Firm News
Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports Bike Safety During Bike Month
Breakstone, White & Gluck was proud to support bicycle safety during Bay State Bike Week and Bike Month again in 2019. All three of our partners – Attorney David W. White, Attorney Marc L. Breakstone and Attorney Ronald E. Gluck – participated, giving away bicycle helmets as part of our Project KidSafe campaign. Our goal: to encourage children to wear bicycle helmets at all times to protect against head injuries. Now in our seventh year, Breakstone, White & Gluck has donated over 25,000 bicycle helmets to children in Massachusetts.
Boston Bike to Work Day
Attorney David W. White and Attorney Marc L. Breakstone were back on Boston City Hall Plaza on May 17th, as Boston celebrated Bike to Work Day. This was our 5th year out on City Hall Plaza during Bike Week. Attorney White fitted about 70 helmets for cyclists over two hours and we got a special surprise – getting to meet Tim Wakefield! He was nice enough to sign one of our Project KidSafe helmets. We also got to visit with other friends, including Lee Toma of Bike Milton and Galen Mook, executive director of MassBike.
Attorney David W. White and Attorney Marc L. Breakstone with Tim Wakefield, World Series Champion Pitcher for the Red Sox ’04 and ’07. Now NESN studio analyst for the Red Sox. Boston Bike to Work Day, May 17, 2019.
Attorney David W. White (center) with Lee Toma of Bike Milton (left) and Galen Mook, executive director of Mass Bike (right). Boston Bike to Work Day, May 17th, 2019.
Our reminder to cyclists: Inspect your helmet regularly to make sure it’s in riding condition. As a rule, replace your helmet at least once every three years; you may need to do this sooner, especially if you ride every day. And always replace your helmet immediately if you are involved in a bicycle accident or fall. Please visit this website for more bicycle helmet safety tips.
Cambridge Police Department
Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to donate 200 bicycle helmets to the Cambridge Police Department for the fourth year. Attorney David W. White and Attorney Ronald E. Gluck recently visited with Cambridge police officers who work to educate the public about bicycle safety laws on a daily basis. The City of Cambridge works to promote bicycle safety and has been recognized as a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. More than 100 Cambridge police officers – or more than one third of the city’s 282 sworn in officers – have been trained on bike patrol to help keep roads safe.
The City of Cambridge announced our donation during Bay State Bike Week.
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- From left: Attorney Ronald E. Gluck (left) and Attorney David W. White (right) with Kessen Green, director of outreach and community programs for the Cambridge Police Department.
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- Attorney Ronald E. Gluck with Officer Matthew Mahoney.
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- Attorney David W. White with Kessen Green, the department’s director of outreach & community programs.
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- Breakstone, White & Gluck donated bicycle helmets to Cambridge Police Department. Left to right: Officer Matthew Mahoney; Deputy Superintendent Rob Lowe; Kessen Green, the department’s director of outreach & community programs; Attorney Ronald E. Gluck; Attorney David W. White; Sgt. Steven Magalhees and Detective Gustavo Lopez.
Quincy Police Department
Attorney David W. White with Quincy police officers. From left, Officer Greg Mar, Lt. Robert Bina, Officer Matthew Miller and Officer Greg Hartnett.
For the third year, Breakstone, White & Gluck is pleased to partner with the Quincy Police Department to encourage bike safety in the city. Quincy Police announced our donation of 200 bicycle helmets during Bay State Bike Week. Officers will use the helmets to benefit children through community programming. Each year, some of the helmets are given away through programs such as the annual DARE camp for 5th graders. Other helmets are given away at smaller gatherings, such as Coffee with a Cop, a program that allows residents to meet police officers and share their concerns and questions in an informal setting. Read the announcement on the Quincy Police Department website.
