Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XXI Chapter 151
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 20A (2026)

Limitation period for criminal or civil action

✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 20A. The provisions of this chapter shall not be applicable to any cause of action accruing more than 3 years prior to the date of filing in court of a criminal or civil action; provided, however, that the limitation period shall be tolled from the date that the employee or a similarly situated employee files a complaint with the attorney general alleging a violation of this chapter until the date that the attorney general issues a letter authorizing a private right of action or the date that an enforcement action by the attorney general becomes final.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1998–2021 · leading case: Mogilevsky v. Bally Total Fitness Corp., 263 F. Supp. 2d 164 (D. Mass. 2003).
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Mogilevsky v. Bally Total Fitness Corp., 263 F. Supp. 2d 164 (D. Mass. 2003). · cites it 2× “The Fair Labor Standards Act sets forth a two-year statute of limitations, unless the employer’s violation was willful, in which case the statute of limitations is extended to three years. 29 U.”
Spears v. Miller, 2006 Mass. App. Div. 151 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div. 2006). · cites it 2× “The motion judge allowed Miller’s motion on the basis that the statute of limitations, G.L.c. 151, §20A, applicable to the plaintiffs’ employment-wage claim limited the time in which to bring suit to two years.”
Dagan v. Jewish Cmty. Hous. for Elderly, 699 N.E.2d 840 (Mass. App. Ct. 1998). “There is a two-year statute of limitations, G. L. c. 151, § 20A, regarding suits to recover any underpayment.”
Miller v. Trinity Oil Co., 10 Mass. L. Rptr. 60 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “G.L.c. 151, §20A. Mr. Miller filed this lawsuit in June 1997.”
Mongue v. Wheatleigh Corp., No. 3:18-cv-30095 (D. Mass. Sept. 29, 2021). · cites it 2× “149, § 150 ; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 20A. “[A]s a matter of federal law, the filing of a class action will toll the statute of limitations for named and unnamed members of the class, and the statute will [not] resume running [until] class certification is denied.”
Graceffa v. Waller, 34 Mass. L. Rptr. 99 (Berkshire Mass. Super. Ct. 2017). “G.L.c. 151, §20A, allows a private right of action only for violations that occur within three years prior to the date the employee files a complaint with the Attorney General alleging a violation of the statute.”
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