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The McCallum family seeks damages in the death of their father and her husband. A family photo
The deceased, upper left, and his three sons
A family photo
The late Chris McCallum’s family alleges a police cover-up and sues the City of Quincy for $8 million.
In what has long been expected by those in the Quincy Quarry News newsroom, word of a civil wrongful death lawsuit was published today in the South Shore broadsheet as well as that the lawsuit can be readily reviewed online.
While the broadsheet put the story behind its exclusive for subscribers only paywall and its coverage was thorough, only two key allegations in the lawsuit were somewhat of a shock to the Quincy Quarry personnel.
If these allegations can be proven. the jury is going to see people pay
A file photo
Specifically, asserting that Quincy Police officers who responded to the scene not only failed to engage in proper procedures for such an incident, but also that these officers purportedly intimidated witnesses to not identify the person who struck the fatal blow or his brother as these perps were known to the officers as well as also known to be relatives of an active Quincy police officer and a retired Quincy police sergeant.
Particularly problematic for the Koch Administration, co-defendant Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan is one of Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch’s brothers-in-law and this surely poses all manner of conflict of interest sorts fo problems for the mayor.
And for those who care to review such things, the lawsuit lays out how both local officials should be held joint and severally liable financially liable given all manner of alleged gross negligence on their part as well as that the City of Quincy is the bar’s landlord and thus faces a manner of host liability for the wrongful death of Christopher McCallum.
Defendants
An old Columbia Pictures
Also note that as this is a civil lawsuit, succeeding at trial only requires that the plaintiff meet the much lower demanding preponderance of the evidence standard, if this case goes to trial will likely see a jury make people pay as well as lot, if not even more than the $8 million multiple factored claim that saw the light of day today.
Similarly, under the legal doctrine of joint and several liability is set into law in Massachusetts, all parties found liable by a jury, will have to come up with whatever damages might be awarded regardless of who has the means to pay what.
In turn, as the City of Quincy “self-insures” for such potential risks, local taxpayers are on the hook to pay for whatever are imposed less whatever the city officials are concurrently hit with kicking in on covering the damages awards.
In other words, the City of Quincy is both the deepest pocket as well as the pocket of last resort to make sure that the full amount of any and all damages awarded to the widow are paid in full.
“… open and responsive …” Ya, right …
A City of Quincy website webpage
Click on image for larger image
Also note that today’s release of documents showed that Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch was provided with word of the lawsuit two weeks and such would readily explain why he has all but dropped from sight or sound in recent days.
No word, so far anyway, if he soiled his shorts upon his formally knowing that the lawsuit was coming as well as what all it both alleges and seeks in the way of damages.
Source: Family of Chris McCallum sues Quincy for $8M, alleges police cover-up
This can’t be good. Just sayn.
This isn’t a simple and standard case of shady real estate deals or receiving illegal campaign contributions — this is about an alleged coverup surrounding a death. It involves members of the city government and snakes its way through city departments, friends, relatives, connected individuals, and organizations. Quite a plot.
It’s a sad situation for the McCallums, of course, and I certainly hope they prevail in this suit.
I hope the Quincy Quarry continues coverage of this sad story. Still lots of questions.
For example, is Ward Counselor Harris an employee at the legion post. If not, what was he doing bartending at the legion post on the night of the incident?
Did the Quincy Police Department cover-up for Counselor Harris?
The fatal incident should have never happened. The deceased’s family truly deserves every penny they get from the city, while taxpayers who will be stuck with the bill deserve better local government.
I see nothing, per Quincy officials!
Question: Is the on-duty cop working a detail named Bulger related to that crime family?
Charles,
Quincy Quarry News’ fact checker looked into your ask and found out that QPD Officer Bulger does not appear to be related to the notorious Southie Bulger clan.
No relation. Common Irish last name. He’s a great guy.
George,
With all due respect, mistakes were made. A lot of often gobsmacking mistakes made by a number of people along the way and now those who have been named as defendants in this lawsuit have no valid basis whatsoever to head off the paying out on serious financial damages so incurred.
Rather, at most, only who will be paying what remains to be seen.
For example, just the fact that the City of Quincy is the legion post’s landlord is sufficient for the plaintiff to prevail in court and this is before consideration of all manner of things often embarrassing and worse as regards the whole of the back story.
Also, as Massachusetts is a so-called pure joint and several liability state, whatever is the final amount will be paid in full even if all of the amount is off-loaded by City Hall onto local taxpayers and so covering the tukases of the individuals specifically named as co-defendants.