Product Description

Recent updates:

• Update: October 2024

  Dear Subscriber:

  Thank you for augmenting your library with the 2024 supplement to the Massachusetts Tort Law Manual. Highlights from the issues addressed in this revision include

  • the disallowance of recovery in wrongful death cases in which the decedent's underlying tort claims lapsed prior to the decedent's death;

  • a pharmacy's dispensation of prescribed medicine as a provision of services rather than a sale of goods and therefore beyond the scope of a breach of warranty action;

  • recognition of the component parts doctrine in both tort and breach of warranty cases;

  • discussion of the proper scope of defamation claims, addressing examples such as images associating the plaintiffs with a strip club and criticisms of the plaintiff's product rather than the plaintiff;

  • changes in the analysis of special motions to dismiss in anti-SLAPP cases;

  • motion practice pursuant to Superior Court Rule 9C;

  • the need to show deceit or similar conduct–rather than mere negligence–in establishing a claim for tortious interference with business relations;

  • recent legislation strengthening privacy protections for health-care information;

  • application of the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act to claims for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention of employees; and

  • guidance on preserving information from event data recorders ("black boxes") in motor vehicle liability cases.

  We trust you will find the 2024 edition of the Massachusetts Tort Law Manual a valuable resource as we at MCLE continue our efforts to bring you the latest solutions to the issues you face in your practice.

  Very truly yours,

  John M. Lawlor, MCLE Publications Attorney

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 expand

Instructions Common to All Criminal Cases

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Hon. Joseph M. Ditkoff, Appeals Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Stephanie Martin Glennon, Esq., Norfolk District Attorney's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Instruction 1.1

- Preliminary Instruction Before Trial Buy Form

Instruction 1.10

- Intent: General and Specific Buy Form

Instruction 1.11

- Posttrial Communication with Attorneys Buy Form

Instruction 1.2

- Reasonable Doubt Buy Form

Instruction 1.3

- Presumption of Innocence Buy Form

Instruction 1.4

- Evidence: Direct and Circumstantial Buy Form

Instruction 1.5

- Inferences Buy Form

Instruction 1.6

- Role of Judge and Fact-Finding Role of Jury Buy Form

Instruction 1.7

- Role of the Attorney Buy Form

Instruction 1.8

- Opening Statements and Closing Arguments Buy Form

Instruction 1.9

- Credibility of Witnesses Buy Form

Chapter 2 expand

Instructions for Specific Crimes: Crimes of Homicide

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Instruction 2.1

- Statement of the Supreme Judicial Court: Model Jury Instructions on Homicide (April 2018) Buy Form

Instruction 2.10

- Supreme Judicial Court Chalk: Requirements of Proof for Homicide Buy Form

Instruction 2.2

- Criminal Responsibility Buy Form

Instruction 2.3

- Joint Venture Buy Form

Instruction 2.4

- Self-Defense and Defense of Another Buy Form

Instruction 2.5

- Murder in the First Degree Buy Form

Instruction 2.6

- Murder in the Second Degree Buy Form

Instruction 2.7

- Voluntary Manslaughter (Lesser Included Offense to Murder) Buy Form

Instruction 2.8

- Involuntary Manslaughter Buy Form

Instruction 2.9

- Supplemental Instructions Buy Form

Chapter 3 expand

Instructions for Specific Crimes: Crimes Against the Person

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Pamela Alford, Esq., Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusett
Larry R. Tipton, Esq., Tipton Law

Instruction 3.1

- Rape (G.L. c. 265, § 22) Buy Form

Instruction 3.10

- Assault and Battery (G.L. c. 265, § 13A) Buy Form

Instruction 3.11

- Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (G.L. c. 265, § 15A) Buy Form

Instruction 3.12

- Assault with Intent to Murder/?Assault with Intent to Kill (G.L. c. 265, § 15) Buy Form

Instruction 3.13

- Stalking (G.L. c. 265, § 43) Buy Form

Instruction 3.14

- Kidnapping (G.L. c. 265, § 26) Buy Form

Instruction 3.15

- Attempted Extortion (G.L. c. 265, § 25) Buy Form

Instruction 3.16

- Robbery (G.L. c. 265, §§ 17, 19(b)) Buy Form

Instruction 3.17

- Carjacking Without a Dangerous Weapon (G.L. c. 265, § 21A) Buy Form

Instruction 3.18

- Carjacking While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon or with a Firearm, Rifle, Shotgun, Machine Gun, or Assault Weapon (G.L. c. 265, § 21A) Buy Form

