Litigation cases in Boston typically take 9 to 30 months from filing to resolution, depending on complexity, court schedules, and settlement likelihood.
Boston Court Backlog
The estimated backlog of pending litigation cases in Boston courts ranges from 800 to 2,500, reflecting both civil and commercial disputes.
Litigation Boston Filing Volume
Boston courts see an estimated 200 to 400 new litigation filings per month, based on recent public court records.
Litigation Case Outcomes
Approximately 30% of cases resolve before formal filing, 45% after filing but before trial, and about 10% succeed at trial; outcomes vary by case specifics.
84 State Street, 11th Floor , Boston , Massachusetts 02109
Practice Areas: Litigation
Practice concentrated in complex litigation and dispute resolution. Extensive experience in business, commerical, probate, partnership, professional liability, and real estate litigation.. Awarded the highest rank of legal ability and ethics, "AV," in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, for the last 25 years.. Awarded the designation of "Massachusetts Super Lawyer" annually since 2004 in a poll appearing in the Boston Magazine.
265 Franklin Street , Boston , Massachusetts 02110
Practice Areas: Litigation
John R. Felice is a shareholder of Hermes, Netburn, O'Connor & Spearing, P.C. Mr. Felice's practice involves representing insurers and insureds in state and federal courts in connection with claims for coverage on general liability, property, professional liability, directors and officers liability, umbrella and excess policies, and fidelity and surety bonds. Mr. Felice also represents owners, general contractors and subcontractors in the defense of construction-related litigation, including personal injury and wrongful death, defective workmanship and breach of contract claims. Mr. Felice has litigated numerous multiparty construction cases involving scaffolding accidents, exposure to toxic substances, and building defects.. In addition to his insurance and construction practice, Mr. Felice has substantial experience representing manufacturers and distributors of asbestos-containing products in toxic tort cases pending in multiple jurisdictions. He has participated in the selection and development of expert witnesses, including medical, industrial hygiene, and naval historians. He has conducted numerous lay and expert witness depositions and successfully used those depositions to obtain favorable results before and during trial. Mr. Felice has been involved in several jury trials in the Massachusetts asbestos litigation and he recently was part of the trial team which obtained a defense verdict, after a three week jury trial, on behalf of the alleged successor-in-interest to a manufacturer of asbestos-containing products installed aboard U.S. Navy ships. This was only the third case to be tried to verdict in the Massachusetts asbestos litigation in the past decade.. Mr. Felice also represents clients in product and premises liability claims, including negligent security claims, product defect claims, and claims involving toxic exposure to mold. Finally, Mr. Felice represents sureties in all aspects of bond claims, including negotiation of project completion arrangements, handling of payment bond claims and pursuit of salvage recoveries.
88 Black Falcon Avenue , Boston , Massachusetts 02210
Practice Areas: Litigation
My practices focuses on the litigation of business and intellectual property disputes, including disputes concerning trade secrets and noncompetition agreements. I have litigated numerous cases involving disputes between members of limited liability companies, as well as cases involving patents, copyrights and trademarks. I have been voted by my peers as a Super Lawyer every year since 2010 and I hold the highest rating, AV Preeminent, by Martindale Hubbell. I am a graduate of Harvard Law School and a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Suffolk University Law School where I teach a course on Trade Secret Law.
