Section 10. He shall take cognizance of all violations of law or of orders of courts, tribunals or commissions affecting the general welfare of the people, including combinations, agreements and unlawful practices in restraint of trade or for the suppression of competition, or for the undue enhancement of the price of articles or commodities in common use, and shall institute or cause to be instituted such criminal or civil proceedings before the appropriate state and federal courts, tribunals and commissions as he may deem to be for the public interest, and shall investigate all matters in which he has reason to believe that there have been such violations. Whenever it appears to the attorney general that the commonwealth or any city, town, or other governmental agency, body or authority established under the laws of the commonwealth has been so injured or damaged by any conspiracy, combination or agreement in restraint of trade or commerce or similar unlawful action, as to entitle the commonwealth, a city, town, or other such governmental agency, body or authority to a right to bring any action or proceeding for the recovery of damages under the provisions of any federal anti-trust or other similar law, the attorney general shall have authority to institute and prosecute any such actions or proceedings on behalf of the commonwealth or of any city, town, or other governmental agency, body or authority established under the laws of the commonwealth, and shall have authority to intervene on behalf of the commonwealth or of any city, town or other governmental agency, body or authority in such actions or proceedings. For the purposes of this section, he may appoint necessary assistants, with such compensation as, with the approval of the governor and council, he may fix, and may expend such sums as may be approved by the governor and council. In criminal proceedings hereunder he may require district attorneys to assist him and under his direction to act for him in their respective districts.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth
Chapter 12 - Department of the Attorney General, and the District Attorneys
Section 2 - Assistants and Employees; Appointment; Duties; Compensation; Tenure; Vacancies
Section 2a - Attorney General; Disability; Filling Vacancies
Section 2b - Annual Personnel Report
Section 3e - Defense of Actions Against Officers or Employees
Section 4 - Claims of Commonwealth; Enforcement
Section 4a - Acceptance of Gifts or Grants of Money or Property
Section 5 - Civil Actions to Recover Money for Commonwealth
Section 5a - False Claims; Definitions Applicable to Secs. 5a to 5o
Section 5b - False Claims; Liability
Section 5d - Prosecution by Attorney General; Relator's Right to Continue as Party to Action
Section 5e - Alternate Remedies Available to Determine Civil Penalty
Section 5f - Payments to Relators; Limitations
Section 5h - Money Recovered by Commonwealth; False Claims Prosecution Fund
Section 5j - Employers Preventing Employees From Acting to Further False Claim Actions; Liability
Section 5l - Preponderance of the Evidence Standard
Section 5m - Rules, Regulations or Guidelines; Attorney General
Section 5n - Civil Investigative Demands; Attorney General
Section 5o - Agency Reporting Requirements
Section 6 - Consultation With and Giving of Advice and Assistance to District Attorneys
Section 6a - Conferences of District Attorneys and Other Officials; Notification as to New Laws
Section 7 - Persons Intruding on Land, Property or Rights of Commonwealth; Prosecution
Section 8 - Due Application of Charity Funds Enforced
Section 8a - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 8a to 8m
Section 8b - Division of Public Charities; Duties
Section 8c - Director of Public Charities; Designation
Section 8d - Employees; Appointment and Removal
Section 8f - Annual Reports of Public Charities; Financial Statements; Fees; Penalties; Enforcement
Section 8g - Attorney General as a Party; Service
Section 8h - Investigations by Attorney General
Section 8i - Compliance With Investigations; Enforcement; Penalties
Section 8j - Rules and Regulations
Section 8k - Gift for Public Charitable Purpose; Presumed Intention
Section 8m - Public Records; Inspection
Section 8n - Fees, Costs, Penalties and Other Monies; General Fund
Section 9 - Advice and Aid to General Court and Committees
Section 11 - Annual Report of Cases Handled
Section 11a - Division of Civil Rights and Liberties
Section 11b - Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws; Obscene Literature Commission
Section 11c - Narcotic and Harmful Drugs; Training Program for Law Enforcement Officers
Section 11d - Division of Environmental Protection
Section 11g - Local Consumer Aid Fund; Eligibility for Assistance
Section 11k - Division of Victim Compensation and Assistance
Section 11m - Division of Gaming Enforcement
Section 12 - District Attorneys; Qualifications; Election; Term; Appearances
Section 13 - Districts for Administration of Criminal Law or Defense of Civil Actions
Section 15 - Practice of Law Prohibited; Salary
Section 16 - Salaries of Assistant District Attorneys
Section 18 - Appointment of an Assistant to District Attorney; Compensation
Section 19 - Suffolk District; Appointment of Messengers and Other Employees
Section 20 - Additional Legal Assistants; Tenure; Compensation; Powers
Section 21 - Suffolk District; Police and Detective Service
Section 22 - Clerical and Stenographic Workers
Section 23 - Payment for Traveling Expenses; Exceptions
Section 24 - Expenses Payable by Commonwealth
Section 25 - Advanced Expenses; Conditions; Vouchers
Section 26 - Court Appointment of Substitute in Absence of Attorney General and District Attorney
Section 27 - District Attorneys; Duties; Control of Attorney General
Section 28 - Suits on Recognizances; Discontinuance
Section 29 - Accounting for Fees, Bills of Costs and Money Received
Section 30 - Fees for Services in Performance of Duty; Appearance in Civil Action
Section 32 - Community Based Juvenile Justice Programs; District Attorneys