reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 258 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 5 - Arbitration, Compromise or Settlement of Claims; Subsequent Actions

Section 5. The executive officer of a public employer may arbitrate, compromise or settle any claim for damages under this chapter; provided, that any award, compromise or settlement in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars shall be made only with the prior approval of the public attorney for such public employer; provided further, however, that in any case where the public employer is the commonwealth, any award, compromise or settlement in excess of twenty thousand dollars shall be made only with the prior approval of the secretary of administration and finance. The executive officer shall not arbitrate, compromise or settle any such claim before it has been presented to him in writing or after six months have passed from the date upon which such claim was presented to him.  The acceptance by the claimant of any such award, compromise or settlement shall be in writing and shall, except when procured by fraud, be final and conclusive on the claimant, and shall constitute a complete release of any claim against the public employer or against the public employee whose negligent or wrongful act or omission gave rise to such a claim, and a complete bar to any action by the claimant against such public employer or public employee, by reason of the same subject matter.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 6 - Defense of Actions; Service of Process

Section 6. The public attorney shall defend all civil actions brought against a public employer or public employee of the commonwealth pursuant to this chapter. Service of process for such civil action shall be made upon the public attorney or, where no such public attorney has been employed for such purpose at the time service is made, service shall be made upon the executive officer of such public employer.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 7 - Finality of Judgments; Subsequent Actions

Section 7. Any award, compromise or settlement of a civil action brought under this chapter in excess of twenty thousand dollars which has been approved by a public attorney for a public employer, or, in the case where the public employer is the commonwealth, approved by the secretary of administration and finance, shall be made final only after approval of same by a judge of the superior court having jurisdiction over the action.  The acceptance by the claimant of any such award, compromise or settlement shall be in writing and shall, except when procured by fraud, be final and conclusive on the claimant, and shall constitute a complete release of any claim against the public employer or against the public employee whose negligent or wrongful act or omission gave rise to such claim, and a complete bar to any action by the claimant against such public employer or public employee, by reason of the same subject matter.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 8 - Insurance

Section 8. A public employer may procure insurance for payment of damages incurred pursuant to this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 9 - Indemnity of Public Employees

Section 9. Public employers may indemnify public employees, and the commonwealth shall indemnify persons holding office under the constitution, from personal financial loss, all damages and expenses, including legal fees and costs, if any, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 arising out of any claim, action, award, compromise, settlement or judgment by reason of an intentional tort, or by reason of any act or omission which constitutes a violation of the civil rights of any person under any federal or state law, if such employee or official or holder of office under the constitution at the time of such intentional tort or such act or omission was acting within the scope of his official duties or employment. No such employee or official, other than a person holding office under the constitution acting within the scope of his official duties or employment, shall be indemnified under this section for violation of any such civil rights if he acted in a grossly negligent, willful or malicious manner.  For purposes of this section, persons employed by a joint health district, regional health district or regional board of health, as defined by sections twenty-seven A and twenty-seven B of chapter one hundred and eleven, shall be considered employees of the city or town in which said incident, claim, suit, or judgment is brought pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 9a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 9a - Actions Against Members of Police Force; Indemnity

Section 9A. If, in the event a suit is commenced against a member of the state police or an employee represented by state bargaining unit five, by reason of a claim for damages resulting from an alleged intentional tort or by reason of an alleged act or failure to act which constitutes a violation of the civil rights of any person under federal or state law, the commonwealth, at the request of the affected police officer, shall provide for the legal representation of said police officer.  The commonwealth shall indemnify members of the state police or an employee represented by state bargaining unit five, respectively, from all personal financial loss and expenses, including but not limited to legal fees and costs, if any, in an amount not to exceed one million dollars arising out of any claim, action, award, compromise, settlement or judgment resulting from any alleged intentional tort or by reason of an alleged act or failure to act which constitutes a violation of the civil rights of any person under federal or state law; provided, however, that this section shall apply only where such alleged intentional tort or alleged act or failure to act occurred within the scope of the official duties of such police officer.  No member of the state police or an employee represented by state bargaining unit five shall be indemnified for any violation of federal or state law if such member or employee acted in a wilful, wanton, or malicious manner.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 11 - Frivolous Claims; Costs; Subsequent Actions

