Ursula Ward, the mother of the Dorchester man that ex-New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is charged with murdering, is suing the former pro athlete for Massachusetts wrongful death. She filed her complaint in Bristol Superior Court last week.
Ward’s son, Odin Lloyd, was found last summer close to Hernandez’s home in North Attleborogh. The 27-year-old had been shot multiple times in the face.
In the criminal case, prosecutors say Hernandez planned and executed the slaying. The 24-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, as well as to related weapons charges. Two other men pleaded not guilty to being accessories to the killing.
In her Massachusetts wrongful death case, Ward contends that Hernandez’s alleged actions caused her son to experience pain and suffering before his death. She is seeking unspecified compensation. And while she doesn’t blame the New England Patriots for her son’s murder, she wants to prevent the NFL team from paying Hernandez the over $3.25 million that the NFL Players Association says that the franchise owes him.
In New Bedford Superior Court on Thursday, a judge granted a restraining order to preserve some of Hernandez’s assets while this case is being resolved. Meantime, a lawyer for the Patriots and an attorney for the estate of Lloyd came up with an agreement stipulating that the NFL team will not pay the $3.2M to the ex-football player if he wins the grievance submitted by his former union. A restraining order against the football franchise has now been dismissed.
Meantime, Hernandez is also dealing with a separate personal injury lawsuit filed by his former associate, Alexander Bradley, who claims that the ex-football star shot him in the face.
Massachusetts Wrongful Death
In Massachusetts, family members have three years from the time of death or from when they discovered a wrongful death happened to file their civil suit against the defendant(s). Damages sought can include medical costs, funeral/burial/cremation expenses, lost wages, lost future wages, loss of spousal support, loss of parental support, and other losses. Spouses, children, and parents are typically the primary decedents. If they are deceased or do not exist, then other family members are potentially able to pursue claims. Contact a Boston wrongful death lawyer today.
Aaron Hernandez facing civil complaint, The Boston Globe, December 17, 2013
Judge preserves ex-NFL player Aaron Hernandez’s assets, CBS News, December 20, 2013
Wrongful Death, Massachusetts
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Revere Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run MBTA Accident, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 12, 2013