Another Suit Filed in Boston Ladder Crash

Another lawsuit has been filed over the January 9, 2009 apparatus accident that claimed the life of Boston Fire Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley. The accident occurred when Boston Ladder 26 lost its brakes going down a steep hill and crashed into an apartment building.

The suit was filed by the building owner’s insurance company, Federal Insurance Company, on January 5, 2011 in Suffolk County Superior Court, against the city of Boston and six vehicle maintenance shops. It alleges negligence in maintaining Ladder 26’s brakes, and seeks to recover over $410,000 paid to repair the structure.

The suit is the second to arise out of the accident. Last November, Lieutenant Kelley’s family filed a wrongful death suit against the same six vehicle maintenance shops. The family did not name the city of Boston as a defendant.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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