Instruction 3.19

- Enticement of a Child Under Age Sixteen (G.L. c. 265, § 26C) Buy Form

Instruction 3.2

- Assault with Intent to Rape (G.L. c. 265, § 24) Buy Form

Instruction 3.20

- Reckless Endangerment of a Child (G.L. c. 265, § 13L) Buy Form

Instruction 3.21

- Assault and Battery on a Child (G.L. c. 265, § 13J) Buy Form

Instruction 3.22

- Attempted Murder (G.L. c. 265, § 16/G.L. c. 274, § 6) Buy Form

Instruction 3.23

- Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude (G.L. c. 265, § 50) Buy Form

Instruction 3.24

- Strangulation or Suffocation (G.L. c. 265, § 15D) Buy Form

Instruction 3.3

- Rape of a Child: Use of Force (G.L. c. 265, § 22A) Buy Form

Instruction 3.4

- Rape and Abuse of a Child (G.L. c. 265, § 23) Buy Form

Instruction 3.5

- Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person of Fourteen Years of Age or Older (G.L. c. 265, § 13H) Buy Form

Instruction 3.6

- Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under Fourteen Years (G.L. c. 265, § 13B) Buy Form

Instruction 3.7

- Mayhem (G.L. c. 265, § 14) Buy Form

Instruction 3.8

- Assault (G.L. c. 265, § 13A) Buy Form

Instruction 3.9

- Assault by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (G.L. c. 265, § 15B) Buy Form

Chapter 4 expand

Instructions for Specific Crimes—Crimes Against Property and Other Crimes

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Hon. Michael L. Fabbri,

Instruction 4.1

- Assault in a Dwelling With a Dangerous Weapon (G.L. c. 265, § 18A) Buy Form

Instruction 4.10

- Larceny by False Pretenses (G.L. c. 266, § 30) Buy Form

Instruction 4.11

- Larceny by Embezzlement (G.L. c. 266, § 30) Buy Form

Instruction 4.12

- Larceny from a Building Buy Form

Instruction 4.13

- Larceny from the Person (G.L. c. 266, § 25) Buy Form

Instruction 4.14

- Larceny of a Motor Vehicle (G.L. c. 266, § 28) Buy Form

Instruction 4.15

- Criminal Civil Rights Violations (G.L. c. 265, § 37) Buy Form

Instruction 4.16

- Intimidation Because of the Person’s Race, Color, Religion, National Origin, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Disability (G.L. c. 265, § 39) Buy Form

Instruction 4.17

- Intimidating a Witness, Juror, Court Official, or Law Enforcement Officer (G.L. c. 268, § 13B) Buy Form

Instruction 4.18

- Intentionally Misleading an Investigator in a Criminal Investigation (G.L. c. 268, § 13B) Buy Form

Instruction 4.19

- Perjury (G.L. c. 268, § 1) Buy Form

Instruction 4.2

- Home Invasion with a Dangerous Weapon (G.L. c. 265, § 18C) Buy Form

Instruction 4.20

- Controlled Substances Violations Buy Form

Instruction 4.3

- Arson (G.L. c. 266, § 1) Buy Form

Instruction 4.4

- Aggravated or Armed Burglary (G.L. c. 266, § 14) Buy Form

Instruction 4.5

- Breaking and Entering—Intent to Commit a Felony—No Person Put in Fear (G.L. c. 266, § 18) Buy Form

Instruction 4.6

- Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime (G.L. c. 266, § 16) Buy Form

Instruction 4.7

- Possession of Burglarious Tools (G.L. c. 266, § 49) Buy Form

Instruction 4.8

- Malicious Destruction of Property (G.L. c. 266, § 127) Buy Form

Instruction 4.9

- Larceny by Stealing Buy Form

Chapter 5 expand

Instructions on Defense and Justification

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Hon. Beverly J. Cannone, Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hon. Marguerite T. Grant, Appeals Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Michael J. Traft, Esq.,

Instruction 5.1

- Lack of Criminal Responsibility Buy Form

Instruction 5.10

- Mistake of Fact in Nonsexual Assault Cases Buy Form

Instruction 5.11

- Mistake of Fact in Sexual Assault Cases Buy Form

Instruction 5.12

- Withdrawal or Abandonment Buy Form

Instruction 5.13

- Parental Discipline Buy Form

Instruction 5.14

- Use of Force to Make Arrest Buy Form

Instruction 5.2

- Mental Impairment or Consumption of Alcohol or Drugs as They Apply to Proof of Knowledge or Intent (“Diminished Capacity”) Buy Form

