Law Firm Overview

Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C., began as Meehan, Boyle & Cohen, P.C., which was founded in 1985. The goal was to create a civil litigation firm which would reflect a commitment to teamwork, professionalism and diligent attention to clients' needs. James F. Meehan, Leo V. Boyle and Cynthia Cohen, the firm' s founders, had practiced law together in a large Boston firm, but felt that they could better serve their clients and enjoy greater professional fulfillment in a smaller firm setting. Time has proven them right.

When James Meehan retired from the active practice of law and Cynthia Cohen became an Associate Justice of the Appeals Court, the firm changed its name to Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C. Today, the firm is widely recognized as one of the leading trial firms in the Boston area, providing legal counsel in a variety of practice areas, including personal injury litigation, insurance coverage, aviation law and appellate practice. Its lawyers possess a variety of strengths and talents. They are dedicated to working collaboratively, so that the firm can best address any stage or requirement of a case, be it a factual investigation, legal analysis, courtroom advocacy or negotiation.

For a relatively small firm, Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow enjoys unusual prominence in the Massachusetts legal community not only because the firm has handled high-profile cases and obtained some extraordinary results, but also because its lawyers are recognized leaders in bar organizations and other professional activities.

All of the principals of the firm have served in leadership roles in bar associations. They regularly lecture and write for continuing legal education groups and are frequently called upon to serve on committees relating to the administration of justice. In the end, however, a law firm's success is measured by the respect and confidence of its clients. Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow strives to earn that respect the old fashioned way - one case at a time.

Areas of Practice

• Aviation 5%
• Litigation & Appeals
• Medical Malpractice 5%
• Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff 90%
• Products Liability Law
• Toxic Torts
• Workers' Compensation Law

Published Works

• Leo V. Boyle, Co-Author, Protecting the Burn Victim's Legal Rights (Chapter 17) Comprehensive Approaches to the Burned Person, Forman R. Bernstein, MD, et al, Editor, 1983
• Peter J. Black, Overview of Insurance Bad Faith Issues, Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1990
• Warren F. Fitzgerald, Jurisdiction to Attach a Defendant's Property Pending Adjudication in a Foreign Forum, 58 Boston University Law Review 841, 1978
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Massachusetts Tort Damages, Legal Treatise Updated Annually, Lexis Law Publishing, 1993
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Co-Author, Chapter 6, Daubert/Lanigan Issues, in Hon. P. M. Lauriat & Hon. J. F. McHugh, Massachusetts Expert Witnesses, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 2002
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Taxation of Judgments and Settlements, Boston Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, 2004
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Helping Your Expert Witness Pass Through The Courtroom Gate, Mass. Academy of Trial Attorneys Continuing Legal Education, 2002
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Book Review, Guide to Judicial Practice in the Superior Court of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers Journal, 1994
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Litigating Construction Site Injury Cases, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 1994
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Co-Author, Insurance Bad Faith Litigation, Professional Education Systems, Inc., 1992
• Michael B. Bogdanow, Assessing And Evaluating Types of Damages Available Under Massachusetts Law, National Business Institute, Inc., 1990
• Sherry Yee Mulloy & Michael B. Bogdanow, Co-Authors, Appendix, Alphabetical List of Selected References to Topics in Damages, in Hon. J. F. McHugh, Damages in Massachusetts Litigation, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, 1993, & updates '96, '98 & '02, 1993
• Karen R. Ristuben, Collateral Source Income, Corsetti v. Stone,, Suffolk University Law Review, Vol. 20, Fall, 1986

Pro Bono Activities

• Representation of many victims of September 11, 2001, preparing and presenting their claims to the federal Victim Compensation Fund

Representative Cases

• Santos v. Chrysler Corp., 430 Mass. 198 (1999)
• U.S. Aviation Underwriters, Inc. v. Cash Air, Inc., 409 Mass. 694 (1991)
• Guzman v. MRM/ELGIN, 409 Mass. 567 (1991)
• Solimene v. B. Grauel & Co., K.G., 399 Mass. 790 (1987)
• Scannell v. Ed. Ferreirinha & Irmao, LDA, 401 Mass. 155 (1987)
• Gianocostas v. Riu Hotels, S.A., 59 Mass.App.Ct. 753 (2003)
• Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co. v. Malacaria, 40 Mass. App. Ct. 184 (1996)
• Alter v. City of Newton, 35 Mass. App. Ct. 142 (1993)
• Santella v. Whynott, 27 Mass. App. Ct. 451 (1989)
• Holtzman v. General Motors Corp., 15 Mass.L.Rptr. 15, 2002 WL 1923883 (Mass.Super. 2002)
• Burgess v. Karchmer, 13 Mass.L.Rptr. 21, 2001 WL 369979 (Mass.Super. 2001)
• Allen v. Chance Mfg. Co., Inc., 873 F.2d 465 (1st Cir. 1989)
• Ciccone v. USAirways, Inc., 144 F.Supp.2d 30 (D. Mass. 2001)
• RLI Ins. Co. v. General Star Indem. Co., 997 F.Supp. 140 (D. Mass 1998)
• Sultis v. General Motors Corp., 690 F.Supp. 100 (D. Mass. 1988)
• Roche v. American Red Cross, 680 F.Supp. 449 (D.Mass. 1988)
• Gotz v. Delta Airlines, Inc., 12 F.Supp.2d 199 (D.Mass. 1998)

West Practice Categories

Litigation & Appeals, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Products Liability Law, Medical Malpractice, Toxic Torts, Aviation, Workers' Compensation Law