Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 103 (2026)

Equal rights; age and disability; violations; remedies

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 103. (a) Any person within the commonwealth, regardless of handicap or age as defined in chapter one hundred and fifty-one B, shall, with reasonable accommodation, have the same rights as other persons to make and enforce contracts, inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold and convey real and personal property, sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property, including, but not limited to, the rights secured under Article CXIV of the Amendments to the Constitution.

(b) Any person whose rights under the provisions of subsection (a) have been violated may commence a civil action for injunctive and other appropriate equitable relief, including, but not limited to, the award of compensatory and exemplary damages. Said civil action shall be instituted either in the superior court for the county in which the conduct complained of occurred, or in the superior court for the county in which the person whose conduct complained of resides or has his principal place of business.

(c) A violation of subsection (a) shall be established if, based upon the totality of circumstances, it is shown that any individual is denied any of the rights protected by subsection (a).

(d) An aggrieved person who prevails in an action authorized by subsection (b), in addition to other damages, shall be entitled to an award of the costs of the litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees in an amount to be determined by the court.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 86 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1992–2024 · leading case: Adjartey v. Cent. Div. of the Hous. Court Departmentand, 120 N.E.3d 297 (Mass. 2019).

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Adjartey v. Cent. Div. of the Hous. Court Departmentand, 120 N.E.3d 297 (Mass. 2019). · cites it 3× “sue, be parties, give evidence, and to the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property, including, but not limited to, the rights secured under [art.”

McDonough, 930 N.E.2d 1279 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 11× “(2006) 4 ; the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act (MERA), G. L. c. 93, § 103 5 ; and art. 114 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution.”

Shedlock v. Dep't of Corr., 16 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 572 (Mass. 2004). · cites it 4× “114 and the enactment of G. L. c. 93, § 103, would operate as a waiver of immunity with respect to the substantive provisions of Title II of the ADA because, even if they do so operate, the waiver would not extend to the antiretaliation provisions of Title V.”

Mammone v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 847 N.E.2d 276 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 5× “151B, § 4 (16), 1 and Equal Rights Act, G. L. c. 93, § 103. 2 Relying principally on this court’s decision in Garrity v.”

Carleton v. Commonwealth, 858 N.E.2d 258 (Mass. 2006). · cites it 5× “151B, § 4 (16); G. L. c. 93, § 103; and art. 114 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution.”

Cargill v. Harvard Univ., 804 N.E.2d 377 (Mass. App. Ct. 2004). · cites it 3× “Summary judgment also entered for Harvard on the MERA claim under G. L. c. 93, § 103. In effect, MERA incorporates the rights against handicap discrimination protected by art.”

Alba v. Raytheon Co., 441 Mass. 836 (Mass. 2004). · cites it 2× “15IB and G. L. c. 93, § 103; Paras, as Raytheon’s manager, also discriminated against Alba in violation of the same statutes; and Raytheon’s discrimination resulted in the plaintiff’s loss of consortium.”

Iverson v. City of Boston, 452 F.3d 94 (1st Cir. 2006). “114 and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 103 . The district court dismissed that claim without prejudice for failure to exhaust state administrative remedies.”

Thurdin v. SEI Boston, LLC, 895 N.E.2d 446 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 2× “It is clear from G. L. c. 93, § 103, which refers to G. L.”

Afreedi v. Bennett, 517 F. Supp. 2d 521 (D. Mass. 2007). · cites it 4× “, §§ 1981 and 1983, M.G.L. c. 93, § 103, and the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (MCRA).”

Brennan v. King, 139 F.3d 258 (1st Cir. 1998). · cites it 2× “151B, § 4(1), (16) (prohibiting employment discrimination on the bases of *268 sexual orientation and disability); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 103 (a) (Massachusetts Equal Rights Act).”

Crowell v. Massachusetts Parole Bd., 74 N.E.3d 618 (Mass. 2017). · cites it 2× “114 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution and G. L. c. 93, § 103. A judge of that court allowed the board’s motion to dismiss and denied the plaintiffs motion for reconsideration.”

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— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 103(a) — 7 cases

Greaney v. Heritage Hosp., Inc., 4 Mass. L. Rptr. 663 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1995).

Fallon v. Genrad, Inc., 1 Mass. L. Rptr. 555 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1993).

Battenfield v. Harvard Univ., 1 Mass. L. Rptr. 75 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1993).

Haskins v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 13 Mass. L. Rptr. 691 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2001).

Cody v. Sutar, 5 Mass. L. Rptr. 191 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996).

— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 103(b) — 1 case

Buckley v. Dep't of Mental Health, 1 Mass. L. Rptr. 577 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1994).

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