Boston Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Eric Parker, Managing Partner of Parker Scheer LLP, was featured on the 6/18 edition of WGBH's The Callie Crossley Show. Callie Crossley interviewed Parker on the Mass Bar Association's recently released report on "Law, the Economy and Underemployment." Parker co-chaired the MBA Task Force, composed of 14 members, which spent six months studying the growing issue of underemployment among new lawyers, and potential solutions to the problem. Listen to the interview here.

Eric Parker, Managing Partner of Parker Scheer LLP, was featured on WBUR's All Things Considered, as well as in the 5/18/12 issue of the Boston Business Journal, discussing the Mass Bar Association's recently released report on "Law, the Economy and Underemployment."

Parker co-chaired the MBA Task Force, composed 14 members, which spent six months studying the growing issue of underemployment among new lawyers, and potential solutions to the problem. The Report suggests that to remedy the crippling problem of underemployed young lawyers, law schools should adopt some of the methods used in medical and dental schools, complete with legal residency programs that teaches practical skills.

In the BBJ article "Report: Law School Should be More Like Medical School," Parker was quoted as saying, "In Massachusetts, we are a relatively small state that has nine law schools. When you start to realize the sheer number of lawyers who are flooding into the job market ... you say something's got to change."

The Law Office of Parker Scheer has been recognized in the 2012 edition of Boston's Top Rated Boston Personal Injury Lawyers. The list, created by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, uses its Peer Review Ratings to identify lawyers who have been given its highest rating of AV Preeminent. This rating is based on the opinions of lawyers and members of the judiciary who have been invited to participate.

Attorney Eric J. Parker was named to the Plaintiff's Personal Injury list of top Boston lawyers. Click here to read his bio.

Attorney Barry S. Scheer was named to the Commercial Litigation list. Click here to read his bio.

Mass High Tech Business News recently published an article by Parker | Scheer LLP founding partner, Barry S. Scheer, Even Startups Need Severance Agreements. "As a business attorney, I am often asked by struggling startup company executives, faced with having to lay off employees, whether they are obligated to make severance payments." Scheer acknowledges "there is no legal obligation to make severance payments" but that "severance payments and severance agreements generally provide intangible benefits and social utility that far outweigh their cost -- even to struggling companies. "This," he writes, "is especially true for technology companies...."

Please click here here to read the full piece.

A Massachusetts Superior Court judge (Fahey, J.) recently denied an attempt by the French-based ski manufacturer, Salomon SA, to dismiss a claim brought by a Massachusetts resident for injuries suffered by him when the ski binding failed while skiing in Utah. Salomon SA argued that because they had no ties or presence in Massachusetts, they should not be compelled to defend an action brought in Massachusetts. Susan Bourque, of Parker | Scheer LLP, argued on behalf of plaintiff that the claim against Salomon SA should be allowed to proceed in Massachusetts because Salomon SA maintained a website that directed consumers to authorized retail locations in Massachusetts where consumers could purchase Salomon goods.

In siding with the plaintiff, Judge Fahey ruled that because Salomon directed consumers to Massachusetts retail locations, they (Salomon) were transacting business in the Commonwealth within the meaning of the Massachusetts Long Arm Statute. The issue: Could a website alone confer jurisdiction upon an out-of-state corporation - was the first of its kind decided in Massachusetts. This decision follows the expanding trend of evaluating the "interactivity" of a company's website in determining whether or not the corporation was targeting consumers within a particular state.

Click here to read more about this case from an article that appeared in Mass Lawyer's Weekly.

Parker | Scheer LLP is pleased to announce that a decision, favorable to our client, has been cited by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as among the "Most Important Decisions of 2011." The motion, which involved issues of insurance coverage law, was successfully argued by Managing Partner, Eric J. Parker. Parker Scheer associate, Lisa Scalisi, researched and drafted the plaintiff's brief. To read more about this case, click here.

The Las Vegas office of Parker | Scheer LLP, Parker Scheer Lagomarsino, was cited in an article published today in the Las Vegas Review-Journal about a former Wynn Resorts Ltd. employee who has brought suit against the company for unpaid overtime compensation.

Parker Scheer Lagomarsino has been retained by Richard Derek Olsen, a former Wynn Las Vegas corporate investigator, who claims he was not paid for hours spent providing security for company executives and celebrities, including Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn.

For more information please read the full article here.

PRESS RELEASE, October 14, 2011, -- Eric J. Parker, co-founder and Managing Partner of Parker | Scheer LLP was recently appointed by Massachusetts Bar Association President Richard P. Campbell, to Co-Chair a task force that was created in response to law school grads having difficulty finding jobs in the current Massachusetts economy.

The task force will examine root causes for the perceived over-supply of graduates, along with strategies for finding solutions to benefit graduates, the Massachusetts legal system, and the affected community.

Click here to read more about the task force and quotes from Mr. Parker in the latest issue of the Massachusetts Lawyers Journal.

