Case Name: Biagio M. Farese & another vs. Patricia A. Connolly
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1996-05-09
Citations: 422 Mass. 1010
Docket Number: 
Parties: Biagio M. Farese & another vs. Patricia A. Connolly.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 422
Pages: 1010–1010

Head Matter:
Biagio M. Farese & another vs. Patricia A. Connolly.
May 9, 1996.
Nancy L. Watson for the defendant.
Susan K. Howards for the plaintiffs.
Individually and as next friend of Christina Farese, a minor.
Susan Farese, individually.
There were either defendants named in the complaint, but the only defendant before us is Patricia A. Connolly, as to whom entry of a separate judgment was authorized.

Opinion:
Section 60B of G. L. c. 231 provides that, after a panel's finding for a defendant physician, "the plaintiff may pursue the claim through the usual judicial process only upon filing bond" and "[i]f said bond is not posted within thirty days of the tribunal's finding the action shall be dismissed." The provision that the claim may be preserved judicially only if a bond is filed indicates a legislative intent that the claim may not otherwise be pursued. The purpose of the medical malpractice tribunal statute would be undercut if a plaintiff were to be allowed to start all over again. See McMahon v. Glixman, 379 Mass. 60, 64 (1979) (plaintiff who fails to file bond "runs the risk of being out of court entirely" in taking pretrial appeal from tribunal finding).
The judgment is vacated, and judgment shall be entered dismissing the action with prejudice.
So ordered.