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Bill > H1613


MA H1613

MA H1613
Permitting persons to bring car damage arising from a pothole against the public entity into small claims court


summary

Introduced
02/27/2025
In Committee
02/27/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

194th General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation to authorize the filing for damages in small claims court against a public entity arising from potholes under the jurisdiction of said entity. The Judiciary.

AI Summary

This bill proposes an amendment to Section 3 of Chapter 258 of the Massachusetts General Laws that would allow individuals to bring claims for vehicle damage caused by potholes directly to small claims court. Specifically, the bill creates an exception to existing legal procedures by permitting claimants to file claims for tire or rim damage resulting from poor road conditions on state, county, or municipal roadways through sections 21 to 25 of the General Laws. This change would make it easier for vehicle owners to seek compensation for pothole-related damages by providing a more accessible legal pathway through small claims court, which typically involves lower filing fees and simpler procedures compared to traditional civil litigation. The bill aims to give citizens a more straightforward mechanism to recover repair costs when their vehicles are damaged by road infrastructure issues, potentially incentivizing public entities to maintain roadways more diligently.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time (on 11/04/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1613
BillText https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1613.pdf
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