reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 231 § 93 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 93 - Retraction of Libel; Mitigation of Damages; Punitive Damages

Section 93. Where the defendant in an action for libel, at any time after the publication of the libel hereinafter referred to, either before or after such action is brought, but before the answer is required to be filed therein, gives written notice to the plaintiff or to his attorney of his intention to publish a retraction of the libel, accompanied by a copy of the retraction which he intends to publish, and the retraction is published, he may prove such publication, and, if the plaintiff does not accept the offer of retraction, the defendant may prove such nonacceptance in mitigation of damages. If within a reasonable time after receiving notice in writing from the plaintiff that he claims to be libelled the defendant makes such offer and publishes a reasonable retraction, and such offer is not accepted, he may prove that the alleged libel was published in good faith and without actual malice, and, unless the proof is successfully rebutted, the plaintiff shall recover only for any actual damage sustained. In no action of slander or libel shall exemplary or punitive damages be allowed, whether because of actual malice or want of good faith or for any other reason. Proof of actual malice shall not enhance the damages recoverable for injury to the plaintiff's reputation.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 94 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 94 - Evidence in Mitigation of Damages

Section 94. In an action for libel, the defendant may allege and prove in mitigation of damages that the plaintiff already has brought action for or recovered damages for, or has received or has agreed to receive compensation in respect of, substantially the same libel as that for which such action was brought. In an action for libel or slander, he may introduce in evidence, in mitigation of damages and in rebuttal of evidence of actual malice, acts of the plaintiff which create a reasonable suspicion that the matters charged against him by the defendant are true.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 94a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 94a - Probable Cause as Defence in Action for False Arrest

Section 94A. If a person authorized to make an arrest shall have probable cause to believe that a misdemeanor for which he may make an arrest is being committed in his presence, such probable cause shall be a defence in an action brought against him for false arrest or imprisonment.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 94b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 94b - False Arrest; Shoplifting; Defrauding Innkeepers; Defenses

Section 94B. In an action for false arrest or false imprisonment brought by any person by reason of having been detained for questioning on or in the immediate vicinity of the premises of a merchant or an innkeeper, if such person was detained in a reasonable manner and for not more than a reasonable length of time by a person authorized to make arrests or by the merchant or innkeeper or his agent or servant authorized for such purpose and if there were reasonable grounds to believe that the person so detained was committing or attempting to commit a violation of section thirty A of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, or section twelve of chapter one hundred and forty, or was committing or attempting to commit larceny of goods for sale on such premises or larceny of the personal property of employees or customers or others present on such premises, it shall be a defense to such action.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 94c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 94c - False Arrest; Theft of Public Records; Defenses

Section 94C. In an action for false arrest or false imprisonment brought by any person by reason of having been detained for questioning on or in the immediate vicinity of the custodian of the record, it shall be a defense to such action if such person was detained in a reasonable manner and for not more than a reasonable length of time by a person authorized to make arrests or by the custodian or his agent authorized for such purpose and if reasonable grounds existed at the time of such detention to believe that such person so detained was committing or attempting to commit a violation of section one hundred and forty-five of chapter two hundred and sixty-six.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 95 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 95 - Defense to Action on Default Judgment

Section 95. In an action upon a judgment obtained by default and without the knowledge of the defendant, brought within six years after the rendition thereof, the court may, in its discretion and upon terms, allow the defendant to show in defense any payment, satisfaction or extinguishment of the claim, prior to the obtaining of such judgment, or any matter of fraud, which in either case he might have shown in the original suit upon a motion for relief from judgment.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 96 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 96 - Relief From Final Judgment; Vacation; Effect of Attachment

Section 96. On motion made pursuant to the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure or the District-Municipal Courts Rules of Civil Procedure, and upon such terms as are just, a court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment. If no attachment was made in the action, such relief may be granted and execution stayed without security; but if there was such attachment, the amount of the bond shall be fixed at the actual value of the property attached, as agreed by the parties or determined by the court. Liability upon an attachment made or bond given in the original action shall not continue after the judgment has been vacated, except that if the prevailing party has been relieved from judgment under this section within thirty days of the entry thereof, such liability shall, if a subsequent judgment is rendered, continue during such time thereafter as it would have continued upon the original judgment had it not been vacated.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 97 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 97 - Appeal to Superior Court

Section 97. Unless a written waiver of the right of appeal has been filed by all the parties, a party aggrieved by the judgment of a district court in a civil action may appeal therefrom to the superior court within 6 days after the entry thereof. In that case no execution shall be issued on the judgment appealed from. The case shall be entered in the superior court pursuant to section 101 and shall there be tried and determined as if originally entered therein. This section shall not apply to civil actions for money damages and to summary process actions brought in the district court and Boston municipal court departments pursuant to section 19 of chapter 218 and chapter 239.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 98 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 98 - Appeal Bond

