More than two years after 17-year-old Taylor Meyer drowned in a swamp near the abandoned Norfolk Airport, her family has settled her Massachusetts wrongful death lawsuit with Plainville siblings Brian and Paige Zuzick. Meyer died after wandering off from an underage drinking party at the old airport on October 17, 2008.
Meyer’s family contends that friends directed a drunken Taylor, who had attended three parties that evening, toward the swamp instead of the street. She was found three days later, face-down in the shallow water that was no more than 100 yards from where the party had taken place.
In their Norfolk wrongful death complaint, the plaintiffs accused Brian of having a friend purchase two bottles of rum, which he gave to Paige, who offered some of the alcohol to Meyer. The friend accused of buying the alcohol, North Attleboro resident Sean Flynn, is still a wrongful death defendant, as are Dianne Stark from Wrentham, Matthew Dusseault of Norfolk, who is accused of bringing beer to the airport party, and Matthew Riddoch, also of Norfolk, who allegedly was one of those involved in setting up the party area.
Massachusetts Wrongful Death
A person doesn’t have to have directly caused a fatality to be held liable for Massachusetts wrongful death. In some cases, a person’s negligent actions that contributed to or allowed a death to occur can be reason enough. Depending on the specifics of your Boston wrongful death case, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs incurred by your loved one prior to his/her passing, funeral, burial, or cremation expenses, loss of income, future earnings, lost benefits, your pain, suffering or mental anguish, loss of care, protection, and companionship, and/or other damages.
Meyer family settles suit in girl’s death, The Sun Chronicle, April 6, 2011
Taylor Meyer’s family settle lawsuit, Boston Herald/AP, April 6, 2011
Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Taylor Meyer case, Wicked Local, January 13, 2010
Taylor Meyer’s Mom Files Massachusetts Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Friends and Parent, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 13, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Massachusetts Summary of State Wrongful Death and Intestacy Statutes, Justice.gov
Wrongful Death, Justia
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