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Litigation, Defective Products, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice
James A. Swartz is a nationally known and respected trial attorney and consumer advocate. Mr. Swartz’ law practice is headquartered in the historic John and Ebenezer Hancock House on the Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts.. James Swartz is a dedicated consumer advocate. For many years, Mr. Swartz, as a Director with the non-profit charitable corporation World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.), has issued an annual “10 Worst Toys” list to alert parents and other consumers to the dangers of unsafe toys. James Swartz has, in recent years, been responsible for an annual press conference to alert the media and public to unsafe toy hazards. Articles about James Swartz and the W.A.T.C.H. press conference have appeared in newspapers and other print media throughout the country. As a director and founding member of W.A.T.C.H., he has been dedicated to children’s causes and committed to the creation of multidimensional education programs, including “TOYS, YOU and the REAL WORLD”, a bilingual educational curriculum which has been taught in public schools in several states.. Mr. Swartz has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters relating to child, medical and product safety, including “Med Mal and Products Liability: A Dangerous Intersection”, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys Journal (Winter 2007, Vol. 1, No. 4); “Medical Instruments And Devices”, Medical Errors And Litigation: Investigation And Case Preparation (Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co., Inc., 2004); “Danger At Play”, TRIAL (November, 2003); “Fighting Mandatory Arbitration”, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys Journal (Summer, 2002); “Hazardous Playthings Causing Injury To Children”, Children and Injuries (Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co., Inc., 2001); “Holding The Electronic Game Industry Accountable For The Deleterious Effects Violent Video Games Can Have On Our Children”, Products Liability Advisory (May, 2001); “The Common Law In The New Millenium—Protecting Our Children”, Civil Trial Practice—Winning Techniques of Successful Trial Attorneys (Lawyers & Judges Publishing Co., Inc., 2000); “Keeping Our Children Safe”, Facts & Findings (Nov., 1999); “Protecting Our Children”, Products Liability Advisory (Oct., 1998); and “Supreme Court Rejects Medical Device Preemption”, Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers Journal (Nov., 1996). Mr. Swartz also provided research and editorial assistance for Toys That Kill (Vintage Books/Random House 1986), a book on toy safety authored by Edward Swartz. Mr. Swartz was appointed as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Trial Preparation Tools (James Publishing 2009).. James Swartz has testified before the New York City Council, Committee on Consumer Affairs, at a hearing regarding “Consumer Education and Safety”. He has appeared on such national television programs as “TODAY” and “EXTRA” on NBC, “American Morning” on CNN, “The American Family” and “Geraldo At Large” on Fox, “Take It Personally” on CNNfn, “Newsfront” on MSNBC, “Legal Cafe” on COURT TV, “Crook and Chase” on the Nashville Network (TNN), “Lifetime Live” on LIFETIME TELEVISION NETWORK, interviews on BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS and FOX NEWS television networks, and in news reports on other national news Ruled Paper for Pleadings and Motions Mr. Swartz has also appeared on many regional television programs, including shows on the New England Cable News Network and Boston area network affiliates. Mr. Swartz has been interviewed on UPI, CBS, USA, CNN and TALK AMERICA Radio Networks, as well as many regional radio news programs.
727 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 500 , Boston , Massachusetts 02111
Practice Areas: Litigation
Consulting attorney with deep experience in ediscovery, digital forensics, and electronic trials. EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE) in digital forensics. Over 38 years in the field of litigation technology.. Supervised forensic investigations and ediscovery projects in hundreds of disputes involving data theft, falsified evidence, spoliation, unauthorized access, SEC investigations, pharmaceutical patents, computer and integrated circuit technologies, software development, copyright infringement, domain name disputes, and other civil and criminal litigation matters. Provided affidavits, expert reports, and testimony in state and federal courts. Conducted electronic evidence presentations (hotseat) in over 30 trials.. Consulted with clients on business issues relating to ediscovery best practices, litigation preparedness, proper handling and storage of electronic business records, document retention policies, and technology risk assessments. Conducted over 50 public CLEs and hundreds of private CLEs on ediscovery and forensics best practices. Taught ediscovery at the law school level; lectured in computer forensics at the graduate level.. Clients have included law firms, technology companies, pharmaceutical companies, financial services companies, insurance companies, manufacturing companies, construction companies, government agencies, and universities.. My philosophy is: "Ediscovery is not a technical issue; it's a legal issue with a technical solution." Questions of scope and cost should be in the hands of the supervising attorneys, not the technicians. Technology serves the legal process rather than driving it. I can provide the expertise necessary to empower other attorneys to manage ediscovery and forensics projects as an integral part of the practice of law.
90 Canal Street, Floor 4 , Boston , Massachusetts 02114
Practice Areas: Immigration, Family, Real Estate, Litigation
Jacob D. Geller, Esq. is a partner at Geller Benjamin LLP. Prior to forming Geller Benjamin LLP with James Benjamin, Esq, Jacob ran Law Offices of Jacob D. Geller, which was formed in early 2011 as a general practice with a specialization in immigration and family law.. Originally from Vermont, Jacob focus on immigration law. I am a graduate of the University of Vermont where he majored in History. Following undergraduate school, he moved to Ecuador for two years where he taught English and learned Spanish. He returned from Ecuador to go to school at Suffolk University Law School, where he concentrated in international law. During law school, Jacob took every chance to both improve his Spanish and understand additional cultures. He spent one summer interning at an international corporate law firm in Buenos Aires, Argentina working on international contracts in both English and Spanish.. Both during and following law school, he learned immigration while working for one of Boston's most experienced and highly regarded immigration attorneys, assisting clients in a wide range of family and business cases. Following this, he worked for a small firm as their resident immigration expert, concentrating particularly on the Boston area Brazilian population. While at both these firms, Jacob represented numerous clients in a wide variety of cases, including deportation defense, green card (permanent resident) adjustment of status, work visas and court representation. Seeing a need to serve his clients in family law practice, Jacob added family law to his practice early on, expanding those service over the years to include divorces, custody determinations, child support, Special Immigrant Juvenile orders, and more.