Section 98. No appeal, other than an appeal by a county, city, town or other municipal corporation, from a judgment of a district court in any civil action or proceeding, except an action of summary process under chapter two hundred and thirty-nine, or a civil action for money damages in the district court and Boston municipal court departments pursuant to section 19 of chapter 218, shall be allowed, except as provided in section ninety-nine, unless the appellant, within six days after the entry of judgment, or within such further time as the justice or clerk for cause shown allows, files a bond executed by him or by his attorney of record on his behalf, payable to the appellee in such reasonable sum and with such surety or sureties as may be approved by the appellee or by the justice or clerk, conditioned to enter and prosecute his appeal with effect, and to satisfy any judgment for costs which may be entered against him in the superior court upon said appeal within thirty days after the entry thereof.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 99 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 99 - Deposit in Lieu of Appeal Bond

Section 99. The appellant or any person in his behalf, instead of filing a bond as provided in the preceding section, may deposit with the clerk, within the time required for filing a bond, a reasonable amount, to be fixed by the clerk or justice, as security for the prosecution of the appeal and the payment of costs. A certificate of such deposit shall be issued to the depositor by the clerk or justice, and the deposit shall be transmitted by him with the papers to the clerk of the superior court, who shall thereupon deliver a receipt therefor to such clerk or justice and shall hold such deposit until the final disposition of the case, when he shall pay it, or any part thereof, to the appellee for his costs, or to the depositor thereof, as the court may order. The superior court may give directions as to the manner of keeping such deposit.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 101 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 101 - Record on Appeal to Superior Court; Transmission

Section 101. When an appeal is taken from a judgment of a district court, the clerk shall transmit to the clerk of the superior court the complaint, all papers filed in the case, all bonds, and a brief certificate of the proceedings, which shall be there entered by the appellant.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 102 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 102 - Docket Entries on Taking Appeal

Section 102. When such appeal is taken, the names of all the parties thereto, the nature of the action or proceeding, the doings of the court thereon, the final disposition thereof and the amount of costs taxed shall be entered on the docket; and no other record thereof shall be required.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 103 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 103 - Waiver of Jury Trial and Right of Appeal in Cases Brought in District Court

Section 103. If a party elects to bring in any district court any action or other civil proceeding which he might have begun in the superior court, he shall be deemed to have waived a trial by jury and his right of appeal to the superior court, unless within thirty days of commencement of the action or service of a responsive pleading, or within such further time as the court may allow, a plaintiff files a claim to a jury trial in the superior court with the district court and within thirty days after notice of the decision or finding files an entry fee of fifty dollars and bond in accordance with the second paragraph of section one hundred and four; provided, however, that if any claim, counterclaim or cross-claim is asserted against a plaintiff who has elected to bring such action or other civil proceeding in any district court, said plaintiff may of right remove said action or proceeding and claim a jury trial in the same manner and upon the same terms as set forth in said section one hundred and four; and, provided further, that if any compulsory counterclaim is asserted by a defendant, said defendant may of right remove the action and claim a jury trial in the same manner and upon the same terms as are set forth in said section one hundred and four. This section and sections one hundred and four to one hundred and ten, inclusive, shall not apply to actions or counterclaims under the provisions of chapter two hundred and thirty-nine.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 104a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 104a - Multiple Judgments Specification for Removal to Superior Court

Section 104A. In any action brought by or against two or more persons in which separate judgments are authorized by the District-Municipal Courts Rules of Civil Procedure, the party seeking removal may specify in his claim of trial by the superior court the parties as to whom such trial is claimed, in which case the cause shall be removed as to such parties only as are specified in such claim, and said district court shall retain jurisdiction as to the remainder. In such case the clerk shall transmit attested copies of the papers in the cause to the clerk of the superior court, in lieu of the originals.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 106 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 106 - Deposit in Lieu of Removal Bond

Section 106. Any party, in lieu of filing the bond required in section one hundred and four, may deposit with the clerk the sum of one hundred dollars. A certificate of such deposit shall be issued to the depositor by the clerk, and the deposit shall be transmitted by him, with the papers, to the clerk of the superior court, who shall receipt therefor and hold said deposit until the final disposition of the case, when he shall apply the same to the satisfaction of any costs awarded against the depositor, and pay the balance, if any, to the depositor or his legal representatives.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 107 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 107 - Circumstances Making Removal Bond Unnecessary

Section 107. No bond or deposit under section one hundred and four or one hundred and six shall be required of the commonwealth or any officer or employee thereof represented by the attorney general, or of a county, city, town or other municipal corporation, or of a board, officer or employee thereof represented by the city solicitor, town counsel or other officer having similar duties, or of a political subdivision, or of a party who has given bond according to law to dissolve an attachment or of a defendant in an action of tort arising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance, control or use of a motor vehicle or trailer as defined in section one of chapter ninety if the payment of any judgment for costs which may be entered against him is secured, in whole or in part, by a motor vehicle liability bond or policy or a deposit as provided in section thirty-four D of chapter ninety; and the court may in any case, for cause shown, after notice to adverse parties, order that no bond be given. Said district court may, upon cause shown and after notice to all adverse parties, permit such removal to the superior court, upon the terms above specified, at any time prior to final judgment.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 109 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 109 - Appeal to Appeals Court From Appellate Division

