Question: How do I make a claim against the City of Somerville? 

Answer: We cannot formally advise anyone about the procedure of making claim against the City of Somerville. However, in general, a claim letter must be presented to either the City Clerk or the Mayor and must contain all pertinent information such as the date, the time and the exact location of the accident. Most claims against the City of Somerville are governed by either Chapter 84 (Defect in a Public Way) or Chapter 258 (Massachusetts Tort Claims Act) of the Massachusetts General Laws. You can research access the General Laws at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Web site at www.mass.gov, or by visiting the Somerville Public Library.