reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 258b § 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 258b - Rights of Victims and Witnesses of Crime|Section 13 - Failure to Provide Rights, Privileges, or Notice to Victim; No Grounds for Appeal of or Objection to Conviction

Section 13. A defendant or person convicted of a criminal or delinquency offense against the victim shall have no standing to object to any failure to comply with this chapter, and the failure to provide a right, privilege or notice to a victim under this chapter shall not be grounds for the defendant or person convicted of a criminal or delinquency offense to seek to have the conviction or sentence set aside.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 2 - Eligibility for Compensation

Section 2. (a) No compensation shall be paid under this chapter unless the division finds that a crime was committed and that such crime directly resulted in personal physical or psychological injury to, or death of, the victim.  (b) No compensation shall be paid under this chapter unless the claimant demonstrates that the crime was reported to the police or other law enforcement authorities or to an agency or entity obligated by law to report complaints of criminal misconduct to law enforcement authorities. Except in the case where the division finds such report to have been delayed for good cause, such report shall have been made within five days after the occurrence of such crime; provided, however, that a claimant who was a victim under 18 years of age shall not be required to file such report within 5 days.  (c) A claimant shall be eligible for compensation only if such claimant cooperates with law enforcement authorities in the investigation and prosecution of the crime in which the victim was injured or killed unless the claimant demonstrates that he possesses or possessed a reasonable excuse for failing to cooperate.  (d) A claimant shall not be eligible for compensation if such compensation would unjustly benefit the offender; provided, however, that a claimant shall not, except pursuant to regulations enacted in accordance with section four to prevent unjust enrichment, be denied compensation because of such claimant's or victim's familial relationship with the offender or because of the sharing of a residence by the victim or claimant and the offender.  (e) An offender or an accomplice of an offender shall not be eligible to receive compensation with respect to a crime committed by an offender. To the extent that the victim's acts or conduct provoked or contributed to the injuries, the division may reduce or deny an award to the claimant or claimants in accordance with regulations enacted pursuant to section four. In the event of a victim's death by homicide, an award may be reduced except that the costs for appropriate and modest funeral, burial or cremation services shall be paid by the fund.  [There is no subsection (f).]  (g) The claimant may retain counsel under this chapter. Attorneys fees shall be deducted from, and not in addition to, the total award for compensation. No attorneys fees shall be paid unless the attorney submits an affidavit which sets forth the hours worked and the services rendered for representing the claimant in the claim for compensation. The division may include as part of its award, reasonable attorneys fees to be determined by the division in an amount not to exceed fifteen percent of the total award for compensation.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 4 (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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 4 - Division of Victim Compensation and Assistance; Program Director; Powers and Duties

Section 4. (a) The division of victim compensation and assistance shall administer the provisions of this chapter. Subject to appropriation, the attorney general shall designate a program director of said division. Said program director may appoint and remove, subject to the approval of the attorney general, such investigative, legal and clerical or other staff as the work of the division requires.  (b) The program director shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to chapter thirty A as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.  (c) The program director shall be authorized to apply for and receive sums which may be transmitted to the victim compensation fund maintained by the treasurer and for any other such funds as may become available to administer the requirements of this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 5 - Filing and Proof of Claims; Civil Investigative Demands

Section 5. (a)(1) A claim for compensation under this chapter shall be filed within three years of the date of the crime.  (2) The claimant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that he is eligible to receive compensation.  (3) A claim under this chapter shall be made on a claim form prescribed by the division. The claim shall be accompanied by copies of bills and other documentation supporting the claim, and shall be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury. Any claim for loss of support or other expenses incurred as the result of the death of a victim must be accompanied by proof of dependency of the claimant upon the victim. All claims must contain a release of information necessary to investigate the claim.  Law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, the department of children and families and the department of transitional assistance, hospitals, physicians and other service providers shall cooperate with the department in the investigation of claims filed under this chapter.  (b) Upon receipt of a claim hereunder, the division shall acknowledge receipt of same, in writing, to the claimant or counsel of record. The division shall, thereafter, conduct an investigation of the claim to verify the information contained on the application.  The division shall be authorized to issue a written civil investigative demand, issue interrogatories, under oath, and requests for production of documents, and take oral testimony, under oath, in order to obtain information necessary to verify a claim. All information collected by the division shall be kept in accordance with the provisions of chapters four, sixty-six and sixty-six A.  A civil investigative demand may be served by certified mail, return receipt requested, and first class mail and shall be returned within twenty days from the date of service. Failure to comply with this provision may result in dismissal of the claim for compensation.  Whenever a person fails to comply with a civil investigative demand served upon him pursuant to this section, the attorney general may petition the district court of any county in which such person resides, is found, or transacts business, to enter such orders as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this section. A failure to comply with an order entered under this section shall be punished as a contempt of court.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 6 - Notification by Claimant of Change in Address

Section 6. The claimant shall have a continuing obligation to notify the division of a change in address. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the dismissal of the claim for compensation or the termination of a proceeding set forth in this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 7 - Notice to Claimant; Payment of Compensation

Section 7. (a) Within fifteen days of completion of the investigation, the program director shall mail notice to the claimant or the attorney of record stating the amount of compensation to be paid or denied, and the reasons therefor, and the payees, if any. The program director may direct that warrant for payment by the department of the attorney general be made jointly to the claimant and to a provider. The notice shall contain information regarding the right of the claimant to petition for judicial review of the decision of the program director.  (b) Upon receipt of the notice of assent by a claimant, the division shall present the notice to the department of the attorney general for payment. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, said department of the attorney general shall cause payment to be made in accordance with the division's award without further authorization.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 8 - Request for Reconsideration of Award or Denial

Section 8. (a) Within 20 days of the date of mailing of the notice of award or denial, a claimant aggrieved by the program director's decision may request, in writing, a reconsideration of such decision. Said program director shall reconsider any order for which a request for reconsideration is received. Said program director may in his discretion reconsider a decision granting or denying an award or the amount of an award where there has been no request for reconsideration. After reconsideration of the award, said program director shall affirm the decision or issue an amended notice of award or denial.  (b) The program director shall notify the claimant by certified mail, return receipt required, and first class mail of the decision upon reconsideration within 30 days of the claimant's request for reconsideration. Such notice shall include information regarding the claimant's right to a petition for judicial review of the decision of the program director.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 9 - Judicial Review

Section 9. (a) Within thirty days of the date of mailing of the notice of award or denial by the program director, the claimant may petition for judicial review in the district court within the judicial district in which the claimant resides or, in the case of a nonresident claimant, in the Boston municipal court. Where the claimant requests reconsideration of the decision of the program director, the petition for judicial review shall be filed within 30 days from the date of mailing of the decision of reconsideration. If no petition is filed within the time specified, the decision of the program director shall be final.  (b) The program director shall, in response to the aforesaid, within thirty days, file in such court a copy of his official decision.  (c) The district court shall schedule the matter for hearing and shall notify the parties of the date and time thereof.  (d) The review shall be conducted by the district court without a jury.  (e) For the purpose of determining the amount of compensation payable pursuant to this chapter, the chief justice of the trial court shall formulate standards for the uniform application of this chapter. The court shall take into consideration the provisions of this chapter, the rates and amounts of compensation payable for injuries and death under other laws of the commonwealth and of the United States, excluding pain and suffering. All decisions of the court on claims heard under this chapter shall be in writing, setting forth the name of the claimant, the amount of compensation and the reasons for the decision. The clerk of the court shall immediately notify the claimant in writing of the decision and shall forward to the department of the attorney general a certified copy of the decision. the department of the attorney general without further authorization shall, subject to appropriation, pay the claimant the amount determined by the court.  In determining the amount of compensation payable, the court shall determine whether because of his conduct the victim contributed to the infliction of his injury; and the court shall reduce the amount of the compensation or deny the claim altogether, in accordance with such determination; provided, however, that the court may disregard the responsibility of the victim for his own injury where such responsibility was attributable to efforts by the victim to aid a victim, or to prevent a crime or an attempted crime from occurring in his presence or to apprehend a person who had committed a crime in his presence or had in fact committed a felony.  (f) Judicial review of the finding and decisions of the program director shall be a de novo hearing of the claim.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 10 - Amounts Received by Claimant From Other Sources; Offset

Section 10. No compensation shall be awarded or paid unless the out-of-pocket expenses or legal liability of the claimant for services rendered as the result of the crime exceeds any and all of the amounts received, applied for, or to be applied for as the result of the crime from any of the following or any combination of the following:  (a) insurance, including, but not limited to, homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance, automobile insurance, disability;  (b) workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, social security benefits, veteran's benefits, retirement benefits;  (c) medicaid, medicare, free care, any other forms of public assistance including aid to families with dependent children and assistance to the aged and disabled or any successor thereto;  (d) restitution in the criminal action;  (e) proceeds from a civil suit; or  (f) institutional gifts.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 11 - Subrogation

Section 11. Acceptance of any compensation under this chapter shall subrogate the commonwealth, to the extent of such compensation paid, to any right or right of action accruing to the claimant or to the victim to recover payments on account of losses resulting from the crime with respect to which the compensation has been paid, and the claimant has a continuing obligation to so notify the attorney general of such recovery. The attorney general may enforce the subrogation, and he shall bring suit to recover from any person to whom compensation is paid, to the extent of compensation actually paid under this chapter, any amount received by the claimant from any source exceeding the actual loss to the victim.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 12 - Misrepresentations or Concealment; Fines and Damages

Section 12. Any person who: (a) submits a false or fraudulent application or claim for an award; (b) intentionally makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in relation to any claim pending before the division; or (c) intentionally conceals or fails to disclose information affecting the amount of or the initial or continued right to any such award shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than six months, or both.  The commonwealth shall, in addition, have a civil cause of action for relief against any person who violates the provisions of this chapter for the amount of damages which the commonwealth sustains by reason of such violation which shall include costs of the action and attorneys fees and, in addition, for punitive damages of not more than triple the amount of damages which the commonwealth sustains, and interest. The attorney general may bring any such action necessary to enforce this section.  Any amount reimbursed or any fine or damages paid pursuant to this section shall be paid to the victim compensation fund maintained by the treasurer.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 13 - ''good Samaritans''; Liability

Section 13. No person who, in good faith, provides or obtains, or attempts to provide or obtain, assistance for a victim of a crime as defined in section one, shall be liable in a civil suit for damages as a result of any acts or omissions in providing or obtaining, or attempting to provide or obtain, such assistance unless such acts or omissions constitute willful, wanton or reckless conduct.
MA Gen L ch 258c § 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 258c - Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes|Section 14 - Debt Collection Activities by Health Care Provider Prohibited Until Award Made or Claim Denied

Section 14. When a person files a claim pursuant to this chapter, no health care provider, as defined in section 1 of chapter 111, that has been given notice of the claim shall conduct any debt collection activities relating to medical or dental treatment received by the person in connection with the claim until an award has been made on the claim or until the claim has been denied. The period during which the health care provider shall be prohibited from conducting debt collection activities pursuant to this section shall be excluded in determining the applicable limitations period for commencing an action to collect the debt. For the purposes of this section, ''debt collection activities'' shall mean repeatedly calling or writing the claimant or threatening to turn the matter over to a debt collector, as defined in section 24 of chapter 93, for collection, enforcement or filing of other process; provided, however, that ''debt collections activities'' shall not include the routine billing or inquiries about the status of a claim.
MA Gen L ch 258d § 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 258d - Compensation for Certain Erroneous Felony Convictions|Section 2 - Compensation for Claimants

Section 2. A claimant shall not be entitled to compensation from the commonwealth for any incarceration or portion thereof, which was or will be credited toward a sentence for, or during which the claimant was also serving a concurrent sentence for the conviction of another crime. In those cases in which only a pardon from the governor is used to support a pending action against the commonwealth brought under this chapter, the subsequent exercise of the governor's authority to revoke such pardon pursuant to section 152 of chapter 127 shall immediately negate the validity of any such pending action and the superior court shall immediately issue a summary judgment in favor of the commonwealth on such grounds.
MA Gen L ch 258d § 3 (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 258d - Compensation for Certain Erroneous Felony Convictions|Section 3 - Commencement of Action; Manner of Proceedings

Section 3. A civil action brought against the commonwealth under this chapter shall be brought in the county where the claimant was convicted or in Suffolk county. The superior court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all such actions. All civil actions brought pursuant to this chapter shall in all manner proceed by and be governed by the rules of civil procedure except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter. Upon motion of the claimant, the court shall advance the proceeding for expedited discovery and a speedy trial so that it may be heard and determined with as little delay as possible.
MA Gen L ch 258d § 4 (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 258d - Compensation for Certain Erroneous Felony Convictions|Section 4 - Service of Process; Notification; Victim's Right to Testify; Evidence; Arbitration and Settlements.

Section 4. Service of process for a civil action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be made upon the attorney general for the commonwealth who shall defend the commonwealth against all such claims. The attorney general shall immediately notify the district attorney for the county that prosecuted the felony that forms the basis for the claim. Any district attorney so notified by the attorney general shall immediately notify any individual meeting the definition of ''victim'', as set forth in section 1 or chapter 258B, of the felony conviction that forms the basis of the claim. Any such victim shall be allowed, but may not be compelled, to testify or furnish other evidence. If such victim is unavailable to testify or decides not to testify, his prior recorded testimony, given under oath at a relevant proceeding, shall only be admissible after judicial review and determination that such testimony, or portion thereof, may be helpful to the factfinder. The attorney general shall consult with the appropriate district attorney relative to the merits of such action and, following consultation, shall have discretion to determine whether to proffer as evidence any documents, records, testimony or other information brought forward to the attorney general by such district attorney in defense of the commonwealth at a time deemed appropriate by the attorney general. The attorney general may arbitrate or settle any claim for damages filed under this chapter, but any award or settlement in excess of $80,000 shall be made only with the prior approval of the secretary of administration and finance. The acceptance by the claimant of any such award 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 by the claimant against the commonwealth and a complete bar to any action by the claimant against the commonwealth by reason of the same subject matter.
MA Gen L ch 258d § 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 258d - Compensation for Certain Erroneous Felony Convictions|Section 6 - Costs and Attorneys' Fees

Section 6. A claimant who prevails in an action under this chapter shall be entitled to an award of the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees in an amount to be fixed by the court.