Over the course of many years, our law office has made its reputation in successfully taking on cases that most other firms don’t want. This is particularly true in matters that involve senior citizens who are injured or killed due to the negligence of others. The prevailing thinking among most law firms seems to be that the injury or wrongful death of a person in their 70’s, 80’s or 90’s isn’t worth all that much. After all, they coldly reason, a person who attains that lofty age has already eclipsed their statistical life expectancy. As a result, most law firms prefer not to expend the necessary time and expense pursuing cases that they deem are ultimate of minimal value. Not only have we continually rejected that narrow minded and insensitive philosophy, but we’ve also railed against it. The case described below is a perfect case in point.
On November 21, 2016, our client, an 87 year old man, was struck head on by another elderly driver. He succumbed to his injuries 5 hours later. Prior to the accident, our client lived alone and cared for himself. He was never married and had no children. His only relatives consisted of siblings who, like himself, were placed in separate and various foster families while growing up. Because they were reared in different households, many years passed without the siblings regularly seeing or speaking with each other. Owing to these sad circumstances, (as well as the fact that most of his siblings ultimately settled out of state), our client did not maintain a close relationship with any of his blood relatives in adulthood.
Several large and well known Boston law firms refused to accept this case on the grounds that it, in their learned opinion, it possessed only minimal value. After all, the victim was in his upper 80’s and only suffered for 5 hours after his accident. As is our custom, we took the case and put all of our resources into it. We originally mediated the case but refused to settle it because the offer was so low. We continued to battle on. Ultimately, a settlement was achieved between the parties in the amount of $350,000.
Our core philosophy that every life deserves an equal measure of our attention, devotion and level of commitment was once again affirmed.
Dino M. Colucci, Esquire, is the founder of Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C., a law firm dedicated to representing victims of neglect. For many years he has lectured and served as an adjunct Professor of Law at Suffolk University Law School. He has also been consistently named as a “Super Lawyer” by his peers as published by Boston Magazine.
Dino M. Colucci, Esquire
Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C.
424 Adams Street, #101
Milton, MA 02186
