# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 8: Arbitration of disputes; appointment of commissioners > Massachusetts · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S8 ## Section - **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 8 - **Heading:** Arbitration of disputes; appointment of commissioners - **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** MA Code / Part I / Title XIII / Chapter 80A / Section 8 ## Text Section 8. If the court shall enter an order establishing the right of the petitioner to take the real estate, or interest therein, described in the order for the purpose therein stated and to assess betterments as therein set forth, and any person has in his answer denied the sufficiency of his compensation or damages as estimated in the order under section three or has denied that his property will receive benefit or advantage in the amount estimated therein, the court shall appoint not more than three disinterested persons as commissioners to hear and determine the issues thus raised. The provisions of law in regard to auditors shall so far as apt apply to such hearing, and all controversies as to the amount of compensation, damages and betterments arising out of the same petition shall be referred to the same commissioners. The commissioners shall hear the parties as speedily as may be and shall thereafter file a draft report with the clerk of the court and shall send notice of such filing to the several parties. The commissioners shall not determine the compensation or damages to which any person is entitled to be greater than as alleged by him in his answer, nor less than as estimated by the board; nor shall they determine the benefit to any parcel of land to be less than as admitted by the owner in his answer nor more than as estimated by the board. Section 8. If the court shall enter an order establishing the right of the petitioner to take the real estate, or interest therein, described in the order for the purpose therein stated and to assess betterments as therein set forth, and any person has in his answer denied the sufficiency of his compensation or damages as estimated in the order under section three or has denied that his property will receive benefit or advantage in the amount estimated therein, the court shall appoint not more than three disinterested persons as commissioners to hear and determine the issues thus raised. The provisions of law in regard to auditors shall so far as apt apply to such hearing, and all controversies as to the amount of compensation, damages and betterments arising out of the same petition shall be referred to the same commissioners. The commissioners shall hear the parties as speedily as may be and shall thereafter file a draft report with the clerk of the court and shall send notice of such filing to the several parties. The commissioners shall not determine the compensation or damages to which any person is entitled to be greater than as alleged by him in his answer, nor less than as estimated by the board; nor shall they determine the benefit to any parcel of land to be less than as admitted by the owner in his answer nor more than as estimated by the board. ## Nearby sections - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 1 Authorization](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S1.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 2 Order of intention; contents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S2.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 3 Order of intention; additional provisions; notice of adoption](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S3.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 4 Petition to take property](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S4.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 5 Answer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S5.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 6 Default judgments; appointment of guardians](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S6.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 7 Hearing; judgment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S7.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 8 Arbitration of disputes; appointment of commissioners](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S8.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 9 Redetermination of damages; procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S9.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 10 Final adjudication](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S10.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 11 Abandonment or discontinuance of proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S11.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 12 Transfer of property; interest transferred; payment of compensation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S12.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 13 Taxation of costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S13.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 80A, sec. 14 Assessment of improvements; assessment lien; effective date](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S14.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXIII_C80A_S8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.