Everett Police Donation 2019
For the fourth year, Breakstone, White & Gluck donated more than 100 children’s bicycle helmets to the Everett Police Department. Officers gave away the helmets free to children and families at the Kids to Park Day at the Swan Street Park on May 18th.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck – Boston Personal Injury Lawyers
Breakstone, White & Gluck has been recognized as one of the best personal injury law firms in Boston, by our clients, other lawyers and attorney rating services, such as Super Lawyers, U.S. News Best Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell. Our attorneys have also been recognized for our Project KidSafe campaign by the League of American Bicyclists, which has named Breakstone, White & Gluck a Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Business. This is a special recognition. Just 36 businesses have been earned recognition in Massachusetts and just two law firms across New England.
We have also been recognized by the City of Boston, where we have donated helmets to various programs, including Boston Bike to Work Day, along with Boston Bikes’ Roll It Forward, Boston Bikes’ youth instruction programs and the Boston Police Department. Attorney David W. White has volunteered his time fitting helmets and Boston Bikes has recognized him as a Volunteer of the Year.
Breakstone, White & Gluck specializes in all areas of personal injury law. We hope you are never injured, but if you are, it is important to learn your legal rights for seeking compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact Breakstone, White & Gluck at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676. You can also use our contact form.
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone: Assessing bias in voir dire after ‘Williams’
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone recently authored an article which appears in the May 2019 edition of MATA Journal. The journal is published by the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.
Assessing bias in voir dire after ‘Williams’
By Marc L. Breakstone
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone
The recent Supreme Judicial Court decision in Commonwealth v. Williams, 481 Mass. 443 (2019), generated quite a buzz on the MATA Listserv. Members questioned the significance of the decision, which analyzes how a potential juror should be screened for impartiality.
The opinion suggests that, regardless of the biased opinions or beliefs expressed by a potential juror during voir dire, the juror could be deemed impartial as long as the juror pledges to either set aside or disregard their opinion, to commit to deciding the case on the evidence and to follow the court’s instructions.
Williams meticulously analyzes how trial judges should determine impartiality when a prospective juror expresses potentially interfering bias during jury selection. The majority begins with the acknowledgment that “[o]ur jurisprudence regarding how to assess beliefs or opinions expressed by prospective jurors during voir dire has been less than clear.” The opinion then promises to “set forth factors that a judge should consider when a prospective juror discloses a belief or opinion based on his or her world view.” Clarity on these important subjects is what every trial lawyer seeks.
Unfortunately, Williams raises more questions than it answers. The defendant in Williams was charged with possession with intent to distribute a class B substance. During jury selection, a prospective juror raised her hand in response to a question whether there was “anything about the subject matter or your views about the subject matter that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial in deciding the case?”
During judge-conducted voir dire, the juror stated a belief that the criminal justice system is rigged against young African American males. When asked by the judge if she could put aside that opinion and bias, the juror stated she did not think she could put it aside.
Continue reading this article in the MATA Journal. The article begins on page 2.
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone has practiced law in Boston for more than 30 years and focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in personal injury and medical malpractice cases. He has long advocated for expanded attorney participation in voir dire in Massachusetts.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
The Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck have over 100 years combined experience representing clients who have been injured by the negligence and wrongdoing of others in Massachusetts. If you have been injured or have lost a loved one, it is critical to learn your rights. For a free legal consultation, contact our attorneys at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
Lynnway Auto Auction and Company President Facing Manslaughter Charges in 2017 Crash Killing 5 People
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone, who is representing a family who lost a loved one in the Lynnway Auto Auction crash, speaks to WHDH TV in Boston. Watch.
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone was interviewed by WHDH TV yesterday, following the announcement that the Lynnway Auto Auction, Inc. and company president James Lamb will each face five counts of manslaughter in the 2017 crash killing five people. Breakstone is representing one of the families who lost a loved one.
“This goes beyond normal everyday negligence,” he said. “This was gross negligence that created a dangerous environment for employees and others at the auction.”
Watch the interview on the WHDH website.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Supports the Equal Justice Coalition’s Walk to the Hill 2019
Breakstone, White & Gluck participated and supported the Equal Justice Coalition’s Walk to the Hill 2019 at the Massachusetts State House.
Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to support and participate in the Equal Justice Coalition’s Walk to the Hill, seeking increased funding for civil legal aid in Massachusetts. Attorney David W. White joined hundreds of lawyers at the Massachusetts State House, urging legislators to help fund free legal services to residents who cannot afford an attorney on their own. Many Massachusetts residents are not familiar with the coalition until they need help with a landlord dispute, consumer fraud or another non-criminal matter. Then the coalition’s services become critical because when someone faces criminal charges, they have the right to an attorney. But those who need representation in a civil matter are on their own. If they can’t afford a lawyer, the person could suffer devastating losses, personally and financially. With more funding for civil legal aid, the coalition and other legal aid organizations can help more individuals and families stay on track, in their homes, working, receiving medical treatment or going to school without interruption.
The Equal Justice Coalition was created in 1999 by the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation. Representatives from these programs participated in a speaking program in the Great Hall at the State House, before attorneys began visiting lawmakers’ offices. Speakers included Louis Tompros, chair of the Equal Justice Coalition; Lynne M. Parker, Executive Director of the Mass. Legal Assistance Corporation; Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants; Christopher Kenney, President of the Massachusetts Bar Association and Jacquelynne Bowman, Executive Director of the Greater Boston Legal Services.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Partners with Boston Police Department on Bike Safety
Attorney David W. White and his wife Denise Murphy recently enjoyed a visit with Boston Police Commissioner William Gross and Superintendent Dennis White, the Commissioner’s chief of staff. The visit was to thank the Boston Police Department for supporting Breakstone, White & Gluck’s Project KidSafe campaign for a third year in 2018, helping us get 160 bicycle helmets to children who needed one in Boston.
We are pleased to partner with the Boston Police Department. In the city of Boston, when families get the opportunity to meet a police officer, they quickly come to respect them and the importance of wearing bicycle helmets. Then, what’s great is we see families – parents and children – committing to protect themselves. And it has a ripple effect on neighbors, friends.
Attorney David W. White with Boston Police Commissioner William Gross and Superintendent Dennis White, the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff. In 2018, Breakstone, White & Gluck was pleased to partner with Boston Police Department for the third year through our Project KidSafe campaign and donate bicycle helmets to the Boston Police Department to distribute to children who needed one (Photo courtesy: Boston Police Department).
Attorney David W. White and his wife Denise I. Murphy with Boston Police Commissioner William Gross (Photo courtesy: Boston Police Department).
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a Boston personal injury law firm which represents those who have been injured by negligence or wrongdoing in Massachusetts. In 2013, Breakstone, White & Gluck launched our Project KidSafe campaign with a goal of protecting children from head injuries. We have since donated over 20,000 helmets to children across Massachusetts, with help from community partners such as the Boston Police Department.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Receives Tier 1 Personal Injury Ranking from U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2019 Edition of “Best Law Firms”
Breakstone, White & Gluck was recognized with a 2019 Tier 1 ranking in the specialty of personal injury litigation for plaintiffs in Boston.
We are pleased to announce that Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston has received a Tier 1 ranking from the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2019 edition of “Best Law Firms.” The firm received the Tier 1 ranking in the specialty of personal injury litigation for plaintiffs in Boston.
Breakstone, White & Gluck and our attorneys have been selected for U.S. News – Best Lawyers® and “Best Law Firms” rankings this year and in the past. In this year’s Best Lawyers ratings, Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck were selected for individual recognition in various areas of our practice, including personal injury litigation – plaintiffs, insurance law, medical malpractice and professional malpractice.
The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from other attorneys and other information provided by law firms.
Breakstone, White & Gluck is a top-rated Boston personal injury law firm with over 100 years combined experience and record-setting awards and settlements. Across Massachusetts and New England, our lawyers are known for our unwavering commitment to reach the best financial outcome for every client. We have earned recognition from “Best Law Firms” and Best Lawyers, along with Top 100 New England Super Lawyers and Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers. Our attorneys hold top professional and ethical ratings from Martindale-Hubbell.
