CORONER'S INQUESTS

“The Life of the Dead is Placed in the Memory of the Living.”

An inquest is a public hearing conducted by a coroner before a jury of five community members for the purpose of informing the public about the circumstances of a death and with a hope to prevent further deaths.

Inquests are either mandatory or discretionary depending on the nature of the death.

Inquests are either mandatory or discretionary depending on the nature of the death.

1. Who was the deceased?
2. Where did the death occur?
3. When did the death occur?
4. How did the death occur?
5. By what means did the death occur?

Though not intended to be adversarial or an assignment of blame and fault, the inquest mimics a courtroom setting and lawyers representing different parties use their skills to examine witnesses to unfold the circumstances surrounding the loss of life.

Our representation of victims of a house fire in a 2016 coroner’s inquest led to major changes in the law including the Fire Code and pursuit of landlords that feature rental properties not up to Building Code or Fire Code. With representation, no stones are unturned and a family can find justice in the jury’s recommendations for change and a voice in shaping them. We have also represented victims of police shootings and other crimes causing assault or death.