MASSACHUSETTS
BOUTIQUE
LAW FIRM
Over 3 decades, specializing in Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation, Commercial Law, Administrative Law, Compliance and Regulatory Issues.
You do not have to spend a great deal of time "navigating" through this website. Your time is valuable. I took the "minimalist" approach. Take, literally, a couple of minutes. If you like what you see, email, or call...for free. Happy to answer your questions. No pressure. If I miss your call, leave a message, I will call you back.
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Check out my Blog. You will get a kick out of it and maybe learn a few things!
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If you are looking for a simple private, confidential consultation by Zoom from your own home or office check out:
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is a great way to get an opinion about a legal issue in your life. It is inexpensive and you can schedule at your convenience. Try it out first, before you retain my services, and if you hire me, I will give you credit for the consultation fee you paid!
PRACTICE
AREAS
PERSONAL INJURY
LITIGATION
Experienced in all manner of personal injury cases from automobile accidents, to burns to even the more obscure personal injury cases. I have over 5 million in settled personal injury awards. Most case will not go to trial saving you the pain and anguish of having to relive the nightmare. And in the event you need a litigator, I do not have to refer your case out. I can handle your trial without the expense of a second Attorney.
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NO FEE UNLESS WE ARE SUCCESSFUL! LOW FEE STRUCTURE!
Administrative Hearings
A trial attorney for over 3 decades in state and Federal courts handling civil and criminal trials and administrative appeals.
If you need a trial attorney I can give you the best shot at a win!
BUSINESS & Commercial Law
Over 2 decades as Chief Legal Counsel for small businesses dealing with contracts, vendor relationships, compliance and regulatory issues, payroll and employees issues, policy and protocol, legal notices and statements.
Administrative hearings and appeals to the Superior Court. Discipline board hearings and pleadings.
Dispute Resolution
Certified Mediator and Arbitrator with over 50 dispute resolutions successfully resolved.
I understand how arbitration and mediation works and how to properly prepare and present a case in dispute resolution.
Appeals
Experienced in all types of appeals in state and federal court. I have written over 25 briefs in state and federal courts in Massachusetts and in other Federal jurisdictions and I have appeared and argued in state and appellate court's throughout the nation.
Criminal Defense
I have completed hundreds of criminal matters in state and federal court from misdemeanors to life felonies. I have successfully handled cases from white collar crimes to sexual abuse crimes and have the experience and background to properly and effectively represent clients charged with all types of criminal offenses.
WHAT I BELEIVE
I am a second generation attorney. My mentor, my father, instilled in me a sense of service to our clients. People come to us suffering loss, fear, anguish, pain and suffering looking for hope, relief, and compensation. It is the job of an attorney to provide the best chance of that relief and compensation.
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My creed, handed down to me by my father, is simple...I take no case unless I can meaningfully contribute to a successful resolution. I do not and will not waste valuable resources, time, and your money and I will maintain contact with you. I will advise you of the status of your case, the next steps needed to be taken, outcomes and obligations.
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I am not looking to conquer the world. I do not want to be the largest personal injury firm in America.
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I will listen. I will help. Everyone is important.
Some free information that might help you
What is PIP?
Long ago, people who were hurt, maybe in a car accident, might not get the medical attention they needed because they did not have the money or insurance or because their insurance company did not cover their injuries. They would get an attorney and wait until they won the case or settled when they had money to get the medical attention they needed. It was also thought that if people did not get medical attention immediately or soon after they were injured, their condition could worsen, get "aggravated", and it would cost that much more to care for the person. Maybe they could not go back to work, would lose their job or income and the state would have to provide for them.
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PIP was created to provide people with the ability to access a certain amount of money for medical care and loss of income. The idea was to make PIP available no matter who was "at fault".
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But, of course, there are ways to do things, legally, that are best for you, and ways not to do things that are no so best for you.
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That is where an attorney comes in. You will want to make best use of the PIP money you are entitled to, and an attorney will help greatly in advising you how to take PIP money so that the state doesn't come after you to return it. Most importantly, each person's situation is different and you must tailor your PIP payouts to best benefit you in the short and in the long run
What is a "Contingent Fee?
A contingent fee is a fee that is taken from any winnings or any money that you get from any appropriate source permitted by law by your attorney and based on his/her work on your case.