Instruction 5.3

- Entrapment Buy Form

Instruction 5.4

- Self Defense and Defense of Another Buy Form

Instruction 5.5

- Defense of Property Buy Form

Instruction 5.6

- Alibi Buy Form

Instruction 5.7

- Necessity Buy Form

Instruction 5.8

- Duress Buy Form

Instruction 5.9

- Accident Buy Form

Chapter 6 expand

Instructions Regarding Special Issues: Trial Issues

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Kevin J. Curtin, Esq., Worcester District Attorney's Office, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Thomas D. Ralph, Esq., Middlesex Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Benjamin B. Selman, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services

Instruction 6.1

- Deadlocked Jury: Tuey-Rodriquez Buy Form

Instruction 6.10

- Rehabilitation: Prior Consistent Statement Buy Form

Instruction 6.11

- Knowledge Buy Form

Instruction 6.12

- Potentially Duplicative Convictions—Separate and Distinct Acts Buy Form

Instruction 6.13

- View Buy Form

Instruction 6.14

- Cautionary Instruction on the Use of Electronic Information or Communication Buy Form

Instruction 6.2

- Identification Buy Form

Instruction 6.3

- Aider and Abettor Liability Buy Form

Instruction 6.4

- Conspiracy (G.L. c. 274, § 7; G.L. c. 94C, § 40) Buy Form

Instruction 6.5

- Conspiracy—Alternate Instruction Buy Form

Instruction 6.6

- Expert Witness Buy Form

Instruction 6.7

- Child Witness Buy Form

Instruction 6.8

- Absent (or Missing) Witness Buy Form

Instruction 6.9

- Impeachment Buy Form

Chapter 7 expand

Instructions Regarding Special Issues: Evidentiary Issues

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Hon. Peter B. Krupp, Superior Court, Business Litigation Session, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Instruction 7.1

- Confessions and Admissions (Humane Practice) Buy Form

Instruction 7.10

- First Complaint Buy Form

Instruction 7.11

- Omissions in Police Investigations Buy Form

Instruction 7.12

- The Findings of Foundation or Preliminary Questions of Fact Buy Form

Instruction 7.13

- Facts Judicially Noticed Buy Form

Instruction 7.2

- Admissions by Silence Buy Form

Instruction 7.3

- Defendant Does Not Testify Buy Form

Instruction 7.4

- Reputation Evidence Buy Form

Instruction 7.5

- Consciousness of Guilt Buy Form

Instruction 7.6

- Defendant’s Other Bad Acts Buy Form

Instruction 7.7

- Immunized Witnesses Buy Form

Instruction 7.8

- Where Plea Agreement Conditioned on Truthfulness (Accomplice Testimony) Buy Form

Instruction 7.9

- Multiple Incidents or Theories in One Count Buy Form

Chapter 8 expand

White Collar Crime

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Margaret C. Parks, Esq., Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Instruction 8.1

- Presentation of False Claims (G.L. c. 266, § 67B) Buy Form

Instruction 8.2

- False Entries in Corporate Books (G.L. c. 266, § 67) Buy Form

Instruction 8.3

- Fraud in the Procurement of Government Services (G.L. c. 266, § 67A) Buy Form

Instruction 8.4

- Bribery—Soliciting or Accepting (G.L. c. 268A, § 2(b)) Buy Form

Instruction 8.5

- Bribery—Giving, Offering, or Promising (G.L. c. 268A, § 2(a)) Buy Form

Instruction 8.6

- Gratuity—Soliciting or Accepting (G.L. c. 268A, § 3(b)) Buy Form

Instruction 8.7

- Gratuity—Giving, Offering, or Promising (G.L. c. 268A, § 3(a)) Buy Form

Instruction 8.8

- Embezzlement by Fiduciary (G.L. c. 266, § 57) Buy Form

Chapter 9 expand

Sexually Dangerous Person Instructions

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Hon. Kenneth W. Salinger, Superior Court, Business Litigation Session, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Instruction 9.1

- Initial Commitment (Section 12) Proceedings Buy Form

Instruction 9.2

- Discharge Petition (Section 9) Proceedings Buy Form

Chapter 10 expand

Procedural Aspects of Jury Instructions

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John M. Thompson, Esq., Thompson & Thompson, PC

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