Thomas T. Merrigan

Hon. Thomas T. Merrigan (Ret.) is a partner in Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP, with offices located in Boston, Falmouth and Greenfield, Massachusetts.  Tom has been practicing law in Massachusetts since 1976 and has successfully handled a broad spectrum of legal cases. In addition to his strong background as a litigator, he also brings twelve years of experience as retired First Justice in the Orange District Court, serving from 1990 to 2002, and as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the District Court from 1994 to 2002.  Judge Merrigan recently obtained the largest civil verdict in Franklin County, MA history, and the largest sexual assault verdict in the state of Massachusetts, when a jury returned a verdict in the amount of $10,000,000.00 for his client, a survivor of sexual assault.

As a recipient of the Warren Burger Award, “Trial Court Judge of the Year,” Attorney Merrigan has a rare skill-set when it comes to knowing his way around the court room.  During his time on the bench, he received numerous awards and honors for his innovations in court and community collaboration, public trust and confidence in the judiciary and work in substance abuse.

In addition to his leadership as a judge, Boston injury lawyer Thomas T. Merrigan is also recognized by the legal community as a dynamic litigator, headlining Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly as one of the States “Most Powerful” attorneys.  His practice is devoted to handling complex litigation cases personal injury, wrongful death, construction accidents, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, products liability, and worker’s compensation cases.  Attorney Merrigan also represents clients in complex business and other civil litigation, professional licensure cases, and criminal defense.

Thomas T. Merrigan is also a trained mediator with certificates from the National Justice College, the Harvard Law School Negotiation Project, Program of Instruction for Lawyers, and the MIT-Harvard Public Disputes Program.  He has a unique set of negotiation and facilitation skills that aid him in arbitrations, mediations, and trials.

Tom graduated from Deerfield Academy and received his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, spending his junior year at the University of Nottingham. He attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he graduated in 1976.

Areas of Practice:

• Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Car Accidents
• Products Liability
• Workers’ Compensation
• Criminal Law
• General Civil and Business Litigation Disputes
• Appellate Practice
• Professional Licensure

Education:

• University of Kentucky College of Law
• University of Nottingham
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Deerfield Academy

Litigation Percentage:

• 85% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
• 10% of Practice Devoted to Corporate Counsel
• 5%   of Practice Devoted to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Bar Admissions:

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• United States District Court, Massachusetts
• United States District Court, Vermont
• First Circuit Court of Appeals

Honors and Awards:

• 2023 Best Lawyers in America – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
• Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
• 2018 – 2022 Massachusetts “Super Lawyer”
• Recipient “Trial Court Judge of the Year” Warren Burger Award, National Center for State Courts, 2000
• Achievement in Restorative Justice Award, 2001
• Headlined in Massachusetts Lawyer’s Weekly as one of the states “Most Powerful” attorneys, December 2009