Victims’ families in Massachusetts mob case tentatively awarded $2M in wrongful death lawsuits

Judge rules for victims’ kin in Mass. mob case

BOSTON — A federal judge in Massachusetts has tentatively awarded nearly $2 million to the families of three people allegedly murdered by fugitive gangster James “Whitey” Bulger and his cohort, Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi.

The families of Debra Davis, Deborah Hussey and Louis Litif alleged in wrongful death lawsuits that the FBI was liable in their deaths because it protected and failed to control Bulger and Flemmi, who were FBI informants.

Judge William Young ruled tentatively Friday that each of the three families is entitled to $350,000 for pain and suffering. He also awarded Litif’s family $800,000 for loss of consortium.

Litif was a bookmaker and FBI informant. Davis was Flemmi’s girlfriend. Hussey was the daughter of his common-law wife.

Young said he hoped to issue his final ruling in September.