reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 158 § 32 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 32 - Commencement of Business; Payment of Capital Stock

Section 32. A corporation shall not begin business until the whole amount of its capital stock has been paid in and a certificate of that fact, and of the manner in which the same has been paid in and, at the time of making the certificate, been invested or voted by the corporation to be invested, signed and sworn to by the president, treasurer and a majority of the directors, has been filed in the office of the state secretary.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 33 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 33 - Payment for Capital Stock

Section 33. The capital stock, except as provided in this section, shall be paid in in cash. The conveyance to the corporation of real or personal property at a fair valuation shall be a sufficient paying in of its capital stock to the extent of such value, if a statement, made, signed and sworn to by its president, treasurer and a majority of its directors, giving a description of such property and the value at which it has been taken in payment, in such detail as the secretary shall require or approve, and endorsed with his certificate that he is satisfied that said valuation is fair and reasonable, is filed with the state secretary. Such statement shall be included in the certificate of payment of capital required by the preceding section. No note or obligation given by a stockholder, whether secured by pledge or otherwise, shall be considered as payment of any part of the capital stock.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 34 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 34 - Proxies

Section 34. Absent stockholders may vote at all meetings by proxy, authorized in writing, which shall be executed and dated within six months previous to the meeting at which it is used.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 35 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 35 - Quorum

Section 35. Every corporation may determine by its by-laws what number of stockholders shall attend, either in person or by proxy, or what number of shares or amount of interest shall be represented at any meeting, to constitute a quorum. If the quorum is not so determined, a majority in interest of the stockholders shall constitute a quorum.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 36 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 36 - Correction of Defective Proceedings; Procedure

Section 36. If doubts arise as to the legality of the organization of any corporation created by special charter for a purpose mentioned in this chapter, which is in the exercise of its franchise, or as to the regularity or sufficiency of the proceedings of any such corporation, whether created by special charter or formed under general laws, in consequence of failure subsequent to the organization to comply with the directions or requirements of any statute, the stockholders, at a special meeting called for the purpose in the manner provided in section eight of chapter one hundred and fifty-six or by a justice of the peace upon the written request therefor of a majority of the acting directors, may by vote confirm such defective proceedings and all subsequent proceedings of the corporation dependent thereon. The clerk shall thereupon make a certificate on oath setting forth the particular matters especially causing the doubt, and a copy of the call of the meeting and of the vote of the stockholders, and the date of holding the meeting, which he shall present to the secretary who shall examine the same, and, if he finds that this section has been complied with, shall so certify by endorsement thereon. Upon filing the certificate so endorsed in the office of the state secretary, such proceedings shall be taken to be legal and valid as fully as if the requirements of the statutes had been complied with.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 37 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 37 - Annual Certificate of Condition

Section 37. Every corporation shall annually file in the office of the state secretary, within thirty days after the date fixed in its by-laws for its annual meeting, or within thirty days after the final adjournment thereof, but not more than three months after the date so fixed for said meeting, a certificate signed and sworn to by an officer of the corporation, stating the date of holding such meeting, the amount of capital stock as it then stands fixed by the corporation, and the amount then paid in. Such certificates shall be preserved by the state secretary in book form convenient for reference.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 38 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 38 - Failure to File Annual Certificate; Dissolution

Section 38. If a corporation fails for two successive years to file such annual certificate, the supreme judicial court, upon application by the secretary, after notice and a hearing, may decree a dissolution of the corporation.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 39 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 39 - Certificate of Increase of Capital Stock; Filing

Section 39. A corporation shall, upon an increase of its capital stock, within thirty days after the payment or collection of the last instalment thereof, file a certificate of the amount of such increase and the fact of such payment, signed and sworn to by its president or vice president, and treasurer or assistant treasurer, and a majority of its directors, in the office of the state secretary and also, if the corporation is subject to chapter one hundred and sixty-four or one hundred and sixty-five, in the office of the department of telecommunications and energy. If such a certificate is not filed as aforesaid within said period of thirty days, it may thereafter be received by the secretary for examination in accordance with section forty-one upon payment to him of such sum, to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven, and be filed as hereinbefore provided, subject to the provisions of sections forty-one and forty-three to the same extent as if such certificate had been filed as aforesaid within said period.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 40 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 40 - Certificate of Reduction of Capital Stock; Filing

Section 40. A corporation shall, within thirty days after a reduction of its capital stock is voted, file in the office of the state secretary and also, if the corporation is subject to chapter one hundred and sixty-four, in the office of the department of telecommunications and energy, a copy of the vote authorizing such reduction, signed and sworn to by its clerk.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 41 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 41 - Submission of Certificate to Secretary; Approval; Filing; Fee

