Guzman v. Commonwealth

In this case, we interpret one of the eligibility provisions of the recently enacted Massachusetts Erroneous Convic tions Law, which provides legal redress to certain individuals who can show that they have been wrongfully convicted of a felony and incarcerated. See G. L. c. 258D (c. 258D). The plaintiff, Humberto Guzman, whose convictions of trafficking, distribution, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine were vacated after he served nearly four years in prison, brought this lawsuit claiming that he was entitled to recover under c. 258D.

The Commonwealth filed a motion to dismiss the claim for…