Section 11. If the judgment in any action brought under this chapter is in favor of the public employer, judgment for costs and execution thereon may issue in favor of the public employer, if the court finds the action brought by the claimant to have been frivolous or in bad faith, and final judgment on the action shall be a bar to any other or further action being brought on the same claim or subject matter.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 12 - Enforcement of Claims

Section 12. Claims against the commonwealth, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter or by any general or special provision of law, may be enforced in the superior court.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 13 - Indemnity of Municipal Officials

Section 13. Any city or town which accepted section one hundred I of chapter forty-one on or before July twentieth, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight, and any other city which accepts this section according to its charter, and any town which accepts this section in the manner hereinafter provided in this section shall indemnify and save harmless municipal officers, elected or appointed from personal financial loss and expense including reasonable legal fees and costs, if any, in an amount not to exceed one million dollars, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of any act or omission, except an intentional violation of civil rights of any person, if the official at the time of such act or omission was acting within the scope of his official duties or employment.  This act shall be submitted for acceptance to the voters of each town at an annual town meeting in the form of the following question which shall be placed on the official ballot to be used for the election of town officers at said meeting:—''Shall the town vote to accept the provisions of section thirteen of chapter two hundred and fifty-eight of the General Laws which provides that the town shall indemnify and save harmless municipal officers, elected or appointed, from personal financial loss and expense including reasonable legal fees and costs, if any, in an amount not to exceed one million dollars, arising out of any claim, demand, suit or judgment by reason of any act or omission except an intentional violation of civil rights of any person under any law, if the official at the time of such act or omission was acting within the scope of his official duties or employment?'' If a majority of the votes in answer to said question is in the affirmative, said provisions shall thereupon take full effect, but not otherwise.
MA Gen L ch 258 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258 - Claims and Indemnity Procedure for the Commonwealth, Its Municipalities, Counties and Districts and the Officers and Employees Thereof|Section 14 - Public Employers; Satisfaction of Liens for Past Due Child Support and Repayment of Public Assistance Benefits; Compliance With Statutory Provisions as if Employers Were Companies Authorized to Issue Insurance Policies

Section 14. For the purpose of satisfying liens for past due child support, securing repayment of public assistance benefits, and past taxes, a public employer shall comply with sections 24D, 24E, and 24F of chapter 175 and any regulations promulgated thereunder in the same manner as if it were a company authorized to issue policies of insurance pursuant to said chapter 175.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:—  ''Board'', the victim and witness assistance board as established in section four.  ''Court'', a forum established under the General Laws for the adjudication of criminal and delinquency complaints, indictments and civil motor vehicle infractions.  ''Crime'', an act committed in the commonwealth which would constitute a crime if committed by a competent adult including any act which may result in an adjudication of delinquency.  ''Disposition'', the sentencing or determination of penalty or punishment to be imposed upon a person convicted of a crime or found delinquent or against whom a finding of sufficient facts for conviction or finding of delinquency is made.  ''Family member'', a spouse, child, stepchild, sibling, parent, stepparent, dependent, as defined in section one of chapter two hundred and fifty-eight C, or legal guardian of a victim, unless such family member has been charged in relation to the crime against the victim.  ''Prosecutor'', the attorney general, assistant attorneys general, district attorney, assistant district attorneys, police prosecutors, other attorneys specially appointed to aid in the prosecution of a case, law students approved for practice pursuant to and acting as authorized by the rules of the supreme judicial court, or any other person acting on behalf of the commonwealth, including victim-witness advocates.  ''Restitution'', money or services which a court orders a defendant to pay or render to a victim as part of the disposition.  ''Victim'', any natural person who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional, or financial harm as the result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquency offense, as demonstrated by the issuance of a complaint or indictment, the family members of such person if the person is a minor, incompetent or deceased, and, for relevant provisions of this chapter, a person who is the subject of a case reported to a prosecutor pursuant to section eighteen of chapter nineteen A, sections five and nine of chapter nineteen C, and section fifty-one B of chapter one hundred and nineteen, and the family members of such person if the person is a minor, incompetent or deceased.  ''Victim-witness advocate'', an individual employed by a prosecutor, the board, or other criminal justice agency to provide necessary and essential services in carrying out policies and procedures under this chapter.  ''Witness'', any person who has been or is expected to be summoned to testify for the prosecution whether or not any action or proceeding has yet been commenced.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 2 - Eligibility of Victim for Services

