Take Action on Domestic Violence bill

LWVMA was instrumental in passage of adding coercive control to the definition of domestic violence last session. Join us in advocating for passage of H.1594/S.1205: An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation, which closes that gap by giving judges the authority to recognize abusive patterns and stop them before years of abusive litigation. With our partners in the TRAC Coalition, Together Rising Above Coercion, we urge swift passage to end the financial and emotional abuse of abusive litigation–dragging survivors back to court repeatedly. This bill is about judicial efficiency for our courts and for the safety of survivors and children. This bill, when enacted, will relieve the judicial system, taxpayers, and social service programs of an avoidable burden.

Please contact your state senator and representative and ask them to urge their colleagues to favorably report H.1594/S.1205: An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation, out of committee. Here’s an email template. Find your Representative’s contact information here:

Dear Sen./Rep.________________:

Although Domestic Violence Awareness Month has ended, we continue to focus our attention on protecting those whose lives have been destabilized by coercion and control. In Massachusetts, that protection must extend beyond the home and into our courts, because abuse doesn’t end when the relationship does. 

While Massachusetts has made progress by recognizing coercive control as a form of abuse, that law does not provide survivors with a course of action when the coercion takes place through litigation. We now respectfully ask that you contact your colleagues on the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and ask them to favorably report H.1594/S.1205 An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation so it can move forward during this legislative session.

Thank you.

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