Massachusetts General Laws ch. 218 sec. 54 – Civil jurisdiction
Section 54. In addition to the jurisdiction otherwise conferred and except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the central division of the Boston municipal court department shall have jurisdiction of civil actions in which money damages are sought pursuant to sections 19 and 21 and of actions brought under chapter two hundred and forty-seven if one or more of the defendants lives or has his usual place of business in Suffolk County, excluding Chelsea and Revere, or, if in connection with the commencement of such an action the approval of trustee process is sought, one of the alleged trustees lives or has a usual place of business in Suffolk County, excluding Chelsea and Revere, or, in actions brought under chapter two hundred and twenty-seven, if an attachment of property or personal service of the complaint is made in said county.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 218 sec. 54
- Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.