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You may have heard of "contingent fee agreements". This is simply a fee agreement that does not cost you money unless the attorney is successful on your behalf.
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Think of it of motivating the attorney to do a good job and to get you the highest award. The more money the attorney gets for you, the more the attorney earns.
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Contingent fee agreements are regulated by the Board of Bar Overseers, the "BBO", so that attorneys do not take advantage of you. They typically propose that the attorney gets 33 1/3 per cent from the "gross" of any money the attorney gets you, but it could be as much as 40%. "Gross" means the percentage is calculated on the whole number of the award, not after deductions. The attorney can also propose that after the percentage is taken out, the attorneys expenses and costs can also be deducted.
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By way of an example look at this:
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Total "gross" amount of money = $100,000.00
Contingent fee 33 1/3 = $33,333.32
Costs and expenses = $2,500.00
What you get = $64,166.66
Be aware, however, that certain contingent fee agreements are highly regulated so the attorneys do not gain a unearned windfall, such in medical malpractice cases.
Be aware also, that there is nothing, other than perhaps an attorney's policy. that prohibits you from negotiating with an attorney on how much of a percentage the attorney gets in your fee agreement.
Finally, be aware that is some more serious cases or a case where you are a juvenile, the Court will require approval of any settlement and could ask the attorney to lower the contingent fee if the Court believes the attorney is getting too much of your money.
The truth here is that despite how you may feel about attorneys, there is a proper time to retain an attorney's services. If it costs you nothing unless the attorney gets you money, then it makes no sense to "go it alone". By far, the numbers an experienced attorney can get you will be higher than if you represent yourself.
Why should I settle?
Whether you settle a case really depends on too many things to discuss here, but we can discuss some general reasons for settling that seem to be true in all cases.
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Maintaining a civil case will require some work on your part. You lived through the events and you are the person with the "most knowledge" of what happened.
Any good attorney will give you some "homework" to do and that could mean you have to meet with the attorney many times, you may have to give a written narrative to the attorney, your may have to look for documents or records the attorney will need, you might be asked to get your medical records and to sign a document that allows your attorney or the other attorney to get your medical records, or you might have to answer a bunch of written questions that the other attorney is entitled to ask.
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But maybe the most difficult thing you will have to do is to answer questions by the other attorney in person and under oath. Some attorneys can be very difficult. Of course, if your case goes to trial, you will have to testify.
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Settling can avoid most if not all of your involvement in getting money from the other side. It will also remove the risk that you could lose or that the award will be little money. Also, it will stop the expenses from piling up because your attorney will have to spend money to get your trial prepared.
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You see, there are many good reasons to settle your case, including you get the money right away as opposed to possibly years down the road if the other side appeals the award your get after trial.
What the heck is Arbitration and mediation?
Mediation, and arbitration, are two ways of settling your case. They are different.
Arbitration is usually part of a contract that makes it mandatory that all "disputes" are arbitrated and that any award by an arbitrator is final. Not usually the best position to be in. Arbitration offers much less felxibility to you and greater likelihood that the other side can get away with paying you little to end the case.
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Mediation is usually voluntary and will have to be agreed to by both parties. Not only must there be agreement to arbitrate but also the mediator and/or the number of mediators will need to be agreed.
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The mediation or arbitration is done outside the courtroom usually in the offices of the arbitrator or mediator and you will have to sign some documents your attorney will explain need to be signed before you can proceed.
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You will need an attorney, if you do not have one, if you agree to mediate or are forced to arbitrate. There are too many pitfalls in either proceeding and you could get hurt badly without an attorney.
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This is not the time to attempt to go on your own. The other side will take advantage of you if they see you are without an attorney.
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If you agree on a number at mediation, you will sign a settlement agreement, and often times, the other side, insurance company, will give your attorney a check right then. Other times it could take weeks, but you will get your money.
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If there is an arbitration, you will have to wait for a decision and your attorney will advise you based on that decision.
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Finally, there are very few grounds to appeal either a mediation or arbitration, and you cannot rely on what was said at the mediation if you end up having a trial. You cannot sue the mediator or arbitrator.
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Joseph J. Balliro, Jr.
For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:
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