Scituate Tort Lawyers

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Litigation Lawyers in Scituate

A "tort" is defined in Scituate, Massachusetts as a legal wrong, not criminal in nature, for which the law provides compensation to the victim.

In Scituate, Massachusetts, when a tort is committed, and the victim of the tort is vested with a right to sue the person who committed the tort, they are said to have a "cause of action."

The law in Scituate, Massachusetts recognizes dozens of different torts. Some of them are fairly obscure, and don't come up often, and are largely relics of the common law. The torts that a person is most likely to deal with at some point in his or her life are negligence, fraud, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Types of Torts in Scituate, Massachusetts

Negligence: Negligence is the most often-litigated tort in Scituate, Massachusetts's civil litigation system. Negligence occurs when somebody does not exercise the level of care that a "reasonable person" would exercise in a similar situation, and causes an injury as a direct result. As an example, most people know that running a stop sign at high speed is very careless, and no reasonable person would be expected to do such a thing. Doing so clearly falls below the ordinary standard of care. So, if a person runs a stop sign at high speed, and hits another car, causing injuries and property damage, they will be liable to the person they harmed for the cost of whatever harm they caused.

Fraud: Fraud is another common tort litigated in Scituate, Massachusetts courts. Fraud is defined as the deliberate misrepresentation of facts made for financial, or other personal gain, which causes harm to someone else. Usually, fraud is committed when a product or service is sold, and the seller lies about the nature or quality of the thing being sold. If, in deciding to buy what the fraudster is selling, the victim relies on the false statements, the seller has committed fraud. The buyer can then sue the seller, to seek compensation for their losses. At the very least, they will usually receive the difference between the fair market value of the thing they bought, and what they paid for it.

Battery: Battery in Scituate, Massachusetts is defined as any harmful or offensive contact with the person of another, without the victim's consent. Punching someone in the face would qualify as battery, as would virtually any unwanted physical contact, particularly of a sexual nature. It can also occur when a doctor operates on a body part without the patient's consent.

Intentional infliction of emotional distress: Also known as IIED in Scituate, Massachusetts, intentional infliction of emotional distress is a fairly new cause of action, having not been recognized until the 20th century. In order to prevail in an IIED lawsuit, the plaintiff has to prove that the defendant engaged in some kind of "outrageous" conduct, which was severe enough to "shock the conscience" of a reasonable person. They must also show that the defendant actually intended to cause emotional distress, and did, in fact, cause severe emotional distress. Proving that the plaintiff suffered trauma or distress as a result of the defendant's conduct is not as easy as it may sound, and usually requires the testimony of a psychiatric professional who has examined the plaintiff.

How Can A Scituate, Massachusetts Tort Lawyer Help?

If you believe that you've been the victim of a tort in Scituate, Massachusetts, you have a right to go to court and attempt to prove your case. On the other hand, if you find that you are being sued for a tort, and believe that you aren't liable, you have every right to defend yourself in court.

In both situations, a good Scituate, Massachusetts tort lawyer will probably prove indispensable. The best thing you can do early in the process is make a good-faith effort to negotiate a settlement with the other side, to prevent the matter from going to trial in the first place, which will often prove more costly than settling. Most tort lawyers are also skilled negotiators, and will be able to help you on this front, too.

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Life in Scituate

Scituate, Massachusetts is a city in Plymouth County, on Cape Cod. It has a population of about 18,000 people.

Scituate was originally settled by a group of people from Plymouth in 1627. Since its founding, Scituate's economy and culture revolved around fishing. The rich waters off of New England provided a seemingly-limitless food source. While commercial fishing still takes place, depleted stocks, and the resulting limits, have reduced its economic importance.

Like much of the Cape Cod area, Scituate has become a destination for wealthy visitors, many of whom maintain homes in the area. Visitors from the world over are drawn to its natural beauty, and unique New England Charm.

Scituate is a fairly affluent community, with the median household income of permanent residents being about ,000, and only about 2% (much lower than the national average) of the population living below the poverty line.

If you live in Scituate, Massachusetts, and are looking for an attorney, you're in luck. There are many Scituate, Massachusetts lawyers who can handle whatever legal issue a person is likely to face. If you have any legal problems, a Scituate, Massachusetts attorney is the person to call.

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