Rath v. Commonwealth

1984 Mass. App. Div. 255, 1984 Mass. App. Div. LEXIS 56
CourtMassachusetts District Court, Appellate Division
DecidedDecember 12, 1984
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1984 Mass. App. Div. 255 (Rath v. Commonwealth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts District Court, Appellate Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rath v. Commonwealth, 1984 Mass. App. Div. 255, 1984 Mass. App. Div. LEXIS 56 (Mass. Ct. App. 1984).

Opinion

Black, J.

This is an action brought under G.L. c. 258A providing for compensation for victims of violent crimes, in which the plaintiff seeks to recover medical expenses and lost wages.

[256]*256At trial, there was evidence tending to show that the plaintiff had sustained a lacerated cornea, when one David Marshall threw a drinking glass to the floor of a common area on the premises known as Alan’s Nightclub, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, causing the glass to shatter, and sending a fragment of glass into the plaintiffs eye.

The plaintiff presented evidence and contended: (1) That the crimes of (a) Assault and Battery; and/or (b) Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon; and/or (c) Disorderly Conduct or Disturbance of the Peace; and/or (d) Malicious Destruction of Personal Property had been perpetrated by David Marshall; (2) That the plaintiffs physical injuries directly resulted from these crimes; and therefore, (3) That the plaintiff was entitled to compensation for his medical expenses incurred and his lost wages. The Commonwealth, on the other hand, presented evidence and contended: (1) That at most a negligent act or an accidental injury had occurred; (2) That such act did not constitute a “crime” for the purpose of G.L. c. 258A; and therefore, (3) That the plaintiff had failed to qualify under the terms of G.L. c. 258A for compensation for claimed medical expenses and for loss of wages.

The plaintiff at the close of the trial, and before final argument, made the following Requests for Rulings (the trial judge’s action thereon is noted after each Request for Rulings):

1. As a matter of law, the Legislature enacted M.G.L. Chapter 258A, the Victims of Violent Crimes Compensation Act, in order to provide compensation to victims of unapprehended and/or insolvent perpetrators of crime for unreimbursed lost earnings and medical expenses.

Allowed, but the Court does not so find, see findings of fact.

2. As a matter of law, the Legislature enacted this policy and allowed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to become a defendant whenever police protection failed in the prevention of such crime.

Allowed, but the Court does not find, see findings of fact.

3. As a matter of law, where a plaintiff victim proves by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) that he was the victim of a crime; (2) that said victimization resulted in personal physical injuries; (3) that the victim sustained out-of-pocket medicals in excess of $100.00 or lost two continuous weeks of earnings; and (4) that said incident was reported to the Amesbury Police Department within forty-eight (48) hours, then as a matter of law, the victim is entitled to a maximum award of $10,000.00 (less $100.00 deductible) or unreimbursed medical expenses plus actual loss of earnings, subject to the court’s reduction for contributory conduct or reimbursements, if any.

The Court in an action of law is not required to act on findings of fact.

4. Where the plaintiff Jeffrey Scott Rath has proven by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) that he was the victim of a crime; (2) that said victimization resulted in personal physical injuries; (3) that the victim sustained out-of-pocket medicals in excess of $100.00 or lost two continuous weeks of earnings; and (4) that said incident was reported to the Amesbury Police Department within forty-eight hours, then as a matter of law Jeffrey Scott Rath is entitled to full M.G.L. Chapter 258A compensation for his out-of-pocket loss (medicals) and “actual loss” of earnings, to a maximum of $10,000.00 (minus $100.00 deductible) subject to the reimbursements, if any, M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Sections 1 through 6.

The Court in an action of law is not required to act on findings of fact.

A. The First Criterion Fulfilled — A Crime or Several Crimes were Committed:

5. M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Section 5 provides, “No compensation shall be paid [257]*257unless the Court finds that a crime was committed . . . “M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Section 5.

Allowed, but the Court does not.so find that a crime was committed, see findings of fact.

6. As a matter of law, M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Section 1, defines crime as “ ‘Crime’, an act committed in the Commonwealth which, if committed by a mentally competent, criminally responsible adult, who had no legal exemption or defense, would constitute a crime; provided that such act involves the application of force or violence or the threat of force or violence by the offender upon the victim;. . . “M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Section 1.

Allowed, but the Court does not so find that a crime was committed, see findings of fact.

(a) The Crime of Assault and Battery or Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon?

• 7; As-a matter of law, Assault and Battery and/or Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, constitute a “crime” within the meaning of M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Section 1, for which a victim sustained personal physical injury may be compensated. M.G.L. Chapter 258A; Commonwealth v. Welch, 16 Mass. App. 271, 450 N.E.2d 1100 (1983); M.G.L. Chapter 265, Sections 13A, 15A.

Allowed, but the Court does not so find, see special findings.

8. As a matter of law, M.G.L. Chapter 265, Section 13A provides “Whoever commits an assault and battery upon another shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two and one half years in a house of correction or.by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars . . .”

Allowed, but the Court does not so find, see findings of fact.

9. As a matter of law, M.G.L. Chapter 265, Section 15A provides “Whoever commits assault and battery upon another by means of a dangerous weapon shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment, in jail for not more than two and one half years.”

Allowed, but the Court does not so find, see findings of fact.

10. As a matter of law, the following constitutes the crime of assault and battery and a “crime” within the meaning of M.G.L. Chapter 258A, Section 1; “A willful, wanton and reckless act involving a high degree of likelihood that substantial harm will result to another, or a willful, wanton and reckless act which constitutes a disregard of probable unlawful consequences to another, and that, as a result of such conduct, the victim does in fact suffer some physical injury. Commonwealth v. Welch, 16 Mass. App. 271, 450 N.E.2d 1100 (1983); Commonwealth v. Welansky, 316 Mass. 383, 55 N.E. 2d 902 (1944; Commonwealth v. Vanderpool, 367 Mass. 743, 328 N.E.2d 833 (1975).

Allowed, but the Court does not so find, see findings of fact.

11. As a matter of law, if perpetrated with a dangerous weapon, the definition enunciated in the previous paragraph constitutes an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a “crime” within the meaning of Chapter 258A, Section 1. Commonwealth v. Welch, supra.

Allowed, but the Court does not so find, see findings of fact.

12.

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Related

Plante v. Commonwealth
1994 Mass. App. Div. 74 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div., 1994)
Marshall v. Commonwealth
1990 Mass. App. Div. 222 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div., 1990)

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Bluebook (online)
1984 Mass. App. Div. 255, 1984 Mass. App. Div. LEXIS 56, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rath-v-commonwealth-massdistctapp-1984.