Filing a Claim with the City of Newton

You may file a claim against the City of Newton if you were injured or your property was damaged as a result of the City’s negligence. Examples include, but are not limited to, injuries or damage caused by road or sidewalk defects or an accident with a vehicle owned by the City.

Chapter 84 of the Massachusetts General Laws covers claims involving defects in public ways, and Chapter 258 covers tort claims against municipalities and their officers and employees. These laws provide strict procedures and deadlines for the filing of any claims. Therefore, you may wish to consult with an attorney for legal guidance.

All claims filed against the City of Newton are handled by the Law Department. The Law Department, however, represents the City of Newton and its officers and employees and is unable to provide legal advice to potential claimants or residents. The information on this site is not intended to be legal advice.

How to File a Claim

You may file your claim with the City’s Law Department by sending a written letter or email addressed to the following:

Alissa Giuliani, City Solicitor

1000 Commonwealth Avenue

Newton, MA 02459

claims@newtonma.gov

Your claim must include:

1. Claimant’s name, home address, and phone number;
2. Date, time, and precise location of incident;
3. A description of the incident you’re alleging caused damage or injuries; and
4. Notice of any claim filed with your insurance company for the same incident.

It is recommended your claim also include:

1. Photographs;
2. Invoices, receipts, or repair estimates; and
3. Any incident reports.

Street and sidewalk defect claims must be filed within thirty (30) days of the incident, and generally all other claims must be filed within two (2) years of the date of incident. For any questions regarding the time limitations for filing a claim, please consult with a private attorney.

Contacting the City through Newton’s 311 system, customer service, or other City departments does not constitute a claim and will not be investigated until a formal claim is made in accordance with state laws.

Processing Claims

Please know that, by law, the City has six (6) months to investigate and respond to your claim. While the Law Department strives to process claims as timely as possible, please do not reach out for an update within the first six weeks after submitting the claim.

After that time, you may reach out to the Law Department for a status update by emailing claims@newtonma.gov or calling 617-796-1240.

Claimants should not follow up in-person at City Hall. Given the amount of time it will take to investigate and process all claims, it is recommended that claimants not wait to complete any needed repairs. If repairs are completed during the course of the investigation, you may forward copies of the repair invoice and receipt to the Law Department through the claims email.