New England Auto Max, Inc. v. Hanley

Summary

The Supreme Judicial Court held that defendants have a statutory right to an interlocutory appeal to the Appellate Division under G.L. c. 231 §108, that the district court erred by limiting its $50,000 threshold analysis to the plaintiff’s initial statement of damages, and that the single justice correctly denied relief under G.L. c. 211 §3 because an adequate alternative appellate avenue existed. Accordingly, the court reversed the denial of the petition and remanded for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.