Our Attorneys
Our Practice
Our firm specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including those involving catastrophic injuries and traumatic brain injury, including:
- Personal Injury Law
- Medical Malpractice
- Wrongful Death
- Car Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Construction Site Accidents
- MBTA Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Gas Explosions
- Dog Bites
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Premises Liability Accidents
- Product Liability
Free Legal Consultation
Boston Personal Injury Lawyers – Worcester Personal Injury Lawyers
If you have been injured, it is important to consult an experienced Boston personal injury lawyer or Worcester personal injury lawyer to learn your rights. You may have the right to obtain financial compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys represent those injured across Massachusetts, including in Boston, Waltham, Framingham, Cape Cod, Brockton, Plymouth, Worcester, the North Shore, the South Shore and Western Massachusetts.
For a free legal consultation, call our firm at 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676 or use our contact form.
WBZ NewsRadio Interviews Attorney Marc L. Breakstone About Family’s Plan to File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Columbia Gas and NiSource
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone was interviewed by WBZ NewsRadio this morning about his client’s plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Columbia Gas and parent company NiSource. Attorney Breakstone is representing the family of Kenneth DeVeau, a North Andover man who suffered injuries when he was evacuated and later died from complications.
Listen to the 60-second clip below or read the full article on the WBZ NewsRadio website. You can also listen to this audio clip on the WBZ NewsRadio website.
Source: Audio news clip is courtesy of WBZ NewsRadio.
Breakstone, White & Gluck Representing Family in Wrongful Death Claim Against Columbia Gas and NiSource
Television news coverage showing Kenneth Deveau in a stretcher at a North Andover shelter after he was evacuated during the Columbia Gas explosions in Merrimack Valley.
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone has confirmed to the media that Columbia Gas and parent company NiSource will face a second wrongful death lawsuit following the Merrimack Valley gas explosions. Attorney Breakstone is representing the family of the late Kenneth DeVeau of North Andover, who suffered cardiac arrest and slipped into a coma after the Sept. 13th explosions. DeVeau, 57, suffered from illnesses such as Myotonic Dystrophy and a weakened heart, and had limited mobility due to a chronic neurological condition. DeVeau suffered the heart attack and injuries at an evacuation center. He was then transported to Lawrence General Hospital, where he briefly regained consciousness. He died from complications on Sept. 26.
Attorney Breakstone said the family has not yet filed the wrongful death lawsuit. They will do so once DeVeau’s sister is appointed the personal representative of his estate.
NiSource disclosed the second wrongful death claim yesterday when it filed its quarterly financial disclosures with the SEC. The company noted two parties had reported their intent to assert wrongful death claims after the Columbia Gas explosions in Merrimack Valley. Prior to this, only the family of 18-year-old Leonel Rondon had announced its intention.
News coverage:
Family of late North Andover man says he suffered cardiac arrest, slipped into coma after Merrimack Valley evacuations, Boston Globe, Nov. 2, 2018
Family says 2nd death linked to Merrimack Valley gas explosions, WCVB, Nov. 2, 2018
Second Family Plans Wrongful Death Suit Against Columbia Gas And NiSource, WGBH, Nov. 2, 2018
Second wrongful death lawsuit to be filed against Columbia Gas, Lawrence Eagle Tribune, Nov. 2, 2018
Family of man who died in aftermath of gas blasts plans suit, San Francisco Chronicle, Nov. 2, 2018
WBZ Radio Coverage: Attorney Marc Breakstone Interviewed, Nov. 2, 2018
Breakstone, White & Gluck Recognized by Super Lawyers for 15th Year
Ronald E. Gluck, Marc L. Breakstone and David W. White of Breakstone, White & Gluck
We are pleased to announce that Breakstone, White & Gluck and our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers for the 15th year. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Lawyers are rated nationwide, across 70 practice areas, with just a select number recognized.
