Bill > H1500

This bill proposes to amend existing law by adding a new provision to Section 8A of Chapter 278 of the General Laws, which deals with criminal procedure. Specifically, it states that if an individual successfully uses a defense in a criminal case and is found not guilty by a court, they will be protected from civil lawsuits for any injury or death that occurred to a person who was unlawfully present in their dwelling at the time. This means that if someone is legally justified in using force to defend their home and the intruder is injured or killed, the homeowner cannot be sued in civil court for those damages if they were acquitted in the criminal trial.