Irwin v. Town of Ware

The plaintiffs commenced this action against the defendant town of Ware (town), under G. L. c. 258. They charge that police officers of the town negligently failed to *747take into protective custody a motor vehicle operator who was under the influence of intoxicating liquor and who subsequently caused an accident resulting in harm to the plaintiffs. The jury returned special verdicts for the plaintiffs in the amount of $873,697. The town filed motions for judgments notwithstanding the verdicts, or, in the alternative, for a reduction of the jury’s award. The trial judge denied the town’s motion…