Section 109. An appeal to the appeals court shall lie from the final decision of the appellate division of any division of the district court department including appeals taken hereunder from the appellate division of the Boston municipal court department. Claims of appeal shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the district court within thirty days after notice of the decision of the appellate division. The appeal shall not remove the cause, but only the question or questions to be determined. The completion of such appeal shall be in accordance with the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure. The expense of the preparation of the necessary papers and copies of papers and their transmission, and the entry fee in the appeals court, shall be taxed in the bill of costs of the prevailing party, if he has paid it.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 110 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 110 - Powers of Appellate Division

Section 110. The appellate division of each district court shall have the powers of amendment of the trial court; shall have discretionary power to take further testimony and to render a decision based on such testimony; to decide issues of fact dependent upon issues of law or to direct a trial of such fact issues by a justice of the district court; to draw inferences from cases stated by agreement of the parties; and to render decision according to the justice of the case.  No new trial shall be granted in any civil action or proceeding in any district court on the ground of improper admission or rejection of evidence, or for any error as to any matter of pleading or procedure if the appellate division deems that the error complained of has not injuriously affected the substantial rights of the parties; and, if it appears to the appellate division that said error affects part only of the matter in controversy or some or only one of the parties, the court may direct final judgment as to part thereof, or some or one only of the parties, and may direct a new trial as to the other part only or as to the other parties.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 111 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 111 - Report by Single Justice

Section 111. A justice of the superior or land court or the judge of the housing court of the city of Boston, the western division of the housing court department, the northeastern division of the housing court department, the southeastern division of the housing court depart mentor the housing court of the county of Worcester, after verdict or after a finding of the facts by the court, may report the case for determination by the appeals court.  If a justice of the superior court is of the opinion that an interlocutory finding or order made by him so affects the merits of the controversy that the matter ought to be determined by the appeals court before any further proceedings in the trial court, he may report such matter to the appeals court, and may stay all further proceedings except such as are necessary to preserve the rights of the parties.  A justice of the superior court may, upon request of the parties, in any case where there is agreement as to all the material facts, report the case to the appeals court for determination without making any decision thereon.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 112 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 112 - Report by Single Justice of Supreme Judicial Court

Section 112. A justice of the supreme judicial court, after a finding of facts by the court may report a case for determination by the full court or the appeals court.  If a justice of the supreme judicial court is of the opinion that an interlocutory finding or order made by him so affects the merits of the controversy that the matter ought to be determined by the full court or the appeals court before any further proceedings in the trial court, he may report such matter to either court, and may stay all further proceedings except such as are necessary to preserve the rights of the parties.  A justice of the supreme judicial court may, upon request of the parties, in any case where there is agreement as to all material facts, report the case to the full court or the appeals court without making any decision thereon.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 112a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 112a - Appellate Proceedings Upon Report; Application of Rules of Appellate Procedure

Section 112A. Proceedings before the appeals court or the full court of the supreme judicial court upon a report pursuant to the two preceding sections shall be governed by the Massachusetts Rules of Appellate Procedure. The report shall constitute a notice of appeal within the meaning of said rules, and the entry of such report shall constitute the filing of a notice of appeal for purposes of computing time thereunder. The party aggrieved by an interlocutory finding or order shall be treated as the appellant; the plaintiff shall be treated as the appellant whenever the whole case is reported.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 112b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 112b - Objections to Rulings or Orders

Section 112B. In civil actions, formal exceptions to rulings or orders of any court are unnecessary; but for all purposes for which an exception has heretofore been necessary it is sufficient that a party, at the time the ruling or order of the court is made or sought, makes known to the court the action which he desires the court to take or his objection to the action of the court and his grounds therefor; and, if a party has no opportunity to object to a ruling or order at the time it is made, the absence of an objection shall not thereafter prejudice him.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 113 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 113 - Appeal From Final Judgment of Superior Court, Land Court and Housing Courts

Section 113. A party aggrieved by a final judgment of the superior court, the land court, the housing court of the city of Boston, the western division of the housing court department, the northeastern division of the housing court department, the southeastern division of the housing court department or the housing court of the county of Worcester, may appeal therefrom to the appeals court or, subject to the provisions of section ten of chapter two hundred and eleven A, to the full court of the supreme judicial court.
MA Gen L ch 231 § 114 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title II - Actions and Proceedings Therein|Chapter 231 - Pleading and Practice|Section 114 - Appeal From Final Judgment of Single Justice of Supreme Judicial Court

Section 114. A party aggrieved by a final judgment of a single justice of the supreme judicial court may appeal therefrom to the full court of the supreme judicial court.