Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 19 (2026)

General provisions

✓ current as of July 2026

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[See Standing Order of the Supreme Court, dated July 17, 2019, effective January 1, 2020, and applicable to civil actions for money damages commenced on or after that date (MA R S CT SDG ORDERS Amount-in-Controversy) which increased the amount-in-controversy from $25,000 to $50,000.]

Section 19. Except as otherwise provided by law, the district court and Boston municipal court departments shall have original jurisdiction of civil actions for money damages. The actions may proceed in the courts only if there is no reasonable likelihood that recovery by the plaintiff will exceed $25,000, or an amount ordered from time to time by the supreme judicial court. Where multiple damages are allowed by law, the amount of single damages claimed shall control. Notwithstanding the limitation of $25,000, or other amount ordered by the supreme judicial court, the district courts may proceed with actions for money damages in any amount in summary process actions. The Boston municipal and district court departments shall have original jurisdiction concurrent with the probate and family court department of actions relative to paternity and support under chapter two hundred and nine C. The district courts shall also have jurisdiction of actions in summary process under chapter two hundred and thirty-nine and in the hearing and disposition of such actions shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the divisions of the housing court department pursuant to section three of chapter one hundred and eighty-five C. The Boston municipal and district court departments shall have original jurisdiction concurrent with the probate and family court department of proceedings under chapter two hundred and nine D. They shall have jurisdiction of proceedings transferred to them under the provisions of section four A of chapter two hundred and eleven.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 59 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1921–2025 · leading case: Sperounes v. Farese, 873 N.E.2d 239 (Mass. 2007).

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Sperounes v. Farese, 873 N.E.2d 239 (Mass. 2007). · cites it 8× “It provided that a civil case could proceed to trial in the District Court “only if there is no reasonable likelihood that recovery by the plaintiff will exceed $25,000,” G. L. c. 218, § 19. The statute also provides that a judge in the District Court “may dismiss the case…”

Rockland Trust Co. v. Langone, 75 N.E.3d 594 (Mass. 2017). · cites it 8× “The question before us is whether, pursuant to G. L. c. 218, §§ 19 and 19A, a District Court judge may grant a plaintiff’s motion to dismiss a compulsory counterclaim under Mass R.”

Ravnikar v. Bogojavlensky, 782 N.E.2d 508 (Mass. 2003). “See G. L. c. 218, § 19. It follows that, had the plaintiff made her initial Superior Court filing in a county that did not operate under the one trial system, the action could have been transferred pursuant to G.”

Santos v. U.S Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 54 N.E.3d 548 (Mass. App. Ct. 2016). “252, § 5 (“Notwithstanding the limitation of $25,000, or other amount ordered by the supreme judicial court, the district courts may proceed with actions for money damages in any amount in summary process actions”); G.”

Zizza v. Zizza, 456 Mass. 401 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 3× “” G. L. c. 218, § 19, as amended through St.”

Bank of Am., N.A. v. Rosa, 999 N.E.2d 1080 (Mass. 2013). “See G. L. c. 218, § 19, as amended through St.”

GMAC Mortg., LLC v. First Am. Title Ins., 985 N.E.2d 823 (Mass. 2013). “185, § 1 (Land Court jurisdiction), with G. L. c. 218, § 19 (District Court jurisdiction).”

New Bedford Hous. Auth. v. Olan, 758 N.E.2d 1039 (Mass. 2001). “2 (c) — original summary process entries are to be tried to a jury in the next nonjury session after entry), in the Central District Court of Worcester (G. L. c. 218, § 19 A), and in designated jury session locations for all District Court divisions in Berkshire, Essex,…”

Toro v. CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc., 199 F. Supp. 3d 320 (D. Mass. 2016). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 19 (District Court); Mass.”

U.S. Funding, Inc. of Am. v. Bank of Boston Corp., 551 N.E.2d 922 (Mass. App. Ct. 1990). “212, § 4 (general jurisdiction of Superior Court); G. L. c. 218, § 19 (concurrent jurisdiction of District Courts in “all civil action [s] in which money damages are sought”), (c) While Mass.”

Paige v. Sinclair, 130 N.E. 177 (Mass. 1921). “160, §§ 18, 59, now G. L. c. 218, §§ 19, 54, that court has jurisdiction of actions of tort in which the damages demanded are less than $2,000 if one of the defendants lives or has his usual place of business in Boston.”

Carroll v. Berger, 150 N.E. 870 (Mass. 1926). · cites it 2× “” G. L. c. 218, § 19; see now St. 1922, c. 532, § 12A.”

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