Barnstable

Whether you are buying property in Barnstable or bringing a workers' compensation claim before the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA), you should consult an experienced attorney. At Pulgini & Norton, our Barnstable real estate attorneys and workers’ compensation lawyers can provide experienced counsel and representation for the many different situations that may arise during your efforts to buy or sell a house or secure medical and disability benefits through your employer's workers' compensation insurance policy.

Many people use real estate agents for the purchase or sale of a home. Real estate agents may control a buyer or seller's access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Even if you do choose to use a real estate agent, you should be aware that an experienced attorney could provide you with legal advice that an agent cannot. For example, a knowledgeable attorney can investigate whether there are any clouds on title and give you a sense of the total cost of the purchase, including a comparison of possible mortgages. An attorney can make sure that the right contingencies are built into your offer and your purchase agreement.

The MLS provides the greatest access to the market, and it provides information to the most buyers, making it more likely to attract the right buyer within a given time frame. There are some sellers, such as celebrities, who prefer pocket listings due to their confidentiality. However, for many sellers, pocket listings do not yield the best offers because there is significantly less competition. The most qualified buyers are excluded. Experienced attorneys can provide legal advice about whether your real estate broker is acting ethically in suggesting a pocket listing, how to make or evaluate a competitive offer, how to handle a bidding war, or how to choose among competing offers.

Many people realize that they may obtain workers' compensation benefits for an injury, but they may not realize that they may get benefits for job-related medical conditions and occupational illnesses. For example, benefits may be available for a medical condition caused by the lung disease silicosis, when the silica exposure that caused the condition happened on the job. Workers' compensation benefits are supposed to be awarded without regard to fault. Thus, for example, if you were exposed to silica because you failed to use protective work gear, your benefits may not be reduced because you were partially to blame for acquiring silicosis.

Sometimes, insurers refuse to provide benefits because there is a pre-existing condition that has similar symptoms. A pre-existing condition is not an adequate reason to issue a denial of benefits. If your employment is a major cause of your disability, you are entitled to recover benefits.

Barnstable is considered the largest community on Cape Cod. It is the county seat of Barnstable County, taking its name from "Barnstaple" in England. The town's first major industries were salt works, fishing, and agriculture. If you are buying residential real estate or filing a workers' compensation claim, you should consult a Barnstable workers’ compensation lawyer or real estate attorney to improve your chance of success. At Pulgini & Norton, our attorneys can offer experienced, sound legal counsel. For a consultation, contact us online or call us at 781-843-2200.