Mass. Gen. Laws » Part III Title IV Chapter 258
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258, § 2 (2026)

Liability; exclusiveness of remedy; cooperation of public employee; subsequent actions; representation by public attorney

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 2. Public employers shall be liable for injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any public employee while acting within the scope of his office or employment, in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances, except that public employers shall not be liable to levy of execution on any real and personal property to satisfy judgment, and shall not be liable for interest prior to judgment or for punitive damages or for any amount in excess of $100,000; provided, however, that all claims for serious bodily injury against the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall not be subject to a $100,000 limitation on compensatory damages. The remedies provided by this chapter shall be exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding by reason of the same subject matter against the public employer or, the public employee or his estate whose negligent or wrongful act or omission gave rise to such claim, and no such public employee or the estate of such public employee shall be liable for any injury or loss of property or personal injury or death caused by his negligent or wrongful act or omission while acting within the scope of his office or employment; provided, however, that a public employee shall provide reasonable cooperation to the public employer in the defense of any action brought under this chapter. Failure to provide such reasonable cooperation on the part of a public employee shall cause the public employee to be jointly liable with the public employer, to the extent that the failure to provide reasonable cooperation prejudiced the defense of the action. Information obtained from the public employee in providing such reasonable cooperation may not be used as evidence in any disciplinary action against the employee. Final judgment in an action brought against a public employer under this chapter shall constitute a complete bar to any action by a party to such judgment against such public employer or public employee by reason of the same subject matter.

Notwithstanding that a public employee shall not be liable for negligent or wrongful acts as described in the preceding paragraph, if a cause of action is improperly commenced against a public employee of the commonwealth alleging injury or loss of property or personal injury or death as the result of the negligent or wrongful act or omission of such employee, said employee may request representation by the public attorney of the commonwealth. The public attorney shall defend the public employee with respect to the cause of action at no cost to the public employee; provided, however, that the public attorney determines that the public employee was acting within the scope of his office or employment at the time of the alleged loss, injury, or death, and, further, that said public employee provides reasonable cooperation to the public employer and public attorney in the defense of any action arising out of the same subject matter. If, in the opinion of the public attorney, representation of the public employee, under this paragraph would result in a conflict of interest, the public attorney shall not be required to represent the public employee. Under said circumstances, the commonwealth shall reimburse the public employee for reasonable attorney fees incurred by the public employee in his defense of the cause of action; provided, however, that the same conditions exist which are required for representation of said employee by the public attorney under this paragraph.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 467 cases (59 in the last 5 years), 1928–2026 · leading case: Irwin v. Town of Ware, 467 N.E.2d 1292 (Mass. 1984).
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Irwin v. Town of Ware, 467 N.E.2d 1292 (Mass. 1984). · cites it 26× “If the answer to question 1 is in the affirmative, then does the limitation clause of G.L.c. 258, § 2 apply to the damages awarded by the jury? 3.”
Cyran v. Town of Ware, 597 N.E.2d 1352 (Mass. 1992). · cites it 16× “By their amended complaint filed in the Superior Court, the plaintiffs sought damages from the defendant, the town of Ware, under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, G.L.c. 258, § 2 (1990 ed.), for the alleged gross negligence of the town's firefighters.”
Gallant v. Worcester, 421 N.E.2d 1196 (Mass. 1981). · cites it 10× “On November 16, 1979, she initiated suit under G.L.c. 258, § 2, as appearing in St. 1978, c.”
Hallett v. Town of Wrentham, 499 N.E.2d 1189 (Mass. 1986). · cites it 9× “The town moved that *552 judgment be entered in the amount of $100,000, the maximum recovery under G. L. c. 258, § 2, and that the three children’s $50,000 awards be dismissed on the ground that there is no separate recovery for the children outside the wrongful death statute, G.”
A.L. v. Commonwealth, 521 N.E.2d 1017 (Mass. 1988). · cites it 8× “Darragh, a thrice-convicted child molester, was employed as a teacher in the Boston public schools in violation of the special conditions of his probation; during the term of his probation, Darragh sexually molested the plaintiffs, two of his students.”
Sharon v. City of Newton, 769 N.E.2d 738 (Mass. 2002). · cites it 4× “he city to amend its answer late; (2) the grant of summary judgment was inappropriate because genuine issues of material fact remained in dispute; and (3) the release signed by Merav and her father was invalid because (a) she disavowed it on attaining her majority 4 ; (b) the…”
Jean W. v. Commonwealth, 610 N.E.2d 305 (Mass. 1993). · cites it 6× “" G.L.c. 258, § 2. The Act limits liability to $100,000 per plaintiff, id.”
Sena v. Commonwealth, 629 N.E.2d 986 (Mass. 1994). · cites it 4× “The complaint included claims for negligence under G. L. c. 258, § 2 (1992 ed.), violations of the plaintiffs’ civil rights under 42 U.”
Spring v. Geriatric Auth. of Holyoke, 475 N.E.2d 727 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 4× “" G.L.c. 258, § 2. However, a condition precedent to bringing suit under this chapter is the presentment of the claim "in writing to the executive officer of such public employer within two years after the date upon which the cause of action arose.”
McNamara v. Honeyman, 546 N.E.2d 139 (Mass. 1989). · cites it 4× “Because Honeyman was a public employee, the Commonwealth is liable for his negligent conduct under G.L.c. 258, § 2, and the plaintiffs' claim for common law negligence against Honeyman (Count VI) fails.”
Parker v. Chief Just. for Admin. & Mgmt. of Trial Court, 852 N.E.2d 1097 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 5× “” 5 G. L. c. 258, § 2, inserted by St. 1978, c.”
Kelley v. Rossi, 481 N.E.2d 1340 (Mass. 1985). · cites it 3× “Kennedy Memorial Hospital as part of her residency and that, as a public employee, she could not be held liable in this case, citing G. L. c. 258, § 2 (1984 ed.) (a portion of the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act).”
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