Smith v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Effective November 1, 2009, amendments to the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, G. L. c. 258, §§ 1-14, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA’s) enabling statute, G. L. c. 161A (collectively, 2009 amendments), made the MBTA a “public employer” covered by the Tort Claims Act. See G. L. c. 258, § 1, as amended through St. 2009, c. 25, § 123; G. L. c. 161A, § 38, as amended by St. 2009, c. 25, §§ 112, 113; St. 2009, c. 25, § 185, as amended by St. 2009, c. 26, § 60. This case presents the question whether the 2009 amendments apply retroactively, allowing the MBTA the protections…