Phone: 800-379-1244
Fax: 617-723-7777
white@bwglaw.com
Download VCard
David W. White
Partner
“I could not be more thankful for finding Attorney David White.”
Although my father would have told you I always liked to argue, that is not the reason I became a lawyer. I decided to attend law school when I was living in Vermont, doing environmental work, and I saw that the lawyers held so many of the important keys. I decided that if I was going to make a difference in this world, I had to be a lawyer.
My career took a slightly different turn than I would have predicted. I became a litigator, working primarily on personal injury cases, and also business and insurance cases.
I love solving problems. I enjoy helping my clients solve their problems, whether it is recovering money for injuries, business wrongs, or the bad faith of insurance companies. I like digging out the details, especially the ones that others are trying to hide. And I enjoy the courtroom.
Before you hire a lawyer, you should be comfortable with the person and satisfied that he or she has the skills and determination to get the job done. It is just as important to me that we have a strong relationship from the very start. If we do, it will last for the entire case.
Being a lawyer has allowed me to contribute to our community in several ways. In the legal profession, I have had the honor of being the President of the Massachusetts Bar Association for the 2007-2008 term and receiving the Massachusetts Bar Association President's Award in 2017. I have had a chance to speak on behalf of lawyers and Massachusetts citizens at the State House, in the courts, and in many public forums. I have had a chance to be a strong advocate for preserving the rights of injury victims.
I have also had the chance to work on environmental issues which have long been dear to me. I have been able to urge lawyers to fight global warming, leading the Lawyers' Eco-Challenge. I have given back directly to my home town of Westwood, where I founded the Westwood Land Trust, Inc., and where I chaired the town’s open space committee. The two groups have raised millions of dollars and have preserved hundreds of acres of land in town. In 2013, I was appointed to the town's Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee and had the opportunity to advance those causes in my home town.
I look forward to working with you on your case, and helping you every way I can. Please give me a call.
Honors and Awards
- Massachusetts Bar Association President's Award, 2017
- Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President’s Award, 2008.
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Selected as One of the Top Ten “Lawyers of the Year.” December 2004.
- Boston Magazine Named “Massachusetts Super Lawyer” in the field of Personal Injury Litigation. 2004-2022. Named one of “Top 100 Massachusetts Lawyers” 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Named one of "Top 100 New England Lawyers" 2008, 2009 and 2014.
- The Best Lawyers in America© 2016-2024, Insurance Law
- The Best Lawyers in America© 2017-2024, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- The Best Lawyers in America© 2019-2024, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- The Best Lawyers in America© 2023-2024, Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Selected Publications
“Handling Anesthesia Malpractice Cases,” in Medical Malpractice Insurance; An Overview. Amicus Books, 2007.
Tort and Insurance Law Update, Massachusetts Bar Association/MCLE (MBA Annual Meeting), 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
Appeals Court Raises Troubling Questions in Recent G.L. c. 93A Case, Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review, 2001.
Emotional Distress Claims in Bad Faith Cases, John E. Tenner and David W. White; Mealey’s Bad Faith Litigation Conference 1999.
Life After Lazarus and Furtado, Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review, 1999.
Chapter 93A Damages in Arbitration Cases Clarified by Recent Appeals Court Case, Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review, 1999.
Pierce and Dominguez: Legislative Interpretation and Judicial Inconsistency at Work, Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review, 1999.
Collecting Attorneys’ Fees Under G.L. c. 93A and Other Civil Causes of Action, MCLE, 1997.
Rules Governing Audio-Visual Depositions At Trial, MCLE, 1997.
Bad Faith Litigation in Massachusetts: The Plaintiff’s Perspective, First published National Business Institute, Inc., 1996.
Using Computers In Your Civil Litigation Practice, First published Massachusetts Bar Association, 1995.
Practical Advice for Setting Up and Running the Small Office Practice, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, 1995.
Use of Demonstrative Evidence in Massachusetts Courts, MCLE, 1993.
Dissolving and Forming Professional Relationships, Massachusetts Bar Association, 1993.
Community Activities
Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission
Commissioner, 2015-present
Boston Bikes Volunteer of the Year Award, 2014
Westwood Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee
Member-2013-2016
Organization for the Preservation of the Environment and Nature (OPEN)
Member-1997-2004
Chair-1998-2004
OPEN was the advisory committee to the Selectmen of Westwood, Massachusetts, on matters regarding open space preservation and acquisition. OPEN led the campaign for purchase by the town of two substantial parcels of land in 1998 and 2000.
Westwood Land Trust, Inc.
President-1999-2003
Vice-President-2003-2004
Board Member-2004-2008, 2010-
Founder of the organization, which is a § 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to open space preservation and acquisition, working with private landowners in Westwood, Massachusetts.
Sewer Commissioner
Westwood, Massachusetts. 2002-2009.
Westwood Democratic Town Committee
Elected Member-2001-
Elected Delegate to Massachusetts State Convention, 2001, and Alternate Delegate, 2002.
Fernald State School Human Rights Committee
Member-1992-1994
Chair-1993-1994
Reviewed medication and treatment plans for residents of state school for mentally retarded individuals in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Task Force on Human Subject Research
Member-1994
Member of Task Force which examined use of human subjects from state schools in experiments utilizing radioactive foods. Task Force examined extent of exposure and lack of informed consent.
Vermont Health Policy Corporation/State Health Coordinating Council
Environmental Health Representative 1981-1982
Member of 30 person board responsible for hospital cost containment and health policy in Vermont. Appointed by the Governor in June 1981.
Justice of the Peace
Montpelier, Vermont. Elected November 1980; served seven months of term before moving to Massachusetts.
Personal
David White is formerly David White-Lief.
David's practice has included the representation of injured workers in construction accident cases, medical malpractice cases involving failures to diagnose cancer, anesthesia injuries, orthopedic injuries, and other serious personal injuries from medical negligence. David's experience includes several wrongful death cases, including auto accidents and construction accidents. David has handled cases on appeal at the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.
David White served as the chairperson of the 2005 and 2006 Massachusetts Bar Association's Annual Conferences. David is pictured here talking with Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall and Judge Allan van Gestel, formerly the head of the Suffolk Superior Court Business Law Session, during the annual Breakfast with the Judges at the 2005 Annual Conference. (Photo by David Gordon)
In his spare time he is also a avid hiker, enjoys cycling and SCUBA diving, and has dabbled in rock climbing, ice climbing and ham radio.
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Foundation
- Boston Bar Association
- American Association for Justice (former ATLA)
- American Bar Association
- Women’s Bar Association
- Norfolk County Bar Association
Education
- J.D., Northeastern University School of Law, 1984
- B.S., University of Vermont, Environmental Studies, 1978
Over the past 10 years, Project KidSafe has donated more than 35,000 bike helmets for kids. Partner David W. White talks to Brockton Police about the Project KidSafe campaign and giving back in a meaningful way. Check it out!