James M. Shannon, as He is Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Telco Communications, Inc. And Donald Quatrucci

BREYER, Circuit Judge.

Telco is a private Rhode Island corporation that raises funds for charities. The Attorney General of Massachusetts sued Telco in a Massachusetts court, claiming that Telco had violated a Massachusetts law that says that a “professional solicitor” (such as Telco) may not “receive compensation” that exceeds “twenty-five per cent of the total moneys, pledges or other property raised or received by reason of any [charity-related] solicitation activities.” Mass. Gen.L. c. 68, § 21 (1984). Telco then brought suit in federal district court, seeking a declaratory judgment that…