Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 211A, § 15 (2026)

Frivolous appeals or exceptions; costs and interest

✓ current as of July 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section MAmalegislature.gov (official) JustiaChapter on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

Section 15. If, upon the hearing of an appeal or exceptions in any proceeding, it appears that the appeal or exceptions are frivolous, immaterial or intended for delay, the appeals court may, either upon motion of a party or on its own motion, award against the appellant or excepting party double costs from the time when the appeal was taken or the exceptions were allowed, and also interest from the same time at the rate of twelve per cent a year on any amount which has been found due for debt and damages, or which he has been ordered to pay, or for which judgment has been recovered against him, or may award any part of such additional costs and interest.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 64 cases (18 in the last 5 years), 1973–2026 · leading case: Fronk v. Fowler, 923 N.E.2d 503 (Mass. 2010).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Fronk v. Fowler, 923 N.E.2d 503 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 5× “In addition, we granted the defendants’ application for further appellate review of an order by a full panel of the Appeals Court denying the defendants’ motion for appellate fees and costs under G. L. c. 211A, § 15, and Mass. R. A. P. 25, as appearing in 376 Mass.”

Masterpiece Kitchen & Bath, Inc. v. Gordon, 680 N.E.2d 1150 (Mass. 1997). · cites it 4× “Following the defendants’ unsuccessful appeals, the plaintiff moved for attorney’s fees, interests, and costs pursuant to G. L. c. 211A, § 15 4 ; G. L. c. 231, § 6F; and Mass.”

Blanchard v. Steward Carney Hosp., Inc., 130 N.E.3d 1242 (Mass. 2019). “211, § 10 ; G. L. c. 211A, § 15 ; Mass. R. A. P. 25, as appearing in 481 Mass.”

Marabello v. Boston Bark Corp., 974 N.E.2d 636 (Mass. 2012). “949 (1979), and G. L. c. 211A, § 15, which permit such an award where the appellate court determines that an appeal is frivolous or intended for delay.”

Cabot v. Cabot, 774 N.E.2d 1113 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “211, § 10, is unavailable under that statute, but is available under G. L. c. 211A, § 15, which mirrors it. Avery v.”

Anderson v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh PA, 67 N.E.3d 1232 (Mass. 2017). “, G. L. c. 211A, § 15 (costs and interest for delay caused by frivolous appeal); G.”

Ashford v. Massachusetts Bay Transp. Auth., 659 N.E.2d 273 (Mass. 1995). “We take this opportunity to remind litigants and their attorneys that, “[bjecause of the delay and wastework which improper appeals necessarily entail, the perpetrator [either litigant or attorney] should expect not only dismissal of his appeal but also the possibility of double…”

Mancuso v. Mancuso, 408 N.E.2d 652 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). “925 (1979), of G. L. c. 211A, § 15, or of G. L. c. 231, §§ 6F or 6G.”

Bernstein v. Gramercy Mills, Inc., 452 N.E.2d 231 (Mass. App. Ct. 1983). “231, § 6F, and by G. L. c. 211A, § 15 (frivolous appeals; costs and interest), and Mass.”

Rauseo v. Rauseo, 740 N.E.2d 1063 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001). “ere was no basis for the extension in the absence of evidence that the defendant had since the issuance of the initial 209A order been violent or “threatened [the plaintiff] with physical harm,” and that the evidence that was submitted did not establish that he had placed his…”

Katz v. Savitsky, 413 N.E.2d 354 (Mass. App. Ct. 1980). “169, 177 [1977] 8 ) and double costs on appeal (G. L. c. 211A, § 15), including in such costs the cost of the supplemental appendix filed by the defendants pursuant to leave of court first obtained; the execution is to issue out of the Superior Court.”

Spivey v. Neitlich, 797 N.E.2d 931 (Mass. App. Ct. 2003). “231, § 6F; G. L. c. 211A, § 15; and Mass. R.A.P. 25, as appearing in 376 Mass.”

Show all 64 citing cases →

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.