# Massachusetts — Anti-SLAPP special motion deadlines, fee-shifting and discovery stay by state

For Massachusetts, deadline to file the motion is Said special motion to dismiss may be filed within sixty days of the service of the complaint or, in the court's discretion, at any later time upon terms it deems proper; attorney's fees for the prevailing party is If the court grants such special motion to dismiss, the court shall award the moving party costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including those incurred for the special motion and any related discovery matters; statute is Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 59H, recorded from its source on 2026-09-02.

- **State:** Massachusetts _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Deadline to file the motion:** Said special motion to dismiss may be filed within sixty days of the service of the complaint or, in the court's discretion, at any later time upon terms it deems proper. _(verified: appears in its own passage below)_
- **Attorney's fees for the prevailing party:** If the court grants such special motion to dismiss, the court shall award the moving party costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including those incurred for the special motion and any related discovery matters. _(verified: appears in its own passage below)_
- **Effect on discovery:** All discovery proceedings shall be stayed upon the filing of the special motion under this section; provided, however, that the court, on motion and after a hearing and for good cause shown, may order that specified discovery be conducted. The stay of discovery shall remain in effect until notice of entry of the order ruling on the special motion. _(verified: appears in its own passage below)_
- **Statute:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 59H _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_

## What the source says

> Said special motion to dismiss may be filed within sixty days of the service of the complaint or, in the court's discretion, at any later time upon terms it deems proper.

## Where each value comes from

This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.

### Deadline to file the motion

> Said special motion to dismiss may be filed within sixty days of the service of the complaint or, in the court's discretion, at any later time upon terms it deems proper.

### Attorney's fees for the prevailing party

> If the court grants such special motion to dismiss, the court shall award the moving party costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including those incurred for the special motion and any related discovery matters.

### Effect on discovery

> All discovery proceedings shall be stayed upon the filing of the special motion under this section; provided, however, that the court, on motion and after a hearing and for good cause shown, may order that specified discovery be conducted. The stay of discovery shall remain in effect until notice of entry of the order ruling on the special motion.

## Source

- https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter231/Section59H

Last verified: 2026-09-02. Review by: 2027-09-02.
Part of [Anti-SLAPP special motion deadlines, fee-shifting and discovery stay by state](https://referencesource.org/anti-slapp-motion-provisions-by-state/).