Eric Parker, managing partner of Parker | Scheer LLP, recently sat down with the radio show hosts of Mind Your Own Business (MYOB) on WBNW 1120AM, Rick Brutti and Jeffrey Davis, to discuss the legal industry today and how a boutique law firm like Parker | Scheer LLP continues to be successful.

Please click below to listen to the audio.

Eric J. Parker, Parker | Scheer LLP founding partner, was recently interviewed by Boston Business Journal's Lisa van der Pool. The article was published in the BBJ's "Outside the Box" section, a tribute to Parker's original mindset. As the interview illustrates, Parker is a compassionate and ground breaking personal injury attorney, whose own happiness is founded on the happiness of others.

The article is from the Boston Business Journal, Vol. 31 o. 25, July 15021, 2011.

Please enjoy an abbreviated version of the interview below, and find the full the version posted to the personal injury section of the Parker | Scheer LLP website.

What do you think of the term ambulance chaser?
I hate the expression and I hate the perception. I think it's unfounded. We're a trial firm that helps small and midsize business and individuals, in a crisis.

When is it not a good idea to sue a hospital?
I would say it's a fair statement that we probably turn down 80 to 90 percent of the medical malpractice cases that we review every year. There's a wide-spread misconception in the difference between medical malpractice and an unfortunate medical result. For all the people who are critical of plaintiff's attorneys ... if they ever knew how much the plaintiff's bar does to spare litigation. We do more explaining and sit-downs with people who want to sue. We have no interest in pursuing baseless cases.

Definition of a good day?
When I come home and I hear that my daughters or my wife got good news.

Toughest business decision?
Starting my own firm. I was made partner at one of the most wonderful trial firms, Sarrouf Law LLP in Boston. I left to give it a go on my own ... and it was the best decision.

Pet peeves?
One thing that's driving me nuts is watching the number of lawyers that Massachusetts is pouring into the legal system without regard to the economy. You have no idea no many unemployed graduated I've interviewed.

Traits that give you a competitive edge?
Probably an extreme case of empathy.

Three greatest passions?
Getting to the truth, learning something new every day and being a good friend.

Attorneys Eric Parker and Susan Bourque, of Parker|Scheer LLP, successfully settled a case involving an aggressive animal attack upon a young woman for $550,000. The plaintiff, a 23 year old female, suffered significant facial trauma resulting in extensive reconstructive surgeries, scarring, and emotional distress following a dog bite.

The plaintiff was invited to the defendant's home to visit the dog one last time before the dog was scheduled to be euthanized on account of a prior attack. While the plaintiff was aware the dog was to be euthanized, the plaintiff was never told why the dog was being put down. She and two other friends were asked by the defendant to kneel down for a picture with the dog, and while posing the plaintiff was suddenly bitten in the face, severing a substantial portion of her lips.

The plaintiff underwent same day surgery to re-attach portions of salvaged tissue and skin-grafts to reconstruct her lips. Subsequent surgeries were required in order to reshape her lips and reduce scar tissue around the face and nose. Despite the successes of these surgeries, the plaintiff was left with visible scarring around her nose and lips. Due to the severe trauma, the plaintiff also developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety resulting in additional medical expenses.

Read the case report here.

Continue reading "Parker|Scheer LLP Recovers $550,000 on Behalf of Victim of Dog Attack" »

Parker | Scheer LLP partners and associates will be participating in the 2011 Lawyers Have Heart 5K Road Race & Summer Celebration to benefit the American Heart Associaton. The 4th Annual Race and Summer Celebration will be held at the Bank of America Pavilion on Boston's waterfront. After the race there will be a Summer Celebration for the runners and sponsors and volunteers.

According to partner Susan Bourque, a Boston Marathon Runner for 2011, and captain of the Parker | Scheer LLP running team, "We are proud to support the American Heart Association and celebrate all of the runners, donors and volunteers who have accepted the challenge to help fight heart disease and stroke."

For Immediate Release June 3, 2011

Contact: Heather M. Cox
Voice: 617-886-0500 x1014
Fax: 617-886-0100
hmc@parkerscheer.com

PARKER | SCHEER LLP NAMED 2011 LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BOSTON. Parker | Scheer LLP, a leading civil litigation law firm with offices in Boston, Providence, and Las Vegas, was named 2011 "Law Firm of the Year, by the editors of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The award was announced and presented before an audience of over 300 at the paper's annual awards ceremony, co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on June 2, 2011. Eric J. Parker, the firm's co-founder and managing partner, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

We are pleased to announce that Parker | Scheer LLP has has received a nomination for "Law Firm of the Year" by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. The announcement was made in the newspaper's May edition in connection with the its upcoming event: "Excellence in The Law."

The 2011 award ceremomy will be held at Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 2, 2011.

Parker | Scheer LLP is proud to share this recognition with fellow nominees: Ropes & Gray and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

According to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, the event recognizes "the very best of the legal profession".

Parker | Scheer LLP with offices in Boston, Providence, and Las Vegas has practice groups concentrating in complex personal injury, business law and litigation, real estate, family law, workers compensation, and criminal defense.

Parker | Scheer LLP celebrates our 15 year anniversary as a leading law firm in Boston, Massachusetts.