K. Hovnanian at Taunton, Inc. v. City of Taunton

The plaintiff Hovnanian, a real estate developer, filed a complaint in the Superior Court in 1988, principally asserting that the defendants improperly denied it a sewer connection permit for a one hundred and fifty-four unit single-family subdivision which it proposed to establish on the Taunton portion of a 138.76 acre tract of land, 2 a nine-acre segment of which is located in Dighton. In addition to declaratory relief, Hovnanian sought damages in a jury trial under G. L. c. 12, § 111, for violation of its civil rights.

As determined by the judge in comprehensive and detailed findings…