Personal Injury Attorneys Boston, Massachusetts--Firm News

The attorneys at Breakstone, White & Gluck frequently serve as sources for the print, radio and television media. Here is some of the recent news involving the lawyers in our firm.

David White testifies in favor of drug policy reform at Massachusetts State House hearing. On June 10, 2009, David White testified in favor of House Bill 1962 before the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The bill aims to increase pre-trial diversion and treatment for low level, non-violent drug offenders. This continues the work which he began when he was serving as the president of Massachusetts Bar Association, and as Chairperson of the MBA Drug Policy Task Force. Read the story, Ex-bar head: Public favors treatment over jail for addicts, Boston Herald, June 10, 2009.

Suffolk County Jury Awards Breakstone, White & Gluck Client $5.4 Million. On December 1, 2008, a Suffolk County Jury awarded Rita Traybman a $3.98 million verdict, which will result in a judgment of $5.4 million. The case was tried by MBTA accident attorney Marc Breakstone in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston. The plaintiff suffered a loss of her right leg when the bus struck her, then ran over her, in a cross walk. Read the complete story of this MBTA bus accident. See also the Boston Globe story, Jury awards woman hit by T bus $3.9m (December 2, 2008). Listen to the WBZ 1030 podcast interview with Marc Breakstone. Watch the Channel 5 interview.

Marc Breakstone and Ronald Gluck cast doubt on Massachusetts Medical Society claims regarding defensive medicine. The Massachusetts Medical Society, in its annual spin-up to the legislative season, has once again suggested that "defensive medicine" is driving up health care costs in Massachusetts significantly. The MMS claims that doctors are concerned about medical malpractice cases, and as a result are ordering over a billion dollars of tests each year which are unnecessary. As Marc Breakstone told the Boston Globe, managed care significantly reduces the likelihood of such wasteful and unnecessary spending. Ronald Gluck explained to the National Law Journal that there were several questions about the reliability of the data. Read more on this subject in our blog entry, Is Defensive Medicine Driven by Fears of Medical Malpractice in Massachusetts?

Boston Magazine Recognizes Breakstone, White & Gluck as Super Lawyers for 2008 in Massachusetts and New England, Heather Engman Recognized as Rising Star

All four attorneys in the Boston personal injury firm of Breakstone, White & Gluck were again recognized in the annual Best of Boston Magazine's Massachusetts Super Lawyer edition. We are pleased to share the news that Marc Breakstone, Ronald Gluck and David White were all recognized as Super Lawyers in various personal injury fields, and Heather Engman was recognized as a Rising Star. Recognition was also given in the New England edition.

Recognition was given to Marc Breakstone as one of the top 100 lawyers in Massachusetts, and as a Super Lawyer in the field of medical malpractice in Massachusetts and New England. Ronald Gluck was recognized as a Massachusetts and New England Super Lawyer in the field of plaintiff's personal injury. David White was named one of the top 100 lawyers in Massachusetts, one of the top 100 lawyers in New England, and a Super Lawyer in the field of plaintiff's personal injury in Massachusetts and New England. Heather Engman achieved Rising Star status in the Massachusetts and New England Super Lawyer editions.

The rigorous Super Lawyer screening process seeks the best lawyers in the region through peer recommendations, ethical screening, and review of professional achievements and community service, among other things. The recognitions from Boston Magazine are not the first for our firm. All of the attorneys have achieved Super Lawyer or Rising Star recognitions in the past, and the firm has garnered other awards and recognition.

Marc Breakstone discusses problems with spine surgery in Boston. In a study of hospital errors during surgery conducted by the Boston Globe, the spine was identified as the area most likely to be involved. The report found that there had been 11 surgeries conducted at the wrong level of the spine since 2006. The operations often involved fusion surgery conducted at the wrong level. "While it would be a clear departure from the standard of care to operate at the wrong level of the spine, there are more reasons - perhaps not good reasons - why that could happen," said Marc L. Breakstone, a Boston medical malpractice lawyer currently representing a client who sued over a spine operation performed earlier this decade. "But it's still inexcusable; it shouldn't happen." Boston Globe, July 30, 2008.

Marc Breakstone criticizes handling of evidence in ventilator case. The key piece of evidence in the death of a fifteen year old boy, who was suffering from cerebral palsy, was the ventilator, which shut off during a power outage. Police turned the item over to the manufacturer without allowing representatives of the family to preserve the evidence before it is examined. As Marc Breakstone pointed out, "I've just seen too many instances where vital information is not revealed and is brushed under the rug, and then you have to fight like the dickens to discover what actually happened. . . . The family desperately needs someone to be involved. They need someone on the ground to be present." Boston Globe, July 24, 2008.

Ronald Gluck files suit on behalf of MBTA Green Line victim. Min Perry, who was trapped and seriously injured in the May 2008 MBTA train crash in Newton, has sued the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for its negligence in causing the accident. Min Perry, 37, of Wellesley "has undergone surgery, extensive hospitalization, and now faces a long period of rehabilitation," Perry's lawyer, Ronald E. Gluck of Boston, said in a statement. "She will live with the consequences of this crash, physically and emotionally, for years to come." Boston Globe, June 26, 2008.

David White receives MACDL President's Award. David White was honored by the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) at their annual dinner on June 11, 2008, for his work on criminal sentencing reform in Massachusetts. Criminal sentencing reform, which is intended to reduce crime and the costs of imprisonment to taxpayers, was a central theme in David's presidency of the Massachusetts Bar Association this year. “David has been a courageous and tireless advocate against the unduly harsh consequences of mandatory minimum sentences. He recognizes the importance of being smart on crime and not politicizing such a fundamentally important issue,” said MACDL President Randy S. Chapman, former chair of both the MBA Criminal Justice and Judicial Administration sections. “For these efforts, we commend David and are honored to recognize him with the President’s Award.”

David White Elected President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. David White was selected by the Massachusetts Bar Association as its President for the term of 2007-2008. David pledged to make criminal sentencing reform and improving the energy efficiency of law firms two of the priorities of his presidency. August 2007.

David White, Lawyer of the Year 2004. Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly named David White one of the Lawyers of the Year for his work on behalf of Massachusetts Lawyers and consumers.