Cronin v. Town of Tewksbury

The plaintiffs, a group of taxpayers from the town of Tewksbury (town), appeal from an order of a Superior Court judge denying their application for attorney’s fees and costs. We granted the plaintiffs ’ application for direct appellate review. We reverse.

The underlying facts giving rise to this fee claim were discussed at length in Cronin v. Tewksbury, 401 Mass. 537 (1988) (Cronin T). We summarize them briefly now. In their complaint in Cronin I, the plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief under G. L. c. 231A (1986 ed.) and under G. L. c. 40, § 53 (1986 ed.), to prevent the town…