. Your attorney will assist you in receiving the claim you need for your damages.

Source: https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/28/brockton-police-officer-mark-reardon-florida-drunken-driving-arrest-inactive-retiring/4871299001/

A vehicle rolled over six times after which two retired nurses helped in pulling a man out of a burning car Sunday afternoon on Massachusetts Highway. Many strangers rushed to take out the driver from the passenger window after witnessing the horrific accident on Interstate 495 in Wrentham. Flames were emerging from the engine compartment burning the car after the Massachusetts Highway accident.

Arnold Kawadler, aged 72 along with his wife Ellen, aged 68 were the first on the scene to help the man. They revealed how everyone worked together to take the driver out. The further added that the driver was lucky to sustain only minor injuries to his hand in this deadly crash.

A retired nurse from Sharon further added that he was lucky that he got out of the car and could walk. On Saturday, Sharon and her husband were on I-495 near the exit for Route 1A in Wrentham towards the north.

The couple witnessed the car drifted and hit some dirt after which it rolled over six to seven times. Arnold pulled over immediately and rushed to help the driver; meanwhile, a fire broke. As they reached, the driver was struggling to get out with his head through the front passenger window.

Ellen tried to pull the driver but failed. They both tried but they needed more help. Four other people rushed over to lift the driver out. No other passenger was in the car.

If you or your loved ones suffer such an unfortunate incident know your legal rights through a Massachusetts car accident attorney.

Source: https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/08/01/good-samaritans-rescue-man-from-fiery-crash-on-massachusetts-highway/

In September of last year, the Appeals Court of Massachusetts issued a written opinion in a product liability lawsuit brought by the surviving family members of a 17-year-old college student who died after suffering from a pulmonary embolism allegedly caused by her use of the defendant’s birth-control patch. In affirming the dismissal of the plaintiffs’ case, the court determined that the manufacturer properly warned potential users of the specific dangers of using the patch, and there was no “feasible and safer alternative” that the manufacturer could have used in manufacturing the patch.

The Facts of the Case

The plaintiff’s daughter was a sexually active college student who was looking for a back-up form of birth control in addition to condoms. The student and her mother met with the student’s doctor, who initially provided a prescription for an oral contraceptive. Several months after taking the oral contraceptive, the student stopped taking the pill. Again, she approached her doctor in hopes of finding another alternative. The doctor provided her with a prescription for the defendant’s birth-control patch.

The doctor told the student and her mother about the risks involved with using the patch, which included blood clots. In addition, when the student picked up the prescription, there was a paper insert in the packaging explaining the risks associated with the use of the patch. Three months after using the patch, the student died from a massive pulmonary embolism.

The student’s mother filed a complaint against the manufacturer of the patch, making several product liability claims. The thrust of her argument was that the manufacturer failed to warn her daughter that the risk of a pulmonary embolism while using the patch was significantly higher than with similar oral contraceptives. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, finding that the warnings were adequate.

On appeal, the lower court’s decision was upheld. The Appellate Court of Massachusetts considered the warnings as a whole and determined that they were legally sufficient. The court noted the fact that the plaintiff’s daughter’s embolism occurred in her lung, and that was one of four places where the warnings explained an embolism could develop while using the patch. Similarly, the court determined that the patch was not “unreasonably dangerous,” as the plaintiff had claimed. In the end, the court affirmed the dismissal of each of the plaintiff’s claims.

Have You Been Injured by a Dangerous Product?

If you or a loved one has recently been injured after using a dangerous product or taking a dangerous medication, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. However, as noted above, product liability law in Brockton, Massachusetts is very complex and is best left to attorneys experienced in this specific area of law. The Law Office of Robert C. Shea, P.C., has ample experience handling all kinds of personal injury claims, including those arising out of injuries caused by the use of dangerous products. Call 508.510.5107 to set up a free consultation with a dedicated Brockton personal injury attorney today.

Source: https://casetext.com/case/niedner-v-ortho-mcneil-pharm-inc-1

A tragic two-car Woburn crash claimed the life of the driver on Interstate 95 in Woburn. The crash occurred on Sunday night. According to the police, the crash was reported around 8:45 p.m. A Toyota Camry, 2005 make and a Cadillac Escalade, 2009 make were northbound headed on the highway before exit 54.

According to the Police, the Woburn crash happened when the Toyota swerved to the right side and hit a guardrail on the far edge of the breakdown lane after which the car traveled across all four northbound lanes. It has been discovered that Toyota crossed paths with the Cadillac which caused the collision.

The driver of the Toyota was identified as a Needham man, aged 37. The Woburn Fire Department rescued the driver. He was immediately rushed to the area hospital. He could not sustain the injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital, state police added.

His name is yet to be released by authorities.

The driver of Cadillac, aged 73 was a Boxford man. He was taken to Winchester hospital. He suffered minor injuries. Two other juvenile passengers were also taken for evaluation, whereas the crash investigation is still underway.

If you or your loved ones suffer from such a serious accident, know your legal rights through a Massachusetts car accident attorney. Our highly skilled and experienced attorneys aim to attain the compensation you deserve for suffering the pain and damages due to the negligence of another person or authority.

