Settlements & Verdicts 2020

We are pleased to report Class Action lawsuits filed  by Brian Cunha and Associates and other attorneys stemming from the natural gas explosions in Massachusetts, has been settled  for $143 million, against Columbia Gas, the utility blamed for the disaster.

The settlement is subject to the approval of a judge, according to Brian Cunha.The explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on September 13,2018  killed one person, injured about 25 others, and damaged or destroyed more than 100 buildings. Many people were forced into temporary shelter, and thousands of homes and businesses went without natural gas service for weeks and even months during the winter.

“Families suffered for months in the gripping cold. Businesses shuttered and lives were upended.” Brian Cunha attorney for the plaintiffs said in a statement.

The explosions were blamed on an over pressurization of gas transmission lines during routine replacement. The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation.

The agreement is separate from an $80 million settlement reached in May with the three communities to address infrastructure damage.

“I don’t’ think anything can ever be fair to a community where so many people lost family members, lost homes, lost livelihoods,” Gov. Charlie Baker responded when asked.

Baker added that victims of the disaster were well represented in negotiations with the utility, “and if they believe that was a deal worth signing, I’m going to side with them on that.”

NiSource has so far spent about $1 billion responding to the disaster, the company said.

Residents of the three communities will be entitled to recover compensation for disruption of their lives and property damage not previously covered, according to Brian Cunha. Businesses will be
able to claim lost income and lost inventory.

Brian Cunha & Associates is presently proceeding on a second class action lawsuit in Newport Rhode Island against National grid and it natural Gas supplier Enbridge Corp.,  a Canadian based company, as a result of the loss of natural gas service to the community in January 2019. That case is proceeding though litigation.

February, 2019, the Plaintiff was operating his motor vehicle upon Old Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth, Ma, when a vehicle failed to stop at the red light, striking the front end Freddy’s vehicle, causing the airbags to deploy and the vehicle to spin completely around before it came to rest in the grassy ditch several yards from the collision site.  The collision was of such velocity that Mr. Perez’s vehicle was deemed a total loss. Freddy sustained: cervical, thoracic and lumbar strains as well as a comminuted, displaced left clavicle fracture. The Defendant only had $20,000.00 on his automobile policy, however Attorney Nelia De Stefano, from the Law Offices of Brioan Cunha & Associates was able to obtain an additional 60,000.00 from the underinsured provision in the Plaintiffs own policy.  The Plaintiff retained Attorney Nelia DeStefano from the Law Offices of Brian Cunha & Associates and  settled the case for a favorable amount. 

In Mid-December, 2017, the Plaintiff  was the seat-belted operator of his motor vehicle and traveling on County Road in Barrington Rhode Island, when another vehicle attempting to exit a parking lot to take a right hand turn Southbound onto County Road collided with his vehicle.  The impact was such that Vincent’s vehicle skidded, spun completely around, went over the curb, struck and drove through a bus shelter structure before finally coming to rest against a wooden utility pole, causing it to crack. Vincent suffered with daily headaches, forgetfulness, interrupted sleep and neck pain radiating down to bilateral upper extremities.  He was diagnosed with a pinched nerve, cervical neuropathy and post-concussion syndrome.   The Plaintiff retained Attorney Nelia DeStefano from the Law Offices of Brian Cunha & Associates and  settled the case for a favorable amount. 

In late June 2018, the Plaintiff  was involved in a motor vehicle collision wherein her vehicle was struck on the drivers’ side at an intersection in Fall River, MA.  She was extricated from her vehicle and transported to  St. Anne’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures and a presumed aortic injury based on initial CT scan and mechanism of injury.  She was transferred to R.I. Hospital for further management of aortic injury that was ultimately an incidental finding of a heart issue that was unrelated to the collision.  The Plaintiff retained Attorney Nelia DeStefano from the Law Offices of Brian Cunha & Associates and  settled the case for a favorable amount. 

In February, 2017, the Plaintiff was traveling on Charlotte White Road in Westport, Massachusetts and was stopped behind a vehicle waiting to make a left hand turn.  She had her right foot firmly pressed on the brake and was at a complete stop when her vehicle was suddenly rear-ended by a transport van owned by Whaling City Transit, Inc.

The vehicle sustained moderate rear-end damage, was towed from the scene and was ultimately deemed a total loss.  The force of the impact caused the Plaintiff to strike her face and upper body on the steering wheel and sustain facial injuries including a broken nose for which she underwent surgical correction.  Following the collision, she developed significant right knee pain and distal leg pain, ultimately requiring surgery to repair a complex tear of her medial meniscus after failing conservative treatment courses.  The Plaintiff retained The Law Offices of Brian Cunha & Associates and after several negotiation sessions settled the case

March 9, 2020 Columbia Gas Fined $53 Million Dollars

https://news.yahoo.com/utility-pleads-guilty-causing-gas-185029473.html

APPROVED March 12, 2020  Settlement $143 Million- Lawrence Gas Explosion Case

https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2020/03/12/143-million-columbia-gas-settlement-gets-final-approval-from-judge

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-03-12/judge-approves-143m-natural-gas-explosions-settlement

We are pleased to report Class Action lawsuits filed  by Brian Cunha and Associates and other attorneys stemming from the natural gas explosions in Massachusetts, has been settled  for $143 million, against Columbia Gas, the utility blamed for the disaster.

The settlement was approved today by Judge Lang according to Brian Cunha.The explosions and fires in the Merrimack Valley communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover on September 13,2018  killed one person, injured about 25 others, and damaged or destroyed more than 100 buildings. Many people were forced into temporary shelter, and thousands of homes and businesses went without natural gas service for weeks and even months during the winter.

“Families suffered for months in the gripping cold. Businesses shuttered and lives were upended.” Brian Cunha attorney for the plaintiffs said in a statement.

The explosions were blamed on an over pressurization of gas transmission lines during routine replacement. The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation.

The agreement is separate from an $80 million settlement reached in May with the three communities to address infrastructure damage.

“I don’t’ think anything can ever be fair to a community where so many people lost family members, lost homes, lost livelihoods,” Gov. Charlie Baker responded when asked.

Baker added that victims of the disaster were well represented in negotiations with the utility, “and if they believe that was a deal worth signing, I’m going to side with them on that.”

Ni Source has so far spent about $1 billion responding to the disaster, the company said.

Residents of the three communities will be entitled to recover compensation for disruption of their lives and property damage not previously covered, according to Brian Cunha. Businesses will be
able to claim lost income and lost inventory.

Residents of the three communities will be entitled to recover compensation for disruption of their lives and property damage not previously covered, according to Brian Cunha. Businesses will be
able to claim lost income and lost inventory.

Brian Cunha & Associates is presently proceeding on a second class action lawsuit in Newport Rhode Island against National grid and it natural Gas supplier Enbridge Corp.,  a Canadian based company, as a result of the loss of natural gas service to the community in January 2019. That case is proceeding though litigation.

December 2019 R.I. beach access case settled for $25,000, but underlying issue is still in the weeds

This case settled last winter due to the illegal arrest of Scott Keeley who was collecting seaweed on the beach as allowed under the RI Sate Constitution. Legislation has now been introduced in March 2020 to allow beach access within 10 feet of the waters edge. Hearing are likely in April or may 2020.

https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20191213/ri-beach-access-case-settled-for-25000-but-underlying-issue-is-still-in-weeds