Massa v. Board of Selectmen
Massa v. Board of Selectmen
Opinion of the Court
The theory on which the plaintiff appears to base his claim for reinstatement as a police officer is that he was unlawfully induced to resign from that position by misrepresentations of the defendants, and not that he was discharged in violation of the civil service law. For that reason the case does not fall within the rule that one seeking review of a discharge allegedly made in violation of the civil service law must avail himself. of one of the remedies afforded by G. L. c. 31, §§ 43(6), 45, or 46A, and may not normally proceed by way of a complaint seeking declaratory relief. See Brouillette v. Worcester, 364 Mass. 833, 834 (1974); Canney v. Municipal Court of the City of Boston, 368 Mass. 648, 654 (1975); Nawn v. Selectmen of Tewksbury, 4 Mass. App. Ct. 715, 718-719 (1976). Rather, it falls within the usual rule that “[o]rdinarily a demurrer cannot properly be sustained to a bill for a declaratory decree on the ground that the court does not agree with the proposition for which the plaintiff contends. Usually a declaratory decree should be made in any event.” County of Dukes County v. New Bedford, Woods Hole, Marthas Vineyard & Nantucket S.S. Authy. 333 Mass. 405, 406 (1956), and
So ordered.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.