Joseph M. Desmond

Joe is partner in the Boston office of Morrison Mahoney and an elected member of the firm’s five-member Executive Committee. He is a first chair trial lawyer who has tried significant cases to verdict in both state and federal courts.

Joe’s practice is focused on the defense of catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims in high-exposure cases.  He has successfully represented clients in a broad range of subject matters, including products liability, medical device and general tort liability. Joe has argued several cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in precedent-setting cases in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has tried more than twenty-five cases to verdict throughout New England.

He is a frequent author and lecturer on the defense of brain injury cases and other catastrophic injury claims. He was recently quoted in the Boston Herald article titled, “Key deadline looming for ME’s office,” which shines a spotlight on the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and accreditation in the Aaron Hernandez case.

• Obtained 30 defense verdicts in significant personal injury cases, including wrongful death and brain injuries
• Successfully tried cases involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability and products liability to verdict
• Successfully argued that pre-dispute arbitration agreements are enforceable before the Supreme Judicial Court in Miller v. Cotter, 448 Mass. 677 (2007)
• Lead counsel in Lev v. Beverly Enterprises-Massachusetts, Inc., 457 Mass. 234 (2010) and successfully limited an employer’s duty of care with respect to intoxicated employees