Blake v. CRNC Operating, LLC

In this unpaid wages action authorized pursuant to G.L.c. 149, §148, and filed in the small claims session of the District Court, the court found for the plaintiff, Mark Blake, in the amount of $7,000.00. The court trebled that amount to $21,000.00, and awarded attorney's fees of $5,663.25. Costs and interest were also awarded.2 The court reported the following question of law:3

Where a statute such as M.G.L.c. 149, §148 (‘the Massachusetts Wage Acf) provides, ab initio, for mandatory treble damages for violation thereof, does a claim for damages greater than $2,333.34, which when trebled,…