Reservoir Corporate Center , Boston , Massachusetts 02114
Practice Areas: Construction & Development, Insurance, Employment & Labor, Litigation
Bio:. I am a trial attorney and seasoned litigator with offices in Boston and MetroWest, focused on construction disputes, commercial lease issues, construction defects (both commercial and residential), delay claims, Prompt Pay Act claims, cumulative impact claims, business litigation, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, mechanic’s liens, employment disputes, shareholder conflicts, insurance coverage disputes, and personal injury cases.. With deep experience as both a negotiator and courtroom advocate, I represent plaintiffs and defendants in litigation, contract negotiations, partnership disputes, and claims against insurance brokers. My practice centers on employment, contract, and construction-related matters.. Client service is my top priority. I am known for being responsive and accessible—promptly returning calls and emails—and for treating every case with the focus and respect it deserves. Whether securing courtroom victories or negotiating favorable contract terms, I am committed to achieving practical, high-value outcomes.. Notable Results:. December 2024 – Convinced the Superior Court to vacate an arbitrator’s award under the Massachusetts Prompt Pay Act, overturning an unfavorable decision. This rare win highlights my ability to challenge arbitration outcomes in complex construction disputes.. January 2024 – Achieved a major arbitration victory for a subcontractor in a construction dispute featured in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Defeated a general contractor’s effort to withhold over $700,000, prevailing on Prompt Pay Act and change order claims after multi-day proceedings.. March 2022 – Won summary judgment in U.S. District Court in a $15 million dispute over a liquidated damages clause. Successfully argued the clause was unenforceable, allowing counterclaims for unpaid work. Cover story in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (March 25, 2022).. June 2018 – Dissolved a mechanic’s lien in Massachusetts Superior Court based on improper recording under G.L. c. 254. This win for the homeowner was the cover story in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (June 25, 2018).. Recent Jury Trial – Successfully defended a snowplow company in a Middlesex Superior Court slip-and-fall case during a blizzard. The jury returned a defense verdict in under an hour.. Contract Negotiation – Negotiated a promotional partnership for Polkadog Bakery with a celebrity foundation, securing monthly social media exposure to millions of followers in exchange for pet treat donations.. Injury & Construction Settlements – Recovered millions in settlements for construction workers and others injured in workplace accidents, car crashes, and catastrophic personal injury cases.. Approach:. Whether drafting contracts or trying cases, I leverage my litigation background to anticipate risks and deliver proactive legal solutions. I am a tenacious, prepared, and results-driven advocate in and out of the courtroom.. Awards & Recognition:. Best Lawyers in America, 2020–2024 (Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Personal Injury). Top Lawyers for Construction Law, Boston Magazine, 2022 & 2024. BTI Consulting Group Client Service All-Star, 2022-2023. Massachusetts Super Lawyers, 2013–2024 (Boston Magazine). AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell. Perfect 10.0 Rating, Avvo. Leadership & Speaking Engagements:. I serve on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and chair its Construction Law Committee. I am the incoming Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Real Estate Development and Construction Law Committee for the 2025–2026 term. I am also the past Chair of the International Association of Defense Counsel's Construction Law and Litigation Committee (2022-2024).. A frequent lecturer, I’ve presented on a range of topics, including construction delay claims, out-of-state discovery, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93A, trial tactics, and the use of expert witnesses in civil litigation. I’ve spoken at law schools, MCLE, the International Association of Defense Counsel's Annual and Midyear Meetings, and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
84 State Street, 11th Floor , Boston , Massachusetts 02109
Practice Areas: Litigation
Practice concentrates in complex litigation and dispute resolution. Extensive experience in business, white collar crime, employment, products liability, and real estate litigation.
Disclaimer: This content is based on aggregated public information and estimated market trends. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
