Town of Hanover v. New England Regional Council of Carpenters

This case presents an issue of first impression: whether an association that has provided support for litigation, without being a named party in that litigation, has engaged in protected petitioning activities for the purposes of G. L. c. 231, *588§ 59H. The defendant, the New England Regional Council of Caipenters, appeals from a Superior Court judge’s denial of its special motion to dismiss a suit by the town of Hanover (town) claiming that the defendant engaged in abuse of process in prior legal proceedings.1 Because we conclude that support of litigation constitutes protected petitioning…