§ 1 Erection of mills and mill dams
§ 2 Dams; injury to existing mill; prohibition
§ 3 Height of water
§ 4 Overflow or injury to land; action for compensation; limitation; venue
§ 7 Jury view of land
§ 8 Assessment of damages
§ 9 Height of dam; determination by jury
§ 10 Annual and gross damages; assessment by jury
§ 11 Plaintiff; right to elect gross amount
§ 12 Gross amount; time for payment
§ 13 Annual compensation
§ 14 Damages; lien on mill
§ 15 Recovery of damages; enforcement of lien
§ 16 Sale on execution
§ 17 Redemption
§ 18 Costs
§ 19 Remedies
§ 20 Existing mills and dams; effect of this chapter
§ 21 Reassessment; new action
§ 22 Reassessment; parties; time
§ 23 Costs; avoidance by offer to pay increased compensation
§ 24 Costs; avoidance by offer to accept smaller compensation
§ 25 Offer to tenants
§ 26 Acceptance of offer; effect
§ 27 Verdict; effect upon action for new damages
§ 28 Tender; effect on costs
§ 29 Tender; judgment upon acceptance; costs
§ 30 Action; joinder of parties
§ 32 Reversal of judgment for plaintiff; new action; time limit
§ 33 Overflowing public ways; petition
§ 34 Notice
§ 35 Change of grade of ways; power of commissioner to order
§ 36 Damages; duty of commissioner to assess
§ 37 Costs
§ 38 Order of commissioner; compliance; exoneration from criminal liability
§ 39 Dam to flow cranberry land; erection; license
§ 40 Expense; apportionment; appeal
§ 41 Ice ponds; erection of dams; consent of owners; damages
§ 42 Domestic reservoir corporations; land flowed; compensation
§ 43 Security from corporations
§ 44 Definitions applicable to Secs. 44 to 48B
§ 45 Dam registration form; failure to file; penalties; notice on transfer of legal title or change
§ 45A Construction or alteration of dams; permit approval
§ 46 Dam inspection form; evaluation, examination and tests; costs and penalties
§ 46A Dam approval; certificate of compliance
§ 47 Unsafe or inadequate dams; action by commissioner; enforcement; regulations
§ 48 Costs; lien; enforcement
§ 48A Dam inspection and regulation program; effectiveness report
§ 48B Liability of owner
§ 49 Acts of commissioner; effect on liability of owners
§ 50 Jurisdiction
§ 50A Roll dams; warning signs; failure to comply
§ 51 Repairing and rebuilding mills and mill dams; power of majority
§ 52 Meeting of proprietors
§ 53 Notice
§ 54 Repairs and rebuilding; mills and dams
§ 55 Expense of work; apportionment
§ 56 Lien for advancements
§ 57 Guardian; powers
§ 58 Tenants and remainderman; apportionment of expenses
§ 59 Mortgagor and mortgagee; apportionment of expenses
§ 60 Tenant in tail
§ 61 Advancement for repairs; recovery
§ 62 Contracts; effect of this chapter

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 253 - Mills, Dams and Reservoirs

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
  • Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Remainderman: One entitled to the remainder of an estate after a particular reserved right or interest, such as a life tenancy, has expired.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.