{"data":{"id":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-223-19","jurisdiction":"us-ma","citation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 223, § 19","heading":"Unknown defendant; procedure","body":"Section 19. In a civil action if the name of the defendant is not known to the plaintiff, the defendant may be designated in the summons and complaint by a fictitious name. The use of a fictitious name shall not be grounds for dismissal of the complaint if sufficient service has been made, and amendments shall be allowed and terms may be imposed.","path":["Part III","Title II","Chapter 223"],"source_url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter223/Section19","current_through":"amendments passed before May 31, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T05:24:49Z","sha256":"b9b6d9a44562852ed90457bc6384891ee2de69325cd7d6a67e4e6dd0bfcf4f29","source_id":"us-ma","stale":false,"prev":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-223-16-to-18","next":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-223-19a"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}