Section 41. The certificate or copy which is required by section eleven, fifteen, thirty-two, thirty-seven, thirty-nine or forty to be filed shall, before filing, be submitted to the secretary, who shall examine the same; and if it appears to him to be a sufficient compliance in form with the requirements of law, he shall certify his approval thereof by endorsement upon the same; but he shall endorse only the date and fact of submission to his inspection upon the copies of votes of corporations; and upon the payment of the fee provided by section forty-three, the same may be filed in the office of the state secretary; and, upon such filing, the corporation and its officers shall be conclusively held to have complied with the requirements of law in respect to the filing of such certificate or copy, except that it may be shown in evidence that the statements made in such certificate or copy were false, and were known to be so by any officer signing or making oath to the same.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 42 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 42 - Penalties for Omitting to File Certificates

Section 42. A corporation which omits to file any certificate or copy which is required by section thirty-seven, thirty-nine or forty shall forfeit two hundred dollars, to be recovered in an action of tort brought in the name of the commonwealth in Suffolk county or in the county where the corporation is established; and its president, treasurer and directors, for the time being, shall in addition be jointly liable in a like amount for such omission; and all forfeitures by a corporation under any provision of this chapter may also be collected by information in equity, which may be brought in Suffolk county and shall be brought in the supreme judicial court in the name of the attorney general, at the relation of the secretary; and upon such information the court may issue an injunction restraining the further prosecution of the business of the corporation named therein until such forfeitures, with interest and costs, are paid and until the returns required by this chapter are filed.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 43 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 43 - Filing Fees

Section 43. The fees for filing certificates and copies of votes required to be filed with the state secretary shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the following:  Of Organization.—The certificates required by section nine, including the issuing of the certificate of incorporation.  Of Increase of Capital.—The certificate required by section thirty-nine.  Other Certificates.—The copies of the votes or certificates required by section eleven, thirty-six, thirty-seven, or forty of this chapter or section sixteen of chapter one hundred and fifty-five, and any other certificate required by law.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 44 - Officers; Liability for Debts and Contracts

Section 44. The officers of a corporation shall be jointly and severally liable for its debts and contracts in the following cases, and not otherwise:  The president and directors shall be so liable—  First, For making or consenting to a dividend if the corporation is or thereby is rendered insolvent, to the extent of such dividend.  Second, For debts contracted between the time of making or assenting to a loan to a stockholder and the time of its repayment, to the extent of such loan.  Third, If the debts of a corporation exceed its capital, to the extent of such excess existing at the time of the commencement of the suit against the corporation in which the judgment was recovered upon which the suit in equity to enforce such liability is brought as provided in section forty-nine.  The president, directors and treasurer shall be so liable—  Fourth, For signing any statement filed under section thirty-three, if the property mentioned in such statement is not conveyed and taken at a fair valuation; but only the officers who sign the statement shall be so liable.  The president, directors and other officers shall be so liable—  Fifth, For signing any certificate which is required by law knowing it to be false; but only the officers who have knowledge thereof shall be liable.  Sixth, For debts contracted before the original capital has been fully paid in and the certificate of such payment has been filed in accordance with section thirty-two.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 45 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 45 - Members or Stockholders; Liability for Debts and Contracts

Section 45. The members or stockholders in any corporation shall be jointly and severally liable for its debts or contracts in the following cases, and not otherwise:  First, For such as may be contracted before the original capital is fully paid in; but only those stockholders who have not paid in full the par value of their shares, and those who have purchased such shares with knowledge of the fact, shall be liable for such debts.  Second, For the payment of all debts existing at the time when the capital is reduced, to the extent of the amounts withdrawn and paid to stockholders.  Third, If special stock is created under section twenty-five, the general stockholders shall be liable for all debts and contracts until the special stock shall have been fully redeemed.  Fourth, For all money due to operatives for services rendered within six months before demand made upon the corporation, and its neglect or refusal to make payment.  Any such member or stockholder who pays, on a judgment or otherwise, more than his proportion of any such debt shall have a claim for contribution against the other members or stockholders.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 46 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 46 - Conditions to Liability

Section 46. A stockholder or officer in a corporation shall not be held liable for its debts or contracts unless a judgment has been recovered against it and it has neglected for thirty days after demand made on execution to pay the amount due, with the officer's fees, or to exhibit to him real or personal property of the corporation subject to be taken on execution, sufficient to satisfy the same, and the execution has been returned unsatisfied.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 47 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 47 - Right of Judgment Creditor to Officer and Shareholder List

Section 47. The clerk or other officer who has charge of the records of a corporation against which judgment has been so recovered and execution so issued and returned unsatisfied, upon reasonable request of the judgment creditor or of his attorney, shall furnish to him a certified list of the names of all persons who were officers and stockholders in such corporation at the time of the commencement of the suit in which judgment was recovered.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 48 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 48 - Refusal to Give List; False List; Penalty