Section 2. Prosecutors shall not be precluded from providing, subject to appropriation, services under this chapter to any natural person or family member of such natural person who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional or financial harm as the result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime or delinquency offense in which complaints or indictments have not been issued.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 5 - Programs Created and Maintained by District Attorneys; Services

Section 5. Each district attorney shall create and maintain, to the extent reasonably possible and subject to the available resources, a program to afford victims and witnesses of crimes the rights and services described in this chapter. Those services shall include but not be limited to the following:  (a) court appearance notification services, including cancellations of appearances;  (b) informational services relative to the availability and collection of witness fees, victim compensation and restitution;  (c) escort and other transportation services related to the investigation or prosecution of the case, if necessary;  (d) case process notification services;  (e) employer intercession services;  (f) expedited return of property services;  (g) protection services;  (h) family support services including child and other dependent care services;  (i) waiting facilities; and  (j) social service referrals.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 6 - Program Plan

Section 6. Each district attorney shall submit annually on January fifteenth to the board, the secretary of administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means, a program plan to be implemented within the district attorney's jurisdiction. The program plan shall include, but not be limited to: a description of the services to be provided to victims and witnesses in each judicial district within the district attorney's jurisdiction; the personnel or agencies responsible for providing individual services and related administrative programs; proposed staffing for the program; proposed education, training and experience requirements for program staff and, where appropriate, the staff of agencies providing individual services and related administrative services; and a proposed budget for implementing the program. The district attorney shall include in the annual program plan a detailed report on the operation of the program, as well as a detailed report of deposits and expenditures of all funds made available to said district attorney for the preceding fiscal year and the current fiscal year, and proposed for the upcoming fiscal year, pursuant to section nine.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 7 - Interagency Cooperation

Section 7. The district attorney, local law enforcement agencies, local social service agencies, and court shall cooperate to afford victims and witnesses of crimes, the rights and services described in this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 9 - Deposit of Assessments

Section 9. Any assessment imposed pursuant to section eight shall be deposited in the Victim and Witness Assistance Fund, established by section forty-nine of chapter ten. In addition, the board may also apply for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any private grants, bequests, gifts or contributions to further aid in financing programs or policies of the division. Such funds shall be received by the state treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth and deposited into said fund; provided, that said board shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means, as necessary, a report detailing all such amounts as deposited into said fund. All monies deposited into said fund that are unexpended at the end of the year shall not revert to the General Fund. The proceeds of the fund shall be made available, subject to appropriation, to the district attorney victim and witness programs, to the attorney general and the parole board for programs serving crime victims and witnesses.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 10 - Construction

Section 10. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as creating an entitlement or a cause of action on behalf of any person against any public employee, public agency, the commonwealth or any agency responsible for the enforcement of rights and provision of services set forth in this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 11 - Duration of Rights and Duties

Section 11. The rights and duties established under this chapter shall continue to be enforceable until the final disposition of the charges, including acquittal or dismissal of charges, all post-conviction release proceedings, post-conviction relief proceedings, all appellate proceedings, and the discharge of all criminal proceedings relating to restitution. If a defendant's conviction or adjudication of delinquency is reversed and the case is returned to the trial court for further proceedings, the victim shall have the same rights that applied to the criminal or delinquency proceedings that led to the appeal or other post-conviction relief proceeding.
MA Gen L ch 258b § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title IV - Certain Writs and Proceedings in Special Cases|Chapter 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 12 - Assurance of Rights; Assistance by Criminal Justice Agencies

Section 12. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges, probation officers, clerks and corrections officials shall assure that victims of crime are afforded the rights established in this chapter.  Unless specifically stated otherwise, the requirements to provide information to the victim may be satisfied by either written or oral communication with the victim. The person responsible for providing such information shall do so in a timely manner and shall advise the victim of any significant changes in such information.  The board shall assist the prosecutors in providing the rights set forth in this chapter by preparing for distribution to victims written materials explaining the rights and services to which they are entitled.  A victim or family member may request assistance from the board in obtaining the rights provided under this chapter by the court or by any criminal justice agency responsible for implementing such rights. In order to address the victim's concerns, the board may seek assistance from the district attorney governing the jurisdiction in which the crime against the victim is alleged to have been committed or from the attorney general.  A victim or family member may request assistance from the district attorney or the attorney general in obtaining the rights provided under this chapter by the court or by any criminal justice agency responsible for implementing such rights.