Bill Belichick is prepared to go to trial in a civil lawsuit concerning an injury claim on his Nantucket property, according to court documents. The former New England Patriots coach is demanding a jury trial and has filed a third-party complaint against Levesque Builders Inc., a local contractor.
The action is part of Belichick's response to a lawsuit filed in April by Andrew Jackson, a painter who alleges he sustained serious bodily injury while working on Belichick's Nantucket property, Forty Five Fair Street LLC, in June 2024. Jackson is seeking nearly $300,000 in damages.
Contractor Blamed for Painter's Injury
In his complaint, Belichick asserts that Levesque Builders was responsible for overseeing all work at the $4.8 million property and that the company hired Jackson as a subcontractor. Belichick's legal team argues that if Jackson was injured, the cause was either Jackson's own negligence or Levesque's failure to properly direct, control, manage, and supervise the work.
"Levesque, solely and exclusively, maintained direction, control, management and supervision over Mr. Jackson’s work at the property," the complaint states. "Levesque, solely and exclusively, maintained responsibility to ensure that Mr. Jackson and/or his employer performed the painting work safely and properly. 45 LLC did not direct, control, manage or supervise Mr. Jackson or his employer in connection with the painting work."
Jackson's lawsuit claims he slipped and fell due to unsafe conditions, citing issues such as "the placement, use, and/or maintenance of plastic sheeting or coverings and other unsafe site conditions in the work area."
Belichick's legal team, comprised of attorneys David L. Fine and Peter J. Hamilton of Mirick, a Massachusetts-based law firm, filed the third-party complaint after an initial response to Jackson's lawsuit. In June, Belichick's initial response called Jackson's claims "frivolous" and "wholly unsubstantiated."
"In accordance with MG.L.. 231, §6F, (Belichick) should be awarded (his) attorney’s fees and costs incurred defending this frivolous action," the initial response stated. Levesque Builders owner Pat Levesque was reportedly served with the third-party complaint on July 13th.