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In state’s first PFMLA verdict, employee wins $4.75M against Wayfair
A Suffolk Superior Court jury awarded $4.75M in a PFMLA retaliation case against Wayfair, highlighting the strict burden on employers under the paid leave law.
Products liability – Cigarettes – Punitive damages
Where a jury returned a verdict in favor of a plaintiff in a wrongful death action against a defendant cigarette manufacturer, the verdict should be upheld because the punitive damages award, remitted by the trial judge from $1 billion to slightly more than $56 million, was within constitutionally permissible bounds.
Punitive damages in cigarette case upheld by SJC
The Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed an award of more than $56 million in punitive damages in a wrongful death action against a cigarette manufacturer.
Jury awards former Michigan inmate $307.6M in prison health care suit
A federal jury in Detroit awarded $307.6 million to a former inmate for deliberate indifference to his health needs by Corizon Health in Michigan prisons.
Civil practice – Contempt – Punitive damages
Where two defendants found guilty of contempt were ordered to pay $25,000 in counsel fees and additionally were required to pay to the plaintiff $200,000, the order to pay the plaintiff $200,000 does not reflect the plaintiff's actual loss, so it cannot stand.
Jury’s $1B verdict has SJC eyeing new rules for punitives
The Supreme Judicial Court will hear a wrongful death appeal over a $1 billion punitive damages verdict against Philip Morris that could reshape state tort law.
Labor – Whistleblower – Punitive damages
Where a railroad was ordered to pay the statutory maximum of $250,000 in punitive damages, plus $10,000 in damages for emotional distress, in a Federal Railroad Safety Act whistleblower retaliation […]
Products liability – Punitive damages – G.L.c. 93A
Where a plaintiff who was harmed while using a ladder made by the defendant has alleged negligent failure to warn, negligent design breach of the implied warranty of merchantability and […]
Negligence – Boom lift – Punitive damages
Where the widow of a construction worker who was killed when a boom lift tipped over was awarded $3,692,657.40 in compensatory damages against the defendant lessor and the codefendant manufacturer, […]
Employment – G.L.c. 151B – Punitive damages – Counsel fees
Where a jury, having found for the plaintiff on a G.L.c. 151B retaliation claim, awarded her no compensatory damages but $1.1 million in punitive damages, the trial judge acted correctly […]
Toys R Us ruling called a ‘primer’ on punitives
The Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling upholding a wrongful death verdict and $18 million punitive damages award against Toys R Us in a case involving a defective swimming pool slide serves […]
SJC upholds $18M punitive verdict
The Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed a jury award of $2,640,000 in compensatory damages and $18 million in punitive damages to a plaintiff whose wife died after the collapse of […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Injury during baby’s adenoidectomy leads to stroke
- Construction worker’s hand caught in cement mixer
- Worker trapped in freezer, dies during steam cleaning
- Pedestrian, 69, hit by motor vehicle while in crosswalk
- Four-vehicle pileup leaves driver with spinal cord injury
- Nursing home staff blamed for kidney-failure death
- Pharmacy’s late delivery blamed for patient’s death
- Man, 25, drowns after swimming lesson at fitness club
Opinion Digests
- Jurisdiction – Forum selection clause – Non-signatory
- Criminal – Responsibility
- Attorneys – Lien
- Landlord and tenant – Default judgment
- Zoning – Constructive grant – Comprehensive permit
- Fraud – False Claims Act – Settlement share
- Civil practice – Discovery – Cybersecurity