Source: https://whdh.com/news/driver-dies-following-serious-crash-on-i-95-in-woburn/

An unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday early morning when a car crashed into a Brockton cafe located at 912 Crescent Street. Police are currently investigating the case. The café has been identified as Miko’s Café. The police were informed regarding the crash at the café. At the scene of the incident, a car was found crashed into the café.

The condition of the driver is yet to be known. The driver was identified as a white man, aged 38. He was immediately rushed to the Good Samaritan Medical Center for medical care. According to the Brockton police report, the man whose name is not identified yet informed the officers that he lost control over his vehicle then crashed into a Brockton cafe. The driver was traveling eastbound when the incident occurred.

A ticket was given to the driver for violation of marked lanes. Presently, there isn’t any other information available regarding the case.

If you or your loved ones have suffered such a tragic incident, know your legal rights through a Brockton car accident lawyer. We aim to receive the maximum compensation you deserve. It is your right to get compensated for damages. Our attorneys have years of experience in similar cases. Whether you have suffered physical injuries, mental distress, or financial damages, get in touch with us. We will guide you through the best legal options available for your case. We are here to file a claim on your behalf.

Source: https://whdh.com/news/investigation-underway-after-car-crashes-into-brockton-cafe/

In an unfortunate incident, two men were arrested for drug trafficking charges. According to the State Police, two Brockton men were arrested for trafficking cocaine and fentanyl. The arrests were made based on a large-scale investigation. A criminal organization in southeastern Massachusetts was under the radar in the investigation.

The state police identified two Brockton men, Joshua Tavares, aged 23, and Kareem Pires, aged 22. Both men were charged with conspiracy to violate drug laws and trafficking cocaine and fentanyl. A month-long massive investigation resulted in the arrest of the men. It was a combined effort of multiple police units including police from Quincy, Norwood, East Bridgewater, and Brockton. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security were also involved in the investigation.

The investigation was underway for several months. A Large volume of narcotics was confiscated. During the investigation, extensive electronic surveillance was conducted to gather evidence and arrest the suspects. Controlled drug purchases were also made during this time.

Search warrants were provided to investigators during the operation to uncover drug trafficking. Two motor vehicles and six houses were searched with these warrants. Both men who were convicted are scheduled to appear in Brockton District Court.

If you or someone you know is ever impacted by someone’s actions like this, you have the right to take them to court. Know your legal rights through an experienced Brockton, MA personal injury attorney. We aim to protect your rights and provide you justice.

Source: https://wbsm.com/two-brockton-men-arrested-for-drug-trafficking/

Earlier last year, the Appeals Court of Massachusetts issued a written decision in an interesting premises liability case that required the court to discuss the “mode of operation” doctrine. In the case, Amara v. Falcon Holding Corporation, the court determined that the facts of the plaintiff’s accident did not fall within the doctrine, and the court ultimately affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiff’s case.

The Facts of the Case

Amara was attending a conference at the Sheraton Hotel. On a trip to the restroom, Amara slipped and fell on the ceramic tile floor, sustaining serious injuries as a result. Upon getting up, she noticed that the floor was covered in a wet foamy substance that smelled like furniture polish. Upon further investigation, Amara located an uncapped bottle of furniture polish in a nearby cabinet that was leaking onto the floor. Evidently, another person attending the conference thought that it was an air freshener and sprayed the substance accordingly.

Amara filed a premises liability lawsuit against the owner of the hotel. In response, the hotel asked for the case to be dismissed because the plaintiff had failed to provide evidence that the owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition on the floor. Amara did not argue that anyone at the hotel knew about the spill but instead argued that under the “mode of operation” doctrine, the hotel could still be held liable. The trial court disagreed with Amara and granted the hotel’s motion to dismiss. Amara appealed.

On Appeal, the Lower Court’s Decision Is Affirmed

The appellate court explained that the mode of operation doctrine “recognizes that a [business’] manner of operation can create foreseeable hazards that might arise through the actions of third parties, thus obligating the proprietor to take all reasonable precautions necessary to protect against those foreseeable hazards.” However, in order for the doctrine to apply, the plaintiff must establish that the hazard is a “recurring feature of the mode of operation,” rather than one that is merely conceivable. The court used the example of a customer who slips on a grape in a grocery store. The court explained that the ease with which another customer could open a bag of grapes and drop one onto the floor creates a duty on the part of the store to continually inspect for crushed grapes that could cause an accident.

Here, the court determined that the furniture polish stored in a bathroom cabinet was not a “recurring feature” of the hotel’s business. The court explained that there was no evidence that anyone else had slipped on the polish or that this was a common problem in the hotel’s line of business. As a result, the court did not apply the mode of operation analysis, and since the plaintiff was unable to prove the defendant’s actual or constructive knowledge of the spill, the case was properly dismissed.

Have You Been Injured in a Massachusetts Slip-and-Fall Accident?

If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Massachusetts slip-and-fall accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert C. Shea, P.C. have experience handling hundreds of personal injury cases, and we know what it takes to succeed on our clients’ behalf. With an in-depth knowledge of the law and the local court systems across Massachusetts, Attorney Robert C. Shea is a capable Massachusetts personal injury attorney. Call 508.510.5107 to set up a free consultation to discuss your case today.

Source: https://casetext.com/case/amara-v-falcon-holding-corp-1