# Stearns v. Board of Assessors

> Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · November 30, 1978 · 376 Mass. 930

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/6449339

## Case

- **Full name:** Walter E. Stearns, Sr., trustee v. Board of Assessors of Worcester
- **Court:** Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- **Decided:** November 30, 1978
- **Citations:** 376 Mass. 930; 383 N.E.2d 506; 1978 Mass. LEXIS 1182
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion of the court
- **Cited by:** 3 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/6449339

## Opinion text

This is an appeal from a decision of the Appellate Tax Board (board) denying the taxpayer’s application for an abatement of real estate taxes. From the skeletal record before us we cannot determine whether the appeal to the board was under the formal procedure, G. L. c. 58A, § 7, or the.informal procedure, G. L. c. 58A, § 7A. If it was under the formal procedure, the taxpayer cannot prevail because the record includes neither findings of fact nor a request that the board make and report such findings. G. L. c. 58A, § 13. If it was under the informal procedure, the taxpayer, by electing that procedure, was required to waive his right of appeal to this court from any decision of the board "except upon questions of law raised by the pleadings or by an agreed statement of facts or shown by the report of the board.” Rule 7 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Appellate Tax Board (1974), and Form 3 entitled, "Waiver of Appeal and Election of Informal Procedure,” in Section II of the Rules. The record includes no question of law raised by the pleadings and no "agreed statement of facts” or report of the board. The decision of the board is final as to facts, G. L. c. 58A, § 13, and on the record no questions of law are presented to this court for decision. Palladino v. Assessors of Braintree, 373 Mass. 665 (1977). Assessors of Kingston v. *931 Sgarzi, 367 Mass. 840 (1975). The decision of the Appellate Tax Board is affirmed.
The case was submitted on a brief.
Walter E. Stearns, Sr., pro se.
So ordered.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/6449339. Public record. Not legal advice.