Section 48. If an officer unreasonably refuses to give the certified list mentioned in the preceding section or wilfully gives a false list, he shall be liable to the judgment creditor for double the amount of all damages occasioned by such refusal or false list.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 49 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 49 - Bill in Equity Against Officers and Stockholders

Section 49. After the execution has been returned unsatisfied, any creditor may file a bill in equity, in behalf of himself and all other creditors of the corporation, against it and all persons who were stockholders therein at the time of the commencement of the suit in which such judgment was recovered, or against all the officers who are liable for its debts and contracts, for the recovery of the money due from the corporation to himself and the other creditors for which the stockholders or officers may be personally liable by reason of any act or omission on the part of the corporation or that of its officers or any of them, setting forth the judgment and proceedings thereon, and the grounds upon which it is expected to charge the stockholders or officers personally.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 50 - Proportionate Assessment of Shareholders

Section 50. Such sums as may be decreed to be paid by the stockholders in such suit in equity shall be assessed upon them in proportion to the amounts of stock held by them respectively at the time when the suit in which said judgment was recovered was begun; but no stockholder shall be liable to pay a larger sum than the amount of stock held by him at that time at its par value.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 51 - Death of a Defendant

Section 51. If a defendant dies during the pendency of such a suit in equity, it shall not abate thereby; but his estate in the hands of his executor or administrator shall be liable to the same extent as he would be if living. Such executor or administrator may voluntarily appear and become a party to the suit or may be summoned by the plaintiff.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 52 - Dismissal; Notice

Section 52. Such suit in equity shall not be dismissed by the plaintiff without an order of court and such notice to other creditors as the court may find reasonable under the circumstances.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 53 - Non-Joinder of Parties; Abatement

Section 53. No such suit in equity shall be abated by reason of the non-joinder of persons liable as defendants unless the plaintiff, after being notified by plea or answer of the existence of such persons, unreasonably neglects to make them parties.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 54 - Defense by Officer or Stockholder of Action Against Corporation

Section 54. If, in an action against a corporation, it appears to the court that one of the objects of the action is to obtain a judgment against the corporation in order to enforce an alleged liability of a person who has been or is a stockholder or officer thereof, any such person may be permitted, on petition, to defend such action, and in such case the court may require of him or of a person in his behalf, a bond with sufficient surety or sureties, conditioned to pay to the plaintiff all costs which may accrue and be taxed to him after the filing of said petition.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 1 - Duties; Jurisdiction to Enforce

Section 1. Every common carrier of merchandise or other property shall receive, transport and forward all property offered for such purposes by other such carriers as promptly, faithfully and impartially, at as low rates of charge, and in a manner and on terms and conditions as favorable to the carrier offering such property, as he on the same day and at the same place receives, forwards and transports, in the ordinary course of business, property of a like description offered by persons other than such carriers. Such carrier shall not discriminate against any particular person or subject him to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. The supreme judicial or superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce this section.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 2 - Penalty

Section 2. Every such carrier who wilfully neglects or refuses to comply with the preceding section shall forfeit not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars, to the person offering the property for transportation.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 3 - Limitations Upon Liability Imposed by Carrier

Section 3. No common carrier of passengers shall, by rule, regulation, sign or otherwise, require passengers whom it suffers to enter, or leave by, a door of its car or train, to do so at their own risk; and no such passenger shall be prevented from recovering compensation in damages for any injury by reason of any such rule, regulation, sign or requirement.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 4 - Security Required of Employee to Indemnify Against Neglect; Penalty

Section 4. A corporation engaged in carrying passengers or in transporting freight for hire shall not require or receive from a person who is employed or about to be employed by it a bond or other security, either with or without surety, to indemnify such corporation against loss or damage to other persons or to property resulting from the act or neglect of such person, except a bond to account for money or other property of such corporation. A corporation or a person in its behalf who violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars for the first offense and of not more than one hundred dollars for a subsequent offence.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 5 - Foreign Express Businesses; Appointment of General Agent

Section 5. Every association of persons who are not inhabitants of this commonwealth which does an express business therein shall in writing appoint a person, who is a citizen and a resident thereof, to be a general agent, upon whom all lawful processes against such persons may be served with like effect as if served on said persons; and said writing or power of attorney shall contain an agreement on the part of the persons making it that the service of any lawful process against it or them on said general agent shall be of the same legal force and validity as such service on said persons or any of them. The power of attorney shall be filed in the office of the state secretary, and copies certified by him shall be taken as sufficient evidence and proof thereof. Such agency shall be continued so long as such express business is done in this commonwealth, and the power of attorney shall not be revoked until a similar power is given to another person and filed as aforesaid.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 6 - Foreign Express Businesses; General Agent's Bond

Section 6. Such general agent shall give bond to the state treasurer, with one or more sureties to be approved by him, in the sum of two thousand dollars, conditioned that he will accept service of all lawful process against his principal.