Week in Review: South End Man Allegedly Defrauds One Fund
The following were the top articles on South End Patch from July 1 to July 5, 2013: Outdoor Latin Series Comes to South End Berklee Colle South End Patch News
South End Man Arrested for $2M False Claim to One Fund Using Dead Aunt’s Name
By: David Ertischek A South End man allegedly submitted a $ 2.195 million claim to the One Fund Boston, saying his dead aunt – who's been dead for mor South End Patch News
One Fund Boston Gives $60 Million to 232 People
By: David Ertischek The One Fund Boston began distributing more than $ 60 million to all 232 eligible Boston Marathon victim claimants on Saturday, as planned. Fund South End Patch News
One Fund Boston Receives 259 Victim Claims
By David Ertischek One Fund Boston administrators received 259 claims before the window for applying for claims closed on June 15, according to the
200 One Fund Claims & Counting as Submission Deadline Passes
The deadline to submit claims to One Fund Boston passed on June 15, and the last few are still coming in. “We continue to receive claims that are timely filed – we are up to 200 – I expect we will receive deliveries all throughout the day and tomorrow that are timely filed,” said Camille Biros, deputy administrator of the One Fund, to Patch on Monday. More than $ 47 million had been raised as of Monday morning by corporate and individual donors, according to the One Fund Boston website. Biros said 188 submitted claims had been received as of June 14, adding she expects the total to rise by the end of Monday. “Payments are right on schedule to be made beginning June 30 (July 1 since June 30 is a Sunday). Donations continue to be received by the One Fund Boston,” added Biros. The three families who lost a loved one are expected to receive around $ 1 million each. Next, those who suffered double amputations or more will receive funds, then single amputees, then those who required an overnight hospital stay. The final protocol for dispersing funds can be viewed on the One Fund site. Victims can read and download a Frequently Asked Questions section about One Fund Boston for filing claims. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
126 One Fund Boston Applications Received So Far as Deadline Looms
As of Wednesday, 126 complete One Fund Boston applications had been submitted—a considerable increase as only a handful had been turned in a month ago, when fund administrators urged victims to apply. “The applications will continue to be delivered throughout the day and up to the June 15 deadline. The submissions are being sent primarily via special overnight courier with some submissions coming in via U.S. mail. Most of the submitted applications are complete—those claimants whose applications are deficient are being contacted immediately as soon as the deficiency is determined,” Camille Biros, deputy administrator of the One Fund, told Patch. While One Fund Boston administrator Ken Feinberg has repeatedly said that no amount of money will heal all the scars left from the bombings, the more than $ 45 million raised as of Wednesday morning will be distributed to many survivors. “There was a tremendous outreach effort by the One Fund staff and the mayor’s office as well as MOVA [Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance] to reach all potential claimants and encourage them to submit their claims. We are confident that we will receive claims for all of those individuals who were physically injured and from the families of the deceased,” Biros said. She characterized the increase in submissions during the last few days as “absolutely typical” of compensation funds for survivors and victims of events such as the Aurora, CO shooting, 9/11 attacks and the Virginia Tech shooting. Funds are scheduled to start being distributed on June 30, with the three families who lost a loved one to receive around $ 1 million each. Next, those who suffered double amputations or more will receive funds, then single amputees, then those who required an overnight hospital stay. The final protocol for dispersing funds can be viewed on the One Fund site. Downloadable claim forms are available through the One Fund Boston website. Victims can read and download a Frequently Asked Questions section about One Fund Boston for filing claims. Help with completing One Fund forms is available by calling 866-298-2951 or visiting the One Fund Boston website. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Wheatley v. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund (Lawyers Weekly No. 10-094-13)
NOTICE: All slip opinions and orders are subject to formal revision and are superseded by the advance sheets and bound volumes of the Official Reports. If you find a typographical error or other formal error, please notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, 1 Pemberton Square, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02108-1750; (617) 557-1030; SJCReporter@sjc.state.ma.us SJC‑11211 KIRSTEN M. WHEATLEY vs. MASSACHUSETTS INSURERS INSOLVENCY FUND. Plymouth. February 4, 2013. ‑ May 31, 2013. Present: Ireland, C.J., Spina, Cordy, Botsford, Gants, Duffly, & Lenk, JJ. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund. Consumer Protection Act, Insurance, Unfair or deceptive act, Attorney’s fees. Insurance, Insolvency of insurer, Unfair act or practice, Settlement of claim. Civil action commenced in the Superior Court Department on August 31, 2006. Following review by this court, 456 Mass. 594 (2010), motions for summary judgment on the issue of attorney’s fees and costs were heard by Richard J. Chin, J. The Supreme Judicial Court granted an application for direct appellate review. Kurt M. Mullen (Gregory P. Deschenes with him) for the defendant. Stanley W. Wheatley for the plaintiff. BOTSFORD, J. This is the second time the court has considered the present case, which concerns the application of the consumer protection act, G. L. c. 93A (c. 93A), to the Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund (insolvency fund, or fund). In Wheatley v. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund, 456 Mass. 594, 596 (2010) (Wheatley I), we held that the insolvency fund was subject “to consumer actions brought pursuant to G. L. c. 93A, § 9 (1).” We conclude in the present case that where, as here, a plaintiff prevails in a consumer action against the insolvency fund under c. 93A, § 9 (1), the insolvency fund is liable for reasonable attorney’s fees under c. 93A, § 9 (4). We accordingly affirm the judgment of the Superior Court. Background. The facts of this ongoing dispute are described in detail in Wheatley I, 456 Mass. at 596-598. We summarize briefly those facts and proceedings relevant to this decision, primarily taken from the parties’ joint statement of agreed facts. The insolvency fund is an unincorporated association, created by the Legislature, for the purpose of settling unpaid claims covered by an insurance policy issued by an insurer that later becomes insolvent. G. L. c. 175D, §§ 1 (5), 2, 3. See Commissioner of Ins. v. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund, 373 Mass. 798, 799 (1977). In October, 2001, the plaintiff, Kirsten M. Wheatley, then a special education student at a public elementary school in the town of Duxbury (town), fell and sustained injuries while unsupervised at school. At the time of the plaintiff’s injuries, the […]
Categories: News Tags: 1009413, Fund, Insolvency, Insurers, Lawyers, massachusetts, Weekly, Wheatley
20 Complete One Fund Boston Claims Received So Far
One Fund Boston administrators have received 20 completed claims as of early Thursday, as the June 15 deadline to submit claims quickly approaches. Last week One Fund Boston Administrator Kenneth Feinberg urged victims to submit claims, saying there had been only a few complete claims submitted. “We have received 20 completed claims to date. This is consistent with the rate of receipt for other programs we have administered – as we get closer to the deadline the numbers will increase dramatically,” said Camille Biros, Deputy Administrator of the Fund. “The intent of the Fund is to complete the reviews and to begin issuing payments as quickly as possible.” Biros added that Feinberg will meet with any potential claimant who wishes a face-to-face meeting with him. Funds are scheduled to start being distributed on June 30, with the three families who lost a loved one to receive around $ 1 million. Next, those who suffered double amputations or more would receive funds, then single amputees, then those who required an overnight hospital stay. The final protocol for dispersing funds can be viewed on the One Fund site. Downloadable claim forms are available through the One Fund Boston website. Victims can read and download a Frequently Asked Questions section about One Fund Boston for filing claims. Help with completing One Fund forms is available by calling 866-298-2951 or going to the One Fund Boston website. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail UpdatesD South End Patch
Marathon Victims Pushed to Meet One Fund Boston June 15 Deadline
One Fund Boston administrator Kenneth Feinberger is urging Boston Marathon bombing victims to get claims in before the June 15 deadine. “You would be amazed at how people in grief, with all sorts of uncertainty about their lives, don’t file. File at the last minute. File claim forms written in crayon,”Feinberg told the Boston Herald. Funds are scheduled to start being distributed on June 30, with the three families who lost a loved one to receive around $ 1 million. Next, those who suffered double amputations or more would receive funds, then single amputees, then those who required an overnight hospital stay. The final protocol for dispersing funds can be viewed on the One Fund site. Downloadable claim forms are available through the One Fund Boston website. Victims can read and download a Frequently Asked Questions section about One Fund Boston for filing claims. Help with completing One Fund forms is available by calling 866-298-2951 or going to the One Fund Boston website. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Outpatient Victims to Receive One Fund Boston Payments
Boston Marathon bombing victims being treated as outpatients at Boston-area hospitals are eligible to receive One Fund Boston payments. Claims are now being accepted through June 15, and money will start being handed out on June 30 on a rolling basis, according to One Fund Boston’s website. The final protocol and prioritization for victims was also released through the website. Individual death claims, double amputees and those who suffered permanent brain damage are the top priority. Previously, One Fund Boston administrator Kenneth Feinberg had estimated the families of the three victims who died from the bombings could receive $ 1 million. “Money is a pretty poor substitute,” Feinberg said at one of the Town Hall meetings held to discuss the protocol of how funds would be distributed. “Money is a pretty poor substitute of what you’re going through and what the people who are suffering are going through.” “Whatever we do with this fund is inadequate. Lower your expectations of this fund. If you had a billion you wouldn’t have enough money to … compensate people,” Feinberg said. “Damper your expectations.” And that’s with more than $ 30 million being raised so far, which will also be prioritized to go to individuals who suffered a single amputation. The third level of victims to receive priority payments include victims who required overnight hospitalization stays for one night or more. The fourth level for individuals who could possible receive One Fund Boston are those who were treated at Boston-area hospitals on an emergency outpatient basis. Claim forms and necessary documentation for claims can be downloaded at the One Fund Boston website. There are also other resources for those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings, including access to mental health services available at the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. Those injured may also call the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5050 to connect to help and resources. The Massachusetts Bar Association’s MBA Community Service Department is offering free legal advice to victims by calling 617-338-0695 or email communityservices@massbar.org. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch