reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 255 § 35 (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 255 - Mortgages, Conditional Sales and Pledges of Personal Property, and Liens Thereon|Section 35 - Priority Between Certain Liens

Section 35. As against a conditional vendor or lessor, or person claiming under him, the lien of a bailee of the vendee or lessee or person claiming under him on property exceeding twenty dollars in value, for consideration furnished, without actual notice of the conditional sale or lease, shall prevail; except that the lien of such a bailee on property delivered to him subsequent to the breach of a condition of the sale or lease shall not prevail if the conditional vendor or lessor or person claiming under him makes demand in writing on the bailee for the property within ninety days from the date of the bailment.
MA Gen L ch 255 § 36 (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 255 - Mortgages, Conditional Sales and Pledges of Personal Property, and Liens Thereon|Section 36 - Recovery of Personalty Held Under Lien

Section 36. If personal property exceeding twenty dollars in value is detained from the owner, or person otherwise entitled to its possession, under the claim of a lien, and the contract under which the alleged claim arose did not specifically state in writing the aggregate amount of charges to accrue for the services or materials to be furnished, the owner or such other person may cause the said property to be replevied in the manner and subject to the provisions set forth in sections seven to twenty-two, inclusive, of chapter two hundred and forty-seven, so far as the same may be applicable, except as is otherwise provided in the three following sections.
MA Gen L ch 255 § 37 (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 255 - Mortgages, Conditional Sales and Pledges of Personal Property, and Liens Thereon|Section 37 - Bond; Hearing on Sufficiency of Sureties

Section 37. Before the officer serving the writ delivers the goods to the plaintiff he shall take from the plaintiff, or from a person acting in his behalf, a bond payable to the defendant in such sum and with such surety or sureties as may be satisfactory to the defendant, or as may be approved by a justice of a district court or a master in chancery in the county where the action is brought. If the sureties are to be so approved, the officer who serves the writ shall give written notice to the defendant or to the person from whose custody the property has been taken, stating the time and place of hearing thereon and the names and residences of the proposed sureties, allowing not less than one hour before the time appointed for the hearing and at the rate of one hour additional for each mile of travel. The amount of the bond required shall not exceed twice the sum for which a lien is claimed by the defendant. If the defendant or his agent or attorney does not appear in person, and does not state in writing the amount of his claim, no bond shall be required.
MA Gen L ch 255 § 38 (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 255 - Mortgages, Conditional Sales and Pledges of Personal Property, and Liens Thereon|Section 38 - Trial of Claim

Section 38. If the court finds that the defendant has a lien on the property but that the defendant is not otherwise entitled to possession of the property, judgment shall be rendered for the defendant for the amount due under the contract, together with, or deducting, costs as determined by the following section. Upon payment of this amount to the defendant the bond provided for in the preceding section shall be held satisfied, and shall be delivered up to the plaintiff.
MA Gen L ch 255 § 39 (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 255 - Mortgages, Conditional Sales and Pledges of Personal Property, and Liens Thereon|Section 39 - Costs

Section 39. In actions of replevin brought under section thirty-six, costs shall be taxed against the plaintiff in cases where the court decides that the claim of the defendant for which he asserted a lien was no greater than the amount due under the contract. In all other cases costs shall be taxed against the defendant.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 4 - Summoning of Licensees; Failure to Appear; Effect

Section 4. The commissioner, or such other of his assistants as he may designate, may summon a licensee, or any of his agents or employees, and such other witnesses as he deems necessary, and examine them relative to their transactions, may require the production of books and papers and, for such purposes may administer oaths. Whoever, without justifiable cause, fails or refuses to appear and testify or to produce books and papers when so required, or obstructs the commissioner or his representatives in the performance of their duties, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 5 - Refusal to Issue License; Notice; Appeal; Hearing

Section 5. If the commissioner refuses to issue a license, he shall notify the applicant of the denial, and within twenty days thereafter he shall enter upon his records a written decision and findings containing the reasons supporting the denial, and shall forthwith give written notice thereof by registered mail to the applicant. Within thirty days after the date of such notice the applicant may appeal from such denial to the superior court for the county of Suffolk, sitting in equity. The court shall hear all pertinent evidence and determine the facts, and upon the facts as so determined review said denial and, as justice and equity may require, affirm the same or order the commissioner to issue such license.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 6 - Violations of This Chapter; Investigations by Commissioner

Section 6. The commissioner, if he has reason to believe that any person other than a licensee has violated any of the provisions of this act, shall have the power to make such investigations as he shall deem necessary, and, to the extent necessary for this purpose, he may examine such person and shall have the power to compel the production of all relevant books, records, accounts and documents.  The state police and the police of the cities or towns shall carry out the directions of the commissioner in enforcing the provisions of this chapter and any rules or regulations made hereunder by him. A violation of this chapter shall also be a violation of chapter ninety-three A.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 7 - Revocation or Suspension of License; Grounds

Section 7. A license may be suspended or revoked by the commissioner on the following grounds:—(1) material misstatement in application for license; (2) failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter; (3) defrauding any retail buyer to the buyer's damage; (4) fraudulent misrepresentation, circumvention or concealment by the licensee through whatever subterfuge or device of any of the material particulars or the nature thereof required to be stated or furnished to the retail buyer under this chapter.  If a licensee is a firm, association or corporation, it shall be sufficient cause for the suspension or revocation of its license that any officer, director or trustee of a licensed firm, association or corporation, or any member of a licensed partnership, has so acted or failed to act as would be cause for suspending or revoking a license to such party as an individual. Each licensee shall be responsible for the acts of any of his employees while acting as his agent, if such licensee after actual knowledge of said acts retained the benefits, proceeds, profits or advantages accruing from said acts or otherwise ratified said acts.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 8 - Revocation or Suspension of License; Procedure

Section 8. No license shall be suspended or revoked except after hearing thereon by the commissioner or such of his assistants as he may designate. The commissioner shall give the licensee at least ten days' written notice, in the form of an order to show cause, of the time and place of such hearing by registered mail addressed to the principal place of business in this commonwealth of such licensee. The said notice shall contain the grounds of complaint against the licensee. Any order suspending or revoking such license shall recite the grounds upon which the same is based. The order shall be entered upon the records of the commissioner and shall not be effective until after thirty days' written notice thereof given after such entry forwarded by registered mail to the licensee at such principal place of business. No revocation, suspension or surrender of any license shall impair or affect the obligation of any lawful retail instalment contract acquired previously thereto by the licensee. Within thirty days after such suspension or revocation the person aggrieved thereby may appeal to the superior court for the county of Suffolk, sitting in equity. The court shall hear all pertinent evidence and determine the facts, and upon the facts as so determined review said suspension or revocation and, as justice and equity may require, affirm the same or order that the commissioner rescind it.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 9 - Contracts; Form and Contents

Section 9. A retail instalment contract shall be in writing and shall be signed by both the buyer and the seller and shall be completed as to all essential provisions prior to the signing of the contract by the buyer. The printed portion of the contract shall be in at least eight point type. The contract shall contain, conspicuously printed or written: (1) a specific statement that liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage caused to others is not included, if that is the case; and (2) the following notice: ''NOTICE TO THE BUYER: 1. Do not sign this contract if any of the spaces intended for the agreed terms to the extent of then available information are left blank. 2. You are entitled to an exact copy of the contract you signed. 3. Under the law, you have the following rights, among others:—(a) to pay off in advance the full amount due and to obtain a partial refund of the finance charge; (b) to redeem the property if repossessed for a default; (c) to require, under certain conditions, a resale of the property if repossessed''.  The contract shall contain the names of the seller and the buyer, the place of business of the seller, the residence or place of business of buyer as specified by the buyer, and a description of the motor vehicle, including its make, year model, model and identification numbers or marks.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 11 - Delinquency and Collection Charge; Amount

Section 11. The holder of a retail installment contract may, if the contract so provides, collect a delinquency and collection charge on each installment in default for a period of not less than fifteen days in an amount not in excess of five percent of each installment or five dollars, whichever is less, and assess and collect a charge, not to exceed ten dollars, for any check, draft or order for the payment of money submitted in accordance with said contract which is returned unpaid or not honored by a bank or other depository.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 12 - Signing of Contract; Effect of Blank Spaces; Exceptions; Buyer's Written Acknowledgment

Section 12. No retail instalment contract shall be signed by any party thereto when it contains blank spaces to be filled in after it has been signed, except that, if delivery of the motor vehicle is not made at the time of the execution of the contract, the identifying numbers or marks of the motor vehicle or similar information, and the due date of the first instalment, may be inserted in the contract after its execution. The buyer's written acknowledgment, conforming to the requirements of section thirteen, of delivery of a copy of a contract shall be conclusive proof of such delivery and of compliance with this section in any action or proceeding by or against an assignee of the contract without knowledge to the contrary when he purchases the contract.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 13 - Copy of Contract; Delivery to Buyer; Failure to Deliver; Effect; Cancellation of Contract

Section 13. The seller shall deliver to the buyer, or mail to him at his address shown on the contract, a copy of the contract signed by the seller. If the seller fails to deliver or mail to the buyer on or before the time of the delivery of the motor vehicle a copy of the contract signed by the seller, the buyer shall have the right to refuse to take delivery of the motor vehicle and shall be entitled to receive an immediate refund of all payments made and redelivery of the motor vehicle or vehicles traded in to the seller on account or in contemplation of the contract, or if said motor vehicle or vehicles so traded in have been sold by the seller in a bona fide sale, which sale shall not take place for at least ten days unless the seller has delivered to the buyer a full and complete copy of the contract as required herein, the proceeds thereof, less the expenses incurred by the seller in connection with such sale including the cost of any repairs made to such property to make it ready for sale; provided, however, that if delivery of the motor vehicle is accepted by the buyer he shall have no further right of cancellation, but shall be entitled to the benefit of penalties otherwise provided for herein. The foregoing provisions shall not entitle a buyer to cancel an order or a contract or to receive any refund thereunder except under the circumstances set forth in the preceding sentence.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 14 - Finance Charges; Rate; Computation

Section 14. A retail seller may charge, receive and collect for any new or used motor vehicle, a finance charge not in excess of an annual percentage rate of twenty-one per cent.  Such finance charge shall be computed on the amount financed as determined under chapter one hundred and forty D on contracts payable in successive monthly instalments substantially equal in amount.  On contracts providing for instalments extending for a period less than or greater than one year, the finance charge shall be computed proportionately. The finance charge may be computed on the basis of a full month for any fractional month period in excess of fifteen days.  When a retail instalment contract provides for unequal or irregular instalments, the finance charge shall be no more than the effective rate provided in this section, having due regard for the schedule of instalments.  The finance charge shall be inclusive of all charges incident to investigating and making the contract, and for the extension of the credit provided for in the contract and no fee, expense or other charge whatsoever shall be taken, received, reserved or contracted for except as provided in this section and in section eleven and section seventeen and for those items expressly provided for in the retail instalment contract as set forth in chapter one hundred and forty D.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 15 (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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 15 - Full Payment by Buyer; Duty of Holder of Retail Instalment Contract

Section 15. After the payment of all sums for which the buyer is obligated under a retail instalment contract, the holder of such contract shall mail to the buyer at his last known address, good and sufficient instruments to indicate payment in full and to release all security in the motor vehicle.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 16 (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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 16 - Payment in Full Before Maturity; Refund Credit

Section 16. Notwithstanding the provisions of any retail installment contract to the contrary, any buyer may pay in full at any time before maturity the debt of any retail installment contract, and in so paying such debt shall receive a refund credit thereon for such anticipation. Such refund credit shall be computed on a method which is at least as favorable to the buyer as the actuarial method, so-called. If the prepayment is made other than on an installment due date, it shall be deemed to have been made on the first installment due date if the payment is before that date, and in any other case it shall be deemed to have been made on the next preceding or next succeeding installment due date, whichever is nearer to the date of prepayment. Where the amount of the credit for anticipation of payment is less than one dollar, no refund need be made.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 17 (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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 17 - Deferment or Renewal of Payment Dates; Refinancing; Computation of Rates; Rebates

Section 17. The holder of an instalment sale contract may, upon agreement with the buyer, defer the scheduled payment of all or part of any unpaid instalment payment or payments, or renew the unpaid total of payments of such contract. The agreement for such deferment or renewal shall be in writing and signed by the parties thereto.  For such renewal the holder may contract for and collect a refinance charge. Such refinance charge shall be computed on the amount obtained by adding to the unpaid total of payments of the contract the insurance cost incidental to refinancing, and by deducting any rebate computed in accordance with the provisions of section sixteen which may be due to the buyer for prepayment incidental to refinancing, at the rate of the finance charge in the original contract, for the term of the renewal contract, and subject to the provisions of this chapter governing computation of the original finance charge; provided, however, that the holder shall not be allowed the acquisition cost of twelve dollars and fifty cents.  For such deferment the holder may contract for and collect a deferment charge. Such deferment charge shall not exceed an amount equal to one per cent per month simple interest on the amount of the instalment or instalments, or part thereof, deferred for the period of deferment. Such period shall not exceed the period from the date when such deferred instalment or instalments, or part thereof, would have been payable in the absence of such deferment, to the date when such instalment or instalments, or part thereof, are made payable under the agreement for deferment; except that a minimum charge of one dollar for the period of deferment may be made in any case where the deferment charge, when computed at such rate, amounts to less than one dollar. Such agreement may also provide for the payment by the buyer of the additional cost to the holder of the contract of premiums for continuing in force, until the end of such period of deferment, any insurance coverages provided for in the contract. No deferment charge shall be made on any instalment for which a default charge has been made unless the default charge on such instalment is rebated in full. If a contract is prepaid in full during a deferment period the buyer shall receive, in addition to the refund required under section sixteen, the refund of that portion of the deferment charge applicable to any unexpired months of the deferment period.
MA Gen L ch 255b § 18 (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 255b - Retail Instalment Sales of Motor Vehicles|Section 18 - Sale or Assignment of Contracts

Section 18. A sales finance company may purchase a retail instalment contract from a seller on such terms and conditions and for such price as may be mutually agreed upon; and no filing of the assignment, no notice to the buyer of the assignment, and no requirement that the seller be deprived of dominion over payments upon the contract or over the vehicle if repossessed by the seller, shall be necessary to the validity of a written assignment of a retail instalment contract as against creditors, subsequent purchasers, pledgees, mortgagees or encumbrancers of the seller.  Unless the buyer has notice of actual or intended assignment of a retail instalment contract, payment thereunder made by the buyer to the last known holder of such contract shall be binding upon all subsequent holders or assignees.