2018 Recognition
In 2018, our lawyers have been named to a number of Super Lawyers lists, including the 2018 Top New England Super Lawyers, 2018 Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers in personal injury and medical malpractice, and the 2018 Rising Stars list.
Marc L. Breakstone has been selected to the Top 100 New England Super Lawyers, Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and to the 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list, recognized as a top-rated medical malpractice attorney in Boston.
David W. White has been selected to the 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list, recognized as a top-rated personal injury attorney in Boston.
Ronald E. Gluck has been selected to the 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list, recognized as a top-rated personal injury attorney in Boston.
Reza Breakstone has been selected to the 2018 Massachusetts Rising Stars list.
About Breakstone, White & Gluck
Reza Breakstone
Marc L. Breakstone, David W. White and Ronald E. Gluck founded the law firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck in Boston in 1992. Reza Breakstone joined the firm as an associate in 2015.
At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our Boston personal injury lawyers fight for justice for those who have been seriously injured or killed by the negligence and wrongdoing of others. Our lawyers have won numerous record-setting verdicts and settlements. We specialize in cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries and motor vehicle crashes. Read more.
Super Lawyers Ratings: Built on Peer Reviews
The 2018 New England Super Lawyers listings, just released, are meant to serve as a resource to help those searching for attorneys and are available for free online. Most years, they are published in Boston Magazine. When you visit a law firm’s website, you can also look for the Super Lawyers badge to see if a lawyer has been rated.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, recognizes the top 5 percent of lawyers across the state, along with a Rising Stars list highlighting the top lawyers under 40 years old (or the top 2.5 percent statewide). Lawyers are rated through a multiphase selection process, including a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research evaluation and peer reviews by other top-rated attorneys in a practice area. The peer reviews are what make the Super Lawyers listings so valuable to consumers and other attorneys. When you call a lawyer rated by Super Lawyers, you can trust other highly experienced lawyers have already reviewed the lawyer’s skills and experience in their specialty.
The independent evaluation considers the following 12 indicators:
- Verdicts/Settlements
- Transactions
- Representative Clients
- Experience
- Honors/Awards
- Special licenses/certifications
- Position within the law firm
- Bar and/or professional activity
- Pro bono and community service
- Scholarly lectures/writings
- Education/employment background
- Other outstanding achievements
Attorney: $100 Million in Legal Liabilities Estimated in Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone, speaking to a reporter in 2016.
Attorney Marc L. Breakstone was interviewed by The Boston Business Journal about the Merrimack Valley home explosions. Attorney Breakstone roughly estimated there are $100 million in legal liabilities related to the natural gas explosions, which devastated entire neighborhoods in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover last week. His early estimate was based in part on a preliminary assessment of home values in the area.
Attorney Breakstone is a Boston personal injury lawyer, with over 35 years of experience representing those who have been injured by negligence. He is experienced at representing those injured in construction accidents and home gas explosions.
If your family has been affected by the Columbia Gas explosions or fires, Breakstone, White & Gluck can assist you. Please call us at 800-379-1244 for a free legal consultation.
In the summer of 2010, one of our clients died after a propane gas explosion in the Norfolk, Massachusetts condominium where he was working. Our client was trapped for more than 90 minutes before he was rescued. He died the next day.
We later learned our client had no warning there was a propane gas leak. The chemical odorant added to emit a “rotten eggs” smell had faded. Attorney Breakstone filed a wrongful death lawsuit against EnergyUSA and Smolinsky Brothers Plumbing and Heating, alleging EnergyUSA was negligent and had under-filled a new propane tank. He later negotiated a $7.5 million settlement with the defendants in 2012.
The Norfolk explosion raised awareness of the dangers caused when companies are negligent in handling propane gas. In Massachusetts, state officials warned consumers to check recent propane deliveries. In July 2013, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a national safety alert warning the public about the risks of under-odorization.
For background on this case, read the settlement announcement. You can also visit our website.